New York City Hall
What to watch for this week in New York politics:
It's crunchtime in Albany, where there are just seven scheduled days of legislative session left: four this week and three the next. What will get done? It's still unclear, though a few high-profile bills have moved lately, including one through both houses that raises the age for marriage in New York. Both houses have also passed a bill related to the state's Freedom of Information Law. Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed similar legislation in 2015, but tweaks have been made this year and it's unclear what he will do -- read more here.
There's a major push, with contributions by Mayor Bill de Blasio, to see election and voting reforms passed before the end of session in Albany. Senate Republicans, who hold a majority, have blocked most reform. There will be a large rally and lobby day on Tuesday in the capital to push bills that would institute early voting, same-day registration, and other measures meant to expand access to the ballot and increase voter participation.
One major item awaiting Albany action is the extension of mayoral control of New York City schools, which is set to expire at the end of the month. There's widespread agreement that it should be extended, the question is what Senate Republicans want in exchange and what Assembly Democrats are willing to give, including on the expansion of charter schools. De Blasio's original Monday schedule had him making a trip to Albany, with no public events, but a revised version sent out on Sunday night wiped that trip from the docket.
That's not all that's happening this week in New York politics, of course. As always, there are a variety of events to be aware of - see our day-by-day rundown below.
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The run of the week in detail:
Monday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Monday in Albany. Including Monday, there are just seven scheduled days of session left this year.
The New York State Board of Regents will meet on Monday and Tuesday at the State Education Department in Albany.
At the City Council on Monday
--The Committee on Finance will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss proposed laws relating to “requiring budget documents to be provided in certain formats” and “the maximum exemptions allowable for the alternative exemption for veterans.”
--The Committee on Civil Service and Labor will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss a proposed law relating to “safe leave for victims of family offense matters, sexual offenses and stalking and their family members.”
At 11 a.m. Monday outside Gov. Cuomo’s Manhattan office, Democratic mayoral candidate Sal Albanese will hold a press conference and “hand deliver” a letter to Cuomo regarding the “ongoing MTA crisis.” Albanese is promising that as Mayor, he would triple the city’s financial contribution to the MTA and work closely with the state.
At 11:30 a.m. Monday, Comptroller Scott Stringer will visit the IBEW Local 3 picket line outside Spectrum/Time Warner Cable, 2554 Broadway. At 7 p.m. Stringer will deliver remarks at #GetOrganizedBK - Truth or Trump: Democracy and the Free Press, at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn.
At noon Monday, Public Advocate Letitia James will deliver remarks "at the NYSNA and 1199SEIU Strike Against Fresenius" at 1402 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn. At 7 p.m. James will present an award "to Congressman John Lewis at the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect Honors Ceremony" at 4 World Trade Center.
At 12:30 p.m. Monday, Civic Hall will host “Making The Political Personal: Health Insurance, State Visibility, And Civic Perceptions.” Civic Hall’s Ashley Tallevi will discuss “research into the political consequences of privatizing social policy.”
At 1:30 p.m. Monday, Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes, the Start SMART coalition, and others will hold a press conference in Albany to announce the reintroduction of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).
At 5:15 p.m. Monday, Republican mayoral candidate Paul Massey will greet New Yorkers at the 86th and Lexington subway stop.
At 6:30 p.m. Monday, the New York City Commission on Human Rights will hold a panel discussion to commemorate the one year anniversary of the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Panelists include Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis; Cecilia Gentili, policy director of Gay Men’s Health Crisis; Kevin Nadal, executive director of the Center for LGBTQ Studies; and Eman Abdelhadi, a queer Muslim activist. The panel will be moderated by Matthew Rodriguez of Mic.
On Monday evening, de Blasio will make his usual weekly appearance on NY1’s Road to City Hall.
Tuesday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Tuesday in Albany.
On Tuesday, the “Easy Elections NY” coalition will host a day of action in Albany to push legislators to pass electoral reform. The coalition is a broad mix of political and advocacy groups, including several government reform organizations, led by Common Cause NY. The coalition wants to see passage of reforms like “early voting, automatic voter registration, institution of electronic poll books, and by the restoration of parolee voting rights.”
At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, LMHQ will host its “final women’s breakfast of the season, in partnership with Civic Hall’s #CivicWomen network.” Speakers include Jessica Lappin, of Alliance for Downtown New York; Alexis Grenell, of Pythia Public; and Marya Stark, of Emerge America.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the New York City Board of Correction will hold a public meeting at 125 Worth St in Manhattan.
At 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Gov. Cuomo will make two announcements Tuesday: at Goodwin Park in Monroe County, then at Arney’s Marina in Wayne County.
At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Albany, "New York State Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan and Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction co-chairs Senators George Amedore, Fred Akshar, and Chris Jacobs will announce the New York Senate’s next steps in the fight against the state’s heroin and opioid epidemic."
Also at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Albany, "Senate Democrats Push For Charter School Accountability," with Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Brad Hoylman, Andrew Pallotta, President of NYSUT, Michael Mulgrew, President of UFT, and other members of the Senate Democratic Conference.
At the City Council on Tuesday:
--The Committee on Housing and Buildings will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss several proposed laws
--The Committee on Aging will meet at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding how “naturally occurring retirement homes” can “improve and expand services.”
At noon Tuesday, Public Advocate Letitia James will participate in the Center for Popular Democracy’s "City Divestment Campaign Telephonic Press Conference."
At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Council’s LGBT Caucus will host a public celebration of LGBT Pride in the Council Chambers.
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, the New York City Bar Association will host “The NAACP Moratorium on Charter School Expansion - Necessary or Needless?” Panelists include Peter Rose of the NAACP Education Task Force; Dr. Charlene Reid, CEO of Excellence Community Schools; Carol Burris, Executive Director of Network for Public Education; and Derrell Bradford, Executive Director of NYCAN. The panel will be moderated by Eliza Shapiro, education reporter for Politico New York.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, the Shirley Chisolm Democratic Club will host a candidate forum for those running in the 40th and 45th City Council Districts and for Brooklyn District Attorney.
On Tuesday evening at Gracie Mansion, "Mayor Bill de Blasio will celebrate 100 years of service of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and UJA-Federation of New York to the people of the City of New York. Each organization will be presented with a proclamation."
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, New York Times Insider will host “The State of Education + Race: Parents, Officials, and Students Speak” at the TimesCenter, featuring a conversation with City Council Member Ritchie Torres, journalist and author Nikole Hannah-Jones, two parents of city public school students, and two students. Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir will moderate.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, First Lady Chirlane McCray “will host the third of five Community Conversations in Queens,” discussing the ThriveNYC mental health plan and the HealingNYC opioid plan, at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica. She will be joined by City Council Members I. Daneek Miller and Donovan Richards, and Deputy Mayors Richard Buery and Herminia Palacio.
Wednesday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Wednesday in Albany.
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Assembly Standing Committee on Social Services will meet in Albany for a public hearing examining “the impact of the State takeover of the State Supplement Program on the administration of the program and delivery of benefits to eligible recipients.”
At 8 a.m. Wednesday, Crain’s will host its 2017 Real Estate Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Times Square. Marc Holliday, CEO of SL Green Corp, the largest commercial landlord in New York City, will deliver the keynote address.
At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Care for the Homeless will host a policy forum on “Preventing and Ending Homelessness in New York City” at Long Island University Brooklyn.
At the City Council on Wednesday:
--The Committee on Higher Education will meet at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding CUNY School of Medicine
--The Committee on Public Safety will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss a local law relating to “creating comprehensive reporting and oversight of NYPD surveillance technologies.”
--The Committee on General Welfare will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss several proposed laws in relation to child welfare
At 2 p.m. Wednesday in Albany, the Senate Standing Committees on Health and Insurance will meet jointly to discuss the "implementation, financial condition, and future viability" of the NYS Medical Indemnity Fund.
At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Civilian Complaint Review Board will hold a public board meeting at 100 Church Street in Manhattan.
Thursday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Thursday in Albany.
GOP candidate for mayor Paul Massey will deliver the keynote address on Thursday to the JBiz Expo, hosted by the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, at the NJ Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey.
At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the New York League of Conservation Voters will host the first of four policy forums on the mayor’s 80x50 climate initiative at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The first forum will focus on transportation.
At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito will present “Rapid Response Lab: Immigration and Criminal Justice” at 10 E 21st St in Manhattan.
At 10 a.m. Thursday, the New York City Campaign Finance Board will hold a public meeting at 100 Church St in Manhattan.
At the City Council on Thursday:
--The Committees on Parks & Recreation and Recovery & Resiliency will meet jointly at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “beach erosion in New York City.”
--The Committee on Land Use will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss a local law relating to “notice and reporting requirements for summary actions involving urban renewal plans.”
Friday and the weekend
At 11 a.m. Saturday, Riders Alliance will hold a “Fair Fares Day of Action” in Harlem.
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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).
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by Ben Brachfeld and Ben Max
@GothamGazette