Adams talks about breaking protests

With help from Shawn Ness

New from New York

Happening now:

• Mayor Eric Adams spoke about the reasons why it was time to end protests on college campuses.
• New York has a new secretary of state who needs Senate approval.
• New York City’s budget continues to expand.
• Why Attorney General Tish James and her colleagues are suing the NCAA.

DEMS DEFEND CAMPUS CRACKDOWN: Police not only arrested pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Manhattan universities Tuesday night, but also protected “children” from “outside agitators,” Mayor Eric Adams said as he defended the NYPD in a round of media appearances this morning.

“This is a global problem, that young people are being influenced by those who are professionals in radicalizing our children,” Adams said at a news conference with police Wednesday morning. “And as mayor of the city of New York, I’m not going to let that happen.”

Adams declined to explain who the agitators were. And while it’s not in dispute that some of the people protesting on campuses weren’t students, the NYPD’s key evidence today — that protesters seizing a building used bulky bike locks favored by students — was posted online downright ridiculed.

The police actions were the largest mobilizations yet by New York City police in response to recent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Adams emphasized that Columbia University and City College have both formally requested assistance from the NYPD. Protesters in Columbia had seized and barricaded an academic building on campus, and City College, setting up tents and occupying a large lawn on campus.

The NYPD said 173 people were arrested at City College and 109 in Columbia on Tuesday night.

Leading Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, supported the high-profile police responses.

“To my knowledge, the NYPD’s efforts were thorough and professional, and they exerted the level of calm in a very tense situation that is to be commended,” Jeffries said at a news conference today. POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu reports.

“The rest of campus should not have to live in fear because you claim you are exercising your rights,” Hochul said at a separate news conference. “But that’s what started happening on our campuses in recent weeks.”

But Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said reports of police closing blocks across the city, pepper-spraying protesters and throwing them to the ground showed the response was “counterproductive and downright dangerous’.

“While other campuses across the country have engaged protesters in productive dialogue, the NYPD last night at Columbia and City College instead responded with intimidation and violence. — Jeff Coltin

SENDING AN SOS: Former lawmaker Walter Mosley is Hochul’s pick to become New York’s next secretary of state, her office announced today.

“The Department of State plays a critical role in implementing a wide range of government services, from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative to the Office for New Americans,” Hochul said in a statement.

“Walter Mosley’s public service in the New York State Assembly and his years of leadership in his community have given him the skills and experience necessary to lead this department into the future.”

The Democratic lawmaker represented Brooklyn in the Assembly from 2013 to 2021, losing a primary to Phara Souffrant Forrest.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mosley would replace Robert Rodriguez in the post. Rodriguez was nominated last month to become president and CEO of the State Dormitory Authority.

“I am deeply honored that Governor Hochul has chosen me as Secretary of State,” said Mosley. “My career has been focused on finding ways to make government work for the people, and I am pleased to take on this critical role in state government.” — Nick Reisman

BUDGET WATCHERS: The Citizens’ Budget Commission would like to remind you New York City residents how much the Adams administration spent.

The budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 is on track to increase city spending by more than 6 percent over the current year, according to a report from the business-backed budget watchdog.

The increase would be even more pronounced if about $2.2 billion for programs the city would likely spend money on — but that are not included in the plan — were included in the comparison.

The growth is part of a broader trend. Between 2020 and this summer, the city’s spending is expected to rise 26 percent, exceeding inflation by more than 43 percent.

And even if migrant spending were excluded, spending growth would still have increased by 21 percent over the same period, the report found. –Shawn Ness

PROBLEMS WITH ELECTION TURNOUT: According to figures, less than 13 percent of registered voters in New York City participated in the election a new report of the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

To increase turnout, the report recommends two policies: one that would hold local elections in even-numbered years, and another that would create a civic engagement fellowship program to expand voter outreach programs.

New York has a law on the books that will move most local elections to even number years to correlate with state and federal races, but it doesn’t apply to New York City and faces legal challenges.

The goal, Democrats say, is to increase voter turnout, but Republicans argue this is a way for Democrats in the party to further damage the Republican Party in a state with twice as many Democrats than Republicans.

“Democracy in New York City is only as strong as the part of the city that participates. Even with 82 percent of eligible New Yorkers registered to vote, we still have a long way to go before voting and full civic participation are accessible to every New Yorker,” said Paul Ryan, executive director of the board, in a statement.

In the city’s two most recent elections, only seven percent of voters participated in the primaries and 12.8 percent in the general election, despite 81 percent of eligible voters being registered, the group said. –Shawn Ness

JAMES sues NCAA: The Public Prosecution Service agrees with this a multi-state coalition to prosecute the NCAA for policies that prevent student athletes from monetizing and profiting from their “name, image and likeliness.”

Attorney General Tish James said the policy prevents student athletes from looking at compensation offers before enrolling in a school, preventing them from fully understanding their options before deciding where to study. Other states listed in the lawsuit include Tennessee, Florida, District of Columbia and Virginia.

“New York student athletes are among the best in the country, and they should be able to make decisions about their athletic careers without restrictions,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.

“The NCAA’s NIL rule limits the potential of college athletes and limits competition among colleges – that’s not fair game. Student athletes must be able to take control of their careers in a fair and equal manner.” –Katelyn Cordero

On the campaign trail

HOCHUL FUNDRAISING FOR LASHER: Hochul will attend a fancy fundraiser tonight for Upper West Side Assembly candidate Micah Lasher. The affair is organized by Dan Doctoroff, former deputy mayor under Michael Bloomberg and former CEO of Bloomberg LP

Lasher was previously Hochul’s chief policy adviser and worked for Bloomberg earlier in his career. He faces a four-way primary, with Public Defender Eli Northrup, candidate for the Working Families Party, likely to be his most formidable challenger.

The 69th District seat, which includes the embattled Columbia University, is currently held by Assembly Member Danny O’Donnell. He is retiring after twenty years of representing the region. While other big names like Rep. Jerry Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer have endorsed Lasher, O’Donnell still has not announced support for any candidate in the race.

While O’Donnell has shied away from commenting on Columbia’s protests, Lasher commented on the unrest in a statement to Playbook.

“The situation has been heartbreaking in many ways,” he said. “At this point, I just hope that the Columbia community can find a way forward.”

Earlier today, Northrup called the NYPD’s deployment Tuesday night was a “completely disproportionate response.”

The tickets to attend the 6:30 p.m fundraising range from $1,000 to $3,000.

“I couldn’t be more honored that two of my former bosses, Dan Doctoroff and Governor Hochul, along with Alisa Doctoroff, are working together to boost our campaign as we enter the home stretch,” Lasher said in a separate statement.

Northrup condemned Lasher for the fundraiser.

“My opponent is clearly ideologically aligned with our governor and will continue to be influenced by big money and special interests instead of being accountable to our community,” Northrup said. “We need elected officials who work with and for the people – not career politicians who are disconnected from the issues we face.” — Jason Beeferman

– Protesters gathered outside NYPD headquarters after arresting nearly 300 protesters at Columbia University and CUNY College on Tuesday evening. (State of politics)

— The Research Department The investigation into an Adams adviser is now expanding to include his role in NYPD staffing and promotional matters. (Daily news)

– Students at the SUNY Stony Brook encampment were warned that they may have to move to another location. (Newsday)