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The Week Ahead in New York Politics, January 30


New York City Hall

New York City Hall


What to watch for this week in New York politics:

The week begins after many New Yorkers spent portions of the weekend protesting President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration, which seek to bar for a period of time refugees from Syria and immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries, and increase deportations of certain classifications of immigrants. After a major impromptu protest at Kennedy Airport on Saturday, there was a rally at Battery Park on Sunday, at which Mayor Bill de Blasio and several other elected officials spoke.

As things continue to play out with Trump's executive orders (and other actions), both legally and politically, many New York political eyes are on Albany Monday morning, as Mayor de Blasio travels north for his annual budget testimony in front of the state Legislature. Last year, state lawmakers -- led by Senate Republicans -- ambushed de Blasio on property taxes and the city's exemption from the state's 2 percent cap on annual property tax growth.  

There's a great deal happening this week in New York politics, 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: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.***

The run of the week in detail:

Monday
In Albany Monday:
At 10 a.m. on Monday, there will be a joint state legislative budget hearing on Local Government Officials/General Government in the Legislative Office Building in Albany. Mayor Bill de Blasio will testify first, followed by Comptroller Scott Stringer.

At 12 p.m. on Monday, the Assembly Standing Committee on Real Property Taxation will hold a public hearing on “Real Property Tax Relief Credit Programs.”

Family planning advocates led by Planned Parenthood NYC are holding a lobby day in Albany Monday. Governor Andrew Cuomo will speak at a rally at 12:30 p.m. at Empire State Plaza Convention Center.

The New York State Legislature will be in session on Monday in Albany.

During the 7 and 10 p.m. hours on Monday, Mayor de Blasio will make his weekly appearance on NY1's Inside City Hall.

In New York City Monday:
“On Monday, January 30, at 10:30 a.m., Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lorelei Salas, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, Grow Brooklyn, and partners will remind the roughly 1.1 million New Yorkers who are eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which adds an average of $2,400 to refunds, and file their taxes for free with NYC Free Tax Prep.”

Also Monday at 10:30 a.m., “Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) will join together with hunger advocates and others at Part of the Solution (POTS) to discuss New York State’s participation in a nationwide pilot program to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase their groceries online.”

At 1 p.m. on Monday, the NYC Planning Commission will hold a review session.

At 1 p.m. Monday, "Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and City University of New York (CUNY) student leaders, including members of the University Student Senate (USS) and CUNY DREAMers, will speak out in concern for Saira Rafiee, a young woman enrolled at the CUNY Graduate Center through an F1 visa who is being denied reentry into the United States due to President Donald J. Trump's executive order banning the migration of citizens from several Muslim-majority countries...Approximately 120 students from the impacted countries are enrolled in the CUNY system...Borough President Adams will also be joined by members of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) and Professional Staff Congress (PSC)-CUNY, as well as Rafiee's cousin Mina, who will deliver a message on behalf of her relative."

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Public Advocate Letitia James and City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez will hold a transportation town hall, at Fort Washington Collegiate Church.

At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, City & State will hold the “50 Over 50 Awards.” This event will be a “celebration with New York’s most prominent leaders in government, business and media over the age of fifty.”

Tuesday
On Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., "Mayor de Blasio will visit Rodman’s Neck Training Complex with NYPD Commissioner O’Neill to tour the facility and discuss the City’s $275 million investment to upgrade the complex." At 6:30 p.m., "the Mayor will appear live on the Dean Obeidallah Show on SiriusXM Radio channel 127."

At the City Council on Tuesday:

  • At 9:30 a.m., the Committee on Housing and Buildings will meet to discuss numerous proposed laws, most of which deal with cranes or construction safety.
  • At 1 p.m., the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management will meet for an oversight hearing on “expanding New York City’s Extended Producer Responsibility Law,” and for discussion of a proposed law that will deal with the “reuse or recycling of discarded carpeting from commercial units or buildings.”
  • At 1 p.m., the Committee on Consumer Affairs will discuss a proposed law on “authorizing a cure period for certain item pricing violations.”
  • At 1:30 p.m. The Committee on Parks and Recreation will meet on the naming of 41 thoroughfares and public places.
  • At 2 p.m. The Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services will meet on a bill “Requiring the fire dept to report on the use and type of smoke detectors and smoke alarms in fire-related deaths.”

The New York State Legislature will be in session on Tuesday in Albany.

The NYS Joint Commission on Public Ethics will meet on Tuesday in Albany.

On Tuesday morning at 9:15 a.m., "Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez will announce the kickoff of Car Free NYC 2017, with a countdown to a Car Free Day on Earth Day...at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Pfizer Auditorium at 5 Metrotech Center."

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, there will be a joint legislative budget hearing on Public Protection at Hearing Room B in the Legislative Office Building in Albany.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the New York City Department of Small Business Services will hold a hearing on a proposed rule, which would “continue the program that provides grants to companies that provide school bus transportation.”

At 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Public Advocate Letitia James will deliver remarks "at the NYC Employment and Training Coalition's Policy Forum: Advancing Advocacy Through Partnerships in Uncertain Times," at The CUNY Graduate Center.

At 2 p.m. Tuesday in Albany, Comptroller Scott Stringer will speak at a "press conference to unveil new legislation and analyses on granting driver’s licenses to undocumented New Yorkers with the New York Immigration Coalition, Fiscal Policy Institute, elected officials and advocates," at the Empire State Plaza.

On Tuesday evening at City Hall, the City Council will host "‘Let Freedom Ring-Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’, a celebratory event. Counciil Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and several other Council members will participate.

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the New Leaders Council gala will host Assemblymember Michael Blake as keynote speaker.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, City Council Member Costa Constantinides will deliver his State of the District Address, at I.S. 126 in Astoria. Public Advocate Letitia James will attend.

Wednesday
At 8 a.m. Wednesday, City & State NY will hold “On Public Safety.” This event “will convene government officials and leaders in defense, public safety, security, intelligence, law enforcement, and emergency management at a half day forum covering New York public safety issues.” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill will deliver the Keynote Address, and speakers on various panels will include Council Member Jumaane D. Williams; State Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol; Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Howard; and Chief Joseph Pfeifer, the Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness at the New York City Fire Department.

At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, there will be a joint legislative budget hearing on Economic Development at Hearing Room B in the Legislative Office Building in Albany.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the City Planning Commission will hold a public meeting.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, “New York City Councilman Andy King and the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program kickoff of the first day of Black History Month with the annual “Celebrating Our History” event.” This event will take place at the library of Evander Childs High School in The Bronx.

At the City Council on Wednesday:

  • At 10 a.m., the Committee on Finance will meet.
  • At 1:30 p.m., the City Council will hold a stated meeting. The full-body Council meeting will be prefaced, as usual, by a press conference led by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

On Wednesday at 11 a.m. at City Hall, "Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez will join elected officials, advocates, radio DJs and the family of DJ Jinx Paul, who was killed in a hit and run crash last December, to unveil legislation to create a hit and run alert system in New York City. The legislation would create an alert system through a number of channels, to support the NYPD in capturing perpetrators of hit and runs."

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, there will be a rally on the steps of City Hall protesting Mayor de Blasio’s budget cuts to the Department of Veterans’ Services. State Senator Marty Golden, City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo, Council Member Joe Borelli, Reverend Michel Faulkner, Anthony Testaverde, elected officials, and veterans will participate.

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, New York City Council Member Helen Rosenthal will hold “Fact vs. Fiction: Understanding the News in the Age of Information Overload.” This event is a “community conversation on the current state of the news and what you can do to decipher between fact and fiction.” Rosenthal will host a panel of experts.

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, there will be a public hearing on the Greater East Midtown Rezoning at NYU School of Dentistry, Nursing & Engineering.

Thursday
At 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Crain’s New York will hold “Real Estate Law: The Impact of Demographics,” featuring Richard J. Mack, the CEO and Founder of Mack Real Estate Group.

On Thursday at 1 p.m., at Urban Pathways’ Ivan Shapiro House in Manhattan, "the New York City representatives of a statewide coalition of nonprofit organizations will gather to call on Governor Cuomo and the legislature to strengthen the human services sector through efficient investments and systemic change. The Executive Budget, while acknowledging the importance of human services, provided little to strengthen organizations and the sector responsible for lifting families out of poverty." Participants will include Urban Pathways, Human Services Council, FPWA, State Senator Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, and others. "The Restore Opportunity Now campaign is supported by more than 340 nonprofit organizations across New York State."

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, City Council Member Laurie Cumbo continues her Community Exchange Series. At this event at Medgar Evers College, Cumbo will deliver her first of two parts on the status update of the Bedford Union Armory.

Friday and the weekend
No events on our radar for Friday or the weekend as of Sunday night -- though Mayor de Blasio is expected to make his weekly Friday appearance at 10 a.m. on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show. 

***
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).

***
by Brendan Birth and Ben Max
@GothamGazette



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