Monday Morning Memo – November 1

In the midst of the 2021 election GOTV, the 2022 season has shifted into high gear. There were also the bizarre twists and turns we have all come to expect in New York State politics.

• Attorney General Tish James launched her long-anticipated campaign (watch the video) and already received the coveted endorsement of the Transport Workers Union. 

• A criminal charge of forcible touching was filed against former Governor Andrew Cuomo by Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple. However, Sheriff Apple acknowledged that he had acted without consultation with Albany County District Attorney David Soares and without securing the cooperation and agreement of the victim. Subsequently, the victim’s lawyer declared that his client—Brittany Commisso—would cooperate.  Apple declared his case was “solid” and that he was confident the DA would proceed. If so, Cuomo will be arraigned and booked in the near future (tentatively scheduled for 11/17).  

• New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, preparing to face voters this Tuesday in his re-election bid, filled a committee to run for governor. 

• Governor Hochul continued her fast and furious travel around the state, attending events, including signing a legislative package on gun violence in Long Island to announcing affordable housing in Yonkers to touring Corning’s pharmaceutical glass manufacturing facility in the Southern Tier. Hochul also made significant appointments, nominating Hope Knight as Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development and President and CEO of Empire State Development (ESD) and Kevin Law as Director of the Urban Development Corporation and will be designated Chair of the UDC. Read more on Law and Knight here.

Those 2021 elections, of course, still come first. Here are a few races the OD&A team is watching:

• Nassau County and Suffolk County District Attorney: Long Island is home to the suburban voters who have swung to the Democrats over the past couple election cycles. Will the fallout from Washington make a difference? 

• Mayor of Buffalo: The front line of the battle within the Democratic Party between center left and Democratic Socialists. With incumbent Byron Brown running a write-in campaign, in addition to who wins, the question is when will the race be decided? Read more on the race in the final days here, here, and here. 

• Mayor of Syracuse: Incumbent Mayor and independent candidate Ben Walsh is running against Democratic member of the Common Council Khalid Bey and Republican Janet Burman. Walsh has outraised Bey nearly 2-1 in the final days of the campaign, and carries numerous endorsements, but Bey has had strong support from the Democratic Party, including Jumaane Williams. 

• Monroe County Legislature: County Executive Adam Bello is waging his political capital in a bold effort to help Democrats win control of the Monroe County Legislature. The Governor also participated in GOTV efforts in Monroe County on Saturday. Only a few years ago, Republicans held sway on everything in Monroe County. 

There are also a couple New York City Council races worth watching though they will make no real difference:

 

• One of Queens’ only remaining Republican seats—currently represented by Eric Ulrich is up for grabs, and Felicia Singh, a teacher and progressive Democrat, is hoping to flip it, but Joann Ariola, Chair of the Queens Republican Party is fighting to hang onto the GOP foothold.

• In Brooklyn’s District 48, the race is marked by “party hopping”. Democratic candidate Steven Saperstein previously ran for office as a Republican, while Republican contender Inna Vernikov used to be a registered Democrat.

• Virginia: like Long Island’s races, a loss for Terry MacAuliffe in Virginia would be a major blow to Democrats and a sign that swing voters voted against President Trump rather than in favor of the Democrats agenda.

 

Finally, a reminder that there are also five referendums—ranging from amending the redistricting process to an environmental rights amendment—on the BACK of the ballot. A primer is here.  

In the Nation’s Capital…

President Biden and the White House released a framework agreement on reconciliation or the Build Back Better package. The framework was supposed to secure a vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan but, once again, that fizzled and was delayed because of opposition from progressive Members of the House lead by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. That said, even Jayapal expressed optimism they are close to a bill—and other members, including House Appropriations Chair Rose DeLauro (D-Ct.) have echoed that optimism that Biden’s framework is bringing Democrats closer to a deal.

 

What’s in the deal?

 

• Expansion of healthcare coverage: The proposal will significantly expand coverage under Affordable Care Act, add hearing benefits for seniors, and reduce premiums for more than 9 million Americans
• $150 billion in funding for affordable housing
• A one-year expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit
• An increase in the maximum Pell Grant by $550 along with expanded access to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and funding for infrastructure and financial aid at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
• $100 billion aimed at reducing immigration backlogs
• Clean energy tax credits: The framework provides $320 billion in tax credits for transmission, storage, manufacturing, residential homes, passenger & commercial vehicles
• Pay fors: The framework released by the White House says the spending and tax cuts in the bill would be fully financed, primarily by tax increases on high-income households and corporations 

What’s out?

 

• Paid Family Leave: As a concession made to Senator Manchin the proposal—originally proposed at 12 weeks—was fully stripped from the framework
• Clean Energy Performance program, which would have provided incentives for electric utilities to move away from fossil fuel generation was fully stripped from the proposal
• Drug Pricing: Primarily due to Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s opposition, the framework dropped a proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices
• Expansion of Medicare coverage for dental and vision
• Billionaire’s Tax: Democrats dropped a proposal by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren that would have targeted unrealized capital gains 

Read more on the final package here.

Be sure to vote! See you after Election Day.

-Jack O’Donnell

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