| | | | |  | | By Nick Reisman, Emily Ngo and Jeff Coltin | Presented by Google | With help from Shawn Ness
| 
Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers are close to a deal that would consider as many as 25 violent crimes as hate crimes. | Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | As many as 25 violent criminal offenses would be considered hate crimes under an emerging deal between state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul, according to four people familiar with the discussions. The agreement would be a victory for Hochul, who initially proposed expanding the number of offenses that can be charged as hate crimes in New York from 66 to 97 amid a rise in antisemitic incidents. Lawmakers have broadly agreed that the most violent offenses in Hochul’s plan, such as gang assault and first-degree rape, could be charged as a hate crime. But lower-level offenses, including some weapons possession charges and drawing graffiti, have struggled to gain traction with the Democratic-led Legislature and are unlikely to be included in a final deal, lawmakers said. “Many if not most of the ones the governor proposed will be categorized as hate crimes,” state Sen. James Skoufis, a Hudson Valley Democrat, told Playbook on Thursday. Increasing the number of hate crimes offenses would be included in a broader budget deal, which still remains elusive for Hochul and lawmakers. The state’s spending plan is now expected to be more than two weeks late as differences between Hochul and legislative Democrats remain over housing and health care spending. At the same time, a deal that would increase grant funding and programs meant to combat hate crimes to a combined $60 million as proposed by the governor is yet to be reached. Expanding hate crimes offenses in New York comes as Hochul has tried to address sustained voter concerns over public safety, an issue that GOP candidates have used successfully in recent elections. Hochul won a full term in 2022 by a relatively narrow margin over Republican Lee Zeldin, who campaigned heavily on crime. Meanwhile, Hochul’s proposal to create a felony offense for assaulting a retail worker has not been embraced by many Democrats in the Legislature. It faces an uncertain path to be included in a final budget plan. The deal would also come as hate crimes have increased in the state in recent years. Law enforcement agencies reported a spike in hate crime incidents from 2020 to 2022, the most recent year available for statewide data. The number of hate crimes increased from 505 incidents to 959 during that time period, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. “This is one of the few levers we could pull to send that kind of signal that hate crimes against anybody is unacceptable in New York,” Skoufis said. “We ought to demonstrate to the public that we’re serious about it, that we’re looking to respond to it.” — Nick Reisman HAPPY FRIDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Google: New York businesses count on digital ads. Millions of business owners across the U.S. use digital ads to grow their businesses, including thousands right here in New York. It’s how they reach the right customers, effectively and affordably. Supporting digital ads supports the businesses that count on them, like GLO Studio in Manhattan and Bickster Apps in Saratoga Springs. Get involved. | | | DO WE HAVE A BUDGET YET? No. WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany with no public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Appearing live on NY1’s “Mornings on 1,” then on PIX11’s “PIX11 Morning News,” then on FOX5’s “Good Day New York,” attending Queen’s Borough President Donovan Richard’s State of the Borough address, delivering remarks at Greece’s flag-raising ceremony, meeting with French minister Gérald Darmanin. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We just scored the goal of the decade.” — Mayor Eric Adams, after the City Council voted to advance the development of a major league soccer stadium in Willets Points, Queens, near Citi Field.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
Mayor Eric Adams' administration is not renewing, and instead partially extending, its contract with DocGo, which provides services for migrants. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office | DOCGO DROP IN A BUCKET: The Adams administration declined to renew DocGo’s most closely watched contract for migrant services and described a partial extension as a “temporary” means of holding it over until a bidding process for a replacement, as POLITICO reported. But the city is far from clear of the health care company that struggled through its responsibilities to support migrants. Those troubles are documented here. Consider this: * After the extender for the no-bid, $432 million contract with the Department of Housing & Preservation expires this December, DocGo isn’t precluded from putting in a proposal for a new contract and winning it. (No new money will be allocated for the extension, which adds time, not funding.) * NYC Health + Hospitals in recent months authorized three competitively selected migrant-related DocGo contracts for case management, site administration and clinical staffing that together total $580 million. The two newest agreements began this month, expire in one year and have optional extensions. The three replace H+H’s emergency contract with DocGo of up to $311 million. * And DocGo, also known as Rapid Reliable Testing NY LLC, additionally has at least two other emergency contracts with HPD that don’t expire until later this year and a competitively selected contract with the Fire Department that goes until 2028, according to city records. — Emily Ngo
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | |  City Council members Gale Brewer and Lincoln Restler are introducing legislation that would prevent people who fundraise or consult with political candidates from lobbying them if they win office. | David Dee Delgado/Getty Images | LOBBY LIMBO: The City Council is moving forward with a trio of laws set to rein in lobbying of city government. Council members Gale Brewer and Lincoln Restler introduced legislation Thursday that would prohibit anyone who fundraised or consulted for a political candidate from lobbying that candidate once they win city elected office. The bill, first reported by the Daily News, would prohibit the activity for a year after an election win. “The dynamic of a political consultant or fundraising consultant and a politician is an intimate one, and we rely heavily on their advice and their guidance to help us serve in these roles,” Restler said at an unrelated press briefing. “And I think … we should not allow for those same individuals to lobby us on behalf of corporate interests.” The body is also set to hold a hearing next week on two separate bills introduced by Restler expanding lobbying prohibitions for elected officials — along with high-ranking staffers in the city’s Law Department, the City Council and the mayor’s office. The bills were first introduced last year shortly after the departure of the mayor’s former chief of staff, Frank Carone, who subsequently set up a lobbying and government affairs firm. (Records show the firm, Oaktree Solutions, has lobbied the Buildings Department). The legislation was widely seen as an attempt to curtail Carone’s influence on City Hall. — Joe Anuta WARMER WEATHER, I GUESS: Former City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver announced he’s running for City Council … in Raleigh, North Carolina. Silver is a Brooklyn native and led Parks for almost eight years under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. But before that, he was Raleigh’s city planner for a decade and told Raleigh Magazine he moved back after leaving city service. With about 475,000 people, Raleigh is smaller than Staten Island and has an eight-member council. — Jeff Coltin A ‘GOOD TIME’: After rallying on the City Hall steps last month to uncut funding for composting, actor and director Benny Safdie got a 35-minute-long Zoom meeting Thursday with Adams. “He listens and gets stuff done!” Safdie posted on X … which was met with near-universal distaste from his terminally online, indie film buff fanbase. But Safdie stood by the mayor. “I voted for Adams! Even in the primary!” the New York City native told Playbook. “He can speak to both sides. And I think that that’s key. I’m a liberal guy. But it’s important to have a discussion with people. And that you’re open, and you don’t just shut your mind off to the other side of the equation.” Safdie’s big pitch to the mayor was better teaching city students about composting: “Build awareness with these kids, so that we can divert more of the trash into these bins.” Council Sanitation Chair Shaun Abreu connected the mayor with Safdie, whose credits include “Uncut Gems” and “Oppenheimer.” And he’s a true believer in organic waste disposal. “I don't see rats in front of my building now,” he said, “because most of our stuff is in the compost bins.” — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Developers could construct buildings 20 percent bigger than otherwise permitted, with income-restricted housing, according to unveiled details of Adams’ citywide housing proposal. (POLITICO Pro) — Emergency Medical Services workers will have access to body armor and special training from a law passed by the council to address attacks on first responders. (New York Post) — “Flaco’s Law” would require the city to use rat birth control, instead of rat poison, to honor the famous dead owl. (Hell Gate)
| | | | A message from Google:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | | 
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke at hedge funder Barry Rosenstein's anti-DSA and pro-Israel event Wednesday. He talked about the importance of maintaining good relationships with Israel. | Seth Wenig/AP | CAN’T KEEP HIM AWAY: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke at an anti-DSA, pro-Israel gathering at billionaire hedge funder Barry Rosenstein’s home on Central Park West on Wednesday night. Attendees got a pitch to support the Committee for Sensible Government, a super PAC that’s planning to spend against candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. President Michael Nussbaum wouldn’t name specific targets yet, but said he’s focused on anyone who took DSA’s candidate pledge not to travel to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, and that “they all know who they are.” Cuomo himself talked about the importance of maintaining the strong U.S. alliance with Israel and countering DSA, which he claimed was “the most powerful force in the Democratic Party,” according to one attendee. Cuomo also talked up his own pro-Israel advocacy group, Never Again, Now! — though it’s been quiet since he announced it last year under the original name Progressives for Israel. The hosts have been big Cuomo donors, with Rosenstein and his wife Lizanne contributing about $180,000 to previous campaigns. The event wasn’t a specific campaign fundraiser, but gathered “a bunch of people that want to restore some order in New York City,” said consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who attended, adding that Cuomo “was very well received.” — Jeff Coltin More from Albany: — A hospital filed a petition asking a county judge to quash a subpoena by Attorney General Tish James’ office for the medical records of its obstetrics patients. (POLITICO Pro) — A ban on horse slaughter is in effect, but advocates are pushing for more enforcement. (Times Union) — The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is backing the good cause eviction bill. (City & State)
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Rep. Nick LaLota said he supports exceptions for abortions in the case of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother as Dems blast GOP candidates for their positions on a national ban. | Patrick Semansky/AP | ABORTION FOCUS: Democrats running in key House races this year are blasting GOP candidates over the potential of a national ban on abortion if Republicans win control of the White House and Congress. But Democratic consultant Alyssa Cass believes a clearer concern should be raised over access to abortion medication as a tangible issue for voters in a state with robust abortion laws and something that can change through executive action at the national level. “Just as Biden very easily expanded access to send abortion medication through the mail, Trump can just undo that,” she told Playbook. New York House Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to navigate a rapidly shifting political landscape over the issue as former President Donald Trump declared this week the issue should remain at the state level. “I have a very Bill Clinton-like position, where I'm for exceptions rape, incest, life of the mother,” Long Island Rep. Nick LaLota said. “I think a woman should have a right to choose in the first trimester. I think we should scrutinize some crazy blue states like mine that allow abortion rights for the 40th week.” — Nick Reisman and Mia McCarthy More from Congress: — The Senate approved a resolution calling for the release of a Rochester-area man from Taliban custody. (Spectrum News) — Rep. Elise Stefanik accused Harvard of not doing enough to punish antisemitism. (Fox News)
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz defended watching the eclipse in Ohio. (WKBW) — Former Buffalo Bills player O.J. Simpson is remembered by his best friend in Buffalo. (Buffalo News) — The state court system is weighing how to use artificial intelligence. (Gothamist)
| | | | A message from Google: “Digital ads are a key part of our success,” says Michael from Frederick Benjamin Grooming in Manhattan. “We can instantly see what’s working and what’s not. We can pivot on targeting. We can pivot on creative.” Like many small businesses across the state, Frederick Benjamin Grooming counts on digital ads to help a specific kind of consumer discover their unique offerings. “Without my ads, men with textured hair wouldn’t discover brands like ours.” Hear more stories about how local businesses count on digital ads. Learn more. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | |  Mayor Eric Adams met with a PIX 11 reporter last week ahead of The Inner Circle Show. | Courtesy of The Inner Circle NY | SHOW ALERT: Adams met with PIX 11 reporter James Ford last week ahead of The Inner Circle Show — where Ford will sing and dance in character as Adams on stage. “Turks and Chaos,” this year’s edition of the 101-year-old political spoof, is on April 20 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan. Adams and his team are also given time to respond. The dress rehearsal on the 19th is sold out online, but some paper tickets are still available from members. — Jeff Coltin SPOTTED: Sir Alex Ferguson on a tour of the United Nations on Thursday afternoon, stopping by the Security Council and General Assembly, posing for photographs and signing Manchester United jerseys for UN security staff. Accompanying him was UK Amb. to the UN James Kariuki, James Rogers, Ben Chang, Martin O’Connor and Alex Hestoft. FOR YOUR RADAR — “Ex-Clinton adviser Declan Kelly consulting on Boeing CEO search: ‘Doesn’t know planes, but he knows disasters,’” by N.Y. Post’s Lydia Moynihan. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: CBS’ Rita Braver ... Peter Scher of JPMorgan Chase … CNN’s Greg Clary … Woody Johnson … (IS SUNDAY): City Council Member Crystal Hudson.
| | YOUR NEW YORK NUMBER OF THE DAY | | | | $80 million Annual revenue from city tax lien sales until they ended in 2022. Adams and the City Council are in talks to revive the Giuliani-era program but are meeting resistance, The City reports. | | | | | | Join POLITICO on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET for networking over cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres. Don't miss your chance to meet POLITICO's New York editorial team and learn more about their coverage of current affairs in Albany. RSVP here. | | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
