A refreshed New York City Council is set to vote in a new speaker — the second-most-powerful elected official in the city — at its first official meeting of 2014. After weeks of forums, closed-door meetings and outside lobbying, Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito appears to be headed for a victory in Wednesday’s vote.

Mark-Viverito, a progressive firebrand who represents neighborhoods of northeastern Manhattan and southeastern Bronx, secured at least 30 votes with significant help from close ally Mayor Bill de Blasio. Mark-Viverito only needs 26 votes to win; there are 51 total Council members. Her only remaining rival for the job, Manhattan Councilman Dan Garodnick, is a moderate favorite of editorial boards who has been fighting to turn votes in the days leading up to the Council meeting.

Mark-Viverito’s victory would buck the unspoken tradition of Democratic bosses securing enough votes to install a speaker in exchange for appointment perks. Instead, most of Mark-Viverito’s support came from the Progressive Caucus and the Brooklyn delegation. Her win could also usher in an overhaul of Council rules that would decentralize much of the speaker’s office powers. The Council’s fourth speaker since the post was created in the early 1990s, Mark-Viverito would also be the first Hispanic to hold the seat.

The winner of the speaker race will replace Councilwoman Christine Quinn, who lost her primary bid for mayor last year and is being term-limited out of office.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE — Groups Fear Cuomo Won't Highlight Campaign Finance Reform In Annual Address. The governor is scheduled to deliver his fourth State of the State address on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. State Government Editor David Howard King will be live-tweeting the event. Follow him on Twitter @davidhowardking

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Judge Clears Way For Civil Case Against NYPD In Graham Killing (DNAinfo)

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Cuomo, Joined By Biden, Details Disaster Aid Plans (NY Times)

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Late Lobbying For Support As Speaker Election Nears (NY Times)

Three Things To Expect In Speaker's Race (WNYC)

De Blasio Battles Democratic Bosses Ahead Of Speaker Vote (Daily News)

Advocates For Poor Urge $10 Minimum Wage (Associated Press)

Calling NY Airports 'Inexcusable' Cuomo HInts At Fix (Crain's)

Today's Report

Kids Not Getting Flu Vaccine
One in three children under 5-years-old didn't receive their influenza shot in the past year, according to this new report by the Health Department. While 65 percent of New York City children aged 6 to 59 months received the vaccination in the past year - an increase from 59 percent in the previous influenza season - that's well below the national goal of 80 percent. (read the full report)

Gov. Cuomo unveiled his $2 billion tax cut plan yesterday as Mayor de Blasio reiterated his call for a tax on the wealthy at nearly the exact same time. Cuomo's plan would freeze upstate property tax increases for two years in municipalities that streamline and consolidate. Afterwards, an income-based property tax circuit breaker would be phased in. New York has some of the highest property taxes in the nation. In addition, New York City renters earning up to $100,000 would receive an income tax rebate. He would also reduce the corporate tax rate to 6.5 percent from 7.1 percent, give a 20 percent property-tax credit to manufacturers, and eliminate the corporate income tax for upstate manufacturers. This would all be paid for with a $2 billion surplus and some belt tightening. In a move that could set the mayor off balance, the governor will reportedly propose funding full-day pre-kindergarten statewide. But de Blasio said that he supports a tax hike on the wealthy regardless, saying the funds could be used elsewhere.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE —

Mayor De Blasio Promises Independent Police IG by Chester Soria. READ MORE

While Governor Calls For Tax Relief, De Blasio Pushes For Pre-K Tax by David Howard King. READ MORE

De Blasio Appoints Advocates For Albany, DC Policy Agenda: By Chester Soria. READ MORE

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City Sexual Assault Lab Work Slows (Wall Street Journal)

Polar Vortex: Temperatures Fall Far, Fast (NY Times)

Metro-North President Stepping Down (NY Times)

De Blasio Has Refinancing Ties To Dem Boss Key To Viverito Bid (NY Post)

Cuomo: Scandals In Albany Could Harm Legislature (Associated Press)

Contenders For Council Speaker Boast Extensive Outside Income (Politicker)

Mark-Viverito Coalition Meets to Solidify Bloc Before Vote (Politicker)

Mark-Viverito Admits Failing To Disclose Rental Income (Daily News)

Mayor Names Top Lobbyists, Other Aides (Crain's)

Cuomo's Semi-Liberalism (Capital)

New York’s Puzzling Medical Marijuana Plan (Wall Street Journal)

Medical Marijuana Boosters Not Cheering NY Law (WNYC)

Shoddy Train Cars Transporting Fuel Could Cause 'Deadly Explosion' (Daily News)

Editorial: Garodnick Is The Better Choice For Speaker (NY Times)

It's the time of the year when Gov. Andrew Cuomo lays out his annual political agenda in his State of the State address. Reports over the weekend indicate Cuomo is expected to push for $100 million in additional funding for affordable housing, call for the very limited legalization of medical marijuana, and propose new benefits for military veterans. He will also make an effort to expand global trade with New York. A smaller initiative would have fishing and hunting licenses added as options to the driver's license. Many of the measures are thought to be keyed to shore up Cuomo's so-called "progressive" credentials in the aftermath of Bill de Blasio's win in New York City's mayoral election. Cuomo's 2014 State of the State is scheduled for Wednesday.

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Senate Co-Leader Pushing De Blasio's Pre-K Plan (WNYC)

Biden To Attend Cuomo Event On Fed Disaster Relief (Albany Times Union)

Officials Want NY Post To Apologize For Slaying Coverage (Politicker)

De Blasio Opens Gracie Mansion To The Public (NY Times)

Housing Advocates Praise De Blasio's Pick For Deputy (Crain's)

Double Pay For New Schools Chief (NY Post)

Analyzing De Blasio's Photo-Op Worthy Snow Shoveling Moment (The Atlantic Cities)

Newly appointed Commissioner Bill Bratton yesterday offered fresh details into his plans for the NYPD. He said he'd begin with repairing the relationship of the police force and the community. Officers would be reminded that they are dealing with a human being when engaging in stop-and-frisk, and to do so in a constitutional manner. Additional oversight of the police was welcomed. Operation Impact, a program flooding high crime neighborhoods with rookie cops that results in numerous stops, would be curbed. But Operation Crew Cut, an initiative aimed at youth gangs, would be expanded. John Miller, a news anchor and former head of the LAPD's counterterrorism bureau, was appointed as the NYPD's counter-terrorism chief. Bratton said he would continue sending officers overseas despite the high price tag and lack of success in developing leads on potential attacks in New York. He also reiterated his commitment to an intensive focus on traffic issues in order to reduce fatalities.

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Without Jury, Judge Warned Of Dispute Over Stop-And-Frisk Ruling (NY Times)

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De Blasio Defends Tone Of Inauguration (Capital)

Public Advocate Wasn't Source For Times Article On Dasani (NY Post)

At Work, Mayor Finds Full Plate Of Headaches (NY Times)

Schools Chancellor To Start With Focus On Middle Schools (Daily News)

State Benefit Cards Hacked (Albany Times Union)

Latino Leaders Try To Boost Mark-Viverito’s Speaker Candidacy (Politicker)

Mark-Viverito Has $1.5 Million In Properties, Took No-Interest City Loan (Daily News)

Today's Report

Housing Program Improves Health And Reduces Costs
The Supportive Housing program, which provides housing and supportive services for various at-risk populations, results in residents spending fewer days in institutions and cost savings, according to this new report by the Health Department. Residents in the program were less likely than eligible but unplaced applicants to have several types of hospitalizations and emergency department visits. They also spent fewer days in jail and shelters, and public sector expenditures were about $10,100 less per person during their first year in the program. (read the full report)

In his inaugural address yesterday Mayor de Blasio promised to focus on inequality in New York City, describing social inequities as a “quiet crisis.” He praised Michael Bloomberg for his environmental stewardship but reiterated his campaign theme of a "Tale of Two Cities." Public Advocate Letitia James took the criticism of the former mayor further, hammering on the disparities of a city where "decrepit homeless shelters and housing developments stand in the neglected shadow of gleaming multimillion-dollar condos." Although the event was widely viewed as populist, and started off with some radical rhetoric by guest speakers, de Blasio was joined onstage by the centrist Clintons.

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Bill de Blasio was sworn in as the city's 109th mayor just after midnight on Wednesday during a ceremony at his family's home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where he launched his campaign for City Hall nearly a year ago. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman delivered the oath of office as a crowd of supporters and journalists watched. De Blasio was accompanied by his wife Chirlane, daughter Chiara and son Dante. He paid a $9 filing fee.

De Blasio will also be sworn in during a formal inauguration officiated by President Bill Clinton on the steps of City Hall at noon. Public Advocate-elect Letitia James and Comptroller-elect Scott Stringer will also celebrate their inauguration at the event on Wednesday.

NEW IN THE GOTHAM GAZETTE — The New Yorker's Guide To The New City Government: The historic overhaul of New York City government this year goes well beyond the mayor's office. Here's a look at some of the new — and familiar — faces of the fresh crop of elected officials. By Caroline Lewis. READ MORE.

ALSO — Now Get To Work! Readers Offer Advice To The New Mayor: The crowdsourced submissions to our "Minute With The Next Mayor" project touched on affordable housing, unemployment and homelessness,  transportation, public health and the preservation of libraries. By Meral Agish and Valentina Cordero.

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Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio is expected to announce at a news conference later today that he has chosen longtime ally Carmen Fariña to be the next chancellor of the nation's largest school system. Fariña, who is in her 70s, is a veteran of the city's public schools. She served as a teacher, principal and superintendent before retiring in 2007 as a deputy chancellor.

De Blasio has said he wants to undo or revamp some of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's educational reforms, including the reliance on standardized testing and the expansion of charter schools. "I want to see us have a system where people do things because they have a sense of joy about it, not because they have a sense of fear," Fariña said on a recent panel.

Capital New York reports that De Blasio and Fariña have known each other for several years, going back to when the mayor-elect sat on the school board of District 15 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Fariña was superintendent of the district at the time.

De Blasio has been slowly filling out his cabinet. Over the weekend, he announced a new top city lawyer. 

Predictions 2014: In our annual look at predictions for the year ahead, our panel of elected officials and policy experts have once again agreed to pin their reputations as soothsayers on everything from which team might win the World Series to campaign finance reform. READ MORE.

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Want A Minute With The Next Mayor? Imagine for a moment that you’ve got a minute of Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's time. What should be his top priorities as the next mayor? We're crowdsourcing your responses on our website — so sound off and let your voice be heard before Jan. 1, 2014. #deblasio

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city's incarceration rate dropped 36 percent between 2001 and 2012, even as the national rate rose 3 percent. Crime dropped 32 percent over the same period. The decrease in people being locked up was attributed to judges and correction department officials using community-based alternative programs. The cost of jailing people has risen however, with the city spending $168,000 per inmate inmate last year compared to $92,500 in 2001.

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As if it were a final note in a campaign overfilled with personal revelations, Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio's daughter has opened up about her past issues with substance abuse. In a YouTube video posted on Christmas Eve, she discussed her struggles with clinical depression and how she coped by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Although it's been noted that his 19-year-old daughter Chiara needed space to recover, the timing of the revelation was criticized as an attempt to bury the story. It's common to bury sensitive or damaging stories by releasing them on holidays or Fridays, as Eliot Spitzer also did by announcing his split from his wife the other day. In the end, de Blasio stood in proud defense of his daughter, with the support of the White House.

*** Hey readers! We've improved Gotham Gazette's mobile experience with a fully adaptive design for smartphones. Check it out and let us know what you think. This is still pretty new, so we'd like to know if you find any bugs. Email us at info(at)gothamgazette.com *** 

Want A Minute With The Next Mayor? Imagine for a moment that you’ve got a minute of Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's time. What should be his top priorities as the next mayor? We're crowdsourcing your responses on our website — so sound off and let your voice be heard. #deblasio

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Declaring that “there is no higher calling than protecting children,” Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio named a state official to head the city’s Administration for Children's Services.

Gladys Carrión, who is currently commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services, will now oversee a city agency that has faced scrutiny in recent years after shocking child abuse deaths. This included the case of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown and 4-year-old Marchella Pierce. The Brooklyn girls were brutalized and killed by family members while “under the agency’s watch,” Newsday recalls.

Carrión, 62, is a Bronx native who held positions at various nonprofits and in the David Dinkins administration. As head of the state Office of Children and Family Services, she has been credited with overseeing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s initiative calling for the transition of city youth from upstate juvenile justice facilities to ones “closer to home.”

De Blasio announced the appointment at the Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side, founded in 1893 “to care for the poor.”

NEW FROM THE GOTHAM GAZETTE — Is New York's Women's Equality Act Dead? Nearly a year after Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced the Women’s Equality Act in a momentous speech, it has virtually disappeared from the political conversation. And its opponents have declared it all but defeated. By David Howard King. READ MORE.

*** Hey readers! We've improved Gotham Gazette's mobile experience with a fully adaptive design for smartphones. Check it out and let us know what you think. This is still pretty new, so we'd like to know if you find any bugs. Email us at info(at)gothamgazette.com ***

Want A Minute With The Next Mayor? Imagine for a moment that you’ve got a minute of Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's time. What should be his top priorities as the next mayor? We're crowdsourcing your responses on our website — so sound off and let your voice be heard. #deblasio

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Interfaith To Be 11th City Hospital To Close Since 2007 (Crain's)