The Brooklyn takeover of Democratic congressional leadership is complete. House Democrats unanimously elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as minority leader.
Jeffries’ elevation was remarkably drama-free — a bit off brand for Democrats — and in stark contrast to the dissension on the Republican side after they won a slim House majority.
“House Democrats will lift up working families, the center class and those that aspire to be a part of it, young people and senior residents, veterans, the poor, the sick and the afflicted and the least, the lost and the left behind,” Jeffries said. “We are going to search for common ground with Republicans every time and wherever possible, but oppose extremism on the opposite side of the aisle every time essential.”
Jeffries made it look easy, but his election with no challengers took years of labor behind the scenes, POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris and Nicholas Wu report. Conservative Democrats and the progressive Squad alike fell in line, though Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did remark that she would have liked to see more debate. “The race was over before anyone else knew what was happening,” one senior Democrat said.
Jeffries’ power will be limited as head of the minority party, but Democrats are hoping that won’t be for long. On the closed door meeting where they elected their leadership, Rep. Greg Meeks brought lawmakers to their feet with a rousing speech by which he vowed Jeffries could be speaker in 2024.
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WHERE’S KATHY? Speaking on the Recent York Housing Conference annual awards program.
WHERE’S ERIC? In tours and meetings and speaking on the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Athens, Greece.
“On City Streets, Fear and Hope as Mayor Pushes to Remove Mentally Sick,” by The Recent York Times’ Sarah Maslin Nir: “It was after dark on Tuesday in Washington Square Park in Manhattan, when Meeka Brown, 48, learned that Mayor Eric Adams had announced a citywide push for authorities to remove individuals with severe, untreated mental illness from Recent York’s streets and subways — even against their will, and even in the event that they should not a threat to others. ‘I’m one,’ said Ms. Brown, who said she is schizophrenic and in addition suffers from a psychotic disorder.”
— The NYPDwas “blindsided” by the announcement.
— “Experts in mental illness, homelessness and policing expressed skepticism that the plan could effectively solve a crisis that has confounded city leaders for many years.”
“NYC’s Eric Adams, at mayors’ meeting in Greece, says antisemitism has turn into normalized,” by Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Jacob Henry: “Likening the growing threat of antisemitism to a frog that’s slowly boiled alive, Recent York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke concerning the dangers of hate during his speech on the Mayor’s Summit Against Antisemitism in Athens, Greece. The 2-day summit, which began Wednesday, is a gathering of greater than 50 mayors and municipal leaders from across the globe.”
MTA faces $600 million deficit as federal Covid relief dries up, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio Dunn: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is in financial trouble — again. MTA officials said Wednesday they’re facing a $600 million deficit in 2023 due to the severe drop in riders through the pandemic. The agency used to derive near 40 percent of its operating budget from fare revenue, but as more Recent Yorkers make money working from home through the pandemic, it has turn into reliant on $15 billion in emergency federal aid to assist pay for operations. Ridership across the system has grown recently, but is barely 63 percent of 2019 levels.
“17 Public Employees Charged in Schemes to Steal Covid Relief Funds,” by The Recent York Times’ Benjamin Weiser, Chelsia Rose Marcius and Jan Ransom: “A Recent York City correction official, eight Police Department employees and eight other current and former city and state employees have been charged in schemes to defraud Covid relief programs that were intended to supply money to struggling business owners, the authorities said on Wednesday. The defendants submitted phony applications for disaster relief loans on behalf of hair and nail salons and day care programs that didn’t exist, federal prosecutors in Manhattan said.”
“Mayor Adams opens 8 recent resource centers for asylum seekers backed by $2.1M grant,” by amNewYork’s Ethan Stark-Miller: “While Mayor Eric Adams could have declared over a month ago that the tide of asylum seekers flowing into town because the spring had slowed considerably, his administration announced the opening of eight recent so-called Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation sites across town Wednesday afternoon. The town selected eight community-based organizations to run the sites and granted them a complete of $2.1 million — spread across the groups — to support their operations, in keeping with a release from City Hall.”
“NY Thruway plans toll hike,” USA Today Network’s Peter D. Kramer: “The Recent York State Thruway Authority on Monday will consider two system-wide 5% toll hikes and raising the toll on the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge 50 cents a 12 months for 4 years — from its current $5.75 to $7.75 in 2027. If approved, the brand new tolls would take effect Jan. 1, 2024. It will be the primary toll hike for NY E-ZPass customers since 2010, since before the twin-span Cuomo Bridge replaced the Tappan Zee Bridge between Westchester and Rockland counties and introduced Thruway drivers to the world of cashless tolling.”
“Hand recount ongoing in uncalled race for Recent York’s fiftieth Senate seat,” by Spectrum News Staff: “Election Day could have been weeks ago, however the race for Recent York’s fiftieth Senate District continues to be and not using a declared winner in Central Recent York. The Onondaga County Board of Elections said Wednesday it has hand-counted nearly 14,000 of 90,000 ballots within the race after the initial count ended with Democratic Sen. John Mannion leading Republican challenger Rebecca Shiroff by just 27 votes. The close margin prompted an automatic recount by hand. Results between Mannion and Shiroff may even be hand-counted in Oswego County.”
“Recent data shows Nassau County Police are disproportionately arresting people of color,” by WNYC’s Charles Lane: “[Police Commissioner Patrick] Ryder said regardless that Black and Hispanic people make up 29% of Nassau County’s population, they make up 60% of the department’s arrests. Ryder said the rationale for the imbalance is that individuals of color are traveling across county lines from town, stealing merchandise from Long Island malls — and getting caught. … Nevertheless, the department’s data shows greater disparities that Ryder didn’t explain.”
“Demand for food and money assistance in Recent York at highest levels in years,” by Times Union’s Emilie Munson: “Experts said the rising need is probably going fueled by inflation, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and workforce, and the winding down of many pandemic-assistance programs that helped keep some people fed and housed over the past two years. ‘The number of individuals coming in to use for advantages (this fall) is astronomical,’ said Albany County Department of Social Services Commissioner Michele McClave. ‘Not all are eligible, but they feel a necessity.’ Some 536,019 Recent Yorkers received temporary money assistance in September, a level higher than any month since March 2018, in keeping with the most recent data from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.”
“The Private Equity ‘Black Box’ Pours Recent York Pensions Touting Divestment Into Fossil Fuels,” by Recent York Focus’ Lilah Burke: “In Cheshire, Ohio, the General James M. Gavin Power Plant dumps toxic coal ash into unlined ‘storage ponds’ that sit above the realm’s groundwater. Thick blue plumes of sulfuric acid stand up from the plant’s smokestacks and infrequently settle over what’s left of the town. The coal-burning plant, a project of the Seventies, has outlasted most of Cheshire itself. … Ten of the biggest investors within the Gavin Power Plant are public pensions. Near the highest of the list is the Recent York State Common Retirement Fund, an enormous pension system administered in Albany by a recognized leader on climate motion.”
ROB ORTT was reelected Senate minority leader, per a Wednesday evening statement.
“Assembly prepared to vote against seating Brooklyn Republican over residency query,” by NY1’s Zack Fink: “In a particularly rare move, the Democratic-led state Assembly is preparing to vote against seating the Republican winner of an Assembly race in Brooklyn, Lester Chang, because he may not have moved into the borough one 12 months prior to the election as required by law. Earlier this month, Chang defeated longtime Democratic incumbent Peter Abbate in Southern Brooklyn’s forty ninth District 52% to 47%.”
#UpstateAmerica: Be careful for an uncharacteristically aggressive otter chasing visitors at Albany’s 6 Mile Waterworks Park.
“Verdict in Trump Organization Trial Could Come Right down to 3 Little Words,” by The Recent York Times’ Ben Protess, Jonah E. Bromwich and William K. Rashbaum: “Despite all of the talk of fancy apartments, free Mercedes-Benzes and money flowing at Christmastime, the criminal tax fraud trial of Donald J. Trump’s family business could come all the way down to three mundane words: ‘in behalf of.’ The corporate stands accused of doling out those off-the-books perks to several executives, who didn’t pay taxes on them. The scheme’s architect — the Trump Organization’s longtime chief financial officer, Allen H. Weisselberg — pleaded guilty and testified at trial. The corporate, nevertheless, will not be routinely guilty of his crimes.”
— NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey will probably be the acting chief of department.
— NYU is spending $1 billion to upgrade its flagship engineering school in downtown Brooklyn.
— Construction began on an electrical transmission line from Canada to Recent York City.
— Staff at two Recent York prisons have routinely been exposed to fentanyl while trying to find contraband.
— Saratoga Casino and Raceway is joining an actual estate investment group, the Chickasaw Nation tribe, and an affiliate of the Yankees baseball team to vie for a NYC casino license.
— Assemblymember David Weprin of Queens and Sen. Julia Salazar of Brooklynhave a plan to overturn the state policy keeping families from sending packages to incarcerated people.
— The Brooklyn DA won’t prosecute a lawyer arrested for criminal mischief for removing an intentional obstruction from a automobile’s license plate.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jen Psaki … JS Kim … Natalie Wyeth Earnest … NYT’s Carlos Prieto …Yochi Dreazen … Charlie Anderson
MAKING MOVES — Alyson Grant Tarek has joined Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration as an assistant secretary for human services and mental hygiene. She was formerly senior advisor within the Mayor’s Office of State Legislative Affairs. … Lisa Stark, former news correspondent for ABC News and PBS; Saundra Torry, formerly of USA Today’s editorial board and The Washington Post; and Adora Andy Jenkins, formerly of the Obama and Biden administrations, will join the chief communications team at SKDK as of-counsel advisers.
FOR YOUR RADAR — @dlippman: “SCOOPLET: Global PR giant Edelman is pausing recent hiring, limiting worker travel for non-client activities and firm-sponsored events and doing a ‘strategic review of our workforce’ due to ‘current headwinds’ within the economy, an Edelman spokesperson tells me.”
ENGAGED — Kyle Dropp, co-founder and president of Morning Seek the advice of, recently proposed to Jackie Dreier, founder and president of ArtsClub. He surprised her on a beach within the Florida Keys. The couple met at a celebration in NYC. Pic
SPOTTED on Wednesday night at a Mike Bloomberg party for Bono’s recent book “Give up” ($21.29) at Bloomberg Philanthropies in NYC where comedian Phoebe Robinson interviewed Bono: Chelsea Clinton, Tim Geithner, Kevin Sheekey, Tom Hart, Maureen Dowd, Gayle King, Radhika Jones, Howard Wolfson, Steve Rattner, Dina Powell McCormick, Tammy Haddad, Zenia Mucha, Shailagh Murray, Mike Feldman, Gary Ginsberg, Bill Knapp, Denyce Graves, Caryn Zucker, Katie Holmes, Kaitlan Collins, Don Lemon and Tim Malone, Matt Dornic, Betsy Fisher Martin and Jonathan Martin, Danny Strong, Len Amato, Rick and Mary Stengel, Robert Draper and Kirsten Powers, Rachel Greenberg, Lee Woodruff, Barbara Corcoran, Josh Tyrangiel and John Avalon.
HOT JOB — “Do you could have what it takes to do the unattainable? A virulent vehemence for vermin? A background in urban planning, project management, or government? And most significantly, the drive, determination and killer instinct needed to fight the actual enemy — Recent York City’s relentless rat population? In that case, your dream job awaits: Recent York’s Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation.” Qualifications include “Swashbuckling attitude, crafty humor, and general aura of badassery.”
“Judge strikes down Newburgh’s ‘good-cause’ eviction law,” by Times Union’s Lana Bellamy: “A judge has struck down Newburgh’s local law prohibiting evictions under certain circumstances. A bunch of landlords filed suit against Newburgh, its city court, and the mayor for passing the law, often known as ‘good-cause eviction,’ in February. The suit was filed inside months after town became the second within the state to pass such a measure. Albany was the primary municipality in Recent York to pass such laws, in July 2021.”