Reopening concerts set — Cuomo lawyer responds to criticism — Marriage for minors banned
July 23, 2021It’s Friday, so it’s time to check in on the “Summer of Bill.”
The mayor went on an extended riff on the meaning of FOMO, complete with props, as he announced plans for four major reopening concerts — one in each of the outer boroughs — leading up to the previously announced main event starring Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Paul Simon in Central Park.
“Unless you want to spend the rest of your life saying, ‘oh my god I missed it,’ you should get to New York City in the month of August, where amazing things will be happening,” de Blasio said, recalling the time his older brother missed out on Woodstock. Indeed, the city is counting on the events to help rebuild its tourism industry, and hotel occupancy rates are already showing signs of a rebound.
There are some more serious questions at play here as Covid-19 infection rates rise in the city, cracking the 2 percent mark in the most recent set of stats. De Blasio says the city won’t “cower,” but it will also face questions on whether the big concert bashes should require attendees to be vaccinated. That wasn’t the plan when the Central Park show was originally announced, with vaccinated and unvaccinated sections anticipated, but the latest policy is not clear.
City Council health committee chair Mark Levine is among those pushing for a vaccine mandate. “This is a mistake. Let’s use events like this to promote vaccination,” he said. “These should be exclusively for vaccinated NYers.”
IT’S FRIDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: [email protected] and [email protected], or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold
WHERE’S ANDREW? In Albany with no public events scheduled.
WHERE’S BILL? Appearing on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer show.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Give me a bleeping break.” — De Blasio, responding to the incorrect belief of some city workers that they don’t need to get vaccinated if they’ve had Covid-19 in the past.
“An Officer Was Taunted and Spit At. Now He Faces Criminal Charges,” by The New York Times’ Ed Shanahan and Ashley Southall: “A New York police sergeant was charged on Thursday with attacking two handcuffed suspects in separate arrests, punching one in the face when he was in a cell and kneeling on the back of another who was shouting ‘I can’t breathe’ from a subway station floor. The sergeant, Phillip Wong, acted after being spit at in one instance and taunted with anti-Asian slurs in the other, the authorities said. But the provocations did not justify his responses, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, said. ‘When N.Y.P.D. officers head into the field each day to face unknown and potentially life-threatening situations, they do one of the most difficult jobs in the world,’ Mr. Vance said in a statement.”
“Cops Still Handling Most 911 Mental Health Calls Despite Efforts to Keep Them Away,” by The City’s Greg B. Smith: “A pilot program aimed at reducing potentially volatile police interactions with people in mental health crises got off to a bumpy start, with cops still responding to the vast majority of 911 calls, THE CITY has learned. The program, part of Mayor de Blasio’s much-criticized $1 billion ThriveNYC program, started June 6 in three Harlem precincts. Teams consisting of two emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and one Department of Health social worker are supposed to tackle mental health-related 911 calls when appropriate. But in the first month, the EMT/social worker teams wound up handling only about 20% of the 532 mental health calls — 107 cases in all. The other 80% — representing 425 calls — were addressed the usual way: by teams of cops and EMTs.”
“They Live in an N.Y.C. Virus Hot Spot. But They Won’t Get Vaccinated.,” by The New York Times’ Sharon Otterman: “Across New York City, coronavirus cases have more than tripled from last month’s low of 200 per day as the more contagious Delta variant has taken hold. Staten Island, in particular, has been a hot spot that presaged the broader uptick, and for weeks, several ZIP codes in the area had among the most cases in the city. Now, as the rise in cases has taken hold in every borough, the situation in Staten Island has shown the daunting task the city faces with its broader vaccination campaign and virus response. In contrast to elsewhere in the city, where vaccine hesitancy has been most profound among Black and Latino New Yorkers, the most vulnerable areas in Staten Island have been predominately white, politically conservative and at times resistant to restrictions during the pandemic.”
“NYC's Outdated Flood Maps Leave Thousands At Risk For Disaster Bills,” by Gothamist’s Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky: “New York City’s flood maps haven’t been updated in 14 years, potentially putting tens of thousands more New Yorkers in harm’s way and leaving them without a means of paying for damage if a storm should hit. That’s according to researchers at the New School, who tracked new construction and population changes in six flood-prone neighborhoods between 2007 and 2018. Currently, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) map last updated in 2007 determines how much of New York City is at risk of flooding—and which homeowners are required to reference by law when purchasing flood insurance. The study shows that due to a steady stream of building developments, these high-risk flood zones have become denser, putting more people in these budding communities in the path of dangerous and destructive floodwaters than before Superstorm Sandy. Income levels have dropped across some of these neighborhoods, making it harder for them to prepare for future natural disasters.”
“Gov. Cuomo’s lawyer blasts threat of impeachment ‘punishment’ for aide’s tweet," by New York Post’s Bernadette Hogan, Carl Campanile and Bruce Golding: “A threat to punish Gov. Andrew Cuomo over an aide’s tweet through ‘severe repercussions’ on his impeachment investigation raises serious ‘constitutional concerns,’ one of Cuomo’s outside lawyers told the head of the probe on Thursday. Former New Jersey US Attorney Paul Fishman, who the governor hired in March to defend him against sexual harassment allegations, denied that Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi was trying to suppress witness testimony when he suggested a related investigation by state Attorney General Letitia James was politically motivated. In a letter to Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Lavine (D-Long Island), who is leading the impeachment investigation against Cuomo, Fishman also said Azzopardi’s tweet was protected by both the First Amendment and the state constitution.”
“Lawmakers made NY police discipline records public. But courts will have the final say.” by Journal News’ Asher Stockler: “When New York lawmakers repealed Section 50-a of the state Civil Rights Law last summer, they thought they were making themselves clear. The section of law had been used by police for years to shield their personnel files — and especially their disciplinary records, including any complaints filed against officers — from public view. By repealing the statute, it cleared the way for transparency advocates and news media organizations to feverishly file open-records requests with police departments across the state, seeking to unearth a trove of information that has been concealed from public view for decades. Nearly as quickly, unions representing police officers and other law enforcement officials have taken their municipalities to court, asking judges to pause the release of these records in order to rein in the scope of the repeal bill.”
“So far, most courts have been on the side of full transparency, according to Bobby Hodgson, a senior staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, which is involved in much of the litigation … Nevertheless, a handful of decisions favorable to the police arguments have dashed hopes for a clean implementation of the state Legislature’s repeal. Judges in Rochester and Syracuse have sided with police unions and their departments, allowing officials to withhold all but the tiniest sliver of disciplinary records. Ultimately, New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, may be asked to weigh in on the public right of access.”
“When will NY distribute rent relief funds? What tenants and landlords need to know,” by Gannett’s Sarah Taddeo: “New York has yet to distribute the lion's share of $2.4 billion in federal rent relief funding waiting for New York tenants and landlords, leaving more than 150,000 people in housing limbo. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP, was funded as part of the last federal COVID-19 relief package and will be distributed by the state’s Office of Temporary of Disability Assistance, or OTDA. But the process got off to a rocky start. … Now, nearly two months after applications started rolling in, the state is facing questions about why virtually none of the money has been released yet.”
— The Associated Press’ Marina Villeneuve: “The Legislature plans to hold a hearing soon on the sluggish roll-out of the state’s $2 billion rent relief program, which has been plagued by a string of website glitches and poorly trained hotline workers. Sen. Brian Kavanagh, the Democrat who chairs the Senate housing committee, said the state needs to act now to address complaints.”
“New York officially bans underage marriages, raises age of consent to wed to 18,” by the New York Daily News’ Dennis Slattery: “Wedding bells will no longer be ringing for minors in the Empire State. Gov. Cuomo signed a bill into law Thursday that officially raises the age of consent for marriage to 18, an effort to protect teenage girls against arranged marriages and sex trafficking. Previously, the legal age for a civil marriage in New York was 18, but 17-year-olds were allowed to wed with parental and court permission. ‘Regardless of maturity level, minors lack sufficient legal rights and autonomy that they need to protect them if they enter a marriage contract before becoming adults,’ said bill sponsor Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn). ‘The vast majority of minors who enter a marriage are teenage girls, and getting married before adulthood often has devastating consequences for them.’”
“31 Children Test Positive for Coronavirus at Summer Camp,” by The New York Times’ Michael Gold: “The outbreak at Camp Pontiac, a sleep-away camp in upstate New York, started in the girls’ dormitories. Nurses, worried that young campers were showing symptoms of Covid-19, began administering tests. Last Saturday, one came back positive. More would quickly follow: As of Thursday morning, 31 of the camp’s 550 campers had tested positive for the coronavirus, said Jack Mabb, the health director of Columbia County, where the camp is located. None of the children were seriously ill from the virus, Mr. Mabb said. The outbreak, coming as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads across the country and Covid-19 cases rise in New York State, is emblematic of the challenges that arise when a huge population cannot be vaccinated, even as it highlights the effectiveness of vaccines.”
#UpstateAmerica: The Rolling Stones have dropped Buffalo from their rescheduled tour dates, making the city one of just a few to not get a rescheduled concert.
“Garland launches gun trafficking strike forces in 5 cities,” by The Associated Press’ Michael Balsamo: “The Justice Department is launching an effort in five cities in the U.S. to reduce spiking gun violence by addressing illegal trafficking and prosecuting offenses that help put guns in the hands of criminals. Attorney General Merrick Garland will launch the gun trafficking strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The effort will include stepped-up enforcement in so-called supply areas — cities and states where it’s easier to obtain firearms that are later trafficked into other cities with more restrictive gun laws.”
“City's Wollman Rink Deal Skates Ahead As BP, Comptroller Object,” by Patch’s Nick Garber: “The city’s plan to hand over Wollman Rink to an eclectic group of businesses plowed ahead this week, even as two key officials expressed concerns about the plan. The storied Central Park skating rink had been controlled since the 1980s by the Trump Organization, but the city canceled the contract in January over then-President Trump’s role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Earlier this month, after putting out a request for proposals for a new rink operator, the Parks Department announced its choice: a group led by the developer Related Companies; the firm Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers; and Equinox, the gym chain.”
— A delivery worker on a scooter was killed in a collision with a dump truck in Brooklyn.
— The G train will be extended to Coney Island for two weekends in August.
— A Staten Island priest is seeking a kidney donor.
— Authorities believe the same suspect is behind three incidents where women were attacked or threatened at Inwood Hill Park.
— A Staten Island man had his murder conviction overturned after 23 years in prison.
— Nearly 30 Democratic state senators are calling on President Joe Biden and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to declare a state of emergency to help combat the spike in overdose deaths.
— A new audit from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli suggested that the Office of Mental Health’s web-based advisement system lacked key features.
— A restored statue of George Floyd was reinstalled in Brooklyn after being vandalized.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: MSNBC PR’s Liza Pluto … David Brock of Media Matters for America and American Bridge 21st Century … Jennifer Darling of PwC … Alex Pareene … Finsbury Glover Hering’s Josh Gross … Alexandra Booze ... Edelman’s Courtney Gray Haupt … Monica Lewinsky … former Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.) … Kat Borgerding … NYT’s Sam Barnes … Joey Rault ... John Mihalec
MAKING MOVES — Doug Turetsky is departing as chief of staff and communications director at the Independent Budget Office after 20 years at the agency. Today is his last day. … Danielle Burr is joining management consulting giant McKinsey & Co. this as the firm’s head of public affairs in North America, based in Washington. Burr is Uber’s former head of public affairs. … Jim Billimoria has joined American Express as a director of business-to-business communications. He was previously associate administrator for SBA's Office of Communications & Public Liaison. ...
… Eric Pelofsky is now deputy chief of staff and managing director at the Rockefeller Foundation. He most recently was senior director of international affairs in Shell’s D.C. office and is an Obama White House alum. (h/t POLITICO Influence) … Meredith Tiger is now director of corporate communications at Audacy. She most recently was publicity manager for HBO Max and is a CBS alum.
MEDIAWATCH — Charles Passey will join the staff at MarketWatch. He was previously a reporter for the Wall Street Journal’s now-defunct Greater New York section.
— NY Post: "A fond farewell from Keith J. Kelly as Media Ink comes to an end"
MEDIA MOVE — David Gura is joining NPR as a business correspondent. He most recently was host and correspondent at MSNBC and NBC News, anchoring “Up with David Gura.” Announcement
“NYC Hotels See Busiest Week Since Pandemic Hit, Mayor Says,” by Bloomberg’s Henry Goldman: “New York City has seen demand for hotel rooms rise to the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, yet industry analysts say the tough times are far from over for a city that was once the nation’s most-popular tourist destination. City hotels sold more than 481,000 room nights last week, a 17,000 increase from the previous week, pushing the city toward exceeding a weekly goal of 500,000, de Blasio said Thursday. The city has embarked on a $30 million marketing campaign intended to increase tourism, which at its height created about 400,000 jobs and injected about $72 billion into the city economy, including $7 billion of tax revenue. De Blasio said visits to the Statue of Liberty were up 22% last week compared with the last week in June.”
Source: https://www.politico.com/