| | | | |  | | By Danielle Muoio Dunn, Zachary Schermele and Joseph Spector | | | |  Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer speaks at a summit on May 5 in New York City. | Getty Images for The Asian American Foundation | New York City officials and advocates are making a concerted push to get their priority bills up for the final floor vote in Albany. The Adams administration is headed there on Tuesday — with just nine days left until the legislative session ends — to press state lawmakers for new housing legislation as the city stares down a worsening affordability crisis. Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and outgoing Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz will meet with committee chairs to push measures that will make it easier to convert unused office space to housing, eliminate a cap on residential density and extend the 421-a tax break meant to spur affordable housing production, a City Hall spokesperson told POLITICO. Lawmakers are still hoping they can get some smaller housing initiatives over the finish line, after Gov. Kathy Hochul dropped her sweeping proposal to boost development from budget negotiations amid fierce resistance from the suburbs. Another bill gaining steam before the six-month session in Albany ends June 8 is “Sammy’s Law,” which would allow the city to set speed limits as low as 20 miles per hour to contend with a troubling rise in traffic fatalities and serious injuries over the last several years. Last week, the City Council passed a “home rule” message in support of the bill. It’s a significant move because city lawmakers didn’t take that step in 2022, and state politicians said their failure to do so killed the bill in Albany. But that doesn’t make it a done deal. The Council, in 2021, did approve a resolution supporting the new speed limit — but the Assembly didn’t hold a final vote before the summer. It could come down to the Assembly yet again. Hochul and the state senate have voiced support for Sammy’s Law in their budget proposals this year. A spokesperson for the Assembly didn’t return a request for comment. Lawmakers are also eyeing a host of updates to the state’s alcohol laws, and there’s optimism of approval for the long-sought Clean Slate Act, which would seal formerly incarcerated people’s criminal records after a period of time. IT’S TUESDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? In Erie County and Albany, kicking off an Environmental Bond Act listening tour. WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City, touring the Renaissance Technical Institute.
| | A message from Uber: Uber riders have already paid $629 Million in Congestion Pricing fees while personal cars and Amazon trucks haven’t paid a cent. Even all electric Uber Green cars are charged for Congestion Pricing while gas trucks pay nothing. 14,500 Uber riders have opposed increasing fees on Ubers. Learn More. | | | |  | ABOVE THE FOLD | |
“Despite Hochul’s Vow, Her Policies Have Indirectly Aided Husband’s Firm,” by The New York Times’ Jay Root: “The day before she was sworn into office, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York signed an unusual recusal policy forbidding her from using her position to help Delaware North, a global giant in entertainment and hospitality services. The privately held company — which owns or manages 11 gambling venues and numerous hotels, and handles concessions at scores of stadiums, airports and parks — employs Ms. Hochul’s husband, William Hochul, as its senior vice president and top lawyer.
Yet Ms. Hochul’s recusal, and an even more sweeping addendum she signed two months later, hasn’t stopped the governor from taking actions that could benefit Delaware North or hurt its competitors, especially near Buffalo, the governor’s hometown.”
|  A pedestrian crosses the street near Elmhurst Hospital Center on Dec. 16, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. | Frank Franklin II/AP Photo | Historic New York doctors’ strike points to growing labor movement, by POLITICO’s Maya Kaufman: A strike this week by resident physicians at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, a public hospital serving one of the world’s most ethnically diverse communities, lasted just three days. Only 130 doctors participated. Still, it was enough to make history. The work stoppage, which started Monday and culminated Wednesday with a tentative deal, was the first doctors’ strike in the city in over three decades, according to the Committee of Interns and Residents, the union representing the physicians.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | |
“Suburban Democrats lost. Now they wield all the power,” by City & State’s Rebecca C. Lewis: “Albany has gone through significant upheaval in the past decade-and-a-half, with power changing hands between parties, break-away conferences forming, governors resigning and new powers emerging. But through it all, regardless of the particular political landscape or who may find themselves leading at any given time, the suburbs in particular have managed to ensure that the voices of their constituents are heard — and heeded — in the halls of the Capitol.”
“Manhattan Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell apologizes to Catalina Cruz for ‘grow a pair’ remark,” by New York Post’s Zach Williams “COVID led to hundreds of millions being paid for travel nurses,” by Times Union’s Josh Solomon: “The contracts reveal the hidden cost for health care workers as rates were negotiated at a time when hospitals were running short of staffed beds because of a lack of workers available to sufficiently and legally care for them, according to records obtained by the Times Union through Freedom of Information Law requests with the Office of the State Comptroller.” | | What City Hall's reading | |
“Mayor Adams Loses Series of Top Appointees in First Year-and-a-Half,” by Gotham Gazette’s Samar Khurshid: “A growing list of the Democratic mayor’s top appointees have left the administration, including senior officials who announced their resignations before the mayor’s first year in office had even concluded. It’s an unusually high level of turnover at the highest levels of city government, particularly for a mayor who has prided himself on the promise of being a good manager.”
“Secrecy on Severe Jail Injuries Spurs Rikers Monitor to Sound Alarm,” by THE CITY’s Reuven Blau: “The damning special report by federal monitor Steve Martin filed on Friday called into question Correction Commissioner Louis Molina’s ability to reform the beleaguered department.” “Why New York City’s Lifeguard Shortage Is Even Worse This Year,” by The New York Times’ Corey Kilgannon and Dana Rubinstein: “New York City is entering the summer swimming season confronting its worst lifeguard shortage on record — something officials say is partly the result of a bitter fight between the city and the little-known but extraordinarily powerful unions that represent lifeguards.” “Shuttered jail near Central Park to house migrants in NYC,” by New York Post’s Bernadette Hogan and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon “‘Perfect storm’ of anti-Asian violence, bias in NY fuels mental health crisis,” by WNYC’s Arya Sundaram
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | |
— Public health officials around the country and in New York City are warning of an mpox resurgence this summer and are urging those at risk to get vaccinated.
— An NYPD officer said in a lawsuit he was threatened by union officials for ignoring courtesy cards that are used to get out of tickets. — Tenants are advocating to dismantle barriers around a law that prohibits landlords from collecting rent when they fail to fix dangerous conditions. — The MTA’s tap-and-go OMNY system has been plagued with delays and cost overruns. — It certainly felt like the start of summer this Memorial Day weekend at city beaches. — Manhattanhenge is here — here’s how to take it in.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC’s Frank Thorp … NYT’s Michelle Cottle and Kirsten Danis … CNN’s Eric Levenson … former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) … Yale’s Natasha Sarin … Lisa Stark … Cayla O’Connell Davis … Brian Infante … Hunter Williams … (was Monday): Matthew Dowd … former Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) … The Forward’s Jacob Kornbluh … (was Sunday): Rudy Giuliani … Uber’s Josh Gold … AP’s Andrew Harnik … Isabella Moschen Storey … Kim Ton-That … Coleen Jose … Michelle Fawbush Donnelly …
… (was Saturday): Henry Kissinger (1-0-0) … David Plouffe … NYT’s Campbell Robertson and Noam Scheiber … NBC’s Cynthia McFadden … Andrew Seidman … Thalia Assuras … Katharine Galaxy (Gallogly) MEDIAWATCH — “After four decades leading WAMC, President and CEO Dr. Alan Chartock retires,” by WAMC Northeast Public Radio: “Then a political science professor at SUNY New Paltz, Chartock started leading WAMC in 1981 when Albany Medical College handed over the FM signal. Since then, WAMC has grown into an award-winning 29-station network serving seven Northeast states.” WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Haley Draznin, founder and producer at audio and digital video production company Haynow Media, and Jason Leibowitz, CEO and co-founder at cryptocurrency investment consultancy LeboBTC Ledger Group, on Tuesday welcomed Stevie Rose Leibowitz, who joined big brother Brody Jack. Pic ... Another pic
| | A message from Uber: If you own a townhouse on the Upper West Side, you don’t pay any Congestion Pricing.
If you’re a renter in the Bronx you already pay $2.75 in Congestion Pricing on every Uber trip into Manhattan’s congestion zone.
Over 165,000 Uber trips start in outer borough low income neighborhoods and end in Manhattan. 14,500 Uber riders have opposed increasing fees on Ubers. Learn More. | | | | | Real Estate | |
“Landlords Will Soon Have to Inform Tenants About Flood Risks,” by THE CITY’s Samantha Maldonado: “Starting June 21, rental leases across New York State must include information on whether a property is in a floodplain or has experienced damage due to flooding in the past, along with the typical details about subletting, lead-based paint and security deposits.”
“Hudson Yards developer reveals revised $10 billion bid for casino,” by New York Post’s Steve Cuozzo, Josh Kosman and Carl Campanile: “Related CEO Jeff Blau said the proposed $10 billion development plan for the Yards’ entire western half will be kick-started by the 3 million-square-foot, Wynn-branded ‘resort’ tower — which would also house a 1,700-room hotel to serve the struggling Javits Center — as the developer seeks to snag the precious gaming license.” | | | | 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 | | | | |
