De Blasio Is Still Running for President. We Asked Him Why.

"I wouldn't do this if I didn't think there was a pathway." [Politics Brief from WNYC + Gothamist] [Keep friends and family informed. Forward the Politics Brief.]( Mayor de Blasio Is Still Running for President. We Asked Him Why. By [James Ramsay]( During a trip to New Hampshire last weekend, presidential hopeful and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio struggled to find audiences. (Brigid Bergin/WNYC) When Mayor Bill de Blasio took his presidential campaign to New Hampshire last weekend, one reporter from the New York press corps went with him: my colleague Brigid Bergin. And what she saw wasn't necessarily encouraging. He marched in the back of a parade with three of his staffers, and addressed crowds of about a dozen at a time — all while seeming to be overshadowed by Tulsi Gabbard and John Delaney, not to mention Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. So, what's he thinking? "I believe I have something to offer that's different from other candidates," [he told Bergin](. "What a powerful differentiator, to say I've got these ideas [and] I actually put them into action on a big scale. People really care about that. So I know I have a message that resonates." His name doesn't appear to resonate, though. His polling and fundraising numbers still place him far below the benchmarks required to get on a September debate stage. "I need people to know what I'm about a lot better. I need a lot more resources. I need a lot more grassroots supporters," he said. "And I think the difference in today's politics — even from 10 years ago — is that we're seeing extraordinary surges take place just on the strength of individual moments and the power of social media." For what it's worth, this happened today: Meanwhile, for all the naysayers back in New York City, many who work at City Hall aren't excited about the prospect of his quitting the race and returning to Gracie Mansion full time. "I don’t think it’s going to be really productive at all," one city politician [told Politico](. "It’s almost good for everyone when he’s away." De Blasio, in turn, [seems to love being on the campaign trail](. When Bergin asked whether his presidential run is distracting him from important work back home — combating homelessness, building more affordable housing, protecting cyclists — he sort of flipped the question on its head. "A lot of what we need to fix in New York can't be done just by us," he said. "It has to involve the federal government. And my voice in this discussion — I can tell — is having an impact, and pushing for the kinds of changes that would benefit New York, and the whole country. "I think we're kidding ourselves if we think we can solve some of our most important challenges just within the four walls of New York City. We need a different approach in Washington, or New York City will not be able to move forward in a way we need to." If Albany Limits Outside Income, These Legislators Might Quit New York Assembly and Senate members got raises this year — with strings attached. In taking the recommendation of an outside panel, lawmakers won't be able to take in more than 15 percent of their annual salary (which is currently $110,000) by working side jobs. This presents a big change for Albany lawmakers, who've been considered part-time employees for the last two centuries. Now, two lawsuits — one filed by 11 Republicans, the other filed by two Democrats — are challenging the recommendation. They're arguing that a) this will mean a significant drop in income for certain people, and b) having another day job enables lawmakers to bring real-world experience to Albany. Former Attorney General Dennis Vacco, who's representing the 11 Republicans, said that limiting outside income could push a wave of legislators to resign in the middle of their terms. "Does he walk away from his constituents who elected him at a time when there was no prohibition on his outside income," Vacco said of one client, "or does he give up his law practice?" ([Wall Street Journal]( Hakeem Jeffries Is Rolling While progressive candidates are lining up across New York City to [challenge Democratic incumbents]( no one is running against Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. And based on a recent profile of Jeffries in City & State, the 49-year-old Brooklyn House member and former corporate lawyer seems incapable of a misstep. He spends loads of time in his home district, which is blocks away from where he grew up. He meets regularly with left-wing activists who disagree with his more pragmatic positions. He makes endorsements carefully, almost always backing winners. And colleagues across the Democratic political spectrum seem to respect him — perhaps, in part, because he's a patient politician in an era when many take offense at being told to wait their turn. That said, his turn will likely come soon, depending on what role he wants next: Senator in 2022 (if Sen. Chuck Schumer retires), House Speaker in 2023 (when Rep. Nancy Pelosi is expected to step down), or New York City Mayor in 2025 or 2029. ([City & State]( Cory Booker Has Missed More Congressional Votes Than Any Other Presidential Candidate New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who's been busy traveling to early primary states, has missed 118 Senate votes in 2019. Right behind him is California Senator Kamala Harris, who has missed 116 votes. Most of these have been procedural votes to confirm judges or Trump administration cabinet members, which are cases where only a 50 percent majority is needed. Because the Democrats are in the minority in the Senate, it's highly unlikely Booker's votes would've changed any outcomes. Still, will voters hold this against him? "If voters held the Senate in higher esteem, this might be a higher profile issue," Claremont McKenna professor Jack Pitney told a Bay Area newspaper. "But blowing off an institution that most people don’t respect to begin with is unlikely to move a lot of votes." ([The Mercury News]( Gillibrand's Senate Colleagues Have Regrets About Al Franken. She Doesn't. [Elise Amendola] Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand continues to poll around 1 percent among Democratic voters. (Elise Amendola/AP) A lengthy [report]( in The New Yorker last month revealed that former Senator Al Franken regrets resigning over sexual misconduct allegations — and several Democratic senators regret turning on him. But New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who was technically the first to call for his resignation — and certainly the politician who faced the most backlash over it — stands by her decision. One point that's central to the controversy: Rather than letting a Senate ethics investigation uncover some of the details that eventually came out in the New Yorker piece, Gillibrand concluded on her own that Franken had to go. In an interview published yesterday morning by The Daily, she disputed the idea that it was her responsibility to hold off. "Whether or not to stick it out for an ethics investigation [was] Al Franken’s decision, and his decision alone. He’s entitled to every bit of investigative work. He could’ve sued every woman that came forward and gone to the criminal justice system. He could’ve sued them for fraud. He could’ve had any measure of investigation that he wanted," Gillibrand said. "But what he’s not entitled to," she continued, "is my silence. He’s not entitled to the Democratic Party being in his corner. Because if that’s what’s expected of us, then his role as senator is more important than the rest of our roles as senators. I was not willing to stay silent for however many months that investigation was going to take." [LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential election coverage and more. [Donate]( Copyright © 2019 New York Public Radio, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: New York Public Radio 160 Varick Street New York, NY 10013 [unsubscribe]( [update preferences]( [privacy policy](