| | | | |  | | By Joe Anuta, Nick Reisman, Jeff Coltin and Emily Ngo | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Rich Mendez
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Even though Mayor Adams has had many opportunities to criticize Trump, he rarely does. | Caroline Rubinstein-Willis/Mayoral Photography Office | NEW YORK MINUTE: Mayor Eric Adams plans to update the state Financial Control Board today on the city budget. The board lives on as a reminder of the 1970s fiscal crisis that precipitated its creation, and is all but guaranteed to grant approval to the city to carry on as usual. The board staff does review the city’s plan though, and has noted its penchant for under-budgeting what it will spend on a host of services. Uniformed overtime in particular has been underestimated for years to reduce the projected NYPD budget. A TRUMP CRITIC EMERGES?: Adams has laced into Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. He has attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. And he has dished out tongue lashings to members of his own party, including President Joe Biden. But there is one person Adams curiously resists criticizing as his party faces a pitched battle for the White House: former President Donald Trump. At least until Wednesday night. Sort of. At a campaign kickoff for Vice President Kamala Harris and her presidential running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Adams offered some rare harsh words for the former president — though it was quick and indirect. “It is challenging bringing all Democrats together. We said in Albany it’s like herding cats,” Adams said to a panoply of New York Democrats gathered in Harlem. “But all of us know, that these cats? We’ve got one rat. And it’s about winning this White House.” After poring over a year’s worth of mayoral transcripts that mentioned Trump, Playbook found that, with few exceptions, Adams declined to bash his own party’s archenemy despite being teed up time after time to do so. At a press briefing this week, Adams was asked if a Trump presidency would be an existential threat to democracy (a line of attack used by fellow Democrats including Adams’ own nominee for corporation counsel, Randy Mastro.) “I'm focused on getting VP Harris to become the next president of the United States,” he said in response. In the wake of the attempted assassination of Trump, Adams has called for toning down attacks on political adversaries. But even beforehand, the mayor skipped chance after chance to ding the Republican presidential nominee. Ahead of the June debate between Trump and Biden, Adams was asked who would be better for New York City on the subject of immigration — a sensitive issue for Democrats heading into November. “I’m looking forward to both missions and visions,” Adams said. When asked to react to a Trump rally in the Bronx in May? “It’s consistent with my message that what makes our country great is the opportunity for everyone to use our venues in a peaceful way,” the mayor replied. And when asked a month earlier to comment on Trump campaigning in New York City? “As long as he’s on the campaign trail, he can look at the bar graph that we showed that we’re the safest big city in America,” Adams said. Adams is a moderate Democrat at odds with the left wing of the party. And he was once registered as a Republican, a switch he has said was designed as a protest of Democratic leadership at the time. Granted, the mayor has called Trump divisive and blamed “Trump Republicans” for failing to support comprehensive immigration reform. He also offered some more pointed critiques of Trump earlier in his mayoralty and political career. But on balance, he has shied away from reprobation. And while he has cast himself as a supporter of the nation’s top Democrats, that backing has frequently been blunted by criticisms leveled at the White House over immigration policies that have routed more than 200,000 migrants to New York City — rhetoric Adams has described in the past as necessary to advocate for New York residents stuck with a multi-billion bill. — Joe Anuta IT’S THURSDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | 
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman faced backlash Wednesday after signing a mask ban into law. | Ben Johansen/POLITICO | THE UNMASKING: When Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed a mask ban into law on Wednesday, he insisted the measure was meant, in part, to halt the use of face coverings by criminals. “This is a bill that’s going to protect the public,” he said. “This is a broad public safety measure. What we’ve seen is people using masks to shoplift, to carjack, to rob banks. And this is activity that we want to stop.” It’s a high-profile measure for Blakeman, first elected in 2021 and considered a potential candidate for governor in some GOP circles. The New York Civil Liberties Union accused Blakeman of trying to “chase a culture war” over masking. The group believes the real reason for the ban is in response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. “We’ll say it again: masks protect people who express political opinions that are controversial,” Susan Gottehrer, the group’s Nassau County director, said. “Officials should be supporting New Yorkers’ right to voice their views, not fueling widespread doxxing and threatening arrests.” Blakeman’s approval comes after a statewide mask ban is yet to gain much steam in Albany, where lawmakers are wary of returning for a special session to take up an issue first raised in the wake of the protests that engulfed college campuses last spring. Three people familiar with the conversations on Wednesday said little progress had been made toward addressing the issue. Gov. Kathy Hochul reiterated to reporters that she supported higher penalties for people who use a mask while committing a crime. “I believe we should not have masks involved in the commission of a crime,” she said. “It should be a heightened offense.” Adams, alarmed by the antisemitic acts of some masked demonstrators, called for state-level action earlier this summer. The move was quickly embraced by a coterie of Democratic lawmakers in the Legislature worried over the rising tide of hate crimes, especially against Jewish New Yorkers. Details over what state officials could remain hazy. Hochul has cited the concerns over the need for people to wear masks for cultural and religious reasons as well as for health concerns. “I want to hear more,” Assemblymember Pat Fahy told Playbook. “I understand the concerns. We’ve got to get on top of crime.” — Nick Reisman
| | | | WELCOME TO THE CNN-POLITICO GRILL AT THE DNC! If you are in Chi-Town next week, join us at the CNN-POLITICO Grill just steps from the United Center for daily events and live programs. Featuring an all-star lineup of the most influential Democrats including Governor JB Pritzker, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Mayor Eric Adams and many more special guests. In fact, word on the street (West Madison Street, to be precise) is that Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi will be in the neighborhood and could drop by Don’t miss out on the buzziest conversations and newsworthy events hosted by POLITICO’s top reporters and editors. RSVP HERE. | | | | | | | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | |  Mayoral candidate Brad Lander, who promised he would not be a mayoral candidate. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) | BROKEN PLEDGE: During Brad Lander’s successful run for comptroller in 2021 he promised to never even THINK of running for mayor. Lander put his name to a pledge that he would “never, under any circumstances, consider a campaign to run for Mayor of New York while in office.” The covenant was pushed by an opponent, Assemblymember David Weprin and Lander took the bait, signing on April 19. Lander, of course, filed to run for mayor last month, less than three years into his first term as comptroller. For better or for worse, campaign promises are routinely broken. Adams, for example, has failed to increase park spending to 1 percent of the city budget as he pledged. Weprin’s communications director Ross Wallenstein told Playbook he wasn’t surprised Lander reneged: “He’s a numbers guy. I think the odds were always pretty good." So why should voters trust any campaign pledges Lander makes, if he’s so brazenly violating a pledge from last time? “Brad had no intention of running for mayor,” a campaign spokesperson said in a statement, “but the rampant problems of the last few years led New Yorkers to repeatedly urge him to reconsider and help deliver a safer, more affordable, more livable, and better-run city.” — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — A woman who’s accusing Adams in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting her has identified “more than” 50 people who allegedly have knowledge of her claims. but Adams’ lawyer is demanding more info. (Daily News) — The NYPD says it will nearly double the number of police officers patrolling Central Park after a major uptick in robberies there since last year. (Gothamist) — Council member Shahana Hanif, a vocal critic of Israel, could see her first primary challenge next year. (Jewish Insider)
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Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s findings on racial disparities in maternal health has County Republican state Sen. Bill Weber alarmed. | Hans Pennink/AP | MATERNAL MATTERS: County Republican state Sen. Bill Weber is among those concerned with Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s audit this month of maternal health and the death rate among Black mothers. DiNapoli’s office found the Department of Health has failed to sufficiently track the data of women who contract illnesses before or during childbirth as well as racial disparities. Weber, a Hudson Valley lawmaker, wrote in a letter to Health Commissioner John McDonald he was alarmed by the findings. “With the amount of money New York spends annually and asks its taxpayers to fork over each year, it is unfathomable to me that the severe maternal health issues outlined by the Comptroller still exist in New York today,” Weber wrote in the letter released Wednesday. “With all due respect, how is this possible?” State health officials have recently hired staff to review and assess morbidity data and will add more workers using grant money, POLITICO Pro reported. A DOH spokesperson said the department “remains dedicated to eliminating disparities so all people who give birth have birthing experiences that are safe, supportive, and empowering.” — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — The wording of an amendment guaranteeing abortion rights without mentioning abortion has launched legal challenges. (AP) — Changes to the parole system and criminal justice reforms are being called for after a parolee escaped. (Buffalo News) — More schools are going phone-free as Hochul considers a statewide ban. (WAMC)
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Rep. Nick LaLota’s opponent in NY-01 says the Republicans needs to hold real town halls. | Patrick Semansky/AP | SAY IT TO THEIR FACE: When is a town hall not a town hall? Democratic challenger John Avlon is pushing back on Rep. Nick LaLota’s claim that he DID hold town halls, arguing that phone calls and private business tours don’t count. Avlon started the tiff last month, pledging to hold 12 in-person town halls in his first year, unlike LaLota, who he said has held zero. LaLota’s campaign fired back on X that he’d held 14, actually, and provided a map with the locations across the east end of Long Island. But the list included four telephone town halls, and 10 meetings with private groups, such as the Stony Brook University Political Science Society, or a meet-and-greet with defense contractor TTM Technologies. “If you’re getting phone calls screened, if you’re not doing open town halls, you’re trying to create an artificial environment,” Avlon told Playbook. “This is an issue of doing your job,” he added. “Not being in a partisan defensive crouch that stops people from reaching out.” LaLota spokesperson Will Kiley doubled down, saying “neither payment nor party affiliation was a requirement” at the “town halls” and that the telephone calls posted online show he takes questions on tough topics including abortion and Jan. 6. — Jeff Coltin More from Congress: — New York Democrats are launching a new spate of abortion rights attacks, this time with GOP House members’ voting records as receipts. (POLITICO) — Sen. Chuck Schumer will release a book that warns about antisemitism in the United States and draws on his experience as a Jewish American official. (The Forward) — GOP House candidate Alison Esposito’s misconduct record during her time with the NYPD cost city taxpayers $120,000. (City & State)
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — We don’t know where former Gov. Andrew Cuomo lives, though he’ll have to find a new place to register to vote soon. (City & State) — The Falun Gong religious movement runs a quiet business empire in Orange County’s Middletown. (New York Mag) — Air quality in New York is suffering due to wildfires in Canada. (Times Union)
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