What to watch for this week in New York politics:
This week starts with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, which will include many commemorative events acoss the city and state.
The week will feature a lot of action at the Democratically-controlled state Legislature in Albany, on Tuesday and Wednesday, as both houses continue to pass bills that have not moved in past sessions when Republicans controlled the state Senate, and at the New York City Council, where there will be a variety of committee hearings and one full-body Stated Meeting, at which new bills are first introduced and bills that have passed committee receive a floor vote.
We’re continuing to watch four other themes this week: next steps after Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State and budget presentation from last week; how the MTA Board is handling the change of L-train tunnel repair plans; what Mayor Bill de Blasio will do next in his rollout of his State of the City agenda and his pursuit of a national spotlight; and the race for New York City Public Advocate, with the Feb. 26 special election rapidly approaching.
As always, there’s a great deal happening all over the city, with a variety of events to be aware of – see our day-by-day rundown below.
***Do you have events or topics for us to include in an upcoming Week Ahead in New York Politics?
e-mail Gotham Gazette editor Ben Max: bmax@gothamgazette.com***
The run of the week in detail:
Monday
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will be remembrances and celebrations across the city and state.
Tuesday
The New York State Legislature will be in session on Tuesday in Albany. It is expected to be another busy day of passing bills that were passed by the Assembly in prior years but not voted on in what was the Republican-controlled Senate.
At the City Council on Tuesday:
–The Committee on Public Safety will meet at 10 a.m. for an oversight hearing regarding the Civilian Complaint Review Board, as well as to discuss a proposed law requiring the CCRB to report semi-annually “the reasons that cases are closed without the benefit of a full investigation, and the efforts it made to avoid such closures.”
–The Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions will meet at 10:30 a.m.
–The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will meet at 10:45 a.m.
–The Committee on For-Hire Vehicles will meet at 11 a.m. to discuss proposed laws prohibiting and establishing penalties for the operation of commuter vans by drivers without commuter van licenses, and to require the Taxi and Limousine Commission to set items such as disclosure requirements and consumer protection practices as preconditions for financial agreements drivers enter into.
–The Committee on Land Use will meet at 11 a.m.
–The Committees on Civil Service & Labor and Housing will meet jointly at 1…
