There’s “overwhelming evidence” that ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women. Cuomo also abused state resources and employees for personal profit to produce his $5.2 million pandemic memoir. Those are the big takeaways from the Assembly’s impeachment report into the former governor, finally released after an eight-month probe.

The investigation is the first to thoroughly examine Cuomo’s alleged misdeeds around the book deal, and knocks down Cuomo’s claim that any staff work on the book was incidental and voluntary. “One senior state official explained that Book-related assignments were given by superiors and expected to be completed, and the work was not voluntary,” the report finds. “Another senior state official complained... that work on the Book was compromising the official’s ability to work on COVID-related matters.”

Melissa DeRosa, the governor’s right-hand woman, sent and received at least 1,000 book-related emails, while junior staffers were enlisted to transcribe dictation, and print and deliver documents. And the book deal may have been on Cuomo’s mind earlier than previously known: a publisher first broached it on March 19, 2020, before New York had even gone into lockdown. All this went down, the report concludes, as Cuomo was not being fully transparent about the number of nursing home residents who died from the virus.

The harassment accusations have been substantiated before, in the investigation by Attorney General Tish James that led to Cuomo’s resignation. But the ex-governor has attacked that probe as a biased political hit job by an AG who is now running for governor. Well, this one stood up the same accusations, even providing a detailed timeline of an incident where he allegedly groped an aide’s breast. Team Cuomo now says this Assembly report is biased and hypocritical, mostly for its overlap with James’.

The Assembly impeachment investigation won’t lead to Cuomo being impeached, because he has already left office. Despite calls from some to go through the process anyway and bar him from running for office in the future, the report concludes that the Assembly lacks the constitutional authority to do so. But it could fuel open criminal probes of Cuomo. “We’re going to fully cooperate with all investigating authorities,” Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine told our Bill Mahoney. “And it will be up to those investigative authorities to determine where there will be criminal charges or not."

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? Distributing turkeys at several events and touring the Second Ave. subway tunnel.

WHERE’S BILL? Hosting media availability.

WHERE’S ERIC? No press time available.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but back to our normal schedule on Monday, Nov. 29. Please continue to follow POLITICO New York.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Attorney General Tish James has brought on Gabby Seay, the political director for 1199SIEU United Healthcare Workers East, to head up her run for governor. James today announced Seay as her campaign manager, calling her “a nationally recognized strategist and organizer who will help this campaign speak with New Yorkers in every corner of the state.” Seay oversaw 1199’s political, legislative, and policy work in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Florida. She also led a social impact consulting practice and worked campaigns on local, state, and national levels.

“De Blasio wants to ban ‘inhumane’ NYC Central Park horse carriages again — but skeptics question timing,” by New York Daily News’ Chris Sommerfeldt: “Mayor de Blasio pledged Monday to give banning Central Park horse carriages one final shot before leaving office, revisiting a long-stalled promise that he rode into City Hall on eight years ago. De Blasio, who’s handing over the mayoral reins to Eric Adams on Jan. 1, said his team is in talks with councilmembers about crafting 11th-hour legislation to outlaw the contentious carriages, which have been a topic of heated debate in the city for decades. ‘I’ve believed for a long time that horse carriages just don’t make sense. They’re inhumane. They don’t make sense. It’s the 21st century for God’s sakes,’ de Blasio said in his morning briefing. ‘This is something we’re talking to the City Council about, and we’ll see if there’s something that could be done here.’”

— De Blasio added on NY1 Monday night that horse carriage rides should be banned across New York State. “We’ve really started to re-understand our connection to nature and to animals and to the environment, the climate,” he said. “A lot of thinking is going on. There’s a reason a lot of people have chosen to be vegan. … You’ve seen changes in how circuses are approached and lots of other things. So this is part of a national, even international phenomenon.” — Joe Anuta

De Blasio brushes off poll putting him in last place in governor's race, by POLITICO’s Erin Durkin: Mayor Bill de Blasio said he won’t be deterred from getting into the race for governor by a new poll that found him in last place and with the highest unfavorable ratings of the potential primary field. “I have the honor of being the mayor of the greatest city in the world, and I wouldn’t be sitting here if I ever listened to polls,” de Blasio told reporters Monday. “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.” A Data for Progress poll first reported by POLITICO found Gov. Kathy Hochul leading the Democratic gubernatorial field — and de Blasio, who is weighing a campaign, in last place. He gets 5 percent of the vote in a field that includes declared candidates Hochul, Attorney General Tish James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and another potential candidate, Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi.

Banks will head to private sector, ending speculation on role with Adams, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta: Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks will join Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison at the close of the de Blasio administration, he announced Monday. Banks will be special counsel at the firm and oversee strategy for its pro bono practice, which has helped litigate several landmark civil rights cases. The former lead attorney for the Legal Aid Society was thought to be under consideration to continue heading up the city’s social service and homelessness efforts under Mayor-elect Eric Adams, but Monday’s announcement indicates Banks will leave government work behind.

“Thomas Jefferson statue removed from City Hall after 187 years,” by New York Post’s Julia Marsh: “Thomas Jefferson is no longer in the room where it happens. Art handlers packed up an 884-pound statue of Jefferson in a wooden crate Monday after a mayoral commission voted to banish the likeness of the nation’s third president from City Hall where its resided for nearly two centuries — because he owned slaves. About a dozen workers with Marshall Fine Arts spent several hours carefully removing the painted plaster monument from its pedestal inside the City Council chambers and surrounding it with sections of foam and wooden boards.”

“Civilian Complaint Review Board Seeks Power To Self-Initiate Investigations,” by WNYC’s George Joseph: “The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), New York City’s independent police watchdog, is supporting a City Council bill introduced by Council Member Adrienne Adams of Queens that would allow it to initiate an investigation into potential NYPD misconduct on its own. Currently, city law requires the board to receive a complaint from a member of the public. ‘People are vulnerable. They are victims. And they often don’t know how to file a complaint,’ said Rev. Frederick Davie, the agency’s chairperson, speaking at a City Council meeting on Monday.”

“Mask mandate returns to Erie County, and tougher restrictions could be next,” by Buffalo News’s Thomas J. Prohaska: “Mandatory mask-wearing is back in Erie County's restaurants, gyms and other public places, and the county executive is considering much more restrictive measures if Covid-19 hospitalizations increase. County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced Monday that all patrons and public-facing workers must wear face masks at indoor public places, effective at 6 a.m. Tuesday. He said the order will be re-evaluated on Dec. 13, but Poloncarz warned that if the situation continues to worsen, he could impose tougher rules even before then.”

“NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin submitted incorrect information on background check before taking office,” by New York Daily News’ Michael Gartland: “New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin provided incorrect information on a background check he submitted to the governor’s office and state police as part of the vetting process he had to undergo to take on his current role, a Daily News’ review of public records and Benjamin’s own statements show. According to the background check form, which was signed by Benjamin and dated Aug. 16, the former state senator answered ‘no’ to an inquiry about whether he’d ever been contacted by ‘a regulatory body concerning any possible legal, regulatory, ethical, or campaign finance, infraction or violation or investigation.’ But Benjamin was contacted by at least two regulatory bodies over two campaign finance issues before the date Benjamin provided on the background check form.”

“As Utility Shutoff Freeze Nears End, New Yorkers in Debt Fear Shutoffs,” by New York Focus’ Andrew Giambrone: “In just under a month, an official freeze on service disconnections for New Yorkers behind on their utility bills will sunset, ending one of the state’s key pandemic protections. The date: Dec. 21, the first day of winter. State policy will still bar some utilities from shutting off residential service for unpaid bills around Christmas and New Year’s Day and under various other circumstances. But with millions of people facing massive levels of utility debt in the aftermath of COVID-19 and government aid slow to get out, experts worry New York will see a wave of shutoffs starting next spring.”

“Hochul adds to her new administration as more endorsements come in,” by Spectrum’s Nick Reisman: “Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed longtime state official Jeffrey Pearlman to become her administration's general counsel and appointed Micah Lasher to serve as her director of policy. ...Pearlman served as the director of the Authorities Budget Office and had previously served as Hochul's chief of staff and counsel when she was lieutenant governor. Lasher is a former official in Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration and was chief of staff to the state attorney general.”

— A SIGN OF THE APPROACHING LEGISLATIVE SESSION … Hochul has unveiled her policy people. In addition to Pearlman and Lasher, Hochul announced Lonnie T. Threatte as deputy director of policy, Chatodd Floyd as deputy secretary for legislative affairs and policy, Veronica Ng as assistant secretary for legislative affairs, Sandra Rivera, Esq. as senior adviser for legislative affairs, Rhay Guillen as director of legislative affairs and Matthew Pennello as director of Cabinet affairs.

#UpstateAmerica: Get in the holiday spirit by visiting one of many light shows taking place across upstate New York.

“Amidst Chaos On Rikers, AOC And Maloney Call On DAs To Ease Up On Bail,” by WNYC’s George Joseph: “Citing the ongoing chaos and continuing fatalities on Rikers Island, two of New York City’s House members, Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are calling on local district attorneys to seek lower bails and empty city jails. 'We have grave concerns that excessive bail amounts are leading to unnecessary pretrial detention and contributing to a humanitarian crisis in New York City’s jail system, particularly on Rikers Island,' the representatives noted in separate letters submitted to all five New York City district attorneys on Monday.”

“N.Y. prosecutors set sights on new Trump target: Widely different valuations on the same properties,” by Washington Post’s David A. Fahrenthold, Jonathan O'Connell, Josh Dawsey and Shayna Jacobs: “The Trump Organization owns an office building at 40 Wall Street in Manhattan. In 2012, when the company was listing its assets for potential lenders, it said the building was worth $527 million — which would make it among the most valuable in New York. But just a few months later, the Trump Organization told property tax officials that the entire 70-story building was worth less than a high-end Manhattan condo: just $16.7 million, according to newly released city records. That was less than one-thirtieth the amount it had claimed the year before. That property is now under scrutiny from the Manhattan district attorney and New York attorney general, along with several others like it for which the Trump Organization gave vastly different value estimates.”

— “The Republican National Committee is paying some personal legal bills for former president Donald Trump, spending party funds to pay a lawyer representing Trump in investigations into his financial practices in New York, a party spokeswoman said Monday.”

“Michael Cohen completes sentence and is released from federal home confinement,” by New York Daily News’ Molly Crane-Newman: “Michael Cohen is now a free man — and he plans to keep singing like a canary to authorities investigating President Donald Trump. The ex-president’s longtime personal lawyer reached the end of his three-year sentence Monday for campaign finance violations, lying to Congress and other crimes. But Cohen said his newfound freedom will not affect his cooperation with authorities — including Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance and Attorney General Letitia James — investigating Trump.”

— Hochul is extending a state of emergency over gun violence for at least one more month.

— The city is launching an ad campaign to combat myths about the Covid-19 vaccine.

— Brooklynites are experiencing sticker shock following the grand opening of a gym complex at the Bedford Union Armory.

— The number of tickets given to drivers for blocking bus lanes is rising.

— “The lines are getting longer at the Halal Guys food cart in the heart of Manhattan,” which can only mean international tourists are back.

— Home care crisis: Roughly three-fourths of seniors and people with disabilities are unable to retain home care workers in New York.

— Children under 12 will not be able to march or ride on floats at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

— The federal infrastructure bill has funding to help school districts fend off cyberattacks, which has become a growing problem on Long Island.

— New York airports are bracing for their busiest weekend of travel since the pandemic began, so plan accordingly.

— Malcolm X’s daughter, Malikah Shabazz, was found dead in her Brooklyn home Monday evening.

— “Our City, Our Vote” bill, allowing noncitizens to vote in NYC local elections, is expected to be approved by Dec. 9 by the City Council.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer … NYT’s Carolyn Ryan … Amy Schatz of Glen Echo Group … Mary Rutherford Jennings … Robin Roberts … Charlie Goodyear … Danny Cevallos … HuffPost’s Jade Walker … Alan Rosenberg, partner at RG Group (h/t Catherine Giuliani)

MEDIAWATCH — “New York Times loses an appeal in Project Veritas case,” by Reuters’ Jonathan Stempel: “A New York appeals court judge has rejected the New York Times' request to lift an order temporarily blocking it from publishing or seeking various documents related to the conservative activist group Project Veritas.”

“East Side residents demand restraining order over NYC Council’s Blood Center rezoning vote,” by New York Daily News’ Michael Gartland: “Upper East Side residents opposed to a rezoning that would allow the New York Blood Center to expand its headquarters have requested a temporary restraining order over a crucial vote scheduled Tuesday in the City Council. The request, which was lodged Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court, aims to preemptively nullify the Council vote if it’s decided by a simple majority.”

“N.Y.C. Severs Ties With Housing Boss Who Earned $1 Million a Year,” by The New York Times’ Amy Julia Harris: “New York City is severing ties with CORE Services Group, one of the largest nonprofit organizations running homeless shelters for the city, citing the charity’s repeated management failures, conflicts of interest and excessive executive salaries. The move came after a New York Times investigation published last month found that the chief executive of CORE, Jack A. Brown III, collected more than $1 million a year, hired his relatives and steered millions of dollars in business to for-profit companies he controlled.”