DeSantis angers Rockland's GOP chair

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Jun 29, 2023 View in browser   By Julia Marsh and Hajah Bah Presented by Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a town hall event in Hollis, N.H., Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds) | AP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis irked an influential New York Republican after his presidential campaign failed to coordinate a Rockland County fundraiser with the local party leader. The suburban county’s GOP Chair Lawrence Garvey told POLITICO he got no heads up from the DeSantis campaign before it sent out a flier for a $6,600-a-person June 29 fundraiser with “major business leaders” at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern. “The Republican Party is a big tent and we’re always honored to have national figures come to Rockland County. At the same time there’s courtesies and protocols involved,” Garvey said. “While we understand communication can sometimes be difficult, we nevertheless think that communication is necessary,” Garvey continued, adding that he was “disappointed” when he didn’t get an apology for the slight. A DeSantis campaign rep did not return messages. The campaign moved the fundraiser to a more private venue after Democratic groups planned to protest the event, according to a source. The original venue is part of first-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler’s 17th Congressional district, which is a key target for Democrats and their plan to retake the House in 2024. Lawler, like most of the Republican congressional delegation from New York, has not said who he’ll back to challenge President Joe Biden. A spokesperson for the congressman did not bite when asked to comment. This week’s Siena Poll found 61 percent of New York Republicans would vote for Donald Trump if the primary happened now. If Trump wasn’t the nominee, DeSantis would the next favorite pick by a wide margin. “Some people really like him,” a New York Republican official said. “‘He’s Trump-ish without the baggage,’ is the general feel.” That official said he wouldn’t expect the state’s congressional Republicans to start endorsing until at least this fall. “It’s a tough game,” he said. “You want to be in early, but you don’t want to be wrong.” DeSantis is also scheduled to collect donations at a Yale Club event in Manhattan on Thursday. The luncheon, another $6,600-a-plate affair, is hosted by some GOP throwbacks like William Heyman — an executive at Travelers who was nominated to a New York Fed advisory committee by then-President George W. Bush — and Buffalo real estate executive Nick Sinatra, who was a political director at the Bush White House. IT’S THURSDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City with no immediate public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering remarks at the “Founders are the new rockstars!” festival on the rooftop at Pier 17, speaking at a flag-raising ceremony for Kenya Green Park, attending a car dealer roundtable, and hosting a Caribbean-American heritage reception. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Don't stand in front like you treated someone that's on the plantation that you own. Give me the respect I deserve,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a Washington Heights town hall to a woman who was criticizing rent hikes by the Rent Guidelines Board.   A message from Grubhub: Grubhub and Seamless provide small businesses across New York City essential marketing services that help our local restaurants grow and reach new customers. Our neighborhood restaurants deserve more marketing choices so they can compete with national chains. Learn how NYC Council can support the restaurants we love.   ABOVE THE FOLD The Statue of Liberty is seen as people kayak on June 28 in New York City. Smoke from Canada's worst-ever wildfires was severely impacting air quality again. | AFP via Getty Images AIR QUALITY UPDATE: An existing air quality health advisory for all of New York will remain in effect through Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. State agencies are monitoring the impacts from Canadian wildfires. They issued the advisory after forecasts of levels of particulate matter pollution that fall under the “Unhealthy” and “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” Hochul also announced that a third crew of state forest rangers is being deployed to Quebec to help with the Canadian fire response. "As we continue to monitor air quality levels and provide communities with the information and tools they need to help prevent exposure to smoke-related air pollution, New Yorkers should remain vigilant and take steps to stay safe," Hochul said in a statement. BUDGET WOES: New York faces a nearly $10 billion deficit next fiscal year. But the state should still look to build its reserve funds as budget gaps are expected to grow in the coming years, according to a report from the Citizens Budget Commission called Making Hay While the Sun Shines. Under Hochul and previously Andrew Cuomo, the state has increased its rainy day savings from $2 billion to nearly $20 billion. But the business-backed group said New York should really have another $8 billion in the bank to address any economic downturn. Also, according to the group, the state should make a statutory change to allow for the rainy day fund to be increased — and add another $2.4 billion into it this year.   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     WHAT CITY HALL IS READING Because the library systems are not city agencies, they had more leeway to organize opposition against the proposed cuts. | Mark Lennihan/AP Photo Deal on restoring NYC public library cuts reached between Adams, Council for upcoming budget, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta:  The accord settles one of the most contentious issues ahead of a handshake agreement on the city’s spending plan, which is expected Thursday. It also calms concerns around an institution that’s beloved by New Yorkers across the economic spectrum, from celebrities who’ve been boosters like actor Ethan Hawke to newly-arrived immigrants who use libraries to learn English. MTA activates contract to install congestion pricing tolls, By Spectrum News’ Erica Bronson Daniel Penny Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter Charge in Subway Killing, by The New York Times’ Jonah E. Bromwich NYC Comptroller: Mayor Adams’ homeless sweeps were a 'policy failure', by Gothamist’s Ramsey Khalifeh: “Only 5% of people removed from homeless encampments by the Adams administration last year accepted temporary shelter, according to an audit released on Wednesday by the city comptroller’s office — and only three people secured permanent housing since the policy was first enacted.”   A message from Grubhub:   WHAT ALBANY'S READING Attorney General Letitia James sues 4 nursing homes, alleging 'inhumane' conditions, fraud, by Newsday’s Micheal Gormley: “The attorney general’s investigation reported that some residents were forced to sit for hours in their own waste; suffered severe dehydration; faced increased risk of death; developed infections and sepsis from untreated bed sores and inconsistent care of wounds; and suffered falls that caused permanent injuries and death.” Advocates: Budget hikes in tax credit, wages will help cut child poverty, by Times Union’s Raga Justin Authorities say NJ homeowner cut down 32 of neighbor's trees. The cost could be huge, by Gothamist’s Nancy Solomon: “A teleconferenced municipal court hearing on Tuesday for charges against Grant Haber drew so many people that the town prosecutor was initially unable to log on. Much of the attention appears to have been fueled by a Twitter post that had been retweeted thousands of times in the day heading into the session.”   SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY.     FROM THE DELEGATION ‘Not on my watch’: Schumer prevents $80M cut to Staten Island Ferry funding, by Staten Island Advance’s Erik Bascome The Campaign Trail Is he coming or not? Planned DeSantis fundraiser in Rockland may be canceled or moved, by Lohud’s Chris McKenna: “A coalition of LGBTQ advocacy and Democratic groups from New York City and the Rockland area had planned to stage a protest with speakers outside the hotel to denounce DeSantis for his policies as governor." AROUND NEW YORK — A city record of 100,000 people are in homeless shelters. (The New York Times) — A new alliance was formed to fight City Hall's efforts to crack down on coal-and-wood-fired ovens. (New York Post) — A Queens man pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle three Burmese pythons attached to his legs. (Times Union)   A message from Grubhub: "Without Grubhub's marketing services, we'd have a really tough time reaching new customers." - Beatrice Ajaero, Owner of Nneji in Queens, NY Beatrice opened her restaurant Nneji in Astoria, NY with the goal of sharing West African cuisine with her local community. Grubhub and Seamless help restaurants and restaurant owners, like Beatrice, introduce new and lesser known cuisines to the greater NYC area. Our neighborhood restaurants deserve more marketing choices so they can compete against national chains. Learn how NYC Council can support the local NYC restaurants we love.   SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY: CNN’s Evan Pérez … BerlinRosen’s Cathy Rought … H&R Block’s Kaya Singleton … POLITICO’s Garrett Ross … Tamera Luzzatto … Gabriella Demczuk … Caroline Eisen … (was Wednesday): Moses Marx  MEDIA MOVES — Rocio Fabbro and Laura Bratton are now business breaking news reporters at The Messenger, while Lily Meier is now a junior business breaking news reporter at the publication. Fabbro is a former editorial intern at Foreign Policy, Bratton is a former newsmagazine intern for New Hampshire Public Radio, and Meier most recently was an investigator at Mintz Group. WEEKEND WEDDING — Anthony Frisenda, founder and principal architect at Frisenda Architects, on Saturday married Sarah Whitham, senior associate of event marketing at Central Reach. The couple met at his cousin Dillon Fontaine’s wedding and they wed at Copake Country Club in Craryville, N.Y. Pic Real Estate A Long Trial Puts a Focus on Who’s to Blame for a Disastrous Construction Accident, by THE CITY's Tom Robbins   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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