With help from Shawn Ness
BIDEN HUGS HOCHUL IN BORDER ANNOUNCEMENT: President Joe Biden took action at the border today – and New York Governor Kathy Hochul was there with him at the White House.
But more than 200 miles away, another Democrat was left behind.
Mayor Eric Adams was absent from the event, even as his city remains ground zero for the current national migration crisis. It was the latest example of Adams’ once-thriving relationship with the president deteriorating over this very issue.
“People should be asking themselves, ‘Did Eric invite you to his events?’ I have too much on my plate to worry about guest lists I’m not on,” Adams said in an off-topic briefing with reporters. “My day is non-stop, I like going to events in New York and I don’t have to raise my hand to say, ‘Please invite me somewhere’”.
The incident served to contrast the mayor and Hochul, who is enjoying the POTUS’s embrace as she raises funds and plays for him ahead of his election in November.
“Her standing alongside the president as he unveils this new executive action is exactly what we want to see from our governor,” Lupe Todd-Medina, a political consultant who worked with Hochul on his 2022 re-election campaign, told Playbook. “I think that’s smart.”
Biden’s new policy will close much of the southern border and prevent migrants who cross illegally from receiving asylum. The move is expected to provide relief to strained state and local services as New York City passes the threshold of 200,000 migrant arrivals since spring 2022.
But when the bright lights came on, Hochul’s subtle role in the announcement — amid the hectic final days of the legislative session in Albany — became clear. She was in one of two amorphous groups of congressmen and politicians from the border area that Biden had brought in to stand at a distance while he made the announcement. Also present was Representative Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from Long Island.
Hochul later went on MSNBC to defend the president’s move.
“We cannot ignore the fact that while we are a kind and generous people in New York State and we are proud of the Statue of Liberty, we are at capacity right now,” Hochul said. “This will give us a place now to take a little pause about this. Let’s let people apply for asylum legally before they arrive at the borders.”
But House Republicans, who also face re-election, said the move was too little too late.
“Almost 41 months after President Biden reversed border security executive orders, he suddenly finds he has the ability to act, and Kathy Hochul is in the White House praising him for it?” Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who faces a contested re-election and joked about running for governor himself, in a statement to Playbook. “Give me a break. This is election year politics, plain and simple.” – Jason Beeferman
INCREASE AGE: The Legal Aid Society, the Westchester Library System and the Coalition for Homeless Youth today sent a letter calling on Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to approve a bill this would unlock $50 million in Raise the Age funding.
The money, coming from $250 million in Raise the Age appropriations, would fund community organizations for programs designed to keep children out of the criminal justice system. The state enacted a law in 2018 to reduce the number of juveniles tried as adults.
“New York State has not fully fulfilled its promise to fund community services and programs that provide alternatives to incarceration and youth reentry programs under the Raise the Age program,” it reads. the letter, signed by 90 organizations.
But the last-minute push may be moot.
“From what I heard, the Senate had reservations about the legislation we proposed,” Rep. Michaelle Solages, a Nassau County Democrat and bill sponsor, told Playbook on Monday. “As you know, in Albany, it takes two Houses to get something done. We had some of our issues with the language and how to actually facilitate the program itself, but right now there are too many issues and concerns to move forward.”
But she’s still hopeful, adding, “Let me tell you something: It’s not over until it’s over.” -Jason Beeferman
GOP Demonstrations ABOUT CRIME: Republicans in the state Legislature are ending the 2024 session with a familiar theme – attacking Democrats for what the Republican Party characterizes as a soft-on-crime agenda.
“I don’t believe New Yorkers in general support this type of thinking,” Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said at an event outside the Capitol. “I don’t think they wake up every day and think ‘do you know what the most pressing issue is? – we need to do more for those who have raped, robbed, robbed, assaulted, defrauded.’ And yet that continues to be the fixation of many of my colleagues across the aisle.”
There’s not much in the realm of criminal justice that feels like a live ball heading into the final days of the session. Republicans made the event timely by highlighting an imminent parole hearing for an individual who killed an NYPD officer in 1982.
Lawmakers were joined by Mike Sapraicone, the presumptive GOP nominee mounting an unlikely challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. He attacked Rep. Jamaal Bowman for putting state trooper killer Assata Shakur on the wall of fame to a school where he was once director.
“What a shame, a cop killer on a wall of fame in a classroom of young students,” Sapraicone said. -Bill Mahoney
‘WEIRD POLICY’ OF SOCIAL MEDIA RULES: Both bills regulating social media for children are expected to attract an unusually significant level of bipartisan support in the Democratic-dominated Legislature.
Bills that made headlines in Albany – especially those that Hochul, a Democrat, prioritized – they rarely get the support of GOP lawmakers.
But Republicans have been skeptical of tech companies and social media platforms, sharing concerns expressed by Democrats that prolonged exposure to social media harms children’s mental health.
“There are strange politics around this,” said state Sen. Andrew Gounardes. “I think a lot of people left and right are concerned about Big Tech overreach.”
Lawmakers reached an agreement with Hochul to block algorithmically powered feeds on social media platforms for minors, as well as a measure to safeguard the data of child users.
Tech companies have strongly opposed the measures and are expected to sue over First Amendment claims.
“Algorithms actually make online platforms better for teens by promoting wholesome content over hate, harm and misinformation,” said Adam Kovacevich, CEO of technology industry group Chamber of Progress. “These types of unconstitutional limits will have a difficult time surviving a court challenge.”
But tech companies are clashing with Albany lawmakers, who are increasingly skeptical about the benefits of social media.
The bill’s 38-year-old sponsors — Gounardes and Assembly member Nily Rozic — would have been in college when social media was still in its infancy.
It has since become a multi-billion dollar industry, destroying media, entertainment and politics in the process.
“Growing up in the age of social media is obviously part of my experience,” Rozic said. “I know that future generations will be impacted by social media; That’s why we have to stop it before it really gets worse.” – Nick Reisman
– GOLDMAN WANTS EYE ON THE SUPREME COURT: Representative Dan Goldman intends to advance legislation that would create an independent investigative body to analyze ethical errors by Supreme Court justices. The Supreme Court has been plagued by controversy, most recently after The New York Times reported that Justice Samuel Alito ordered a “Stop the Steal” flag to be raised outside his home. (State of Politics)
– IN OPINION: Civil society organizations want the state legislature to improve outcomes when it comes to the state’s handling of foreign country debts, which has been a key concern for many since the pandemic. (Financial Times)
– INVESTIGATING THE INVESTIGATORS: The NYPD and New York City Parks Department are launching an investigation into a Parks Department officer caught on video grabbing a young girl in a botched arrest. And Mayor Eric Adams is blaming migrants for delayed work permits. (Daily News)
– REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: Lawmakers have finally reached an agreement to reduce the amount of plastic going to landfills by 30% over the next 12 years. State Sen. Pete Harckham, chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee, said he expects a floor vote later this week. (POLITICIAN Pro)
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This story originally appeared on Politico.com read the full story
