Good Morning, New York! Residents of New York City are dismayed over the cancellation of the annual Central Park firework show, Eric Adams is trying to outmaneuver the City Council on its ‘sanctuary city’ designation, and potential mayors answer questions about a rent freeze and Airbnb. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Monday, December 9th, 2024.

WHERE’S ERIC: Holding a ‘Public Safety Week’ announcement, then attending a community roundtable for Muslim women.

WHERE’S KATHY: In the Bronx, unveiling the first proposal of 2025 State of the State Affordability Agenda.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Eric Adams said in a TV interview on Sunday that he is looking for ways to go around the City Council’s back to modify NYC’s ‘Sanctuary City’ status. “They stated they’re not willing to change the sanctuary city law. I think they’re wrong. I have my teams looking at my power as executive orders.” It is unclear if a modification without the consent of City Council would be legal. (NY Post)

— City Hall is facing backlash over the cancellation of New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park, Prospect Park, and others. City Hall says the high levels of drought have made it necessary to reduce the risks of potential fire, but many are shocked and upset by the changes to a much-loved NYC tradition. It is currently unclear if the Times Square or New York Harbor shows will proceed as planned. (NY Daily News, X)

— Advocacy groups representing 2,900 undocumented and unlicensed street vendors are pushing back against the implementation of Proposition 2, a ballot measure that would grant the sanitation department more powers to issue summons for illegal stands. It is estimated that 75% of street vendors are operating without a license. (NY Times)

Capitol Gains

— Andrew Cuomo is asking a judge for a gag order to prevent his accuser’s lawyers from talking about the rising cost to taxpayers for his legal defense. He is legally entitled to have these bills relating to his time in office covered, but is concerned that it may negatively influence jurors. $28 million has been paid out so far. (NY Post)

— Criminal justice reform advocates in New York are rallying for changes to the parole system, specifically pushing for legislation that would allow parole for individuals aged 55 and older who have served at least 15 consecutive years in prison, and urging parole boards to prioritize rehabilitation over past crimes. This movement is gaining momentum as advocates highlight racial disparities in parole decisions and the need for a more compassionate approach to rehabilitation, with support from various stakeholders including former district attorneys and crime victim representatives. (Gothamist)

— Gov. Hochul is expanding workers comp benefits to include “extraordinary stress” for all employees, something that was previously only reserved for first responders. Part of the state’s $1 billion investment in mental health, Gov. Hochul put a spotlight on the lasting effects of COVID-19: “The mental health crisis our country has experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and we need to do everything in our power to lend a hand to those in need.” (SI Live)

Trail Mix

— A forum of potential NYC mayoral candidates was asked about their support for a city council bill (Intro-1107) that would allow small homeowners to list their properties on Airbnb. Only one candidate, Michael Blake, gave an explicit ‘Yes’ with the rest of the candidates saying no or refusing to answer. (X/David Brand)

— At the UWS tenants mayoral forum, four candidates (Mamdani, Ramos, Blake, Walden) said that they would freeze rents on rent stabilized apartments in the city. Under Eric Adams, rent for people living in rent stabilized apartments has risen several times over the past few years. (X/RossBarkan)

— The Albany mayoral race is heating up ahead of the June primary, with three major candidates in the race so far, with two more candidates potentially considering entering the fray. City Auditor Dorcey Applyrs is currently the frontrunner, although that may change if she struggles to differentiate herself from the current unpopular administration in City Hall. (Times Union)