| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Nick Reisman and Emily Ngo | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Timmy Facciola
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“I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position,” Lisa Zornberg wrote in her resignation Saturday night. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office | When then-President Richard Nixon ordered his top legal officials to fire the special prosecutor investigating Watergate, the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned in protest. It’s known as the Saturday Night Massacre. This past Saturday night in a 10:37 p.m. email, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ chief counsel Lisa Zornberg resigned her position, effectively immediately. The backstory isn’t yet clear. And the vague and effectively meaningless statements from City Hall — plus Zornberg’s own curt resignation letter — don’t shed any light on it. “I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position,” Zornberg wrote. “I wish you nothing but the best,” she added, channeling Adele. “She wants to do other things with her life, and I respect that,” Adams said to reporters before the African-American Day Parade on Sunday, declining to say more since “I don't go into private conversations.” The political world in and around City Hall was abuzz with theories to fill in that information void. If I were the former criminal division chief for the U.S. attorney’s office, “and my principal was in bad straits, I’d stick around unless he wasn’t listening,” one lawyer said to Playbook, referring to Zornberg’s past job. The mayor refusing to take Zornberg’s advice on how to respond to the latest round of federal investigations was a leading theory, across the more than two dozen conversations our reporting team had Sunday. “She might just say ‘I’m not going to stick around if you’re just using me to talk to the press,’” but not for legal advice, another lawyer said. A tiny tornado of federal raids has hit recently, after all, leading to the resignation Thursday of Police Commissioner Edward Caban. Politicos are questioning the mayor’s decision — so far — to keep controversial friends and advisers Tim Pearson and Phil Banks on the city payroll. Instead, it was the mayor’s lawyer making waves over the weekend. “Her sudden resignation suggests the administration has reached a point she can no longer defend it,” said Council member Lincoln Restler, who Zornberg has fought with before. “She has zealously defended the administration at every turn. But no longer.” Others, like Restler, wondered if Zornberg’s departure preceded more bad news from the Southern District of New York. There’s also the question of who will fill Zornberg’s job — and the name on everyone’s lips is Randy Mastro, who just lost out on the corporation counsel job. Mastro made clear that was the only job he wanted, but would the new circumstances change his mind? Mastro didn’t respond to a request for comment Sunday. One thing everyone could agree on: This was bad news for the mayor. “Guys, it’s not that big of a deal,” Council member Sandy Nurse posted on X, dripping with sarcasm. “A lot of lawyers quit their jobs late on a Saturday night after the FBI seizes the phones of their coworkers.” How many more resignations should we expect, Adams was asked. “We’re going to be fine,” he said. Conspicuously not saying “zero.” — Jeff Coltin HAPPY MONDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Uber: New York City Uber riders pay $700 Million in taxes and fees annually* That’s more than the entire budget for New York City Parks Department. *Based on trips originating from NYC in 2023. Learn more. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany with no public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Giving an update on the Mayor’s Management Report at City Hall. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The recurring political violence targeting President Trump is unacceptable and deeply un-American — this is not who we are as a nation and it cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.” — Rep. Nick Langworthy calling for expanded protection for Trump following what authorities are investigating as an assassination attempt.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
Laura Loomer traveled to the presidential debate aboard former President Donald Trump’s plane and accompanied him to 9/11 memorial services this week. | Stephanie Keith/Getty Images | LOOMING OVER: New York’s battleground Republicans aren’t lining up to defend former President Donald Trump’s association with right-wing provocateur and activist Laura Loomer, though most won’t condemn her by name either. Days after Sept. 11, Rep. Nick Lalota told Playbook, “Loomer’s rhetoric is incredibly dangerous and a slap in the face to those we lost.” Rep. Marc Molinaro called her “disgraceful.” But Reps. Brandon Williams, Mike Lawler and Anthony D’Esposito were a bit more ambiguous. Williams said he stands “firmly in condemnation of reckless claims,” Lawler described “anyone” who believes 9/11 conspiracies as a “fringe character” and D’Esposito said he rejects “any 9/11 conspiracy theories.” Loomer, who has spread conspiracy theories online, including unfounded claims about the Sept. 11 attacks, traveled to the presidential debate aboard Trump’s plane and accompanied him to 9/11 memorial services this week. Their alliance could be especially problematic for New York Republicans as the former president prepares to host a rally Tuesday in D’Esposito’s Nassau County district. Democrats are trying to flip five GOP-held House seats in the state that’s home to scores of first responders, as well as voters with personal connections to the tragedy. And Lawler, D’Esposito and House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik recently co-sponsored a bill to make 9/11 a federal holiday. (Stefanik’s team did not respond to requests for comment on Loomer.) Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul became the latest Democrat to criticize Trump’s association with Loomer. The governor, in a statement to Playbook, called Trump’s decision to travel with Loomer during the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremonies “a disgrace.” “It’s a slap in the face to the victims, first responders, and countless families impacted by this tragedy,” she said. “Instead of condemning this behavior, New York House Republicans are once again silent and welcoming Trump back to New York with open arms (on Tuesday). Vile and pathetic.” And the Democratic governor, who is part of a broad effort to help her party regain power in the House, dinged GOP candidates in swing districts. Trump last week defended Loomer as “a free spirit.” “Laura’s a supporter,” he added. “I don’t control Laura, Laura has to say what she wants.” — Timmy Facciola and Nick Reisman
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
At her mayoral campaign kickoff, Jessica Ramos mocked Mayor Eric Adams' "robots" and "toys." | Jeff Coltin/POLITICO | COP THOUGHTS: What would Jessica Ramos be looking for in a police commissioner? An insider. “Somebody preferably who comes from the NYPD and understands our streets,” she said, answering the question at her mayoral campaign kickoff rally outside City Hall Saturday morning. “I would also want someone who is reform-minded, and understands how we can move our department forward with different types of meaningful investments,” she added. That means “investing in police officers, making sure that they’re safe so that they can keep us safe” and not “on robots or other toys that are yet to be proven to actually keep us safe.” That’s a dig at the drone-loving Adams, who of course just appointed former FBI national security suit Tom Donlon as an interim commissioner Thursday. But Ramos’ answer also reflects many progressive pols’ shift in language from 2020, when the Queens Democrat called on the Council to defund the NYPD. — Jeff Coltin APPLE’S ROTTEN RIGHT TO THE CORE: Mayoral candidate and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie appeared Sunday to compare the beleaguered Adams to a tree bearing bad fruit, a reference to Scriptures. Speaking from the pulpit at First Baptist Church in Brooklyn, Myrie listed his accomplishments as fruit, including fighting to save SUNY Downstate hospital from closure. “There are trees that look good. They’re tall. They look nice. But the fruit is rotten,” the Democrat said. “Jesus instructs us to examine the fruit. That is the choice. A tree that bears good fruit. That’s what our leaders should be. Our leaders should be people of integrity.” Meanwhile, the 2025 mayoral race has its first merch store, where Myrie is selling tees, totes and an all-denim “Zellnor for NYC” ball cap. The jean hat is inspired by Myrie’s retail job at the Midtown Old Navy from ages 16 to 21, his campaign tells Playbook. He folded thousands of jeans and was deemed a “DE” — Denim Expert. Adams himself may be the most hat-friendly politician this side of former President Donald Trump, frequently rocking a variety of ball caps upon his bald dome. — Emily Ngo, Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Three days before outgoing Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned, he released a new “disciplinary matrix” that lowered penalties for cops who commit various offenses. (THE CITY) — A tech company hired Terence Banks, the brother of the schools chancellor and a deputy mayor. A private meeting and $1.4M in contracts followed. (AP) — Feds investigating possible City Hall corruption have served a search warrant on at least one employee of SaferWatch, a security app company that hired Banks as a consultant. (Daily News) — Banks claimed he worked with a company that said it had no record of having done business with him and another that said he promised access that never came. (Gothamist)
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | |  Gov. Kathy Hochul does not have the same kind of public relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native, as she has with President Joe Biden. | Mary Altaffer/AP | NO SUGAR HIGH: Hochul does not think the enthusiasm among Democrats for Vice President Kamala Harris is temporary. It’s the latest sign of how Hochul, a supporter of President Joe Biden until the very end of his presidential bid this summer, has become a vocal backer for Harris. “I can keep a sugar high going for 75 days,” Hochul said during an interview at The Paley Center on Friday. “The energy will not abate.” Hochul does not have the same kind of public relationship with Harris, a California native, as she has with Biden. The president and Hochul have bonded over their shared Irish heritage and connection to Syracuse University. And Biden has showered New York with attention, including federal support for Micron Technologies to expand its operations in central New York. But Biden was not immune to political struggles even in deep blue New York. A June Siena College poll found him leading Trump by only 8 points — a modest lead in a state where Democratic presidential candidates have won by double digits. Harris has given New York Democrats some relief, with an August survey from Siena finding her leading Trump by 14 points. And Hochul has been building her report with Harris, largely as a prominent surrogate. On Friday, the governor suggested Harris was being minimized— and drew a parallel to her own experiences. “I feel like as someone who's been there — wildly underestimated throughout my career, you know — I have an affinity with her,” Hochul said. “But also, it's this sense of pride that our day has come, that we'll stop talking about the ‘first’ and now we're into second, third and fourth and then no one mentions it anymore.” — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Even with pandemic concerns receding, nursing home residents are still contending with widespread neglect. (Times Union) — The political contributions of a Buffalo attorney under consideration for a judgeship increased after he applied for the job. (Buffalo News) — A new state voting law will give Attorney General Tish James’ office power over close elections. (New York Post)
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — An armed deputy force is moving forward in Nassau County despite a growing controversy. (Newsday) — It’s finally leaf-peeping season in upstate New York. (Post-Standard)
| | | | A message from Uber: Ever thought about what it’s like to drive for Uber in New York?
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*Average earnings per online hour from January - July 2024 based on trips originating from NYC
Learn more. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: Sonia Moghe, an alum of CNN and the Times’ Wirecutter, is joining Adams’ City Hall as deputy communication director. … and former City Hall intern Sophia Askari has come back as a press assistant. … Moonshot Strategies is celebrating its third anniversary with two new hires: John Tritt, former New York deputy political director of 32BJ and Adams campaign adviser, and Louis Cholden-Brown, former special counsel at UFT and a man alum of both the Brad Lander’s comptroller’s office and Corey Johnson’s speaker office… — Kristina Naplatarski, Asher Freeman, and Gregory Louis are launching a new government relations firm called ParkPoint Strategies. The trio come from Antonio Reynoso’s Brooklyn Borough President’s office, where they served as Director of Communications, Chief of Staff, and General Counsel, respectively. WELCOME TO THE WORLD: Hugh Lance Carroll, born Thursday to Assemblymember Robert Carroll and Virginia Lance, vice president of external affairs at Two Sigma and an alum of Biden’s VP office. (X pic) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Josh Benson, founder of Old Town Media and a founding father of POLITICO New York … Jason Zengerle … NBC’s Richard Engel … CNN’s Angelica Grimaldi … Andy Serwer … Tristan White … Molly Hensley-Clancy … Johannes Boehm ... Charlotte Green … Rory Hammond ... Adams political adviser Evan Thies … Gothamist’s Jon Campbell … Ken Langone … (WAS SUNDAY): WaPo’s Ashley Parker … Chris Lehmann … NPR’s David Folkenflik … Eliza Shapiro ... Ned Rothenberg … Ben Kamisar … Alex Yudelson … Owen Pataki … Adam Aigner-Treworgy … McKinsey & Company’s Max Berley … Zara Rahim … (WAS SATURDAY): Jennifer Jacobs … Bloomberg’s Katie Boyce … NYT’s Tim Arango and Melina Delkic … Axios’ Hans Nichols … MSNBC’s Alex Korson … Julia Savel … Larry A. Mizel … Courtney Flantzer … Rachel Bissex of News Corp. … Elliot Berke of Berke Farah … Jillian Hughes of Green Ribbon Media … NBC’s Scott Foster … Naomi Karavani … (WAS FRIDAY): Stephen Siegel ... Walter Suskind ... David Behmoaras Missed Friday’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 | | | | |
