NYC Council progressive schism and a cannabis crackdown

One one of the coldest nights of the year, New York City Mayor Eric Adams hunkered down in the newly opened emergency shelter for asylum-seekers at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs and homeless advocate Shams DaBaron joined him – the three men sleeping on cots alongside other migrants staying in the center. It was a spur of the moment visit – one left off of the mayor’s public schedule and on the heels of a group of migrants’ resistance to moving from a Midtown hotel to the new location. “I would never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself,” Adams said in a statement the next day. Read on for more of this week’s biggest news.

Turmoil for progressives

Tensions seethed between members of the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus  over the past week, spurring a potentially dramatic rebalance of power within the body. Seeking to clarify the caucus’ message, leaders recently introduced a new “statement of principles” for the group, which a growing number of members have refused to sign. Leaders are also expecting members to regularly attend meetings and support 75% of legislation backed by the Progressive Caucus. Nine of the group’s original 35 members have opted out so far. The biggest issue has hinged on a pledge to reduce the New York City Police Department’s budget and size in favor of other safety infrastructure. These tensions come as Democrats across the country have grappled with what it means to be a progressive and how police reform falls into that. The departures are likely to significantly shake up the City Council’s dynamics as the Progressive Caucus can vote as a bloc, but with fewer members, that power is diluted in part. 

New destinations

 A growing number of asylum-seekers who were bused to New York City since the spring are now seeking opportunities in Canada, hoping that there they’ll face fewer barriers to getting work permits and health insurance. New York City leaders are helping many migrants make this journey. The city is purchasing bus tickets for new arrivals who want to head further north and apply for asylum in Canada. Still, some people have returned to New York City, driven out by the country’s freezing temperatures and copious amounts of snow. While Canada is perhaps the highest profile alternative destination, the city has reticketed asylum-seekers to other locations as well. In response to accusations that leaders are trying to push migrants out of the city as the system strains under the influx, Adams said there’s no coordinated effort or recruitment campaign to send them elsewhere, but if people want to go, the city will help them do so. 

A lower limit?

At first glance, Utah and New York appear to have no shortage of differences, but the two states could soon have one thing in common that separates them from the rest. New York lawmakers are considering lowering the state’s legal blood alcohol limit for drinking and driving from .08 to .05 – something advocates have long argued would save lives. The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, has a powerful slate of backers already, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Adams, and the National Transportation Safety Board. Lawmakers say that the number of people who’ve died in relation to drinking while driving has grown over the years and something must be done to stop it. Within New York City, the number of fatalities grew 42% in 2021 compared to the previous three years.

Illegal cannabis crackdown

Hoping to stamp out New York City’s illegal cannabis market, Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that they will begin going after landlords who allow the illicit shops to operate. The city has sent around 400 notices to illegal cannabis shops, warning them that they could be evicted if they proceed with their operations. City leaders have fought hard to stem the thriving number of unauthorized shops operating around the city. It’s been a difficult problem to face as the state has begun rolling out the legal market – one that Adams and Bragg hope will be aided by opening the door for prosecutors to use the public nuisance law to evict persisting businesses.