‘Compromised’: NY delegation split on Adams

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Feb 12, 2025 View in browser   By Emily Ngo, Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman Presented by  With help from Cris Seda Chabrier Some Congressional Democrats have kept mum on the Department of Justice's order to drop Mayor Eric Adams' criminal charges. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images Criticize Eric Adams? The mayor of their city over whom Donald Trump may retain leverage? Congressional leaders from New York are keeping their powder dry. Sen. Chuck Schumer declined to comment on the Trump Justice Department moving to drop Adams’ fraud charges. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries offered a variation of the lackluster responses he’s given throughout Adams’ legal journey, saying voters will decide the mayor’s fate this year. But several House Democrats excoriated the mayor, noting the charges could be refiled in the future and positing the mayor must keep kowtowing to the president, including on his deportation agenda, in order to stay in his good graces. One of Adams’ first tests may come this week. Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said he’ll be returning to New York City on Thursday to meet again with Adams. Homan told WABC 770 he hopes the mayor will agree to have the NYPD work with federal agents to remove migrant gang members. Adams had said in an address earlier in the day that he never broke the law, has New Yorkers’ best interests at heart and will continue to prioritize the city. “I absolutely never traded my power as an elected official for any personal benefit,” the mayor said in a speech marking his pivot to reelection. The mayoral primary is only four months away. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who has endorsed Scott Stringer, told Playbook that “it’s an obvious quid pro quo” between Trump and Adams, adding, “in effect, the mayor has to watch what he’s doing.” Rep. Ritchie Torres, who backed Andrew Yang as his No. 1 pick in 2021 and is thinking of running for governor next year, called Adams “compromised.” Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who endorsed Maya Wiley last cycle, told NY1 that Trump “compensated” Adams, whom she charged has made ICE’s work easier. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who endorsed Adams in 2021, declined to comment on the mayor’s case and told Playbook he hasn’t decided who he’s going to support this year. His backing was regarded as among the most coveted last cycle, given his pull with Latinos in Upper Manhattan. But one of his “Squadriano” protégés, City Council Member Shaun Abreu, has had enough with Adams, posting on X: “The only thing worse for our city than Trump giving the mayor a get-out-of-jail-free card is the unspoken deal that comes with it.” POLITICO’s Jeff Coltin has more on Adams’ rivals — and some allies — saying the mayor is now beholden to the president. — Emily Ngo and Nicholas Wu IT’S WEDNESDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.   A message from Uber: Insurance Hitting Uber Riders in the Wallet. New York State has some of the most onerous and expensive insurance laws for rideshare trips in the country and Uber riders are paying the cost. In December 2024, 25% of rider fares on average went toward government-mandated commercial insurance for Uber rideshare trips. Lawsuit abuse and the litigation environment in New York are driving up costs of everything even more, including insurance premiums. Learn More.   WHERE’S KATHY? Making an infrastructure announcement in Ronkonkoma, NY. WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City, hosting an older adult town hall. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m not authorized to let you in. My counsel is on the phone, and you can speak with them.” — A new flowchart for New York City employees dealing with federal immigration agents without a warrant, updated Tuesday to address concerns the previous guidance was too deferential. ABOVE THE FOLD Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to send money directly to New Yorkers is being derided as a gimmick. | Courtesy of the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul CHECK YOURSELF: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to send New Yorkers $300 checks ($500 for joint filers) is hitting a buzzsaw in the Democratic-led Assembly. The $3 billion check proposal — a signature effort by the governor in her $252 billion budget plan — is meant to counter the effects of inflation. But Assembly Democrats attending a closed-door conference Monday evening trashed the proposal, according to three people who requested anonymity so they could speak frankly about the private conversation. The opposition is an unwelcome development for the Democratic governor, who submitted a budget plan meant to avoid big fights with the Legislature ahead of her own reelection bid next year. Some lawmakers in the meeting criticized the rebate proposal as an election-year stunt. (Next year is their election year too.) They proposed alternative ways of spending the money set aside for the checks, like housing, a tax credit for families or expanding child care programs. Another legislator recommended diverting some of the money to pay down New York’s federal unemployment insurance debt accrued during Covid. “I can tell you straight up I don’t support the $300 checks,” Democratic Assemblymember Phil Steck told Playbook. “It’s a gimmick.” Democrats this year have pledged to address affordability — seizing on one of the marquee issues that helped Trump return to the White House. And Hochul’s budget — which includes a middle-income tax cut — is largely aimed at the cost of living. But skepticism for the rebate checks from budget watchdogs — as well as her fellow Democrats — continues. “My constituents said they would rather have universal pre-K,” Steck said. “I don’t think it’s really in tune with what people need.” Hochul’s office pointed Playbook to her past statements defending the proposal. “My agenda for the coming year will be laser-focused on putting money back in your pockets,” she said when rolling out the rebate plan. And for critics, Hochul has had a basic message: “I'll take the money back from anyone who doesn’t want it.” — Nick Reisman   We’ve re-imagined and expanded our Inside Congress newsletter to give you unmatched reporting on Capitol Hill politics and policy -- and we'll get it to your inbox even earlier. Subscribe today.     CITY HALL: THE LATEST Mayor Eric Adams beat Curtis Sliwa 67-28 in the mayoral race four years ago. | Craig Ruttle/AP Photo, pool SLIWA WANTS ADAMS: Republicans’ mayoral nominee four years later is dying for a rematch with Adams — in the Republican primary. “I need him in the ring!” Curtis Sliwa told Playbook Tuesday. “You can’t have a fight when there’s nobody in the ring with you.” The subway crime watchdog group founder-turned AM radio host said he’s barreling toward the GOP nomination in 2025 without opposition. Sliwa won the Staten Island GOP’s endorsement Monday night without any candidates contesting it and unanimously won the Brooklyn GOP’s backing Tuesday night. Adams — who registered as a Republican for several years in the late 1990s — has cozied up to Trump in his quest for legal clearance. He nevertheless plans to run for reelection as a Democrat, though his ally John Catsimatidis floated to Playbook and the New York Post that Adams is “definitely thinking” about running as a Republican. Sliwa isn’t scared. “Just go to the outer boroughs, you’ll see that Eric Adams is toxic” among Republicans, he said. Adams beat Sliwa 67-28 in the general election four years ago, but a January Manhattan Institute poll showed Sliwa winning Republicans 70-12 over Adams. Sliwa plans to file a fundraising committee this month, but hasn’t done so yet so he can hold onto his radio job without running afoul of FCC regulations, he explained. A handful of less experienced candidates are expected to petition for the June Republican primary, including MAGA devotee David Rem who called Kamala Harris “the antichrist” at Trump’s MSG rally. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Four FEMA employees were fired over their roles in disbursing federal funds to house migrants in New York City hotels, the Trump administration said. (New York Times) — New York’s highest court heard arguments for and against a law that would allow noncitizen voting in the city. (POLITICO Pro) — An effort to revive Airbnb in New York City is sputtering after a city councilmember gutted a bill meant to legalize more short-term rentals. (Gothamist)   A message from Uber:   NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY President Donald Trump's win has breathed life into the Republican Party in deep blue New York. | Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images EMPIRE STATE OF MIND: New York Republicans are consigned to a powerless minority in Albany, but Trump’s return to the White House has reinvigorated GOP officials in the deep blue state. Trump — who toyed with running for governor in 2014 — has asserted himself to a remarkable degree in New York. The president is negotiating the future of the congestion pricing toll program with Hochul while his Department of Justice asserts Adams’ legal problems are a distraction from carrying out immigration enforcement. “He means business, and he wants to make sure that his agenda has an opportunity in Congress and an opportunity in the United States Senate,” said Republican Assemblymember Chris Tague. Trump has had a unifying effect on the party, he added. “We are galvanized as a party,” Tague said. But even as Hochul pulls back a bill meant to delay a likely special election and deprive Republicans of a House seat for most of the year (ostensibly because of the ongoing congestion pricing negotiations with Trump), New York Republicans are still out of power and have no impact on state policy. “We have in Donald Trump who hails from New York and essentially has an ax to grind with New York — doesn’t feel like he was given the love and support he should have received,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, the vice chair of the National Action Network. “If he can come in and dictate and drive how things run here in New York City, he will do that.” — Nick Reisman  DEMS WIN IN WESTCHESTER: Democrats declared victory late Tuesday in the special election for Westchester County executive. Ken Jenkins was joined by Hochul to celebrate keeping the suburban seat in Democratic hands. He held a healthy margin over Republican Christine Sculti, who Trump endorsed in a Truth Social post the day before the vote. Jenkins and Sculti, who are expected to face off again in November for a full term, were competing to finish George Latimer’s term after he left to serve in Congress. Jenkins, who was Latimer’s deputy, had been appointed to hold the seat until Tuesday’s election. Latimer and other Democrats had framed the Westchester race as a referendum on Trump. Republicans, including former County Executive Rob Astorino, who Sculti served as a chief adviser, had condemned sanctuary laws and overspending by the Democrats in charge. — Emily Ngo BUILD BABY BUILD: Affordable housing developers in Albany today will push lawmakers for a statewide version of the City of Yes housing plan. The New York State Association for Affordable Housing today will hold its annual lobby day to push for $1 billion for a statewide plan that includes money and tax credits to encourage building. Hochul’s $252 billion budget proposal included $1 billion for the City of Yes zoning reforms that are meant to spur new housing units. The group, which represents affordable housing developers, wants $150 million for a relief fund meant to address Covid-related losses and rising expenses. The organization also wants a state low-income housing tax credit expansion and insurance relief. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — State lawmakers want a delay in the Hochul-backed change to a home health aide program. (Gothamist) — Former Hochul aide Linda Sun has been indicted on a new money laundering charge. (Newsday) — Former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is returning to the Capitol to advocate for prison reform after Robert Brooks’ death. (Gothamist) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION Rep. James Comer and other House GOP members are expected to come down hard on sanctuary cities. | Samuel Corum/Getty Images NOT OUT FOR ADAMS: Rep. James Comer and the House GOP are expected to bring the hammer down on Democrat-run sanctuary cities at a House Oversight Committee hearing next month. But the Kentucky Republican is so far sparing the Trump-friendly mayor of the biggest sanctuary city from criticism. “He was one of the first mayors to bring up the crisis situation, the fiscal impact on the city, so I think he would be a very good witness,” said Comer, who chairs the influential panel and has subpoena powers. Adams is cultivating a relationship with Trump, whose Department of Justice wants the charges against the mayor dropped. And the mayor has lamented the limitations of sanctuary laws that prohibit local law enforcement from cooperation with federal immigration officials in many instances. That’s not to say that Comer isn’t challenging how others in New York City advocate for undocumented immigrants. “Some of the people in the mayor’s administration have been vocal that they weren’t going to comply with federal law, that they were going to continue to act as sanctuary cities,” the Oversight Committee chair said Tuesday in Washington, responding to a Playbook question. “We want to know about the coordination and communication they had between the previous administration. How did so many of these illegals get there?” Adams and the mayors of Chicago, Boston and Denver are set to testify on March 5 before Comer’s committee. — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Democrats remain divided on whether they should use the threat of a government shutdown as a political cudgel as they try to push back on Trump and Elon Musk. (POLITICO) — Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) applauds the Department of Homeland Security for stopping FEMA payments to New York City for migrants. (Fox News) — How blue-state Republicans, like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, could shape congressional legislation this year. (Marketplace)   A new era in Washington calls for sharper insights. Get faster policy scoops, more congressional coverage, and a re-imagined newsletter under the leadership of Jack Blanchard. Subscribe to our Playbook Newsletter today.     NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Hochul blasted ConEd’s rate hike plan. (POLITICO Pro) — Public defenders and criminal justice groups are making a push to preserve New York’s discovery law. (City & State) — Advocates for people in prison want a multi-year effort to address safety. (Spectrum News)   A message from Uber: Insurance Laws and Lawsuit Abuse create more costs for Uber Riders  New York residents already shoulder some of the nation's highest auto insurance costs, paying an average of $3,840 a year for full coverage. Similarly, the mandatory cost of rideshare insurance per trip in New York is among the highest in the country. One reason behind this is the $1.25 million in liability coverage when a passenger is in the vehicle, which is 25 times the liability requirement for personal vehicles. Insurance premiums continue to rise in part because of the litigation environment in New York. Lawsuit fraud and abuse drives up costs for everything, including insurance rates. Uber is pushing for commonsense legislative changes that keep all trips covered while bringing down the cost of trips. Learn More.   SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: Tech:NYC has announced a series of hires: Bennu Amen joins as the manager for policy and research; Caroline McKechnie as the director of platform at Tech:NYC where she leads Startup:NYC; and Jenni Warren joins as the program director of Decoded Futures … Calvary Hospital has promoted Michael J. Fosina as president, succeeding CEO Jeff Menkes. Fosina has been the hospital’s COO for a year. — New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy has been named Chair of the Board of Directors for the NYNJ Host Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup … the committee’s CEO will be Alex Lasry, a former Milwaukee Bucks executive and deputy assistant secretary for travel & tourism in Biden’s Commerce Department. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former City Council Member Barry Grodenchik … Bolton-St. Johns’ Jose Rodriguez … New York City Council candidate Sandro Navarro … Shenker Russo & Clark’s Doug Clark … POLITICO’s Eugene Daniels … Ben Sherwood … Jon Finer … Megan Bates-Apper … Jim VandeHei … NYT’s Maya King … Marc Caputo … Chris Suellentrop … Jeremy Iloulian … Rachel Feintzeig … CNN’s Maria Awad … (WAS TUESDAY): Alix Simnock ... Julio Messer   Missed Tuesday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. 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