New York City Hall
What to watch for this week in New York politics:
This week will be full of campaigning as we hit one week until primary day on Tuesday. Are you ready to vote on September 12?
It was a busy weekend of campaigning for Mayor Bill de Blasio, his main primary opponent Sal Albanese, and the mayor's expected general election opponent Nicole Malliotakis, among other candidates who were out on the trail, from those running for mayor through the City Council. Many are also paying close attention to the crowded Brooklyn District Attorney primary. There are more than two dozen highly competitive City Council races and many others with some competition -- we've outlined 20 Races to Watch, and you can find all of our 2017 elections coverage here.
There are a variety of candidate debates happening this week, including the second of two official debates between de Blasio and Albanese, which will be televised Wednesday night on CBS-2. There will be a Brooklyn District Attorney candidate debate on Tuesday night on NY1. There are also several official City Council debates sanctioned by the Campaign Finance Board/NYC Votes and local partner organizations. This includes the official NYC Votes debate for the Democratic nomination in the 21st City Council District in Queens, between Assemblymember Francisco Moya and Hiram Monserrate, a former Council Member and former State Senator who has been convicted of both assaulting his girlfriend and illegal use of city money. Gotham Gazette's Ben Max will moderate the Thursday debate that is co-sponsored by Food Bank for New York City. {As of Tuesday, the CD21 debate has been canceled due to problems with ensuring a professional and neutral exchange among the candidates at an appropriate venue.]
There is quite a bit more happening beyond the final crucial week of the primary campaign, with a good deal of action at the City Council and several other 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
Monday is Labor Day.
Tuesday
Tuesday marks one week until primary day! Be ready to cast your ballot -- use our interactive voter guide, which we've created in partnership with WNYC radio and City Limits.
At the City Council on Tuesday:
--The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 9:30 a.m.
--The Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions will meet at 1 p.m.
At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Governor Cuomo will host a ceremony honoring longtime Assemblymember Denny Farrell, who has resigned from the Assembly. Riverbank State Park in Washington Heights will be renamed after Farrell. Comptroller Scott Stringer will be among those who deliver remarks.
At 11 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall, Democratic mayoral candidate Sal Albanese and Democratic public advocate candidate David Eisenbach will hold a press conference, at which the Small Business Congress will endorse Albanese for Mayor. Afterward, at 11:30 a.m., Albanese will outline his plan for Riker's Island jails.
Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of Tweed, there will be a press conference for the "release of the 2017 NYC Kids PAC education report card for Mayor de Blasio, on issues ranging from testing, class size, school overcrowding, to funding, transparency, special education and diversity."
On Tuesday at 12:45 p.m., "Mayor de Blasio and Transportation Commissioner Trottenberg will ride the BX6 Select Bus Service in the Bronx on its first workday of service. The upgraded route will speed commutes for 24,000 daily riders. The Mayor will ride from River Avenue to Intervale Avenue." At 2 p.m., "the Mayor and Police Commissioner O’Neill will hold a media availability regarding crime statistics" at the 41st Precinct in the Bronx.
At 1 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, there will be a press conference calling for Halal and Kosher Food in city public schools. Comptroller Stringer will be among those speaking.
At 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, NY1, NY1 Noticias, and BRIC TV will host a debate for Democratic candidates for Brooklyn District Attorney at BRIC’s studios in Downtown Brooklyn. NY1’s Errol Louis will moderate. Attending candidates are Acting DA Eric Gonzalez, City Council Member Vincent Gentile, Ama Dwimoh, Anne Swern, Marc Fliedner, and Patricia Gatling.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the League of Women Voters will host a forum for Democratic candidates for City Council District 4 at Kaye Playhouse on the Upper East Side. Read about the race and the candidates here.
The Uniformed Firefighters Association 100th Anniversary Event is Tuesday evening. Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Stringer are among those who will attend.
Wednesday
At the City Council on Wednesday:
--The Committee on General Welfare will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss a resolution “urging Congress to reject proposed reforms to cut funding to SNAP and to reject efforts to convert the program into a block grant.”
--The Committee on Mental Health will meet at 10:30 a.m. to discuss proposed laws relating to “autism spectrum disorder reporting” and “disability classification reporting from the department of education.”
--The Committee on Consumer Affairs will meet at 10:30 a.m. to discuss proposed laws relating to “the sale and financing of used automobiles by second-hand automobile dealers” and “requiring second-hand automobile dealers to post and distribute a bill of rights to consumers.”
--The Committees on Mental Health & Public Safety will meet jointly at 11 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding the “NYPD’s Responses to Persons in Mental Health Crisis.”
--The Committee on Land Use will meet at 11 a.m.
--The Committee on Immigration will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss proposed laws relating to “expanding the office of immigrant affairs” and “an immigrant affairs task force.”
--The Committee on Parks and Recreation will meet at 2 p.m. to discuss a proposed law relating to “the length of the season for city beaches and pools.”
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the City Planning Commission will hold a public meeting at Spector Hall.
At 6 p.m. Wednesday, the AARP will host a forum for candidates for the open City Council seats in the 13th and 18th districts, both in the Bronx, at Maestro’s Caterers in Morris Park. The forum will focus on the needs of older New Yorkers. Moderators include Nick Powell of City & State, Erin Clarke of NY1, and George Bodarky of WFUV.
At 6 p.m. Wednesday, the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Coalition of Young Professionals will host a forum for candidates for Council District 41 at Brooklyn Collegiate High School in Brownsville.
At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Hispanic Federation will host a forum for candidates for Council District 8 at the Julia de Burgos Performance and Arts Center on the Upper East Side.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Democratic primary challenger Sal Albanese, a former City Council member, will debate. The debate will take place at the CUNY Graduate Center and televised by CBS 2 and aired on 1010 Wins and Newsradio 880. It will be moderated by Maurice DuBois of CBS 2, with questions also coming from panelists Marcia Kramer of CBS 2, Juliet Papa of 1010 WINS, and Jillian Jorgensen of The Daily News.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Rachel Holliday of DNAinfo will moderate the final debate for candidates for the 35th Council District at P.S. 9 in Prospect Heights. Attending candidates are incumbent Democrat Laurie Cumbo, Democratic challenger Ede Fox, and Green party candidates Jabari Brisport and Scott Hutchins.
At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Faith in New York will host “Faith Over Fear” meetings with candidates for City Council District 6 at the Manhattan JCC on the Upper West Side. Invited candidates are incumbent Democrat Helen Rosenthal, Democratic challengers Mel Wymore and Cary Goodman, and independent challengers David Owens and Bill Raudenbush.
Thursday
The full City Council will hold a stated meeting at 1:30 p.m. It is expected to be prefaced by the usual pre-stated press conference led by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, the NYCHA branch of the NAACP will host a forum for candidates for City Council District 2 at the Grand Street Settlement on the Lower East Side.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, there will be a forum for candidates for City Council District 8 at the Children’s Aid Society on the Upper East Side, focusing on affordable housing. Attending candidates are Assemblymember Robert Rodriguez, Diana Ayala, and Tamika Mapp. The debate is sponsored by East Harlem Preservation, the Justice Center en El Barrio, and the East Harlem/El Barrio Community Land Trust.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, the East Kings County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will host a forum for candidates for City Council District 43 at the Brooklyn Public Library in Bay Ridge. District 43 has competitive Democratic and Republican primaries.
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Food Bank for New York City, in partnership with NYC Votes and Gotham Gazette/Citizens Union Foundation, will host a forum for candidates for City Council District 21 in Queens. The debate will be moderated by Gotham Gazette’s Ben Max. Attending candidates are Assemblymember Francisco Moya and former State Senator Hiram Monserrate. [This debate has been cancelled.]
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Garifuna Coalition USA will host a forum for candidates for City Council District 18 at PS 106 in Parkchester. The forum will be moderated by Dominic Carter of RNN News. Attending candidates are State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr, Michael Beltzer, Amanda Farias, Elvin Garcia, and William Moore.
On Thursday at 7 p.m. at The New School, "Juan González launches his latest book, Reclaiming Gotham: Bill de Blasio and the Movement to End America’s Tale of Two Cities with a public talk followed by an on-stage conversation with New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, moderated by Amy Goodman."
Friday and the weekend
At 10 a.m. Friday, the Campaign Finance Board will hold a public board meeting.
At 3 p.m. Friday, the Center for Community & Ethnic Media will host a “Newsmakers 2017” discussion, “Why the 2017 New York City elections are so crucial for the future and security of its residents.” NY1’s Errol Louis will moderate a panel consisting of David Dyssegaard Kallick of the Fiscal Policy Institute; Christian Gonzalez-Rivera of the Center for an Urban Future; and Stephen Witt of Kings County Politics. The event will take place at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.
At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the Brooklyn Anti-Gentrification Network will lead a “March Against Gentrification” starting at the Barclays Center, with rallies at Ebbets Field in Crown Heights, Herbert von King Park in Bed-Stuy, and Myrtle Wyckoff Plaza in Bushwick.
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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
