New York Minute: Mayor Eric Adams’ latest charter revision commission is meeting for the first time this afternoon in Manhattan. It’ll be uneventful, as the commission is just getting organized, but there’s a backdrop of high drama — the City Council is once again accusing Adams of acting only to block its own efforts to change the charter. — Jeff Coltin FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Adams has tapped new leaders for his state and federal legislative offices — in one case filling a position that’s been empty for more than a year — in an effort to improve rough relationships with state legislative leaders and start fresh with a new presidential administration. The appointments come at a pivotal time for the mayor, who is running for reelection while fighting corruption charges — and counting on success in Albany and alignment on immigration issues in D.C. Adams promoted to director of state legislative affairs Shanna Witherspoon, with whom he goes way back: She worked as the special assistant in his state Senate office. More recently, Witherspoon has been chief of staff and a principal adviser to Christopher Ellis, who left Adams’ Albany director job in November for lobbying firm Constantinople & Vallone, Playbook first reported. Adams chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin — who also played a big role in intergovernmental affairs — resigned a month later ahead of getting indicted, leaving Adams without two of his top liaisons to state government heading into what could be a difficult session. “This is their toughest year ever, given the cloud of scandal,” said one state senator, who would only speak on background. “We want the city to succeed. But how do you embrace the legislative agenda by somebody who's under investigation?” The intergovernmental affairs team is led by trusted Adams adviser Tiffany Raspberry. Former state Sen. Diane Savino advocates for Adams’ Albany agenda in her role as his senior adviser. But city and state lawmakers told Playbook some agencies — transportation and education, for instance — do a lot of their own legislative work, with less central coordination than past mayors. Adams’ Albany agenda won’t be easy this year. He’s pushing a bill meant to commit more severely mentally ill New Yorkers to treatment, even those who don’t go voluntarily. The “Supportive Interventions Act” has failed to gain momentum in past sessions. Adams has also talked about pushing for further changes to bail reform — something that’s faced opposition from legislative leaders in the past. Melanee Farrah is the new director of federal affairs for New York City, a role that’s been empty since September 2023 — unfilled even as the Biden administration iced out City Hall among Adams’ complaints about migrants. Farrah, who grew up in New York, has been chief of staff to Rep. Nikema Williams, a Georgia Democrat. So no — she’s not a Trump insider, despite the Democratic mayor taking a kid-glove approach with the Republican president-elect. Leading the city’s Washington office, and trying to secure funding under a GOP trifecta is “a very, very challenging job. A nightmare,” said Matthew McNally, who held that job in the first Trump administration under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio. Farrah already sought McNally’s advice, he said, and she’s “going to be great at the job, and is going to be effective in advocating for the city.” “It’s an important position,” echoed Rob Gottheim, Rep. Jerry Nadler’s chief of staff. “I’m glad that they finally filled it, so we have a person to talk to on the numerous bills that come before the House.” — Jeff Coltin IT’S TUESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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