Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday reversed course and admitted that the Upper East Side was not plowed properly during the storm. Residents aired suspicions of payback for not supporting him. But the mayor says a traffic jam kept snow plows from clearing the streets. "The snow hit right before rush hour; in some parts of the city where there's a high concentration of vehicles, it created a real jam-up," de Blasio said. He ordered the Department of Sanitation to "double-down" on cleanup efforts in the area after visiting in the evening. He also defended his decision to keep schools open despite conditions. Attendance dropped to only 47.1 percent yesterday.

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Cuomo Sweetens Pre-K Deal: ‘Whatever’ Mayor Needs (NY Times)

School Advocates Say Cuomo Budget Shortchanges Kids (Albany Times Union)

De Blasio Sets Ambitious Goal For Affordable Apartments (NY Times)

State Still Waiting For $10 Billion In Federal Medicaid Help (Albany Times Union)

Speaker Adds Friends And Foes To Leadership Team (DNAinfo)

Members Question Whether Council Has Enough Black Leadership (Politicker)

Citi Bike Supplier Rides Into Bankruptcy (Crain's)

Mental Health Professionals Defend Nonprofit Targeted By Corruption Commission (WNYC)

State Audit Faults Commercial Vehicle Oversight (Associated Press)

NYC Airports The Worst For Amenities: Study (NY Post)

In his budget address yesterday Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a statewide full-day pre-K program backed by $1.5 billion in state funds over five years. But Mayor Bill de Blasio isn't budging on his own plan, and said that the governor's proposal won't cover the costs. The mayor's plan - paid for by a tax on the wealthy - proposes spending $1.7 billion over five years in the city alone.

Those close to the governor tell the NY Times that he believes de Blasio's plan is based on politics and also sets the city at an advantage over other municipalities. Sources close to the mayor tell Crain's that he doesn't want to horse trade and wants to set the city's tax rate. They also point out that the state failed to provide promised education funds in the recent past.

​Although many education advocates support some type of universal pre-K, there are critics. Some are concerned that the focus on pre-K is taking away from efforts to improve K-12 education, and others question the importance of pre-K itself. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he was open to either plan but wants to see more details on both. Other Stories We're Following

Cuomo Wants Spending Growth Below 2 Percent (Albany Times Union)

Cuomo Takes A First Step Toward Campaign Finance Reform (Capital)

Cuomo Rips Obama Over Ailing Brooklyn Hospitals (Daily News)

Cuomo: Common Core Needs 'Corrective Action' (Daily News)

De Blasio Vows To Be Less 'Punitive' Against Small Businesses (DNAinfo)

Mark-Viverito Set To Reward Allies (Capital)

Feds On Board With $850 Million For Sandy Subway Fixes (NY Post)

Residents Say De Blasio ‘Getting Back’ At UES By Not Plowing (NY Post)

Missing Boy Avonte Oquendo's DNA Linked To Remains (Wall Street Journal)

Critics of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s slow response to ongoing scandals in the Legislature see a glimmer of hope in today’s budget announcement.

Cuomo's political tightrope act to maintain his reputation as a moderate Democrat while satisfying an invigorated liberal movement will come to a head with his budget, as he calls for both ethics reform and a long-awaited public campaign financing system. Cuomo will also ask for an independent unit at the state Board of Elections, which faced significant scrutiny last fall by the Moreland Commission.

Nevertheless, Cuomo's budget numbers still run into skepticism. The governor persistently argues that a surplus is possible, suggesting his budget promises an excess of $500 million while cutting taxes by $2 billion — and that’s with a looming $1.7 billion deficit in a still recovering economy.

While it’s not exactly clear how Cuomo will make the budget work, he can take comfort in some early poll numbers. A Siena College poll revealed that 57 percent of respondents said they would reelect him.

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Gov. Cuomo to unveil universal pre-K plan without hiking taxes in budget address (Daily News)

Idle de Blasio staffers paid to play while waiting for roles (NY Post)

Why Cuomo isn’t touching Bridgegate (Capital)

In Wake of Gov. Cuomo's Comments, Dean Skelos Makes Case For "Differing Viewpoints" (Daily News)

Success Academy donors give big to Cuomo campaign (ChalkBeat)

Cuomo met with Moreland leaders before subpoenas (Capital)

Employers' about-face on sick pay (Crain's)

De Blasio Pushes Policy Agenda on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (DNAinfo)

De Blasio Picks Mark Peters, a Former Prosecutor, to Oversee Investigations (NY Times)

Advocates Decry Health Care Inequality at Interfaith Hospital Protest(DNAinfo)

‘McResolution!’: Elected Officials Help Broker Peace at Flushing McDonald’s (NY Observer)

Rep. Michael Grimm may have used 'donor swapping' to skirt fundraising limits (Daily News)

Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito are to premiere their first joint policy push today, with various reports that it will be on the expansion of paid sick leave.

De Blasio and Mark-Viverito are expected promote an broader version later this afternoon at a restaurant in North Brooklyn, signaling the first major — but expected — shift in priorities between the new mayor and the Bloomberg administration. De Blasio, who was swept into office last fall as he promised to address the city's social and economic inequalities, committed to an expansion of the paid sick law during his inauguration remarks.

Last summer, the city introduced its initial version of the law, whereby thousands of businesses with 15 or more workers are required to provide paid sick time off, and the law would only come into effect in 2014 if the local economy could handle it. The New York Times suggests today that the latest version would apply to business with as few as five employees.

The last time a New York City mayor and speaker addressed sick leave, former speaker Christine Quinn pushed the compromised bill through a mayoral veto promised by then Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who couched his opposition on the law's financial burden on small business owners.

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New York City and Mayor de Blasio Still on Honeymoon Phase (WNYC)

Q Poll: NYC wants to keep its horse-drawn carriages (Journal News)

De Blasio Names Ex-Bloomberg Official as Health Chief, but Vows New Approach (NY Times)

De Blasio denies G.O.P.'s Gaspard complaint (Capital)

De Blasio, a Critic of Charter Schools, May Need Them for His Pre-K Agenda (NY Times)

REBNY Considers de Blasio’s City Hall (NY Observer)

City Council Republicans Push For Property Tax Rebates As Values Soar (Daily News)

Watchdog group says big donors fund Cuomo campaign (Wall Street Journal)

Silver Has Nearly $3M On Hand (YNN)

Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell calls for New York City speed limit to be reduced to 20 mph (Daily News)

The City Council only elected its leader last week, but the power shifts within the city’s legislative body are already starting to take shape.

New City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito continues to assure her colleagues that her win — boosted by the Council’s Progressive bloc and Brooklyn delegation — won’t leave former opponents out in the cold. As Capital New York’s Sally Goldenberg reports, however, it’s mathematically impossible for every member to end up with a committee chairmanship; there are 51 Council members and only 43 top spots, most of which will probably go to the Manhattan-based speaker’s closest and earliest allies.

More details about the inner-workings behind Mark-Viverito’s bid for speaker are also trickling out, revealing she raised and spent a healthy amount of money for the internal Council race. Chris Bragg of Crain’s New York reports that Mark-Viverito spent almost $80,000 of the more than $100,000 she raised using a new city campaign account through the state Board of Elections. Filings also revealed who the new speaker worked with to win City Hall’s second most powerful seat, confirming the part that labor allies and Progressive-friendly lobbyists played in securing Mark-Viverito’s new clout in the Council.

The Council meets again on Jan. 22, by which time most of the dust from the negotiations will have settled.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE

Mayor Sets Strategy to End 'Epidemic' of Traffic Fatalities by Chester Soria

New York City will immediately begin using traffic cameras to ticket speeders -- a move spearheading Mayor Bill de Blasio's strategy to reduce traffic-related fatalities. "We think that there's an epidemic here. There's an epidemic of traffic fatalities, and it can't go on," the mayor said yesterday in announcing the creation of a task force charged with developing a plan to make city streets safer. READ MORE

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With $613 Million at Stake, an Albany Rivalry Is Said to Escalate (NY Times)

Black and Hispanic Caucus demand Cuomo rescind his appointment of Kelly as a special adviser (Daily News)

Eric Holder talks crime prevention with de Blasio (NY Post)

Bratton: Stop and Frisk Reform Step One, Check! (WNYC)

City settles $18M RNC protest lawsuits (NY Post)

Mayor De Blasio Calls On Feds To Contribute Funding For 9/11 Museum (CBS News)

Mayor de Blasio Has Decided Not To Return Money From Taxi Cheat (Daily News)

Hospitals warm to Cuomo’s pot plan (Capital)

Despite Letter From NY GOP Chairman, Some Republicans Coming Out For Gov. Cuomo (Daily News)

Cuomo Has $33.3M In The Bank (YNN)

Gianaris: Senate Dems Ready For Nov. Election Battles (Queens Gazette)

A Council education point-person for the de Blasio era (Capital)

US Rep. Grimm’s ex-girlfriend stands by her former man (Daily News)

An upstate plan to keep raw sewage out of Hudson (Capital)

Gov. Cuomo's education panel yesterday released a report that calls for expanding pre-K across the state, among other things. It lays out a series of hurdles to the expansion - including a lack of certified teachers and the need for infrastructure improvements - and pushes for allowing charter schools to offer pre-K. Mayor de Blasio declined to comment on the panel's charter recommendation. Meanwhile, several members of the Black, Hispanic and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus, including seven lawmakers from outside of the city, backed the mayor's plan to tax the wealthy to pay for universal pre-K. It's unclear whether the bill pushing his plan will advance in the Assembly, and Speaker Silver said the Council would need to approve a home rule message first. Well designed pre-K classes result in many long term benefits for students, including higher graduation rates and better earning in the workplace.

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Free Rent Over For Charter Schools (Daily News)

Under Investor Pressure, Utility To Study Emissions (NY Times)

Even Supporters Question Cuomo’s Marijuana Plan (NY Times)

Rikers Crime Inflating Insurance Costs For South Bronx Residents (Daily News)

Mark-Viverito Opponents Hope To Work With Her (Capital)

De Blasio Urged To Prioritize Airports (Crain's)

Public Advocate Says Cuomo Tax Plan Favors Corporations, Wealthy (Politicker)

Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson was found guilty of federal corruption charges yesterday. A jury convicted him of accepting over $22,000 in bribes from businessmen in exchange for passing legislation barring new adult daycare centers near facilities they hoped to open. It took less than two hours for the jurors to reach their verdict. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years on each of two counts and lesser maximums on the others. His seat is now vacant.

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Police Critics On Bratton’s Broken Windows Push (Capital)

Medical Marijuana Bill Not Ready For Key Vote (Albany Times Union)

Council Airs Safety Ideas After High-Rise Fire (Associated Press)

FBI Arrests Fund-Raiser For Staten Island Rep. Grimm (NY Times)

Days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo recommitted his administration to this Women’s Equality Act, Democratic Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak resigned from office yesterday after allegations from his staff of persistent sexual harassment surfaced last month. The Erie County lawmaker said he resigned because of the effect the allegations had on his family, and that he had only seen all of the accusations in the last two days and will continue to fight the allegations in civil court. Even so, Gabryszak said that he had no sexual contact with his staffers, only “mutual banter” he admits had no place in his office “because it is inappropriate in the workplace, even if it does not constitute sexual harassment.”

In a statement calling the alleged behavior "horrific," Gov. Cuomo said that he asked Gabryszak to either deny the accusations or resign immediately, adding that “this kind of alleged behavior has no place in New York State government or any other office in society."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver now has to deal with yet another high-profile sex scandal in his house. Silver repeated his refrain of there being no place for sexual harassment in the Assembly, calling Gabryszak’s decision to step down “the right one.” Meanwhile, Manhattan Assemblyman Micah Kellner kept his job but was nontheless reprimanded last month by the body's ethics committe for sexually harassing two staffers — allegations which he still disputes. Former Assemblyman and Brooklyn Democratic party boss Vito Lopez also continues to fight accusations from two female staffers that forced an investigation and his resignation last spring.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE

Member Items For Mark-Viverito Ally Org Frozen by Chester Soria

City Council’s discretionary spending, a practice that frequently raises questions about favoritism and political power plays, is set to become an early wedge issue for Mayor Bill de Blasio and new City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. As this potential clash between mayor and speaker brews, one organization close to Mark-Viverito. Community Voices Heard, has found its 2014 allocation of discretionary cash unexpectedly frozen. READ MORE

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Mayor de Blasio Donors Exploited Loopholes Allowing Double, Triple Giving (Daily News)

Bill de Blasio Backing Mike’s Fights in Court (NY Post)

Immigrant Advocates Respond To Cuomo's 2014 Agenda With Goals Of Their Own (WAMC)

Why Gov. Andrew Cuomo needs Upstate New York (the Post Standard)

Mayor vs. Governor (Crain's)

Hospitals Finally Bid For LICH (Crain's)

NYC Health Care Union That Backed de Blasio, Mark-Viverito Wields New Clout (Daily News)

De Blasio Zeroes In On Planning Commissioner (Crain's)

Bill De Blasio’s Diversity Opportunity (The Daily Beast)

Joe Crowley Says He Has Made Peace With Bill de Blasio (NY Observer)

New Council Speaker Releases Five Years of Tax Returns (NY1)

Mark-Viverito Defends Late Disclosure, Questions Coverage (Capital)

New, Young and Progressive Council Members Inaugurated (WNYC)

Stringer Targets Rich with Bid to Close Tax Hole (NY Post)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie apologized yesterday for lane closures on The George Washington Bridge that appear to have been ordered for retribution against his political opponents. Christie fired two aides he said were responsible for ordering the closures but did not take responsibility himself. Federal investigators and the FBI are investigating the lane closures that snarled traffic and delayed emergency responders. The case has highlighted the tension and influence of politics at the bi-state Port Authority. 

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De Blasio Counsel Cuts Ties With Sampson, Cablevision (Capital)

Trump to Meet With GOP Chairman on Run For Governor (Gannett)

De Blasio’s Transition Donors Include Many With Issues Before City(Politicker)

City Study Tracks Transfers by Charter School Students (NY Times)

Cuomo’s Tax Break for Renters (NY Times)

New Schools Chancellor Promises to Mend Fences With Families (Daily News)

Republican Senate Leader Says There is No Need to Tax Rich For Pre-K(Daily News)

State Teacher’s Union Seeks No Confidence Vote For Education Commissioner (State of Politics )

De Blasio Defers to Speaker on Spoils (Capital)

De Blasio Says Bridge Scandal Raises Questions About Christie’s Leadership (Politicker)

Head of Metro-North to Retire (Albany Times Union)

NY Airports Led Nation in Delays During Cold Snap (Crain's)

Community Group Demands a Say in Central Brooklyn Budget Process(DNAinfo)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo used his fourth State-of-the-State Address to further his credentials as a fiscal conservative and social liberal while revisiting his past successes. Many observers saw the speech as a safe, election-year speech. He touted $2.2 billion in tax cuts including: property tax breaks; corporate tax cuts for upstate businesses, and a renter's tax credit. He unveiled a state trial of medical marijuanain select hospitals. He said the state should provide universal pre-kindergarten but he did not offer how to pay for it. He asked to take over the refurbishing on JFK and La Guardia, promised an extension of Metro-North and the addition of three new stops in the Bronx. Cuomo used a conciliatory tone when discussing ethics and campaign finance reform, telling the legislature that the public’s trust is like "rocket fuel" and expands the legislature's capacity to get things done. He also reaffirmed his support in a quick but passionate nod to the Women's Equality Act that he assembled and backed in last-years’ State-of-the-State. He announced to the boos of Sen. Kevin Parker that former NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly will be involved in a state school for emergency responders. He also pushed for juvenile justice reform and backed for a policy that would mandate that all school officials must tell the state of discrimination in their schools or lose their jobs.He ended his speech framed by a picture of the Statue of Liberty praising New York's history of embracing diversity.Cuomo did not mention his good friend Mayor Bill de Blasio or his plan to raise taxes on the city's wealthiest to fund pre-k. De Blasio began his post-speech press conference by preemptively praising Cuomo before reporters could ask any questions. 

Other Stories We're Following

De Blasio Hits Albany With Tax Plan as Cuomo Ignores It (Bloomberg)

New Council Speaker Promises to Heal Divides (Gotham Gazette)

After Winning a Raise, 175 Casino Workers in Queens Lose Their Jobs (NY Times)

New Jersey Governor Faces Scandal on Traffic Jam Aides Ordered (NY Times)

Speaker Vote Represents Major Victory for de Blasio (Daily News)

The Last Hour of the Mark-Viverito Campaign (Capital)

De Blasio Tangles With Eric Cantor on Charter Schools (Capital)

Testimony in Assemblyman’s Bribery Trial Continues (Wall Street Journal)

Interfaith Hospital Patients Go Without Heat as City Freezes (DNAinfo)

Brooklyn, Queens Housing Markets Surge (Crain's)