QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Unlike some cities, we don’t shut down in the face of adversity. I’m going to make decisions based on the information we have.” – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio responding to criticism about schools staying open despite the snow, via the Post.
NEW THIS AFTERNOON:
* New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña defended their decision to keep city schools open, with Fariña saying “it’s a beautiful day out there,” the Post reports: http://bit.ly/1czHJgR
* NBC’s Al Roker attacked de Blasio for his decision to keep schools open, saying it was going to take kids getting hurt before “this goofball policy” gets changed, Politicker writes: http://bit.ly/1g1Pq1B
* New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, a close ally of de Blasio, said closing city schools would have been “warranted,” Capital New York writes: http://bit.ly/1kFpoXL
* Public Advocate Letitia James called for a re-evaluation for the criteria of closing school to make sure students, parents and teachers are not put in harm’s way, the Daily News writes: http://nydn.us/1jChYo3
* De Blasio defended his decision to call a top police official to ask about the arrest of Bishop Orlando Findlayter, a member of his inaugural committee, saying it was “appropriate,” the Wall Street Journal reports: http://on.wsj.com/1g2chdp
* Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for downstate regions, including New York City, because of the heavy snowfall, the Daily News reports: http://nydn.us/1eXsPoL
* Cuomo again argued that de Blasio’s proposal to increase taxes on the wealthy to fund universal pre-K prioritizes students in one part of the state over another, a point echoed by several other mayors, State of Politics writes: http://bit.ly/1eXoq5i
* The nonprofit behind the New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade will be overhauled after its fundraising firm misspent funds, thanks to a settlement with the state attorney general, the New York Times reports: http://nyti.ms/1aZElAB
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Bolton-St. Johns proudly announces the newest member of its Albany lobbying team, Michelle Cummings. BSJ Partners Emily Giske, Giorgio DeRosa, Ed Draves, Bill McCarthy, Tom Connolly and Michael Keogh welcome Michelle, an expert on tax policy with years of lobbying experience as well as over two decades of public service as a NYS Department of Taxation and Finance Deputy Commissioner and an analyst for the State Senate Finance Committee. Learn more about Michelle and Bolton-St. Johns at www.boltonstjohns.com
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TOP TWEETS:
Al Roker @alroker: I knew this am @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools would close schools. Talk about a bad prediction. Long range DiBlasio forecast: 1 term
Beth DeFalco @BethDeFalco: Oh snap! @BilldeBlasio says it’s easier to be a TV weatherman than a mayor when asked about @alroker criticism.
Nicole Malliotakis @NMalliotakis: No plow yet & sleet/wind still heavy and Chancellor Fariña is saying “It’s a beautiful day.” #RealTaleOf2Cities pic.twitter.com/F6JpNQCnmJ
Rob Astorino @RobAstorino: Okay, BdB. How about a shovel off? 6 am tomorrow? (Sharp.) pic.twitter.com/JTQivPwHIQ
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We demand jobs, safety and justice now. New York’s outdated scaffold law is costing thousands of new Pre-K seats in our communities, communities that so desperately need them. It’s hurting Minority and Women owned businesses more than anyone else. Our communities are in crisis. The Alliance for Minority and Women Construction Businesses are coming to Albany to crash the party and to let the Black and Latino Caucus know that this year, it won’t be business as usual. It’s time to reform the outdated Scaffold Law. www.amwcb.com
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ANALYSIS AND DOCUMENTS:
* In his preliminary budget address, de Blasio did not shrink from his campaign pledge of addressing inequality with more money for AIDs patients, runaway youths and other initiatives, the Times’ Michael Powell writes: http://nyti.ms/1eSJIT5
* A vote on an agreement to make half of New York City’s taxis wheelchair-accessible is being delayed because de Blasio has yet to appoint a new head of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, Capital New York reports: http://bit.ly/1b05Iup
* New York City construction starts increased by 11 percent in 2013, driven mostly by the Goethals, Bayonne and Verrazano-Narrows bridge projects, according to a report by the New York Building Congress: http://bit.ly/1kFsgnA
* The Participatory Politics Foundation launched a new online tool, askthem.io, helping Americans ask their elected officials questions with the responses posted online: http://bit.ly/1czESEF
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Only 17% of New Yorkers agree with Cuomo’s position on abortion. Who’s the real extremist? Visit www.nyc41percent.com for more information.
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TONIGHT’S SHOWS:
7 p.m. and 10 p.m. –Inside City Hall features discussions of de Blasio’s budget with Ronnie Lowenstein, James Parrott and Carol Kellermann, and his schools agenda with top education reporters, Time Warner Cable News NY1.
8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. – Capital Tonight features Assemblyman Bill Nojay and Frank Gotcsik from Parks and Trails NY, Time Warner Cable News.
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MUNICIPAL UNIONS: City & State’s Upcoming Feb. 24 Issue Spotlight
Promote your organization’s municipal union objectives and issues to NY’s public officials in this strategic government relations communications venue. City & State magazine’s comprehensive special section will feature: Public Officials Q&A with Bob Linn, Scott Stringer, Peter Abbate and Daneek Miller (officials pending confirmation); Featured Editorial: No Deal? Arbitration? | Labor Contracts | Special Perspectives from: Richard Iannuzzi, Mike Fishman and John Liu (participants pending confirmation). The ad deadline is Feb. 20. For advertising information, please contact jkatocin@cityandstateny.com or call 212-284-9714.
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TOMORROW’S SKED:
10 a.m. – State Sen. Ted O’Brien, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and others discuss a DCJS grant to reduce crime and promote nonviolent conflict resolution in the City of Rochester, 550 E. Main St., Rochester.
10:30 a.m. – The New York City Council Land Use committee meets, City Hall, Committee Room, Manhattan.
10:30 a.m. – State Sen. Jeff Klein, Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady and others host Klein’s 19th Annual Valentines for Vets event, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Community Living Center, 130 W. Kingsbridge Road, Bronx.
11 a.m. – The Capitol Pressroom features City & State’s Jon Lentz, Independent Group Home Living CEO Walter Stockton and Kevin Stahl, Environmental Advocates of New York Executive Director Peter Iwanowicz, land-use expert Paul Bray, NYPIRG’s Blair Horner and NYSNYS’s Kyle Hughes, WCNY.
11 a.m. – The New York City Council Civil Service and Labor Committee meets, City Hall, Council Chambers, Manhattan.
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WHO’S HIRING: To advertise your employment opportunities in City & State First Read, email jfreeman@cityandstateny.com or call 646-442-1662.
Executive Director, NYC Carpenters Labor Management Corporation
The NYC Carpenters Labor Management Corporation seeks a leader to develop and implement complex strategies to increase the market share of NYC construction work performed by unionized contractors. Candidate must have 12+ years experience with NYC construction, development, real estate, or government, plus high-level management and communication skills. To view the full job and apply, visit http://www.GrossmanHeinz.com.
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City & State