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Presented by Equinor: POLITICO's must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable New Yorkers | | | | |  | | By Emily Ngo, Nick Reisman and Jeff Coltin | | | With help from Jason Beeferman
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A new book tells the story of how George Santos came to represent New York's third congressional district. | Mary Altaffer/AP | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: With Long Island Rep. George Santos’ political future hanging in the balance and a criminal trial looming, a new book goes into great detail about the Republican’s unlikely rise to a seat in Congress. The following is an excerpt from “The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos” by Mark Chiusano, which is available for purchase today. “Quick snippet here,” [Santos] said in one January 2020 episode, “not trying to claim Jewish heritage or anything, but my family is actually, uh, my, my, my mother’s father was Ukrainian. And — I’m sorry, my mother’s father’s grand — My mother’s grandfather was Ukrainian, had his kids in Ukraine. My grandfather grew up Jewish.” He went on to note that he himself was Catholic but “I believe we are all Jewish, at the end, because Jesus Christ is Jewish.” This word salad bears resemblance to the story some of his relatives tell — that the family on the maternal side possibly has Jewish heritage generations back, something that can be difficult to determine conclusively. One researcher, Fábio Koifman, who looked into Santos’ family tree, told me he found two entrants from the 1700s — Jacobus and Anna — whose names are Jewish-sounding, at least, though the idea that they might actually have been Jewish is “a guess.” Multiple genealogical and historical investigators on both sides of the Amazon have unearthed a wealth of evidence that Santos’ maternal grandparents were actually born in Brazil. … However, Santos seemed to recognize early that a Jewish backstory could be a political tool. Later that year, when he was called a Nazi on Twitter by a person with 848 followers, he snapped back with a vengeance: “Wow you pulled the Nazi card on the grandson of Holocaust refugees! Smart move there.” It was a reach, but little in George Santos’ life hasn’t been. There was also a haphazardness to some of his early campaign actions that were read by party elders as a lack of seriousness. He sported an open collar and no suit, for example, when he made the somewhat requisite pilgrimage to meet Grant Lally at the Carle Place Diner. Lally was a onetime GOP candidate for the seat Santos had in his sights, and was now spending his time lawyering and publishing the North Shore Leader, a small Republican-leaning paper on Long Island. Lally was a bit of a macher for the district—he met with another Third Congressional District hopeful at the same diner the next cycle. But Santos didn’t seem to have gotten the memo. He was leaning back in his seat, Lally remembers, and “very clunky. He was sort of basking in the attention.” … For the record, Santos was wearing a golden cross around his neck for the meal. From THE FABULIST by Mark Chiusano. Copyright © 2023 by Mark Chiusano. Reprinted by permission of One Signal Publishers/Atria Books, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. IT’S TUESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Equinor: Can offshore wind power America’s energy transition? Yes, and Equinor will play a key role. We are working to realize the potential of Empire Wind and Beacon Wind. Renewable power for the Empire State. A beacon for our net-zero future. These projects will create jobs, boost local economies, and decrease emissions. Equinor is proud to be a global leader in the growing offshore wind industry. And we’ll do it together. Learn more. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany and New York City with no public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Holding an in-person media availability session, attending another flag-raising ceremony (this time, for Panama), holding a rally for the start of in-person voting at a NYCHA complex and speaking at the 2nd annual Moonlight Gala. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We talk often. I don’t see him running for mayor. I think he is looking at his next political move and there is a lot of things he can look at…” — Adams on whether former Gov. Andrew Cuomo will run for his job. A NEW EDITOR: We’re thrilled to announce that Sally Goldenberg, our former City Hall bureau chief, is stepping into a new role as senior New York editor. We wanted New York Playbook readers to hear it first. Sally will oversee our entire New York state editorial team — a move that reflects the increasing centrality of New York to POLITICO’s publishing goals in the coming years, and the interconnectedness of our city and statewide coverage. Sally’s appointment is one in a series of big moves we’re making in New York, including the hiring of our three Playbook writers earlier this year. Read more about Sally and her new role here.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
A group advocating for the protection of the Affordable Care Act is linking New York's House Republicans to Trump's efforts to repeal the act. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo | OBAMACARE POLITICS: Democratic-allied groups are trying to call attention to the stakes of Republican control of the House, the presidency and what the outcome could mean for the Affordable Care Act. The group Protect Our Care this week is pointing to former President Donald Trump’s pledge to find ways of repealing the law, also known as Obamacare. Trump’s efforts to gut the law during his presidency faltered. But in the latest salvo against freshman GOP members, Protect Our Care is also knocking House Republicans from New York and linking them to Trump’s plan to once again erase the law. “The Republicans' war on health care is alive and well,” executive director Brad Woodhouse said in a statement. “Trump is vowing to repeal the ACA at the same time a record number are signing up and benefiting from lower costs thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress. Trump and MAGA Republicans will stop at nothing to raise health costs and eliminate critical protections.” New York is home to an estimated six battleground House seats next year; five are represented by freshman Republicans. Given the narrow majority the House GOP currently holds, the outcome of the House races in New York could determine which party controls the chamber after 2024. And yet when it comes to Obamacare, Republicans from New York have been unwilling to back a repeal without a viable replacement. In 2015, for example, then-Rep. John Katko, a Republican from a battleground seat in Central New York, voted against repeal, bucking GOP leadership in the process. — Nick Reisman
| | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | | 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants Mayor Eric Adams to show his work on the recently announced city budget cuts. | AP | AIN’T MATHING: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doesn’t trust Adams’ budget math. “To be very frank, I don’t — I’m not sure if I believe those numbers. I’m not sure if these cuts are actually justified,” she said Monday at a telephone town hall. The Bronx Democrat was referencing the $4 billion in belt-tightening that Adams said is necessary to offset the cost of sheltering migrants with limited federal assistance. NYPD hiring, library hours, pre-K seats and more are impacted. “I don’t believe that the mayor — that Mayor Adams has really shown his math to everyday people,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “When we’ve had this conversation with City Hall, a lot of this is about projections for the future. And it’s much more rooted in those future projections than what we’re seeing play out in the books.” Responding to a Playbook question last week about the numbers, Adams said, “You have elected officials looking for political points instead of making the point that New York City tax dollars should not be going to paying for a national problem.” Adams’ Budget Director Jacques Jiha, meanwhile, noted the rise in migrant households and, thus, per diem costs. And a senior adviser to the mayor, Diane Savino, responded on X Monday that Ocasio-Cortez is responsible for working “on immigration reform and helping allocate funds to locals who are dealing with this issue” — not counting money. Some on the City Council, which will hold a Dec. 11 hearing on the fiscal blueprint, also question Adams’ bookkeeping. — Emily Ngo More from the city: — DOE Commissioner David Banks vowed to protect schools following a riot against a Jewish teacher at a Queens high school. (POLITICO Pro) — Adams’ preschool cutbacks make New York City families wonder if they can afford to stay in the city. (New York Daily News) — The mayor will crack down on illegal marijuana shops by threatening landlords and building owners who rent to them. (The City)
| | | | A message from Equinor:   | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | |  Teamsters and labor unions held signs and rallied against working conditions at Amazon's SWF1 warehouse in Orange County, New York, on Nov. 27, 2023. | Teamsters, Amazon division | RALLYING FOR AMAZON WORKERS: After a busy Cyber Monday, workers at an Amazon warehouse near Stewart Airport in Orange County protested their working conditions with a practice picket. They’ve been organizing under the banner of SWF1United, referring to the warehouse’s name. More than 40 allies of the effort — including Teamsters locals and RWDSU — are also releasing an open letter calling for the passage of the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act. It passed the state Senate last session, but not the Assembly, and would make certain employers create a plan to reduce worksite injuries. — Jeff Coltin FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Supporters of a proposal to ban non-compete clauses in contracts are making a final push to persuade Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the legislation. The group Fight Corporate Monopolies on Tuesday will launch a $25,000 ad campaign in support of the measure. Ads will air on MSNBC and digital platforms in the Albany market through the end of the week. The campaign in support of the measure will dovetail with a news conference in Albany with supporters and sponsor Democratic state Sen. Sean Ryan. If approved, employers would be barred from blocking where former employees can work. It does not ban confidentiality agreements or non-solicitation agreements. Still, the Business Council of New York has raised concerns with the legislation and its nonprofit arm is waging a multi-million dollar campaign urging Hochul to veto it. — Nick Reisman ‘ZOMBIE’ HOME TAX: An affordable housing group this week in a new analysis is promoting the potential benefits of a residential vacancy tax on pied-a-terres and so-called “zombie homes.” The report from the Center for NYC Neighborhoods found the proposal from Assembly Housing Committee chair Linda Rosenthal to tax the vacant dwellings is meant to address the number of unused, high-rent homes in New York City, especially in Manhattan. Supporters also hope this could lead to more housing being put on the market in order to address the broad shortage. “Although policymakers have taken important first steps, more is needed to stop the spread of zombie homes while simultaneously recentering housing development on affordable homes rather than luxury dwellings,” the analysis found. Efforts to address pied-a-terres in Albany have faltered in the past, though Hochul next year is expected to make a renewed effort to address the housing shortage in the state. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Some 94 percent of decisions in criminal cases in trial courts aren’t easily accessible to the public, despite a longstanding law, according to a new report. (Times Union) — People who pick up cans and bottles say New York’s redemption law needs to change. (LoHud)
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | | | 
House Speaker Mike Johnson will attend a fundraiser for New York's House Republicans on Sunday. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | SPEAKER’S NY SWING: The new speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, is coming to New York on Sunday to raise money for the state’s GOP delegation — and paying a special visit to Rep. Mike Lawler’s lower Hudson Valley district. Ten House Republicans — everyone but Santos, who might not be a member by Sunday — are expected to join Johnson at a $3,300-plus New York City fundraiser hosted by leaders of the private equity firm Blackstone. After that, he’s heading to the Bronxville fundraiser for Lawler, hosted by Tony Sayegh, a former Trump senior adviser. Lawler was close with former speaker, Kevin McCarthy, who visited his district for a fundraiser before and after he was elected. McCarthy was a prodigious fundraiser, and some vulnerable New York Republicans worried about the financial impact of his ouster, POLITICO reported. Lawler and fellow swing seat Republicans helped elect the conservative Johnson — something Democratic groups have attacked them for. “These Republicans are the ultimate DC hypocrites,” said Gabby Seay, a spokesperson for Battleground New York, a Democratic-backed group. “They masquerade as moderates while endorsing and raising money from Speaker Mike Johnson who is an anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, pro-insurrection MAGA zealot who will do everything he can do to get Donald Trump elected.” — Jeff Coltin More from the delegation: — Soon-to-resign Rep. Brian Higgins shared more about his move from Congress to a Buffalo performing arts center. (Buffalo News)
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman wants the president of Hofstra University to resign after her statement on the Israel-Hamas war. (New York Post) — Four water suppliers on Long Island operate wells that exceed state limits for a recently regulated contaminant. (Newsday) — A New York traffic safety group encourages victims of traffic incidents to speak with the drivers responsible for their injuries. (New York Times)
| | | | A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time. Our world needs reliable and accessible renewable power that reduces emissions and stabilizes the grid. We all have a role to play, and Equinor is doing our part. Equinor is already powering more than a million homes worldwide with offshore wind. Empire Wind and Beacon Wind can power New York. The energy is homegrown. So are the jobs. These projects serve the people who live and work in the community. And we’re just getting started. From clean air to new jobs, and investments that will benefit New Yorkers. Equinor in New York is a wind-win. Plug in at www.equinor.com/NY. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | MAKING MOVES — Oaktree Solutions, the consulting and public affairs firm run by former mayoral chief of staff Frank Carone, is taking a step into Hollywood. Oaktree purchased an equity stake in Los Angeles-based talent and branding company AIGH, the firms told Playbook exclusively. The partnership will pair celebs with various companies and products as a way to boost the latter’s appeal. “The whole concept is bringing clients together with the appropriate talent to find opportunities,” Carone said. BOOK CLUB — Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan are writing a new book on this phase of Donald Trump’s public life, Axios’ Mike Allen reports. Simon and Schuster landed the book, which will come in 2025 at the earliest and have a bigger-picture focus than just his campaign. … Byron Tau’s new book, “Means of Control,” which examines the surveillance state and governments’ purchase of corporate data, will be on sale in February. MEDIAWATCH — Adam Wollner will be deputy politics editor at NBC News Digital. He previously has been White House editor at The Messenger. … Scott Havens is departing his role as CEO of Bloomberg Media to become president of business operations at the New York Mets. WELCOME TO THE WORLD: Assemblymember Brian Cunningham and Museum Hue Executive Director Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham had baby Senator last week. (X announcement) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: former Reps. Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.) and Max Rose (D-N.Y.) … POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire and Cally Baute … former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff … consultant Neal Kwatra (5-0) … HPD’s Gabby Eiss … FTI Consulting’s Mickeala Carter … Bryan Corbett of the Managed Funds Association … CNN’s Tim Skoczek … CBS’ Susan Spencer … Dan Hurley … Andrew Mangino (WAS MONDAY): David Bonderman ... Barry Sternlicht ... Andrea Koppel
| | Real Estate | | — Any New York City casino wouldn’t have to go through the city’s land use review process after being approved by the state, under a new City Hall proposal. (Crain’s New York Business)
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