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The Week Ahead in New York Politics, September 6


New York City Hall

New York City Hall


What to watch for this week in New York politics:

After a Labor Day weekend with storm scares from Hermine that mostly proved to have little impact on New York, things kick into gear on Tuesday. On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and a variety of other officials marched in the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn. Before marching, de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton answered questions about violence during the pre-dawn J'Ouvert celebration, which city and community officials had taken additional measures to avoid this year. Two people were killed in shooting that also injured at least two others.

On Tuesday, de Blasio will hold a press conference with Bratton and other NYPD officials to "discuss crime statistics," at 1:30 p.m. at NYPD headquarters. Presumably, they will be discussing August crime numbers and year-to-date crime through the first eight months compared to last year through the same period.

Prior to that, at 11:30 a.m. de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray will appear on The View on ABC television.

Meanwhile, Tuesday marks one week until the state legislative primaries in New York.

Thursday is the first day of the school year for most New York City schools, expect Mayor de Blasio and others to mark the occassion with several events.

After a typically quiet August, the City Council swings back into action this week for what promises to be a busy Fall. Council committee hearings get going on Wednesday, and the Council will have its first of two full-body Stated Meetings of the month next week, on Wednesday the 14th.

Sunday September 11 is the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

There's a good deal happening during this Labor Day week, with several events to be aware of - see our day-by-day rundown below.

***Do you have events or topics for us to include in an upcoming Week Ahead in New York Politics?
e-mail Gotham Gazette editor Ben Max: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.***

The run of the week in detail:

Monday: Labor Day

Tuesday
Tuesday marks one week until the state legislative primaries in New York. It is the third of three primary days this election year in New York, after the April presidential primaries and June congressional primaries. Read several of our recent articles on the elections:

"On Tuesday at 8:45 AM, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will host his annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in the Rotunda of Brooklyn Borough Hall, bringing together the families of victims and fallen heroes with citywide leaders and local residents. The event, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center, will feature interfaith prayers, readings and tributes by surviving family members, and selections from the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. There will be moments of silence coinciding with the time of the towers’ collapse; the silence observed at 9:58 AM in memory of the fall of the South Tower will be followed by the lowering of the American flag atop Brooklyn Borough Hall as well as the placement of a remembrance wreath outside the building by Borough President Adams and victims’ families. Borough President Adams, who served in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) during 9/11, will speak about terrorism’s enduring impact on Brooklyn and New York City. Other citywide leaders scheduled to address the ceremony include NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, NYPD Chief of Department James O’Neill, FDNY Chief of Department James E. Leonard, and United States Army Garrison (USAG) Fort Hamilton Commander Colonel Peter Sicoli."

On Tuesday morning's The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC at about 10:30 a.m., Carmen Fariña, New York City schools chancellor, will discuss Thursday's first day of school and talk about the issues facing city schools and what to expect this year.

On Tuesday at 11 a.m. at City Hall, there will be a “press conference to announce filing of amicus briefs by elected officials and community groups in support of state court decision ordering release of Officer Pantaleo’s misconduct record summary.” Pantaleo was the officer who put Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold. Participants will include Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer; City Council Members Ritchie Torres, Brad Lander, Robert Cornegy and Andy King; Tina Luongo, Legal Aid Society; Donna Lieberman, New York Civil Liberties Union; Communities United for Police Reform and others.

On Tuesday at noon at City Hall, Public Advocate Letitia James will deliver remarks at a press conference calling for Halal and Kosher food in city public schools. At 6:30 p.m., James will deliver remarks at a press conference with tenants at 888 Grand Concourse in the Bronx.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, the City Planning Commission will hold a review session.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli will release a report on Lower Manhattan’s economy. He’ll be joined by other elected officials and area representatives at 150 Broadway.

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Brooklyn Historical Society is hosting a book talk: ”Renee Dinnerstein on Choice Time: How to Deepen Learning Through Inquiry and Play, Pre-k to 2.” Dinnerstein will talk about her new book, and will also talk with Brooklyn New School Principal Anna Allanbrook about “the challenges of bringing progressive instruction into New York City schools.”

Wednesday
On Wednesday, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito at the 2016 Global Social Economy Forum in Montréal, Canada, where she will speak during two sessions, including one on participatory government.

At the City Council on Wednesday:

  • The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 9:30 a.m.
  • The Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime Uses will meet at 11 a.m.
  • The Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Connections will meet at 1 p.m.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the City Planning Commission will hold a public meeting.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, the New York State Legislature will hold a public hearing on water quality and contamination. This hearing will happen in the Legislative Office Building in Albany. It is the second of three water contamination hearings scheduled by the state Legislature and the first that is a joint Assembly-Senate hearing.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, the Manhattan Institute will host a lecture from New York University Law Professor Richard A. Epstein on how former Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and current Attorney General Eric Schneiderman have used and overused New York’s Martin Act. This Act was passed in 1921 to deal with financial fraud, but has been used quite frequently in recent times.

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Brooklyn Historical Society is hosting “Race and History: An Evening with Annette Gordon-Reed.” This event is a part of the Brooklyn Historical Society’s “Race and History” series.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, State Senator James Sanders, Jr. will host a workshop on financial management, especially suited for small business owners and operators.

Thursday
Thursday is the first day of the new school year for traditional public schools in New York City.

At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the Association for a Better New York will host a breakfast event featuring Chair of the City Planning Commission Carl Weisbrod.

At 10:00 a.m., the New York State Department of Financial Services will hold a public hearing related to Anthem Inc.’s acquisition of Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York.

At the City Council on Thursday:

  • The Committee on Contracts will meet at 10 a.m. to go over a “resolution condemning all efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the global movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction the people of Israel.”
  • The Committee on Land Use will meet at 11 a.m. to look at the land use issues discussed at meetings the previous day.
  • The Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Elections will meet at noon on “submitting the name of Hari Savitala to the Council for its advice and consent regarding his appointment to the Environmental Control Board.”

At 6 p.m. Thursday, the New York City Bar Association will host "The Road To the Court of Appeals: Demystifying the Process": The Commission on Judicial Nominations to Hold Open Discussions about Nomination Process.” One member of the New York State Court of Appeals is supposed to retire at the end of this year. 

At 7 p.m. Thursday, the Brooklyn Historical Society will continue its #LetsTalkFeminism series with “Are We There Yet? The Illusion of a Post-Sexist Society.” Speakers will include Marcia Gillespie of Ms. and Essence; Anna Holmes of Jezebel; and Muthoni Wambu Kraal of Emily’s List. President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, Teresa Younger will moderate the discussion.

Friday and the weekend:
On Saturday at 9 a.m., the New York City Charter School Center will host “Dignity for All Students Act Training: Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, & Discrimination in Schools.”

Sunday September 11 is the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The Postcards Memorial in Staten Island will host a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday to commemorate the lives of Staten Islanders lost on September 11, 2001.

***
Have events or topics for us to include in an upcoming Week Ahead in New York Politics? E-mail Gotham Gazette executive editor Ben Max any time: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (please use "For Week Ahead" as email subject).

***
by Brendan Birth and Ben Max
@GothamGazette



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