How Many Stops Act Passes + Legal Fight Over Congressional District Lines Continues

Dec 26, 2023

The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.

The City Council passed a bill that would mandate the NYPD to document most interactions that it has with the public. Mayor Adams attempted to convince the bill’s sponsors to drop their support by offering restorations to certain budget cuts, but it still passed with a veto-proof majority.
NYPD overtime pay for subway police ballooned from $4 million in 2022 to $155 million in 2023. This corresponded mostly with a dramatic increase in tickets and arrests related to fare evasion, but no significant change in major crimes.
New York City's "right to shelter," which has stood based on a consent-decree for 42 years, has been quietly ended under Mayor Eric Adams.
The UFT is suing Eric Adams over his cuts to New York City schools.
The City Council passed a bill banning the use of solitary confinement in City jails, setting up a possible veto fight with Mayor Adams.
Hochul took action to sign or veto a flurry of 85 bills that were passed by the State Legislature this year. Only five bills remain that require her action, including an alteration to the state’s public financing system.
Angering criminal justice advocates, Hochul vetoed a bill that would have allowed innocent people who pled guilty as part of a plea bargain to fight for a wrongful conviction claim. Hochul also vetoed a bill that banned noncompete clauses after an aggressive lobbying effort from Wall Street.

New York Republicans are preparing to challenge whatever new Congressional maps are drawn for the 2024 election, despite a ruling by the Court of Appeals earlier this month ordering the Legislature to redraw the lines.
Johanna Carmona, an associate of former Assembly Member Cathy Nolan with ties to the Queens Democratic Party, has announced her second candidacy for Assembly District 37 (Western Queens). Carmona is will face incumbent Juan Ardila and DSA-endorsee Claire Valdez.
The 2024 primary to replace the retiring Danny O’Donnell in Assembly District 69 (Upper West Side) is attracting a number of established candidates. Barry Weinberg, a community board chair with connections to the Manhattan Democratic Party, Eli Northrup, a public defender, and Melissa Rosenberg, a real estate lobbyist, have all announced runs.

Hell Gate and Type Investigations released an interactive database called “Table of Success” that outlines Mayor Adams’ connections to numerous scandal-ridden and ethically questionable associates.
Several companies founded by Frank Carone, the former chief of staff to Mayor Adams, were sued by an insurance company for allegedly laundering $3.5 million.

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