Today, just before the clock strikes midnight, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will leave office, to be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, the first female governor in state history and the first from upstate in almost a century.

There’s another qualifier in her bio, one that could be a driving force in the way she shapes the executive-heavy operations that guide New York state government. She has more experience in local government than any of the 56 men who preceded her. Hochul will be the first governor since former Ithaca Supervisor Alonzo Cornell — who was in Albany from 1880 through 1882 — to have previously held elected office in a town, writes Bill Mahoney, who visited Hamburg for a look at Hochul’s early political days on the town board.

Even then she wasn’t one to sit back and watch. A look at the archives shows Hochul played a key role in efforts like the creation of a town visitor center, the expansion of the town golf course from nine to 18 holes, and an increase in the fine for leaving a junk car on a lawn from $25 to $50. She was the “go-to person” for a town referendum on garbage and recycling collection.

She organized a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’77, which dumped up to 100 inches of snow on the region. And she sold sunsets, which resulted in at least 15 people paying $25 for commemorative pictures as a fundraiser for the Lake Erie Seaway Trail Visitors Center.

But 13 years as a town board member might not tell us much about how she’ll operate as the state’s top Democrat — partisanship was low on the priority list when it came to municipal needs, Hochul and those around her said.

“Party label means nothing to me when it comes to delivering service,” she said while running in her first campaign. “At the local level of government, someone please tell me the difference between Democrats and Republicans.”

Interpersonal interactions, however, were a defining feature. One of her first moves upon joining the board was establishing a “Councilman’s Night In,” setting up regular times where people could meet with their elected officials.

Hochul doesn’t plan to drop that focus decades later, even as governor. On Friday during an event on Long Island she said she will continue to be “very accessible” and communities “should get used to seeing me.” Be warned though, it might be more difficult to get a one-on-one with New York’s sitting governor than it was when she was Hamburg’s “Energizer bunny.”

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

WHERE’S ANDREW? No public schedule yet.

WHERE’S BILL? Speaking at the launch of the St. George ferry route in Staten Island and appearing on Inside City Hall.

WHERE’S KATHY? No public schedule yet.

COUNTDOWN TO KATHY: 1 DAY

“A Starry Central Park Comeback Concert Is Silenced by Lightning,” by The New York Times’ Ben Sisario: “It was supposed to be a glorious celebration of the re-emergence of New York City after more than a year of pandemic hardship — a concert bringing thousands of vaccinated fans on Saturday evening to the Great Lawn of Central Park to hear an all-star lineup. And for the first couple of hours, it was, with messages of New York’s resilience sandwiched between performances by the New York Philharmonic, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, LL Cool J and Earth, Wind and Fire, among others. But shortly after 7:30 p.m., as Barry Manilow was performing ‘Can’t Smile Without You,’ lightning brought the concert to a halt. ‘Please seek shelter for your safety,’ an announcer intoned, stopping the music, as people began filing out of the park. The crowds were sent home, and the concert was brought to an abrupt halt.”

— Rainfall in Central Park from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday was the most ever recorded in a single hour in the city since tracking began.

“After Two Year Delay, MTA Announces Timeline For Congestion Pricing,” by Gothamist’s Jake Offenhartz: “The MTA and the Biden administration have reached an agreement to begin a long-stalled environmental review of New York's congestion pricing program — setting in motion a roughly two-year process to begin tolling drivers entering Manhattan's core. In a statement on Friday, the MTA announced they had received federal approval to begin a 16-month environmental assessment. … Once the process is complete, the vendor will have approximately 10 months to install the tolling technology, according to sources familiar with the plan. The first-in-the-nation congestion pricing plan passed as part of the state budget in 2019.”

“De Blasio: COVID vaccine mandate for NYC public school athletes,” by New York Daily News’ Dave Goldiner: “Mayor de Blasio said New York City public school athletes and coaches will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the coming school year. Even though the vaccine will not be mandatory for all students, the mayor said athletes need to be vaccinated due to their higher risk of contracting the disease. ‘Any athlete, any coach has to get a first dose by the time they play or practice for the first time,’ de Blasio told WNYC radio on Friday. The mandate will cover an estimated 20,000 high school student athletes in sports including football, basketball, volleyball and even bowling. It won’t apply to so-called low-risk sports, including baseball, soccer, tennis, track and gymnastics.”

— “A Hospital Finds an Unlikely Group Opposing Vaccination: Its Workers,” by The New York Times’ Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura: “Their movement started discreetly, just a handful of people communicating on encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal. But in just days it had ballooned tenfold. And within two weeks, it had turned into a full-blown public protest, with people waving picket signs to denounce efforts to push them to receive coronavirus vaccines. But these were not just any vaccine resisters. They were nurses, medical technicians, infection control officers and other staff who work at a hospital in Staten Island, which has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection of any borough in New York City.”

“Anti-horse carriage group gallops away from Curtis Sliwa, who backs platform,” by New York Post’s Julia Marsh and Carl Campanile: “The animal rights group that wants to ban Central Park’s horse carriage industry galloped away from Curtis Sliwa even after the GOP mayoral candidate — who supports the prohibition — appeared at a protest over the treatment of a sick horse. ‘NOTE: While Curtis Sliwa attended today’s protest, NYCLASS is NOT endorsing his candidacy or his agenda,’ the group said in bold, red letters in a press release following the demonstration on Thursday. NYCLASS executive director Edita Birnkrant said her organization would likely make an endorsement in the mayor’s race but hasn’t made any decisions yet. But she suggested Sliwa, an avowed animal rights activist who lives with 15 foster cats in his Manhattan studio apartment, wouldn’t get the group’s backing, even though he supports their central cause.”

New York Dems brace for a new era in the state party Cuomo made his own, by POLITICO’s Bill Mahoney and Anna Gronewold: New York's Democratic Party for much of the past decade has been one of the many tools Andrew Cuomo wielded to exert his dominance over the state. Now, his planned exit from the political stage opens a power vacuum, and the New York State Democratic Committee faces an uncertain future with barely a year to go until the next major election. On taking office Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul will become the face and likely the unofficial leader of the party. But she might have a difficult job keeping the party apparatus united behind her in advance of a 2022 primary. For one, there’s a decent chance that a competitive race could lead to factionalizing between her and someone like state Attorney General Tish James. And even if Hochul — who recently declared her intentions to run for a full term — manages to clear the field in the coming months, she will likely have to deal with a more serious limitation to her dominance over the Democratic Committee: Cuomo’s departure has created an expectation with some that the traditionally top-heavy party will take steps toward one that’s more representative of the different forces within it.

Cuomo lawyer, spokesperson bash fairness of James’ report just days before departure, by POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold: With three days left in office, outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his lawyer are hoping to alter the record regarding 11 allegations of sexual harassment outlined in a report from the state attorney general that ultimately led to the governor's resignation. On Friday, even as U-Haul moving trucks were spotted at the executive mansion, Cuomo’s personal lawyer Rita Glavin said in the next week she will be requesting Attorney General Tish James' office add Cuomo-positive evidence to the damning 168-page report that was released Aug. 3. She will also submit the proposed supplements to the Assembly’s Judiciary committee, to the extent legislators will include James’ report in their own determinations to be published at a future date — despite the impeachment investigation's suspension. “THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE THE EVIDENCE THAT IS FAVORABLE TO THE GOVERNOR,” read the title of one of the slides on Glavin’s video briefing.

Cuomo prepares for a hurricane in his administration’s final hours, by POLITICO’s Bill Mahoney: Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he’ll handle New York’s response to Hurricane Henri, which is expected to make landfall on Long Island about 36 hours before he turns power over to Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. “I am governor today, and I am in charge,” Cuomo said at a press briefing on Saturday. Henri is expected to make landfall around noon on Sunday, the outgoing governor said, and be a “26-hour event.” Cuomo is due to resign at 11:59 p.m. on Monday. The timing resurfaced some criticisms of the lengthy transition period that resulted when Cuomo announced earlier this month that he’d resign following sexual harassment revelations, but not for 14 days.

— “In his mind, he’s going to be the hero forever.” — Sen. Gustavo Rivera on Cuomo’s closing performance

“Cuomo and the State Police: meddling, anger and sexual harassment,” by Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons: “State Police Investigator Bryan S. Myles was standing in front of the Mount Kisco movie theater on Main Street, scanning the faces of young people pouring through the exits. It was 2011, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's first year as governor. The investigator, dressed in a suit and wearing his State Police Protective Services Unit pin, had a simple task: pick up Cuomo's youngest daughter, Michaela, who was then about 14 years old. He was supposed to bring her back to the governor's nearby residence — a bucolic $1.5 million Westchester County estate that Cuomo shared with Food Network star Sandra Lee.”

“Kathy Hochul will lead a state still grappling with Covid. With what approach?” by Buffalo News’s Tom Precious: “Kathy Hochul faces a number of hurdles from the minute she is sworn in as governor at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Few, if any, will be more consequential than how her new administration will proceed in the battle to control rising Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. While she has not yet laid out her Covid-fighting policies, the ideas from health experts, lawmakers, business groups, government watchdogs and various stakeholders are many as Hochul decides what existing policies to jettison or amend and which to continue. The lieutenant governor inherits the responsibility for the state’s Covid response from the disgraced and outgoing governor, Andrew Cuomo, whose national name recognition soared last year courtesy of his daily Covid press briefings. So far, given Hochul’s reputation and comments about how she intends to govern, it would appear the new governor will be different, in substance and style. Hochul has indicated she will act decisively, but only after consulting with health experts, including local health commissioners and an array of stakeholders.”

— SPECIAL SESSION RUMORS STARTING: “With Cuomo’s exit, pols look to kill, change or jump-start his plans,” by Newsday’s Yancey Roy: “When Hochul, a Buffalo Democrat, takes the reins, she’ll seek to put her own stamp on the office and set a new tone. She’ll also receive a laundry list of wishes from state legislators and advocates looking to make changes after Cuomo’s departure. Taking over the governor's office, Hochul now will have the final say over any of those proposals. … Some of the requests will push into 2022, such as changing the state’s economic development awards program or the college tuition assistance program. Some could be tackled soon after Hochul takes office. Legislators have talked about convening a special session to address pressing issues.”

— Hochul’s specific policy positions, if different from Cuomo’s, aren’t shored up yet. But Marathon Strategies compiled her previous stances on major issues coming up in 2022 and beyond if you’d like to start making some guesses.

#UpstateAmerica: A national shortage of plastic cups has had an impact on beer drinkers at the State Fair.

“House Dems face decision on dirty Cuomo campaign cash,” by New York Post’s Jon Levine: “With Gov. Cuomo preparing his unceremonious exit from Albany after a cascade of sexual misconduct accusations, Democratic lawmakers around the country now face the decision of what to do with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash he gave them. During the contentious 2018 midterm elections, the ‘Cuomo NY Take Back The House’ political action committee donated $47,000 to high-profile House races around the country and helped the Democratic Party take back the lower chamber from Republicans that year. In New York, Rep. Joseph Morelle took a $2,700 infusion to help him secure a western district left open by the death of Rep. Louise Slaughter in March 2018. That same cycle, another $2,700 went to Rep. Antonio Delgado, which helped him knock off GOP Rep. John Faso in an upstate race. Both men called on the governor to resign back in March, but neither answered Post inquiries about what they did or will do with the Cuomo cash.”

— There was trouble at Time’s Up even before its controversial connections to Cuomo.

— The labor union representing City Council staffers has been officially approved by the city.

— The first indoor performance for the Metropolitan Opera will be a rendition of Verdi’s Requiem on Sept. 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

— There’s a “grandparent scam” in Genesee and Monroe counties.

— Hunting licenses are now on sale throughout the state.

— Dutchess County is seeing a 57 percent increase in applicants for law-enforcement jobs.

— New York-Presbyterian hospital won’t sign an agreement to treat 9/11 first responders based on rates paid by the feds.

— A pop-up ferris wheel will be opening in Times Square.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Axios’ Alexi McCammond … NBC’s Mike Memoli and Julie Tsirkin … Miriam Sapiro … Stephen Miller … Finsbury Glover Hering’s Tom Nowlan … Bradley Singer of WME … Brunswick Group’s Patti Solis Doyle … ProPublica’s Craig Silverman … (was Sunday): NBC’s Steve Kornacki … National Review’s Rich Lowry ... Finsbury Glover Hering’s Jennifer Loven … CBS’ Nancy Chen ... NewsGuard’s Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz … The New Yorker’s Robin Wright … AP’s Nebi Qena … Luke Russert … Paul Singer ... Jess Allen ... Steve Kroft ... Michael A. Fragin ... Gigi Sharp … Java Lughod … Lacey Tauber …

… (was Saturday): Peter Hamby of Snapchat and Puck … Steve Case of Revolution and the Case Foundation … Ken Mehlman of KKR … NBC’s Harry Smith turned 7-0 … CNN’s Cameron Hough … Mary Brady of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. … NBC’s Pamela Engel … Joe Buicko … Tzippy Baitch

WEEKEND WEDDINGS — Lauren Gillis, senior policy adviser to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Alex Tureman, CEO of Bondi Partners, got married Friday night at the Sun Room in D.C., with Lauren’s aunt serving as the officiant. The two met while working together in the Australian Embassy. Pic … Another pic

— Michelle Rizzi, a producer at marketing agency Collectively, and Sam Giber, a partner at venture capital fund Blisce, were recently married at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego. The couple will reside in NYC. Pic … Another pic

— Lindsay Simon to Jason Martuscello -- NYT’s Nina Reyes: “She is a senior influencer strategist at Hunter, a public relations firm in New York, and graduated from Boston College. ... Mr. Martuscello is a business strategist at Beesy Strategy, a New York behavioral science research consultancy. He graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh, received a master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of South Florida and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida.” NYT announcement with pics

SPOTTED: Reince Priebus, Stephen Miller and Dan Scavino traveling down from Bedminster with former President Donald Trump on a private jet for his Alabama Republican Party rally on Saturday night.

“Manhattan Lead Paint Confusion Casts New Doubts on Moving Public Housing to Private Management,” by The City’s Greg B. Smith: “When the New York City Housing Authority turned over hundreds of public housing apartments in Manhattan to a private management company last fall, the new managers were required to clean up any lead paint hazards lingering on the walls. In June, the managers sent tenants notices that Harley Plumbing & Heating LLC would soon arrive to repair leaky water pipes — and that Harley’s owner, Steven Kofsky, was qualified to supervise any lead paint remediation if necessary. To make sure the residents knew they were on top of their game, the company, Monadnock Development, provided tenants with Kofsky’s official documentation certifying that he’d been properly trained and registered as qualified to deal with lead paint by the federal Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). There was only one problem: Kofsky’s EPA certification had expired in 2011 — 10 years earlier, according to federal officials. This is just one of several behind-the-scenes problems recently surfaced in NYCHA’s controversial effort to fix up its aging portfolio by turning over management of buildings to the private sector, via an Obama-era program known as Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD).”