| | | | |  | | By Joe Anuta, Anna Gronewold and Erin Durkin | Presented by KNOW US | | 
New York's Black leaders gather Jan. 5 at the National Action Network House of Justice to discuss crime. | Joe Anuta/POLITICO | Black leaders from across New York government convened Thursday night at the behest of the Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss ways to reduce crime across the state. They called it "productive," but didn't say what they actually discussed. The issue has been top-of-mind for voters, propelling New York City Mayor Eric Adams to victory in 2021, narrowing the recent gubernatorial race to within 6 points and costing Democrats several House seats in the midterms. The evening's assemblage included politicians with widely divergent viewpoints: Mayor Eric Adams, for instance, has been at loggerheads with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie over bail laws since arriving in City Hall. But the officials, which also included city district attorneys and the City Council speaker, sought to project an image of unity following the nearly two-hour confab, and highlighted the historic nature of so many Black officials occupying perches of power. "What our ancestors prayed for is standing on this stage right now," Adams said during a press briefing following the meeting. "And we're going to live up to those prayers, those sacrifices, all the things they went through." Projecting an image of cooperation, however, is far easier than working together to advance specific policy changes. And what the leaders discussed during their roundtable — let alone how they might move forward with a specific idea — remained a mystery. The group gave no details and left without taking questions. "We've come together today to talk about general issues, but also specific issues as well," state Attorney General Tish James said. "And none of those issues will be discussed here before the media." IT'S FRIDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com, or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold WHERE'S KATHY? Marching in and speaking at the 46th Annual Three Kings Day Parade and Celebration in Manhattan. WHERE'S ERIC? Appearing on Fox 5, NY1, 1010 WINS, and Pix 11, speaking at El Museo del Barrio's Three Kings Day celebration, holding an ethnic media roundtable, appearing on WABC, and speaking at the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network's Three Kings Day celebration.
| | | | A message from KNOW US: KNOW US! With NYC antisemitic hate crimes doubling year over year, it's more important than ever for our public discourse to promote facts, not tropes or bigotry. Some have engaged in a smear campaign against Orthodox and Hasidic Jews recently, and that's not just wrong, it's dangerous. As it would be if perpetrated against any minority. Challenge your preconceived notions: Get to KNOW US and champion Faith, Freedom, and Facts! | | | |  | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | "Top Adams adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin fined $1,000 for misusing her post to financially benefit aide," by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a longtime confidante to Mayor Adams who serves as his chief adviser in City Hall, has been slapped with a $1,000 fine for using her position to financially benefit an aide who owed her money in violation of government ethics law. Lewis-Martin issued the $2,500 loan in question in 2014 to Dawn Baskerville, a friend who was a year later hired as her special assistant in Brooklyn Borough Hall while she served as then-Borough President Adams' deputy." "Some NYC hospitals prepare for 10,000 nurses to strike as negotiations continue to stall," by Gothamist's Caroline Lewis: "A handful of New York City hospitals are scaling back services and preparing to bring in temporary staff as they brace for a potential nurses' strike that could start Monday morning. Members of the New York State Nurses Association at seven hospitals and health systems across the five boroughs submitted 10-day strike notices on Dec. 30 after voting to authorize a strike last month. Since then, New York-Presbyterian, Richmond University Medical Center and Maimonides Medical Center have managed to narrowly avoid a strike by reaching tentative three-year contract agreements." Crime rose 22 percent in Adams' first year in office, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: New York City crime increased by 22 percent in Mayor Eric Adams' first year in office — but officials cited a dip in crime in the last months of the year to argue that the city has begun to turn the corner. Adams, who has made public safety his central issue since taking office a year ago, announced the statistics at a press conference Thursday at police headquarters in lower Manhattan. "We are not spiking the ball. We know we have more to do. New Yorkers must be safe based on the stats, and they must feel safe based on that they're seeing," Adams said. "NYC family court blasted for 'dehumanizing' culture, 'unconscionable' delays," by New York Daily News' Cayla Bamberger: "New York City's family court system was blasted for its 'dehumanizing culture' and 'unconscionable delays' in a scathing report by an independent commission of the New York State Courts, the Daily News has learned. More than 40 pages of recommendations quietly released recently found court personnel had treated families 'disrespectfully, discourteously, and, in extreme cases, discriminatorily.' The court buildings themselves were in a state of total disrepair, according to the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, which tackles racism within the court system."
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "Judges blast NY Democrats blocking Kathy Hochul top pick Hector LaSalle," by New York Post's Zach Williams: "Fellow judges say centrist jurist Hector LaSalle — Gov. Kathy Hochul's nominee for chief judge — could fix New York's COVID-ravaged courts and improve its judiciary system if only progressive Democrats would give him a chance. 'If you want to keep crime down, if you want to keep make sure justice is served … You have to have someone who understands the institution, how it works, how the courts work, and who would understand that better than [LaSalle]?' former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said." — "Will Hector LaSalle Be the Next Janet DiFiore?" by New York Focus' Sam Mellins "Experts say NY's response to fentanyl, driving the opioid crisis, is not reversing spiking death rates," by Times Union's Raga Justin: "On Wednesday, when the state Senate returned to the Capitol for this year's legislative session, Democratic majority leaders trumpeted a long list of accomplishments from last year. Yet the subject of tackling New York's drug overdose epidemic was not mentioned by the leaders during their speeches. It remains unclear if the state could be at a turning point. There is finally 'real investment' in treating addiction, said Chinazo Cunningham, who heads the Office of Addiction Services and Supports under Gov. Kathy Hochul." "Will Hochul's budget reflect potential economic storm?," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Typically, it's a document that reflects a lot of tough political choices. 'Every governor in the first year of the four-year term, that's when they have to make the toughest decisions, usually in the context of the budget,' said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group. But this year could be different. New York has a multibillion-dollar surplus. While that could lead to more money for schools, hospitals and mass transit, it could also give Hochul more flexibility in leaner economic times." "Republican Lester Chang likely will survive NY Assembly Dems' bid to oust him," by New York Post's Zach Williams: "Republican Lester Chang appears likely to survive a formal challenge to his eligibility to represent southern Brooklyn in the state Assembly though the Democratic supermajority has yet to make a final decision. 'It's hard not to seat someone when a good portion of the conference doesn't agree,' one Democratic member of the chamber told The Post on Thursday. Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) has scheduled a meeting for Friday for Democrats to discuss the matter." #UpstateAmerica: There's an anonymous 12-page wedding album in the Albany International Airport Lost and Found office that needs to be reunited with its owners.
| | | | A message from KNOW US:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "The Wild Eviction Drama George Santos Can't Seem to Explain," by the Daily Beast's Roger Sollenberger, William Bredderman, and Justin Rohrlich: "Rep. George Santos is once again on the move. At least, that's what the embattled Republican congressman-elect told The Daily Beast this week, in response to questions about the Queens apartment he's been staying at with his sister. It turns out, according to New York court records, his sister was already facing potential eviction for failure to pay rent at that apartment." "Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries fundraises off Republican gridlock on McCarthy, speaker's race," by New York Post's Carl Campanile
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's first question upon waking was "Did we win?" — The city's new compost program in Queens collected 12.7 million pounds of organic waste in its first three months. — The state Senate issued a report on utility pricing failures. — A new bill being introduced by Manhattan Sen. Brad Hoylman would bar participants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol from holding office. — A New York woman filed a $3.1 million lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, claiming he demanded sexual favors and created a "toxic" work environment. — A lawsuit charges that the Taxi and Limousine Commission's undercover investigators are entrapping people of color at city airports. — A Manhattan community board backed an open street that is facing some local resistance. — 72 million lethal doses of fentanyl were seized in New York State last year. — Former GOP mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa cleaned up the block around Adams' brownstone after the mayor incurred more rat violations.
| | | | A message from KNOW US: Faith. Freedom. Facts! KNOW US! With NYC antisemitic hate crimes doubling year over year, it's more important than ever for our public discourse to promote facts, not tropes or bigotry. Some have engaged in a smear campaign against Orthodox and Hasidic Jews recently, and that's not just wrong, it's dangerous. As it would be if perpetrated against any minority. If certain outlets and content providers cannot profile any of the thousands of successful Orthodox Jewish business leaders, entrepreneurs, lawyers, accountants, medical professionals, religious leaders, skilled trades workers, architects, and small business owners, that is telling. We ask all New Yorkers to respect diversity and embrace the cultural patchwork that is New York. It's time to champion faith, freedom, and facts. Get to KNOW US! | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Olivia Nuzzi … Kate McKinnon … WSJ's Kate O'Keeffe and James Taranto … MSNBC's Shaquille Brewster … Stuart Siciliano … Eric Trump … Spencer Price … Aurora Selvik … Julia Blakeley … Alexandra Dakich … Nancy Baker … Scott Neumyer … George Ross ... Henry Kravis ... Anna Phillips MAKING MOVES — Hillary Clinton is joining Columbia University as a professor of practice at the School of International and Public Affairs and a presidential fellow at Columbia World Projects. … Jeremy Adler is joining Upland Workshop as an SVP to help start the firm's New York operations. He previously was comms director and senior adviser for former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). … Quinn Rapp-Ellis is now assistant secretary for labor and workforce for the New York State Executive Chamber. She most recently was director for paid family leave at the NYS Workers' Compensation Board. ... Gregory Lorjuste, a former Obama aide and who was recently Deputy Chief of Staff at the Urban Institute, will be Gov. Hochul's Assistant Secretary for Executive Operations…Rose Rodriguez, who was Vice President and Director of Governmental Affairs for Ponce Bank, is Hochul's new Appointments Secretary. … Jesse Sloman is now deputy chief cyber officer for operations for the State of New York. He most recently was senior cybersecurity analyst at the NYC Cyber Command and is a former cyber policy adviser at the Defense Department. … Brian Reich is now chief speechwriter at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. He most recently served as senior vice president of branding and marketing at Murmuration, a progressive political data and strategy operation in New York. MEDIAWATCH — Lorna Grisby is now senior editor for politics and society at The Conversation US. She most recently was a freelancer. … Lindsay Bomar has been promoted to be senior director for media and operations at Thomson Reuters. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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