10 things to know about the latest filing
This week marked the massive information dump the New York City Campaign Finance Board calls “the filing deadline.” There are enough tidbits and storylines to last us politicos two months until the next one on May 21, but here are 10 things that immediately stood out.
Adams has the money
With $7.6 million on hand, Eric Adams is the undisputed money king of the mayoral race. Scott Stringer is in a not-so-distant second with $6.85 million. Andrew Yang raised an impressive $2.14 million in just two months, but he won’t be eligible to receive his $4.73 million in expected public matching funds until April 15 at the earliest.
arrow Marti Allen-Cummings is running for Manhattan s 7th Council District. Marti Allen-Cummings website
The image of Marti Allen-Cummings featured on their campaign website shows a New York City Council candidate who clearly stands out from the standard pack of politicians posing outside of the Stonewall Inn, mic in hand, and declaring, [I ll] bring your voice to City Hall. For Allen-Cummings (who uses they/them pronouns) what you see is what you get: a working drag artist with moxie to spare.
The intersectionality of performance art and politics is nothing new. For Allen-Cummings it’s completely integrated in their campaign for the seat representing Manhattan’s 7th Council District covering Harlem, Hamilton Heights, and portions of Washington Heights.
Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
“Creating new spaces for artists to perform and be paid for their work is a step forward in keeping the arts in NYC,” Councilman Van Bramer said.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday released guidelines for the City’s Open Culture program, which will permit outdoor cultural performances on designated City streets this spring.
Modeled on the City’s Open Streets program, Open Culture is a new permit type available from the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office allowing for ticketed performances, rehearsals, classes, and workshops. Arts and cultural institutions, as well as entertainment venues, can secure a permit for single day, socially distanced performances at over 100 street locations throughout all five boroughs. Following the release of these draft guidelines, applications will open to eligible organizations March 1, 2021 and will extend through Oct. 31, 2021. Eligible organizations include:
arrow Astoria pool in Queens NYC Dept of Parks / Flickr
On the heels of winning the Queens borough president s race (technically, the race began as a special election but COVID-19 upended those plans) to serve out former BP Melinda Katz, Donovan Richards is already defending his post as three Democrats have thrown their name into the June primary race.
Much like all the borough president races, the perks to the top executive post for The World s Borough (nickname for Queens) is somewhat symbolic, with some semi-powerful duties that involve picking members of a community district whose values reflect theirs, offering an advisory opinion to zoning challenges, and commanding a tiny portion of the city s budget.
Brooklyn, Queensboro bridges will lose lane of traffic for bicycles
WABC
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NEW YORK (WABC) Bicyclists who currently share space with pedestrians as they try to get across New York City s Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges would get their own lanes across those spans, according to a plan from Mayor Bill de Blasio.
De Blasio announced the Bridges for the People project on Thursday evening, as part of his final State of the City speech.
Cycling no longer seems to be a seasonal mode of transportation and soon those cyclists will have a lot more space.
On the Brooklyn Bridge, the innermost car lane in the Manhattan-bound direction would be turned into a two-way bicycle lane, and the promenade space that bicyclists and pedestrians currently use together would be given over solely to those on foot.