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Presented by Grubhub: Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold's must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable New Yorkers | | | | |  | | By Anna Gronewold and Sally Goldenberg | Presented by Grubhub | On the West Side of Manhattan, one of the nation’s largest developers is pitching “the highest-end casino probably ever built.” A few blocks away, another prominent builder is partnering with Caesars Entertainment for a Jay-Z-endorsed gaming facility that boasts a swank, balcony-style bar where patrons will overlook The Crossroads of the World. But all the pixie dust Related Companies and SL Green are sprinkling for their competing casino pitches won’t matter if they can’t win over the notoriously development-wary politicians in Manhattan — and so far they haven’t. As our Janaki Chadha and Sally Goldenberg report, a battle of the boroughs is underway between Manhattan and Queens, where elected officials are far more welcoming to two gaming proposals in their part of the city, and the battleis getting ugly. “No tourists are going to fly to New York to go to Queens,” Brett Herschenfeld, an executive vice president at SL Green, told Janaki. “There’s nothing unique about Queens.” Mets owner Steve Cohen, who is proposing a casino on the parking lot of Citi Field, opted not to respond. But Borough President Donovan Richards threw some jabs of his own. “Queens is the future,” he told Sally. “Manhattan? That was maybe 1983. We’re in 2023 now.” Most officials who have sway over the process spoke favorably about Cohen’s plan, though state Sen. Jessica Ramos expressed some reservations. The state has three downstate licenses to award, but two are assumed to be spoken for by existing “racinos” that are looking to expand — Resorts World in Queens and MGM in Yonkers. That leaves bidders in a fierce fight for the remaining $500-million-plus license. The state opened its bidding process last week, and other big players are rolling the dice. Saks Fifth Avenue is envisioning a casino atop its glamorous department store, and has been reaching out to officials in recent weeks, several knowledgeable people told us. And players are anxiously awaiting potential plans from one of the country’s biggest commercial investors, Vornado Realty Trust, as well as entertainment giant Bally’s Corp. IT’S WEDNESDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: agronewold@politico.com and sgoldenberg@politico.com or on Twitter: @annagronewold and @sallygold WHERE’S KATHY? Speaking about her SOTS childcare proposal at an event in the Bronx. WHERE’S ERIC? Touring the Jamaica, Queens-based manufacturing and engineering company Rosco Vision. PROGRAMMING NOTE: New York Playbook will not publish on Monday, Jan. 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After the hiatus, we’ll be back to our normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Please continue to follow POLITICO New York.
| | | | A message from Grubhub: Grubhub partners with restaurants across New York City to help them expand their reach. From providing marketing services to setting up online store fronts, Grubhub is there to help restaurants find new customers and serve their local communities. Learn more | | | |  | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | “Nurses extend strike to second day at 2 major New York City hospitals,” by The New York Times’ Sharon Otterman: “At Montefiore in the Bronx, nurses and management met at the bargaining table for continued talks on Tuesday morning. At Mount Sinai’s main campus on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, talks were stalled as of Tuesday evening, frustrating the nursing union negotiators, who said they wanted to return to the table as soon as possible”. “NYC could drop speed limits below 25 mph under Hochul proposal,” by Gothamist’s Clayton Guse: “The pitch — laid out in the governor’s State of the State speech — would alter current state law that prevents the city Department of Transportation from setting speed limits below 25 mph in most of the city, and 15 mph in school zones. “Giving New York City the autonomy to change its speed limit can help the city determine how best to safeguard its own streets,” Hochul’s office wrote in a briefing.” “NYC Comptroller questions no-bid jail contract as Correction commissioner touts positive Rikers steps,” by the New York Daily News’ Graham Raymond: “In a letter to the city Board of Correction made public Tuesday, [city Comptroller Brad] Lander noted that the Correction Department seeks to give the contract to Securus Technologies with with “no competitive bidding, no request for proposals or scope of services provided.” “NYC grocers want to stick a fork in serial supermarket shoplifters,” by the New York Post’s Carl Campanile: “Jason Ferreira, the president of three Foodtown supermarkets in Queens, said, ‘The response from law enforcement has been very inefficient — almost nonexistent — because it just seems there’s a lax attitude toward people shoplifting. There definitely needs to be a collaboration between Albany and the city,” Ferreira said. ‘We’ve spoken to the mayor. He said his hands are tied and Albany is not hearing him,’ Ferreira said.”
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | Hochul describes her vision of the 'New York Dream.' Now she'll have to convince lawmakers, by POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold: During her second State of the State speech, but her first full-fledged event due to the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the newly-elected governor on Tuesday introduced a plan to restore access to what she calls the “New York Dream,” one in which people “feel safe in their communities and supported by their government.” “The question we must all ask ourselves is: Are New Yorkers living their best possible lives? If the answer is no, then we have more work to do. The reality is: that dream is out of reach for too many New Yorkers,” she told a crowd of 450 lawmakers, officials and political dignitaries gathered in the Assembly chamber at the state Capitol. | 
Lawmakers and officials packed the Assembly chamber in Albany during Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State speech on Jan. 10. | Anna Gronewold/POLITICO |
— “In State of the State Speech, Hochul Backs Adams Housing Agenda,” by THE CITY’s Greg David: “But the proposalsoutlined in her wide-ranging address did not provide specifics on those tax breaks, the latest in a series of announcements from government officials that do not flesh out the particulars about how they would make incentives for developers to create housing. Hochul also ignored the calls from progressives for multi billion investments in public housing and for 'good cause' eviction protections for tenants currently living in market-rate, non-rent-stabilized units.”
— Hochul said “it’s clear to me we will not be raising income taxes this year” and progressives aren’t happy. — Hochul unveiled “$1 Billion Plan to Tackle Mental Illness in New York,” by The New York Times’ Luis Ferré-Sadurní and Andy Newman — “Hochul wants New York minimum wage increases to keep pace with inflation,” by Syracuse.com’s Mark Weiner — “New NY bail law on the way? Gov. Hochul calls for ‘conversation,’” by SI Advance’s Tracey Porpora: “Despite recent controversy around bail reform in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul during her first State of the State Address on Tuesday said there is room for improvement. The governor’s plan would give judges more discretion when setting bail for defendants accused of serious crimes. Hochul has previously said that bail reform is not the main cause of crime in New York.” — Cigs may be cool again, but not to Hochul. She wants to increase the dart tax from $4.35 to $5.35 per pack. She also wants to expand the flavored vape ban to all flavored tobacco products. — “As Hochul Makes New Promises in State of the State, Last Year’s Parole Pledge Is Still Waiting,” by New York Focus’ Chris Gelardi and Sam Mellins “State Police Special Investigations Unit raids NY Troopers PBA offices,” by Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons: “Members of the SIU kept a low profile as they executed the search warrants at the PBA's State Street office and also at Signal 30's nearby office on Howard Street. They used unmarked vehicles and, in the case of the PBA's office, a rear entrance. The office is located a block from the state Capitol, where Gov. Kathy Hochul was delivering here State of the State address Tuesday afternoon as the raid quietly unfolded.” #UpstateAmerica: The Internet is getting closer to tracking down the owners of Albany International Airport’s lost wedding album.
| | | | A message from Grubhub:   | | | | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | Ex-Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg sentenced to five months in jail for tax fraud, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta: Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg was sentenced to five months in jail and five years of probation in Manhattan state court Tuesday after pleading guilty to tax fraud scheme. He has also repaid around $2 million in taxes he owed as part of the agreement.
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | Curious about George: House Republicans debate Santos’ fate, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers and Sarah Ferris: House Republicans know George Santos is a problem. They’re just not sure what to do about him yet. The New York Republican landed on the Hill for his first term last week with a reputation marred by multiple public falsehoods about his past — behavior that conflicts with his party’s vocal campaign pledges to step up accountability and transparency, particularly among government officials. The GOP conference is now deliberating over how to handle a member who’s been publicly ridiculed as a fraudster, including whether Santos should receive committee assignments. — “Who might be eyeing George Santos’ congressional seat?” by City & State’s Shantel Destra and Jeff Coltin
| | | | JOIN NEXT TUESDAY TO HEAR FROM MAYORS AROUND AMERICA: 2022 brought in a new class of mayors leading “majority minority” cities, reshaping who is at the nation’s power tables and what their priorities are. Join POLITICO to hear from local leaders on how they’re responding to being tested by unequal Covid-19 outcomes, upticks in hate crimes, homelessness, lack of affordable housing, inflation and a potential recession. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — A new, highly contagious “Kraken” strain of Covid-19 is circulating in New York. — Harvey Weinstein asked the New York Court of Appeals to overturn his 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction. — Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney will spend spring semester mentoring students at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. — The state Education Department is piloting a program that could create an individualized education plan for every student.
| | | | A message from Grubhub: Dawn and her daughter Jade opened The Nourish Spot in Jamaica, Queens with the goal of introducing healthy food options in their local community. Today, Dawn and Jade partner with Grubhub to make sure people know about The Nourish Spot, not only in Southeast Queens but across New York City. Learn more about how Grubhub’s marketing tools help restaurants, like the Nourish Spot, find new customers and grow their businesses. Learn more | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: MSNBC’s Rashida Jones … Frederic Mishkin … Peacock’s Caragh Fisher O’Connor … Cat Morris IN MEMORIAM — Garrett Graff in POLITICO magazine: “Blake Hounshell, a witty and astute political observer who possessed a special knack for understanding the dynamics of internet journalism and became one of the driving forces behind POLITICO’s success over nearly a decade, died Tuesday morning at age 44. According to a family statement, Blake died ‘after a long and courageous battle with depression.’ “The unexpected news spread rapidly through Washington and policy circles, as colleagues remembered him as a remarkable editor, generous colleague and critical mentor to younger journalists. Across his stints at Foreign Policy and POLITICO, he edited hundreds of bylines, from senior policymakers to interns, making every story sharper and every headline snappier.” MAKING MOVES — Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s communications director, Adrien Lesser, is headed to the New York City Economic Development Corp. as VP of media relations. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
