Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

CITY

The Week Ahead in New York Politics, May 29


New York City Hall

New York City Hall


What to watch for this week in New York politics:

We're less than a month from New York's congressional primaries, to be held Tuesday, June 26. This Friday, June 1, is the deadline to register to vote to be able to vote in those primaries.

As those congressional primary races hit the home stretch, we're also now fully into campaign season for the state-level primaries that will be voted on September 13. Most party nominee designations are set for governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller and attorney general. There will be a handful of primaries for those statewide posts, assuming that candidates who plan to collect signatures to appear on the primary ballot attain the needed totals. That group includes Cynthia Nixon, who is challenging Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, and Zephyr Teachout, who is running for attorney general against Public Advocate Letitia James, who won the Democratic state committee's designation at last week's convention. Leecia Eve is also competing in the Democratic primary for attorney general.

Not to be overlooked, the Democratic primary challengers to the members of what was the state Senate's Independent Democratic Conference, or IDC, continue. A small handful could be competitive heading into September's vote.

Speaking of the state Legislature, the two houses are scheduled to be in session on Wednesday and Thursday this week, two of the final 13 scheduled days of session. It is unclear if the Legislature will even meet for all 13 of those days and how much, if anything, will get done before the end of session and lawmakers committing all of their time to their districts and, for many, their reelection campaigns.

As always, there's a great deal happening all over the city, with many 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
Monday is Memorial Day.

Tuesday
On Tuesday at 10 a.m. “New York State Senator Kemp Hannon (R, Nassau), Chair of the Senate Health Committee, and Senator Tom O'Mara (R-C-I, Big Flats), Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, will be holding a joint roundtable discussion tomorrow on the sale and use of nonagricultural low-nitrogen fertilizer on Long Island...The discussion will include representatives of various perspectives to explore issues related to the damaging effects of excess nitrogen on the region’s water quality and recently proposed legislation (S8170) which would limit nitrogen levels in fertilizer sold and applied in nonagricultural applications on Long Island.”

On Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Westchester, the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Committee on Energy will hold a joint oversight hearing on “The power outages following recent winter snow-storms in the Hudson Valley.”

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams "will introduce dozens of students from PS 327 Dr. Rose B. English to the Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket, following an assembly on nutrition that he led at the Brownsville elementary school a couple weeks ago; this visit is part of Borough President Adams' ongoing mission to instill healthy eating habits in young people." At 10:30 a.m., Adams "will cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Nostrand Pharmacy, a new small business serving the Bedford-Stuyvesant community." At at noon, Adams "will attend a flag-raising ceremony with foreign dignitaries at Bowling Green that celebrates the centennial of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Brooklyn is a sister city with the Sabail district of the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, under an agreement Borough President Adams signed in 2014."

“Eastchester Bay has a long history of pollution. So a non-profit, Save the Sound, is expanding its groundbreaking water testing study into the Bronx to increase the available data on Long Island Sound's health. A water testing demonstration will be conducted dockside at Minneford Marina in City Island, Bronx on Tuesday” at 11 a.m.

At 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Comptroller Scott Stringer will attend the UFT Retired Teachers 55th Annual Luncheon. At 6:15 p.m., Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James will attend the Agudath Israel 96th Annual Dinner. At 7:45 p.m., Stringer will attend the Mill Island Civic Association Installation of Officers in Brooklyn.

On Tuesday at 1 p.m. outside City Hall, New York Taxi Workers Alliance “members will rally to demand that the City Council pass meaningful legislation ASAP to stop the financial crisis that has pushed five drivers to suicide in recent months. On Saturday, a body found in the East River was identified as Yu Mein Kenny Chow, devoted husband and father and a yellow cab owner-driver, who had been missing since May 11.”

At 2 p.m. Tuesday in Rochester, "Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul Delivers Remarks at the Landmark at Sibley Square Ribbon Cutting."

On Tuesday evening, “Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Dominican Day Parade, Inc. will co-host a "Dominican Day Parade Reception," in collaboration with Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo, honoring the 2018 Dominican Day Parade Leadership and individuals who have contributed to the growth and promotion of their community and culture.”

On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Assemblymember Robert Carroll will host an MTA town hall featuring New York City Transit President Andy Byford, at the John Jay Educational Campus in Brooklyn.

On Tuesday at 8 p.m. “Mayor de Blasio will deliver remarks at the annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner at Gracie Mansion.”

Wednesday
The state Legislature is scheduled to be in session in Albany on Wednesday.

On Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m., “City & State’s Urban Development Summit will bring together housing, development and infrastructure professionals from across the state, including elected officials, real estate developers, engineers, construction managers, and innovators from both the public and private sectors. This forum will address current trends, big projects, major issues in an effort to expand and grow local neighborhoods and the overall economy.” Featured speakers will include James Patchett, President & CEO, NYC Economic Development Corporation; City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.; Nicole Ferreira, Senior Vice President of Multifamily Finance, New York State Homes and Community Renewal; Molly Park, Deputy Commissioner for Development, Commissioner, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development; and City Council Member Donovan Richards. Panels will discuss “The Future of Housing Development in New York”; “Rezoning NYC”; and “Buildings and Infrastructure Ideas that Better NY.”

On Wednesday, schools "Chancellor Richard A. Carranza will visit Uncommon Schools Excellence Girls Elementary Academy in Brooklyn and deliver brief remarks. After, he will visit Mott Haven Academy Charter School in the Bronx and deliver brief remarks. In the afternoon, he will visit The Bronx Charter School for Excellence. There will be brief remarks and Q&A."

On Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Albany, a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Committee on Labor “To examine the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises program, and consider potential legislative solutions to create a more effective and efficient program to enhance New York’s business climate.”

On Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Buffalo, "Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul Participates in Groundbreaking for Historic Landscape at Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Darwin Martin House."

On Wednesday in Albany beginning at 10 a.m., "Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Minority Leader Brian Kolb will address the luncheon of the Assembly’s 38th Annual Legislative Disability Awareness Day to highlight the accomplishments of individuals with disabilities and their advocates. Among the Assemblymembers who are scheduled to deliver opening remarks are Task Force on People with Disabilities Chair James Skoufis, Mental Health Committee Chair Aileen M. Gunther, Michael J. Cusick, and Melissa Miller, Ranking Minority Member on the Committee on Mental Health. The all-day event will include opening ceremonies, award presentations, exhibitors, seminars, the art work of school children entered into the Assembly’s Disability Awareness Day Poster Contest and also an exhibitor fair, featuring information about the latest most popular products, technologies, programs and services that are of interest to people with disabilities. A legislative package aimed at addressing the concerns of the disability community is expected to be taken up by the Assembly."

On Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., "Mayor de Blasio will deliver remarks calling on Albany to extend and expand speed camera legislation, and will reveal new plans to redesign 9th Street in Park Slope. This event is open press. There will be no Q-and-A."

"New York gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro will preview a major anti-corruption initiative that will end crooked pay-to-play practices that have garnered Andrew Cuomo tens of millions of dollars in tainted political donations over the past eight years, at a news conference on Wednesday, May 30th at 11:00 at Fountain Plaza 580 Main St. in Buffalo."

On Wednesday at noon, "First Lady Chirlane McCray will be joined by NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson and LGBTQ advocates to make an announcement about the City's investment in services and supports for LGBTQ young people. This event is open press. There will be Q-and-A."

On Wednesday at noon, Public Advocate Letitia James will deliver remarks at NYPD Detective Michelle Randall-Williams’ Walkout Ceremony, in Brooklyn. At 7 p.m., James will deliver remarks at the Shorefront Democratic Club 46th Assembly District Annual Awards Dinner in Brooklyn.

"In her first press conference since being appointed, New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood will announce charges in a major financial fraud case" on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

On Wednesday at the City Council: the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 9:30 a.m. and the Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions and Concessions will meet at 2 p.m.

At 3: 30 p.m. Wednesday in Geneva, Governor Cuomo will make an announcement at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center.

The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) will meet Wednesday night at Taft Educational Campus in the Bronx. DOE Chancellor Richard Carranza will give remarks.

Mayor de Blasio will host a town hall at P.S. 6 in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, beginning at 6:30 p.m. City Council Member Mathieu Eugene will co-host.

On Wednesday at 7 p.m. at The Cooper Union, “Open House New York will host Redefining Safety and Justice for the 21st Century City, a special conversation about the future of New York's justice system,” the “launch event for Spaces of Justice, a new yearlong series about the architecture and infrastructure of our city's criminal justice system, the program includes a presentation by Elizabeth Glazer, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, followed by a conversation with Stanley Richards, Executive Vice President, The Fortune Society, moderated by Rosalie Genevro, Executive Director, The Architectural League.”

Thursday
The state Legislature is scheduled to be in session in Albany on Thursday.

On Thursday at 10 a.m. at the City Council, the Committee on Higher Education will hold an oversight hearing on “Admissions, Graduation Rates, and Affordability Study – Eliminating Tuition at the City University of New York.”

On Thursday at 12:30 p.m., "Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) will join local high school students, gun control activists and other community members for a conversation on reducing gun violence. The forum will provide an opportunity for students to speak directly with the Congresswoman and community groups about efforts to reduce gun violence."

At 1 p.m. Thursday at Pratt Institute, “The City’s Charter Revision Commission will hold a public meeting...The Commission will identify key issues raised by the public that may warrant further study. This is an organizational meeting and does not include public testimony.”

On Thursday at 6:30 p.m. "the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC (SDNYC) will host its 2018 Annual Event at Raise New York,(416 3rd Ave, Manhattan) and will recognize outstanding LGBT advocates: Hon. Corey Johnson, Speaker of the NYC Council; Earl Fowlkes, Chair of the Democratic National Committee LGBT Caucus; Cecilia Gentili, Director of Policy for GMHC; Kris Kohler, Deputy Director of the Mason Tenders District Council of Greater NY - PAC; and Rose Christ, Former SDNYC President / Principal in the NY Government Practice at Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies."

Friday and the Weekend
Mayor de Blasio may make his weekly appearance on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show on Friday morning at 10 a.m.

On Friday, the second annual Summit on Latin@s in New York City (SOL NYC) will be held by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Hunter College- CUNY), the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, the Jaime Lucero Mexican Studies Institute at CUNY, the Hispanic Federation, and the Council of the City of New York, “to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the City’s Latinos, assess policy priorities, and develop an action agenda for today and tomorrow.”

“On Friday, June 1, New York University’s Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) will host a one-day summit to address how researchers, New York City government agencies and practitioners can work together to improve the systems and opportunities that support vulnerable youth in New York City. The summit will assemble leaders, scholars and policy makers from multiple sectors including the NYC Department of Education’s Office of School Health, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, NYC Department of Probation, New York Community Trust, Advocates for Children of New York, Volunteers of Legal Service, and the Vera Institute of Justice. There will be a keynote speaker and three panel sessions, each of which will focus on a specific sector: immigration, juvenile justice, and special education and mental health.”

On Saturday at the Schomburg Center in Harlem, “The New York State Democratic Party is hosting a Volunteer Grassroots Summit this year in order to engage activists from across New York City and surrounding areas. We are looking to unify activists groups and provide a clear pathway to victory for Democrats in 2018. The purpose of the summit is to share 2018 strategy and goals with the New York grassroots community, then spend time training on skills we will use in order to engage and persuade voters from Buffalo, to Albany, to Long Island. Our aim is to build a positive culture within the grassroots community and create a centralized place for Democrats to work together on red to blue races this year.” "The New York State Democratic Party is partnering with the National Democratic Training Committee (@traindems), Swing Left (@swingleft), Emerge America New York (emerge_ny), OFA NY (ofa_ny), New York Democratic Lawyer's Council (@nydlc), and Stonewall Democrats of New York (@sdnyc) to train fired up New York residents on skills they need to help us win in November."

***
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 Ben Brachfeld and Ben Max
@GothamGazette



Print Friendly and PDF

Editor's Choice


Gotham Gazette: New York Voters Approve $4.2 Billion Environmental Bond Act
New York Voters Approve $4.2 Billion Environmental Bond Act
Gotham Gazette: 
New York City Voters Approve Racial Justice Ballot Measures
New York City Voters Approve Racial Justice Ballot Measures
Gotham Gazette: 
Housing Development in New York City Slows to a Crawl as Officials Debate Tax Incentives
Housing Development in New York City Slows to a Crawl as Officials Debate Tax Incentives
Gotham Gazette: 
City Council Examines Low Voter Turnout, Moving Local Elections to Even Years City Council Examines Low Voter Turnout, Moving Local Elections to Even Years