Adams has a housing plan. Just don’t ask too much about it.

From: POLITICO New York Playbook PM - Tuesday Jun 14,2022 08:32 pm

Jun 14, 2022

New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives a thumbs-up while wearing graduation robes.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives a thumbs-up after receiving an honorary degree during a graduation ceremony for Pace University at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York, Monday, May 16, 2022. | Seth Wenig/AP Photo

Mayor Eric Adams rolled out a plan today to address one of the most-pressing issues facing New Yorkers: the acute shortage of housing in the city.

But don’t ask him how many new homes his administration will build.

“If that is one of the on-topic questions you’re going to ask me, don’t, because I’m not answering that,” Adams said at a press conference at a former Brooklyn hotel that’s being converted into affordable and supportive housing.

The plan appeared to take notes from critics of the previous mayor’s housing plan, who argued that City Hall was too focused on hitting a high numerical target — 300,000 new homes to be exact — and failed to sufficiently address homelessness and public housing. Adams’ plan framed both issues as central components, but the lack of a numerical production goal made it somewhat unclear how the administration will measure its progress .

Adams said the city will track how many people are actually placed into affordable housing — rather than just when a unit is financed, how much the city is reducing rent burden and how well the administration is improving conditions at NYCHA.

Asked how many people the city will aim to place in subsidized housing, Adams said, “As many as possible.”

The administration plans to speed up supportive housing production — completing 15,000 units promised by 2030 two years ahead of schedule, expand affordable homeownership and make it easier for people applying for city-subsidized housing to actually secure an apartment.

It doesn’t appear the city will focus subsidy dollars more exclusively on apartments for the city’s lowest-income households — another key ask from housing advocates. Asked whether he would put more resources towards very low-cost housing, Adams said the city will “do as much as we can” for both low-income and middle-income households.

“We often abandon middle-income housing and we need to stop doing that,” the mayor said.

IT’S TUESDAY: It’s Debate Week in New York. It kicked off last night with the GOP gubernatorial debate. Wednesday is a Democratic lieutenant governor debate, and Thursday the Democratic gubernatorial candidates are back on stage for the last time before the June 28 primaries. Thanks for joining us for Playbook PM as we keep you up-to-date on the latest New York news from the campaign trail, in Albany and in City Hall. Summer is near, but the news is still heating up!

From the Capitol

ON THAT COVID REVIEW: Gov. Kathy Hochul says the state is doing a review of its Covid-19 response, largely under her predecessor, but good-government groups have their own thoughts.

Reinvent Albany, Empire Center for Public Policy, Common Cause New York, the League of Women Voters of New York State and the New York Public Interest Research Group wrote a letter last month to Hochul urging her “to form an independent, expert-led commission to conduct such a review.”

The letter recommended that Hochul have the commission hold public hearings and meetings, make state records and data available and publish a final public report. “We believe it is imperative that New York State government and the broader public are provided with an impartial, objective assessment that we all can learn from and that will improve the state response to future pandemics or other disasters," they wrote. — Joseph Spector

INVESTING IN YOU: The state’s $280 billion pension fund is adding another $350 million to two investment funds to help New York businesses grow, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said.

The pension fund for state workers has long put a little bit aside to invest in New York companies, committing more than $2 billion since 2007, and the new money will follow the strategy of previous funds with investments of $5 million to $20 million “in rising companies throughout the state. The funds will generally invest in healthcare, technology, transportation, business services and manufacturing companies.”

The rate of return has been pretty good, too, DiNapoli said: about 10 percent since the fund started. — Joseph Spector

FROM CITY HALL

MONEY MATTERS: The morning after the City Council passed a $101 billion budget, a leading organization that is pushing for a property tax overhaul slammed the lawmakers for their votes. “The City Council voted to raise your taxes,” said Martha Stark of Tax Equity Now New York — a real estate-backed group suing for reform to the state-controlled system that has long bedeviled city politicians. “This year’s budget includes a $2.2 billion increase in the property tax levy, which means most taxpayers will see an increase in their taxes. What’s perhaps most upsetting is the City Council doesn’t even believe that they raised your taxes.”

In the prepared statement, Stark — the city’s former finance commissioner — noted that the tax rate remained flat but tax bills will go up regardless, since the city earmarked more expected revenue from the levy. The group began its legal challenge five years ago, arguing that New York’s convoluted tax system disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income people of color while benefiting wealthy homeowners. Meanwhile, the Council did push through a property tax rebate for struggling homeowners. — Sally Goldenberg

ON THE BEATS

HEALTH CARE: Attorney General Tish James’ office will examine the issues affecting New Yorkers’ access to mental health care services and supports during a public hearing in Manhattan set for June 22. James said today that the hearing seeks to “spotlight this crucial issue, explore potential areas of reform and inform [her] office for future investigations into allegations of inadequate mental health treatment.”

“There is no doubt that New York is in the midst of a mental health crisis that has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic,” James said in a statement. “For decades, New York has seen a decline of short-term inpatient psychiatric beds, which are critical to providing consistent and thorough mental health care in our communities.”

The hearing is expected to feature testimony from advocates, health care providers, government agencies and the public. It will seek to help inform legislative and enforcement solutions, the AG’s office said. — Shannon Young

EDUCATION: Arts advocates praised the inclusion of “Support for Arts Instruction,” a $3 million citywide initiative, in New York City's budget.

“The initiative will help schools fill gaps in access and target supplemental arts instruction to struggling students. Arts education is transformative for students,” Kimberly Olsen, executive director of the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, said in a statement. “It not only helps them explore their creativity, it leads to better academic outcomes, mental health, and graduation rates.”

She said the group would continue to push for more support for the arts in schools. “We're looking forward to working with our partners in the City Council, Adams Administration and the Department of Education to build on this foundation and push for arts education for all — because it starts with the arts,” Olsen added. — Madina Touré

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: A federal judge signed off on the city’s plan to turn around violence-plagued Rikers Island, giving Mayor Eric Adams’ administration a reprieve of at least five months from a potential federal takeover of the jail.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain released an order today approving the Department of Corrections action plan for Rikers, where six inmates have died so far this year.

“This action plan represents a way to move forward with concrete measures now to address the ongoing crisis at Rikers Island,” she wrote. “The Court has approved the proposed measures contained with the action plan, in full recognition that further remedial relief may be necessary should Defendants not fulfill their commitments and demonstrate their ability to make urgently needed changes.” The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York had threatened to seek federal receivership over the city jail system, a step Adams and his Correction Commissioner Louis Molina vowed to fight. — Erin Durkin

The Campaign Trail

RUNNING MATES: They are running mates in the general election, but first Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado have to get there separately. That means they will both need to win their primaries June 28, and it means Hochul and Delgado will be spending heavily over the next weeks on ads.

That brings us to today: They released their first joint television ad — a sign of how much is riding on Hochul being able to help Delgado over the finish line in his primary against former New York City Council Member Diana Reyna and progressive activist Ana María Archila, who has been winning some endorsements as she runs with gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams.

The ad from Hochul and Delgado hits on key themes for Democratic voters these days: gun control, the economy and protect abortion rights.

“There's more to do, but together we’re working to make New York safer and stronger for you,” Hochul says. Then Delgado adds: “Join us.” — Joseph Spector

WARREN FOR NADLER; WOMEN FOR MALONEY: The battle for Manhattan between Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney in the Aug. 23 primary led to dueling endorsements today.

First, Nadler landed the endorsement of progressive firebrand Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called him a “principled progressive.”

Then Maloney countered with her own slate of endorsements from women’s groups: EMILY’s List, the Feminist Majority and its founder Eleanor Smeal, the National Women’s Political Caucus, the National Organization for Women and the ERA Coalition, as well as Planned Parenthood and NARAL. — Joseph Spector

JORDAN RULES: So much for that big Republican primary in the Capital Region. State Sen. Daphne Jordan said she’s pulling out of the race against veteran GOP Sen. Jim Tedisco, clearing the path for him and avoiding what was going to be a contentious intraparty fight.

She didn’t leave without some choices words for Tedisco, who chose to run in a more GOP-friendly district instead of running against long-time Democratic Sen. Neil Breslin

"I detest the circus atmosphere that Jim Tedisco has caused by moving into my Senate District and his putting self-interest first in seeking a seat from a fellow Republican whom he once called a friend," she said in a statement. "I want no part of this sideshow."

Tedisco responded : “This was never personal for me,” but about the constituents he’s long represented. — Joseph Spector

AROUND NEW YORK

— James said that a Long Island man pleaded guilty to fraudulently collecting more than $200,000 in disability benefits at the same time he was managing his limousine business and a bodybuilding campaign.

— Adams and Hochul announced an enormous 56-member panel for post-pandemic economic recovery.

— Reports of a mountain lion in the vicinity of Gilderland have residents on edge.

— What’s next for Syracuse’s Inner Harbor? Here are some possibilities.

Follow us on Twitter