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Senate Democrats Pursue No Formal Consequences for Parker After 'Kill yourself!' Tweet


parker aoc cm

Senator Parker, left, with Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins (photo: @SenatorParker)


The newly-seated Democratic majority in the state Senate does not seem inclined to take any formal action against one of its members, Senator Kevin Parker of Brooklyn, for an inappropriate Twitter outburst last month, directed at a Republican Senate staffer, or his apparent misuse of his official parking placard.

In tweets on December 18, GOP spokesperson Candice Giove had highlighted what seemed to be Parker’s inappropriate use of his parking placard. Parker responded with a shocking tweet, writing “Kill yourself!” to Giove. He later deleted the tweet but not before it was widely shared and memorialized, becoming the subject of a good deal of attention both on social media and in news reports.

The incident sparked a quick backlash against Parker, who has a history of losing his temper and getting in trouble for it. Elected officials, including those within his party, were quick to condemn his flippant remark about suicide. And many also raised the underlying question of whether he was among the public officials, elected and not, that have been abusing the parking privileges they receive as a perk of the job, which has become a broader issue in New York City in recent years.

Parker later expressed some contrition. "I sincerely apologize," he tweeted. "I used a poor choice of words. Suicide is a serious thing and and (sic) should not be made light of." But he continued to criticize Giove on Twitter and elsewhere, calling her “an internet troll” in an interview with the New York Daily News. In a statement at the time, which was between the elections where Democrats flipped the Senate and their official ascent to control of the upper chamber, now-Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “I was disappointed in Senator Parker’s tweet. Suicide is a serious issue and should not be joked about in this manner. I am glad that he has apologized.”

But that may be the end of it. Stewart-Cousins’ office did not respond to repeated requests for comment on whether Parker would face any formal action for his behavior. The incident is not being probed by the Senate’s Committee on Ethics and Internal Governance, chaired by Senator Alessandra Biaggi, who has promised to reinvigorate what has been a dormant committee despite constant ethical lapses among state officials. And Parker himself told Gotham Gazette in a phone interview that the matter was “handled internally.”

In response, Senate GOP spokesperson Scott Reif had harsh words for the Senate majority. “Senator Parker tells a young female staffer to go kill herself and the Democrats don’t give him so much as a slap on the wrist?,” Reif said in an email to Gotham Gazette. “Punish him for his inappropriate rhetoric. Punish him for violating the parking placard rules. But don’t just bury your head in the sand. Despite their talk, it looks like the new Democratic Majority doesn’t really care about ethics after all.”

Parker, in the phone interview, said he’d learned his lesson. “The rules have been reinforced to me and I will continue to abide by the rules,” he said. “We’ve moved on. We’re passing legislation.”

But he refused to address whether he had improperly used his parking placard. “It’s a tempest in a teacup, I’m not going down that road,” he said. And he would not reveal details of how the matter was resolved. “That’s a private conversation between me and the majority leader,” he said.

There are several avenues for holding state legislators to account for their conduct in office. Besides the ethics committee, there are the oversight and enforcement bodies -- the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and the Legislative Ethics Commission -- charged with investigating and penalizing violations of Public Officers Law (though the law is written vaguely and may be hard to apply to Parker’s situation).

Biaggi’s committee is not taking up the issue. “The first priority for the ethics committee is to ensure there are clear standards of behavior and a clear means for dealing with alleged violations in a timely manner,” said David Neustadt, a spokesperson for Biaggi. “The first focus of the ethics committee is dealing with the issue of sexual harassment and ensuring that New York State is a leader in making sure everyone is safe at work.”

On the potential parking placard violation, Neustadt said, "It's up to the issuing authority to make sure that parking placard holders know and follow the rules. It's up to the police to issue parking tickets when placards are used inappropriately.”

It’s unclear if there have been any complaints filed with either JCOPE or the LEC, or if either body is looking into the incident. Such investigations are usually kept confidential under state law. “We can’t comment on anything that is or might be an investigative matter,” said Walter McClure, a JCOPE spokesperson.

Alex Camarda, senior policy advisor at Reinvent Albany, a group that advocates for government reform, transparency, and accountability, said Parker’s inappropriate comments and alleged placard misuse “ought to be looked at” by both the Senate and JCOPE.

“They should err on the side of acting formally, even for low-level infractions, because it sets a serious tone,” he said.

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by Samar Khurshid, senior reporter, Gotham Gazette
     

Read more by this writer.

State Census Commission Yet to Be Named or Funded as Key Initial Deadline Passes


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(photo by Governor's Office)


A legally-mandated state commission that was meant to examine the challenges in counting New York’s population for the 2020 Census and craft recommendations to achieve an accurate count has not been named despite having already missed a January 10 deadline for issuing its initial report.

Last year, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature included in the state budget a measure to create the New York State 2020 Complete Count Commission, a 16-member body charged with studying the reasons for past census undercounts and plotting ways to improve performance in the high-stakes effort. By January 10 of this year, the commission was supposed to issue a report on those causes and lay out a comprehensive plan, along with budget projections, for ensuring an accurate count in 2020.

But the commission hasn’t been created, nor did the governor propose any funding for census efforts in his executive budget proposal released on January 15.

Cuomo only mentioned the census sparingly in his State of the State speech that day, celebrating the fact that a federal judge ruled in favor of the lawsuit led by the New York Attorney General’s office against the inclusion of a citizenship question on the census. “Now let's go out there and count every New Yorker so we get what we deserve in the state of New York,” Cuomo said, without outlining any other details of the state’s census efforts.

The upcoming census is expected to be a particularly challenging effort for states as the federal government is putting far fewer resources than experts say are necessary to fully count the population of the entire country as required by the constitution every ten years. New York already has its fair share of challenges.

The state is home to many “hard-to-count” communities, where at least a quarter of the population does not self-respond to the census questionnaire. This is particularly true for immigrant communities with sizeable undocumented populations, where fears of interacting with federal authorities has been heightened under the Trump administration. There have also historically been other hard-to-count communities, including low-, middle- and upper-middle income African-Americans.

The 2020 Census will also be the first to mostly employ digital technology, another obstacle, especially in rural communities with limited access to the internet and among older people. An undercount can be disastrous for New York, with consequences ranging from cuts in federal funding -- New York receives as much as $80 billion each year -- and the loss of congressional representation. Due to population loss the state is projected to lose at least one congressional seat, with possibly another on the line depending on the count. After the 2010 Census, New York lost two congressional seats.

Half of the state commission’s members were meant to be appointed by the governor; three each were meant to be appointed by the state Assembly speaker and the Senate majority leader, while the minority leaders in both houses were supposed to appoint one member each.

“We have yet to receive all recommendations from appointing bodies for the commission,” said

Hazel Crampton-Hays, a spokesperson for the governor, in an email. “We are hopeful that the new Senate Majority will be more committed to the census effort.”

A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins did not respond to a request for comment. Mike Whyland, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, said in an email that the speaker appointed three individuals in August, though he did not name the members or provide any further details when asked. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb’s spokesperson did not provide comment.

The governor’s office did note that the state has launched an effort to ensure the accuracy of census address data, which Gotham Gazette reported on in December. “In 2019, Governor Cuomo will launch a comprehensive campaign to protect the integrity of the 2020 Census and to ensure that every New Yorker is counted,” Crampton-Hays added.

New York City, meanwhile, is forging ahead with its own census efforts. Mayor Bill de Blasio allocated $4.3 million in funding in the current year’s budget for the census and is expected to add more in the budget for the 2020 fiscal year, which begins July 1 of this year. Earlier this month, de Blasio also announced that Julie Menin, the commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, would take on a new role as Director of the Census for the city.

Community advocates are worried that the state is not taking the 2020 census seriously. The New York Counts 2020 coalition, made up of nonprofits and community-based organizations from across the state, commissioned a study by the Fiscal Policy Institute that estimates about $40 million in total funding is needed to ensure an accurate count. These organizations will be particularly crucial in order to reach immigrant communities and the most vulnerable residents of the state.

“Governor Cuomo must take crucial steps now so that every person in our state is counted in the 2020 census,” said Rachel Bloom, director of public policy & programs at Citizens Union and the co-chair of the state and local government committee of New York Counts 2020. “New York desperately needs funding in the state budget for census outreach as well as a Complete Count Commission. An accurate census count impacts not just our political representation, but New York’s federal funding. Money and resources spent now will benefit New Yorkers enormously for the decade to come.”

[READ: On Census Preparations, State Lags While City, Advocacy Organizations & Business Community Move Ahead]

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by Samar Khurshid, senior reporter, Gotham Gazette
     

Read more by this writer.

City & State Legislative Action & More: The Week Ahead in New York Politics, Jan. 21


New York City Hall

New York City Hall


What to watch for this week in New York politics:

This week starts with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, which will include many commemorative events acoss the city and state.

The week will feature a lot of action at the Democratically-controlled state Legislature in Albany, on Tuesday and Wednesday, as both houses continue to pass bills that have not moved in past sessions when Republicans controlled the state Senate, and at the New York City Council, where there will be a variety of committee hearings and one full-body Stated Meeting, at which new bills are first introduced and bills that have passed committee receive a floor vote.

We're continuing to watch four other themes this week: next steps after Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State and budget presentation from last week; how the MTA Board is handling the change of L-train tunnel repair plans; what Mayor Bill de Blasio will do next in his rollout of his State of the City agenda and his pursuit of a national spotlight; and the race for New York City Public Advocate, with the Feb. 26 special election rapidly approaching.

As always, there's a great deal happening all over the city, with a variety of 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 Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will be remembrances and celebrations across the city and state, with many elected officials participating. Governor Cuomo has no public events for the day, however, while Mayor de Blasio will deliver remarks at the annual Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) tribute to Dr. King and the National Action Network celebration of King's legacy -- the latter event will be attended by many officials and candidates.

Tuesday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Tuesday in Albany. It is expected to be another busy day of passing bills that were passed by the Assembly in prior years but not voted on in what was the Republican-controlled Senate. "New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie will hold a press conference regarding women's reproductive health on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Parlor, Room 303 of the New York State Capitol, Albany." Both houses are expected to pass the Reproductive Health Act on Monday.

At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Brooklyn, Mayor de Blasio "will make an announcement about increasing access to health insurance" at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Hospital. "Later, the Mayor will attend the wake for Police Officer Brian Kessler."

At the City Council on Tuesday:
--The Committee on Public Safety will meet at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding the Civilian Complaint Review Board, as well as to discuss a proposed law requiring the CCRB to report semi-annually “the reasons that cases are closed without the benefit of a full investigation, and the efforts it made to avoid such closures.”
--The Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions will meet at 10:30 a.m.
--The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 10:45 a.m.
--The Committee on For-Hire Vehicles will meet at 11 a.m. to discuss proposed laws prohibiting and establishing penalties for the operation of commuter vans by drivers without commuter van licenses, and to require the Taxi and Limousine Commission to set items such as disclosure requirements and consumer protection practices as preconditions for financial agreements drivers enter into.
--The Committee on Land Use will meet at 11 a.m.
--The Committees on Civil Service & Labor and Housing will meet jointly at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “Section 3 hiring requirements.”
--The Committee on Cultural Affairs will meet at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “arts, culture, and Stonewall 50.”

At 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, Comptroller Scott Stringer will appear on PIX 11 morning news.

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, "the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will consider calendaring 4 historic districts in Sunset Park, Brooklyn: Sunset Park North, Central Sunset Park, Sunset Park 50th Street, and Sunset Park South. These areas contain the most cohesive and intact concentrations of high quality architecture in Sunset Park and together represent the neighborhood’s primary periods of historical and residential development. The Commission will also consider calendaring the First Hungarian Reformed Church of New York, one of few religious properties designed by the distinguished New York City architect Emery Roth. It is also significant for its association with the Hungarian-American community who settled in the Yorkville neighborhood. Calendaring is the first formal step in the designation process. Once calendared, LPC will hold a public hearing on the proposed designations at a future date, followed by a public meeting during which the Commission will vote on the designation."

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, "Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is a Guest on WUTQ's 'Talk of the Town' with Jason Aiello." At 10:30 a.m., "Hochul Makes an Announcement and Delivers 2019 State of the State and Budget Presentation" in Utica. She'll then preside over the state Senate session in Albany.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform established by Mayor de Blasio and the City Council will hold its latest public meeting at 250 Broadway.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Assembly Standing Committee on Energy will hold a budget hearing in Albany regarding NYSERDA.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson will appear on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

On Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Gracie Mansion, "First Lady Chirlane McCray will hold a media availability about the ‘She Persists: A Century of Women Artists in New York 1919-2019'..."Later, the First Lady will deliver remarks at the opening reception for the ‘She Persists’ art exhibit."

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Association for a Better New York will host two talks at LMHQ: one on public-private partnerships and their impact on parks and communities, with former Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, and one on mobile broadband infrastructure with former Verizon region president Chris Levendos.

Wednesday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Wednesday in Albany.

At the City Council on Wednesday:
--The Committees on Aging and Women will meet jointly at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “women aging into poverty in New York City,” as well as to discuss a resolution calling upon Congress to pass and the president to sign the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act.
--The Committee on Mental Health will meet at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding a three-year update on ThriveNYC.
--The Committees on Environmental Protection and Parks & Recreation will meet jointly at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “the status of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project.”
--The Committee on Transportation will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss several proposed laws relating to bicycling, including laws to legalize certain electric bikes and scooters, require DOT to create a program to assist low-income owners of e-bikes to convert their bikes to pedal-assist, and to create a pilot program for shared e-scooters.
--The Committee on Economic Development will meet at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding the “Brooklyn Navy Yard expansion plans.”

Starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Vocal-NY will hold a lobbying day in Albany to “demand housing and services for all New Yorkers living with HIV.”

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, this week’s Max & Murphy show will air on WBAI radio (99.5FM and wbai.org). The hosts will continue to interview candidates for Public Advocate in the February 26 special election: Assemblymember Ron Kim and activist Nomiki Konst will join the show this week. (Prior weeks have featured City Council Members Rafael Espinal and Eric Ulrich, Assemblymembers Michael Blake and Danny O’Donnell, and attorney Dawn Smalls)

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the Schools of Public Engagement at the New School will host a forum for candidates for Public Advocate. Topics will include “social and public health issues affecting New Yorkers, including HIV/AIDS prevention and education, substance use, mental health, LGBT rights, and discrimination.” The forum will take place at the New School Auditorium in Greenwich Village.

On Wedensday at 6:30 p.m. in Brooklyn, Borough President Eric Adams is hosting the second in a series of public workshops on the "Brooklyn Downtown Revitalization Initiative," a project underway as a result of a $10 million state grant.

Thursday
The City Council will hold a stated meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Speaker Corey Johnson will hold the usual pre-stated press conference at 12:30 p.m.

Also at the City Council on Thursday: the Committee on Finance will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss proposed laws relating to property taxes.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, the MTA will hold a board meeting.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, City & State will host the P3 Summit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, discussing public-private partnerships. Keynote remarks will be given by Derek Utter, Chief Development Officer at the Port Authority. Other speakers will include Council Members Ben Kallos and Ydanis Rodriguez, Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Port Authority CFO Elizabeth McCarthy, and others.

At noon Thursday, the New York State Board of Elections will hold a commissioners’ meeting in Albany.

Friday and the weekend
At 9 a.m. Friday, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary will hold a public hearing at the offices of OATH at 100 Church Street for public comment on nine interim Civil Court judges.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio may make his weekly appearance on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show.

At 10:30 a.m. Friday, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz will deliver her State of the Borough address at LaGuardia Community College.

***
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



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