Looking ahead to 2024 elections

Plus: Trouble at City Hall. [FORWARD TO A FRIEND]( [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [DONATE]( [WNYC Politics Brief] [Democrat Stephen Sweeney announces he’s running for NJ governor]( The longest-serving state Senate president in New Jersey history, who lost his seat to a Trump-supporting truck driver, announced Monday he [plans to run for governor.]( Stephen Sweeney is the latest candidate to announce their campaign for local office as we approach 2024, a key election year. Last week, Tom Suozzi kicked off his bid to return to Congress in a special election that will take place in February to fill the seat left vacant by George Santos. Suozzi's first official campaign stop was in Levittown on Sunday. [Read more about Tom Suozzi’s comeback campaign.]( Meanwhile, Democrats are facing a potential divide over Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s challenge to sitting Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a move that progressives say could hinder the party’s efforts to take control of the House of Representatives next year. But Latimer isn’t having it: He notes Bowman himself challenged a longtime Democratic incumbent just three years ago. [Read more about the Latimer versus Bowman trouble.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- More politics stories to know this week Between budget cuts, low approval ratings and favoritism accusations, there’s trouble at City Hall The NYC Parks Department is one of the city agencies facing dramatic consequences under Mayor Adams’ latest budget cuts. With more than 1,400 employees slated for layoffs, many of the city’s 1,700 parks are expected to become dirtier and more unsafe, with some possibly cleaned as little as once a week. [Read more about what the budget cuts mean for city parks.]( But could those cuts be avoided, or at least delayed? That’s a possibility being called into question based on a new report published by the City Council on Sunday. Last month, Adams ordered the 20% reduction in spending, but that was before projections showed NYC is slated to bring in an estimated $1.2 billion more in tax revenue this fiscal year. [Read more about the city’s budget cuts.]( Adams’ budget cuts are also part of the reason he received such a low approval rating based on a Quinnipiac poll. With just 28% of New York City voters pleased with his job performance, it’s the worst rating for a NYC mayor in the poll’s 27-year history. Other reasons for the weak rating include Adams’ handling of the migrant crisis, homelessness and public schools. [Read more about what impacted the mayor’s poor approval rating.]( Over the course of a federal investigation into Mayor Adams’ campaign fundraising tactics, a list of prioritized projects to help well-connected developers bypass a deep backlog of fire safety inspections emerged. And amid the criticism over the favoritism, and evidence that supports it, Adams and his top deputies are doubling down on their denials. [Read more about the list and what the Adams administration has to say about it.]( In Albany, Gov. Hochul sets a date for a special election and vetoes a bill critical to NY chief judge battle With George Santos out, the race to fill his seat has begun. Gov. Hochul announced last week the critical special election is set for Feb. 13, 2024. It will set up an early test for both parties as they seek control of the House, Senate and White House next year. [Read more about the special election.]( Hochul last week also vetoed a bill that would have required organizations to disclose what they’re spending — and which lobbyists they’re hiring — when they advocate for or against a gubernatorial nominee. The veto comes ten months after state lawmakers rejected the governor’s first pick for New York’s chief judge. If the bill had passed, it would have applied retroactively, so the lobbyists who led a public and behind-the-scenes campaign for Hochul’s judge pick would have been required to disclose. [Read more about the ripple effects of the battle within NY’s Democratic party.]( NJ Gov. Phil Murphy holds power over future of brewery restrictions, but not wind power projects As the year comes to an end, some NJ brewers are worried that Gov. Murphy won’t get around to signing a bill that would loosen restrictions some say unfairly hamper their business. The rules bar them from partnering with food trucks, or other vendors to offer food on site, and also prohibit breweries from hosting more than 25 special events per year, among other restrictions. But the governor wants to see the bill amended to enhance the state’s “antiquated liquor license laws” before he signs it, and at this rate, it doesn’t seem those changes to the bill will come in time. [Read more about the restrictions and what Gov. Murphy wants to see in an amended bill.]( When it comes to the future of two ambitious wind power projects in the state, however, Gov. Murphy won’t be the one to decide what happens. The governor’s plan for all clean energy sales by 2035 was potentially derailed when the world’s largest wind developer backed out of two projects it planned off the New Jersey shore for economic reasons. And with only one other wind project approved in the state, New Jersey really needs those projects that flopped recently to pull through. But salvaging them means the company in charge must sell its rights to develop them to another company, a decision Murphy won’t have the final say in. [Read more about the future of wind power projects in New Jersey.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- [the logo for the Brian Lehrer daily politics podcast]( [The Humanitarian Situation In Gaza, Per A Journalist And CARE International]( With US officials reportedly saying that they expect Israel's offensive in Gaza to continue into the new year, we examine the needs of civilians caught in the middle. [LISTEN]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential political coverage and more. [DONATE]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [WNYC]( [WQXR]( [NJPR]( [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013 All rights reserved. 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