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The Week Ahead in New York Politics, November 20


New York City Hall

New York City Hall


What to watch for this week in New York politics:

Welcome to Thanksgiving week, which has a lot going on the first couple of days before quieting down for the long holiday weekend.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is back in town after a week on family vacation in Connecticut. While de Blasio was away, controversy blew up around NYCHA’s mishandling of lead inspections. De Blasio defended Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye amid calls from Public Advocate Letitia James and others that she step down. Council Member Ritchie Torres, chair of the public housing committee, announced plans for an oversight hearing in December. NYCHA announced multiple personnel and protocol changes on Friday, with Olatoye remaining in charge. Questions will surely follow into this week, especially amid calls from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and others for an independent monitor of the housing authority, and new information is released -- there will be at least one relevant event Monday, see below for details.

On Monday, de Blasio has three public events on his schedule -- see below for details. De Blasio will hold a town hall meeting in Queens on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, there’ a bit of action at the City Council this week, including a couple of high-profile oversight hearings -- see below for details, and, on Monday night, a forum for those seeking to become the next Speaker of the Council, an event co-hosted by Citizens Union and New York Law School, as well as other co-sponsors, and moderated by Gotham Gazette’s Ben Max. Attend the event at New York Law School or watch the livestream on Facebook or listen to the live broadcast on WBAI radio (99.5 FM).  

As always, there's a great deal happening all over the city, with many 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: bmax@gothamgazette.com***

The run of the week in detail:

Monday
Mayor de Blasio will and NYPD Commissioner Jimmy O’Neill "will deliver remarks at the NYPD Academy Library’s renaming ceremony in honor of Commissioner Benjamin Ward" at 11 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., "the Mayor and Commissioner will hold a media availability about security for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade" and will take press questions. Later, at 4 p.m. at City Hall, "the Mayor will hold a public hearing on 23 pieces of legislation."

At the City Council on Monday:
--The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 9:30 a.m.
--The Committees on Veterans and Mental Health will meet jointly at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “mental health services for NYC-area veterans.”
--The Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime Uses will meet at 11 a.m.
--The Committees on Housing and Buildings and General Welfare will meet jointly at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “HPD’s coordination with DHS/HRA to address the homelessness crisis.”
--The Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions will meet at 1 p.m.

On Monday at 8 a.m. at The InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel, "Food Bank For New York City will hold "a Legislative Breakfast to release a new report on the state of hunger and the Emergency Food Network in NYC. The report analyzes food insecurity among New York’s communities in the face of looming uncertainty at the federal level." The report comes amid federal cuts and threats to food funding. The breakfast will also "honor New York City Council Members Levin and Grodenchik for their leadership in the fight to eradicate poverty and hunger across the five boroughs by working to strengthen New York’s emergency food network."

On Monday at 11 a.m., Riders Alliance "will introduce a new tool for riders to address continuing subway delays by becoming transit activists in the moment, right on the train or platform. The Riders Alliance will distribute thousands of “Subway Delay Action Kits,” packets of cards with instructions that riders can use to sign the online “Fix the Subway” petition, tweet their frustration directly at Governor Cuomo, and become transit advocates who can help win the funding and attention needed to modernize the MTA." The event, which will include elected officials, will take place "outside Grand Central Station at the SE corner of 42nd St and Park Ave." 

At 11 a.m. Monday, the Assembly Standing Committees on Health and Aging will meet jointly in the Assembly Hearing Room at 250 Broadway in Manhattan, to discuss “nursing home quality of care and patient safety and enforcement.”

At 12:30 p.m. Monday at 250 Broadway in Manhattan, "Members of the New York State Senate, Assembly and New York City Council will call for the creation of an independent monitor to oversee the New York City Housing Authority...Members of the Independent Democratic Conference will also unveil a new report, “Public Housing Peril: The Need to Hold NYCHA Accountable,” conducted with City Council Public Housing Chair Ritchie Torres and Community Voices Heard, on poor NYCHA conditions and the slow responses to requests from tenants to remedy their complaints." Participants will include Senator Jeff Klein, Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Assemblyman Walter Mosley, Senator Marisol Alcantara, Senator Diane Savino, City Council Public Housing Chair Ritchie Torres, Councilman Mark Treyger, and others.

At 5 p.m. Monday, the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Brooklyn Navy Yard will “celebrate Teen Innovators, an after school program offered by BHS and BNY, which has just been named a 2017 National  Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award winner.” The celebration will take place at BLDG 92 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

On Monday at 6 p.m., #GetOrganizedBK will partner with Congregation Beth Elohim for a town hall with newly-elected Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Citizens Union and New York Law School will host a forum for candidates for New York City Council Speaker, focusing on good government. Confirmed attendees are Manhattan Council Members Corey Johnson, Mark Levine, and Ydanis Rodriguez; Queens Council Members Donovan Richards and Jimmy Van Bramer; and Brooklyn Council Members Robert Cornegy and Jumaane Williams. Gotham Gazette’s Ben Max will serve as moderator. Other co-sponsors include Reinvent Albany, League of Women Voters, and NYPIRG.

Tuesday
At the City Council on Tuesday:
--The Committee on Public Safety will meet at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “NYPD’s School Safety’s role and efforts to improve school climate.”
--The Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions will meet at 10:30 a.m.
--The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 10:30 a.m.
--The Committee on Land Use will meet at 11 a.m.
--The Committees on Consumer Affairs and Environmental Protection will meet jointly at 1 p.m. for an oversight hearing regarding “the feasibility of microgrids.”

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals will hold a public hearing at Spector Hall.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Mayor de Blasio will hold a town hall meeting at Flushing International High School with Council Member Peter Koo, U.S. Rep Grace Meng, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and Assemblymember Ron Kim.

Wednesday
No events on our radar as of Sunday evening.

Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving! The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will travel through Midtown Manhattan on Thursday.

Friday and the weekend
No events on our radar as of Sunday evening.

***
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: bmax@gothamgazette.com (please use "For Week Ahead" as email subject).

***
by Ben Brachfeld and Ben Max
@GothamGazette



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