With help from Shawn Ness
new from new york
What’s happening now:
- Mayor Eric Adams spoke about why it is time to quell protests on college campuses.
- New York State has a new Secretary of State who needs to be confirmed by the State Senate.
- New York City’s budget is getting bigger.
- Why Attorney General Tish James and her colleagues are suing the NCAA
DEMS defends campus oppression: Police not only arrested pro-Palestinian protesters at Manhattan College on Tuesday night but also protected “children” from “outside agitators,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a media appearance this morning, defending New York police.
“It is a global problem that young people are being influenced by professionals who are radicalizing our children,” Adams said during a news conference with police Wednesday morning. “And as mayor of New York, I will not allow that to happen.”
Adams declined to elaborate on who the instigator was. There is no doubt that some of those protesting on campus were not students, but the NYPD’s key evidence that protesters occupying buildings used the thick bicycle locks favored by students was roundly ridiculed online.
This police action was the largest ever mobilized by New York City police in response to recent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Adams emphasized that both Columbia University and City College have formally requested response assistance from the NYPD. Protesters at Columbia occupied the campus’ academic buildings and City College, setting up barricades, setting up tents and occupying the campus’ main lawn.
New York police said Tuesday night that 173 people were arrested in City College and 109 in Columbia.
Key Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, supported the high-profile police response.
POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports that Jeffries said at today’s press conference, “As far as I can tell, the NYPD’s efforts were thorough and professional, and they exercised a degree of calm in a very tense situation that should be commended.”
“The rest of the people on campus should not have to live in fear because you insist on exercising your rights,” Hochul said in a separate media outlet. “But in the last few weeks, that’s starting to happen on our campus.”
But Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the response, following reports of police shutting down a section of the city, pepper-spraying protesters and throwing them to the ground, “ “It’s counterproductive and downright dangerous.”
“While other campuses across the country were having productive conversations with protesters, last night at Columbia and City College the NYPD responded with threats and violence. — jeff colt
Send SOS: Former Assemblyman Walter Mosley has been Hochul’s choice to be the next New York Secretary of State, her office announced today.
“The Department of State plays a critical role in implementing a wide range of government services, from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative to the Office for New Americans,” Hochul said in a statement.
“Walter Mosley’s public service in the New York State Assembly and years of leadership in the community have given him the skills and experience necessary to lead this department into the future.”
The Democrat represented Brooklyn in Congress from 2013 to 2021, losing in the primary to Phara Souffrant Forrest.
If confirmed by the state Senate, Mosley will replace Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez was named president and CEO of the state Dormitory Authority last month.
“I am extremely honored to have been selected as Secretary of State by Governor Hochul,” said Mosley. “My career has been focused on finding ways to make government work for the people, and I am excited to take on this pivotal role in state government.” — Nick Reisman
Budget Watcher: The Citizens Budget Commission wants to remind New York City residents how much the Adams administration spent.
The budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 will increase city spending by more than 6% compared to this year, according to a report from the business-backed fiscal watchdog.
The increase would be even more pronounced if you factor into the equation the roughly $2.2 billion for programs that cities are likely to spend money on but are not included in the plan.
The growth is part of a broader trend. From 2020 to this summer, city spending is expected to increase 26%, outpacing inflation by more than 43%.
And even excluding immigration spending, spending growth would still increase 21% over the same period, to about $15 billion, the report said. — Sean Ness
Election turnout issues: Less than 13% of registered voters in New York City participated in the election, according to a new report from the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
To increase voter turnout, the report recommends two policies: One is to hold local elections in even-numbered years, and the other is to create a civic engagement fellowship program to expand voter assistance programs.
New York has a law that moves most local elections to even years to tie them in with state and federal races. But the law does not apply to New York City and is facing legal challenges.
Democrats say the goal is to increase voter turnout, but Republicans argue it’s a way for Democrats to deal a bigger blow to Republicans in a state with twice as many Democrats as Republicans.
“New York City’s democracy is only as strong as the city’s participation. Even though 82% of eligible New Yorkers are registered to vote, we have a long way to go until all New Yorkers have access to voting and full civic participation,” Paul Ryan, the commission’s executive director, said in a statement.
Despite 81% of voters being registered in the city’s two most recent elections, only 7% of voters participated in the primary and 12.8% in the general election, the group said. — Sean Ness
James is suing the NCAA: The state attorney general’s office is working with a coalition of states to sue the NCAA over policies that prevent student athletes from earning money and benefits from their “name, image and potential.”
Attorney General Tish James said the policy prohibits student-athletes from looking at compensation offers before enrolling in school, preventing them from fully understanding their options before deciding where to attend college. said. Other states included in the lawsuit include Tennessee, Florida, the District of Columbia and Virginia.
“New York student-athletes are some of the best athletes in the country and should be able to make decisions about their athletic careers without restrictions,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
“The NCAA’s NIL rules limit the potential of college athletes and limit competition between colleges. This is not fair game. Student-athletes should be able to make fair and equal decisions about their careers.” — Caitlin Cordero
Campaign tracking
HOCHUL FUNDRAISING FOR LASHER: Hochul is scheduled to attend a lavish fundraiser tonight for Upper West Side congressional candidate Micah Lasher. The moderator of this event is Dan Doctoroff, former Deputy Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former CEO of Bloomberg LP.
Lasher was previously a top policy advisor to Hochul and worked at Bloomberg earlier in his career. He faces a four-way primary in which Public Defender Eli Northrup, the Working Families Party candidate, is likely to be his strongest challenger.
The embattled 69th District seat, which includes Columbia University, is currently held by Rep. Danny O’Donnell. He is retiring after representing the area for 20 years. Although other celebrities such as Assemblyman Jerry Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer have endorsed Lasher, O’Donnell still has not announced her support for any candidate in the primary.
O’Donnell declined to comment on the protests in Columbia, but Lasher commented on the unrest in a statement to Playbook.
“The situation was heartbreaking in many ways,” he said. “At this point, I can only hope that the Columbia community can find a way forward.”
This morning, Northrup called The NYPD deployment Tuesday evening was a “completely disproportionate response.”
Ticket prices to attend the 6:30 p.m. fundraiser range from $1,000 to $3,000.
“I could not be more honored to have two of my former bosses, Dan Doctoroff and Governor Hochul, team up with Alisa Doctoroff to energize our campaign,” Lasher said in a separate statement.
Northrup blasted Lasher for the fundraiser.
“My opponent is clearly ideologically aligned with our governor and will continue to be influenced by big money and special interests rather than being accountable to our communities,” Northrup said. “We need elected officials who work with and for the people, not career politicians who are disconnected from the issues we face.” — Jason Bipperman
— Protesters gathered outside NYPD headquarters. After the arrests of about 300 protesters at Columbia University and CUNY College Tuesday evening. (Political Status)
— investigation department The investigation into Advisor Adams is now expanding to include his role in NYPD personnel and promotional matters. (Daily News)
— Students at SUNY Stony Brook Camp I was warned that I might have to go somewhere else. (Newsday)
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