March 1, 2021
City & State New York
3
EDITOR’S NOTE
RALPH R. ORTEGA Interim editor-in-chief
AT CITY & STATE, we are committed to reflecting all of New York’s diverse communities in our coverage of New York state politics and government. That commitment extends to how we put together our power lists. These lists are meant to reflect who is powerful, influential or noteworthy within various industries, but inclusion on a list does not equal an endorsement or moral judgment on a person’s record in their industry. Because we believe that transparency is important, City & State would like to share our criteria for inclusion and ranking on power lists: • Track record: What policies has the person shaped? What programs has the person run, and how effectively? • Diversity: Do the people on the list reflect New York’s diverse communities, and does this list as a whole reflect those who exercise power and influence the industry or shape the conversation around policy within it, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, immigrant communities, socioeconomic status and geography? • Importance and size of the group or constituency that someone serves: Business executives, lobbyists, labor leaders and journalists all represent industries, clients, employees or customers – and with that responsibility comes some degree of power. • Proximity to power: Is the person in the inner circle of informal advisers and backers to top and influential elected officials? • Thought leadership: Do the people on the list shape the conversation around policy within the
industry, whether through media, advocacy, lobbying or activism? • Economic power: Does the person on the list have economic power, and does it translate into policy changes or influence? • Insiders vs. outsiders: Does the list include grassroots activists who are having an impact in addition to establishment figures in traditional power roles? We invite your feedback on these criteria and how they can be improved. In the days ahead, you’ll learn about City & State’s first advisory board, to be headed by Chair Sheryl Huggins Salomon. She is currently the chief communications officer for the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. Sheryl’s previous posts include serving in editorial leadership positions at news outlets focused on the interests and achievements of Black people, as managing editor of The Root and AOL Black Voices, as well as editorial director of NewsOne.com. Together with her journalistic experience at mainstream news outlets such as Dow Jones Newswires, Fortune’s erstwhile FSB.com digital outlet, and the Asbury Park Press, these experiences shaped her understanding of truly inclusive coverage. She has worked for Gizmodo Media Group, The Washington Post Company, AOL, Time Inc., Dow Jones and Urban One, and she has taught journalism at CUNY York College. We’re excited to welcome Sheryl and will soon announce the names of our other board members, who will provide valuable insights that will help maintain and improve our focus on diversity and inclusion within our power lists and rankings.
CONTENTS FIRST READ … 4 The week that was
AMAZON … 8
RALPH R. ORTEGA; JOHN MCCARTEN/NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL
New York’s latest labor fight
REDISTRICTING … 12
Do Democrats dare gerrymander?
CARLINA RIVERA … 18 One of the leading speaker candidates endorses COVID-19 STRAIN … 20
Hospitals barely weathered the pandemic Carlina Rivera has her eyes on the New York City Council speakership.
MEDICAID SPENDING … 24
The data behind where costs are rising
WINNERS & LOSERS … 34
Who was up and who was down last week
