| | | | |  | | By Jason Beeferman | With help from Irie Sentner
| | Happening now:
- Lawmakers leave Albany with no budget deal.
- New York's marijuana law loses in court.
- More troubles for the struggling detention centers.
- A new labor deal at City Hall could be a model for future deals.
- Hochul warns of bad weather for eclipse viewing upstate.
DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 4
| 
Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke with astronaut Jeanette Epps, who is aboard the International Space Station. It came as Planet Albany was unable to reach a budget deal this week. | Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | UPDATE FROM PLANET ALBANY: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie last week said “we’re all now on the same planet” with budget talks. Today, he blasted off another update. “We’re in the same neighborhood” with a housing deal, he said after a leaders’ meeting. But “I don’t know if we’re on the same block yet.” On Planet Albany, the budget continues to be delayed, and lawmakers left for the week without a deal in the offing. In the same spirit, Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke to an astronaut in space this morning. Negotiations continue to revolve around three key issues: housing, Medicaid and school funding. The housing deal, perhaps the biggest hurdle in negotiations, is stuck in a three-way battle between labor unions, developers and housing advocates. Each side is, respectively, asking for higher wages for construction workers, tax breaks for builders and wins for affordable housing and tenant rights. “There are about 40 or 50 different housing proposals that are on the table during the budget negotiations,” Senate Housing Committee chair Brian Kavanagh, a Manhattan Democrat, said. “Obviously you could do any subset of those things.” In the universe of late budgets, we’ve now reached the world of budget extenders. The Legislature passed its second budget extender today that makes sure the National Guard gets paid on time. Now both houses need to pass another extender to make sure most state workers receive their Wednesday paychecks on time. And the two chambers are not ruling out coming back to the Capitol to pass that extender Sunday — ahead of Monday’s highly anticipated eclipse. “Whether it’s Sunday or Monday, we’ll be back and continuing to work until the budget is done,” state Sen. Mike Gianaris, the deputy majority leader, said. “We would love for everyone involved to be in agreement but the important thing is to get something done… it’s going to have to happen one way or another.” With the Eid holiday coming up, there’s only two days of session planned next week. (Passover also means no session during the fourth week of April). If they don’t pass a budget before then, lawmakers soon see their own paychecks postponed. “It's been moments of hopefulness and then despair, but I trust that we'll get there,” state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said. “Nobody should be in this business if they’re not an optimist.” But, senator, are you worried about not getting paid in the future if there’s no budget deal? “Me? No — I mean, yes,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “Everyone should, but I don’t think my colleagues are thinking about their paycheck as much as trying to make a difference for their constituents. That was an absurd measure forced on the Legislature by the previous governor [George Pataki].” State Sen. Julia Salazar agreed: “Having our pay postponed, that doesn’t motivate the governor who actually has the power in the budget process,” she said. And where was the executive today? Meeting with leaders… and also phoning outer space: “Station, this is Gov. Kathy Hochul. How do you hear me?” she said. Despite Playbook’s texts and emails, Hochul’s office decided not to respond to questions of whether she would skip her own paycheck until a deal is made, which unlike lawmakers is not required by law. And Republicans, on a planet of their own because they are not included in negotiations, just want to see the thing pass. State Sen. Jim Tedisco, the Albany-area Republican, texted Playbook that things have gotten so serious, he’s ready to break out his “pass the budget” tie. “By the looks of the gridlock now I should have started wearing it in December of 23! The final budget! When does Hailey’s comet come around again!!!!!!” — Jason Beeferman
|  | From the Capitol | | | | 
A court order deciding a legal challenge brought by a cannabis information website, declared wide swaths of New York’s weed rules “unlawful and void.” | Mary Altaffer/AP | COURT PUTS NEW YORK CANNABIS IN A TIZZY: New York’s cannabis industry experienced a collective freakout today when a judge struck down much of the state’s adult-use cannabis regulations. A court order deciding a legal challenge brought by Leafly, a cannabis information website, declares wide swaths of New York’s weed rules “unlawful and void” — including rules surrounding application and licensure, social and economic equity and general business requirements. Leafly sued cannabis regulators last September over rules that prohibited dispensaries from using third-party platforms to advertise or fulfill orders. “The judge appears to have struck down ALL OF THE ADULT USE REGS,” Cannabis Association of New York board president Damien Cornwell said in a statement, speculating that the judge may narrow the order, or that the state Office of Cannabis Management would appeal the decision and ask for an emergency stay. There was no immediate comment from the state agency on its next steps. — Mona Zhang DETENTION CENTERS’ WOES: As the population of juvenile detention centers has grown, many facilities are struggling with staff shortages, a new audit from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found. DiNapoli believes that the shortages have resulted in the staff that the facilities do have are no longer able to give adequate treatment, especially as violence, drug use and incidents of self-harm are on the rise. It’s the latest criticism of the state’s youth facilities after decades of troubles that political leaders have been unable to quell. “These facilities are meant to provide safe housing and services to help rehabilitate young people and discourage them from future criminal behavior,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Unfortunately, staff appears to be overwhelmed and short-handed, which may account for missed or delayed opportunities to provide care for the physical or mental health issues facing the young people in these facilities.” The audit examined six out of nine youth correctional facilities operated by the Office of Children and Families Services. It found that at those six facilities, OCFS did not do enough to ensure that those in the facilities were accessed properly, as well as that staff were not up to date on their trainings. Between 2013 and 2018, the amount of youth at the facilities dropped 44 percent, but between 2018 and 2022, it rose by 74 percent. DiNapoli recommended that OCFS make sure intake assessments are done on time, staff training is current, and records are better kept. — Shawn Ness
| | FROM CITY HALL | | | | 
The tentative contract agreement struck this week, if ratified, would cover nearly 400 City Council aides and other employees and includes raises, protections and policies like comp time. | Jeff Coltin / POLITICO | LABOR ON: The tentative contract agreement struck this week between the City Council and its staff could serve as a model for other legislative staff seeking to unionize, including in Albany, organizers of the city’s Association of Legislative Employees said today. ALE has been sharing what it learned from its two-year negotiation process with a national network of organizers, urging legislative leaders to practice what they preach, said the union’s president Daniel Kroop. “You look at a lot of these state legislatures, these city governments, these are oftentimes heavily blue Democrat-controlled areas that are ostensibly pro-labor,” Kroop said. “And when it comes time to not just talk the talk but walk the walk in their own house, suddenly things look different.” The historic contract, if ratified, would cover nearly 400 City Council aides and other employees and it includes raises, protections and policies like one providing comp time. “We were definitely in touch a lot with the folks in the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly,” union leader Matt Malloy told reporters. – Emily Ngo PROTEST ARREST: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and about a dozen other tenant advocates were detained by police today in midtown Manhattan as they protested real estate lobbyists’ efforts to block eviction protections and other state measures helping renters. About 200 demonstrators blocked the entrance to the Real Estate Board of New York as part of a civil disobedience action, some chanting, “The rent is too damn high.” REBNY responded that it’s focused on its work. “The right to express views on important public policy matters is a bedrock of democracy,” REBNY president James Whelan said in a statement. “We remain focused on advancing policies that meaningfully address the housing crisis New Yorkers face every day.” – Emily Ngo VAPE SUIT: Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday that the city has taken legal action against 11 wholesale distributors of illegal flavored disposable e-cigarettes, filing a lawsuit alleging they sell vaping devices he called the “gateway to nicotine addiction” for middle- and high-schoolers. He made the announcement at City Hall surrounded by giant, brightly colored placards bearing labels like “frozen creamsicle” and “mellow mint,” flavors he said entices young people. — Emily Ngo
| | On the Beats | | | | 
As New Yorkers flock upstate for views of next week's solar eclipse, Gov. Kathy Hochul urged them to remain extra cautious as they contend with heavy snowstorms. | George Frey/Getty Images | SOLAR ECLIPSE: With heavy snowstorms expected this week in the Adirondacks, Hochul is encouraging those that want to view Monday’s solar eclipse to remain extra cautious. Rising temperatures are expected for the remainder of the week, which could result in icy conditions on hiking trails and remote areas, high water levels in rivers and lakes and potential avalanche dangers in the Adirondacks. “I cannot stress enough how being weather-wise helps to ensure everyone in the path of the eclipse can safely enjoy this rare event, and I encourage visitors traveling for this experience to plan ahead and arrive early at their destination and to stay late in order to enjoy all of what our state has to offer,” Hochul said in a statement. — Shawn Ness BELMONT PARK: The New York Racing Association will begin demolition work on Belmont Park on Friday, marking the initial step in a revitalization of the racetrack. The project, which includes renovations to a 1.25 million square foot building is expected to take four to six months and many, many engineers. Seventy-five percent of the building’s materials are to be recycled. “The transformation of Belmont is incredibly important to the future of downstate racing, and NYRA will deliver a facility that existing fans and the next generation will be proud to have in New York,” NYRA president David O’Rourke said in a statement. The renovation plans include conservation of Belmont’s most well-known landmarks, like the racetrack’s wrought-iron gates and artwork. Ultimately, the NYRA track will reopen and take over operations from nearby Aqueduct Racetrack, which will close. — Shawn Ness ADAMS TALKS JOBS: The mayor convened with business and labor leaders today to announce the launch of the New York City Workforce Development Council, a new organization that aims to connect 30,000 residents with public- and private-sector jobs by 2030. Adams presided over a luncheon whose guests included a smattering of administration higher-ups and private-sector bigwigs such as real estate scion Rob Speyer, chief executive of Tishman Speyer, who will chair the new 30-person advisory board. “While our city has recovered all of the private-sector jobs lost during the pandemic, our recovery has not benefited every New Yorker equitably,” Adams said in a statement announcing the new initiative. “To change this, we need partners from every corner of our city to help build an economy with real pathways to family-sustaining careers.” The event was held in a downtown office building where a number of officials were spotted by POLITICO on their way to and from the event including Henry Garrido, executive director of DC 37, the city’s largest public-sector union. Garrido, who is on the board, particularly praised the return of hiring halls City Hall is conducting to connect residents with government jobs. — Joe Anuta TOP COP CONFIRMED: The state Senate voted to confirm Steven James as the new superintendent of the State Police today, a day after his nomination sailed through committees. James, who worked his way up the ranks over 32 years, received nothing but praise from both sides of the aisle. “In the conversations I had with everyone, there was no one who had anything but glowing reviews about his service,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “From courage to integrity to being willing to do everything possible to hold the values of not only the state, but the troopers, everyone applauded the governor’s nominee.” — Bill Mahoney NEW SCHOOLS COMING: New York City is opening nine new schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens. The schools, set to open for the first time this September, include Bard High School Early College-Brooklyn in East New York, where students can earn an associate’s degree for free while attending the school. Another school, Motion Picture Technical High School in northern Queens, that will prepare pupils for well-paying jobs in television and film. “Parents and families are looking for a wide range of special schools that are appealing to them and that’s what we’re delivering by doing this,” schools Chancellor David Banks told reporters during a Q&A following the announcement at the DOE’s headquarters in Lower Manhattan, noting 120,000 families left the school system prior to the Adams administration. “My goal here, together with the mayor, is to provide school experiences that will draw more families to our schools,” he added. The other schools:
- M.S. 644 in the South Bronx
- M.S. 428 in Brooklyn
- P.S. 482 in downtown Brooklyn
- P.S. 456 in downtown Brooklyn/Dumbo
- P.S. 331, P.S. 413 and M.S. 407, all in Bay Ridge
The announcement comes as Banks and Adams navigate a costly state law mandating lower class sizes in public schools. A working group convened by Banks advised against opening new schools and instead focus on funneling resources into existing schools that are underutilized.
First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg said the schools were created due to community demand. New schools aren’t the only part of the equation but are an “importance piece of the puzzle,” he said. “We’re going to have to comply and believe me, we are keenly focused on how we are gonna do that,” Weisberg said, also referring to the schools’ leadership. “What we can’t do is stop in the face of this law, stop listening to communities, stop unleashing the power of these amazing new school leaders.” — Madina Touré
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Legislators are trying again to change the state's campaign finance laws. (POLITICO) — A federal judge denied Nassau County’s request to prevent Tish James from suing the county over its trans sports ban. (Daily News) — Fights over education policies on New York City parent boards are growing increasingly combative, reflecting the national political divide even in a deep-blue city. (The New York Times) | | | | 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 | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
