| | | | |  | | By Emily Ngo, Nick Reisman and Jeff Coltin | | Presented by |  | | | With Timmy Facciola
|  Schools Chancellor David Banks is the latest longtime ally of Mayor Eric Adams to resign. | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office | Mayor Eric Adams is losing his schools chancellor, health commissioner and police commissioner, all within two weeks. And he’s in increasing danger of losing reelection. The three agencies they head are among the most prominent in city government. Voters actually know them from news appearances, public events and their own personal interactions. Some New Yorkers even like and trust them. So it’s a particular blow to Adams’ “no distractions” credo for Schools Chancellor David Banks to announce plans to leave at the end of the calendar year, just weeks after he handed his phone to federal agents as part of a bribery probe. Sure, tension has been growing between the two for months. But both Banks’ and Adams’ statements made no mention of the investigation, POLITICO’s Madina Touré wrote in her breaking news piece. That fit Adams’ mood at his weekly press conference Tuesday, where he downplayed the departures of high profile staff — even before Banks’ plan went public — straining to insist that it was just typical turnover, like in any administration, despite the swirling scandals. His reelection opponents were quick to correct him. "New Yorkers see City Hall as a cesspool of incompetence, corruption, and failure,” said state Sen. Jessica Ramos, who launched her campaign this month. “We should be elevating talented leaders, not managing a mass exodus from an administration marred by scandal.” Even the typically reserved state Sen. Zellnor Myrie jumped, saying it’s “beginning to feel like Groundhog Day” after losses at “ three of the city's most critical agencies.” And Comptroller Brad Lander joked on X that he’ll have to add a new metric to his government performance dashboard: ““Does the agency still have a Commissioner?” Adams defended himself Tuesday, saying “their noise don't match the numbers” — of crime trending down and jobs being up. But one political adviser, unattached to any of the candidates, doesn’t like Adams’ reelection odds. “This is like a dead man walking. I don’t think he ever recovers,” they told Playbook. Some political observers are even privately using the R word — resignation. But not a single indictment has been dropped yet. And Adams vigorously denied any suggestion that he’s next on the list to leave. “I'm stepping up, not stepping down,” he said. I am more excited now being mayor than I was when I took my oath of office in the beginning.” Apparently, many of his top appointees feel differently. — Jeff Coltin IT’S WEDNESDAY Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | A message from Alibaba: American businesses generate big global sales on Alibaba's online marketplace – to the tune of $66B in one year alone. These sales are having a bigger impact on communities back home. New York companies, both large and small, sell to over one billion consumers in China through Alibaba, supporting 18,400 local jobs and contributing $2.3B to the state’s economy. Learn more about how Alibaba positively impacts New York’s economy. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? Making an arts and culture announcement at Hudson Valley Shakespeare in Garrison, and participating in a discussion on the Jewish vote and the 2024 election with the Jewish Democratic Council of America. WHERE’S ERIC? Participating in the US-Africa Municipal and Sub-Sovereign Investors Roundtable, meeting with President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon, and later appearing live on News12 to take questions from New Yorkers. QUOTE OF THE DAY: We’re not used to this. We don’t know how to handle it. This hasn’t happened in 40 years.” — Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, beside himself at Vice President Kamala Harris’ plans to skip the Al Smith Dinner, via the New York Post — though he added that Hochul and Schumer are trying to convince her.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
State Sen. James Skoufis’ first TV ad of the campaign references Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing as a positive, even after the governor took heat from supporters for the move. | Bill Mahoney/POLITICO | PRICING POLITICS: New York Democrats want to seize back the congestion pricing narrative — and a Hudson Valley state lawmaker thinks he knows how to do it. Democratic state Sen. James Skoufis’ reelection bid is trumpeting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to pause the controversial $15 toll for traveling into parts of Manhattan. Skoufis’ first TV ad of the campaign references Hochul’s decision as a positive, even after the governor took heat from supporters for the move. “Orange County’s diners, too, are filled with people relieved we’ve pumped the brakes on congestion pricing,” Skoufis told Playbook in a reference to Hochul’s justification that diner patrons were urging her to shelve the toll. Republicans this election year have tried to capitalize on the congestion pricing controversy. Freshman GOP Rep. Mike Lawler released a TV ad touting his opposition to the plan after sponsoring a measure to block it. He took credit for putting pressure on Hochul to postpone it. Hochul’s decision to halt the tolls was popular with a plurality of voters, but she gave it an awkward rollout. The move angered the politically influential business leaders who got behind the tolls as well as lawmakers who begrudgingly went along with it in order to help shore up the region’s troubled mass transit infrastructure. And there’s still the question of what will replace the original toll plan. Hochul has signaled a proposal will be made early next year, a timetable that would coincide with the state budget. But that controversy will be a problem to tackle in 2025 — especially if the state needs to once again secure federal approval. For the election season, Skoufis is among the Democrats who are publicly willing to breathe a sigh of relief. “It’s a money grab for the MTA, plain and simple, especially in those communities that lack a viable public transit alternative to driving,” he said. “Democrats in competitive races absolutely can and should be running on this pocketbook issue amidst an affordability crisis.” — Nick Reisman LONDON’S VIEW: London Mayor Sadiq Khan knows his city and New York City are different beasts when it comes to congestion-pricing schemes.
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Full interview with London mayor Sadiq Khan. | Emily Ngo and Krystal Campos/POLITICO | But he believes such action is necessary to combat climate change, speaking even as a leader whose Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, has been met with widespread protests, a Labour vs. Conservative battle and a bullet sent to him in the mail. “The key thing is to support people during the transition,” Khan told Playbook during a sit-down interview in New York, where he’s attending events for the United Nations General Assembly. “What the U.S. policy is, is a way of discouraging those who drive polluting vehicles … and it’s a stick,” the left-leaning mayor said of the proposed fee to enter Manhattan, adding that London also used a carrot. “And the carrot was to give you a grant to scrap your polluting vehicle, so you can buy a cleaner vehicle or use public transport.” Khan, who has made no secret that he is no former President Donald Trump fan, also had a message for American voters ahead of November, POLITICO reports. “What I’d say in a respectful way to Americans is: I don’t think you realize that the rest of the world is watching because we’ve got skin in the game,” he said. — Emily Ngo
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
A new poll found 72 percent of voters approved of the City of Yes when it was explained to them, while just 22 percent opposed it. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office | YES TO YES: The City Planning Commission is expected to vote to approve the City of Yes housing plan at a meeting this morning — then it’s on to the City Council, where the politics get more complicated. Housing advocates are eager to prove that plans to allow developers to build bigger in some areas, eliminate parking mandates and allow “granny flats” are actually popular among the majority of New Yorkers, despite some loud opposition centered in low-slung neighborhoods. A new poll found that 72 percent of voters approved of the City of Yes when it was explained to them, while just 22 percent opposed it. Converting office buildings to housing was the most popular piece of the plan with 82 percent approval. The only truly unpopular piece was allowing dorm-style “shared housing” with communal kitchens and bathrooms. Just 39 percent of voters approved. The online poll was conducted independently by Adrian Pietrzak, a Princeton University PhD candidate in urban politics, but the results are being toured by the Yes to Housing coalition, which supports the plan. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Melissa Aviles-Ramos, one of Banks’ top deputies, is expected to be named the next schools chancellor as soon as today. (New York Times) — Adams promised to fix the city’s dizzying property tax system in his first year — but three years in he hasn't proposed any fixes and is fighting a lawsuit aimed at correcting its imbalances. (Bloomberg) — After City Planning approved the rezoning of a controversial property near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the developer decided to scrap the plan and build fewer units, as-of-right. (BK Reader)
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | | 
The journalism tax credit, which was part of the $237 billion state budget approved this spring, provides a 50 percent refundable credit for the first $50,000 of a journalist’s salary. | AP | EXTRA, EXTRA: A $30 million tax credit meant to spur hiring at local news outlets is not yet in effect. But burgeoning publications are already pondering how they could benefit from it. Three publishers launching startup local news organizations said they plan to use the first-in-the-nation tax credit to help them hire journalists. The publishers of the Rivertowns Dispatch, Litmor Publishing Group and The Recorder all launched their publications in areas where the established papers recently folded. “We launched the Dispatch because we believe starting with a shared set of facts makes for richer community life, and that newspapers can be fun as well as useful,” said Rivertowns Dispatch publisher Allison Schulte. Schulte said her new outlet is “thrilled for the passage” of the tax credit, which will enable the hiring of full-time journalists. The journalism tax credit, which was part of the $237 billion state budget approved this spring, provides a 50 percent refundable credit for the first $50,000 of a journalist’s salary, and up to a total of $300,000 per outlet. Local news outlets have struggled across the country as small newspapers and publications close their doors. So-called “news deserts” have been the result. New York is generous with its tax credits for industries like film, TV and Broadway. Journalists — understandably — have been historically uncomfortable with having the government directly subsidize their efforts while at the same time serving a watchdog role. Supporters of the tax credit, lawmakers and the owners of the local outlets that lobbied for the measure have insisted it won’t have an impact on how news is covered. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — The controversial law to limit cash bail remains an issue for Democratic candidates. (Daily Gazette) — A state review ordered by Hochul found CUNY should overhaul its policies against antisemitism. (POLITICO Pro) — A jury is deliberating a voter fraud case that has engulfed Rensselaer County. (Times Union)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Congressman Anthony D'Esposito employed his lover as a congressional employee, according to the New York Times. | Alex Brandon/AP | D’ESPOSITO DIGS IN: Long Island Rep. Anthony D’Esposito insisted to reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill that he is operating above board after the New York Times reported he had an affair and hired his lover — as well as hiring his fiancee’s daughter. His office offered the same defense to Playbook. “Congressman D’Esposito denies that he was in a relationship with Devin Faas during her period of employment and reaffirms that he has not violated any House ethics rules,” spokesperson Matt Capp said in a statement. But Capp offered no clarity on exactly when the vulnerable House member was romantically involved with Faas — whether before or after she was on the payroll — and no outright denial that he was engaged in an affair. Meanwhile, the spotlight is shining all the brighter on endemic patronage in GOP-dominated Nassau County. Newsday delved into payroll records to reveal some of that web. — Emily Ngo
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — Retired Orange County judge and former prosecutor Stewart Rosenwasser allegedly shot himself to death as FBI agents tried to bust him on bribery and corruption charges. (New York Post) — Agriculture and rural issues could be pivotal to Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro’s costly rematch with Josh Riley. (E&E News) — A Syracuse police official is jumping into the race to replace Mayor Ben Walsh. (Post-Standard)
| | A message from Alibaba: New York companies of all sizes – from family-owned Adirondack Fragrance & Flavor Farm to globally recognized fashion label Diane von Furstenberg – are partnering with Alibaba to reach over one billion international consumers. They’re generating big sales and it’s having an impact back home.
In one year alone, American businesses sold $66 billion worth of products on Alibaba’s online marketplace. These sales not only added $2.3 billion to New York’s economy but also supported 18,400 local jobs and $1.5 billion in wages for New York workers.
Explore how Alibaba benefits local businesses and New York’s economy. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman MEDIAWATCH – Matt Katz has been named the executive producer at City Cast Philly, part of a national network of local news podcasts run by David Plotz. Katz most recently hosted the podcast “Inconceivable Truth,” which documented the search for his biological father, and previously worked at WNYC and Gothamist. WEEKEND WEDDING – Emma Rechenberg, co-host of Newsmax’s “National Report,” on Saturday married Nick Fitzgerald, a sales specialist and data integration manager at Preqin. The couple wed at the Old Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis followed by cocktails, dinner and dancing followed at the Hyatt Regency hotel. Pic ... Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie … Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) … NYC Council Member Farah Louis … Eddie Amador … Chamber of Commerce’s Jack Howard … Brian Beutler … NBC’s Ryan Reilly … Bloomberg’s John Lauinger … Steptoe & Johnson’s Darryl Nirenberg … Steve Wozencraft … Monica Wagner … Danny Yadron … (WAS TUESDAY): David Pecker ... Franz Lidz Missed Tuesday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
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