New York City Hall
What to watch for this week in New York politics:
Mayor Bill de Blasio is in the Bronx this week for the second installment of “City Hall in Your Borough.” He was on Staten Island previously for a week of events, constituent office hours, and meetings. See below for his Monday schedule of events. We know of two other events thus far: the de Blasio administration is holding constituent hours and a resource fair on Tuesday morning and a town hall meeting Wednesday night. He's also said to be attending his first Yankees game since becoming Mayor at some point this week (the team is at home all week, including Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night games, and a Thursday 1 p.m. game).
Meanwhile, the state Legislature’s legislative session continues to wind down. There are three more session days this week. After this week, there will be just 11 more, all in June.
The City Council concludes its executive budget hearings this week. There are also a variety of other Council committee hearings and a full Council session where new bills will be introduced and others already voted through committee will be voted through the full Council.
Tuesday is a special Election Day! There are two races, one for state Assembly and one for state Senate, on the ballot. See below for details.
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.
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The run of the week in detail:
Monday
The de Blasio administration starts it's City Hall in Your Borough week in the Bronx on Monday. The following is from the mayor's office:
--"In the morning, Mayor de Blasio will tour the Hunts Point Cooperative Market and meet with business owners. The tour is closed press. Following the tour, the Mayor will deliver brief remarks [at 7:30 a.m.]. This portion of the event is open press, and there will be no Q-and-A."
--"Later, the Mayor will host a cabinet meeting with senior staff in the Bronx. This meeting will be closed press. Prior to the meeting, the Mayor will deliver remarks and hold a brief photo spray [at 10 a.m.]. This photo spray is open press. There will be no Q-and-A."
--"After, the Mayor will tour EMS Station 17 and make an announcement about EMS resources. This [noon] event is open press. There will be no Q-and-A."
--"In the afternoon, the Mayor and Police Commissioner O’Neill will hold a photo spray and deliver brief remarks prior to conducting their weekly meeting in the Bronx. This meeting is closed press. The [3:30 p.m.] photo spray is open press. There will be no Q-and-A."
--"In the evening, the Mayor will appear live on NY1’s Road to City Hall", which airs in the 7 and 10 p.m. hours
At the City Council on Monday, there will be executive budget hearings on the NYPD at 10 a.m. and the District Attorneys and Special Narcotics Prosecutor at 12:30 p.m.
Also at the City Council on Monday
--The Committee on Civil Service and Labor will meet at 10:30 a.m. to discuss proposed laws relating to fair work conditions for fast food and retail workers, as well as resolutions affirming the right to collectively bargain and “urging Congress to vote against proposed ‘right-to-work’ legislation.”
--The Committee on Youth Services will meet at noon to discuss a proposed law relating to a “disconnected youth workforce development program.”
--The Committee on Technology will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss a proposed law relating to “requiring direct telephone access to 911 service.”
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Monday in Albany.
At the State Legislature on Monday, the Senate Standing Committee on Banks and the Assembly Standing Committees on Banks, Consumer Affairs and Protection, and Small Business will meet in Albany at 10 a.m. “to gain insight on the online lending industry and determine whether legislative action is necessary to protect consumers and small businesses from predatory lending practices.”
The New York State Board of Regents will hold a public hearing on Monday regarding a proposal to make Glasgow Caledonian University a New York State degree-granting institution.
At 8:30 a.m. Monday, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer will host an information session regarding funding for the New York City Regional Economic Development Council at the Harlem State Office Building, in conjunction with the REDC, the Empire State Development Corporation, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, and NYC Innovation Collectives.
At 10 a.m. Monday, New York City elected officials and activists will gather on the steps of City Hall for a press conference and to release a letter “urging Mayor de Blasio to reform the crushing commercial rent tax.” The rally will be led by City Council Member Dan Garodnick and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
At 10 a.m. Monday, Assembly Members Didi Barrett, Aileen Gunther, Michael Cusick, and Melissa Miller will deliver opening remarks at the Assembly’s annual “Legislative Disability Awareness Day,” putting a spotlight on individuals with disabilities as well as disability advocates. Speaker Carl Heastie and Minority Leader Brian Kolb will speak at 11:45.
On Monday at 11:30 a.m. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito will speak at "#DefendPR Parade Rally" at 32 BJ SEIU Union Headquarters. At 7 p.m. Mark-Viverito will speak at the Participatory Budgeting NYC Celebration at El Museo del Barrio.
On Monday at 12:30 p.m., Comptroller Scott Stringer will deliver remarks at Impacto Latin News Latino Leaders Forum Luncheon.
On Monday at 1 p.m. in Queens, City Council "Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer will join veterans and community members to announce that $750,000 from the FY18 budget will be allocated to revitalize Doughboy Park in Woodside, which will include work to the memorial statue and plaza."
At 6:30 p.m. Monday, #GetOrganizedBK will hold a full group meeting at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, featuring a panel discussing the Trump administration’s attacks on reproductive rights and how to address them in the future. Public Advocate Tish James will moderate the panel; panelists will include Susannah Pasquantonio, Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon; Dr. Linda Pine, the Medical Director for the Reproductive Health Access Project; and Adjoa Tetteh, a member of Planned Parenthood NYC’s Board of Directors.
On Monday evening, mayoral candidate Paul Massey will attend and give remarks at the Metropolitan Republican Club's 115th Annual Dinner.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, special elections will be held to fill the vacant seats in the Ninth Assembly District, vacated by the resignation of Joseph Saladino, and the 30th State Senate District, vacated by the resignation of Bill Perkins.Democrat Brian Benjamin is expected to easily win the Harlem State Senate seat.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bronx County Building, “Mayor Bill de Blasio and Bronx Borough President Ruben Díaz, Jr. will host a City Resource Fair during City Hall in Your Borough week. Top representatives from City Hall, the Department of Transportation, Department of Finance, NYPD, Economic Development Corporation, Department of Education, Department of Health, Small Business Services, Department of Parks and Recreation, among others, will be available to answer Bronx residents’ questions.”
Mayor de Blasio's schedule for Tuesday includes appearing at the resource fair at 10:30 a.m.; for "Bronx constituent office hours"; at 12:30 p.m. "the Mayor will visit small businesses along Arthur Avenue in the Bronx"; and at 5 p.m. "the Mayor and Council Member Vacca will attend at the Northeast Bronx Senior Center Senior Gala."
At the City Council on Tuesday
--The Committee on Health will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss a proposed law relating to “requiring mobile food vendors to post letter grades received for sanitary inspections.”
--The Committee on Housing and Buildings will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss a proposed law relating to “minimum temperatures required to be maintained in dwellings.”
--The Committee on Governmental Operations will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss several proposed laws relating to the board of standards and appeals.
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Tuesday in Albany.
At the State Legislature on Tuesday, the Senate and Assembly Standing Committees on Children and Families and the Task Force on Women’s Issues will meet in Albany at 10:30 a.m. “to examine the barriers to accessing quality child day care and how such lack of access relates to a variety of issues including child development, family stability and the economy.”
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics will meet on Tuesday in Albany.
At 7 a.m. Tuesday, "AARP New York members will rally outside Gracie Mansion, calling on Mayor de Blasio to ensure funding of Department for the Aging (DFTA) keeps pace with the city’s growing senior population. DFTA programs help New Yorkers age in their own homes – rather than in much costlier, taxpayer-funded institutional settings such as nursing homes."
Starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, the City Council Progressive Caucus will host a “Resistance and Progress” policy convening to discuss issues such as the sanctuary city debate, affordable housing, public education, criminal justice, climate change, and transportation.
On Tuesday at 11 a.m., "First Lady Chirlane McCray will visit Jericho Project's Kingsbridge Terrace and meet with veterans from its veterans community, which provides housing and services."
At noon Tuesday, Governor Cuomo will make an announcement at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan.
At 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez will host the 2017 “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration” at Geraldo’s Cafe at Brooklyn Law School. Honorees include Louie Liu, Chairman of the Brooklyn Asian Civilian Observation Patrol, and Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition. The “Judicial Award” will be presented to New York Supreme Court Justice Randall T. Eng.
On Tuesday, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito will speak at Ranaqua Park Groundbreaking Ceremony with Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver & Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa; speak at the City Council’s Jewish Heritage Event at City Hall; and speak at the Children’s Health Fund Gala.
On Tuesday at 1 p.m. Republican mayoral candidate Paul Massey will deliver brief remarks on public safety and hold a media availability, at Barretto Point Park overlooking Rikers Island.
At 5 p.m. Tuesday, Civic Hall will hold the “Finalist Expo & Winner Award Ceremony” for the 2017 BigApps competition.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a public meeting “to provide an update on the ongoing remediation efforts underway at the Former Paragon Oil Company site and the Apollo Street Creek Parcels sites.”
Wednesday
The full City Council will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. This will be prefaced by the usual press conference led by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Also at the City Council on Wednesday: the Finance Committee will meet at 10 a.m.
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Wednesday in Albany.
The state Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid addiction will meet at 3 p.m. at Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown to “examine the issues facing communities in the wake of increased heroin abuse.”
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the City Planning Commission will hold a public meeting at 22 Reade Street.
At 11 a.m. Monday, City Council members, anti-hunger advocates, and emergency food providers will gather at the steps of City Hall to demand that Mayor de Blasio fully fund the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The rally is being led by City Council Member Steve Levin.
At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Senator Liz Krueger will hold a “State of the Resistance” discussion at the CUNY Graduate Center regarding the role of state AGs in the Trump resistance and Schneiderman’s role in particular. City Council Member Dan Garodnick will give opening remarks.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in the Bronx, “as part of City Hall in Your Borough week, Mayor Bill de Blasio will host a town hall with residents of the 18th Council District, represented by Council Member Annabel Palma in addition to Bronx Borough President Ruben Díaz, Jr., U.S. Representative José Serrano, State Senator Ruben Díaz, Sr. and State Assembly Member Luis Sepúlveda....Co-sponsors for the town hall include Community Board 9, the 43rd Precinct Council, Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Phipps Neighborhoods.”
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley will hold an information session about the Penelope Ave Sewer Project at PS 128.
Thursday
At the City Council on Thursday, there will be the final executive budget hearing, featuring:
--The Office of Management and Budget at 10 a.m.
--The Comptroller at noon
--The Independent Budget Office at 12:30 p.m.
On Thursday, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and “Making a Murderer” co-creator Laura Ricciardi will deliver keynote addresses at the 2017 commencement ceremony for New York Law School.
At 8 a.m. Thursday, City & State will host “State of New York Women.” Influential women in New York politics will speak about how they “rose through the ranks, how they established a work-life balance, and the impact of solutions and innovation to the work-in-progress.” Keynotes will be delivered by Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo. Other speakers include Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul; Assemblymembers Shelley Mayer, Deborah Glick, and Rodneyse Bichotte; City Council Member Helen Rosenthal; and New York City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, among others.
At 11 a.m. Thursday, Riders Alliance will hold a rally at Marci Triangle in Brooklyn “for better buses during the L train shutdown.”
At 6 p.m. Thursday, the New York City Bar Association will host “Self Driving Cars: Legal Impact and Issues.” Ydanis Rodriguez, chair of the City Council’s Transportation Committee, will join a panel of lawyers and academics to discuss “the self-driving car technology, challenges to the automotive industry, its legal ramifications and potential impact on the public.”
Friday and the weekend
Mayor Bill de Blasio may make his weekly appearance on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show on Friday morning.
Otherwise, no other events on our radar for Memorial Day weekend. We’ll bring you the next Week Ahead on the night of Monday, May 29 because of the holiday weekend.
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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
City Council candidate Justin Branan, left (photo: @JustinBrannan)
Primary day for this year’s citywide municipal elections is less than four months away and there are seven “open” City Council seats, out of 51, where the incumbent is term-limited from running again. Each race has numerous candidates, and campaign fundraising has heated up as the election draws closer. Most of the open seat Council races will be all-but-decided in the Democratic primary given the nature of the electorate in the districts at play.
City Council Members Rosie Mendez (District 2), Dan Garodnick (District 4), Melissa Mark-Viverito (District 8), James Vacca (District 13), Annabel Palma (District 18), Darlene Mealy (District 41), and Vincent Gentile (District 43) -- all Democrats -- cannot run for reelection this year with term limits forcing them out of office. In those districts, there will likely be the most competition out of all City Council elections this year, though a handful of incumbents are facing significant opposition. The City Council currently includes 48 Democrats and three Republicans.
In several of the “open” seat City Council races, sitting state legislators are either rumored or declared candidates. Compared to the state Legislature, the City Council offers far greater pay and a better commute than constant trips to Albany.
Although fundraising doesn’t reflect the entire state of a campaign, it is a window into the strength of a candidate’s popularity and an indicator of the resources they will have at their disposal. Funds are needed to help get a candidate’s message to voters, though candidates can accomplish a lot with limited financial resources, especially given the city’s public matching system. The Campaign Finance Board’s program, which provides 6-to-1 matching funds for qualifying contributions up to $175, also helps ensure that political neophytes and those with a dearth of financial backers can run a competitive race.
Gotham Gazette has tracked fundraising for the “open” Council races over the last two mandated campaign disclosures. The latest disclosures were filed mid-May, covering the period between March 12 and May 11.
A look at how the money race is shaping up in the seven “open” seats:
Council District 2, Lower East Side of Manhattan
District leader Carlina Rivera, legislative director for Council Member Rosie Mendez, has consistently led in fundraising in this race. She has $81,048 in cash on hand as of mid-May, having raised $120,571 and spent $39,523 since the start of the race. Rivera has been endorsed by Mendez, the Progressive Caucus Alliance (the political arm of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus) and by immigrant advocacy group Make the Road Action.
Attorney Mary Silver, a Community Board 6 member, is Rivera’s closest competitor financially with $74,531 in her campaign account. She has raised $90,083 in total and spent $15,552.
Ronnie Cho, a former staffer in the Obama administration, is third in cash with a balance of $61,884, having raised $100,801 and spent $38,917. Cho showed impressive fundraising numbers for the latest filing, raising $69,596 in just the last two months.
There are five other candidates in the race but none have raised enough funds for a serious campaign.
Council District 4, East Side of Manhattan
The race in District 4 will likely be one of the more competitive ones, with 12 registered candidates -- 10 Democrats and 2 Republicans -- seeking to replace Dan Garodnick. Although only a few have shown substantial fundraising, the public matching funds program may level the field for others.
Marti Speranza, a member of Community Board 5, remains on top financially with $176,409 in contributions and $64,472 in expenditure, for a campaign balance of $111,937. However, her fundraising seems to have slowed significantly from a few months ago -- she raised just $2,138 in this most recent filing period.
Political consultant Keith Powers has $98,080 in total contributions and $26,589 in expenditure, for a campaign balance of $71,491. Powers too has seemed to cut back on fundraising, pulling in only $3,860 in the last two months.
Bessie Schachter, who was most recently heading community outreach for state Senator Liz Krueger, has raised $61,011 for her race and spent $13,535, giving her $47,476 in cash on hand. Schachter is also a participant in the public matching funds program, which could mean that she could catch up with the money leaders in the race. (Other candidates can move to join the program before the June deadline.)
The nine other candidates are fairly far behind in fundraising. Outgoing Council Member Garodnick has not made an endorsement in the race.
Council District 8, East Harlem and part of the South Bronx
Four Democratic candidates have filed campaign disclosures for the District 8 seat, which currently belongs to Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Diana Ayala, Mark-Viverito’s deputy chief of staff, who has the speaker’s endorsement, continues to be well ahead of the pack in fundraising, though this race was recently upended when Assemblymember Robert Rodriguez announced his candidacy.
Ayala has $52,089 in campaign cash as of mid-May after raising $58,752 and spending $6,663. Ayala was also endorsed by Make the Road Action and the Progressive Caucus Alliance.
Edward Santos, a Community Board 11 member and Department of Education employee, is in second with $14,336. He has raised $19,968 and spent $5,632.
Rodriguez jumped into the race two weeks ago and has $56,017 on hand after raising $78,647 and spending $22,620 (He was listed as 'undeclared' on CFB filings as of May 22). His candidacy caused a stir in the Bronx Democratic establishment which has split its support between Rodriguez and Ayala. Marcos Crespo, chair of the Bronx Democratic Party, endorsed Rodriguez on Friday soon after Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. endorsed Ayala. Rodriguez also has the support of Council Member Bill Perkins, former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, and Manhattan Democratic Party Chair Keith Wright.
Council District 13, Eastern Bronx
District 13 features another crowded race with eight declared candidates and significant sums of money. State Assemblymember Mark Gjonaj has a commanding fundraising lead, having raised $352,200 in total and already spending $139,517, leaving a campaign balance of $212,684. Gjonaj was endorsed by the Bronx Democratic County Committee on Thursday.
Democratic District Leader Marjorie Velazquez -- who has been endorsed by current Council Member James Vacca, the Progressive Caucus Alliance, and Make the Road Action -- comes closest to Gjonaj in fundraising. She has raised $92,769 in total and spent $14,078, leaving her $78,692.
John Doyle, a former staffer for State Senator Jeff Klein, is behind Velazquez and Gjonaj, with $49,824 on hand after raising $70,056 and spending $20,232. But, through the public matching funds program, he may be able to close the gap. Most of his donations seem to qualify for the program’s thresholds.
John Marano, Community Board 10 vice chair, has raised $42,935 and has a balance of $35,423. John Cerini, the only Republican in the race, is also seeking public funds for his campaign, which currently has $16,982.
Council District 18, Southeast Bronx
There was a shakeup in the District 18 race with the recent entry of state Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., a conservative Democrat. Diaz Sr., who holds conservative views on social issues, was able to quickly get his fundraising off the ground, raising $97,067 in just over a month, spending only $3,166, for a balance of $93,901.
Elvin Garcia, former Bronx borough director for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s community affairs unit, led in fundraising prior to Diaz Sr. jumping into the race. Garcia has $53,009, having raised $58,241 and spent $5,233
Amanda Farias, former manager of the Council’s Women’s Caucus, is a distant third with $25,571 on hand after raising $26,853 and spending only $1,282.
A fourth candidate, Michael Beltzer, has $10,761 in his campaign account after raising $13,095 and spending $2,334.
Outgoing Council Member Annabel Palma has not yet endorsed anyone for the seat.
Council District 41, Central Brooklyn
Alicka Ampry-Samuel, chief of staff to Assembly Member Latrice Walker, who jumped to the front of the race in fundraising two months ago, remains the leader with $46,199 in cash on hand. She has raised $56,569 (including $15,000 she personally loaned her campaign) and spent $10,370. She’s also registered for public funds and could receive a significant amount from the CFB since most of her donations are below $175. Ampry-Samuel received Make the Road Action’s endorsement as well.
Behind Ampry-Samuel is Henry Butler, the district manager of Community Board 3. Butler’s campaign finances have changed little in the last two months. He has $18,588 left after raising $34,789 and spending $16,201, and is also participating in the public funds program.
Deidre Olivera, who once led the race, is in third with $16,334 on hand after raising $24,752 and spending $8,418. (Her campaign also has a $10,000 outstanding loan, seemingly from a relative.)
District leader Cory Provost has a $10,349 campaign balance, while Kathleen Daniel, the preferred candidate of incumbent Council Member Darlene Mealy, has just $3,094 in the bank.
Council District 43, Southern Brooklyn
Justin Brannan, communications director for current Council Member Vincent Gentile, is back in front in funds in the latest filing period. He has raised $99,536 and spent $12,216, leaving him $87,320 in cash on hand. He has opted in to the public funds program.
In the previous filing period, Khader El-Yateem, the Palestinian-American pastor of Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, had overtaken Brannan with a sizable haul, but is now in second place in cash available. He has raised $93,630 and spent $21,940, giving him a balance of $71,690.
Nancy Tong, a Democratic district leader, comes in third with $51,198 in campaign cash, after raising $59,920 and spending $8,722. Kevin Peter Carroll, another Democrat, has $35,709 left, from $40,242 in contributions and $4,533 in expenditure.
District 43 is one of the city’s rare, more conservative regions and is perhaps the best chance for another Republican to join the City Council. A number of Republican candidates are vying for the seat, led in fundraising by John Quaglione, deputy chief of staff to Republican state Senator Marty Golden. Quaglione’s campaign account contains $48,858, from $68,974 in contributions and $20,116 in expenditure.
Liam McCabe, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, is another Republican running for the seat. He has $25,203 in his campaign account, having raised $49,784 and spent $24,581. Republican Robert Capano is close behind with $18,946 in cash on hand. He raised $38,021 and spent $19,075.
Assemblymember Peter Abbate, who was rumored as another potential candidate, has all but ruled it out and it seems unlikely that he will jump in at this stage in the race.
The certification deadline for candidates to get on the ballot is June 12, which is also the deadline for candidates to opt in to the public matching funds program. The next campaign finance filing deadline is July 17.
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by Samar Khurshid, senior reporter, Gotham Gazette
@samarkhurshid @GothamGazette
Note - this article has been updated to include campaign filings for Michael Beltzer, a candidate for District 18, and for Assemblymember Robert Rodriguez, a candidate in District 8.
Malliotakis, left, & Massey (photos: Samar Khurshid/Gotham Gazette)
The Republican field for the mayor’s race has winnowed down to two major candidates -- real estate executive Paul Massey and state Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis -- and a few longshot contenders with a minimal presence on the campaign trail. With just four months till the September primary and Malliotakis only in the race a few weeks, early signs indicate Republican Party officials may be split on Massey and Malliotakis while a contentious primary battle has quickly emerged.
Republican county leaders had hoped that they could rally around a single candidate and avoid the kind of primary that defined the 2013 race, one that they believe will only serve to strengthen the incumbent Democrat, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who already has a strong lead in fundraising and a distinct advantage in the city’s lopsided 6-to-1 voter registration in favor of Democrats. (De Blasio must of course first make his way through his own primary, where he is facing several candidates who have not established especially robust campaigns thus far.)
As of mid-May it appears that either Massey or Malliotakis will be the GOP nominee for Mayor, and the two have been jockeying for county party endorsements, as well as the ability to run on other ballot lines. Massey has secured the Independence Party line, Malliotakis the Conservative Party line.
GOP leaders rejected bombastic independent candidate Bo Dietl, a private detective and former police officer, refusing to hand him a waiver to run in the Republican primary (Dietl is still running as an independent and could take votes from the eventual Republican nominee). And Michel Faulkner, an outspoken Harlem pastor and former professional football player, jumped out of the mayor’s race to instead run for city comptroller against Scott Stringer, the Democratic incumbent. Another longshot candidate, actor and disability rights activist Darren Aquino, has little presence on the campaign trail and minimal campaign funds. Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, a California businessman and a Democratic presidential aspirant last year, moved to New York last month to run for mayor, but hasn’t displayed the political credentials to be able to shake up the race.
Massey and Malliotakis come from different wings of the Republican Party, with Massey a moderate billing himself as a “non-political” technocrat open to “ideas from across the political spectrum,” in the Michael Bloomberg mold; while Malliotakis -- as evidenced by her support from the Conservative Party -- is further to the right, though she has also claimed to not easily fit into any ideological orthodoxy.
Led by Malliotakis, the two have begun to snipe at each other, at news conferences and in public statements, a precursor perhaps to a more divisive campaign than the party hoped to see. Thus far, most of the negative campaigning has come from Malliotakis, who has said the mayoral race has lacked energy so far and promised to energize the electorate. She implies that Massey is not a true Republican, hitting him for making the maximum donations to Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer’s 2013 campaigns (Massey also donated to Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota).
After the release of the latest Quinnipiac University poll on Wednesday, which showed de Blasio beating both candidates handily -- he received 64 percent of the vote against 21 percent for Malliotakis in a head-to-head race and 63 percent against Massey’s 21 percent -- Malliotakis’ campaign took an opportunity to undercut Massey, even calling for him to end his campaign.
“Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis entered the race at the beginning of May, so the results of today's poll don't mean much,” said Rob Ryan, campaign spokesperson, in a statement. “When voters get to know Nicole the numbers will change. What is obvious from the poll is that after months in the race, too many consultants to count and sky high expenditures Paul Massey's candidacy hasn't gained traction, that's sad. He should drop out of the race now.”
Massey, on the other hand, has said that Malliotakis lacks the experience to be the city’s top executive. His campaign points out that one of Malliotakis’ top donors, Margo Catsimatidis (wife of John, who ran for the Republican mayoral nomination in 2013), also gave the maximum donation to de Blasio this year. Pointing to the Quinnipiac poll, the campaign noted that 59 percent of Staten Island residents haven’t heard enough about Malliotakis even though she has served eight years in office representing parts of the borough.
“Paul Massey is building a coalition campaign,” said Mollie Fullington, a campaign spokesperson. “He is the Independence Party nominee, expects to be the Republican Party nominee, and he has a vision for this city and the ability to execute it. He is the only candidate who can beat Bill de Blasio in November.”
At this early stage in the race, the two candidates have yet to produce comprehensive policy platforms. Massey’s campaign has released detailed policy positions on a few key issues while Malliotakis, who has been in the race less than a month, has said she will do so soon. Though she has a voting and legislative record where Massey does not, of course.
Massey says he is “independent-minded,” rarely using the word “Republican” but styling himself on the model of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire technocrat and fusion candidate who successfully ran on multiple party lines to consolidate votes. In his attempt to earn Republican support, Massey has earned the backing of the Queens County Republican Party. On Monday, Faulkner endorsed Massey, who reciprocated with an endorsement of Faulkner for Comptroller. It’s unclear what help this may give to Massey, but Faulkner is an energetic campaigner who has been on the attack against de Blasio.
Malliotakis leans more conservative than Massey and proclaims that she is “the real Republican in the race for Mayor.” She has a degree of institutional support on her side. Her colleague, Staten Island Assemblymember Ron Castorina Jr., had originally endorsed Massey but withdrew his support and endorsed Malliotakis instead. Castorina was also recently named the new chair of the Staten Island Republican Party and it is likely that the borough’s party apparatus will get behind Malliotakis.
On Wednesday, Malliotakis received the Conservative Party endorsement. Among her top donors in early fundraising is the Sergeants Benevolent Association PAC, the campaign arm of the NYPD sergeants union, portending perhaps another key endorsement from its parent group. Malliotakis also received donations from billionaire supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis and his wife. Catsimatidis, who chose not to run himself this year (Malliotakis had said she’d drop from the race if he did), could potentially play a part by choosing to throw his immense resources into the mix.
J.C. Polanco, an attorney and Republican political consultant, believes the primary race will be “contentious” and that Massey and Malliotakis are working hard to excite the Republican base across the city. “[Malliotakis] brings this across-the-city sort of understanding of New York City Republicanism,” he said, also acknowledging that he’s been a close friend of the Assembly member for years, “of what it’s like to be a Republican in New York City, what it’s like to be in the minority in the Assembly and work on the issues that we care about and she has a following.” Polanco donated $50 to Malliotakis’ mayoral campaign and is exploring a run for public advocate himself.
Polanco says of Massey, “On the other hand you have someone that has the experience in business, that is raising enormous amounts of money and is also making the rounds, something that many New York Republicans are used to: the businessman Republican. So you’re gonna have a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party in New York City.”
Pointing out that Republican voters in the city tend to be ideologically diverse, he said it was incumbent on the two candidates to show broad appeal. “If [Massey] can raise the money to connect with voters and explain how his positions are in line with ours, he’ll do well,” Polanco said. “I think that by default Nicole Malliotakis is that nitty-gritty New York Republican and connects immediately with New York voters because she has a voting record. She’s from Staten Island, which by the way is the bastion of Republicanism. So she has some advantages. No question Massey has his advantages. So this is gonna be a really good opportunity for there to be a battle of ideas between both candidates.”
And short of both candidates slinging mud at each other, Polanco said a competitive primary will not hurt the party’s chances down the line. “I really hope they focus just on how they can be the best mayor of New York City, how they can represent our party moving forward,” he said. “I don’t think we run the risk of it hurting the party unless they get into the gutter.”
The two candidates’ positions on certain campaign issues, gleaned from public statements and campaign appearances, are largely similar. They are both fiscal conservatives, generally in keeping with the philosophy of national and New York Republicans. On their many criticisms of Mayor de Blasio, they often converge -- they have both called out the mayor’s record on crime with similar rhetoric; they’ve both criticized the mayor’s handling of the city’s schools and homelessness; they both believe that jails should remain on Rikers Island, though reformed and modernized. On other issues, their views are more divergent, however, such as New York’s status as a “sanctuary city” and some social issues -- Malliotakis voted against same-sex marriage in the Assembly in 2011, for example.
They have also shown a different approach to the use of taxpayer funds for their respective campaigns, though Malliotakis -- who plans to accept public matching funds -- used to criticize the city’s campaign finance system as a waste of taxpayer dollars. Massey is not accepting matching funds, in part so that he does not have to abide by some of the accompanying rules of the campaign finance system, particularly spending limits.
A look at how the two leading GOP mayoral candidates stack up as of mid-May:
Nicole Malliotakis |
Paul Massey |
|
Bio |
Malliotakis, 35, has referred to herself as the “millennial” candidate and is the youngest candidate, and the only woman, in the mayoral race. A daughter of Cuban and Greek immigrants, she believes she can pull broad support from across the electorate, particularly Hispanics who tend to favor Democrats. Malliotakis grew up on Staten Island where she attended New Dorp High School. She attended Seton Hall University, where she received a bachelor’s degree and later attained an M.B.A. from Wagner College. |
Massey, 56, is Irish Catholic and originally from Boston. He models himself as an “independent-minded” Republican in the vein of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He recently moved to the city from Larchmont in Westchester county, though he ran a business across the five boroughs for decades. Massey has a B.A. in economics from Colgate University. |
Public Safety |
Malliotakis has criticized Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Council for reducing penalties for low-level offenses including public urination. These offenses, she says, have increased in the city and contributed to a decline in quality of life. She supports the use of stop-and-frisk policing, insisting that the NYPD should have discretion in deciding when to employ the tactic. She believes the mayor has shown inadequate support for the NYPD and that interference in its functioning puts officers in danger. |
Massey has attempted to make public safety a prominent campaign issue. He opposes the decriminalization of low-level offenses, has decried worsening quality of life in the city, and believes the use of stop-and-frisk should be left up to NYPD discretion. Additionally, he has pledged to provide 24/7 uniformed police protection to religious institutions and religious-affiliated community centers during periods of active threat and supports community policing. |
Homelessness |
Malliotakis has criticized the mayor’s plan to put 90 new homeless shelters across the city. |
Massey says he will launch an immediate review of the city’s homelessness policies and convert unsafe shelters into thousands of supportive housing units. He would also focus on programs that preemptively help families avoid homelessness. He has pledged to improve the pace of affordable housing development. |
Economy, jobs, taxes & the city budget |
Malliotakis has critiqued the $12.2 billion or 17 percent increase in the city’s budget under the current administration. She opposes de Blasio’s “tax and spend” policies and is pushing for increased spending on vocational training programs instead of the mayor’s proposed expansion of early childhood education. |
Massey has vowed to reduce regulations on small businesses. He wants to promote job growth by simplifying the city’s permitting processes, eliminating fees, and proposes cutting business and property taxes. He also wants city programs, such as those for the homeless, to be linked with job training, internship and mentorship programs. He has decried the spending increases under de Blasio and promised better fiscal management. |
Campaign Finance |
Malliotakis has said she opposes public financing of elections but she will be participating in the Campaign Finance Board’s public matching funds program, which matches small dollar contributions up to $175 at a 6-to-1 ratio with public funds. |
Massey has raised millions in donations, and personally loaned his campaign millions more. He’s also spent millions. He is opposed to using public funds for his campaign, going so far as to call on Mayor de Blasio to eschew participation in the program. |
Immigration |
Malliotakis’ campaign is based on her opposition to the administration’s policies towards undocumented immigrants, whom she calls “illegal,” and she is critical of the city’s sanctuary city status. She has been particularly opposed to the city’s legal assistance for immigrants facing deportation and criminal charges. She also opposes the city’s attempts to limit cooperation with federal immigration officials and believes that the list of offenses that trigger that cooperation should be expanded. She has also sued the city to prevent the destruction of records from the immigrant-friendly IDNYC municipal identification program, which she has argued could pose a national security threat. She does, however, support a path to citizenship for law-abiding undocumented immigrants. |
Massey has not argued against New York’s sanctuary city status, stating that it should remain as it is, and has opposed President Trump’s travel ban on immigration from certain Muslim-majority nations. But, he supports cooperation with federal immigration officials and has repeatedly said in the past that immigration policies need to be defined at the national level. He also supports a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. He has attempted to distance himself from President Trump’s immigration policies and proposals. |
Rikers Island |
Malliotakis opposes the recently announced plan to close the Rikers Island jail complex. She insists, rather, that there must be sweeping reforms under a new commissioner for the Department of Correction. |
Massey believes that Rikers Island should be reformed and modernized, with new facilities built on the island rather than across the five boroughs. |
Education |
Malliotakis has said de Blasio’s Renewal Schools program has shown few results. She was also critical of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s free college tuition plan and has been advocating for the state to expand its Tuition Assistance Program to more families. |
Massey criticized the mayor’s Renewal Schools program and his opposition to charter schools. He supports lifting the city’s cap on charters, providing an education tax credit, expanded vocational training, and increasing the number of specialized high schools. He also wants to bring back grades for school performance and implement teacher merit pay and performance incentives. His education platform includes creating Individualized Education Programs for every single student and providing financial literacy and life skills training in schools. |
Housing |
TBD |
Massey is eager to see reinstatement of the 421-a tax credit for real estate developers to encourage the building of housing, including some affordable housing. He has said he will lift regulations that are “stifling new housing construction” and will allow development on unused city land. He also wants to decentralize zoning decisions from City Hall to communities. |
Transit infrastructure |
TBD |
Massey has promised to invest in infrastructure across the five borough to reduce traffic congestion and vows a “total ground-up overhaul of city traffic management policies.” |
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by Samar Khurshid, senior reporter, Gotham Gazette
@samarkhurshid @GothamGazette