On Asian representation at the DNC

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Aug 22, 2024 View in browser   By Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman Rep. Grace Meng has been one of the few Asian American speakers at the DNC. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images NEW YORK MINUTE: The Democratic National Convention wraps today in Chicago, and Kamala Harris will ceremonially accept the party’s nomination for president. MENG’S MOMENT: When Rep. Grace Meng was bumped from the DNC’s speakers lineup on Monday because the night’s programming was running too long, politicos of Asian descent took notice. New York state Sen. John Liu told Playbook the postponement was “infuriatingly offensive and a disturbing sign that leadership continues to take for granted the fastest-growing electorate nationally and in key battleground states.” Here, after all, was the first and only Asian American member of Congress in New York and a Democratic stalwart whose work for the party has included helping to harness AAPI votes to get Rep. Tom Suozzi elected last February. And the convention is meant to celebrate Harris, who would be the first woman president of South Asian descent if elected. On Wednesday, Meng got her speaking slot back. Her remarks were brief — only about a minute long — but she was cheered by those who see themselves reflected in her. “He will not stop at banning abortion,” Meng warned of former President Donald Trump. “He’ll let states track pregnancies. He’ll put birth control and fertility treatment at risk.” (Trump has said he opposes a nationwide ban on abortion.) Asian Americans have been unrepresented from the main stage, elected leaders and strategists with the crucial voting bloc told Playbook. Democratic strategist Trip Yang highlighted that Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan have Asian American electorates crucial to the margin of victory in the presidential race, saying, “It’s a huge, huge missed opportunity and unforced error if you’re not having more Asian and AAPI leaders on stage speaking.” The speakers of Asian descent have been few. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), the second Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, spoke on Tuesday. In addition to Meng, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) spoke on Wednesday. And Harris, whose mother emigrated from India and whose father emigrated from Jamaica, is set to speak tonight. Many, many more should be in the spotlight, said Democratic consultant Amit Singh Bagga. “Democrats only need to look to the one person who’s revived our party’s corpse to understand why Asian Americans matter,” he said, “because in addition to being a Black job, being president is a South Asian one, too.” — Emily Ngo HAPPY THURSDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.   Did you miss it? This month, POLITICO and AARP NY convened New York lawmakers Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), and industry experts to discuss the impacts of changing social security measures on New Yorkers. The conversations focused on the the future of Social Security, how the the 2024 elections could change the options and how Social Security impacts the housing crisis facing aging New Yorkers. Watch the highlights here.     WHERE’S KATHY? In Chicago at the DNC. WHERE’S ERIC? In Chicago at the DNC. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Let’s be clear: The border is broken. But this year when Democrats and Republicans worked together to write new border laws, we were blocked. We all know who sabotaged us.” — Suozzi in his DNC speech. ABOVE THE FOLD Mayor Eric Adams answered Playbook questions at the DNC. | Emily Ngo/POLITICO PROBING QUESTIONS: New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrived Wednesday in Chicago for the DNC — and questions about the federal investigation into his 2021 campaign followed. To be fair, that’s because Playbook was there to ask them. Why was he subpoenaed if he is cooperating with the feds? “That’s a question that you need to ask them,” he said. “We are cooperating fully. I said it from the beginning. We’re going to continue to cooperate. And I think on the other end of this, people are going to see that I live my life the same way I always did.” Has he met with investigators? “I’m going to tell you, No, I have not. … I’m gonna say that now — no — because I like you, but I’m not going to be answering that question every other week. I’ve got to run this city.” Does the investigation embolden his political rivals? “Look at the talent of that field that I ran against (in 2021). All of them had the credentials, but when we got on that debate stage and New Yorkers saw this authentic one of them all, I went out to win it. … So I’m not worried about the field because some people going to drop in, drop out. Some people don’t realize how hard it is to do this.” Federal investigators are probing whether Adams’ campaign colluded with a foreign interest; the mayor has not been accused of wrongdoing. — Emily Ngo CITY HALL: THE LATEST Mayor Eric Adams' day at the DNC included a mayors' panel. | Rod Lamkey Jr. for POLITICO ADAMS TAKES CHI-TOWN: The mayor hit the ground running in Chicago, keeping busy despite being without a speaking spot on the DNC stage. Instead, he went to a Democratic Majority for Israel event and then participated in a mayors’ panel alongside Atlanta’s Andre Dickens and Chicago’s Brandon Johnson at the CNN-POLITICO Grill. Adams has been critical of the White House for not providing him enough federal aid to address the situation, which has cost the city billions. But asked at the panel if Biden had done enough to deal with the migrant crisis, the mayor punted. “When we disagree, we disagree,” he said, “but we’re going to move our country forward.” Adams’ day also included a very brief chance encounter with former Trump fixer turned Trump nemesis Michael Cohen at the Grill. The mayor told Playbook the two were just chatting about how much they love New York. Adams is set to speak at the New York Democratic delegation’s breakfast this morning. — Emily Ngo, with Irie Sentner More from the city: — Reading test scores are dropping after the introduction of a new literacy curriculum. (NY1) — NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey won’t face a punishment after he was accused of intervening in the arrest of a retired police officer. (THE CITY) — The city is moving forward with a controversial redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. (NY1) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY Gov. Kathy Hochul's DNC speech has irked former President Donald Trump. | Morry Gash/AP UNDER HIS SKIN: Bashing Trump at the Democratic National Convention has been an easy layup for most of the speakers. But the former president seems especially annoyed at Gov. Kathy Hochul’s criticism. Her speech mocked Trump for his felony convictions in his Manhattan hush money trial earlier this year. “Trump hasn’t spent that much time in New York lately, except to get convicted of 34 felonies. And that’s just fine with us. Because New York’s motto is ‘Excelsior,’ ever upward, and Trump takes us ever downward,” she said. Trump lamented a day after Hochul’s speech that New York “is doing terribly.” “I heard the governor last night speak so viciously and violently about me,” he said. And then hours later on Truth Social, Trump complained about the “unpopular Governor of New York” who was the “nastiest speaker” on the first night of the convention. This is almost certainly a fight Hochul wants. Her speech was not terribly memorable, but having Trump — who polls have shown is even less popular than she is in New York — can only shore up her support among fellow Democrats. — Nick Reisman  AIRPORT HEAD: More than $100 million in state and federal money is being spent to expand Albany International Airport — a facility County Executive Dan McCoy reportedly wanted to lead, drawing concerns from lawmakers in the process. Turmoil over the airport’s leadership began last week when its board of directors, with little notice, informed CEO Phil Calderone his contract would not be renewed when it expires in the coming months. The Times Union reported that McCoy, the longtime Albany County executive who appoints most of the board’s members, has long eyed the CEO job, which pays $40,000 more than his current job as a reelected official. McCoy has no experience leading a transportation hub like Albany International. McCoy had done little in the last week to dispel questions over Calderone’s pending departure and hasn’t stated clearly whether he wants the job until issuing a statement Wednesday seemingly taking him out of the running. “To be clear, I am neither applying for, nor will I be seeking the opportunity to serve as the next CEO of the Albany County Airport,” McCoy said. State legislators who represent the region have signaled some alarm over the leadership questions swirling around the airport, which is undergoing a taxpayer-funded terminal expansion and has been touted by Hochul. In a letter to the board on Wednesday, Assemblymembers Pat Fahy, John McDonald and Phil Steck urged them to conduct a review for a new leader in an “expedited” manner. “The airport is a critical economic engine to the Capital Region, and it is therefore critical that this project be completed on a timely basis and on budget,” the lawmakers wrote. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Health insurance costs remain a top concern for business leaders in the state. (State of Politics) — Maternal depression screenings could soon be part of routine care under a pending bill. (Spectrum News) — The accuracy of cameras mounted on school bus stop signs is being questioned. (LoHud) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — House lawmakers have subpoenaed officials at Columbia University seeking disciplinary records and communications. (Daily News) — American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten is taking an interest in New York House races. (City & State) — Schumer says he wants to end the cap on state and local tax deductions. (The Hill)   During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more.     NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — The vast majority of MTA workers on subways and buses say they were assaulted during the pandemic. (Gothamist) — There’s been a drop in the number of overdose deaths in New York over the last 12 months, health data shows. (Spectrum News) — WCBS is throwing a three-hour celebration as the station will switch over to ESPN New York. (Newsday) SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC’s Steve Kornacki … National Review’s Rich Lowry … Paul Singer … FGS Global’s Jennifer Loven … Pema Levy … NewsGuard’s Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz … Tom Edsall … Steve Kroft … Ross Mintz … Charlotte Day-Reiss … Luke Russert … Adrian Slater … AP’s Nebi Qena … CBS’ Nancy Chen ... Jessica Dean … Gigi Sharp … (WAS WEDNESDAY): Ido Aharoni ... Tzipora (Tzippy) Baitch  Missed Wednesday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it 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

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