Politico

With help from Shawn Ness

From pristine beaches to awe-inspiring waterfalls, New York’s parks have been getting major love — and they’re now in store for some green from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

This past year saw more visits to New York’s parks than in any other year.

In total, there were 84.1 million visits to state parks in 2023 — 4.7 million than the previous attendance record set in 2022, Hochul’s office said this morning. Niagara Falls, the state’s most visited park last year, saw about 9.5 million visitors — almost one million more than second-place Jones Beach on Long Island.

But the successful attendance numbers for New York’s park system was just part of the good news for coming out of Albany this morning.

The outgoing commissioner of parks, Erik Kulleseid, is stepping aside with praise from Democratic lawmakers who applauded recent major proposed investments, including $100 million for Jones Beach.

“They were happy because of the amount of money,” Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, who chairs the committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development, said of the rousing applause from Assembly Democrats at today’s budget hearing.

Hochul’s proposed budget includes a total $450 million in capital funding for state parks, $250 million more than last year. That includes $150 million for swimming investments.

Kulleseid testified at the hearing that those funds would be doled out in the form of grants to local governments who develop more public pools. The money isn’t for pools on state parkland.

“There's a real commitment to making sure those are in underserved communities,” Kulleseid said. He said they’re currently taking input informally on how to structure the grant program.

The parks department is also working to re-open a key swimming destination for New York City area residents at Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park in the Hudson Valley. The beach there has been closed since the impacts of Hurricane Irene in 2011. Improvements to the beach, re-opening a concession stand and a wastewater treatment plant are part of the $80 million project, Kulleseid said.

The Jones Beach project involves re-opening the historic East Bathhouse, converting an abandoned pool into a spray park with opportunities for inexperienced swimmers to learn how to swim. But there won’t be solar canopies on the parking lots at Jones Beach.

“We want to be cautious about where we place them,” Kulleseid said in response to a lawmaker’s question, explaining that the configuration of the grid in the area made siting solar challenging.

Several lawmakers also had questions about safety. Kulleseid highlighted efforts to increase the park police force and higher pay for those stationed downstate.

He said the department is also working to get a new chief of the state parks police.

Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, a Democrat from Round Lake, questioned whether a 25-year timeline for a pension instead of a 20-year one was a deterrent for retaining park police. “Most of our officers would say that the parks job is one of the best law enforcement jobs out there,” Kulleseid responded.

CARROTS NOT STICKS: Hochul today awarded 20 localities across the state with a “pro-housing” certification — a designation that gives them priority consideration from up to $650 million in discretionary funds.

Getting first dibs on that funding is intended to incentivize localities to grow their housing stock — after Hochul’s proposed production mandates failed to make it through the state Legislature last year.

Localities that received the certification include White Plains in Westchester County; Kingston and Newburgh in the Hudson Valley and Mineola on Long Island, where opposition to Hochul’s plan was particularly fierce last year. Another 61 localities have started their applications, Hochul said.

State legislators argued last year Hochul should use carrots rather than sticks to get towns and cities to boost housing growth.

So Hochul went with the message: At a Red Room event with local leaders to celebrate the certifications Hochul held up an actual bunch of carrots.

“I’m told this is what you’re willing to eat to build more housing,” the governor joked. — Janaki Chadha

TRYING AGAIN: The twice-vetoed proposal to expand New York’s wrongful death law is back.

State lawmakers this week introduced a new version of the bill with the same premise: Making it easier for people to file wrongful death claims based on emotional anguish.

The current wrongful death law, sponsor Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal argues, is not sufficient.

“The law, in essence, says that the attributes of our family members that we most value--emotional support, love, companionship, advice and guidance--count for nothing,” the bill’s memo states.

But opponents have not been convinced. The Lawsuit Reform Alliance, an advocacy organization, remains opposed.

"The bill sponsors continue to ignore the school districts, public hospitals, transit authorities, cities, towns and counties who are deeply concerned about this legislation and its impact on taxpayers and local government budgets," Tom Stebbins, the group’s executive director, said.

"Despite the oceans of data, lawmakers absurdly claim the fiscal impact to state and local governments will be 'none.' That's not possible.”

Lawmakers will still have to convince Hochul, who has vetoed two versions of the bill. Her budget office has pointed to the costs, including the potential insurance premiums skyrocketing as a result. — Nick Reisman

SPLIT DECISION: Hochul dismissed the idea of covering half of New York City’s migrant costs, making her the second Albany leader to dash Mayor Eric Adams' hopes.

“We are already making substantial contributions to deal with the problem,” Hochul said during an unrelated press briefing when asked about the mayor’s plea.

Her remarks came a day after Adams traveled to the capital to make his request — along with several others — before a panel of Senate and Assembly lawmakers.

“New Yorkers are already carrying most of the asylum-seeker costs. It is wrong to ask them to do more, and it puts our city in a precarious position,” the mayor testified. “Today, we are asking the state to increase its commitment and cover at least 50 percent of our costs.”

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins was the first to offer a chilly response soon after his testimony.

Hochul said today that Adams did not make the request to her at all during a closed-door meeting following Adams’ nearly three-hour appearance. He did, however, thank her profusely for the aid the state has already given, she said.

Hochul proposed $2.4 billion for migrant costs in her state budget, up from less than $2 billion. City Hall said that is still $400 million short of what they have budgeted for, based on the state, city and federal government splitting the costs equally.

While Adams has asked the state to up its cost share to half in light of federal inaction, officials could not provide a dollar figure to POLITICO they would like to see in the state budget. — Joe Anuta

CLOCK STARTS FOR NEW YORK’S OTHER CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL: Rep. Brian Higgins’ formal resignation last week set off the calendar for the special election to replace him.

Hochul will need to pick a date, but at this point, the rules governing timing mean it will be on either April 23 or April 30 if she wants to hold it on a Tuesday. April 30 might be more likely, as April 23 is the first full day of Passover.

“I would assume it plays into the timing,” state Sen. Tim Kennedy said today.

Kennedy will be the Democratic nominee in the special for the Democratic-friendly seat, having won the backing of the Erie and Niagara county parties last month. “I’m excited about the opportunity to go serve Western New York,” he said.

Republicans have yet to pick a candidate: “We’re keeping our eyes and ears open, but until the special’s called, I think there’s a lot still to be determined,” Kennedy added. — Bill Mahoney

PATROL FOR PILIP: The union for border patrol agents came to the Nassau-Queens border today to endorse Republican Mazi Pilip in the congressional special election.

“I get to recommend to my fellow U.S. citizens a great individual,” National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd said at a press conference outside the migrant shelter at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Bellerose.

Both Democrat Tom Suozzi and the union have supported the border security deal in Congress, while Pilip called it “an absolute non-starter." But Judd said they’re backing her anyway because Pilip “was able to build bridges” despite disagreements.

Suozzi brushed it off at a virtual presser this afternoon as “not surprising at all” since the union is close to Donald Trump, who opposes the bill. The endorsement was “obviously a deal with the Trumpers and the right wing despite the best interests of the border patrol agents,” he said.

Judd said he hopes a border deal can be separated from an international aid package in Congress. — Jeff Coltin

MIGRANTS ATTACK ON NYPD OFFICERS: At a bipartisan press conference at the Capitol today, state senators and Assembly members called for additional action because they claim Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not take enough action against the migrants attacks on NYPD officers last week in Times Square.

“How long will we be the benefactors of lawlessness,” Assemblymember Jaime Williams, a Brooklyn Democrat, said. “Today we stand in solidarity to support the two NYPD offices that was assaulted by a group of migrants. I say that the entire issue was mishandled by DA Bragg… he has allowed politics to cloud his judgment.”

Bragg has only indicted one out of 10 of the accused attackers involved in the incident.

Assembymember Sam Pirozzollo, a Republican, made it clear that everyone's comments were really only directed at three people: Hochul, Adams and Bragg.

“We have pretty much given the [migrants] everything… And what do we get in return? We get an assault on New York City police officers, that neither the governor, the mayor and — forget Alvin Bragg — have responded properly to.” — Shawn Ness

EDUCATION: Schools Chancellor David Banks today expressed concerns about education budget cuts impacting Adams’ efforts to persuade state lawmakers he should retain control of the New York City public school system.

He sounded the alarm on soon-to-be-expired federal stimulus money that has funded popular education programs like 3K — and Banks warned of “difficult choices” the city will have to make “with a finite set of dollars.”

“It could, but I certainly hope that it does not,” Banks told PIX 11 on whether it will impact legislators’ vote on whether to extend mayoral control during the ongoing legislative session. “I think that this administration has really earned the right to an extension… of mayoral control.”

He emphasized achievements like improvements in city students’ state test scores and a decrease in chronic absenteeism in schools.

“A lot of people are saying, ‘We should get rid of mayoral control’…but there are very few people that are actually offering up a real alternative.” — Madina Touré

SCHOOL SAFETY: The city Department of Education is looking to put more metal detectors in schools amid an uptick in weapons recovered at institutions.

“We’re looking at that,” David Banks told PIX 11. “Those are also multimillion dollar investments that have to be made, even during some tough fiscal times…There’s nothing more important than keeping all of our kids safe.”

This comes after two students were stabbed at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens. Metal detectors were placed at the school in the aftermath of the incident.

At the same time, education officials have been working with companies who have systems that detect dangerous weapons without subjecting students to a “dehumanizing process” that entails emptying their pockets,” he said.

“Some of these companies are still developing that technology,” Banks added. — Madina Touré

MAKING THE ROUNDS: Hochul has announced two new rounds of education funding for various programs throughout the state.

The Educator Career Development Ambassador Program, which is a summer training session for aspiring teachers, librarians and counselors in six through 12 grade levels. Her initiative also included another round of funding for the Empire State Teacher Residency Program, which now gets $12.4 million a year.

Both proposals are designed to bolster the state’s teaching workforce.

“Our kids deserve the best possible education, and that starts with investing in our teachers… We are reinforcing our commitment to our public servants and to preparing young people for the robust opportunities that await them,” Hochul said in a statement. — Shawn Ness

RENEWABLE RISKS: New York has long pushed to rely on 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030. It’s clear now the state is no longer on track — derailed by growing costs, canceled projects and regulators’ refusal to provide more ratepayer-funded subsidies.

Part of the problem is there are simply not enough existing, awarded and contracted projects in the pipeline to hit the 2030 target.

The biggest blow: Two offshore wind contracts with the state’s energy authority were terminated last week, taking a bite out of the state’s inventory of investments set to be operational before the statutory deadline to reach 70 percent renewable electricity.

State officials have recognized the challenges and highlighted the efforts to still achieve the targets in New York’s historic 2019 climate law, which also included a zero-emission electricity system by 2040 and an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. — Marie J. French

— Child care advocates are calling for better pay for child care workers making less than $36,000 per year. (State of Politics)

— The Corrections Academy Class was postponed because only 40 new recruits signed up. (Daily News)

— Out-of-state gun owners filed a lawsuit saying a state ban on concealed carry weapons violates their 2nd Amendment rights. (Times Union)

Thirteen women who worked for state government were sexually harassed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over the course of an eight-year period, a civil rights settlement announced today by the Department of Justice found.

The findings, which concluded Cuomo retaliated against four of the women, are the latest allegations leveled against the former three-term governor who has not ruled out another run for elected office.

The agreement with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office found the governor’s office under her predecessor violated federal Title VII rules against discrimination and retaliation.

Cuomo “repeatedly subjected” women in his office to sexual contact that wasn’t consensual, ogled them and gave them gender-based nicknames.

The Justice Department’s findings were part of a broader agreement with Hochul to expand her office’s human resources department and create new policies and procedures for reporting.

Hochul had previously made a series of changes after taking office in August 2021, and she touted the efforts to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

"The moment I took office, I knew I needed to root out the culture of harassment that had previously plagued the Executive Chamber and implement strong policies to promote a safe workplace for all employees, and took immediate action to do so,” Hochul said in a statement.

“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice has acknowledged the significance of those efforts, and look forward to partnering with them as we continue to build upon that success."

Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin blasted the DOJ’s settlement announcement and insisted he never sexually harassed anyone.

“The DOJ ‘investigation’ was based entirely on the NYS Attorney General’s deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased, and misleading report,” she said. “At no point did DOJ even contact Governor Cuomo concerning these matters. This is nothing more than a political settlement with no investigation.”

And Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi in a separate statement blamed “Chuck Schumer’s handpicked U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District” and called the agreement “not worth the paper it’s printed on.”

Still, it’s not clear what elements of James’ report were used by the Department of Justice to reach its own conclusions. Details of the allegations against Cuomo were not released.

Additional questions remain: The 13 women the DOJ found were sexually harassed by Cuomo were all state employees. James’ report concluded 11 women were subjected to sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior; two did not work for the state.

“Today, the U.S. Department of Justice found that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and created a hostile work environment, confirming what the New York Attorney General’s independent report found over two years ago,” James’ office said in a statement.

“Andrew Cuomo can continue to deny the truth and attack these women, but the facts do not lie.”

Lindsey Boylan, the first alleged victim to come forward publicly about Cuomo, wrote on X about the new report: “These things happened. These things happened to me and other women. And then a huge bureaucracy tried to bury us for telling the truth. Never again will I ever let anyone or any system harm me and other women that way.”

BILLS STADIUM UPDATE: Hochul joined Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and Erie County local officials to announce new milestones in the construction of the Bills’ new stadium.

The facility, which will hold 60,000 people and is being designed by the Bills and the architectural firm Populous, is prepped to now receive large-scale structural steel work.

“The first beam hoisted into place will signify the impressive progress taking place at the site of the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park,” according to a press release from Hochul’s office.

“This major construction milestone is a testament to the union labor and local workers who have made this project possible. By creating thousands of jobs, this stadium has already proven to be an engine for regional economic development,” Hochul added.

Nearly 25,000 tons of steel — enough to build approximately three Eiffel towers — will be put in place by over 800 laborers working on the project.

The construction is set to be completed by 2026. — Shawn Ness

CANNABIS CASE: Officials from the state Office of Cannabis Management, including chief equity officer Damian Fagon, policy director John Kagia and general counsel Linda Baldwin, were spotted on an early morning Amtrak train from New York City to Albany.

The occasion? A hearing in a case seeking to halt the state’s cannabis licensing process yet again.

Remember, the state has already dealt with two injunctions that have stalled its troubled rollout of the adult-use marijuana market. Now, a new lawsuit is asking the court for another preliminary injunction on the cannabis licensing process.

The argument is that New York’s licensing process discriminates against out-of-state residents, violating the dormant Commerce Clause. While New York doesn’t have a residency requirement, other federal courts have applied the dormant Commerce Clause to state marijuana markets.

New York’s cannabis licensing rules give extra priority to applicants who meet certain criteria, including having a past cannabis conviction in New York. People who are residents of New York are more likely to have such a conviction, argued Jeffrey Jensen, an attorney for the plaintiffs.

District Judge Anne Nardacci methodically questioned both Jensen and assistant attorney general Ryan Hickey, who was representing the state’s cannabis regulators at the hearing.

A OCM spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation.

So what’s next? Nardacci, a Biden appointee, did not rule from the bench, though an order is expected soon. It’s hard to say which way she was leaning by her careful questioning of both sides during the hearing.

But if Baldwin’s smile at the end was any indication, the state might be feeling good about its chances of avoiding another injunction. — Mona Zhang

ON THE RECORD: WNYC has run an ad campaign jokingly calling itself “in the pocket of big truth.”

So when City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams spoke on “The Brian Lehrer Show” today, she framed it as setting the record straight on the police stops bill against Mayor Eric Adams’ “misinformation.”

“It’s patently false that this law requires the NYPD to report every single encounter,” she said. “Ladies and gentlemen: casual conversations and interactions are not level one stops.”

The mayor vetoed the so-called How Many Stops Act, but has said he’d back a bill that exempted some or all of the lowest-level investigative encounters between cops and the public — known as level one — from reporting requirements. The speaker said again: She’s done negotiating.

“If we get rid of level one in this bill, the whole bill is gutted. It’s destroyed,” she said. “It makes no sense.”

Speaker Adams has said she has the votes to override the mayor’s veto. She said the mayor’s complaints that the law would waste officers’ time aren’t the council’s issue to fix, but the NYPD’s.

“If the administration decides to intentionally create the outcome that is most burdensome for officers, that will be at their hands.” – Jeff Coltin

MORE MUDSLINGING IN NY-03: GOP House candidate Mazi Pilip is accusing her opponent, former Rep. Tom Suozzi, of associating with an individual Pilip claims is antisemitic and anti-Zionist.

Pilip claims the individual is listed as one of 12 hosts for a Feb. 3 Suozzi fundraiser in Queens. Neither Pilip nor anyone on her campaign said the individual’s name out loud during today’s press conference revealing the accusation.

Suozzi’s campaign called the accusation a “distraction” that “denigrates our common cause to combat antisemitism and support Israel.”

“I condemn all antisemitism. I am unequivocally pro-Israel. My voting record reflects both,” Suozzi said. “I am not aware of the comments referenced by my opponent, but if I find them to be antisemitic, I will condemn them as I have throughout my public life.”

Pilip’s campaign alleges the Suozzi-linked “fundraising surrogate” reposted a video on Facebook featuring a rabbi from the Neturei Karta, a fringe sect of Orthodox Judaism whose members reject the state of Israel and often accompany pro-Palestinian protesters at marches. Pilip says the video was antisemitic and denies Jews a right to self-determination.

“I served in the IDF to help protect Israel from terrorism, and I came to this country in search of (the) American Dream,” Pilip said today in Great Neck, where she was flanked by Long Island Republican Rep. Anthony D'Esposito.

“Yet antisemitism is still here, and we are feeling it, and it is unfortunate it has made its way to this race for Congress.”

Pilip is calling on Suozzi to boycott the Queens fundraiser, “rebuke” the alleged host and donate any of the funds raised at the event to a pro-Israel nonprofit.

The accusation that the individual — who the Pilip asserts is “a member of Team Suozzi” — is antisemitic, seemed to rely solely on the individual’s Facebook repost.

The event is just the latest example of the two candidates alleging an opponent is attacking their ethnicity.

Last week, Suozzi, an Italian-American, called on Pilip to stop using language that evokes the Mafia or other Italian aspersions after Pilip’s campaign spokesperson called Suozzi the “godfather of the border crisis.” – Jason Beeferman

REPEAT AFTER ME: Nobody in politics is more disciplined in their words than House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — and he’s asking fellow Democrats and others to follow his lead when it comes to talking about abortion.

“There are many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who want to enact a nationwide abortion ban. That’s why reproductive freedom is going to be on the presidential ballot,” and the House and Senate races’ ballot too, Jeffries said at an Association for a Better New York breakfast today in Midtown Manhattan.

But in campaigning, “We want to take the abortion care issue and anchor it in a value: freedom. That is one of the reasons why it has become so powerfully resonant across the country,” he said.

So Jeffries appealed to the crowd of politically connected New Yorkers, most of them Democrats.

“Those of us who stand, I believe, on the right side of this issue, when we’re communicating it, always use the freedom frame,” he said. “And that gives us the best opportunity, not just to reach people on the progressive side, but certainly moderates, centrist, swing voters. It will be core in determining this election.” – Jeff Coltin

REDISTRICTING SPOT FILLED: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins picked Dennis Walcott to fill a vacant spot on the Independent Redistricting Commission as it works to complete the next draft of New York’s congressional maps.

Walcott had top roles in New York City’s schools for two decades, including a stint as chancellor under Michael Bloomberg. He’s currently the Queens Public Library’s president. In 2022, he led the commission that drew new maps for the New York City Council.

He takes over for Medgar Evers professor John Flateau, who died in December.

“We are confident that Mr. Walcott will serve with the same dedication and integrity that marked Dr. Flateau's tenure, and will be a valuable asset in the commission's ongoing work to ensure fair and effective representation for all New Yorkers,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. – Bill Mahoney

FISCALLY STRESSED SCHOOLS COULD SEE CUTS: State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli flagged 16 school districts for financial stress, half of which are slated to receive cuts in Hochul’s school aid proposal.

The report sheds light on what schools are struggling to cover expenses or pay off debts. And while Hochul’s proposal for school aid is supposed to reflect district needs and changes to enrollment, several districts in the report are facing cuts.

Mount Vernon – which fell under the highest category of fiscal stress – was one of the districts that could see a $2.9 million cut in Hochul’s proposal. When asked about the school aid runs, Hohcul stressed that overall school aid is increasing by $825 million. – Katelyn Cordero

STATUS OF TEACHER EVALUATION NEGOTIATIONS: Consensus over how to transition the state to a revamped teacher evaluation system wasn’t agreed to late in the legislative session last year. This year, NYSUT president Melinda Person said she feels they are close to striking a deal, possibly even before the budget is approved in April.

While there’s been agreement on the broad sweeping details of what the new system will look like, how to move from the state’s old system to the new has been the sticking point in negotiations.

Questions on the timeline and logistics surrounding implementation are still being ironed out. Person said she would like to see legislation passed before the budget is done, or possibly as part of the budget.

“Everyone agrees on what the new plan is – which is the hard part – now it’s just the, ‘How do we get from Point A to Point B,’” Person told Playbook. – Katelyn Cordero

— An errant email has led to collusion accusations and subpoenas in the war for a New York casino license. (New York Times)

— Donald Trump walked out while a jury was hearing evidence during his defamation trial. (POLITICO)

— NRA chief Wayne LaPierre testified in a civil corruption case in New York City about the organization spending large quantities of money on private jets. (New York Times)