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Today’s Lead: Cuomo’s State of the State


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Gov. Andrew Cuomo used his fourth State-of-the-State Address to further his credentials as a fiscal conservative and social liberal while revisiting his past successes. Many observers saw the speech as a safe, election-year speechHe touted $2.2 billion in tax cuts including: property tax breaks; corporate tax cuts for upstate businesses, and a renter's tax credit. He unveiled a state trial of medical marijuanain select hospitals. He said the state should provide universal pre-kindergarten but he did not offer how to pay for it. He asked to take over the refurbishing on JFK and La Guardia, promised an extension of Metro-North and the addition of three new stops in the Bronx. Cuomo used a conciliatory tone when discussing ethics and campaign finance reform, telling the legislature that the public’s trust is like "rocket fuel" and expands the legislature's capacity to get things done. He also reaffirmed his support in a quick but passionate nod to the Women's Equality Act that he assembled and backed in last-years’ State-of-the-State. He announced to the boos of Sen. Kevin Parker that former NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly will be involved in a state school for emergency responders. He also pushed for juvenile justice reform and backed for a policy that would mandate that all school officials must tell the state of discrimination in their schools or lose their jobs.He ended his speech framed by a picture of the Statue of Liberty praising New York's history of embracing diversity.Cuomo did not mention his good friend Mayor Bill de Blasio or his plan to raise taxes on the city's wealthiest to fund pre-k. De Blasio began his post-speech press conference by preemptively praising Cuomo before reporters could ask any questions. 

 


Other Stories We're Following

De Blasio Hits Albany With Tax Plan as Cuomo Ignores It (Bloomberg)

New Council Speaker Promises to Heal Divides (Gotham Gazette)

After Winning a Raise, 175 Casino Workers in Queens Lose Their Jobs (NY Times)

New Jersey Governor Faces Scandal on Traffic Jam Aides Ordered (NY Times)

Speaker Vote Represents Major Victory for de Blasio (Daily News)

The Last Hour of the Mark-Viverito Campaign (Capital)

De Blasio Tangles With Eric Cantor on Charter Schools (Capital)

Testimony in Assemblyman’s Bribery Trial Continues (Wall Street Journal)

Interfaith Hospital Patients Go Without Heat as City Freezes (DNAinfo)

Brooklyn, Queens Housing Markets Surge (Crain's)

 

Today's Lead: Council Speaker Race Comes To A Head


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A refreshed New York City Council is set to vote in a new speaker — the second-most-powerful elected official in the city — at its first official meeting of 2014. After weeks of forums, closed-door meetings and outside lobbying, Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito appears to be headed for a victory in Wednesday’s vote.

Mark-Viverito, a progressive firebrand who represents neighborhoods of northeastern Manhattan and southeastern Bronx, secured at least 30 votes with significant help from close ally Mayor Bill de Blasio. Mark-Viverito only needs 26 votes to win; there are 51 total Council members. Her only remaining rival for the job, Manhattan Councilman Dan Garodnick, is a moderate favorite of editorial boards who has been fighting to turn votes in the days leading up to the Council meeting.

Mark-Viverito’s victory would buck the unspoken tradition of Democratic bosses securing enough votes to install a speaker in exchange for appointment perks. Instead, most of Mark-Viverito’s support came from the Progressive Caucus and the Brooklyn delegation. Her win could also usher in an overhaul of Council rules that would decentralize much of the speaker’s office powers. The Council’s fourth speaker since the post was created in the early 1990s, Mark-Viverito would also be the first Hispanic to hold the seat.

The winner of the speaker race will replace Councilwoman Christine Quinn, who lost her primary bid for mayor last year and is being term-limited out of office.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE — Groups Fear Cuomo Won't Highlight Campaign Finance Reform In Annual Address. The governor is scheduled to deliver his fourth State of the State address on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. State Government Editor David Howard King will be live-tweeting the event. Follow him on Twitter @davidhowardking

Other Stories We're Following

Former Cops, Firemen Implicated In Massive Pension Scam (Daily News)

Can The State Afford $2 Billion In Tax Cuts? (WNYC)

Judge Sets Back NYU Expansion (NY Observer)

Posting Detectives Overseas Has Been A Waste, Feds Say (DNAinfo)

Judge Clears Way For Civil Case Against NYPD In Graham Killing (DNAinfo)

Medical Marijuana May Not Be Kind To Hospitals (Crain's)

Cuomo, Joined By Biden, Details Disaster Aid Plans (NY Times)

Cuomo Lays Out Agenda For Election Year (Wall Street Journal)

Late Lobbying For Support As Speaker Election Nears (NY Times)

Three Things To Expect In Speaker's Race (WNYC)

De Blasio Battles Democratic Bosses Ahead Of Speaker Vote (Daily News)

Advocates For Poor Urge $10 Minimum Wage (Associated Press)

Calling NY Airports 'Inexcusable' Cuomo HInts At Fix (Crain's)

Today's Report

Kids Not Getting Flu Vaccine
One in three children under 5-years-old didn't receive their influenza shot in the past year, according to this new report by the Health Department. While 65 percent of New York City children aged 6 to 59 months received the vaccination in the past year - an increase from 59 percent in the previous influenza season - that's well below the national goal of 80 percent. (read the full report)

Today's Lead: Cuomo Unveils $2 Billion In Tax Cuts


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Gov. Cuomo unveiled his $2 billion tax cut plan yesterday as Mayor de Blasio reiterated his call for a tax on the wealthy at nearly the exact same time. Cuomo's plan would freeze upstate property tax increases for two years in municipalities that streamline and consolidate. Afterwards, an income-based property tax circuit breaker would be phased in. New York has some of the highest property taxes in the nation. In addition, New York City renters earning up to $100,000 would receive an income tax rebate. He would also reduce the corporate tax rate to 6.5 percent from 7.1 percent, give a 20 percent property-tax credit to manufacturers, and eliminate the corporate income tax for upstate manufacturers. This would all be paid for with a $2 billion surplus and some belt tightening. In a move that could set the mayor off balance, the governor will reportedly propose funding full-day pre-kindergarten statewide. But de Blasio said that he supports a tax hike on the wealthy regardless, saying the funds could be used elsewhere.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE —

Mayor De Blasio Promises Independent Police IG
by Chester Soria. READ MORE

While Governor Calls For Tax Relief, De Blasio Pushes For Pre-K Tax by David Howard King. READ MORE

De Blasio Appoints Advocates For Albany, DC Policy Agenda: By Chester Soria. READ MORE

Other Stories We're Following

City Sexual Assault Lab Work Slows (Wall Street Journal)

Polar Vortex: Temperatures Fall Far, Fast (NY Times)

Metro-North President Stepping Down (NY Times)

De Blasio Has Refinancing Ties To Dem Boss Key To Viverito Bid (NY Post)

Cuomo: Scandals In Albany Could Harm Legislature (Associated Press)

Contenders For Council Speaker Boast Extensive Outside Income (Politicker)

Mark-Viverito Coalition Meets to Solidify Bloc Before Vote (Politicker)

Mark-Viverito Admits Failing To Disclose Rental Income (Daily News)

Mayor Names Top Lobbyists, Other Aides (Crain's)

Cuomo's Semi-Liberalism (Capital)

New York’s Puzzling Medical Marijuana Plan (Wall Street Journal)

Medical Marijuana Boosters Not Cheering NY Law (WNYC)

Shoddy Train Cars Transporting Fuel Could Cause 'Deadly Explosion' (Daily News)

Editorial: Garodnick Is The Better Choice For Speaker (NY Times)



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