Good morning and happy Thursday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is yet to release his public schedule; his fremeny Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to officially launch his presidential campaign today.
At 9 a.m., NYC Councilman Mark Levine joins health care providers, advocates and community members to call on the mayor to fully mitigate State Article 6 budget cuts in New York City’s fiscal year 2020 budget, City Hall steps, Manhattan.
Also at 9 a.m., Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. meets with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, HSBC, 452 Fifth Ave., Manhattan.
Also at 9 a.m., Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will announce funding for medication assisted treatment mobile unit, Ramon Velez Health Center, 754 E 151st Street, Bronx.
At 10 a.m., the state Department of Health’s Public Health and Health Planning Council meets, state Health Department, 90 Church St., fourth floor, Rooms 4A and 4B, Manhattan.
Also at 10 a.m., Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke join advocates at the Weeksville Heritage Center to call for its inclusion in the city Department of Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Institutions Group, 158 Buffalo Ave., Brooklyn.
Also at 10 a.m., the NYC Council Committee on Finance meets jointly with the Committee on Youth Services, the Committee on Small Business, the Committee on Health and the Committee on Disabilities and Addiction, Council chamber, City Hall, Manhattan.
Also at 10 a.m., the NYC Campaign Finance Board holds a public meeting, Joseph A. O’Hare S.J. Board Room, 100 Church St., 12th floor, Manhattan.
Also at 10 a.m., state Sen. Julia Salazar, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams demand equal opportunity for young people in New York City’s foster care system, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn.
Also at 10 a.m., NYC Councilman Ben Kallos delivers the commencement address for Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University Lamport Auditorium, 2540 Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan.
Also at 10 a.m., New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will rally with the Fair Futures coalition, Brooklyn Borough Hall Steps, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn.
At 10:30 a.m., the NYC Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises meets, 250 Broadway, 16th floor, Committee Room, Manhattan.
Also at 10:30 a.m., the Public Service Commission will hold its next regular session, 19th Fl. Board Room, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany.
Also at 10:30 a.m., state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Andrew Gounardes announce legislation that would establish clear requirements for the MTA to make subway stations compliant with ADA requirements, 72nd Street B/C train entrance, Manhattan.
Also at 10:30 a.m., Lt. Gov. Hochul will participate in Fireside Chat at Chobani Women in Business Event, Chobani SoHo, 200 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, New York City.
At 11 a.m., state Assemblyman Michael Benedetto and the WELL Campaign host a press conference to discuss the state of school wellness policy and announce action to address student health and well-being, 3602 E. Tremont Ave., Suite 201, the Bronx.
Also at 11 a.m., Mayor Bill de Blasio will deliver remarks at the opening of the Statue of Liberty Museum, 1 Liberty Island, Ellis Island.
Also at 11 a.m., state Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and state Sen. Robert Jackson rally before the New York City Council vote on the mechanical voids proposal, City Hall steps, Manhattan.
Also at 11 a.m., the NYC Council Committee on Land Use meets, 250 Broadway, 16th floor, Committee Room, Manhattan.
Also at 11 a.m., state Sens. Brian Kavanaugh and Zellnor Myrie hold a joint press conference on rent and tenant protection laws, Ebbets Field Apartments, 1720 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn.
At 11:30 a.m., Lt. Gov. Hochul will appear at the dedication of the Statue of Liberty Museum, 1 Liberty Island, Ellis Island.
At noon, NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson delivers his first speech on criminal justice reform and unveils several proposals for a more fair criminal justice system, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, second floor, 524 W. 59th St., Manhattan.
Also at noon, contractors and small business owners discuss the impact of the state’s proposed changes to rent regulations, Medgar Evers College, corner of Bedford Avenue and Montgomery Street, Brooklyn.
Also at noon, NYC Councilman Ritchie Torres, Common Cause New York, New York Civil Liberties Union and advocates blast Board Of Elections for setting up voters to fail in early voting, outside the Board of Elections’ office, 42 Broadway, Manhattan.
Also at noon, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, members of the Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition and others rally to urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo to put a stop to the Williams natural gas pipeline project, City Hall steps, Manhattan.
At 1 p.m., the state Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development holds a public hearing on rent regulations and tenant protections, Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn.
At 1:15 p.m., Hochul will address the New York Building Congress’ 98th Anniversary Leadership Awards Luncheon, New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 6th Avenue, New York City.
At 2 p.m., state Assembly members Carmen De La Rosa and Al Taylor, and NYC Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez attend Yeshiva University’s grand opening of its Innovation Lab, Yeshiva University Furst Hall, 500 W. 185th St., Manhattan.
At 5 p.m., “Driving Forces,” hosted by Jeff Simmons, features New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray and CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, WBAI, 99.5 FM.
Headlines…
Ending months of speculation, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to announce he will enter the crowded field for president Thursday.
Unlike most of the other candidates running for president, Mayor Bill de Blasio has years of executive experience under his belt. But while he says he’s shown that progressive ideas can be put into action, the reality is a bit more complicated.
Bill de Blasio has been in public office for almost two decades, as a Brooklyn councilman, New York City public advocate, and now mayor. But with more than two dozen contenders for the Democratic nomination for president, what does Bill de Blasio have to help him stand out? Here’s a look at what could be his strengths and weaknesses on the campaign trail this time around.
Meet Dean Fuleihan. He’s Mayor Bill de Blasio’s second-in-command, his former budget guru, and, when the mayor is out of town campaigning for the White House, he’ll run New York City.
The Democratic-led state Senate on Wednesday gave final passage to a bill that would create a program for cameras on school buses. The measure, previously approved this month by the Democratic-controlled Assembly, now heads to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk. He is expected to approve it.
The fight for clean drinking water heads to Capitol Hill. The House Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee is meeting Wednesday to discuss PFAS contamination. This comes after areas like Hoosick Falls and Newburgh found their water was contaminated with the chemical in recent years.
A proposed Holocaust Memorial that was sidelined due to its controversial design, is now back in the spotlight with a new look. A community forum Wednesday evening at Niskayuna High School discussed the changes.
The New York State Division of Budget says $93 million was contributed to the state’s Charitable Gift Trust Fund in Fiscal Year 2019 — which ended in March — $58 million toward health care and another $35 million for education.
Syracuse is partnering with a software firm to help people who are looking to build in the city. OpenCounter gives both residents and developers a chance to look at the permit ad zoning process online.
New York will decide today whether to allow a new undersea natural gas pipeline, which Cuomo said will be made independently of him, and the debate pits National Grid and developer interests against renewable energy advocates.
Disability rights groups filed a major lawsuit against the MTA, arguing the agency’s repeated decisions to complete major subway station renovations without adding handicapped-accessible features violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Women’s groups and their supporters are calling for New York City Councilman Barry Grodenchik to resign after he admitted to sexually harassing a staffer, with the groups saying the City Council did not go far enough in its punishment.
The bench trial against a Rochester police officer accused of beating a man began on Wednesday. Officer Michael Sippel is charged with misdemeanor assault.
Doctors in Irondequoit are treating a patient with a suspected case of measles after an adult walked into Rochester Regional Health’s Riedman Wellness Center on Wednesday.
New York State Emergency Services Commissioner Pat Murphy stopped in Youngstown Wednesday to view the flooding already underway there.
The budget axe is swinging at the NYPD. During a budget hearing Wednesday, police officials told the City Council they will eliminate 130 traffic agent positions in the next fiscal year that begins July 1. They say the positions already are vacant, which eliminates the need for layoffs.
Tears were streaming inside an NYPD trial room as graphic autopsy photos of Eric Garner were shown in the disciplinary trial of officer Daniel Pantaleo, who is accused of placing Garner in a banned chokehold before his death.
Emergency crews responded after a helicopter crash landed in the Hudson River near 30th Street. The 34-year-old pilot was the only person on-board when it happened around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
New York state has rejected a proposal “without prejudice” to construct a pipeline that would carry natural gas amid a growing battle over the state’s energy future.
New York City’s proposed fur ban has pitted animal rights advocates against black clergy.
The former movie studio run by disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has petitioned to liquidate itself in bankruptcy court.
George Kelling, who developed the controversial “broken windows” theory of policing, has died at 83.
President Donald Trump is frustrated with his advisers over potential war plans for Iran, as he worries the move would reverse his support for withdrawing the U.S. from Middle East conflicts.
Alabama’s new abortion measure could have a direct impact on the 2020 election — a prospect that worries some social conservatives.
While the Alabama abortion law may be part of an effort to overturn Roe v. Wade, it’s not clear if the conservative majority on the Supreme Court would use the measure to do so.
The Trump administration plans to unveil a more “merit based” approach toward immigration.
Trump has granted a pardon to media baron Conrad Black, who was found guilty of fraud and obstruction in 2007.