Nixon Debates Cuomo + The Village Voice Shuts Down

Local News:

• After being displaced for seven months and facing off against the landlord and City agencies, the residents at 85 Bowery finally moved back into their homes.
• Council Speaker Corey Johnson had 37 private meetings or dinners with lobbyists in his first three months as Speaker in 2018.
• The Mayor, City Council, and Governor worked together to turn NYC’s speed cameras back on after the Legislature failed to renew them. The combination of bills and executive orders may allow the City to expand the speed camera program beyond its current cap of 140.
• The Mayor revised the BQX streetcar proposal, cutting a section from Sunset Park, raising the cost estimate, and expanding the timeline to not open until 2029. He also suggested that it may not get built without federal help.
• After it shut down its print edition last year, the Village Voice has officially ceased all new publication.
• The City Health Department has once again raised its estimate of the number of children exposed to lead in NYCHA.
• After receiving a $25,000 donation from Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer, Gov. Cuomo suspended the investigation into the handling of the case by Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance.

Elections:

• Cynthia Nixon and Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced off in their first and only debate ahead of the September 13th primary, with Rolling Stone calling it a “Preview of Democratic-DSA Battles to Come.” Gothamist has follow-up questions for Cuomo based on his misleading statements.
• For a third and final time, State Senator Martin Dilan’s challenge to Julia Salazar’s residency was rejected by a court and the DSA endorsee will be on the ballot on Sept 13 (District 18, North Brooklyn).
• Council Member Mark Gjonaj (D-Bronx) stood outside the campaign office of Alessandra Biaggi, who is challenging ex-IDC chief Jeff Klein in next week’s primary, yelling “Shame!” over Biaggi’s support for bike lanes.
• The Manhattan Neiborhood Network hosted a debate between Jumaane Williams and Kathy Hochul, the two Democratic candidates for Liutenant Governor. During the debate, Hochul claimed to have a previously unreported role in the drafting of sexual harassment legislation this year, while Williams outlined his vision of what the position would entail.
• After recently endorsing incumbents Joe Crowley over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Andrew Cuomo over Cynthia Nixon, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has thrown her weight behind four progressive anti-IDC State Senate challengers ahead of next week’s primary.
• Ross Barkan and Andrew Gounardes, opponents for the Democratic Nomination to face incumbent Republican State Senator Marty Golden in the 22nd District (Bay Ridge), participated in a well attended debate.