Biden visits Syracuse as chaos grows on NYC campus

With help from Shawn Ness and Irie Sentner

New from New York

Happening now:

• Two Syracuse University alumni visited their former college town.
• New York spends the most money on schools per capita, and that’s not even close.
• Reaction to the overturning of the Harvey Weinstein verdict in New York.
• The Carey Gabay Scholarship is now available.

BIDEN VISITS UPSTATE: President Joe Biden visited New York state this afternoon with Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer to celebrate up to $6 billion in federal funding for a semiconductor factory.

But the nation’s eyes were still focused about 250 miles to the southeast as the chaos at Columbia University continued and spread to nearby colleges — and as former President Donald Trump’s trial resumed in the city.

However, you wouldn’t know anything about the unrest in New York City in Syracuse — where there was only laughter and cheering among the state and country’s leading Democrats. The deal for Micron, first announced in late 2022, is seen as a game changer for the state’s struggling economy, which has suffered decades of industry job and population losses.

“Folks, I want to thank Governor Hochul for being here today and for her partnership,” a triumphant Biden said. He also poked fun at Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives who had criticized the CHIPS Act but are now celebrating the investments in New York. The district is a key swing race, with Republican Rep. Brandon Williams among the most vulnerable freshmen in the country this fall.

Yet the division of the day was clear.

Biden and Hochul have criticized the anti-Semitism expressed during campus protests, but have also been lambasted by Republicans for not doing more — such as sending in the National Guard to quell unrest on campus.

Hochul said this week that she continues to talk to Columbia about ending the tent camps, saying the goal is to “ensure that every student on campus feels safe.”

Hochul visited the university privately on Monday, and Biden will not be in town during his trip — although he will stop in Westchester tonight for a fundraiser.

That is in stark contrast to the way Republicans are handling the situation in Columbia.

The second in line to the president, House Speaker Mike Johnson, made a trip to the university on Wednesday with other House GOP members, where they called on Hochul to step up enforcement on campus.

But the Republicans were shouted down by student demonstrators who shouted, “Mike, you’re bad!” and they continued to refuse orders from administrators to remove their tent camp from the university lawn.

That was also a contrast with Hochul – who posted on X on Wednesday evening that she had an all-out “beautiful day in the neighborhood” as she took a stroll through Central Park, ate a soft pretzel, and took selfies next to blooming trees.

Sen. Jack Martins, chairman of the Senate Republican Task Force on Anti-Semitism, said the governor’s visit to Syracuse and Central Park showed she is more interested in “photo ops” than protecting students.

“There are kids being told that they can’t or shouldn’t go to school and that they have to stay home, and the campus is closed for remote learning, and she’s walking through Central Park with a soft pretzel, it’s a beautiful day ,” said Martins.

“That kind of ignorance honestly cannot be ignored. At a time when we need leadership, the governor has once again fallen far short.”

Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, ripped the naysayers, pointing out that her walk through Central Park was just one of many posts that appeared on her X account on Wednesday.

“We are thrilled that so many New Yorkers are closely monitoring the Governor’s social media accounts, and we encourage them to read yesterday’s posts on protecting sexual assault survivors, defending abortion rights and investing in the criminal justice system,” he said. — Jason Beeferman

NY SPENDS THE MOST ON SCHOOL AID: New York still ranks number one – with the highest per-pupil spending in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

New York City also had the highest per-pupil spending rate among the nation’s 100 largest school districts.

New York topped the list, spending $29,873 per student. That was followed by the District of Columbia ($27,425), New Jersey ($25,099), Vermont ($24,608) and Connecticut ($24,453).

The announcement comes shortly after New York implemented another monumental $1.3 billion increase in school aid, bringing total school aid in New York to more than $35 billion.

However, the state is revising the foundation aid formula used to distribute the state’s largest school aid budget line, a move that could lead to smaller increases in the future.

The study of the formula must be submitted by December 1, and the Legislature and Governor will decide which recommendations will be included in the adopted budget. — Catherine Cordero

ANOTHER LOCAL ELECTION LAWSUIT: Rockland County is the latest local government to sue the state over a new law that shifts most city and county elections to even years.

“The election manipulation without representation, forcibly abolishing our right to self-government and limiting the next term of the County Executive and Legislature to three years instead of the four years required by our laws, and reducing city and town officials with a year is wrong. County Executive Ed Day said in a statement.

The law, signed shortly before Christmasis now the subject of lawsuits from all over the state.

Onondaga County allocated funding for a case in February. Other counties that have brought suits or said they will include Oneida, Nassau and Rensselaer. –Bill Mahoney

‘THE LAW APPLIES TO EVERYONE:’ The 2020 rape conviction of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein was today overturned by the New York Court of Appeals, and the court ordered a new trial in the case.

Weinstein will remain in prison for his 2022 rape conviction in California.

Standing outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial, Weinstein’s lawyer called it “a great day for America” ​​and mentioned Trump’s case while speaking about his client’s victory.

“A judge will sit in her chambers and without fear or favor look at the law and look at the precedent and say, ‘I don’t care who the defendant is, whether it’s the former president of the United States or the most legendary Hollywood. producer of our generation, the law applies to everyone,” said Arthur Aidala, who represented Weinstein in the appeal.

“The law applies to everyone, from a murder case to a case of forgery of corporate documents,” he added. – Irie Sentner

‘DUM PUNCH’ DECISION: Meanwhile, advocates seeking stronger labor protections in the fashion industry have rejected today’s Court of Appeal ruling that overturned Weinstein’s sex crimes charges.

The Model Alliance, which pushed for the Fashion Workers Act, said the decision to dismiss the New York-based conviction of Weinstein strengthens the case for strengthened workplace protections.

“The Court of Appeal’s decision is an indictment of the criminal justice system and a blow to survivors like me, who have been victims not only of Weinstein and his associates, but also of the fashion industry’s lack of regulation, which has young women knowingly get into trouble. and girls who are at the mercy of serial rapists like Weinstein and Bill Cosby every day,” said Sara Ziff, the founder of the Model Alliance.

Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of criminal sexual assault and rape in the third degree. However, the state’s highest court ruled that a judge erred by allowing witnesses into the case who had said they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein but whose cases were not part of the criminal prosecution. — Nick Reisman

NY WANTS MORE ART: More than 100 arts and culture nonprofits have received a share of $32 million to revitalize their facilities and deliver their creative works.

The 102 different nonprofits are spread throughout the state from New York City to Buffalo and north to St. Lawrence.

“From historic sites to new multi-use arts centers, these diverse projects will increase the accessibility and sustainability of arts and cultural organizations while growing local economies, boosting tourism and creating jobs throughout New York State,” Hochul said in a statement .

The grants range in size from $50,000 to $2 million for smaller projects and up to $10 million for larger projects that prioritize community development. — Shawn Ness

CAREY GABAY SCHOLARSHIP: Young lawyers will have another opportunity to work in Hochul’s office through the Carey Gabay Scholarship. Applications for the position opened earlier today, Hochul announced.

The paid two-year fellowship is designed for attorneys admitted to the bar who are committed to public service and will have an immediate opportunity to work with the Governor’s legal team on issues such as violence prevention, economic equity and community development.

The fellowship is named after Carey Gabay, who was shot and killed in a rogue shooting in 2015. The post is intended to honor his legacy.

“Carey Gabay was tragically taken from us too soon, leaving a hole in the hearts of his family, his colleagues and truly all New Yorkers,” Hochul said in a statement.

Applications will be accepted until May 15. –Shawn Ness

– President Joe Biden and the New York Times have a small feud. (POLITICS)

— The White House refused House Speaker Mike Johnson’s call to send the National Guard to Columbia University. (POLITICS)

— CUNY City College now has that his own pro-Palestinian encampment. (Daily news).

— Speaker Carl Heastie becomes a regular in Columbia County. There is a reason (POLITICS Pro)