The must-read daily newsletter for NY's political community.Get it in your inbox.Political Personalities With SkyeThe chant was hard to decipher through a bullhorn on a Tribeca street Sunday night, all the more so because the message was a bit unfamiliar. But, listen to enough times, and you can make out what the protester was yelling: “Fuck the PBA!” That’s the commonly used initialism of the Police Benevolent Association, the largest union representing NYPD officers – and the municipal police union in the world. The average New Yorker may not know anything about the PBA and its...…The must-read daily newsletter for NY's political community.Get it in your inbox.Political Personalities With SkyeThe chant was hard to decipher through a bullhorn on a Tribeca street Sunday night, all the more so because the message was a bit unfamiliar. But, listen to enough times, and you can make out what the protester was yelling: “Fuck the PBA!” That’s the commonly used initialism of the Police Benevolent Association, the largest union representing NYPD officers – and the municipal police union in the world. The average New Yorker may not know anything about the PBA and its...WW…

Establishment liberals face progressive insurgents in majority-minority districts. By June 21, 2020State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery’s retirement has set off an intense open primary competition to replace her, with a chain reaction filtering down to an Assembly race. In both Montgomery’s 25th Senate District and the partially overlapping 56th Assembly District in Brooklyn, the establishment-backed candidates are facing at least one challenge from the left. And, in a year in which turnout may go up because of easier access to absentee ballots or it may go down because fear of contracting the...…Establishment liberals face progressive insurgents in majority-minority districts. By June 21, 2020State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery’s retirement has set off an intense open primary competition to replace her, with a chain reaction filtering down to an Assembly race. In both Montgomery’s 25th Senate District and the partially overlapping 56th Assembly District in Brooklyn, the establishment-backed candidates are facing at least one challenge from the left. And, in a year in which turnout may go up because of easier access to absentee ballots or it may go down because fear of contracting the...WW…

Many voters never got their absentee ballots. And it’s not just the boards of elections at fault.By , June 22, 2020As Tuesday’s congressional and state legislative primaries approached, many politically engaged New Yorkers have confronted the reality that they will not be able to vote. Due to widespread failures in their local election boards – and a governor and state Legislature unconcerned with protecting their constituents’ constitutional rights – a vast but unknown number of voters who requested absentee ballots have not received them. On Sunday, a volunteer for Brooklyn...…Many voters never got their absentee ballots. And it’s not just the boards of elections at fault.By , June 22, 2020As Tuesday’s congressional and state legislative primaries approached, many politically engaged New Yorkers have confronted the reality that they will not be able to vote. Due to widespread failures in their local election boards – and a governor and state Legislature unconcerned with protecting their constituents’ constitutional rights – a vast but unknown number of voters who requested absentee ballots have not received them. On Sunday, a volunteer for Brooklyn...WW…

Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones were declared winners, while Ritchie Torres celebrated an early lead.By , July 17, 2020A few New York congressional incumbents breathed sighs of relief when they secured sizeable enough leads to declare victory in key primary races, but a couple incumbents had to wait on absentee ballots to be counted.Rep. Eliot Engel has lost while Rep. Carolyn Maloney still has a small lead.Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Yvette Clarke, who both faced spirited challenges this cycle, came out ahead days after the June 23 primary vote, while two young, Black newcomers...…Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones were declared winners, while Ritchie Torres celebrated an early lead.By , July 17, 2020A few New York congressional incumbents breathed sighs of relief when they secured sizeable enough leads to declare victory in key primary races, but a couple incumbents had to wait on absentee ballots to be counted.Rep. Eliot Engel has lost while Rep. Carolyn Maloney still has a small lead.Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Yvette Clarke, who both faced spirited challenges this cycle, came out ahead days after the June 23 primary vote, while two young, Black newcomers...WW…

The must-read daily newsletter for NY's political community.Get it in your inbox.Political Personalities With SkyePresident Donald Trump is pressuring governors to reopen schools across the country in the fall. On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the nation’s largest school district would only partially reopen for the start of school in September. But the guy who actually gets to decide – Gov. Andrew Cuomo – is still not so sure about whether that is such a good idea.The state will issue reopening guidelines by July 13, and then school districts, charter schools...…The must-read daily newsletter for NY's political community.Get it in your inbox.Political Personalities With SkyePresident Donald Trump is pressuring governors to reopen schools across the country in the fall. On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the nation’s largest school district would only partially reopen for the start of school in September. But the guy who actually gets to decide – Gov. Andrew Cuomo – is still not so sure about whether that is such a good idea.The state will issue reopening guidelines by July 13, and then school districts, charter schools...WW…

The left-wing group showed it isn’t a one-time wonder in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries.By , June 24, 2020It’s tough to get an endorsement from the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter. The process is lengthy, involving a detailed candidate interview and questionnaire and multiple rounds of meetings and votes within the party. That’s because it’s an endorsement , the party says. It comes with volunteers, data, a fundraising network and enviable branding – at least among the left-wing activists who can dominate in Democratic primaries.“The real value of the DSA...…The left-wing group showed it isn’t a one-time wonder in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries.By , June 24, 2020It’s tough to get an endorsement from the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter. The process is lengthy, involving a detailed candidate interview and questionnaire and multiple rounds of meetings and votes within the party. That’s because it’s an endorsement , the party says. It comes with volunteers, data, a fundraising network and enviable branding – at least among the left-wing activists who can dominate in Democratic primaries.“The real value of the DSA...WW…

The must-read daily newsletter for NY's political community.Get it in your inbox.Political Personalities With SkyeThere are two weeks left in the official 2021 legislative session, and environmentalists cannot agree on how best to use that time. Some lawmakers are focusing on that would make it easier for manufacturers to sell electric vehicles. Advocacy groups are rallying Thursday outside the state Capitol in a last-ditch push to this year. With the June 22 primary approaching, Democratic socialists are even making a city campaign issue out of the idea of making the New York Power...…The must-read daily newsletter for NY's political community.Get it in your inbox.Political Personalities With SkyeThere are two weeks left in the official 2021 legislative session, and environmentalists cannot agree on how best to use that time. Some lawmakers are focusing on that would make it easier for manufacturers to sell electric vehicles. Advocacy groups are rallying Thursday outside the state Capitol in a last-ditch push to this year. With the June 22 primary approaching, Democratic socialists are even making a city campaign issue out of the idea of making the New York Power...WW…