| | | | |  | | By Anna Gronewold, Sally Goldenberg and Zachary Schermele | Presented by Community Offshore Wind | Gov. Kathy Hochul is riding high. No really. A new poll from the Siena College Research Institute this morning found Hochul with her best-ever job approval — it increased by 7 points since last month to 56-36 percent. Her 48-42 percent favorability rating in the survey, which was conducted Jan. 15-19, is also the best it's ever been. This may surprise the New York political bubble, where trust in Hochul's executive savvy has decreased exponentially as she continued to back an ill-advised chief judge pick even after he was rejected by a Senate committee last week. It escalated into Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins — rarely one to throw barbs — on Friday calling Hochul's potential retaliatory lawsuit "a dangerous infringement on the separation of powers," as well as into a larger sentiment from Democrats that there is now no way for Hochul to emerge unscathed.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her State of the State address in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink) | AP | Consider that a sitting judge told the Daily Beast this weekend "this is a shitshow" and several strategists captured the overarching mood that the situation has been "catastrophically handled from a communications and a political standpoint." That hasn't hit most New Yorkers yet — and might not ever. In addition to their general approval of her person and performance, voters gave good marks to Hochul's State of the State proposals, except for one that would allow SUNY to increase tuition. A majority thinks she'll make legitimate progress on one: creating jobs and opportunities for New Yorkers. But most don't think she'll make New York more affordable. They are also skeptical of her ability to build 800,000 new homes, fix the mental health system and make the state safer. Check out the rest of the Siena poll, which has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.3 percent: The majority of New Yorkers (including a strong plurality of Republicans) think Rep. George Santos should resign; they are evenly split on a casino in Manhattan; and Donald Trump's favorability hasn't been this low since 2021. IT'S MONDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: agronewold@politico.com and sgoldenberg@politico.com or on Twitter: @annagronewold and @sallygold WHERE'S KATHY? Making an economic development announcement in Dunkirk and talking about housing in Rochester. WHERE'S ERIC? Also making an economic development announcement in the Bronx, and appearing on "CBS Mornings." This evening he'll deliver remarks at a reception for New York's GRAMMY nominees. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "That is an issue that had to be dealt with early on, not 10 days before the election. The governor didn't realize soon enough where the trouble was." — former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to The New York Times on how Hochul's failure to emphasize public safety hurt Democrats in the House
| | | | A message from Community Offshore Wind: Community Offshore Wind is helping New York meet its ambitious emissions reduction targets. But we're doing more than reducing emissions. We are lifting up communities and bringing widespread benefits across the state, introducing good-paying union jobs, creating inclusive workforce development programs, and empowering disadvantaged communities to ensure no one is left behind. We have strong roots in New York and we are deeply committed to ensuring that all New York communities thrive. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | "Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will soon house NYC asylum seekers as numbers swell: Mayor Adams," by Daily News' Larry McShane: "Mayor Adams announced plans Saturday for a fifth relief center to handle the city's continuing influx of asylum seekers — the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the borough waterfront. The new humanitarian operation will take in 1,000 single men relocated from another facility along with new arrivals as the number of asylum seekers in the city has climbed to more than 41,000 since last spring. The current number under city care is at nearly 28,000 in the the city's four Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers, the mayor said, adding the new Brooklyn operation will open soon." — Deaf migrants are losing access to in-person sign language interpreters. "Black mayors call public safety, homelessness biggest issues for New York, LA and Houston," by ABC News' Meghan Mistry: "For the first time in history, Black mayors are leading America's four largest cities. ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl recently sat down with three of them — New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner — in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of the annual gathering of the countries' mayors. 'It's a moment for us,' Adams told Karl in the interview, which aired on ABC's 'This Week.' 'It's a moment that we are now really going after those tough challenges and historical problems that we fought for many years to be in the driver's seat.'" "Construction worker deaths reach 5-year high as lawmakers seek to hold companies responsible," by WNYC's Laura Bratton: "Last year, 22 New York City construction workers were killed while on the job, according to newly released federal data from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration shared with Gothamist. And three deaths occurred just last month. Construction companies convicted of criminal negligence that led to an employee's severe injury or death could face penalties of up to $500,000, according to a new law going into effect this weekend. But advocates doubt the higher fine under Carlos' Law will significantly reduce worker deaths, which have reached their highest count in at least five years." "After year of hardships, some fired unvaccinated city workers win jobs back," by The City's Yoav Gonen: "Since September, more than a dozen city workers already terminated or facing termination for not complying with the mandate have won orders for their reinstatement. State Supreme Court judges found that the city failed to adequately justify its denial of requests for religious accommodations."
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA'S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "How donors use 'Super PACs' to attempt to influence elections," by Newsday's Michael Gormley: "By law, these groups can't coordinate their efforts with candidates or parties, but independent expenditure committees often mirror the views of the candidates they support, or try to reduce support of the candidates they oppose. The force of these committees, also known as super PACs — short for super political action committees — was particularly strong in the November congressional and state elections. Independent expenditure groups amassed $44.9 million statewide in 2022 and $51.5 million in 2021 — the two-year period leading to campaigns for state office and Congress decided in November, according to state records." "Ahead of meeting Monday, state releases more details on Bills stadium deal, community benefits agreement," by Buffalo News' Jon Harris: "The meeting comes as the state, Erie County and the Bills close in on finalizing all agreements and contracts related to the new stadium. On Thursday, the Erie County Legislature approved an environmental impact study on the stadium, which kicked off a 30-day window for Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, to approve all elements of the final Bills deal. The documents released ahead of Monday's meeting provide further detail on several aspects of the project — including the all-important community benefits agreement, which outlines the direct benefits the region would receive from the stadium deal. "New York got infrastructure money, then inflation happened," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "More than a dozen local government organizations, business groups and labor unions are urging New York lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul to add more than $1 billion in spending for highway improvement projects this year. 'You drive around,' Brancatella said. 'I'm sure you've noticed some potholes in your neighborhood along routes. So, there is a cost to New York residents in not appropriately funding infrastructure.' Inflation has made for a bumpier road: Costs for fuel are up 256%; asphalt prices have increased 77.5%; steel by more than 115%." #UpstateAmerica: Schenectady's Micropolitan Matchmakers are helping Capital Region hearts find love "organically" (no apps).
| | | | A message from Community Offshore Wind:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "Santos doesn't appear to contest authenticity of resurfaced drag photo: 'I had fun at a festival,'" by CNN's Nicole Grether and Betsy Klein: "Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos on Saturday didn't challenge the accuracy of a recently surfaced photo that apparently shows him in drag, though he disputed claims that he was a 'drag queen in Brazil.' 'No, I was not a drag queen in Brazil, guys. I was young and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life,' the New York lawmaker told reporters at LaGuardia Airport, marking his first public response to reports that surfaced earlier this week." PATH TO POWER — Read Spectrum's NY1 Kevin Frey's four-part series on Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' rise: "Brooklyn roots laid groundwork for Rep. Jeffries," "Inside Jeffries' rise from NYS Assembly to Congress," " Jeffries' push to reform the criminal justice system, " and "Assessing Jeffries' leadership style and the potential challenges ahead" "Gillibrand, Looking Left, Launches Campaign For a Third Term," by The New York Times' Nicholas Fandos: "Strategists close to New York's Working Families Party and other left-leaning groups said their movement was now debating how to recalibrate after embarrassing losses in high-profile citywide and statewide races in 2021 and 2022. Besides, with her liberal track record, Ms. Gillibrand is not a top target."
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don't miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Fox News weatherman Adam Klotz said he was beaten up on the subway. — Roland Conner will be New York's first 'justice-involved' cannabis dispensary owner. — Jury selection begins today in the criminal trial of Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin and local Republicans are nervous. — Abdullah el-Faisal is the first person to face trial under state laws passed after Sept. 11 that made it a felony to give terrorists financial or other material support before an attack. — Sarah Lawrence College sex cult leader Lawrence Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison. — A graffiti-coated tunnel in Washington Heights was quietly painted over by city officials over the weekend, prompting backlash and allegations of whitewashing from local residents. "They erased history," one said. — Martine Materasso, the newly minted head of the NYPD's Housing Bureau, told the New York Post in her first day on the job that addressing violence and quality of life issues in public housing will be among her top priorities. | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Norah O'Donnell … Rolling Stone's Patrick Reis … CNN's Aaron Pellish … Edelman Global Advisory's Daniel Workman … Kelsey Sutton … POLITICO's Joe Anuta … Andrew Thal … (was Sunday): Josh Earnest … Commerce's Francie Harris … Kendra Barkoff Lamy of SKDK … Reuters' Jim Oliphant … POLITICO's Zach Warmbrodt and Jesse Shapiro … Akin Gump's Ken Gross … Elise Flick … Brianna Ehley of FGS Global … NBC's Ashley Codianni … CNN's Sarah Jorgensen … Kevin Bohn … Gilbert Levine ... Gideon Taylor ... Josh Ho-Sang ... … (was Saturday): former A.G. Eric Holder … Tyler Cowen … CNN's Sam Feist … Getty Images' Win McNamee … Edelman Smithfield's Sean Neary … Edelman DXI's Lyla Shaibi … former Commerce Secretary Gary Locke … ABC's Chris Donovan … Alex Plitsas … Matt Cooper … Josh Isay … Caite Irvine … James Waters … Cindi Leive … Mark Levenson ... Nahiomy Alvarez MAKING MOVES — Columbia has announced Minouche Shafik as its next president. She is an economist and the current president of the London School of Economics and Political Science. … Mia Ehrenberg is now a press secretary at DHS. She most recently was comms director for Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), and is a Nancy Pelosi alum. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Sarah Heck, an alum of Stripe and the Obama NSC and State Department, and Andrew Heck, head of finance at Dexterity, on Dec. 19 welcomed William, who joins older siblings Phillip and Caroline.Pic... Another pic WEDDING — New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom's daughter got married on Saturday night. Aiyanna Williams Isom and Chika-Dike Nwokike wed at the Weylin in Williamsburg.
| | | | A message from the Community Offshore Wind: At Community Offshore Wind, our commitment to our communities is at the heart of everything we do. We have strong roots in New York and are deeply committed to delivering widespread benefits across the state. These include creating job training programs that will generate and protect good-paying union jobs, investing in the workforce of tomorrow focusing on youth education and enrichment, and creating an inclusive clean energy future that empowers disadvantaged communities. We are also reestablishing New York as the energy manufacturing hub and shifting the offshore wind supply chain from global to local. The clean energy transition is about more than just energy. It's about making sure that we are creating a future that allows everyone to thrive. | | | | | Real Estate | | "AG recovers $420K from LI's largest apartment landlord," by The Real Deal's Holden Walter-Warner: "New York State Attorney General Letitia James made Long Island's largest apartment owner feel a bit smaller. James' office recovered more than $422,000 from Fairfield Properties, which was illegally withholding partial or full security deposits from former tenants. Authorities said Fairfield is required to return those security deposits to tenants, as well as interest. …Fairfield is tasked with reaching out to former tenants and sending out checks."
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