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Presented by Uber: POLITICO's must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable New Yorkers | | | | |  | | By Nick Reisman, Jeff Coltin and Emily Ngo | | | |  Gov. Kathy Hochul has raised the possibility with White House officials of "doing something at the state level" to get New York's migrants to work. | Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | DRIVING THE DAY: Former New York City Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich is expected to surrender this morning at the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, POLITICO reports. He is set to be arraigned in the afternoon on charges related to accepting a deal on an apartment and furnishings from a real estate developer as well as for ties to illegal gambling. At least four other defendants are part of the wiretap investigation of bribery, the New York Times reports. HOCHUL’S NEXT MOVE: Gov. Kathy Hochul wants more migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to be able to work. Congress appears unwilling to budge. So Hochul has signaled in recent days she’s considering ways to get more people to work through state-based means. How can this happen? One idea that’s been raised is to seek a federal waiver to allow New York to extend work approval to migrants, people familiar with the discussions told Playbook. Hochul hinted as much on Tuesday, saying she raised the possibility with White House officials of doing “something at the state level” for work authorization. “This would be unprecedented, and I believe the federal government: We would need to have their authority to move forward with state work permits,” Hochul told reporters. “But as I’ve said, we have to let them work.” It’s not a guarantee a waiver can happen, and some Democrats in Albany are calling it a stretch. In May, Maine officials announced plans to seek a federal waiver for migrant work permits. It’s yet to be granted. The Biden administration has made clear it believes work approval for migrants falls under the federal government’s authority. Instead, Biden officials have sought to better identify people who are eligible to work immediately, POLITICO reported Tuesday. There’s also a fear that any effort to formalize work permits for migrants in New York could lead to a legal challenge that would further slow down the process, the people familiar with the discussions said. Nevertheless, some state lawmakers have introduced legislation in recent days that would grant work permits to migrants living in New York. Making it easier for migrants to get employment has been backed by business groups and Democratic state lawmakers. A Siena College survey found it’s broadly popular with New Yorkers. “If people want to work and businesses are telling us they want workers, we should let them work,” Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Queens) told Playbook on Tuesday. “A lot of it is a federal responsibility, but whatever we can do to facilitate that, we should do.” Hochul met later on Wednesday with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie at her Midtown office and discussed the issue. A special session of the Legislature, meanwhile, is not on the docket for Albany, the governor said. Still, Hochul reiterated on Tuesday she is keeping that option open. IT’S WEDNESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE’S KATHY? Delivers remarks at Ronald Perelman Performing Arts Center ribbon cutting in Manhattan and giving a Covid-19 briefing. WHERE’S ERIC? Speaking at a reception honoring the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, going to the same ribbon cutting event for the new performing arts center in the World Trade Center complex, hosting a community conversation at a high school in Queens and speaking virtually at an American Chamber of Commerce in Korea event. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There’s a critical mass that we are confident are eligible to apply for work authorization immediately” — a senior Biden administration official on migrants in New York City.
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The MTA gets $2.83 from a $25 Uber trip in Manhattan below 96th street. | | | |  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | |  Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks Tuesday at the investiture of Court of Appeals Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. | Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | A COURT BASTION: As Hochul presided over the swearing in of New York’s top judge on Tuesday, she cast New York’s Court of Appeals as a redoubt for rights amid a conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court. “As our nation’s Supreme Court continues sliding backwards, stripping away rights that we took for granted throughout most of our lives, we also have bulwarks of defense in our states,” she said. “It’s just what we do in the Legislature and my role, it’s also what we do in the courts.” Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, 63, is the first Black man to lead the Court of Appeals. Wilson, of course, was not Hochul’s first choice. Hochul’s initial nominee, Judge Hector LaSalle, was rejected by Democrats in the state Senate — an unprecedented repudiation for a nominee by a governor. LaSalle was among those in the audience at the court as Wilson was sworn in. At the time of LaSalle's nomination, progressive advocates argued who leads the court will matter for issues like abortion and workers’ rights (LaSalle’s supporters had argued, to no success, that his record was distorted by his critics). But more broadly, Hochul on Tuesday acknowledged who is nominated and confirmed to the court is significant. “It’s critical,” she said. “It could change the trajectory of not just the body of jurisprudence, but the path we’re on as a state.” Case in point: The state’s top court on Nov. 15 is scheduled to hear yet another challenge to the House district boundaries in New York. The outcome could shift the narrow majority in the House after the 2024 elections. — Nick Reisman
| | | | GO INSIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC PLATFORM WITH UNGA PLAYBOOK: The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four city blocks in Manhattan. POLITICO's special edition UNGA Playbook will take you inside this important gathering starting Sept. 17 — revealing newsy nuggets throughout the week and insights into the most pressing issues facing global decision-makers today. Sign up for UNGA Playbook. | | | | | | | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | | 
Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar has been Mayor Eric Adams' top ally in the Legislature, and she led a rally at City Hall in his defense. | Jeff Coltin / POLITICO | We <3 the Mayor: Some of Mayor Eric Adams’ top allies in the state Legislature said he loves immigrants, and his critics are just “scoring cheap political points.” That quote was from Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, who rallied outside City Hall with state Sen. James Sanders; Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Eddie Gibbs, Alicia Hyndman and David Weprin; City Councilmembers Rafael Salamanca and Marjorie Velázquez, and dozens of leaders representing immigrant communities. The mayor didn’t come, but his immigrant affairs commissioner, Manuel Castro, did — leading the crowd in cheers: “If you’re here for Mayor Eric Adams, let's hear it! If you’re here for immigrant communities, let’s hear it!” Adams was slammed by progressives who called his comments that the continued arrival of migrants “will destroy New York City” as xenophobic and said his resulting budget cut proposals are “cruel.” The rally was meant to be a show of strength. “Let’s all come together and support our mayor,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “He’s been doing his darndest.” At a separate rally, progressive religious leaders didn’t focus on the mayor’s comments, but argued that the Adams administration has done a poor job coordinating with their congregations that want to help. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Adams says he hasn’t spoken with President Joe Biden since the start of the year. (New York Post) — The city’s five pension funds sue Fox Corporation, alleging the company neglected its duty to shareholders by airing 2020 election lies (The Daily Beast)
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | |  Democrat Sam Berger, left, is poised to be victorious in Tuesday's special election for the politically moderate 27th State Assembly district in Queens. | Provided by Berger and Hirsch campaigns | LITMUS TEST RESULT: A State Assembly seat in Queens is poised to remain in Democratic hands after a special election Tuesday widely considered a preview of whether the party's handling of the migrant crisis will hurt it in next year's House races. Unofficial city Board of Elections results showed Democrat Sam Berger, a recent law school graduate, had a 10-point edge over GOP rabbi David Hirsch in the politically moderate 27th State Assembly district. Berger has acknowledged the toll of the influx of migrants, but stressed that public safety and education were also his priorities. And he said caring for newcomers while serving constituents should not be a divisive issue. “It’s become a blue team versus red team, and this is not a sports game, it’s people’s lives,” he told Playbook this week. — Emily Ngo TEACHING INCENTIVE: A Republican state lawmaker wants to expand the number of English as a new language instructors in New York. The measure proposed by state Sen. Jake Ashby would grant a free year of tuition for SUNY students who pursue their teaching certificate and pass the bilingual assessment examination. The proposal is being made as schools across the state are grappling with a shortage of instructors who can provide instruction in more than one language as the migrant crisis has strained resources for some communities. Ashby modeled the idea from an existing program that is meant to encourage students to become math and science teachers. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Federal workers are heading to New York to provide migrant support and aid. (NY1) — A top official in the Office of Cannabis Management announced he will leave the agency. (Gothamist)
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Black Car Fund: $.55 | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | |  Rep. Elise Stefanik quickly embraced the impeachment inquiry into President Joseph Biden, but other GOP House members from New York's battleground districts were more guarded in their statements. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | WHERE THEY STAND: Now that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden over allegations of bribery and corruption, eyes are on the state’s GOP House members to see where they stand on the probe. Conservatives like North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik enthusiastically supported the inquiry, saying it will uncover “the biggest political corruption and criminal scandal in our nation’s history.” Western New York Rep. Claudia Tenney followed closely behind, saying she’s “committed to holding the Biden Crime Family accountable.” Meanwhile, more moderate Republicans like Hudson Valley Rep. Marc Molinaro from key swing districts are walking a fine line between supporting the inquiry and tacitly opposing it. Further down the Hudson, Democrat Mondaire Jones is already calling out his incumbent challenger, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, saying he “praised the investigations” that laid “the groundwork for impeachment.” In a statement, Lawler contended that McCarthy’s announcement is simply a continuation of the House’s investigation, but that the freshman lawmaker is not ready to impeach. “As I have said repeatedly, the facts and evidence will determine what, if any, next steps are to be taken. Impeachment should not be, and must never be, political in nature or a tit for tat revenge game, and should only be used if the facts and evidence warrant it,” he said. “As of today, the House has not met the high bar of impeachment.” — Jason Beeferman More from the delegation: — Former President Donald Trump has been speaking weekly with Stefanik, who was the first member of Republican leadership to come out in support of impeachment. (POLITICO) — Three New Yorkers are on the list of most important Washington staffers. (The Hill)
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — How Columbia University ignored women, undermined prosecutors and protected sexual predator Robert Hadden for more than 20 years. (ProPublica) — Outrage is building in Syracuse over a video of the teens being shot and killed last week by an Onondaga County Sheriff’s deputy. (Syracuse.com) — Jets fans are grieving. (Gothamist)
| | | | Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here. | | | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC’s Ginger Gibson and Casey Dolan … CNN’s Alli Gordon … Bloomberg’s Laura Davison and Robyn Brigham … Vivian Schiller of the Aspen Institute … Sanette Tanaka Sloan … (was Tuesday): Richard H. Thaler … Max Boot IN MEMORIAM – Howard Safir, who served as NYPD commissioner under then-Mayor Rudy Guiliani, died Monday at the age of 81. Safir helmed the FDNY before he took up the top cop post. At the NYPD, he oversaw a dramatic drop in crime and established the “Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect” program and motto. But he also faced criticism for his responses to high-profile attacks on Black men by police, including the shooting death of Amadou Diallo. Current Police Commissioner Edward Caban on Tuesday called Safir a “devoted, dynamic leader whose pioneering work in fugitive apprehension, illicit drug enforcement and officer training is still emulated today.” — Emily Ngo MAKING MOVES – Liz Garcia, former deputy press secretary for Hochul, has joined Mayor Adams’ office as a deputy press secretary. … Breeana Mulligan, New York City Council press secretary, is moving to the council’s community engagement division … Amber Macdonald, former special assistant to President Joe Biden and chief speechwriter to First Lady Jill Biden, has joined SKDK as a managing director in the firm’s executive communications practice. OUT & ABOUT – Jews for Racial & Economic Justice hosted the Mazals award gala Tuesday night at 3 Dollar Bill in East Williamsburg. SPOTTED: City Comptroller Brad Lander, City Councilmembers Sandy Nurse, Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler and Shahana Hanif, Assemblymembers Harvey Epstein, Zohran Mamdani, Jessica González-Rojas and Phara Souffrant Forrest, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, Linda Sarsour and Ruth Messinger. (PICS … MORE PICS) WEEKEND WEDDINGS — Nick Niedzwiadek, labor and employment reporter at POLITICO (and former New York Playbook writer!), and Rachel Ann Stephens, associate attorney at Lewis & Lin, got married on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C. Pic
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