Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

June 25, 2021

What’s Inside

  • Governor Ends State of Emergency
  • Primary Results
  • Governor Cuomo Announces New Job Creation as Result of Luminate NY Competition
  • Governor Announces Administration Appointments
  • Attorney General Sues School District for Failing to Protect Students from Sexual Assault
  • Political Updates
  • Reminders and Links
  • Coming Up

Governor Ends State of Emergency

The Governor announced that New York will end the state disaster emergency declared on March 7, 2020 to fight COVID-19. The Governor issued Executive Order #210 officially rescinding Executive Orders 202 through 202.111 and Executive Orders 205 through 205.3. Federal CDC guidance will remain in effect, which includes masks for unvaccinated individuals, as well as all riders on public transit and in certain settings, such as health care, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters. State and local government health departments will still be able to ensure mask rules and other health precautions are adhered to in those settings. Since March of 2020, a variety of actions had been taken by executive order to assist in the response to the pandemic by state agencies, local governments, hospitals, and businesses by both temporarily suspending or modifying laws as well as utilizing temporary directives. Those actions will expire with the state of emergency and it is unclear if any will be continued under different authority, such as emergency regulations.

Governor Cuomo said:

“New York went from one of the worst infection rates to the lowest infection rate in the country, and it was all because of the efforts of New Yorkers who were smart, united and did what they needed to do throughout this entire pandemic. Now we’re starting to write a new chapter for a post-COVID New York–the state disaster emergency is ending and we can focus on reimaging, rebuilding and renewing our state. This doesn’t mean COVID is gone, we still have to get more New Yorkers vaccinated, but we are getting back on track and starting to live life once again.”

Primary Results

Primary day in New York was met with low turnout across the state, leading to some potential upsets in Upstate. Eric Adams is currently leading all candidates in New York City’s mayoral race, though the outcome will be determined in the weeks to come following absentee ballot counting and ranked choice votes. A breakdown of election night results is below, with a caution that results are not yet final due to absentee ballot counts and ranked choice voting in the NYC municipal races.

 

Upstate Primaries

 

Albany Mayoral Race (D)

Kathy Sheehan (incumbent) – 61.44%

Valerie Faust – 34.87%

Incumbent mayor Kathy Sheehan defeated her opponent handily and is virtually guaranteed reelection in November.

Buffalo Mayoral Race (D)

India Walton – 51.85%

Byron Brown (incumbent) – 44.83%

Le’Candice Durham – 3.03%

If election night results hold after absentee ballot counting, India Walton will have notched an upset over incumbent mayor Byron Brown. Walton will be the first major party candidate in upstate to identify as a socialist.

Rochester Mayoral Race (D)

Malik Evans – 66.03%

Lovely Warren (incumbent) – 33.83%

Malik Evans defeated incumbent Lovely Warren handily. Warren is under indictment for alleged campaign finance violations and her home was recently raided by the state police in relation to gun and drug charges against her husband.

Syracuse Mayoral Race (D)

Khalid Bey – 49.85%

Michael Greene – 49.01

Syracuse Mayoral Race (R)

Janet Burman – 66.62%

Thomas Babilon – 31.38%

While the Democratic Primary is too close to call and will be decided after absentee ballots are counted, the Republican primary was decided in favor of Janet Burman. The winners will face the incumbent mayor Ben Walsh, an independent.

 

NYC Mayoral Primary

 

New York City’s first mayoral primary since the implementation of ranked choice voting took place this week. Eric Adams currently has a sizable lead with absentee ballots to count and ranked votes to be determined. The race currently breaks down this way:

Eric Adams – 31.66%

Maya Wiley – 22.22%

Kathryn Garcia – 19.48%

Andrew Yang – 11.66%

Scott Stringer – 5.03%

Dianne Morales – 2.78%

Ray McGuire – 2.31%

Shaun Donovan – 2.16%

Paperboy Prince – 0.43%

Art Chang – 0.73%

Aaron Foldenauer – 0.84%

Isaac Wright Jr. – 0.24%

Joycelyn Taylor – 0.27%

The Republican primary for mayor was won by Curtis Sliwa.

 

NYC Comptroller

 

City Councilman Brad Lander finished with a substantial lead despite polling that suggested former City Council Speaker Corey Johnson with a large lead. Absentee ballots and ranked choice voting will ultimately determine the winner.

Brad Lander – 31.31%

Corey Johnson – 22.54%

Brian Benjamin – 7.71%

Kevin Parker – 5.88%

David Weprin – 6.95%

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera – 13.56%

Reshma Patel – 5.17%

Zach Iscol – 3.10%

Terri Liftin – 1.07%

Alex Pan – 2.52%

 

NYC Borough Presidents

 

Brooklyn Borough President (D)

Antonio Reynoso -28.16%

Jo Anne Simon – 17.61%

Robert Cornegy Jr. – 19.15%

Mathieu Eugene – 8.07%

Kimberly Council – 5.6%

Khari Edwards – 6.24%

Robert Ramos – 3.47%

Anthony T. Jones – 3.06%

Trisha Ocona – 3.06%

Robert Elstein – 2.22%

Pearlene Fields – 1.7%

Lamor Miller Whitehead – 1.45%

Manhattan Borough President (D)

Mark Levine – 28.67%

Brad Hoylman – 25.66%

Ben Kallos – 12.18%

Lindsey Boylan – 10.41%

Elizabeth Caputo – 9.82%

Guillermo A. Perez – 7.29%

Kimberly Watkins – 5.74%

Queens Borough President (D)

Donovan Richards (incumbent) – 41.53%

Elizabeth Crowley – 40.2%

Jimmy Van Bramer – 17.82%

Staten Island Borough President (R)

Vito Fossella – 42.21%

Steven Matteo – 41.01%

Leticia Remauro – 13.45%

Jhong Uhk Kim – 2.63%

Staten Island Borough President (D)

Mark Murphy – 46.23%

Lorie Honor – 20.96%

Cesar Vargas – 14.69%

Brandon Stradford – 9.51%

Radhakrishna Mohan – 7.40%

Governor Cuomo Announces New Job Creation as Result of Luminate NY Competition

The Governor announced that two previous participants in the Luminate NY competition have committed to creating nearly 120 jobs in the city of Rochester’s Downtown Innovation Zone. SunDensity, which was awarded $1 million in round three of the optics, photonics, and imaging competition in 2020, will create close to 60 jobs as it establishes its pilot, high-tech manufacturing operations in Rochester. Round two $250,000 winner Circle Optics will also create approximately 60 jobs at the repurposed Sibley Square building downtown. Round two winner, Ovitz, has already established its headquarters in Rochester, and the competitions’ inaugural winner, Double Helix Optics, has partnered with Rochester optics firms to develop and manufacture new products. To date, the 40 companies in the Luminate portfolio have created 100 jobs within the region.

NextCorps, a University of Rochester affiliate and the region’s only federally and state designated business incubator, administers the Luminate NY accelerator which has invested $8 million in 40 startups since its inception. Round four is currently underway with the finals event planned for this fall. The accelerator competition requires that the winners commit to establishing operations in Rochester for at least 18 months.

Governor Cuomo said:

“As we work to build back even better all across the state, we are seeing that our ongoing investments in advanced technologies are more than paying off. These strategic investments have already positioned Rochester as a global leader in the optics, photonics and imaging industries and put a spotlight on all this flourishing region has to offer. The Luminate NY competition supports our efforts to move the Finger Lakes forward by attracting even more innovative companies, creating more jobs and spurring economic growth into the future.”

Governor Announces Administration Appointments

The Governor announced new appointments to his administration this week including:

Christian Jackstadt, Deputy Director of State Operations

Angela Profeta, Deputy Secretary for Health

Molly Reilly, Deputy Secretary for General Government and Technology

Christopher Tavella, Interim Deputy Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene

Blaise DiBernardo-Hover, Acting Deputy Secretary for Transportation

Tina Kim, Assistant Secretary for Health

Jane Wiesenberg, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development

Rachel Baker, Assistant Secretary for Health

Charlene Cordero, Assistant Secretary for Public Safety

Kyle Schneps, Special Advisor for Pandemic Response and State Operations

Michael Pellegrino, Special Advisor for State Operations

Steve Lukens, Special Advisor for Arts and Entertainment Recovery

Shams Tarek, Deputy Director of Communications

Jade Kraft, Deputy Communications Director for Albany

Jason Gough, Deputy Communications Director for Economic Development

Jeorge Cymon, Deputy Communications Director for Transportation

Jennifer Claire Scott, CSEP, Senior Events Manager

Seth Wolfson, Events and Advance Manager

Michelle G. Pérez, Events and Advance Manager

Emily Badalamente, Senior Policy Advisor for Human Services and Mental Hygiene

Katelyn O’Leary, Senior Policy Advisor for Energy and Environment

Starina Peg Giordano, Special Assistant for Events and Advance

Biographical information on the appointees can be found here.

Attorney General Sues School District for Failing to Protect Students from Sexual Assault

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District (NWCSD) for failing to respond to incidents of sexual assault and bullying in the schools. The lawsuit alleges that NWCSD repeatedly violated the federal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and New York state common law, requiring that schools provide adequate supervision of their students to protect them from harm. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, seeks injunctive relief, including oversight, monitoring, and trainings for NWCSD, and the creation of new policies and practices for the handling of sexual assault, including a written safety plan for victims of harassment and assault.

The Attorney General said:

“It is unconscionable that an institution tasked with educating and protecting its students turned a blind eye to the abuse, harassment, and bullying happening right in its school halls. The NWCSD’s inaction demonstrates that it did not have adequate systems in place to protect its students — particularly young women — when they needed it most. This indifference to student suffering has caused physical, mental, and emotional trauma, and jeopardized students’ education. My office remains committed to standing against sexual assault of any kind, anywhere, and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. I will continue to use the law to hold the school district accountable for its negligence, and to empower survivors of sexual harassment and assault.”

Political Updates

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s aide questioned in sexual harassment investigation.

2021 New York City Council primary election results.

Brindisi rules out rematch with Tenney for NY-22.

Analyzing how India Walton upset a four-term incumbent.

He handily defeated Lovely Warren in mayoral primary. Things to know about Malik Evans.

Eric Adams and the history of come-from-behind wins in ranked-choice races.

Maya Wiley predicts winning NYC mayoral race after ranked votes are counted.

Two “underdogs” win Erie Co. Sheriff primaries.

How Trump is trying to play a role in New York House races.

Andrew Giuliani looks forward to GOP gubernatorial primary.

Levine and Hoylman neck-and-neck in Manhattan borough president race.

Reminders and Links

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

1199 SEIU vows to fight mandatory COVID vaccines.

How a deal for gig workers fell apart.

Coming Up

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on integrating services offered by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports and the Office of Mental Health on June 21.

JCOPE will hold its next meeting on June 29.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on New York State’s system of ethics oversight and enforcement on July 12.

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on July 12 and 13.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on July 15.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on nursing home and assisted living workforce on July 20.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on homecare workforce challenges and solutions on July 27.