The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.
Local News
The computer chip manufacturer Micron announced plans to spend up to $100 billion to build a factory complex outside Syracuse. Governor Hochul promised a subsidy of $5.5 billion and it’s unclear how many jobs the highly automated plants would actually create.
A record 41,107 adults were reported in shelters on Tuesday. The previous record of 38,838 adults in city-run shelters was set in January 2019. It was broken late last month — and every day after that.
The Adams administration released proposed regulations that would enable building owners to opt out of carbon retrofits mandated by Local Law 97 as long as they purchased Renewal Energy Credits, raising concern among environmental advocates.
NYCHA residents in Woodside spoke up about not having reliable heat and hot water since last August. Though officials point out that heat outages have been a regular thing for decades.
The NYPD is taking people straight to Rikers without ever presenting them in court, in violation of state law, a new suit alleges.
Real estate and business interests allied with Mayor Adams are launching a think tank to help support his agenda, which they admit he has barely developed.
The Adams administration has virtually stopped pursuing criminal prosecutions against landlords for fire safety violations, with just 200 cases filed in 2021 vs. almost 10,000 per year in the decade prior.
A North Brooklyn community board may be rendered nonfunctional until the middle of next year after a long-serving district manager abruptly retired and his annual leave payouts drained the board of its fiscal year budget.
Many 911 dispatchers and operators are pushing to leave Local 1549 at DC 37, which represents clerical workers for the City, claiming that they are first-responders and ought to switch locals. The leadership of Local 1549 was recently moved into administratorship due to mishandling member dues.
State prisons are using "therapeutic" units as a way to evade the recent HALT Solitary Confinement Act.
WNYC affiliated publication Gothamist unveiled a revamped website and mission.
Elections
Governor Kathy Hochul has raised $45 million and has $11 million in cash on hand for the final month of the gubernatorial election; she has raised the maximum amount from Hollywood moguls and real estate barons who do business with the State. Her Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin, is being supported by a Super PAC funded by the heir to the Estée Lauder fortune.
The City Redistricting Commission released new maps for next year's City Council races. Unlike a previous draft, these maps would no longer place incumbent Council Members Alexa Aviles and Justin Brannan in the same district. The maps must be approved by the current City Council.
Assembly Member Inez Dickens (District 70, Harlem) is considering challenging Council Member Kristin Richardson Jordan (District 9, Harlem) in next year's election.
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