If we are going to have any shot of making New York affordable for the next generation, we’ve got a lot of housing to build. I was thrilled to chat about that and more with
@patkiernan
on
@NY1
this morning. Here’s the interview!
It is an honor to be back in government, serving the state I love so much, as Director of Policy for
@GovKathyHochul
. The energy, decency, and intelligence that Governor Hochul has brought to the office creates a unique moment of possibility. I could not be more excited.
When
@GovKathyHochul
learned last night about what was going on at Cornell, her immediate reaction was, I need to be there first thing tomorrow morning for those students. Proud to work for her.
Inspired by the students I met with at
@Cornell
who are showing incredible strength and unity in response to vile antisemitic threats.
We have no tolerance for hate or violence, and I have directed
@nyspolice
to increase security on college campuses and across New York.
A thread: If you’ve read the
@nypost
lately about the temporary relocation of homeless New Yorkers to the Lucerne Hotel, you’d believe that the Upper West Side has returned to the days of The Panic in Needle Park. (1/)
For the last 2+ years, I have had the extraordinary honor of being part of
@GovKathyHochul
’s team. With enormous pride in what we’ve accomplished, no small amount of sadness about leaving, and excitement about adventures ahead, I have decided today will be my last day.
Brunch with
@MarkLevineNYC
at Effy’s on W. 96th Street after it was targeted for being a Jewish establishment. We came to show solidarity and support. To call this incident what it was — anti-Semitic hate. To demand that Albany expand the hate crimes law. And to make clear that
The West Side is where I grew up and where I'm raising my family. Now, I'm proud to announce that I'm running to represent this amazing community in the State Assembly. New York faces many challenges, but nothing we can't solve together.
Like or dislike
@BilldeBlasio
, this debacle isn’t on him. He successfully recruited a Schools Chancellor who exceeded collective expectations. And then he got screwed in a wildly unprofessional act. Sometimes—and, when you’re NYC’s mayor, a lot of the time—you just can’t win.
I made it more than two months in
@GovKathyHochul
’s office before making a late night (or any time of day)
@shakeshack
run. Personally I am very proud of this achievement.
I’m honored to have been elected chair of
@RiversideParkNY
yesterday, and am so looking forward to great work with
@DanGarodnick
,
@NYCParks
, and my fellow trustees. Went for an early run this morning and, even in the rain, I was struck by the beauty of this city gem.
Everyone seems appropriately appalled by the specialized HS admission numbers. Question for the politicians: if you don’t support
@BilldeBlasio
’s plan, what plan do you support and why do you believe it will deliver concrete change, in outcomes, in the near term?
How many unwitting transmissions occurred in NYC tonight that would have been prevented had the City shut down bars and restaurants? How many additional hospitalizations will result? As this point it is entirely unclear to me what is gained from moderation in government action.
In 2010, working for
@MikeBloomberg
, I saw the NRA crush gun microstamping in Albany. But not today. Sweeping package passing as we speak. So proud to work for
@GovKathyHochul
, whose leadership was decisive. Grateful to all who fought to make it happen.
It was a privilege to witness history today, as
@GovKathyHochul
became the first woman sworn in to a full term as New York’s Governor, and it is a privilege every day to be part of her team.
The TV where I am watching the debate has frozen, but I think this frame says it all.
@KathyHochul
has owned this debate, because she’s a damn good Governor.
This piece, by
@simonmontefiore
, may be the best I’ve read yet taking apart the mythology behind much of the allyship with Hamas, from someone who truly seeks a peaceful two-state resolution.
Hot take on virtual school instead of a day off for Election Day: We are back to home-schooling, and if
@NYCSchools
means for this to relieve a burden on parents, it has done the opposite.
I have to say, the politicians’ calls for de-escalation and ceasefire, just hours after Israeli civilians were murdered and kidnapped, feel like code for “Israel better not respond with any force.”
In which
@AndrewYang
's supporters, including
@elonmusk
, are *bowled over* by his SHOCKING discovery of [a recent report by
@scottmstringer
on] the costs of incarceration, and DO DECLARE HE SHOULD BE MAYOR.
If you have been looking for the clown car, look no further.
Hard to overstate what a big deal this is for the future of the state. Real leadership by
@GovKathyHochul
and amazing work by my colleagues who helped make this happen!
New York will get through this, but we need a mayor who’s got what it takes — both to heal the city and to run it. I’ve been proud to be a
@scottmstringer
supporter for 20+ years, and prouder still to be part of his campaign at this critical moment.
I am truly excited about Harris/Walz! And also truly disheartened by the campaign to tar
@JoshShapiroPA
(and by the victory laps being taken by his attackers). It’s important, I think, to make room for both of these reactions.
So proud to cast my vote for
@scottmstringer
. I met him 25 (!) years ago when he took the time to encourage a teenager to get involved in local politics (just as he had), and at least did a good job of pretending to take me seriously. 1/
The headline says it all. Proud to be on
@GovKathyHochul
’s team, and grateful to everyone in state government and the advocacy community who helped make today’s progress happen.
I have to say, the growing share of pedal-assist bikes in the
@CitiBikeNYC
network is a game-changer. Even if you already liked cycling as a way getting around the city (as I did), the ease and utility of these bikes is wild.
It takes a state. So many New Yorkers, inside and outside of government, informed
@GovKathyHochul
’s
#StateOfTheStateNY
agenda, which is as substantive as it is extensive.
For those, like me, raising kids here, perhaps our children’s awareness of these new neighbors will spur discussion about the structural reasons they are unhoused — and I can only hope the next generation will be more effective in reversing the tide. (10/)
All those expressing concern about the humanitarian impact of Israel’s response must be loudly calling for — indeed, demanding — the return of the hostages, right? Right???
Unheralded hero this evening: the low-key Mark Guma, campaign strategist for
@Biaggi4NY
,
@zellnor4ny
, and
@RJackson_NYC
. And one of the best people in politics.
Privileged to be joining the board of
@Everytown
. Too many lives are needlessly and tragically cut short by murders and suicides by gun, and I’m proud to play a small part in the fight for rational law and policy.
Beautiful and important
@FrankBruni
reflection on Anthony Bourdain and “the discrepancy between what we see of people on the outside and what they’re experiencing on the inside.”
In January,
@RJackson_NYC
will be sworn in to the Senate,
and my neighbors and I will be represented by a public servant who is to his core about integrity, inclusion, and giving voice to the voiceless. I am proud to count myself as friend and supporter. Congratulations, Robert.
The whole family came out today to hear
@GovKathyHochul
’s State of the State and congratulate her! They also got to meet the legendary Dr. Dukes. Phoebe was properly inspired and said she wanted to be Governor…then later observed that the *White House* has a bowling alley.
I think a lot of the noise is a cycle of fear perpetuated in no small part by the
@nypost
itself. If you agree, and want to show proof of the actual spirit of the West Side, sign this petition for compassion and reason: (14/14)
Today, I was proud to campaign with
@AlvinBraggNYC
. Tuesday, I'll vote for him for Manhattan DA. I hope you will, too. Through countless hours of campaigning, I’ve gotten to know him as a good and decent man who cares deeply about justice, fairness, & New York.
#JusticeCantWait
Tonight I went book shopping at
@ptknitwear
, saw The Godfather at
@Metrograph
, and had a late-hour pastrami sandwich at
@KatzsDeli
. Sometimes I get down about the city’s challenges, but when it hits, it really hits.
That’s not to say there aren’t somewhat more visible homeless individuals, walking near the Lucerne and throughout in the neighborhood. These New Yorkers, like all New Yorkers, need a place to live, and recreate, and be outside on nice or hot days. (5/)
Whatever you may think of
@DOEChancellor
, let’s be clear about what’s happening here:
@nypost
is running a campaign to damage him—creating an incentive structure, in the form of newspaper coverage, for folks to attack him. “Divisive,” indeed.
Progressives have a family problem.
It's not the "childless cat lady" problem that Vance etc want to talk about. It's an urban policy.
Progressives preside over counties that young families are leaving. And that's bad.
This is a spot-on corrective to the “awful guy, great governor” narrative. The truth is that he was dragged kicking and screaming to do most of what he takes credit for. His true brilliance was in the credit-taking.
I share this sentiment strongly. Not least because the best version of a virtual learning day is that it’s mostly a waste of everyone’s time. The worst version involves a lot of tears.
And, in the department of what really matters, the reason these gentlemen are here — and that homeless individuals are moving the hotels around the city — is to reduce density at shelters and thereby reduce the likelihood of COVID spread. (7/)
Not always, and really only rarely, something truly wonderful and just and worth celebrating comes out of the political process. And it happened last night with the election of
@AlvinBraggNYC
as Manhattan's next District Attorney. That's how the light gets in.
How ‘bout that!?
@RiversideParkNY
at the front of the
@nytimes
National! Said one neighbor: “I think in the last couple of years we’ve seen the Riverside Conservancy do more events and engage the neighborhood.” Great credit to
@DanGarodnick
and the whole team!
Very proud of
@GovKathyHochul
’s State of the State today, this plan in particular.
“We have underinvested in mental health care for so long, and allowed the situation to become so dire, that it has become a public safety crisis as well” -
@GovKathyHochul
The rest of us living on the West Side are not worse for their presence. Also, for what it's worth (and contrary to what West Siders may have heard) the West Side is not housing a disproportionate share of the city’s homeless: (6/)
At Nice Matin next door, the expanded outdoor seating was filled with diners undisturbed. (I would note that they were not wearing masks, the same sin as has been decried on an anti-homeless-at-Lucerne Facebook page when it was committed by apparently homeless men.) (4/)
Really proud to be part of this game-changing project, led by the Congressman who was my first boss in government, and the Governor whose team I am now privileged to be a part of.
“Fair fares” is an extraordinarily just and wise piece of public policy that will help a lot of New Yorkers.
@CSSNYorg
(on whose board I am privileged to serve) and
@RidersNY
built a movement, and
@CoreyinNYC
became its champion. Thank you.
In today’s DealBook newsletter:
@andrewrsorkin
speaks with Dan Doctoroff about why the exec is reconsidering his priorities; more companies alter pandemic plans; the Fed’s taper led to no tantrum; the S.E.C. proposed a seres of new rules; and more.
Greetings from
@Kilwins
in Columbus, OH! (I am taking a weekend off from the campaign trail to hang with Phoebe at the National Elementary School Chess Championships.)
Breaking: Tali Farhadian Weinstein has conceded the Manhattan district attorney's race, and Alvin Bragg is now poised to become the first Black person to lead the office
Playing hookie (from both school and the campaign trail) for the
@Yankees
home opener! (And: saw some
@MTA
classics, including the redbird 2 train of my youth!)
I just downloaded the COVID Alert NY app. You should, too. Using privacy-protecting technology, it will tell you if you’ve come into contact with someone with COVID — provided enough of us use it.
I genuinely appreciate the focus and leadership
@NYGovCuomo
and his team are bringing to this crisis. I also appreciate the fact that he and
@ChrisCuomo
made me laugh more than I have in a week.
CHRIS CUOMO: There's always time to call mom. She wants to hear from you. Just so you know.
ANDREW CUOMO: I called mom just before I came on this show. By the way, she said I was her favorite. Good news is she said you are her second favorite. Second favorite son, Christopher.
I have no idea whether this move is in the best interests of the men involved. I hold out hope that it is. But boy does it feel like ugliness and bullying won the day here.
Some are offering bereavement support & counseling to staff who worked on losing campaigns. When Mario Cuomo lost, I cashed out all my savings, went to Puerto Rico, lost it all on blackjack & got drunk on the beach for two weeks. Never looked back. We all have our own process.
You also might think the neighborhood is dominated by a pretty ugly xenophobia. Neither is true. With regard to the state of the neighborhood, it’s fine — or “pandemic fine” (h/t
@SallyGold
). A bit frayed around the edges... (2/)
How much longer is a reasonable time for all of this deliberation to take? Should we give
@NYCMayor
another week to figure it out? Five more days of 1.1 million kids and 100,000 teachers hanging out shouldn’t do much harm. Schools open in less than 24 hours. Enough.
Elected officials calling for things to “shut down” when they don’t have any responsibility/accountability for what that looks like or what comes after it don’t move me much.
Big night for forces of change in Albany. Congrats to my soon-to-be-Senator
@RJackson_NYC
! Hopefully in due course this evening the ranks of the IDC will have been substantially reduced.
So, I guess I’m to blame for 9/11, hurricane sandy, and the entire global pandemic, and she is the person that singlehandedly turned our house congress left.
Strong start to the day at the subway and at PS 75 with
@JerryNadler
,
@MarkLevineNYC
, and
@ShaunAbreu
. Nate is out and so are my friends Ira and Marguerite (among many others)!
For anyone who thinks that opposition to
@GovKathyHochul
’s Housing Compact was driven by principled views about State vs. local authority, or resulted from a lack of input and engagement…
"I just want to make sure that there will be no migrants, pedophiles, or criminals moving in."
Faced with a severe housing shortage, Huntington looked set to legalize basement apartments. Locals weren't having it.
I do not have a simple answer to the question of where anti-Zionism ends and anti-Semitism begins. But here’s what people who think the two are easily separable must understand: Jews have experience with political abandonment leading to genocide. 1/3