Politico

With help from Shawn Ness

DRINKS ON US — Come celebrate the end of session with POLITICO. We’re hosting a happy hour on Wednesday, May 29, at the Albany War Room Tavern. Join fellow New York insiders for drinks and hors d'oeuvres, meet our editorial team and learn more about our coverage of politics, policy and power in Albany. You can RSVP here.

New from New York

Happening now:

• Gov. Kathy Hochul stressed repeatedly how well she’s working with Mayor Eric Adams. But it’s too early to endorse him, she said.
• Lawmakers are pressing for a bill to encourage more New Yorkers to become firefighters.
• The City Council wants Adams to reverse cuts to its preschool program.
• Assemblymember Michael Benedetto is getting some labor help in his reelection bid.

A NON ENDORSEMENT: Gov. Kathy Hochul won’t endorse Mayor Eric Adams for mayor — at least not yet.

“I’m not doing endorsements for elections even this November yet, other than my president,” Hochul told reporters today while making a push for more restrictions on kids’ social media feeds.

She added, “Read into it all you want, but I'm not doing endorsements for an election that is a year and a half away.”

The comments were made as a field of Adams’ primary challengers is slowly starting to emerge.

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie launched his campaign in a video two weeks ago where he called for “serious, focused leadership.” Scott Stringer announced in January, and more candidates will surely rise to the surface — like potentially City Comptroller Brad Lander or even Andrew Cuomo.

An endorsement from the governor for mayor would be ahead of schedule. New York’s stay-focused-no-distractions-and-grind mayor hasn’t even officially launched his reelection campaign, even as a federal probe continues to swirl around him.

But let’s remember: Adams didn't formally endorse Hochul in her 2022 primary until two weeks before the election, as our POLITICO colleague Jeff Coltin points out.

When asked if she would endorse Adams, Hochul was full of praise for the mayor, with whom she has worked with well as she ends a run of bad relations between former mayors and governors.

“We are going to assess everything, but I will tell you this, and you can read into it whatever you like — we are very strong allies and working together. I’m not saying that about anybody else,” Hochul said.

“Have you heard me say it about anybody else right now?”

There was no immediate comment from Myrie’s office. Stringer didn’t want to comment.

The governor’s non-endorsement — yet strong praise — for the mayor comes as the Hochul-Adams relationship has continued to blossom.

The two have increasingly appeared side-by-side recently for a suite of public announcements, which include an investment into Brooklyn’s waterfront, Sammy’s Law to lower city speed limits and cracking down on illegal cannabis shops. And Hochul delivered for the mayor on virtually every measure in the state budget. — Jason Beeferman

FREE SCHOOL FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS: A bipartisan group of legislators want to use free tuition to incentivize more people to become volunteer firefighters.

And many of the lawmakers fighting for it are volunteers themselves.

“They're going to leave their beds in the middle of night and leave their jobs in the middle of the day to go out to risk their own life and see nothing in return,” Long Island Republican state Sen. Steven Rhoads, a volunteer firefighter, said. “And that's what makes this bill so special.”

The bill, sponsored by Rochester state Sen. Jeremy Cooney, a Democrat, would allow for volunteer firefighters, EMS service providers and auxiliary police officers to attend a SUNY, CUNY or community college without having to pay tuition.

The exact cost for the state is not yet known, but Rhoads noted that the state “spends money on a lot worse.” — Shawn Ness

IDAS AND YOU: The state’s local industrial development agencies had a record high 4,320 active projects underway with a total value of $132 billion in 2022, according to a new report from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

The projects are estimated to create nearly 214,000 jobs during their lifespan along with 36,000 construction jobs, the report said.

“IDAs were created to help grow local economies, businesses and job markets,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “The tax breaks they provide businesses can impact local tax collections, however, and New Yorkers should be mindful about weighing the benefits these projects bring to their communities against their cost.”

The data in the report comes from the agencies’ self-reporting through the Public Authorities Reporting Information System.

The IDAs have long been criticized for their largesse to companies through tax breaks and other incentives, but supporters say the programs are needed to attract and retain new businesses. — Shawn Ness

ALCOHOL-TO-YOU WORRIES: A dozen retired law enforcement officers are trying to stop a measure that would allow for the direct shipment of alcohol in New York.

They argued in a letter to top state leaders and Hochul that the proposal would create an opening for criminals and encourage underage drinking. Similar arguments have been raised by wine and liquor stores, who have fretted about the impact of the measure if it’s approved.

“In the absence of a thoughtful and vigilant enforcement strategy with significantly augmented, dedicated resources, direct alcohol shipping will create a windfall for violent criminal networks already exploiting these criminal supply chains in New York,” they wrote in the letter.

State lawmakers are weighing the change, which would allow direct shipments from manufacturers to consumers.

Supporters have contended it could aid small businesses that have sprung up in recent years, but are struggling financially. — Nick Reisman

PRESCHOOL FUNDING FIGHT: Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is putting pressure on Adams to reverse cuts to the city’s popular preschool program as they enter the final weeks of budget negotiations.

“The executive budget’s more than $170 million cut to early childhood education programs directly contradicts the administration's stated efforts to secure a seat for every child,” the speaker said during a press conference at City Hall this morning alongside other city lawmakers, parents and advocates.

This comes as more than 2,000 families were denied 3K seats — about 6 percent of 43,000 applicants, Department of Education officials told the Council last week. A City Hall spokesperson attributed the rejections to guidance the DOE sent to families that did not “fully convey” all of the available seats.

Officials have declined to elucidate the number of early childhood seats the school system stands to lose as a result of the reductions, which Adams’ political opponents have seized on to build a case against his reelection next year.

The mayor vowed to provide all families with a seat. “Every child that wants a seat is going to have a seat,” Adams told NY1 earlier this week. — Madina Touré

LABOR SPENDS ON BENEDETTO: Assemblymember Michael Benedetto’s reelection effort against a DSA-backed challenger is getting a $75,000 boost from the New York State Laborers' Union.

First in Playbook, the Build New York Fund, an independent expenditure committee funded by the trade union, plans to spend up to that much on a mail and digital campaign backing Benedetto in his East Bronx District.

“Benedetto has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to advocating for labor rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions,” the fund said in an unsigned statement. It’s the only primary the super PAC expects to spend in, but may get involved in general elections.

Money often comes to incumbents when they’re challenged by Democratic Socialist candidates like, in this case, by Jonathan Soto, a former organizer for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and an official in former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.

Soto has been outraising Benedetto and qualified for public matching funds this week, while Benedetto did not. The pair faced off two years ago, however, and Benedetto handily won by 20 points. — Jeff Coltin

SCHOOL BUDGETS PASS: Ninety-seven percent of school budgets in New York passed on Tuesday, and union-backed school board candidates also fared well.

The New York State United Teachers union said 84 percent of its endorsed candidates won their elections to school boards.

“Once again, voters have shown they know strong public schools mean strong communities,” NYSUT president Melinda Person said in a statement. “Investments in our school budgets and dedication in our school boards are vital to the future of our state. Tuesday’s results show that voters agree.”

Nineteen school districts were successful in overriding the tax cap to raise the property taxes, which required approval of 60 percent of voters at the polls. Ten budgets failed, and two were still pending.

Districts whose budgets were not approved will hold a second round of votes June 18. — Shawn Ness

SUNY STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY: SUNY Chancellor John King today gave his annual address on the state of the 64-campus system and his vision for it

His message was well received by the crowd at The Egg in Empire State Plaza. Assembly Education Chair Pat Fahy said King struck the right message for the state to continue increasing aid for SUNY and CUNY.

“We’ve got to make the investment; we know that investments work,” she said to POLITICO.

“I love that the chancellor focused so much on upward mobility, but upward mobility is not there if we don’t make it affordable.”

Hochul took the stage to discuss her budget wins in higher education this year, particularly touting initiatives such as the expansion of the state’s Tuition Assistance Program; making the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program universal for high school students; and her artificial intelligence initiative that will be spearheaded by SUNY.

Missing in the crowd was United University Professions president Fred Kowal. His absence was by design: a stance against the lack of assistance for campuses that the union has deemed to be financially distressed.

“I believe his speech cynically avoided the reality that SUNY is not strong because of the decisions made by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and now the decisions of Chancellor John King,” Kowal said to Playbook.

“I fear the message he’s been delivering for well over a year is that financially strapped campuses are on their own and somehow supposed to find their own way through these deficits.”

For his part, King touted SUNY’s growth and new initiatives to attract new students and strengthen the system.

“Today, SUNY is on the move. Our quest for excellence rests on four pillars: student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility,” he said. — Katelyn Cordero 

TOWN POPULATION DECREASING: Eighty percent of New York’s towns and cities have been decreasing since 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The fastest growing town: Palm Tree in Orange County, which is coterminous with Kiryas Joel, the orthodox Jewish enclave, the Empire Center, a fiscally conservative think tank, reported today. The town’s population grew by nearly 9,000 residents, a 27 percent increase. — Shawn Ness

— New York City began evicting migrants from its shelters as part of its new shelter time limit rules. (The New York Times)

— New Yorkers favor a ceasefire in Gaza and peaceful pro-Palestinian protests, but also support the police breaking up those that go too far, a Siena College poll found. (Newsday)

— New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation issued a ground-level ozone warning for the lower Hudson Valley. (Times Union)

With help from Shawn Ness

DRINKS ON US — Come celebrate the end of session with POLITICO. We’re hosting a happy hour on Wednesday, May 29, at the Albany War Room Tavern. Join fellow New York insiders for drinks and hors d'oeuvres, meet our editorial team and learn more about our coverage of politics, policy and power in Albany. You can RSVP here.

New from New York

Happening now:

• Republicans are targeting the makeup of the state’s highest court after its Harvey Weinstein decision.
• Senate Democrats are passing a package of bills today around the safety standards for lithium-ion batteries.
• The City Council said there is more money to restore budget cuts.
• A new bill would take further steps to cut down on lead paint in homes.

COURT FIGHT: Gov. Kathy Hochul was embarrassed last year as her nomination to appoint Judge Hector LaSalle as the state’s chief judge was rejected by the Democratic-controlled state Senate.

Republicans are still capitalizing on the spectacle, and they’re blaming the governor and Democrats for indirectly giving convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein a second chance in New York’s courts.

“Without question,” Weinstein’s case wouldn’t have been overturned if Hochul’s nomination for chief judge played out differently, Long Island Senate Republican Anthony Palumbo said today.

His GOP colleague, state Sen. Steven Rhoads, agreed: “Instead of letting the evidence and the facts lead the court in a particular direction, you now literally have a court and a chief judge that has decided in advance how he wants the case to come out.”

The two were joined by colleagues on the second floor of the Capitol, where they argued the overturning of Weinstein’s conviction was “courtesy of State Senate Democrats.”

Republicans like Rhoads are arguing that Senate Democrats — after rejecting LaSalle as Hochul’s more moderate pick for top judge — have forced the court into a perilously partisan direction.

They claim the Weinstein ruling is part and parcel with the left’s approach to criminal justice: a soft on crime position that frees criminals from accountability. Democrats say that’s rich.

“The Republicans have opposed the Child Victims Act and the Adult Survivors Act for decades in Albany,” Democratic state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who heads the chamber’s Judiciary Committee, said.

“So it is the height of hypocrisy that they're now calling for sexual predators to be held accountable when they missed the opportunity during my entire tenure here in the minority and years previous to allow survivors to seek justice.”

There is a reason for Republicans’ angst.

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson and the court’s majority sided with Democrats in ruling in favor of new congressional maps this year, providing Democrats with a slight boost in some key House races this year. Republicans charged that the focus on redistricting left the court too liberal and a danger to New Yorkers.

“It is more important to the Democratic majorities to have a favorable decision at the Court of Appeals on the redistricting case — which is what this was all about — and we'll deal with the sexual violence, the sexual abuse, being soft on crime, the other issues that we've seen coming out of court of appeals now,” Rhoads said.

The argument is being raised as the issue of court packing takes hold nationally, with Biden dodging Democrats who continue to press him to expand the number of justices on the nation’s highest court and fill those spots with left-leaning judges.

Democrats control the state Legislature, and thus all but one of the seven-member court is a Democrat, the exception being Michael Garcia, who was appointed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“The Court of Appeals has been stacked with political henchmen of the governor and Senate Democrats who have no issue letting monsters back into our communities,” Minority Leader Rob Ortt said in a statement.

The GOP uproar also comes during a month when New York’s court system has doled out a trio of disappointing rulings for many Democrats.

The first 10 days of May saw the Equal Rights Amendment blocked from the November ballot, a ruling against expediting absentee ballot tallying and a decision that New York’s ethics enforcement commission is unconstitutional (a big win for Cuomo).

Still, Weinstein won’t be set free. He was also convicted by a California jury in 2022 of raping a woman at a hotel in Beverly Hills in a separate case.

The GOP press conference today also occurred at the same time Democrats saw a win in the Court of Appeals. The judges ruled today that companies in the state will still be required to provide medically necessary abortions in health insurance plans. — Jason Beeferman

BATTERY BIOPSY: Senate Democrats are passing a nine-bill package today aimed at increasing safety standards for lithium-ion batteries.

Many of the bills aim to clearly label devices that use the batteries like electric bikes or scooters, others aim to study the effects of the fires and measures to prevent them. It’s unclear whether they will also pass in the Assembly.

“Our priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers. This legislation is a significant step forward in addressing the dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries and ensuring our communities are better protected,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement.

One of the bills aims to not regulate the batteries, but the devices that use them. The “E–bike Operations Notice Act” would require that retailers put notices on the e-bikes that state they can’t be used on sidewalks or highways with a posted speed limit 30 miles per hour or faster.

“The dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries have gone unchecked long enough and have led to too many fires across New York City and in the communities I represent,” state Sen. Iwen Chu, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement. “I know many rely on E-bikes to commute and perform their jobs, and this legislation prioritizes the well-being of both riders and residents alike.” — Shawn Ness

CAMPING SEASON: As camping weather approaches, Gov. Kathy Hochul noted that the state budget includes $53 million to improve public safety at state parks and campgrounds.

The money will be used to improve fencing and the installation of security cameras and license plate recognition systems.

“The safety of New Yorkers is my number one priority. Through this safety education campaign and critical security enhancements, we will help prevent incidents from occurring and ensure we are prepared to respond to any emergency situation,” Hochul said in a statement.

The money will also be used to establish a “Junior Ranger” safety program to remind kids of three core rules of safety: using a buddy system, telling parents of exploration plans and talking to park rangers if necessary.

Park rangers will also receive additional training on visitor engagement and missing persons protocols as part of the extra money.

Extensive research has gone into the projects, she said: The state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation analyzed attendance data, service data and site conditions at parks across the state to decide how best to spend the money. — Shawn Ness

CASH CUSHION: The City Council is again projecting the city will have enough money to roll back unpopular budget cuts mandated by Mayor Eric Adams.

In a new budget analysis today, the body estimates $1.1 billion in additional revenue will flow into city coffers between the current fiscal year and the one beginning July 1, compared to predictions from the Adams administration.

The Council’s overall revenue forecast has remained largely the same since earlier in the year.

However, the city’s Office of Management and Budget has increased its tax revenue expectations dramatically since March, when its projections were $3.3 billion lower than those from the Council.

“The updated forecast … provides clarity that the City can restore cuts to protect essential services and invest in the needs of New Yorkers,” the council wrote in a news release. — Joe Anuta

NO TRUMP ON STAND: Former President Donald Trump declined to testify today in his Manhattan hush money trial, and with that, both the prosecution and the defense have rested.

The proceedings over whether Trump falsified business records and conspired to bury negative stories that could hurt his 2016 election prospects are drawing to a close, but will stretch at least into next week.

Justice Juan Merchan set the closing arguments for Tuesday, after the Memorial Day holiday, and the jury will then receive instructions and begin deliberations. (The “charging conference” to hammer out those instructions is taking place this afternoon.)

Trump surrogates, including senators, members of Congress and prospective running mates, have cycled through court in recent days to show their allegiance to the former president.

On Thursday, Trump will be among thousands of supporters in the South Bronx, where he is set to host a campaign rally. — Emily Ngo

NO MORE LEAD PAINT: Advocacy groups and lawmakers gathered in the Capitol today to advocate for the passage of a bill that would require homes be lead tested before being sold.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Jonathan Rivera, would require test results to be reported to the state and to potential buyers as a means of preventing children from coming in contact with the toxic element and to develop prevention plans.

“It would give tenants and homeowners the opportunity to choose homes for themselves and their children that are free of any known lead-paint hazards, and enhance public health officials’ ability to take proactive measures to address and mitigate these risks,” Kavanagh said in a statement.

Lead exposure can lead to high blood pressure, as well as kidney, liver and reproductive health issues. It is particularly dangerous for children because it can also cause brain damage and developmental issues.

New York leads the nation in adolescent cases of lead poisoning, with roughly 12 percent of children being diagnosed with elevated levels of lead in the body, the lawmakers said.

“It’s far past time that the state took a proactive approach to protecting tenants and new homeowners from needless lead paint exposure,” Rivera said in a statement. — Shawn Ness

NEW FACES: Merideth Andreucci has been appointed by Hochul as the new senior vice president and executive director of the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration.

Andreucci in the past has worked for state Energy Research and Development Authority and was a researcher and educator at Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

“GO-SEMI has been a driving force behind our state’s chips success story, and under Merideth’s brilliant leadership, I am confident that the office will keep advancing our mission to transform New York into a global chipmaking hub,” Hochul said in a statement. — Shawn Ness

COUNTERING ANTISEMITISM: The American Jewish Committee met with state officials today to discuss ways to counter antisemitism on college campuses and in schools across the state.

Today marked the last day for committee hearings in the Senate, and the Assembly will have its final Higher Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, which means the clock is running short to introduce or pass legislation regarding antisemitism on campuses.

But Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Toby Stavisky said she is having conversations with her colleagues regarding potential action the Legislature can take, such as potentially hosting public hearings with campus leaders.

“This is overt. This is there and it has to stop,” Stavisky said to the group regarding antisemitism on campuses.

When asked specifically about hosting public hearings with campus leaders Stavisky said, “everything is open for discussion.” — Katelyn Cordero

— Rep. Tim Kennedy is calling for a federal investigation for an Amtrak train that hit a car and killed three people. (State of Politics)

— Mayor Eric Adams wants to conduct a review of the NYPD officers who assaulted pro-Palestinian protesters. (Daily News)

— A new ranking of proposed per pupil spending by school district in New York. (Syracuse.com)

With help from Shawn Ness

New from New York

Happening now:

• Michael Carey, an advocate for disabled patients and a regular presence at the state Capitol, said he was pushed by state Sen. Kevin Parker.
• Labor chairs of the state Legislature want to do more to protect retail workers.
• Efforts to move migrants upstate to five counties has been slow going.
• There was a new graduating class of the State Police today.

CAPITOL FIGHT: State Sen. Kevin Parker allegedly shoved disability rights advocate Michael Carey before the start of the Senate Energy Committee meeting today, according to Carey and two other individuals who witnessed the altercation.

Carey, who is known to be vocal with lawmakers, shared with POLITICO a copy of a police report he filed, which can be read here.

In it, Carey alleges the lawmaker got in his face and screamed “I don’t care,” before putting his hands on him twice and shoving him in front of a room full of people, according to the report and a subsequent interview.

At the same time the incident was unfolding, shouting can be heard on the recording of the elections committee happening next door on the Capitol’s first floor.

Parker did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Playbook.

He is known for his explosive outbursts and physical altercations, which include allegedly shoving a legislative staffer, breaking a New York Post photographer’s camera and cursing out other lawmakers. Carey said he had been completely unaware of that history, which includes being convicted of a misdemeanor for the altercation with the Post photographer.

“This is multiple situations,” Carey said. “He's a danger to other people. He was a danger to me.”

The disability advocate said the incident started minutes before the committee meeting, when he asked Parker to cosponsor a 911 civil rights bill, which he is trying to make law in memory of his son who died in 2007 at a group home.

When Parker, chair of the energy committee, said he was looking into the matter, Carey said he told Parker the issue was analogous to Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight against discrimination and reminded Parker of his son's death. Parker then yelled “I don’t care” when Carey brought up his dead son and got inches away from Carey’s face before shoving him, according to Carey.

Witnesses, who were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said Carey was also shouting at Parker during the incident.

Carey then said he left the meeting and requested a State Police officer come to the scene. He asked the officer to inform Parker that if he apologized to Carey he would not press charges. Parker did not apologize and instead invoked his right to counsel, Carey said.

“I was kind of shocked, he didn’t apologize,” he said.

State Sen. Mario R. Mattera, a Long Island Republican who serves as the ranking member on the Energy Committee, also said he witnessed the altercation but declined to go into detail.

“There was tensions, yes, there was tensions, and it was unfortunate in a lot of ways, but that's something that Senator Parker and that gentleman need to get through, and hopefully they can,” Mattera said.

He also said it was inappropriate for Carey to take up the issue of the bill at the committee meeting instead of trying to speak with Parker in his office.

Carey said he wants a restraining order against the senator.

“I understand when people don’t deal with anger issues, they’ll go on to hurt other people,” Carey said. — Jason Beeferman

RETAIL CRIME IS NOT OVER: Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed hard to get a budget deal that included cracking down on retail theft, but the Legislature’s labor chairs said that state government needs to go further to protect workers.

“There were some things done in the budget regarding retail workers that were punitive and all about law enforcement,” Assemblymember Harry Bronson, a Rochester Democrat, said. “We need more than that.”

The budget upgraded assaults on retail workers from a misdemeanor to a felony. It also created dedicated retail theft teams for state and local law enforcement and added $5 million in tax breaks for store security cameras and other anti-theft expenses.

But labor advocates say they need more proactive, instead of “punitive,” measures to protect retail workers.

They’re pushing for the Retail Worker Safety Act, sponsored by Bronson and state Sen. Jessica Ramos, that would require retailers in the state to train employees on de-escalation and violence prevention tactics.

The two lawmakers also rallied for three other labor bills this week: to reduce warehouse worker injuries; to set standards for extreme temperatures while working in agriculture, construction and other industries and a third to oversee nail salon workers’ rights.

“We have a very important decision to make on whether we're going to tilt the scales towards the workers or we're going to continue to allow for the scale to be tilted towards the bosses,” Ramos said Tuesday at a rally at the Capitol. “And I say no to that. I say, ‘Yes’ to protections for the workers.”

The Retail Council of New York State is working to counter Ramos and Bronson’s Retail Worker Safety Act.

“The costly mandates proposed in the bill — including onerous recordkeeping requirements, panic buttons and additional security guards — will do little, if anything, to address recidivists entering stores with the intent to engage in illegal activity such as shoplifting and assault,” Melissa O’Connor, the group’s president, wrote in a memorandum of opposition.

Justin Henry, a spokesperson for Hochul, did not comment on the labor chairs’ bills, but instead pointed to Hochul’s comments on the retail theft earlier this month:

“No one wants to see the shops in their neighborhood boarded up because business owners simply say, ‘I can't do this anymore. It's just not working. It's not worth it,’” Hochul said at a post-budget retail theft press conference. “That threatens the very vitality of these communities, which I will stop at nothing to protect.” — Jason Beeferman

MIGRANT RELOCATION: After the state launched a program to relocate migrant families moving to New York City to upstate regions last August, it has only relocated 283 families, according to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which administers the program. Read the full story here.

Only five counties have received families: Albany, Erie, Monroe, Westchester and Suffolk; all of which have below-average housing vacancy rates. Nearly 1,000 families have been put on a waiting list or were deemed ineligible after being referred to the program.

“We're pretty much maxed out. We've been maxed out. I only have 320,000 residents in this county, and we already have a housing crisis,” said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy. “We're having issues putting people in housing.”

And plans to offer bonuses and incentives to landlords to join in on the program have not been very successful. Despite those woes, the state is still committed to relocating families.

“OTDA is committed to assisting migrant families that choose to relocate through the Migrant Relocation Assistance Program,” the agency said in a statement. — Shawn Ness

GRAD SZN: The State Police force is now up to 4,977 officers after Hochul congratulated 228 new troopers after they graduated from the academy today.

“Today’s graduates have dedicated themselves to a life of public service and are making a commitment to serve and protect all New Yorkers,” Hochul said in a statement.

Three different awards were also presented to a select few graduates. Nicholas Krafft was given the Academic Performance Award; Matthew Grant was given the Firearms Proficiency Award; and Dominick Battaglia was given the Investigator Joseph T. Aversa Physical Fitness Award.

“Today’s ceremony is one of our finest traditions and introduces a new generation of highly trained men and women to the New York State Police. These new Troopers will serve New Yorkers with honor, integrity, and bravery, and I welcome them to our ranks,” state police superintendent Steven James said in a statement. — Shawn Ness

POLL OBSERVER PUSH: Advocates are calling on lawmakers to pass a bill to let nonpartisan groups be certified to send neutral observers to poll sites on Election Day.

“In this highly polarized context, having neutral eyes on the ground to be able to verify what’s actually happening in our polling places, which 99 percent of the time is organized and exactly as we want to it be, helps to increase transparency and to improve the public’s faith in elections,” Common Cause New York executive director Susan Lerner said.

She noted that under current law, the only people who can be certified to be observers are picked by candidates and parties.

“This seems to be a pretty straightforward and commonsense solution to a problem that occasionally arises, where a voter is improperly turned away for whatever reason,” said state Sen. James Skoufis, who sponsors the bill with Assemblymember Amy Paulin. — Bill Mahoney

MIGRANT CRISIS: Assemblymember Ed Ra and other lawmakers in the GOP minority conference are calling for a legislative hearing with New York City officials and organizations that are under contract to provide migrant-related services.

The Times Union reported on Monday about ongoing concerns with one of the key vendors, DocGo.

“This year, the state budget allocated $2.4 billion to address the migrant crisis, a considerable expansion of an expenditure for New York’s taxpayers to shoulder. Without the guardrails needed for fiscal responsibility, these funds are at risk of the fraud and abuse we have become accustomed to with emergency government contracts that lack transparency and oversight guidance,” Ra, a Long Island Republican, said in a statement.

Republicans are also calling for the passage of one of Ra’s bills that would mandate the reporting and auditing on how money for migrant programs are being spent. It is co-sponsored by fellow Republicans. — Shawn Ness

— Two New York Democrats have reintroduced a federal bill that restricts the public’s access to body armor one day after the two-year anniversary of the Buffalo Tops shooting. (State of Politics)

— State legislators are working on passing a bill to incentivize emergency medical service providers to keep working. (Times Union)

— The Seneca Nation of Indians is still in tense negotiations with the state on its compact. (POLITICO Pro)

With help from Shawn Ness

New from New York

Happening now:

• State Sen. Zellnor Myrie is running for mayor. He also might have his own Senate opponent.
• Mayor Eric Adams will be featured on The Daily Show tonight. Details below.
• The Brooklyn Maritime Terminal is getting an overhaul, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced.
• Attorney General Tish James has officially appealed a state court decision to toss the Equal Rights Amendment.

NEVER TOO EARLY: State Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s challenge to Mayor Eric Adams might have just earned him his own challenger next cycle.

Assemblymember Brian Cunningham has got his eye on 2026 and filed a campaign committee Monday for Myrie’s District 20 seat in Central Brooklyn, first reported by Playbook.

So does Cunningham think Myrie will beat the mayor, and he’s preparing to run for the open seat? Or does Cunningham think Myrie will lose and is threatening to challenge him for daring to take on Adams?

After all, Cunningham is one of Adams’ top allies in Albany and is so close with the mayor’s top political adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin that he calls her “Mom,” a person familiar with the relationship told Playbook.

Myrie and Cunningham’s districts overlap, but they’ve never been close. When Cunningham won his seat in a 2022 special election, Adams endorsed him, while Myrie and his camp backed Jelanie DeShong, who was working for Hochul.

Cunningham downplayed the drama.

It’s “certainly not an endorsement” of Myrie winning, or of Adams, for that matter, he said in an interview with Playbook. “This is just a matter of exploring and seeing how I can best serve the 43rd Assembly District.”

Would he take on Myrie in 2026? “I would never run simply for retribution,” Cunningham said, and he is not challenging anyone “at this time.” Both he and Myrie are running uncontested for their legislative seats this year.

Myrie’s campaign declined to comment on the move.

But insiders were split over how to read Cunningham’s move. “If he’s doing that, I assume it’s to support Adams,” a Brooklyn Democratic consultant told Playbook.

But a progressive Democratic consultant thinks Cunningham’s filing means he thinks Myrie could be mayor.

“It sends a signal that folks think this Senate seat is going to be open in 2026, and there is good reason for that,” they said. “For those who think this is an attempt to mess with Zellnor, it's worth pointing out that filing a challenge after the petitioning deadline doesn't strike much fear into anyone's heart.”

Adams tried to brush off Myrie’s challenge, in his first public comments since he filed to fundraise on Wednesday. And despite one of his close political allies in Albany making moves against Myrie, Adams said he is not thinking about the election at all.

“The election is a year and [several] months away,” Adams said during a Tuesday press conference. “I’m just focused on governing.” — Jeff Coltin

HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS: Advocacy groups convened in Albany earlier today to call on Hochul and state lawmakers to give more attention to investments that would improve transit, cycling and walking accessibility projects.

"New Yorkers all across the state deserve the freedom to get around, regardless of how old we are, how much money we have, and whether or not we're living with a disability," Riders Alliance senior organizer Danna Dennis said in a statement.

Many of the speakers want to see a reallocation of funding from downstate highway investments, like the $1 billion planned expansion of Route 17 in the Hudson Valley, and reinvest to projects that would increase accessibility. — Shawn Ness

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Prominent labor unions in New York are throwing their support to a measure meant to shorten prison sentences in exchange for vocational training.

The measure is among a handful of criminal justice law changes that have been sought in recent years in Albany.

And it is a proposal the labor groups, including influential organizations like 1199 SEIU, the United Federation of Teachers and the New York State Nurses Association argue could help alleviate a labor shortage in New York.

“This labor shortage has been exacerbated by the exclusion of people who are locked out of the workforce because of extremely long prison sentences and limited opportunities to earn release through educational and workforce development programs in prison,” the groups wrote in a letter to top state officials released today and obtained by Playbook.

The measure, backed by state Sen. Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymember Anna Kelles, would allow people in prison to earn time off if they participate in vocational, educational and rehabilitative programs.

Criminal justice reforms have come under scrutiny, however, amid criticism from Republicans — potentially making moderate Democrats less inclined to take up the proposals, especially in an election year.

But labor support could help push some of these sentencing law changes over the finish line.

“It is imperative that our elected leaders prioritize these reforms during this legislative session to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their past mistakes, have a chance to successfully reintegrate into society,” Tori Newman-Campbell, the legislative coordinator for 1199 SEIU said. — Nick Reisman

UPK FUNDING: School districts across the state are gaining access to $34 million in universal pre-kindergarten funding that will go towards 64 school districts across the state, the state Education Department announced today.

This comes after significant changes to pre-kindergarten funding were made in the 2025 enacted budget that streamlined the funding process for schools looking to create or expand their programs. The budget consolidated its funding into one funding source with $10,000 per-per-pupil for programs run by a certified teacher and $7,000 for per-pupil for programs run by a teacher without the early childhood certification.

“When we provide equitable opportunities for children in their early years, they reap the benefits throughout their lives,” Commissioner Betty Rosa said in a statement. — Katelyn Cordero 

JAMES FILES ERA APPEAL: Attorney General Tish James’ office filed an appeal today to a Livingston County court’s decision to block the state Equal Rights Amendment from appearing on November’s ballot.

The appeal has been expected. The filing confirmed that James will bring the case to a mid-level court based in Rochester, rather than attempting a rarely-successful maneuver to take arguments directly to the Court of Appeals.

“This appeal is a crucial step toward ensuring that the voters — not a single, anti-abortion litigant or backward politicians — get to decide the future of our rights and reproductive freedoms,” New Yorkers for Equal Rights campaign director Sasha Ahuja said in a statement. “We are confident the amendment will be on the ballot.” — Bill Mahoney

BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE: Hochul, Adams and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have come to a deal — in principle — that would transform the Brooklyn Maritime Terminal into a more modern ship port.

The project would entail building a 122-acre waterfront project to generate more jobs for the region and stimulate the economy. The Democratic governor and mayor were together this morning to discuss the deal.

“Today’s announcement marks the next great chapter for Brooklyn’s storied waterfront and is a win for the people of New York City,” Hochul said in a statement. “Our partners at the Port Authority will ensure that the marine terminal at Howland Hook remains a thriving shipping hub…”

A task force will be created to assist in the engagement process. It will be chaired by Brooklyn lawmakers Rep. Dan Goldman, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and City Council Member Alexa Aviles.

The engagement process will take input from local elected officials, unions, waterfront companies, businesses and the local community to come up with a shared vision for what the waterfront should look like. — Shawn Ness

DAILY SHOW PLAYS THE HITS: Is Adams merely the mayor, or the “Philosopher King of New York?”

Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” has taken the mayor’s most hilarious moments — both purposefully funny and otherwise — and turned it to a seven minute “Daily Showography of Eric Adams.” 

The video is airing tonight, but was shared first with Playbook.

Adams is introduced as “an enlightened thinker” who “saw his city as a playground of transcendental possibilities.”

Then the video runs through some of Adams’ greatest hits, familiar to New Yorkers.

There’s his “plane crashing into our Trade Center” quote, and declaring himself “Gandhi-like,” plus hits from the archives like his state senate “Stop the Sag” campaign against young men showing their underwear.

The Daily Show takes a progressive bent, hitting him for budget cuts to schools while spending more on cops. But it’s largely a meditation on the bizarre.

“Not since Biggie, had New York seen a philosopher with such flow," the narrator says. “And not since 50 Cent had New York seen a leader who spent so much time in da club.” — Jeff Coltin

OPERATION PADLOCK TO PROTECT: After one week of “Operation Padlock to Protect” — an enforcement effort to close illegal weed shops — the city shuttered 75 locations and issued nearly $6 million in penalties, City Hall said today.

The effort was undertaken during four days earlier this month. Locks were administered by the city’s Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force and the NYPD.

“Week one of ‘Operation Padlock to Protect,’ reaffirms what we’ve long said: With the backing of legal authority behind us, our administration will act swiftly to combat illegal cannabis and smoke shop operators,” Adams said in a statement.

Adams had long been asking Albany for help to close down the illegal shops, and he got more power to do so in the state budget.

The task force conducted 150 inspections of businesses that were allegedly selling illegal cannabis products or untaxed cigarettes. Out of those inspections, 77 businesses were issued cease and desist orders (in addition to the 75 stores being locked).

“For too long, illegal operators have posed a threat to our children, our public safety, and our quality of life, and they have undermined those justice-involved, legal businesses that are trying to succeed. With this coordinated and sustained multi-agency enforcement, we will help usher in a thriving, safe, and just legal cannabis market that our city deserves,” Adams added. — Shawn Ness

ENDORSEMENT WATCH: Democratic Assemblymember Ron Kim’s reelection bid won the nods of two prominent labor unions today as he faces a primary challenge from Andy Chen for the Queens seat.

Kim was endorsed by District Council 37 and the New York State United Teachers.

Chen’s bid, meanwhile, was endorsed by the Chinese American Trucker Association, he announced via X. — Nick Reisman

CELEBRATING HISTORY: Hochul announced today the inception of the 250th Commemoration Commission to recognize the American Revolution and signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“New York State played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, and we look forward to welcoming people from all over the world to join us in commemorating the 250th anniversary in 2026,” Hochul said in a statement.

The commission will be co-chaired by Randy Simons, the commissioner pro tempore of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, as well as Dr. Betty Rosa, the education commissioner.

The commission’s goal in its first year is to support the state’s heritage organizations in developing exhibits, coordinate state learning standards and promote heritage tourism.

The commemoration will take place in 2026. — Shawn Ness

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEGISLATION: The Senate is gearing up to pass legislation that would further protections for domestic violence victims in New York. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced a package of legislation set to pass the Senate on Tuesday.

The package includes legislation that would eliminate voluntary intoxication of a victim from use as a permissible defense in sex crimes. Other bills include a requirement that extreme risk protection orders be added to a statewide registry; a bill that would clarify the definition of “welfare” to increase awards made to crime victims; and another bill that would help to inform victims of their rights upon conviction.

“Those who have survived domestic and sexual violence should have access to all available resources and protection during their journey toward recovery,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, existing regulations and practices often create unnecessary obstacles, bureaucratic processes, and discourage individuals from seeking essential services. Through this legislative package, we aim to clarify procedures and genuinely prioritize the rights of victims.” — Katelyn Cordero 

A SURPRISINGLY QUIET COLUMBIA GRADUATION: Columbia College students graduated in a relatively calm atmosphere this morning despite recent pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

To be sure, there were brief moments in which students expressed solidarity with Palestinians at the ceremony, the institution’s largest for graduating seniors. But overall, the event went down without significant demonstrations. Columbia President Minouche Shafik decided to skip the ceremony.

Kathy Fang, the college’s valedictorian, arrived onstage with a keffiyeh and held up her hand to show off a “Free Palestine” sticker.

The salutatorian — Priya Chainani, president of Columbia College Student Council, which offered support to students — lauded student-run publications Columbia Daily Spectator, a newspaper, and WKCR, a radio station, as “the best, most reliable sources for on the ground reporting.”

"In the past weeks, students continue to uphold the true values of Columbia even when many of the adults in the room or not in this room did not,” Chainani said to loud and continuous cheers.

Longtime CNN anchor Poppy Harlow’s speech was largely well-received by students.

“Now like some of you I am considering my options. I am unemployed, find me on LinkedIn,” Harlow said, to laughter and cheers, referring to her recent exit from CNN. The crowd was also supportive when she fought back tears as she honored her late father, a 1969 Columbia graduate.

She praised student journalists on campus, adding that over 300 journalists are currently in jail, including The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. "You have blown me away, you have worked day and night in such difficult circumstances to document history," Harlow said.

Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett also called for acknowledging everyone’s pain, noting the deaths of Palestinian and Israeli people due to the Israel-Hamas war as well as conflicts in Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Yemen, Haiti, Sudan and the Congo. — Madina Touré and Irie Sentner

— Central New York’s Regional Market Authority is in a poor financial situation, an audit from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found. (State of Politics)

— Adams wants to restructure the police academy to consolidate training programs for various agencies. (Daily News)

— More chemical barrels were found underneath a park on Long Island. (Newsday)