Hochul's unmet promises and Adams’ whirlwind day

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Dec 16, 2024 View in browser   By Jason Beeferman Presented by  Gov. Kathy Hochul's promise to place term limits on her own office have disappeared. | Seth Wenig/AP NEW YORK MINUTE: It’s been quite a day for Eric Adams. In the last seven hours… President-elect Donald Trump said, for the first time, he would consider pardoning the New York City mayor.  Adams’ top aide held a freewheeling press conference to reveal she expects to appear in court any day this week and refuted the unspecified pending criminal charges against her. His 2025 reelection campaign was barred from receiving matching funds. He sparred with reporters, repeating claims the charges against him are politicized and deflecting questions about the day’s developments. More on all that below. But first… SUNBLOCK: Gov. Kathy Hochul promised in January 2022 to introduce a constitutional amendment that would set term limits for statewide elected officials, including governor. The vow — which was a highlight of that year’s State of the State speech — was meant to bolster Hochul’s promise for a “new era of transparency” when she was sworn in. But the call has since evaporated. “If the governor wanted term limits to be enacted, she could include it into a budget extender and force the Legislature's hand,” said Tim Dunn, executive director of government reform group Unite NY. The look at Hochul’s record of reforming Albany follows her late Friday night veto message of a bill that would have placed basic oversight measures on emergency contracts. The state Legislature passed measure unanimously. Governors who preceded Hochul also fell short on their transparency promises. “On day one as Governor, I pledged to restore trust in government and I have taken steps every day to deliver the open, ethical governing New Yorkers deserve,” Hochul said in a 2022 press release that championed her call for a constitutional amendment to set term limits for statewide elected officials. She then omitted the initiative from her 2023 and 2024 State of the State addresses. Legislative leaders remain opposed to term limits for lawmakers and statewide officials. “The speaker does not support term limits — voters should decide whether to keep someone or elect someone new,” said Mike Whyland, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Unite NY conducted a series of polls that found at least 70 percent of New York voters support term limits for governors. Nearly 68 percent said they are more likely to vote for a candidate that shares that view. “We look like we're trying to enable career politicians with a full time paid legislature, redistricting that is a farce, some of the most restrictive voting laws,” Dunn said. “We are careening towards the most undemocratic democracy in the nation.” In a statement to Playbook, Hochul defended her record. “This administration has made important strides on transparency and access to public records, including reforming the FOIL process, directing more than 70 agencies and public authorities to release public transparency plans, and launching a publicly accessible database of State economic incentives,” spokesperson Sam Spokony said. Meanwhile, government reform advocates in Albany remain frustrated with what they describe as her failure to improve access to public records and pass strong restrictions on electeds’ ability to receive outside income. “There hasn't been an effort by the governor to reform the law and or improve administration of FOIL substantially,” said Rachael Fauss, Senior Policy Advisor at Reinvent Albany. — Jason Beeferman   A message from Uber: Study Reveals Uber Drivers Make More than EMTs: NYC Uber drivers now earn an average of $52,900 annually after expenses, outpacing the salaries of many essential city employees, including EMTs and sanitation workers. Despite delivering vital services, these workers struggle with stagnant wages while Uber drivers have benefited from five TLC-mandated pay hikes since 2020. Read more on the wage disparity impacting NYC’s workforce. Learn More.   From City Hall “She never did anything more than her job for anything more than her salary,” Ingrid Lewis-Martin’s lawyer Arthur Aidala said at a press conference at his Midtown Manhattan office this morning. | Jeff Coltin/POLITICO INGRID DECLARES INNOCENCE: Adams’ longtime top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin expects to be indicted on corruption charges this week — but she preemptively denied breaking any laws while her lawyer argued she’s being targeted for being close to the mayor, POLITICO reports. “She never did anything more than her job for anything more than her salary,” Lewis-Martin’s lawyer Arthur Aidala said at a press conference at his Midtown Manhattan office this morning. “There were so many opportunities, if somebody wanted to do something criminal, to do so, and Ingrid never did that, never thought about doing that. And no one would even offer it because they know that’s not who Ingrid Lewis-Martin is.” Evidently, prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office disagree. Aidala said Lewis-Martin expects to be indicted this week alongside other people on charges related to receiving improper gifts in her official capacity as chief adviser to the mayor — the job from which she abruptly resigned on Sunday. “I’m here falsely accused of — something. I don’t know exactly what it is. But I know that I was told that it’s something that’s illegal. And I have never done anything illegal in my capacity in government,” Lewis-Martin said. Bragg’s office declined to comment. — Jeff Coltin TRUMP WILL CONSIDER PARDON FOR ADAMS: Trump said this afternoon he was open to pardoning Adams. “I think he was treated pretty unfairly,” Trump said, speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago. “Now I haven’t seen the gravity of it all, but it seems like being upgraded in an airplane many years ago — I know probably everybody here has been upgraded.” Trump — like the Democratic mayor himself — suggested without evidence Adams’ criminal case was the result of his criticisms of President Joe Biden’s handling of the migrant crisis. The Republican president-elect long said charges against him were similarly motivated by political retribution. “I said it not as a prediction, a little light-heartedly, but I said it. I said he’s going to be indicted,” Trump said, repeating accusations of a politicized Department of Justice that Biden echoed in pardoning his son, Hunter Biden. “And a few months later he got indicted. So, I would certainly look into (a pardon).” At a press conference a few hours later, Adams referred questions about the potential pardon to his legal team. “I have an attorney that is going to look at every avenue to ensure I get justice,” Adams said. “I did nothing wrong. I should not have been charged.” — Joe Anuta   Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today.     ADAMS’ MATCHING FUNDS GO BYE-BYE: City Campaign Finance Board officials denied a request from Adams’ 2025 campaign for millions of public matching dollars. The decision — based on bookkeeping irregularities and a federal criminal case against Adams involving straw donors — deals a body blow to the beleaguered mayor’s reelection effort, which he must now redouble to make up for the withheld cash. “While today’s ruling by CFB to withhold matching funds at this time is disappointing, we will continue to work with the board to address any issues so that funds can be appropriately disbursed,” Adams’ campaign attorney Vito Pitta said in a statement. “The mayor’s campaign continues to have far more resources than his opponents’, and we are very confident we will have the support we need to spend the maximum amount allowable in the upcoming primary.” Mayoral candidates who receive donations from New Yorkers of up to $250 are eligible to have the contribution matched eightfold with public tax dollars — a system that encourages small-dollar contributions to reduce influence peddling. But officials from the board voted unanimously Monday to deny Adams’ request for that lucrative line of funding. Adams had asked for $4.5 million — roughly equal to the $4.1 million he has raised directly from donors over the last three years. The board has raised issues with the mayor’s 2025 reelection campaign including scores of potentially invalid claims for matching dollars and undisclosed individuals who are suspected of acting as third-party fundraisers. Scott Stringer was the only mayoral candidate to be granted the money, receiving a payment of $2.1 million. — Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin WHAT NEW YORKERS WANT: After more New Yorkers voted for Trump in November than in his prior elections, Adams is poised to extend a hand to the incoming administration, he said this morning in an appearance on “Real Talk with Mona Davids.” Asked how he would address the concerns of voters across the five boroughs who shifted rightward for Trump, Adams said the key was, “not warring with the president, but working with the president.” “New Yorkers don't have a problem with immigrants, undocumented or documented. They have a problem with people not finding their way, people [not] paying their way. Generations of immigrants that came here and they all found their way. No one gave anything out free,” Adams said. “That's why we went to the 30 and 90 days program to say to the migrants and asylum seekers, ‘you can't stay here forever on taxpayers’ dime.’” Adams met with incoming “border czar” Tom Homan last week to discuss how the city could cooperate with the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans. “I saw previous administrations when the president was in office … it was four straight years of battling and New York lost in the process. We can't do that again,” Adams added, seemingly referring to his predecessor, Bill de Blasio. “And from all of these important issues, from infrastructure to migrants and asylum seekers to criminal justice issues, all of these important issues, we need to zero in and communicate with the White House and say, New York needs help.”  — Timmy Facciola   Write your own chapter in the new Washington. From the Lame Duck Congress Series to New Administration insights, POLITICO Pro delivers intelligence across 22+ policy areas to help you anticipate and navigate change. Discover how a Pro subscription empowers you. Learn more today.     From the Capitol Lt. Gov Antonio Delgado is amplifying speculation that he will run against Gov. Kathy Hochul in a primary. | Seth Wenig/AP Photo DEFECTOR DELGADO: Lt. Gov Antonio Delgado isn’t just being floated as a primary challenger to his own boss — he’s endorsing the news reports that stoke the speculation. A link to the Sunday New York Times piece entitled “Hochul May Face a Challenger She Knows Well: Her Lieutenant Governor” was shared by Delgado to his 30,000 followers. “He has done little to tamp down the rumors, telling donors that he plans on running for a statewide office,” the report read. A spokesperson for Delgado declined to say what he thought about the article and why he shared it. A spokesperson for Hochul’s reelection campaign declined to comment. Delgado has continued to chart a steady course away from the unpopular governor over the last year. In July, he called for Biden to leave the presidential race as Hochul was nearly omnipresent defending Biden. For the two days following the incident, the lieutenant governor’s public schedule was sent to reporters from a new email separate from that of Hochul’s team — a curious break from procedure that was never explained. Delgado further distinguished himself from Hochul last month by penning an op-ed in The New York Times and went on MSNBC about the need for change in leadership within the Democratic Party — without once mentioning the governor’s name. — Jason Beeferman   A message from Uber:   IN OTHER NEWS — THE POST ON LONG ISLAND: The New York Post will launch a new team of reporters focused exclusively on Long Island neighborhood news and sports in 2025. (New York Post) — BRIAN BENJAMIN: The former Lt. Gov.'s bid to have his federal corruption charges dropped was struck down today by the Supreme Court. (The New York Times) — MORE HIGH-SPEED CHASES: NYPD vehicle pursuits of suspects have soared under Adams, sometimes with deadly results. (THE CITY) Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.   A message from Uber: Study Shows Uber Drivers making over $52k while NYC Heroes Get Left Behind A new study reveals a growing wage divide in New York City: Uber drivers are making an average of $52,900 a year after expenses, while city employees like EMTs and sanitation workers starting salaries are below $44,000. Since 2020, rideshare drivers have received five pay increases through TLC mandates while many frontline city workers face stagnant wages amid rising living costs. This gap underscores an evolving dynamic in NYC’s workforce, where gig workers see consistent earnings growth while essential city roles lag behind. This pay disparity is raising questions about the city’s priorities and the need for equitable wages in public service amidst the affordability crisis. Read the full story to see how gig work earnings are reshaping NYC’s labor landscape. Learn More.     Follow us on Twitter Jason Beeferman @JasonBeeferman   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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