Eric Adams’ longtime friend, lawyer and — most recently — chief of staff is ready to hang up his shingle in a commercial high-rise overlooking Central Park.

Frank Carone is starting a new consulting firm, Oaktree Solutions, and has already snagged a big client — New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, our Sally Goldenberg reports. He’s also planning to work with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as he tries to win back Democratic control over the House.

Carone has long been a fixture in New York politics, operating behind the scenes as a lawyer, a fundraiser and counsel to the Brooklyn Democratic Party as it navigates perpetual internal turmoil. But Adams’ ascent to New York City mayor gave the Canarsie native an opportunity to schmooze with the city’s most elite class. He corralled business leaders for the city’s bid to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, worked on a deal to bring a professional soccer stadium to Queens and traveled the globe championing New York’s post-lockdown comeback.

Now Carone,already wealthy from his law practice, is hoping to make an even bigger name for himself. He’s in talks with El Al Airlines, Cipriani and several tech startups. At the same time, he’s maintaining a professional relationship with his former law firm, Abrams Fensterman, and considering a similar arrangement with a white-collar practice.

From real estate executives to Karen Persichilli Keogh — secretary to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who called Carone “an expert problem-solver” — the well wishes poured in, while business people privately wondered whether they’d retain access to a top City Hall staffer in his absence.

A looming question is how he navigates the city’s increasingly strict rules around lobbying one’s former employer. Carone himself is banned for a time from direct contact with City Hall, but he’ll still be in regular touch with Adams through his role on the ‘25 campaign. And potential clients know that in Carone they’ll be getting accelerated access to city government, even if he doesn’t deem it official lobbying. To that end, the departed chief of staff said he simply won’t lobby City Hall — ever — and vowed he has his sights on bigger things.

“I’m going to say to the universe, if someone thinks that — I’m not their person. I will not interact with City Hall at all,” he said.

As for his staff, he said that remains to be seen.

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

WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany with no public events scheduled.

WHERE’S ERIC? Attending the grand opening of the Chelsea Hotel, making a public safety announcement, attending a National Action Network summit on public safety, and participating in a media availability.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “When you have won 19 percent in a primary, you really shouldn’t be able to expect to be able to tell the rest of the state what they’re going to have to swallow,” state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs,to the Times Union regarding progressive criticism of Hochul’s chief judge pick.

ABOVE THE FOLD —“Adams Rejects Criticism From de Blasio Aides in Scathing Broadside,” by The New York Times’ Emma G. Fitzsimmons: “In an unprompted, seven-minute tirade, Mr. Adams on Wednesday lashed out at the former mayor, Bill de Blasio, accusing him of leaving New York City in disarray, and insisting that Mr. de Blasio’s former top aides had no right to publicly criticize the way Mr. Adams is running the city. ‘I am so tired of the previous administration and their antics,’ Mr. Adams said at the end of what had been a routine news conference about expanding the city’s fleet of electric vehicles.”

NYC mayor doubles down on criticism of Colorado, federal government over migrants, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta: For the second day in a row, New York City Mayor Eric Adams laced into the federal government and the governor of Colorado, a fellow Democrat, over busloads of asylum seekers who continue to arrive at the city’s doorstep. “At one time we had to deal with Republican governors sending migrants to New York,” Adams said Wednesday during an unrelated press conference. “Now we’re dealing with Democratic governors sending migrants to New York. This is just unfair.”

City to buy nearly 1,000 electric vehicles, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio Dunn: Hundreds of city employees will soon find themselves behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. The city won a $10 million federal grant to replace 925 city vehicles with battery-powered trucks and cars and install more than 300 electric vehicle chargers across the five boroughs. ... Every city-owned vehicle must be electric by 2040.

“Doctor Urged NYCHA Arsenic Tests After Patient’s Death. The City Health Commissioner Refused,” by The City’s Greg B. Smith: “Two days before Josefa Bonet died on Oct. 1, she asked her doctor for an unusual test, to see if she had arsenic in her blood. Bonet was living at Jacob Riis Houses in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Just a month earlier, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) revealed that lab tests had found arsenic in the water at her development — only to reverse course and claim there was no arsenic. … Then came the letter from Bonet’s physician at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Joshua Rein. Rein revealed that Bonet, 74, had been diagnosed with kidney disease. Her survivors were stunned to read what came next: The tests revealed a level of arsenic in her urine of 30 micrograms per liter (mcg/l) — four times the upper limit of normal.”

“Marijuana use spills into NYC classrooms as educators grapple with new cannabis landscape,” by Chalkbeat’s Michael Elsen-Rooney: “The Manhattan 16-year-old started smoking weed to get over a bad breakup, initially keeping the habit outside school hours. Soon, though, he was using marijuana to address other mental health issues, like depression that suppressed his appetite and anxiety that made it difficult to go to class. He began getting high between classes.”

“New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Says Her Focus Is on Crime and Housing—With Less Brashness in Albany,” by Wall Street Journal’s Jimmy Vielkind: “New York Gov. Kathy Hochul enters her first full-term facing an uncertain economy, elevated crime and a dire housing crunch. She said she wants to tackle all those things while also changing the culture in the state capital, which has long been known for rough-and-tumble politics and high-profile clashes that she and other leaders say stifled collaboration.”

— “What New York Senate Democrats want this year,” by Spectrum’s Nick Reisman: “Addressing climate change, affordable housing and public safety are among the key issues for Democrats in the New York state Senate this year as Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Wednesday outlined the conference’s plans for 2023.”

— COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS are out for the Assembly and Senate.

“‘A set-up’: NY Democrats pack key panel to sink Hochul top-judge pick LaSalle,” by New York Post’s Zach Williams: “State Senate Democrats are set to stack a key legislative committee with progressives in order to block Gov. Kathy Hochul’s nomination of centrist Judge Hector LaSalle to lead New York’s highest court. A resolution approved along party lines on Wednesday, the first day of the 2023 legislative session in Albany, expands the Judiciary Committee from 15 to 19 members — three Democrats and one Republican. The maneuver could give progressives just enough votes to ensure the nomination does not reach the full chamber, LaSalle could get approved by a bipartisan majority to become the state’s first Hispanic chief judge.”

“Lester Chang takes seat in the New York Assembly, for now,” by WNYC’s Jon Campbell: “Republican Lester Chang officially took his seat in the New York State Assembly on the first day of the 2023 legislative session — but perhaps not for long. In an interview Wednesday with Gothamist, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said Democrats will decide in the ‘next couple of days’ whether to move ahead with a vote to kick Chang out of the chamber over lingering questions about his Brooklyn residency (or lack thereof).”

#UpstateAmerica: A Cairo family visited all 358 Stewart's Shops across 32 different counties in a year, capping off their challenge at the original Stewart's Shops in Ballston Spa.

— The man accused of attacking police officers near Times Square on New Year’s Eve was on a mission to carry out jihad, prosecutors said.

— Progressive and Republican City Council members are both opposing a bill to allow the city to charge retired city workers for their health insurance.

— Mayor Eric Adams and his Republican election opponent Curtis Sliwa are united in their hatred of rats.

— The New York Nurses Association is going forward with plans for a strike after negotiations with hospitals fell through.

— Legislation would require the city to conduct exit interviews with departing workers.

— “Will Your BodegaMiss You When You’re Gone?”

— Here’s how to get rid of your Christmas tree.

— A former patron of the Museum of Modern Art accused of stabbing two employees last year has been extradited back to New York City.

— A police officer was suspended after a video showed him repeatedly striking a young person on the head during a clash among several officers and at least a dozen young people near a Staten Island middle school.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: WSJ’s Nick Timiraos … former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) … Allison Biasotti of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office … Mandi Merritt Risko of FTI Consulting

MAKING MOVES — Max Rose has joined The Soufan Group as vice chair. He was previously a representative from New York from 2019 to 2021. … Rachel Atcheson is now special adviser to the chief of staff for the NYC Mayor’s Office. She most recently was senior assistant to the Mayor. … Sarah Selip is now comms director for Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.), while Ryan Sweeney is now legislative director in the office. She most recently was comms director for Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) while Sweeney was a legislative assistant for Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.). ... Justin Pascone has been named VP of external affairs for the New York Building Congress. He was previously director of policy for the group. …

… Tiffany Boguslawski is now director of operations and press secretary for Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio). She most recently was scheduler for Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and is a Trump White House alum. … Amy Plitt is now content director for MTA customer experience. She was previously a content strategist for the MTA website. … Aneela Gillani is now deputy director of HR at the NYS Executive Chamber. She most recently was assistant director of administration for the NYS Office of IT Services. … Alexandra Greene is now chief administrative officer at the NYS Executive Chamber. She most recently was executive deputy commissioner and COO of the NYS Office of General Services.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Michael Glennon, head of private investments at Mariner Wealth Advisors, and Anna Glennon, a former curriculum coordinator at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, on Dec. 21 welcomed Lily DeWitt Glennon. Pic... Another pic

“New York Landlords Try Carbon-Sucking Towers to Comply With Climate Law,” by Bloomberg’s Patrick Sisson: “The Grand Tier, a 30-story high-rise at Broadway and 64th Street in Manhattan, features trappings typical of posh digs on the Upper West Side, including Central Park views and a lobby ornamented in French tapestry, silver travertine and Italian ironwork. The 20-year-old tower also boasts a singular feature: In the basement, an array of pipes and compressors the size of six parking spaces scrubs exhaust from the building’s two natural gas boilers, separating carbon dioxide from nitrogen and oxygen, liquefying it and storing it in metal tanks. The city’s only residential carbon-capture rig, installed last year, reflects a citywide environmental challenge.”

“Manhattan home prices drop 5.5% — first decline since middle of 2020,” by New York Post’s Ariel Zilber