6 minute read
FIRST READ
New York City Mayor Eric Adams proposed addressing the city’s housing crisis by building over 500,000 new homes in the next decade with his “Get Stuff Built” agenda.
A MOONSHOT FOR HOUSING
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the city would build 500,000 new homes over the next decade. If completed, that would more than double the 200,000 homes added in the city’s arsenal in the past 10 years. The mayor unveiled the “moonshot” figure Dec. 8 during a speech from City Hall where he outlined 111 recommendations that could streamline residential development in the five boroughs by cutting red tape. The news comes as New York has grappled with a worsening housing crisis. Having grown by about 800,000 residents in the past decade, the city’s population has rapidly outpaced housing construction. The consequences of this have been far-reaching and in some instances
THEY HEART NEW YORK
The hottest club in New York is the intersection of Little West 12th Street and Washington Street. For the cover of its “Reasons to Love New York” issue, New York magazine crowded the crossing with icons from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer to Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls alongside much cooler celebrities. Mayor Eric Adams wasn’t featured, but his enjoyment of his job ranked second on the outlet’s list of reasons to love New York.
“Bye Felicia.”
– Rep. Jamaal Bowman, on U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, via Twitter
dire: higher housing prices, more homeless New Yorkers and longer commutes. Gov. Kathy Hochul has also stressed that leaders must address the lack of housing. She’s promised to unveil additional information about her aggressive plan during her upcoming State of the State speech in January.
AG OFFICE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL
State Attorney General Letitia James’ longtime chief of staff Ibrahim Khan suddenly resigned after it became public that at least one woman accused him of inappropriate touching and unwanted kissing. In the days since, questions have circulated around how James and her office handled the accusations. Recently released documents detail the timeline of when her office first became aware of the allegations against Khan (Oct. 2) and went on to hire an outside team to conduct the investigation. While the findings of the investigation have not been released to the public, the Times reported that the woman’s allegations were substantiated. Republican lawmakers have called for an investigation into James’ handling of the incidents, questioning whether the state attorney general sat on the news for around two months to protect her reelection. James has strongly condemned Khan’s actions. Democrats have largely refrained from
commenting, but others have defended James. Both Hochul and Adams have said they stand by the state attorney general and her handling of the matter, with Hochul rejecting the prospect of a probe.
HOSPITAL SHORTAGES
In recent days, New York hospitals have increasingly sounded alarms about staffing shortages heading into a particularly grueling winter season. Health care leaders are describing the shortage as having reached a crisis level: There are currently 9,300 job openings for nurses in the state, and that number is expected to dramatically rise in the coming years. Advocates say the shortage is currently projected to grow to around 30,000 vacancies by 2030. A coalition of 50 upstate hospitals and health systems are pushing the state Legislature to pass a slate of bills that they argue would give them at least some relief. One piece of legislation would allow nurses to complete one-third of their clinical training through simulation.
TRUMP ORG GUILTY ON 17 COUNTS
While facing a $1.6 million fine for tax fraud isn’t a good look for anyone, it’s an especially difficult verdict to shake for a presidential candidate. Yet, that’s the situation that Donald Trump now finds himself in just a few weeks after launching his next presidential campaign. On Dec. 6, a Manhattan jury found Trump’s family company guilty of 17 different crimes, including falsifying business records, conspiracy and tax fraud. While Trump himself escaped any criminal charges, experts say the verdict only adds to his mounting legal woes.
In a case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, The Trump Organization was found guilty of tax fraud, adding to former President Donald Trump’s many troubles.
Senators support their staffers’ unionization
Staffers in the state Senate have started to lock up support from their bosses for their unionization efforts as they move closer to filing for recognition. In a letter shared exclusively with City & State, over 20 state senators from both sides of the aisle have pledged not to engage in any sort of retaliation against staffers who are part of New York State Legislative Workers United and urged state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to voluntarily recognize the union. If Stewart-Cousins chooses not to recognize the union, the decision would go to a vote among staffers with the Public Employment Relations Board.
Union organizers have circulated the letter among lawmakers for the past two weeks, first sending it out on Nov. 23. Since then, 25 current and incoming state senators have signed their support. “We are heartened to see a bipartisan cohort of Senators recognize our right to organize and commit to their obligation not to interfere with our efforts to form a union,” the staffers’ organizing committee said in a statement. “With this statement of solidarity, they are emphasizing their commitment to the sentiment that every worker deserves a union.”
Signatories include some usual progressive names like Jessica Ramos, chair of the Labor Committee, as well as Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport. “I was once a staffer, and I see how hard our staff work to serve our constituents,” Ramos said in a statement to City & State. “Recognizing their right to organize and refusing to retaliate is a simple ask, and one that just strikes me as common sense.” Incoming state Sens. Kristen Gonzalez and Iwen Chu also offered their support, as well as the outgoing state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi. “When NYSLWU is ready to request voluntary recognition, we will support them as we have supported other union efforts,” the letter reads. “And we will encourage the Majority Leader to work with them in good faith to negotiate a fair contract that will help the legislature retain our passionate, hard working staff, who are committed to serving the people of New York.”
Most of those who signed on had previously stated their support in public. But it’s still missing a number of notable Democrats, including Zellnor Myrie, Jamaal Bailey and Joe Addabbo. Although Stewart-Cousins is unsurprisingly absent given her leadership, her deputy Michael Gianaris was also missing from the list. – Rebecca C. Lewis
THE WEEK AHEAD
WEDNESDAY 12/14
Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams appear together at an Association for a Better New York power breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan. THURSDAY 12/15
City & State honors outstanding corporate citizens at The Responsible 100 event at Sony Hall in Manhattan, with speeches from New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and more. MONDAY 12/19
The New York City Council holds a 10 a.m. oversight hearing at City Hall examining the city’s response and delivery of services to migrants. INSIDE DOPE
The council is also holding a second day of hearings on the asylum-seekers on Tuesday, with opportunities for public testimony.
