Mask Mandates Lifted + Working Families Party Endorses Williams
The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.
NO. 257 | Monday, February 14
Local News
Governor Kathy Hochul has lifted the State’s mask mandate, implemented in December during the initial Omicron surge, in most public places, but Mayor Eric Adams has said he will keep the City's additional restrictions in place for now.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will eliminate a statewide school mask mandate for teachers and students in early March. The policy has been in place since schools reopened in fall 2020.
MTA daily ridership passed 3 million for the first time since the December Covid surge, although it still has not reached pre-surge levels, and remains at around 55% of pre-pandemic levels.
Mayor Adams testified before the State legislature on issues regarding the Governor's proposed budget, using the occasion to once again push for changes to the 2019 bail reforms and other criminal justice reform measures passed in recent years.
Roughly 3,000 City employees will lose their jobs as the result of the vaccine mandate, and the number is likely to grow as the City still must process as many as 6,000 exemption requests. So far the number represents about 1% of the City's workforce.
The State comptroller found that nearly 2,000 teachers have left New York City’s public schools since the pandemic began almost two years ago.
Governor Hochul's proposed adjustment to the 421-a program, which largely preserves the tax breaks for private housing developers, is getting pushback from Housing Justice for All and some State legislators, although it has the support of the Mayor.
The Department of Social Services issued new payment standards for New York City's rental voucher program, which has resulted in homeless people staying in shelters longer.
Elections
The Working Families Party endorsed Jumaane Williams for Governor.
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi announced plans to run for the newly drawn 3rd Congressional district, which now includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester, as well as Long Island and is currently represented by Tom Suozzi (who is giving up the seat to run for Governor). Biaggi has already been endorsed by Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Westchester).
Assembly Member and Deputy Speaker Cathy Nolan (D-Western Queens) plans to retire, creating a vacant seat in an area that has been friendly to DSA-endorsed candidates in recent years.
Huge Ma, founder of popular Covid vaccine database TurboVax, ended his State assembly bid after redistricting removed his home from the area he aimed to represent.
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