On Monday morning, Eric Adams was promising New Yorkers would see him washing his dirty towels at the laundromat as the ordinary, blue-collar candidate. But the Democratic mayoral nominee spent Sunday evening with a very different crowd, at a swank Manhattan nightclub raising cash for a new PAC at up to $5,000 a head.

The new PAC, Striving for a Better New York, is meant to support candidates with views similar to Adams, our Tara Palmeri, Sally Goldenberg and Joe Anuta report — the kind of folks the primary victor was presumably referring to when he declared himself “the future of the Democratic Party.” It was created on Sept. 8 by Alfred Cockfield II — a Queens and Brooklyn-based reverend who has a long history with Adams — and treasurer Carmen Sterling, and hasn’t yet reported donations to the state.

“We are looking to support a more practical — and less ideological — approach to education, business and public safety on behalf of voters in New York and around the country who just want their government to deliver basic services better and create prosperity for all, while reducing inequality,” Cockfield said in a statement.

That could mean a lot of things. But Adams did not hold back in his keynote address to the business-friendly crowd, with threats directed at the bureaucracy he will run if elected mayor. “We have a city that has been hijacked by mid-managers in agencies that believe they can wait out mayors and wait out senators and wait out Assembly persons — that they can just hang around and do what they want to do,” he said. “They’re not going to wait me out because I’m going to throw them out.”

IT’S TUESDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: [email protected] and [email protected], or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold

WHERE’S KATHY? Holding a Covid-19 briefing in Manhattan.

WHERE’S BILL? Holding a media availability.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Today’s a day to talk about what’s going on in Washington, it’s not a day for politics.” — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, to Spectrum on the Buffalo mayoral race

IN MEMORIAM: “Why the story of Colin Powell is a classic New York tale,” from USA Today Network’s Peter D. Kramer

Dozens of NYPD officers should be disciplined for protest misconduct, police watchdog agency says, by POLITICO’s Erin Durkin: Sixty-five NYPD officers should face discipline for misconduct during the police brutality protests that swept the city last year, the city’s official police watchdog agency found. The Civilian Complaint Review Board recommended the most serious form of discipline — where penalties can include being fired from the force — for 37 cops, the agency said Monday. Each of those officers will face an internal trial after they are served with formal charges, with the final decision in the hands of the NYPD commissioner. If found guilty, penalties can include loss of vacation days, suspension or termination.

“Commission votes to oust Thomas Jefferson statue from NYC Council chamber by end of year,” by New York Post’s Julia Marsh: “A city commission voted to remove the statue of Thomas Jefferson from the City Council chamber by the end of the year — though the body is still debating where to send the monument to the Founding Father. The Public Design Commission voted unanimously Monday to banish the nation’s third president from the legislative chamber at City Hall after four lawmakers testified that his status as a slaveholder was an affront to the council’s many African American members. ‘We acknowledge that the piece needs to be removed from the City Council chamber,’ said commission president Signe Nielsen.”

De Blasio defends using NYPD security detail to chauffer guests, by POLITICO’s Erin Durkin: Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged there was no security rationale for using his NYPD security detail to ferry guests across town, calling it a “professional courtesy” he believes is appropriate. The Department of Investigation released a probe this month slamming de Blasio for misusing the NYPD detective detail — saying he inappropriately used it to give rides to his children and travel with him at taxpayer expense on his presidential campaign. The mayor has defended his conduct, citing frequent threats against himself and his family. But on Monday, he was asked about another incident detailed in the report: In February 2021, he asked detectives to drive a guest of his from Gracie Mansion to her home on the Upper West Side. He did not cite any safety rationale for the travel, but said he did not believe there was anything wrong with using the detail to chauffeur certain guests.

“N.Y.C. Jail Deaths Climb to 14 as Detainee Is Taken Off Life Support,” by The New York Times’ Jan Ransom: “A Harlem man who had been hospitalized since trying to hang himself last week in a holding pen in Manhattan Criminal Court was taken off life support and died on Monday, becoming the 14th person to die in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction this year. The man, Anthony Scott, 58, died at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the latest in a string of deaths that have made 2021 the deadliest year in the city’s jail system since 2016. The toll has climbed as the city’s correction system has struggled with converging crises.”

Health department workers push for permanent hybrid model amid return to work order, by POLITICO’s Amanda Eisenberg: More than 1,000 staffers at the New York City health department are calling on the de Blasio administration to instate a permanent hybrid model for the agency and improve health measures for the workers who do return to their offices… Mayor Bill de Blasio mandated that all municipal workers return to their offices starting Sept. 13 and that all clinical staff at the city health department, among some other agencies, get vaccinated as a condition of employment. The patchwork approach has led to a demoralizing double standard, the city health department workers said. "The roll-out of [return to work] has stripped staff of their ability to make their own assessments of the risk they are willing to take for themselves, based on individual health profiles and distinct family circumstances," according to a copy of the letter shared with POLITICO.

“NY Democratic chair Jay Jacobs faces criticism for David Duke analogy,” by USA Today Network’s Jon Campbell: “The head of the New York Democratic Party is facing criticism after making an analogy to former Ku Klux Klan leader-turned-politician David Duke while speaking about the Buffalo mayor's race. Jay Jacobs, the state Democratic chairman, made the remark in an interview Monday with Spectrum News' Morgan McKay, who was reporting a story on top party officials declining to make an endorsement in the Buffalo race. McKay asked Jacobs what kind of precedent it sets if the state's top Democratic official doesn't endorse the Democratic nominee — in this case, India Walton, a Black woman and self-declared democratic socialist who defeated incumbent Mayor Byron Brown in a June primary. Jacobs responded by noting it is not a requirement that he endorse every Democratic nominee. He then invoked Duke.”

“What Happens to Cuomo’s Penn Station Renovation Plan Under Kathy Hochul?” by Commercial Observer’s Rebecca Baird-Remba: “Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to redevelop Pennsylvania Station and the surrounding neighborhood was his most ambitious infrastructure project — and the one that he was least likely to finish. Now there are questions about how the sprawling effort — which includes rebuilding the aging rail station and constructing several new buildings to help finance those upgrades — will look with Cuomo out of office. Gov. Kathy Hochul, speaking at a New York Building Congress breakfast on Oct. 14, affirmed her commitment to renovating Penn Station, calling it ‘one scary place.’ However, neither she nor her economic development officials have revealed specifics on how they would change the Cuomo plan or advance it.”

“Hochul makes final state ethics commission appointment,” by Spectrum’s Nick Reisman: “Gov. Kathy Hochul has made her final appointment to the state's under-fire ethics commission, which she has publicly and privately vowed to overhaul and replace. Hochul's office on Monday announced Terryl Brown was appointed to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, her third appointment since taking office on Aug. 24. Brown is the chief legal counsel and deputy commission for legal affairs and administration at the Fire Department of New York City. She is also the first woman to serve as the executive vice president and general counsel for the New York Power Authority.”

“Paying homage: Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus attracts New York politicians,” by Journal News’ Eduardo Cuevas: “New York leaders ingratiated themselves with the Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus on Sunday in Yonkers, as the organization celebrated its 45th anniversary and showcased its rise to power. Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, representing Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration, called the Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a longtime caucus member from Yonkers, ‘the woman who saved New York's democracy.’”

“Siena poll: Hochul tops primary field, but voters mixed on her job performance,” by Spectrum’s Nick Reisman: “Gov. Kathy Hochul tops potential Democratic primary rivals, though a plurality of voters hold a negative view of the job she is doing as governor, a Siena College poll released Tuesday morning found. At the same time, half of voters do not believe Hochul is doing a good job addressing issues that are important to them, which is increasing concerns centered around public safety and addressing systemic racism.”

#UpstateAmerica: A closed border couldn’t keep out these Bills fans: They drove to Toronto, and flew to Detroit, then Pittsburgh. There, they rented a car for the drive to Buffalo, where they stayed overnight so they could arrive by 7 a.m. at Hammer’s Lot. Cost? About $4,000 Canadian.

“Trump testifies for over 4 hours in deposition about 2015 alleged assault at Trump Tower,” by CNN’s Kara Scannell and Chandelis Duster: “Former President Donald Trump answered questions under oath for about 4 1/2 hours Monday as part of a lawsuit brought by men alleging they were assaulted by his security during a demonstration outside Trump Tower in 2015, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said. ‘We examined Mr. Trump on a variety of issues including statements he has made at various campaign events and rallies that counsel believes encouraged violence at those events or encouraged security guards to engage in violence or the confiscation of property,’ said Benjamin Dictor, attorney for the men who filed the 2015 lawsuit.”

“NYC’s Congressional Incumbents Outpacing Progressive Challengers in Fundraising Fights,” by The City’s Clifford Michel: “New York City’s House incumbents are out-fundraising progressive challengers ahead of next year’s primaries and general election in congressional districts that have yet to be drawn. Three years after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took down a powerful House mainstay, progressive candidates are still trying to oust the city’s old guard. Ocasio-Cortez, who faces no current challenge for her seat representing parts of The Bronx and Queens, took in $1.66 million in the latest quarter — more than any member of the city’s congressional delegation, new Federal Election Commission filings show. While falling far short of AOC numbers, veteran Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerry Nadler and Yvette Clarke all pulled out early leads in the money race against challengers in their respective congressional districts.”

— The City Council is considering legislation to weaken rules meant to prevent the use of government resources for political purposes.

— Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa will release a 13-point animal welfare plan.

— Rat poison has been killing birds in city parks.

— A food delivery worker was stabbed to death by an assailant attempting to rob him for his bicycle.

— NAACP head Hazel Dukes, who just endorsed Hochul for reelection, is pushing her to support elder parole.

— Members of the NYPD harassed and threatened a cyclist after he reported the cops for illegal parking in downtown Brooklyn, a complaint alleges.

— De Blasio said unused outdoor dining structures will be removed, while praising the program overall and sticking by plans to make it permanent and year-round.

— Adams plans to visit Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic immediately after the general election.

— An Albany traffic stop may have averted a deadly drive-by shooting by teens with automatic weapons.

— A Coney Island street was named Theodora Lula Vourderis Way in honor of the matriarch of the family that owns the Wonder Wheel.

— A Rotterdam town board candidate is a 9/11 truther.

— A man pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to funding two Brooklyn residents who were planning to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NYT’s Carl Hulse … Amy Walter … Fox News’ Steve Doocy … former RNC Chair Michael Steele … Ray Day of the Stagwell Group … Andrea Bernstein … Will Cadigan of CNN … Dale Brown of the Financial Services Institute … Katie Rayford of Slate … Edelman’s Jeremy Gosbee … Steven Greenhouse … Brunswick Group’s Julia Schechter … Rex Smith … Sean Smith of Porter Novelli … Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan … Samantha Schwab … Sarah Wheaton … American Airlines’ Maggie Steenland … Brett Pinto … Greg Weston … Nicole Pavia … Jonathan Haidt

MEDIAWATCH — Melissa Harris-Perry will be the permanent host and managing editor of The Takeaway on WNYC radio. She has been interim host since July and formerly hosted an MSNBC show.

MAKING MOVES — Vincent Villano has been named chief communications officer at The Legal Aid Society. He was formerly executive director of communications and marketing at the NYC Commission on Human Rights. … Rebecca Osmolski is now digital director for Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). She most recently was digital comms assistant for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. … Dale Bishop is now chief of staff to the CEO at The Block. She most recently was senior director for enterprise business operations at Everfi and is also a POLITICO alum.

WEEKEND WEDDING — Callie Schweitzer, creator programs lead at LinkedIn and an alum of TIME, Vox and TPM, this weekend married Josh Backer, co-founder and COO of marketing technology company Unified, an iHeartMedia company. The ceremony and celebration were held at Wave Hill, a public garden in the Bronx. The couple met through a matchmaker Callie hired in 2018. Pic

“Homeless Shelter Provider, Which Once Earned Millions in NYC Contracts, Declares Bankruptcy,” by City Limits’ David Brand: “A troubled homeless shelter provider that took in more than $330 million in city contracts over the past decade declared bankruptcy Friday, following years of financial problems and substandard services. Aguila Inc., once one of New York City’s largest shelter providers with more than 40 sites in Manhattan and the Bronx, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Manhattan federal court. Aguila’s chief executive officer, Raymond Sanchez, said the organization had little choice after losing all but one of its shelter contracts while contending with mounting debts and various lawsuits — including a complaint filed earlier this year by embattled ex-CEO Jenny Rivera, who was fired amid an investigation by the state attorney general.”

“Inside the N.Y.C. Neighborhood With the Fastest Growing Asian Population,” by The New York Times’ Nicole Hong: “Yumpling, a Taiwanese eatery, opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in August 2020, when New York City was in an uneasy limbo between waves of the coronavirus. Indoor dining was still banned, but the owners had signed the lease right before the pandemic and could not keep paying rent on an empty storefront. To their surprise, they sold out of food within three hours of opening their doors in Long Island City, Queens... Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Yumpling, which had operated a food truck in Manhattan, is one of at least 15 Asian-owned businesses — including a Mandarin child care center and hair salon — that have opened in the neighborhood since March 2020.”