| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Nick Reisman and Emily Ngo | | | With help from Shawn Ness
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New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is taking a stronger approach in the new year, observers said. | John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit | It’s a new session, and it sure seems like a new Adrienne Adams. The often staid New York City Council speaker is aggressively defending a pair of law enforcement bills against Mayor Eric Adams’ looming vetoes — while putting members on notice by shaking up committee leadership posts. “I think she’s a little bit fed up with the way that she feels that she’s been treated by the admin and by (the mayor),” said one city councilmember. The speaker gathered up most of her fellow Black councilmembers Thursday to make the case that banning solitary confinement and requiring cops to record even low-level stops are laws that are good for Black New Yorkers. A few hours later, the city’s second Black mayor — a retired police captain himself — appealed to attendees at the Real Estate Board of New York Gala, reportedly asking why they aren’t lobbying against that NYPD transparency bill that Adams says would waste cops’ time. Speaker Adams brought in Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who wasn’t having it. “I have never seen this amount of deceptive practices and misinformation in all of my years,” he said, calling the mayor’s arguments against the policing bill “asinine and insane.” Among the newly aggressive Williams, an invigorated Adrienne Adams and a reelection challenge from Scott Stringer, Mayor Adams appears to be getting more high-level pushback in 2024. But the quiet speaker is also developing a taste for drama in her own legislative body. Gale Brewer was unceremoniously dropped from Adams’ leadership team Thursday. She got no notice, reminiscent of how Keith Powers lost his majority leadership with almost no heads up two weeks ago. Carlina Rivera and Sandra Ung were added to leadership. Members who aren’t politically aligned with the speaker — like progressives Tiffany Cabán, Shahana Hanif and Chi Ossé and conservative Kalman Yeger — lost their committee chair positions when roles were announced Thursday. And some lawmakers closer to Speaker Adams were rewarded, like Shaun Abreu, Julie Menin and Oswald Feliz. “The signal here is its accountability time,” a political operative close to the speaker told Playbook. “Is this person going to be a part of the speaker's team or are they not?” Asked if she’s changed in the new year, Adams said she’s “the same old girl that’s always been here” — but pushed aside her prewritten remarks to say she’s morphed over time, with experience. Playbook also asked Cabán — who’s been openly disappointed in losing her role as chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity — if this is a new, spicier Adrienne Adams. “I hope that it’s an indication that the speaker is as aggressive and confrontational as you might be hypothesizing,” Cabán said. “But against the mayor’s austerity agenda and budget cuts moving forward. I don’t think that would be a bad thing.” — Jeff Coltin HAPPY FRIDAY: Yes, you’ve made it to Friday. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from New Yorkers for Local Businesses: Small businesses are the lifeblood of New York’s economy, employing millions of New Yorkers in hard hit communities. But rising costs and an unstable economy pose a direct threat to the jobs they create and equity they've ensured. That's why New Yorkers for Local Businesses is urging Albany to reject proposals that could kill middle class jobs and raise food prices in New York. Learn more here. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City and Albany with no public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering an address about public safety in City Hall and speaking at Bishop Derrick Smith's 80th birthday celebration. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We use the term ‘Mazal Tov,’ councilmember.” — Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy, responding to City Councilmember Shahana Hanif, who said “I think ‘Happy Bar Mitzvah’ would’ve been sufficient” in reference to Mayor Adams advocating against the How Many Stops Act at a Queens Bar Mitzvah.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | 
The Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus wants to have easier access to abortion medication. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images | ABORTION ACCESS IN 2024: State lawmakers will push to expand access to abortion services this year as the issue could be a decisive one in the upcoming election season. The Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus this week released its slate of priorities for the year. Included among them: making it easier to gain access to abortion medication, creating a check-off box on state income tax forms to sustain an abortion access fund and requiring public college campuses to have emergency contraception vending machines. "Ensuring access to reproductive health care continues to be a critical fight nationwide, and New York is no exception," state Sen. Liz Krueger said in a statement. The measures, which also include protections and trainings for abortion providers, come as New York is expected to play a key role in the national debate over the issue. The proposals are being backed as voters this year will consider an amendment to enshrine a broad array of rights into the state constitution, including abortion rights. Democrats hope the referendum for the amendment will spur higher turnout in key House races and help the party win back control of the narrowly divided chamber. Abortion rights have been key for Democrats in recent elections in New York. Hochul and lawmakers after a leaked draft of the ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade backed measures meant to aid women seeking abortions from states where the procedure is restricted. Still, opponents of abortion are skeptical the issue will resonate as strongly with voters this year with the cost of living and the migrant crisis. “I think the Democrats lost control of the issue agenda, and frankly I think their only issue to talk about is abortion,” Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar said last year as Democrats signaled plans to highlight the issue. — Nick Reisman
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer disagrees with Mayor Eric Adams' handling of the budget and the migrant crisis. | Frank Franklin II/AP Photo | TEAM ADAMS VS. STRINGER: Adams’ campaign declined to comment on the de facto entry of former rival Scott Stringer into the 2025 race for mayor. But the mayor’s surrogates are beginning to weigh in as Stringer explores a bid. “Eric Adams has led us through multiple crises as mayor and brought the city back. Where has Scott Stringer been that entire time?” former 32 BJ President Kyle Bragg asked in a statement. State Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs posted on social media, “Now is not the time to put politics over people. He needs to sit down and let the mayor continue the good work he is doing.” Stringer, who formerly served as city comptroller and ran for mayor in 2021, told POLITICO he takes issue with Adams’ budgeting and how he’s handling the migrant crisis. He also sees the expansion of affordable housing as an area where he can deliver where the mayor has not, according to City & State. — Emily Ngo More from the city: — Adams’ fundraiser, whose home was raided by FBI, was paid on commission — an odd financial arrangement that netted her big money. (POLITICO) — City-financed housing production jumped by 80 percent last year, but Adams warned the pipeline would dry up if state lawmakers don’t revive a key tax break. (POLITICO Pro) — A New York City bar that is frequented by NYPD cops and Mayor Adams himself was called a “public health hazard” by a judge. (The City) — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is urging state lawmakers to eliminate the five-year cap for victims of sex trafficking to come forward. (New York Post)
| | | | A message from New Yorkers for Local Businesses:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | |  State Sen. Julia Salazar does not think communities can be truly safe until they stop criminalizing people without access to healthcare and adequate jobs. | Hans Pennink/AP | PUBLIC SAFETY DEBATE: Progressive advocates are making a renewed push for changes to New York’s criminal justice system as Republicans are vowing to once again highlight public safety as an election issue. A coalition of left-leaning organizations and state lawmakers Thursday unveiled a package of proposals that include an end to qualified immunity for police officers, blocking law enforcement officials from lying during interrogations and providing protections for 16- and 17-year-olds being interrogated by police. There is also an effort to further restrict federal immigration officers from working with local law enforcement officials. "Our communities won't enjoy genuine safety, justice, and dignity until we stop locking people up as a cruel replacement for better access to healthcare, mental health care, jobs, and affordable housing,” Democratic state Sen. Julia Salazar said. Republicans, meanwhile, signaled this week they would continue to push back against efforts to change New York’s criminal justice system — and take the issue directly to voters like they have done previously with the state’s law restricting when cash bail is required. State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt at a news conference said Democrats haven’t been taking voters’ concerns over crime seriously enough. “New Yorkers will have to send them packing,” he said. “That’s the only thing that’s going to work on this issue.” — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Hochul quietly set a Feb. 13 date for the special election to replace Latoya Joyner in the Assembly — and Bronx Democrats nominated attorney Landon Dais. (City & State) — People keep peeing in MTA elevators, and there are not enough bathrooms in subway stations. (New York Groove) — An audit by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that the New York Racing Association has not followed all the recommendations from a previous audit. (Times Union)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
State Sen. George Latimer during a joint legislative budget hearing on education on Jan. 28, 2014, in Albany, N.Y. | Mike Groll/AP | MAYER FOR LATIMER: Democratic House candidate George Latimer’s primary bid against Rep. Jamaal Bowman got the backing of one of his former colleagues in Albany: state Sen. Shelley Mayer. Mayer, chair of the powerful Senate Education Committee, endorsed Latimer’s campaign for the suburban House seat on Thursday, calling him a “tireless fighter.” “With Republicans working to threaten our very democracy, our district needs a Congress member who can be a unifying force, and who stands up for the values we share,” she said. — Nick Reisman DCCC TAKES ON MOLINARO: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today will release a video blasting freshman Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) on a variety of fronts: abortion, guns and his vote for House Speaker Mike Johnson among them. It’s the first signal of how Democrats plan to try unseating Molinaro from a Hudson Valley district. “Marc Molinaro has voted in lockstep with far-right party bosses like Mike Johnson to push the MAGA agenda to restrict abortion and kill jobs,” DCCC spokesperson Ellie Dougherty said. “Families across New York’s 19th Congressional District will reject Molinaro’s extremism next November.” Molinaro is expected to face Democrat Josh Riley this year in a rematch from 2022. "DC lawyer Josh Riley spent his entire career representing big corporations, big oil, and big Pharma from his big DC house,” Matt Organ, Molinaro’s campaign manager, said in a statement. “DC Democrats can't sell DC lawyer Josh Riley to voters, so they're lying about Marc.” — Nick Reisman More from Congress: — Former Rep. Tom Suozzi is ahead of Mazi Pilip by only three points in their duel for NY-3. (PIX 11) — Immigration has become a focal point in the special election for former Rep. George Santos’ seat. (State of Politics)
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — “The defining challenge of our time” is the mental health crisis, according to Hochul who proposed $4.8 billion in her budget to address the issue. (State of Politics) — Another snowstorm is heading for New York today, this time it is aimed at Long Island, along with it, subzero wind chills. (Newsday) — A former State Department official was ordered to attend bias training after going on an anti-Muslim rant. (New York Times)
| | | | A message from New Yorkers for Local Businesses: Rising costs, an unstable economy, and a hostile business environment have made it harder than ever to start, manage, or grow a small business in New York. New Yorkers for Local Businesses is fighting back against misguided bills that threaten New York’s economic job recovery. Learn more here. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | MAKING MOVES: Jeff Hébert is the new CEO of HR&A Advisors (HR&A). … Alison Bonelli has been promoted to be a partner at Levine Lee LLP. ... Daniel M. Eggermann and Rachael Ringer have been named co-heads of the distressed investing practice at Kramer Levin. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Katie Hunt, co-founder and CEO of Oh Norman!, and Gregg Pichler, senior project manager at Building Details, on Wednesday welcomed Riley Lawrence Hunt, who came in at 8lbs 8oz and 21 inches. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jon Karl … CNN’s John Avlon … Evan McMorris-Santoro … Bloomberg’s Tyler Kendall … Vice’s Subrata De … Alexis Gay (WAS THURSDAY): Andrew Heiberger ... Beth Kobliner
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