| | | | |  | | By Joseph Spector and Eleonora Francica | | | |  State Sen. Cordell Cleare (D-Manhattan) speaks during a rally in protection of the state's bail laws in Albany, N.Y., on April 17, 2023. | Eleonora Francica/POLITICO | Gov. Kathy Hochul offered another budget extender Monday to keep the state government operating. But this one came with a bit of a twist. Instead of a one-week extender, it will go only to Thursday — serving as either a sign of progress toward a budget deal or, more likely, an effort to keep lawmakers in town through the week. After the last extender a week ago, legislators were quick to get on the state Thruway to head home. This time, they might have to pass another extender Thursday so state employees can get paid and services can continue to operate. “It keeps us on our toes, and hopefully it'll have some help toward a final solution,” Albany-area Sen. Neil Breslin said about the short extender that the Legislature will pass Tuesday. Either way, until a deal is brokered, the 213 lawmakers will continue to not get paid a portion of their $142,000 salary — which is the highest among state legislators in the nation. Officials familiar with the negotiations — which included a leaders meeting over the weekend — didn’t offer much hope Monday of an agreement this week, saying many issues remain unresolved, such as how to build new housing, whether to expand charter schools in New York City and how to fund shortfalls at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. POLITICO reported earlier this month that the sides were in agreement on changes in line with Hochul’s proposal to toughen the state’s controversial bail law. And City & State on Monday indicated that one of the pieces is to remove the least restrictive standard that judges can use to set bail, but to also make clear that bail should be used only as a way to ensure a defendant’s return to court — a key plank for progressive Democrats. But not everyone is satisfied with the looming bail deal. Advocates and some Democratic lawmakers earlier Monday held a rally on the Million Dollar Staircase to rail against removing the least restrictive standard. “It's unconscionable to make any changes to the law when jail populations across the state have substantially increased and deaths in jail have become more frequent,” Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) said.
| | | | A message from the Seneca Nation: After 20 years, the Seneca Nation’s gaming Compact expires in December. What’s at stake for New York’s economy? Over 5,000 direct jobs, supporting New Yorkers and their families. Over $250 million in annual spending with nearly 4,000 businesses in New York State and across the country. An annual economic impact of more than $1 Billion. Help keep New York strong. Let the State know you support a fair and equitable Seneca gaming Compact. Visit StandWithSeneca.com today. | | | |  | From the Capitol | | |  New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals nominee, Rowan D. Wilson, gives testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, April 17, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink) | Hans Pennink/AP Photo | CHIEF JUDGE ALERT: No, there’s no budget deal, but the state will soon have a new chief judge. The state Senate Judiciary Committee approved the elevation of Rowan Wilson to the role of New York’s top judge on Monday afternoon, the first step in ending months of gridlock over the leadership of the state highest court, POLITICO’s Bill Mahoney reports. Wilson has served as an associate judge on the Court of Appeals since 2017. Wilson, who will be the first Black chief judge, is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate on Tuesday. BOND ACT LISTENING TOUR: State officials are kicking off a listening tour about spending the $4.2 billion environmental bond act. "The listening tour will offer an opportunity for the public, municipalities, and other potential applicants to learn how they can leverage these funds to help New York State reach our climate goals while growing our economy,” Hochul said in a statement. The first session will be held May 30 at 1 p.m. at the University at Buffalo Center for Tomorrow - North Campus, 125 Service Center Road, Buffalo. Several more are planned across the state, along with two virtual sessions. The bond act includes $1.5 billion for climate change mitigation projects, $1.1 billion for restoration and flood risk reduction and $650 million for open space conservation and recreation. Some of the requirements for funds allocated for water infrastructure are already out for public comment, as well. — Marie J. French | | | | A message from the Seneca Nation:   | | | | | From City Hall | | |  New York Mayor Eric Adams, center, speaks alongside Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., left, on the sidelines of an upcoming House Judiciary Committee Field Hearing, Monday, April 17, 2023, in New York. Republicans upset with Donald Trump's indictment are escalating their war on the prosecutor who charged him, trying to embarrass him on his home turf. The House Judiciary Committee is holding a field hearing Monday near the offices of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) | John Minchillo/AP Photo | “HYPOCRISY”: Mayor Eric Adams and other prominent New York Democrats spent Monday morning criticizing the House Judiciary Committee’s field hearing at the federal building in lower Manhattan. Adams — alongside Reps. Jerry Nadler, Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman — called the proceedings a political sham and part of a broader GOP strategy to undermine the credibility of the Manhattan district attorney investigating former President Donald Trump. “It is really troubling that Americans’ taxpayer dollars are being used to come here on this junket to do an examination of the safest big city in America,” he told reporters before the hourslong hearing. Although Nadler didn’t give an exact dollar amount of how much the trip cost the committee, he speculated it’s probably in the tens of thousands. The panel heard from a formerly incarcerated bodega clerk and the mother of a homicide victim, as well as Robert Holden, a uniquely right-leaning Queens Democrat. Adams said neither he nor anyone at City Hall was asked by the committee to testify. — Zachary Schermele
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | | | 
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) leaves a House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill on Jan. 25, 2023. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo | SANTOS FOR REELECTION: Long Island Rep. George Santos may have fooled voters once about his resume, but he’ll try to retain their support next year. Santos, the famed fabulist, said Monday he will seek a second term in 2024 for the House seat that straddles Long Island and Queens. “I am proudly announcing my bid for re-election for #NY03. This is about TAKING BACK our country and restoring greatness back to New York,” Santos wrote on Twitter, linking to his campaign donation website. “Good isn’t good enough, and I’m not shy about doing what it takes to get the job done,” Santos said in a statement. “I’m proud to announce my candidacy to run for re-election and continue to serve the people of NY-3.”
| | | | A message from the Seneca Nation: In 2002, the Seneca Nation signed a gaming Compact with New York State allowing the Nation to operate three casinos. After two decades and nearly $2 Billion in private investments, the impact has been transformational. Today, the Seneca Nation is a vital economic engine, employing over 5,000 New Yorkers. The Nation and its enterprises also spend more than $250 million each year with approximately 4,000 businesses across the state, supporting thousands of additional jobs at companies of every size.
What does that all mean? It means an economic impact of more than $1 Billion every year.
The Seneca Nation’s current gaming compact expires in December 2023. Thousands of individuals, families, companies, and many communities are depending on a fair and equitable Seneca gaming Compact for their future. Stand with us and let New York’s leaders know that you support us and the people who depend on us. Visit StandWithSeneca.com today. | | | | | EARTH WEEK: The city is taking a closer look at New Yorkers’ carbon footprint. Adams said Monday that the city’s annual greenhouse gas inventory will also report emissions involved in the production of goods and services New Yorkers consume, even if they come from outside city limits. The data found food was the third-largest source of emissions, ranking behind buildings and transportation. The city has committed to reduce absolute carbon emissions from food purchases across agencies by 33 percent by 2030. Adams, who has a plant-based diet, said in a statement the “new emissions report shows us that plant-powered food isn’t just good for our physical and mental health, but good for the planet as well.” — Danielle Muoio Dunn CLASS SIZE WORKING GROUP CONVENED: The Department of Education announced the members of the working group that will offer feedback for DOE leadership on the state’s new class size law. Working group members include parents, teachers, principals, advocates; members of the Panel for Educational Policy, the DOE’s governing body; and the city’s principal and teachers unions. Representatives for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Sen. Robert Jackson, Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams are also in the working group. The group will start meeting this week. In February, schools Chancellor David Banks said the DOE was planning to start a working group made up of a variety of stakeholders like parents and school leaders. “The class size mandates included in the legislation passed last year will require difficult decisions and trade-offs in the years ahead, as well as require more funding and other resources,” Banks said in a statement. In September, Hochul signed legislation requiring class sizes to be reduced to between 20 and 25 students — depending on the grade — over five years. But she delayed implementation by a year, from September 2027 to September 2028. The members include City Council Education Chair Rita Joseph, Randi Levine of Advocates for Children of New York and Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters. — Madina Touré
| | — Wyoming County asked Hochul to declare a state of emergency regarding the overdose epidemic affecting the county. (WKBW) — The FBI is accusing two New Yorkers of operating an overseas police station for the Chinese government from Chinatown in Manhattan. It comes after The New York Times first reported in January on the bureau’s investigation into the outpost. — Rent prices in New York City keep going up. (NBC New York) — Farmingdale is ready to welcome the Special Olympics Spring Games, in which more than 500 athletes with intellectual disabilities are expected to attend. (Patch) | | | | 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 | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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