| | | | By Sally Goldenberg, Anna Gronewold and Eleonora Francica | Presented by Compassion & Choices | President Joe Biden is in the Big Apple today and something feels ... familiar. The well-known Amtrak lover will visit Manhattan's west side to announce a nearly $300 million grant for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. It's a move that comes a day after he appeared in Baltimore to hail more than $6 billion in upgrades that will allow trains to travel through the city at up to 110 mph. Yet it's not the first time elected leaders have celebrated the start of the beleaguered Gateway Program to repair and expand the crumbling tunnel under the Hudson.
| President Joe Biden speaks at the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel North Portal on Jan. 30, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images | In 2009, officials did a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project before workers had to fill in where they started digging when New Jersey's then-Gov. Chris Christie pulled its funding. The project was then revived after the tunnels incurred significant damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, only to be held up by the Trump administration. But now the latest announcements, whichstem from the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure law that Biden signed his first year in office, is supposed to be different. They offer an opportunity to tout concrete wins after a tumultuous few months of supply chain woes, air travel meltdowns and a threatened rail strike. And this time around, elected leaders see reason to be optimistic.
“It lets people know that we’re really getting things done,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a major backer of the project, said in an interview. “It shows we can do big, important, necessary things when it comes to infrastructure.” Those on the west side of the river shared his optimism. “The good news is it’s full steam ahead," said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat who represents many New Jersey commuters. "Now we just have to keep it on track." — Danielle Muoio Dunn IT’S TUESDAY. 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? With President Biden in Manhattan. WHERE’S ERIC? With President Biden in Manhattan and meeting with United Cities and Local Governments Secretary-General Emilia Saiz.
| | A message from Compassion & Choices: Stacey Gibson's husband, Sid, spent his final days suffering needlessly because lawmakers failed to ensure access to the full range of end-of-life care options, including medical aid in dying. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stacey is now fighting for the right to peace at the end of life for herself should she need it. Tell lawmakers to stop the suffering and pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act in 2023. Learn More. | | | | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | Crime and shelter population are up: citywide performance report, by POLITICO’s Sally Goldenberg: Mayor Eric Adams took the stage at Queens Theater last week to declare “the state of our city is strong.” But a citywide performance report paints a weaker picture. Major felony crimes are up, more people are sleeping in homeless shelters and city-financed affordable housing declined during the first four months of Fiscal Year 2023, compared to the same period the prior year. Those statistics were included in a charter-mandated, 408-page report Adams released Monday afternoon. The analysis of each city agency’s performance contained some bright spots: Traffic deaths dropped by 9.5 percent, private-sector employment grew — bringing it to nearly pre-pandemic levels — and more small businesses opened with the help of City Hall. But across some of New York's most pressing issues, trends are headed away from the mayor’s goals. “Penn’d In: MTA’s Second Rail Mega-Project Stuck in Mire,” by THE CITY’s Jose Martinez: “The MTA’s plans to bring Metro-North trains to Penn Station and build four new stations in The Bronx are expected to be delayed by at least six to nine months, agency officials said Monday — blaming Amtrak, again. The slowdown on the $2.8 billion Penn Access mega-project was revealed just days after a mammoth Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) hub opened deep beneath Grand Central Terminal. The MTA also partially blamed that project’s delays and cost overruns on the federally funded national rail service.” — “NYC contractor for busted 2/3 subway elevators behind on other repairs,” New York Post’s Nolan Hicks and Georgett Roberts: “The MTA’s program to replace elevators at three subway stations in Brooklyn and Manhattan is months behind an already extended deadline and spending almost double the original budget, agency documents show.” “NYC proposes raise for Uber drivers after last hike was struck down,” by Daily News’ Tim Balk: “The city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed a rule on Monday that would lift wages for Uber and Lyft drivers by about 9% from current rates, after a New York judge struck down a similar planned raise. The taxi commission, which regulates wage rates for cabs and app-based ride services, detailed the revised raise in a 13-page notice that scheduled a March 1 public hearing for the plan.” “In wake of Tyre Nichols’ death, NYC Mayor Adams defends NYPD’s own anti-gun unit,” by Daily News’ Michael Gartland: “Adams, a former NYPD captain, said Monday during an appearance on CNN that none of the Memphis police officers captured on camera beating Nichols had a ‘level head,’ but that specific police units aren’t necessarily to blame for such abuse.”
| | 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 | | “Hochul vetoes expansion of New York's wrongful death law,” by Spectrum News’ Nick Reisman: “A bill that would have expanded New York's wrongful death law to cover emotional anguish and allow a broader set of people to bring claims was vetoed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday night. The move was not unexpected: Hochul on Monday had proposed a last-minute compromise with legislators that would have narrowed the focus of the bill and exempt medical malpractice claims. State lawmakers who sponsored the wrongful death proposal rejected the idea."
“‘Hot Spot’ Cops Killed Tyre Nichols in Memphis. Hochul Wants More in New York,” by New York Focus’ Chris Gelardi: “The governor’s policing agenda centers on beefing up a grant program that pushes local law enforcement to aggressively patrol crime-dense communities, closely monitor their members, and compile information on likely “offenders.” The initiative, the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, focuses on shootings, but grantees have used its resources to tackle everything from drug crime to parole enforcement. Hochul doubled funding for GIVE last year, and has proposed doubling it again in this year’s state budget.” “Last year, New York’s top 200 political donors gave more than bottom 206,000,” by Times Union’s Rebekah F. Ward: “The political influence of New York’s wealthiest donors has been skyrocketing. Last year, the state's 200 most prodigal benefactors supported candidates up and down the ballot, shelling out almost $16 million to statewide and legislative races. In comparison, the 206,000 people who spent $250 or less collectively gave $13.5 million in donations, according to an analysis of public data by OpenSecrets and the Brennan Center for Justice.” #UpstateAmerica: How far is too far for a Wegmans fan? The chain is carrying more and more of its own products, crowding out some national brands.
| | A message from Compassion & Choices: | | | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | “Manhattan Prosecutors Will Begin Presenting Trump Case to Grand Jury,” by The New York Times William K. Rashbaum, Ben Protess and Jonah E. Bromwich: “The Manhattan district attorney’s office on Monday began presenting evidence to a grand jury about Donald J. Trump’s role in paying hush money to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign, laying the groundwork for potential criminal charges against the former president in the coming months, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The grand jury was recently impaneled, and the beginning of witness testimony represents a clear signal that the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, is nearing a decision about whether to charge Mr. Trump.”
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | New York Republicans want George Santos gone. They know just the person to help, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta: Anne Donnelly officially became the county’s top prosecutor just over a year ago, propelled by a campaign focused on state bail laws and funded almost single-handedly by the county Republican Party. She is a 32-year veteran of the DA’s office who has conducted wide-ranging investigations against gangs and white-collar criminals. And last month, she pledged in strikingly strong terms to train her expertise on newly elected Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.). That pronouncement launched her from relative obscurity into national headlines.
— “Inside George Santos’s District Office: Nothing to See Here,” by The New York Times’ Dana Rubinstein
| | 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 | | — The Brooklyn district attorney’s office is investigating allegations of forgeries and favoritism in the borough’s Democratic Party after reports from THE CITY. — A cocaine delivery dealer in Manhattan was convicted of dealing powder cut with fentanyl that killed three people in a day. — Some migrants are refusing to move from the Watson Hotel to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, saying it would hurt their efforts to start a new life in the city. — Former GOP state Sen. Sue Serino will run for Dutchess County executive in 2023. — GOP Sen. Tom O’Mara wants New York to increase its max highway speed to 70 mph. — Some Brooklyn residents are expressing concerns with what they say was a lack of community involvement in the selection of the borough’s new NYPD precinct commander.
| | A message from Compassion & Choices: Stacey Gibson's beloved husband Sid was diagnosed with a rare degenerative motor neuron disease. When his treatment options ran out and he began to suffer, Sid decided to stop eating and drinking. It took twelve days for him to die. His slow, agonizing death was exactly what he feared and haunts Stacey to this day. Access to the compassionate option of medical aid in dying would ensure that no one's loved one is forced to suffer the way Sid did. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stacey is now advocating fighting for the right to peace at the end of life for herself should she need it. It’s time for our lawmakers to give terminally ill New Yorkers like Sid the choice to end their life with the peace and dignity they deserve by passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act in 2023. Learn More. | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: David Plotz … Dylan Byers … Michael Kempner of MWW … Tricia McLaughlin … NYT’s Katherine Miller … Tim Naftali … CNN’s Christine Romans and Clarissa Ward …Fox News’ Martha MacCallum … NBC’s Sarah Blackwill … Brooke Buchanan
MEDIAWATCH — Nick Garber is now politics reporter for Crain’s New York Business. He most recently was a local reporter/editor at Patch. MAKING MOVES — Alex Wunrow, previously the director of digital content for city comptroller Brad Lander, is now director of digital communications for NYC’s Department of Education. … Caitlin Rooney is now senior labor policy adviser for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on the Senate HELP Committee. She most recently was director of economic development for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). … … Maritza Silva-Farrell, executive director at ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York, is departing after 12 years. Deputy director Lucas Shapiro will be interim executive director as the board of directors oversees a search for Silva-Farrell’s replacement. … Bill Rockwood is now finance counsel for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). He previously was deputy legislative director for Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) and executive director of the Future Forum Caucus.
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