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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 Sally Goldenberg and Anna Gronewold | Presented by Grubhub | It’s budget day in City Hall and things are tense. The City Council is gearing up for a fight with New York City Mayor Eric Adams over his prior cuts to public services when he unveils the second spending plan of his tenure Thursday afternoon. “The budget vision put forward by the administration to cut funding for CUNY, libraries, social services, early childhood education and other essential services for New Yorkers is one this Council cannot support,” Speaker Adrienne Adams and Finance Chair Justin Brannan said in a joint statement to POLITICO. The mayor’s fellow Democrats said the cuts he included in a financial plan released in November, “undermine the health, safety and recovery of our city.” They said they would take the unusual step of refusing to vote on the modification — a symbolic statement of no confidence in the mayor’s budget decisions. In response, mayoral spokesman Fabien Levy said, “We’re making investments in our core priorities — including public safety, affordable housing, and clean streets. And we look forward to working with the City Council as we deal with the challenging financial times facing our city.” | 
Mayor Eric Adams said members of former Mayor Bill de Blasio's team have publicly attacked him on his Covid-19 response and the planned closure of Rikers Island. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images |
The partnership between Adams and Adams, no relation, eroded last year. Now the Council’s 51 members are up for reelection in a few months and want to distance themselves from slashes to popular programs — particularly after they were caught off guard by a drop in school funding they unhappily voted for in June.
Amid that friction, the mayor is scheduled to unveil his preliminary budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The spending plan, which takes effect July 1, will grow from $101.1 billion last year to $102.7 billion, according to an official familiar with it. The official said it will continue to peg the cost of providing services for an influx of asylum seekers at $1 billion, and will not demand further cuts to agencies. In November, Budget Director Jacques Jiha ordered department heads to eliminate half of the vacant civilian jobs on their books; Thursday’s presentation should shed more light on the results of that measure. Future deficits, which grew during Adams’ first year in office, have been whittled down, the official said. The Council speaker also took aim at that policy in her statement, deriding “the understaffing and underfunding of city agencies. … We are committed to delivering for New Yorkers, and we are prepared to fight to realize our vision in this year’s budget.” IT’S THURSDAY. 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 State of the State proposals in the Capital Region and Syracuse areas and delivering remarks at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games. WHERE’S ERIC? Participating in a CEO Roundtable Panel with Citadel Chair & CEO Ken Griffin and Partnership for New York City. Briefing elected officials on his preliminary Fiscal Year 2024 budget, before unveiling it in City Hall at 2 p.m. BREAKING — “New York nurses strike ends after tentative deal reached with hospitals,” by CNN’s Chris Boyette and Artemis Moshtaghian: “A nurses strike at two private New York City hospitals has come to an end after 7,000 nurses spent three days on the picket line. ... The nurses had been arguing that immense staffing shortages have caused widespread burnout, hindering their ability to properly care for their patients." PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off this Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day but will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
| | | | 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 Accuse Montefiore of Threatening to Fire New Hires If They Joined Strike: NLRB Complaint,” by THE CITY’s Claudia Irizarry Aponte And Jonathan Custodio — “‘Chaotic’ Scenes Inside 2 New York City Hospitals During Nurses’ Strike,” by The New York Times’ Sharon Otterman “Companies co-founded by top Adams adviser Frank Carone sued by major NYC real estate firms for $1.1 million,” by Daily News’ Michael Gartland and Chris Sommerfeldt: “Mayor Adams’ trusted City Hall fixer has some fixing to do for himself now that he’s out of the administration. Two companies co-founded by Frank Carone, Adams’ recently departed chief of staff, are being sued by two of the city’s largest real estate firms for more than $1.1 million in unpaid rent and other expenses. One of the ventures has already been ordered by a judge to cough up more than $179,000, according to court records. Though Carone says he is no longer involved with one of the companies, the lawsuits could put him and Adams in an awkward spot.” “Amazon Appeal to Union Victory in New York Rejected,” by Wall Street Journal’s Sebastian Herrera: “A federal labor official has upheld the unionization of Amazon.com Inc. workers in Staten Island, N.Y., rejecting an appeal by the e-commerce giant, which tried to challenge last year’s vote to organize. Cornele Overstreet, a regional director with the National Labor Relations Board who has overseen the case, ruled on Wednesday that Amazon had not provided sufficient evidence to overturn the election results, according to an NLRB spokeswoman.” “Judge blocks NYC from charging retired city workers $15 co-pays in latest Medicare setback for Adams,” by Daily News’ Chris Sommerfeldt: “A Manhattan judge ordered Mayor Adams’ administration Wednesday to immediately stop charging retired city workers $15 co-pays for doctors’ visits. The ruling from Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lyle Frank marks the latest in a long string of health insurance setbacks for Adams’ administration, which has tried unsuccessfully for over a year to shift the city’s 250,000 retirees into a controversial, cost-cutting Medicare Advantage Plan.” “Was Yeshiva University Entitled to $230 Million in Public Funds?” by The New York Times’ Liam Stack: “For years, Yeshiva University has argued in court that its refusal to recognize an L.G.B.T.Q. student club does not violate New York City’s human rights law because the school is a religious institution. But the university has also accepted state funding.” DEEP DIVE that crosses the Upstate-Downstate divide: Suburban darling Wegmans took a risk on Brooklyn. Did Brooklynites bite?” by USA Today Network’s Thomas C. Zambito
| | | | 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 | | SCOTUS: New York gun laws can stay in place, for now, by POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold: New York’s concealed carry restrictions can be enforced as legal challenges continue, the Supreme Court said. The short, unsigned decision issued Wednesday deferred to an appeals court that held off on blocking several portions of the law amid requests from the state. … Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas said in the decision that the new law “presents novel and serious questions under both the First and the Second Amendments.” Wednesday’s deference to the 2nd Circuit is not “expressing any view” on the case, the order said, and those challenging the law should return to the high court if the appeals court doesn’t provide a sufficient or timely review. Senate eyes next Wednesday for controversial LaSalle hearing, by POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold: A panel of Democrats in the state Senate are set to consider Gov. Kathy Hochul’s controversial pick for chief judge next week. A legislative official familiar with the chamber’s Judiciary Committee confirmed the hearing is slated for Jan. 18 pending any unavailability from Republicans or the nominee, Hector LaSalle. — AOC weighed in on the drama. “Rensselaer County’s former GOP elections commissioner admits voter fraud,” by Times Union’s Robert Gavin: “Jason T. Schofield, Rensselaer County’s former Republican elections commissioner, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of voter fraud charges in U.S. District on Wednesday, admitting he fraudulently filed absentee ballots in 2021 using the personal information of at least eight voters without their permission. The 43-year-old Schofield, joined by his attorney, Danielle Neroni, admitted to unlawful possession and use of a means of identification on five occasions in May, September and October 2021.” “Experts say the success of Gov. Hochul’s plan to house New Yorkers with mental illness will hinge on staffing, long-term options,” by WNYC’s Samantha Max and Isidoro Rodriguez: “Programs resembling the one Hochul seems to be proposing have popped up across the country, from Maine to Oregon and Florida to Tennessee, often with measurable success. Studies have found that supportive housing can cut spending on mental health services and reduce participants’ interactions with the criminal justice system.” #UpstateAmerica: Stephen King apologized to Utica.
| | | | A message from Grubhub:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | Santos refuses to resign amid calls from local N.Y. GOP, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta and Julia Marsh: Rep. George Santos refused to resign Wednesday despite a parade of Republican Nassau County officials demanding he step down. Officials from across Santos’ Long Island district and beyond gathered at the headquarters of the Nassau County Republican Committee to offer biting critiques of the newly sworn-in Republican. Critically, they pledged to cut Santos’ local support system off at the knees after he fabricated much of his resume and backstory during a successful Congressional campaign last year. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is sending out her official reelection pitch to supporters this morning in a memo making the case for her 2024 campaign. It lays out her accomplishments after more than a decade in Congress, highlights her name ID and favorability among Democrats, and says with more than $5 million cash on hand, she’s ready to fundraise. She raised nearly $18 million in the 2018 cycle, according to her campaign. She also is promising a campaign that will lift up down-ballot races after a bruising midterm. “Unfortunately, the truth is that New York Republicans just had their best election result in two decades. We have a lot of work to do, but our team is prepared. Kirsten has already won three statewide elections and has never been in a better position to win reelection and lead New York Democrats to victory.” — Anna
| | | | 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 | | — Lawyers who investigated Trump start their own firm to combat threats to democracy. — Hochul highlighted her child care accessibility plans in the Bronx. — The Shed in Hudson Yards is shifting leadership to counter financial challenges. — A new law is doubling the fine for illegal ATV use on public roads in Suffolk County. — The man accused of attacking police with a machete near New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve is now facing federal terrorism charges. — The launch of the MTA’s East Side Access service could be delayed even longer due to an exhaust fan issue. — The MTA is adding more bike racks to the front of buses and outside of train stations, if all goes according to plan.
| | | | 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: Christiane Amanpour … CAP’s Sam Hananel … Danny O’Brien of Fox Corp. … Doug Thornell of SKDK … Eliza Hanson … Krisstofer Marchena MAKING MOVES — Pythia Public has hired Ana Hall, former chief of staff to state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, as a director and Claire Wixted, former director of communications for recently-retired Assemblymember Sandy Galef as an associate. Becky Stern was promoted to vice president, Marissa Solomon to senior strategist and Katie Hazen to senior associate. SPOTTED on Tuesday night in NYC at a party hosted by Mike Bloomberg celebrating the podcast release of “Mandela: The Lost Tapes” by Rick Stengel: Gayle King, Tony Marx, Patrice Motsepe, Ursula Burns, Patti Harris, John Micklethwait, Harry Smith, Ken Jacobs, John Mack, Lawrence O’Donnell, Andy Lack, Stephanie Ruhle, Zenia Mucha, Jesse Rodriguez, Pat Burkey, Jim Rutenberg, Larry Hackett, Craig Minnassian, Tammy Haddad and Ali Zelenko. | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
