| | | | |  | | By Nick Reisman, Jeff Coltin and Emily Ngo | | | With help from Jason Beeferman
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New York Republican Representatives Mike Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis and former Rep. Lee Zeldin rallied on Monday against Democrats' push to throw out the state's congressional map. The state's top court sided with Democrats on Tuesday. | Jason Beeferman/POLITICO | New York Republicans don’t consider themselves an endangered species despite a top court redistricting ruling that could upend pivotal House races in 2024. Rep. Mike Lawler insisted he isn’t sweating how his district could change – or what that could mean for his reelection chances. “I will be running for reelection, and I will win despite the Democrats’ best efforts to try and gerrymander these districts,” Lawler told Playbook on Tuesday, moments after the state’s top court ruled new maps should be drawn by the end of February. Nevertheless, the redistricting ruling from the state Court of Appeals will scramble the contentious New York House races that could ultimately decide which party controls the narrowly divided chamber after next year. An estimated six seats are expected to be in play; five are held by freshman Republicans, including Lawler’s Hudson Valley district. A best case scenario for Democrats and the worst case for Republicans: If the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission deadlocks over new maps in February the process is kicked to the Democratic supermajorities in the Legislature. Lawler’s opponent Mondaire Jones was an indirect casualty last year of the maps drawn by a court-appointed special master after Democratic-drawn maps were rejected by the top court. Former Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney announced his plans to run for Jones’ seat and lost to Lawler; Jones opted to run in an ultimately unsuccessful primary for a Manhattan House seat. Now Jones is back, and he said he does not believe a newly drawn map will give him a special advantage in unseating Lawler. For him, a new map is about fairness. “There is organizing around key issues impacting communities that is now less effective and less coherent as a direct result of what that special master did last year,” Jones told Playbook. “Dividing certain communities and having multiple members of Congress represent them is not ideal.” But New York Republicans are already gaming out how Democrats will target freshman GOP lawmakers with the new lines. “They’re going to make it harder for Michael Lawler. They’re going to make it harder for Brandon Williams. The Democrats are going to help Pat Ryan,” Vince Casale, a GOP consultant, said. “They can’t screw everybody, but I think they’ll take a whack at everyone they can.” Republicans have had few success stories in New York in recent years. An unabated streak of losing statewide elections for the party stretches back to 2006. But they were able to pick up key House districts on Long Island, the Hudson Valley and in Central New York in 2022. Issues like crime, inflation and the migrant crisis could still play to the GOP’s advantage next year – new maps or not. “You can’t make the entire state blue,” Casale said. “We all know that. And there’s going to be a whole set of issues that play to Republican strengths.” Top Democrats in New York, however, expect some restraint in how the maps could change. Egregiously drawn districts next year could send the redistricting process back to court once again. “We don’t want to redistrict anyone into oblivion,” State Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs said in an interview. “This is about fair maps. I think both sides want fair maps.” – Nick Reisman IT’S WEDNESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Tax Equity Now New York: New York City's property tax system is broken. For decades, political leaders and independent analysts have agreed that the City’s property tax system disproportionately burdens lower-income and minority neighborhoods and imposes higher taxes on the lowest-valued properties and owners. Learn more about the problem and what we’re doing to ensure NYC has the best and fairest property tax structure in the state and country by visiting TaxEquityNow.nyc. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? Doing an interview on CNN at 7:30 a.m. and then signing legislation in Manhattan to protect consumers. WHERE’S ERIC? Meeting with Israeli business leaders, signing the “Fair Housing Framework” bill, speaking at the Investor Leadership Network’s Annual CEO and Board Reception, appearing on 1010WINS’ “The PM Rush” and speaking at the Israeli American Council’s “Lights for Liberty” event. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He has to go to Washington. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and a closed mouth does not get fed” – Mayor Eric Adams’ chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin at the mayor’s briefing Tuesday about pushing for federal aid for the city’s migrant crisis.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | |  Three weeks have passed since a sexual assault allegation was first filed against Mayor Eric Adams in court, but there still has not been a summons issued to Adams or City Hall. | Mayoral Photography Office | ALLEGATION STANDSTILL: Three weeks have passed since a woman alleged in a court filing that Eric Adams sexually assaulted her 30 years ago when they both worked for the city. But no summons had been served to either the mayor or the city as of Tuesday, City Hall officials told Playbook. And no complaint had followed the summons as of Tuesday, according to court records. The woman and her attorney have not responded to repeated calls and emails from Playbook over the weeks. The complainant’s name is being withheld by Playbook. Adams, as a defendant, can make a written demand for the complaint, but he first must be served the summons. He has been adamant that he did no wrong. “I don’t even know who the person is,” the mayor said earlier this month. “That is not who I am. I’m a protector.” The Nov. 22 summons didn’t detail the alleged assault but it read, “The claims brought here allege intentional and negligent acts and omissions for physical, psychological, and other injuries suffered as a result of conduct that would constitute sexual offenses.” — Emily Ngo
| | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | | 
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams released his list of the city's worst landlords, and the top spot again went to Johnathan Santana, the managing agent for buildings owned by Keystone Management. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images | YOU’VE GOT TO CHANGE YOUR EVIL WAYS: New York City’s worst landlord is … Johnathan Santana. It’s his second straight year topping New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ list, his office exclusively told Playbook. But Santana set an ignoble record: the highest number of average open violations in the history of the list, going back more than a decade. Santana has 3,293 HPD violations across 306 units, from the Upper West Side to Middle Village. That means broken locks, collapsed ceilings, roaches, rats and mice, Hell Gate reported. The full list of 100 landlords will be released today at a rally with tenants of one of Santana's worst buildings in Hell’s Kitchen. Williams will talk about how budget cuts could hurt enforcement against bad landlords. Santana is the managing agent for buildings owned by Daniel Ohebshalom’s Keystone Management. The city won more than $4 million from Ohebshalom in three lawsuits over his buildings this year. His lawyer, Simon Reiff, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Williams himself has an open violation on the two-family home in Canarsie where he’s the landlord. According to HPD records, he’s failed to file a registration statement since 2019. His spokesperson said that’ll be resolved soon. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Eric Adams’ legal defense fund is raising money after hiring Michael Giaccio of the firm Bedford Grove, who’s worked for him before. (POLITICO Pro) — A bill to strictly limit the use of solitary confinement at Rikers Island may finally come to a City Council vote. (The City) — Adams said he’s most proud of his "ability to stay focused in the midst of so many distractions.” (ABC7)
| | | | A message from Tax Equity Now New York:   | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | |  An ad campaign to be launched this week by Better Buildings New York aims to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul to put New York’s climate goals into the state’s utility regulations. | Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | HEAT IS ON: A five-figure ad campaign will be launched this week to push Hochul to include in her budget plan a measure that would set New York’s climate goals into state’s utility regulations. Lawmakers and Hochul last year failed to reach an agreement on the measure, known as the NY HEAT Act. The ads will tout potential impacts of the measure, such as placing limits on natural gas expansion. The campaign launched by Better Buildings New York, a coalition of environmental groups and green industry organizations, comes as Hochul next month will unveil her budget plan and 2024 agenda. — Nick Reisman CUOMO COURT UPDATE: A federal judge overseeing a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday she plans to issue an order “shortly” requiring Attorney General Tish James’ office to give the court certain confidential documents about the investigation she ordered that drove Cuomo from office in 2021. Brooklyn-based Magistrate Judge Taryn Merkl told Cuomo’s lawyer Rita Glavin that the former governor’s deposition in a lawsuit brought by a female state trooper who served on his protective detail would not be kept on hold while that complex legal fight about federal courts’ power over state entities’ records plays out. “I just don’t think these documents are going to be landing on your desk in the near future,” the judge said, adding that she plans to review the records privately and any decision will be appealed. “It’s going to go to the circuit and the Supreme Court and back before we have resolution on this.” During a two-hour hearing, Merkl expressed frustration with both sides that the battles over evidence and depositions have dragged out for about a year. “This is never going to end,” she said. “We need to … figure out a way to unstick this mess.” Following a POLITICO report last month that Cuomo is mulling a possible bid for New York City mayor, some lawyers involved in the morass of litigation are complaining that Cuomo’s broad discovery demands are designed to advance his political goals. In a letter Monday to a different magistrate judge, attorneys for Cuomo accuser and former governor’s office assistant Charlotte Bennett called it “painfully obvious” that Cuomo’s requests are being pursued “in hopes of launching an unlikely comeback.” — Josh Gerstein More from Albany: — Republican state lawmakers are blasting the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. (WSHU) — Janitors in commercial office buildings could vote to go on strike. (LoHud) — Lawmakers want to increase the cap on short-term disability payments. (Spectrum News)
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | | | 
Expelled Rep. George Santos appeared in federal court on Long Island on Tuesday as part of a case that has over 1.3 million pages of discovery documents for his defense team to review. | Stefan Jeremiah/AP | POST EXPULSION: George Santos’ life after Congress will involve not just Cameo appearances but sifting through what his lawyer disclosed Tuesday is 1,312,210 pages of discovery so far. The ousted Republican representative and prosecutors are in plea talks in his federal fraud case. At a Tuesday court hearing on Long Island, Judge Joanna Seybert denied prosecutors’ request to move up the September trial date. She also noted that Santos has more time to go through the evidence against him since they “don’t have the issue of the defendant having to go to Washington on a regular basis.” Santos didn’t take reporters’ questions but wished them — and Playbook — happy holidays. — Emily Ngo LAURA LOVE: Former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is endorsing Laura Gillen in the 4th Congressional District, the Democrat exclusively told Playbook. Gillen is running in a tense Long Island South Shore primary against state Sen. Kevin Thomas — with the winner expected to take on Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in November. Of course, the contours of the districts are up in the air following Tuesday’s ruling. But Democrats will be gunning for a win in a county that’s become reliably red. The two Lauras “have worked together for years” when Gillen was Hempstead supervisor, Curran said in a statement, and “it is crucial to the preservation of American democracy that the Republicans do not continue their dangerous, chaotic ‘control’ of the House of Representatives.” — Jeff Coltin More from the delegation: — New York’s high court just blew up the fight for control of the House. (POLITICO) — The WFP is calling on Ken Jenkins to recuse himself from redistricting commission, since his boss George Latimer is running against incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman. (City & State) — Rep. Elise Stefanik’s grilling of college presidents last week is forcing a reckoning on the left. (POLITICO)
| | | | A message from Tax Equity Now New York: New York City's property tax system is fundamentally flawed and over-taxes lower-income and minority residents. The current model unfairly shifts the tax burden onto those less able to bear it. This results in higher taxes for poorer and minority New Yorkers compared to wealthier condo, co-op, and homeowners in more affluent areas.
For over two decades, political leaders have talked about how NYC's property tax system is unfair and inequitable, but they’ve done nothing. Learn more about the problem and what we’re doing to ensure NYC has the best and fairest property tax structure in the state and country by visiting TaxEquityNow.nyc. | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | | |  William Wagstaff is hoping to be the first Black district attorney in Westchester County. | William Wagstaff for DA Campaign | WW WANTS A W: Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced last month she wouldn’t be seeking reelection in 2024. So William Wagstaff is jumping into the open race, hoping to be the first Black district attorney in the county. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for credit card scamming in 2004, Wagstaff started law school while under house arrest, The New York Law Journal first reported. Now he’s releasing a campaign launch video today, first in Playbook, highlighting his path from defendant to lawyer and his Mount Vernon roots. Wagstaff says he’s not a progressive, but “somebody who wants to be smart on crime” and would use his MBA to better analyze data. Now in civil rights litigation and criminal defense with his own firm, Wagstaff says he’s backed by his old boss, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, and Assemblymember Gary Pretlow, too. Per News 12, other Democrats in the race include Susan Cacace, Dave Szuchman, Adeel Mirza and Sheralyn Pulver Goodman. — Jeff Coltin More in New York: — New York's cannabis oversight agency is issuing a statewide recall of some extra-special gummies. (NBC New York) — An 11-year-old boy took his own life inside a city migrant shelter on Tuesday. (New York Daily News) — The LIRR isn’t doing its job to hold the manufacturer of its long-delayed and problem-plagued fleet of new trains accountable, a new state audit finds. (Newsday)
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | MAKING MOVES — Tim Ursprung is joining Venable’s financial services lobbying team from Tonio Burgos & Associates. He previously worked for Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.). ... Andrew Costello joined The Parkside Group as an accounting associate. … Catherine E. Arney, Michael W. Kobb, John J. Nogueras and Justin T. Roland have been promoted to be partners at Jones Day. MEDIAWATCH — “MSNBC Brings Back Luke Russert to Spearhead New Live Events Business,” by THR’s Alex Weprin — Syracuse Post-Standard editorial board member and reporter Katrina Tulloch is now editor-in-chief of This is CNY. (Syracuse.com) WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Devin Dwyer, senior Washington reporter for ABC News, and Adam Ciarleglio, assistant professor of biostatistics at GWU, on Thursday welcomed Sydney Ciarleglio Dwyer. Pic ... Another pic WHAT WALL STREET IS WATCHING — The romantic comedy “Chick Flick” directed by Louise Linton, the wife of former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, was released on Tuesday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Todd S. Purdum … Jeffrey Schneider of The Lead PR … Trish Regan … Precision’s Matt Creeden … former Fed Chair Ben Bernanke (7-0) … CNN’s Haley Talbot
| | Real Estate | | — The building that partially collapsed on Monday is owned by one of the city’s “worst landlords,” according to a 2022 report by public advocate Jumaane Williams. (Crain’s New York Business) | | | | 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 | | | | |
