Sheldon Silver Convicted Again + Schneiderman Resigns

Local News:

• Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was again convicted of corruption in a retrial, after his initial conviction was thrown out last year. Silver took money from two real estate developers and a cancer researcher, and took official actions both to benefit them, and to further enrich himself, during his tenure in the Assembly.
• New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned after multiple allegations of abuse against women. Acting AG Barbara Underwood is likely to remain in the position until the general election.
• Twenty-seven City Council members signed a letter to the mayor condemning his $89.1 billion budget proposal and stating that significant changes must be made before they vote on the spending plan.
• De Blasio announced a $300M investment to expand the NYC Ferry system. Council Speaker Corey Johnson criticized him for prioritizing an investment in the ferry, which requires a public subsidy of $6.60 per ride and holds 10% of a subway train’s capacity, over a “Fair Fares” program to subsidize MetroCards for low-income New Yorkers. Subway rides are matched with a $3.31 subsidy per ride.
• City Council Member Antonio Reynoso (D-Williamsburg), along with three other members of the Council, called on the Business Integrity Commission to revoke the license of a private carting company whose driver has been involved in two fatal accidents since November.
• The Republican New York State Senate passed a series of government reform bills last week, seemingly targeting Gov. Cuomo. The break with the Governor comes as Cuomo has made concessions to progressives in the face of his primary challenge.
• Teachers at Manhattan’s La Salle Academy say that the school’s president, who ran for Public Advocate in 2013, is trying to prevent them from unionizing.

Elections:

• NYC-DSA endorsee Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received some press coverage this week.
• Cynthia Nixon criticized Mayor de Blasio’s shortcomings on police reform, after many criticized her for her closeness to the Mayor.
• Following the resignation of Eric Schneiderman, several figures announced potential candidacy for the position in the fall election including Zephyr Teachout and State Senator Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria, LIC). Public Advocate Tish James may announce a run as well.
• While some statewide Republicans see Eric Schneiderman’s resignation as an opportunity for them, only two candidates have formally announced, with State Senator John DeFrancisco  (R-DeWitt) saying he is not interested. The GOP will select a candidate at its statewide convention at the end of the month.