Jessica Ramos joins the race

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Sep 13, 2024 View in browser   By Jeff Coltin, Nick Reisman and Emily Ngo Presented by  "You're not going to find me at Zero Bond," the new Queens mayoral contender told Playbook. | Shawn Ness/POLITICO New York Minute: Unlucky enough, this Friday the 13th is officially Edward Caban’s last day as NYPD commissioner. Under pressure from Mayor Eric Adams amid a federal investigation, Caban submitted his resignation Thursday. It officially goes into effect today at 5 p.m. ‘Divisive by definition’ State Sen. Jessica Ramos is entering the race for mayor of New York — just the latest Democratic challenger to take on a weakened Adams next year, POLITICO reports. She lacks the money and citywide experience of some of the other contenders. But the progressive Queens pol has been among the most outspoken critics of the embattled mayor as his inner circle is embroiled in federal investigations. “You’re not going to find me at Zero Bond,” she said to Playbook, referring to the mayor’s preferred private club. “You’re not going to find me doing any shenanigans. You’ll find me on the street, talking to New Yorkers. You’ll find me in City Hall in meetings with agencies. And making sure that I am recruiting and hiring the top talent of New York City and trusting them to do their job.” She filed to open a campaign account Wednesday and will launch with a video today and a rally outside City Hall Saturday morning. Ramos would make history as the first woman, Latina and mother to become mayor. She was born to undocumented immigrants from Colombia. She would be the first Queens-born mayor since the 19th century. She is also the first progressive mayoral hopeful to openly feud with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose coveted endorsement could shape the mayoral primary. Ramos sniped at AOC on Twitter in 2022, saying the progressive icon was absent from their shared Western Queens district. In the surprising social media screed, Ramos said her fellow Democrat didn’t return calls and texts. Do they have a relationship now, two years later? “I wouldn’t say so,” Ramos said and noted Ocasio-Cortez still doesn’t have a district office in Queens. (Her staff, instead, take constituent appointments out of Tiffany Caban’s City Council office.) Ramos’ relationships with some other New York progressives are famously tense. Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, who shares a district with her, posted a photo on X Thursday night drinking with mayoral rival Zellnor Myrie ahead of Ramos’ launch. “I feel like every politician is divisive by definition. Some people vote for you, and some people don’t,” Ramos told Playbook. “I get that I’m an outspoken woman. I am aggressive in my legislative approach. I try to convey the urgency that my constituents feel in resolving issues.” Once a communications aide for former Mayor Bill de Blasio, Ramos was elected to the state Senate in 2018, ousting incumbent José Peralta in a progressive wave that unseated the former Independent Democratic Conference members. She chairs the influential Labor Committee, has pushed to raise the minimum wage and passed a bill extending pandemic-era government benefits to undocumented workers. — Jeff Coltin HAPPY FRIDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.   A message from Uber: Uber is teaming up with transit agencies across the U.S. These partnerships can connect communities and address critical transportation challenges like improving first-mile/last-mile connectivity. Learn More.   WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City and Albany with no public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Has no public schedule. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s still a shock. It certainly sends shockwaves through the NYPD.” — former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to NY1 on Caban’s resignation. ABOVE THE FOLD Gov. Kathy Hochul is part of a sweeping effort to help Democrats win pivotal House races and flip the narrowly divided chamber. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing pressure in swing House districts from a coalition of environmental organizations that wants her to sign a controversial climate measure. Make Polluters Pay — a consortium that includes groups like the New York Public Interest Research Group, the Working Families Party and Greenpeace — will unveil a five-figure digital ad campaign to push Hochul to sign the climate bill. The measure would require companies deemed responsible for pollution to pay for cleanup efforts. The ads will appear in battleground House districts in New York, including on Long Island, the Hudson Valley and the Syracuse area. It’s a provocative strategy for a left-leaning coalition: Hochul is part of a sweeping effort to help Democrats win pivotal House races and flip the narrowly divided chamber. Five seats in the state are considered competitive. In the ad, advocates lean heavily on Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, who’ss embraced the overarching goal of requiring corporate polluters to pay for mitigation efforts. Harris, notably, has also said she would no longer seek a fracking ban. “The new Democratic mantra is 'never going back,' said Bill McKibben, a climate activist involved in the effort to get Hochul to sign the bill. “Kamala has said she wants to make polluters pay, now Kathy has the opportunity to do it.” Hochul spokesperson Paul DiMichele said the measure is under consideration. — Nick Reisman CITY HALL: THE LATEST "Let’s say ‘yes’ to the City of Yes and build a fairer, more equitable city that reflects our values," Mayor Eric Adams says in a new video about his proposed zoning plan. | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office ADAMS’ ‘CITY OF YES’ PITCH: Mayor Eric Adams is ramping up messaging around his ambitious housing plan ahead of a review by the City Council, which will decide its fate in the next few months. In a new video being released today, Adams presents the “City of Yes” zoning plan as a vehicle for racial justice — with an eye toward building support in outer borough neighborhoods of color that make up his political base. The plan would overhaul zoning rules to spur residential development and is facing staunch pushback in parts of the city like southeast Queens where Adams has strong ties. “In the 1950s and 60s, as the civil rights movement was bringing down racist Jim Crow laws, New York City took a major step backwards,” Adams says in the video. “New zoning rules reduced how much housing could be built, especially in white, higher-income neighborhoods. This kept neighborhoods segregated by limiting supply.” “The good news is we can fix this,” he continues. “When there’s more housing choice, costs go down and people can stay in their homes and communities. Let’s say ‘yes’ to the City of Yes and build a fairer, more equitable city that reflects our values.” The City Planning Commission is expected to approve the plan in the coming weeks, after which it will go before the council. — Janaki Chadha YES, AND: City Council members are also getting hit up on the City of Yes by New Yorkers asking them not to compromise on killing parking mandates. Adams’ proposal would eliminate requirements for developers to include parking spots with housing, but that’s gotten some pushback from people who fear competition for on-the-street parking. So led by urbanist nonprofit Open Plans, more than 100 community board members from across the city have signed onto a letter asking them to hold fast, and kill the mandates. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — A staffer from the mayor’s office advised a Brooklyn bar owner to hire NYPD Commissioner Caban’s brother to get rid of his problems with the police. (NBC New York) — Adams’ campaign asked regulators for more time to respond to an audit because its lawyer was too busy dealing with a federal inquiry. (Gothamist) — Adams adviser Tim Pearson’s schedules show dozens of meetings directly related to NYPD promotions and other internal department matters. (Daily News) — The NYPD has tossed out hundreds of civilian complaints about police misconduct this year without looking at the evidence. (ProPublica)   A message from Uber:   NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY “You would think Andrew Cuomo would have learned some lessons about lying to cover up his problems like he did with the nursing home fiasco, but apparently not,” state Sen. Mike Gianaris told Playbook. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP CUOMO’S LEGAL AID: More than $25 million in taxpayer money has been used to help pay former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s legal bills and those of his former advisers. And some Democrats are trying to turn off the cash spigot — a prospect Team Cuomo wants to squelch as he weighs a potential comeback bid. State law requires taxpayers to foot the legal bills associated with a myriad of lawsuits he’s faced since leaving office. “We’re dealing with someone who resigned his office because of these accusations and he’s somehow still able to tap into taxpayer dollars at his discretion,” state Sen. Mike Gianaris told Playbook. “We’re basically giving him a blank check for him and his lawyer to bully witnesses and be overly aggressive with subpoenas.” Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi in a statement to Playbook sought to reverse the criticism by pointing to the state Senate’s investigation of state Sen. John Mannion, a House candidate who has been accused of presiding over a toxic workplace (the report cleared Mannion, legislative officials said). “The Legislature routinely uses outside taxpayer funded attorneys when it suits them — as recently as last week when they used one to absolve Gianaris’ colleague of sexual harassment allegations — he seems quite comfortable living with the hypocrisy.” There are key differences here: Cuomo is using public money to pay his legal bills to fight lawsuits that stem from allegations of sexual harassment, which he’s denied. The Mannion probe was not a lawsuit, nor did it provide taxpayer funding for his legal expenses. “You would think Andrew Cuomo would have learned some lessons about lying to cover up his problems like he did with the nursing home fiasco, but apparently not,” Gianaris said. “The Senate did not spend one penny on anybody's legal defense in the case they’re referring to.” — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Attorney General Tish James wants the DOJ to investigate raids of Latino candidates in Texas. (State of Politics) — Hochul wants to increase New York’s “cool factor” to attract more entertainment production jobs with the state’s generous tax breaks. (Deadline) — Albany County officials want to limit tobacco sales in stores. (WAMC) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION Laura Loomer visits the 9/11 memorial on Wednesday. | Matt Rourke/AP — Both Republicans and Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, slammed Donald Trump for traveling with far-right activist Laura Loomer. (NY1) — A mailer supporting Rep. Anthony D’Esposito targeted Dem Laura Gillen by invoking what she’s calling antisemitic imagery of George Soros pouring cash over her head. (Forward) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has yet to say whether he’ll take the top job at the Western Regional OTB a week after he got the offer. (Buffalo News) — Ex-Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is facing new sexual assault charges after his initial conviction was overturned. (New York Times)   A message from Uber: What’s happening: Uber is working with local transit agencies to help paratransit customers to get same-day, on-demand rides without needing to schedule them a day in advance. Key Stats:  Average wait time for ride: 3.4 Minutes Average trip distance: 5 miles Learn More.   SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman MEDIAWATCH: As WNYC Celebrates 100 Years, New York Public Radio Eliminates Dozens of Journalists and Staff … including Matt Katz, Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky and Kerry Nolan. (Hell Gate) MAKING MOVES: Anna Bessendorf is now the manager of government relations and advocacy for UJA-Federation. She most recently was the chief of staff for Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. Bessendorf also recently got married to Jason Goldberg, a film and TV producer, whose recent work includes “The Sixth” with A24. NYT announcement … Pic by Mary Shelton Photo … Ashwini Chhabra has been hired by Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Hub, where he’ll be leading a new tech innovation initiative in partnership with City Hall and several agencies. He is the former chief public policy officer at TIER Mobility and is an alum of Uber, Bird, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and Mike Bloomberg. … Paula Leon-Gambetta, a comedian, film producer and social media manager, has joined City Council Member Shaun Abreu’s office as communications director. … Mark Furnish has joined Greenberg Traurig’s Albany office as of counsel under an expanded health care and FDA practice. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Cozen O’Connor’s Rose Christ … Oaktree’s Ariel Palitz, ex-nightlife mayor … Marino’s Jordan Isenstadt … Jennifer Cunningham … Montefiore’s Latoya Joyner … Earthjustice’s Liz Moran … New York Transco’s Jamal Wilkerson … Vivian Schiller of the Aspen Institute … Sanette Tanaka Sloan … CNN’s Alli Gordon … Bloomberg’s Laura Davison … NBC’s Ginger Gibson … MSNBC’s Casey Dolan … (WAS THURSDAY): Geoffrey Berman … Richard Thaler … … (IS SATURDAY): NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez … Emma Wolfe … Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara … Assemblymember Ken Blankenbush … the Times’ Matt Flegenheimer … Dan Morris … HRI’s Aaron Carr … Sophie Ota Missed Thursday’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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