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| By Janaki Chadha, Maya Kaufman, Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman | ||||
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With help from Cris Seda Chabrier | ||||
Inside the soiree overlooking the Hudson River, industry elites participated in interviews with trade publications from a red carpet while tenant activists protested in frigid temperatures outside. | Gabriel Hernández Solano/Housing Justice for All | ||||
NEW YORK MINUTE: Happy Friday to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is getting a long-rumored sitdown with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago today. City Hall says the focus is on the city’s success, but it’s not lost on anyone that Trump has the power to pardon the mayor. KEEP IT REAL: Real estate bigwigs mingled with the city’s political class at the Real Estate Board of New York’s annual gala Thursday night. And so many politicians were in attendance at the swanky Glasshouse on Manhattan’s West Side that Gov. Kathy Hochul quipped, “Is there anybody who’s an elected official who’s not here tonight?” “You’re missing a damn good party, that’s all I can say.” Adams missed at least part of it. He stopped by for the cocktail hour but did not give remarks, as he has in past years. Adams, who’s facing federal corruption charges, was instead on his way to Florida Thursday evening for a meeting Friday with Trump, who has the power to pardon him. Multiple candidates running to unseat Adams, including city Comptroller Brad Lander and his predecessor Scott Stringer, hobnobbed with a who’s who of influential developers, landlords, brokers, lobbyists and top city officials. The presence of both candidates, who once positioned themselves at odds with big real estate — speaks to how much political attitudes toward the industry have changed since 2019, when multiple prominent politicians skipped the gala. Other pols in attendance include City Council Members Rafael Salamanca, Julie Menin and Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Rep. Ritchie Torres, who received REBNY’s John E. Zuccotti Public Service Award. “As real estate goes, so does the rest of the city,” Torres, who is considering a run against Hochul next year, said in a video presented at the event. The governor also lavished praise onto the industry and touted last year’s housing deal and her plans to increase law enforcement presence on the subways. “As a result of a close relationship with REBNY and so many of your members weighing in, we finally delivered a housing package,” Hochul said. The industry was unhappy with key parts of that 2024 deal, particularly the new tax break for multifamily housing, 485-x. In addressing the crowd, REBNY President James Whelan said developers will “continue to fight hard against misguided policies that will hurt our members and New Yorkers.” Inside the soiree overlooking the Hudson River, industry elites participated in interviews with trade publications from a red carpet while tenant activists protested in frigid temperatures outside. They held signs that read, “Evict REBNY” and “Greed.” Joining them were left-leaning politicians, including mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. “Tenants are the majority in New York City, and it’s time our politicians put us first,” said Cea Weaver, director of the tenant coalition. — Janaki Chadha HAPPY FRIDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. | ||||
| A message from RHOAR NYC: Help Make NYC Homeownership Affordable. Pass Bill 1107 to restore short-term rental rights to small, neighborhood homeowners. NYC neighborhoods thrive through the stability of owner-occupied homes. Bill 1107 will restore short-term rental rights to one- and two-family homeowners who live in their homes and relied on short-term rental income to maintain and stay in their homes. Learn more at www.rhoar.org. | ||||
WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City, appearing on 97 Rock’s Shredd and Ragan in the Morning, and on One Bills Live show in the afternoon. WHERE’S ERIC? In Palm Beach, Florida meeting with Trump. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Why not be bold and ask for a 0-hour workweek? I wonder how blue-collar Americans would feel about white-collar workers demanding a 32-hour workweek.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) on X, criticizing progressive Capitol Hill staffers’ request for a shorter workweek | ||||
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Two of 1199SEIU President George Gresham’s top lieutenants are mounting a bid to unseat their longtime leader in the union’s election this April. | John Minchillo/AP | ||||
THEY’RE RUNNING: A succession battle is brewing in the nation’s largest health care union — and it could have a far-reaching impact. Two of 1199SEIU President George Gresham’s top lieutenants are mounting a bid to unseat their longtime leader in the union’s election this April, POLITICO exclusively reports today. It’s set to be the union’s first competitive presidential election since 1989. Yvonne Armstrong and Veronica Turner-Biggs, both senior executive vice presidents with 1199SEIU, said they are launching the Members First Unity Slate to chart a new course for the 400,000-member union as the organized labor movement nationally gears up to fight Trump. “We can't afford a divided membership, just like we can't afford to wait for new leadership,” Turner-Biggs said in an interview. The news is already sending shockwaves through the labor world. “It’s a huge fucking deal,” said a former 1199SEIU organizer, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. “It’s similar to [lieutenant governor] Antonio Delgado running for governor.” Historically, 1199SEIU has played a pivotal role in shaping electoral outcomes in its New York City backyard and beyond, but the five-state organization’s influence has been waning. Union alums told POLITICO the organization does not have the political “oomph” it once had, pointing to the fact that it has not had a permanent political director for years. Internal tensions have been rising for years but only recently burst into open view. In June, 1199SEIU’s in-house staff voted to join the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, citing a "climate of fear and retaliation" inside their workplace. Armstrong and Turner-Biggs said they know their candidacy has the potential to divide the union but that it’s past time for new leadership. Now the rank-and-file will have to decide which direction they want to take. — Maya Kaufman | ||||
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Damian Williams resigned as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in December. | Peter K. Afriyie/AP | ||||
DAMN, DAMIAN: The federal prosecutor who indicted Adams now looks like somebody who wants to run for office himself. Damian Williams’ op-ed in City & State Thursday assailed a City Hall “led with a broken ethical compass” and a state Capitol with “a culture of corruption” that’s “only rivaled by its knack for inaction and incrementalism.” And his campaign-ready personal website, DamianWilliamsOfficial.com, features photos of his family and videos of his speeches — the only thing missing is an office and an election year. Williams resigned as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in December, since he would have been replaced by Trump, and announced last week he was rejoining white shoe law firm Paul, Weiss. Williams didn’t respond to a request for comment, and it isn’t clear if this trial balloon means he’s actually planning a run, and if so, for what office. “My guess would have been governor,” City Council Member Lincoln Restler told Playbook, praising Williams’ “strong tenure.” Other insiders speculated about Attorney General — which could be open in 2026 if Letitia James runs for governor — or U.S. senator. A run for mayor seems less likely. There’s little time to launch a campaign, and indicting the mayor and then running against him would be seen as crass and bolster Adams’ arguments of political prosecution. “I’m in the mind of people,” Adams cryptically responded when asked for his response to Williams’ op-ed. Another theory is that Williams is just trying to define his own legacy as a prosecutor tackling corruption ahead of a second Trump term. “I don’t think things ended the way for him the way he was hoping they would,” consultant Jason Ortiz speculated. — Jeff Coltin COUNCIL VS. TRUMP: The City Council is preparing for Trump’s mass deportation agenda through legislation and messaging, with several left-leaning members drawing a line where they said Adams has not. Immigration Committee members on Thursday heard testimony on bills backing efforts in Albany to prohibit state officers from inquiring about immigration status and to establish the right to legal counsel in immigration court proceedings. Some also grilled Adams administration officials on their readiness for the Trump era. “New York City must not, should not be complicit in Donald Trump’s deportation dragnet and, quite frankly, xenophobic, extremist and racist agenda,” said City Council Member Alexa Avilés, chair of the Immigration Committee. “That is the minimum New Yorkers should require of our city government.” At a City Hall rally beforehand, Avilés and others urged the administration to follow New York City’s sanctuary laws limiting local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration officers. Adams has said he would respect those laws even as he has grumbled about how restrictive they are and said he seeks to loosen them via executive order. “Mayor Adams has been clear that New York City will always be a city of immigrants, which is why the Adams administration has worked diligently over the past few months to ensure city staff has the most accurate, up-to-date information on how to uphold our sanctuary city laws,” mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia said. — Emily Ngo More from the city: — Federal authorities are investigating alleged pay-for-play promotions within the NYPD, according to a lawyer repping a retired cop. (Daily News) — Adams’ preliminary budget did not include $112 million to cover expiring funding for the free preschool program for 3-year-olds. (POLITICO Pro) — City Hall is prepping immigrant communities for the incoming Trump administration. (Gothamist) | ||||
| A message from RHOAR NYC: | ||||
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Lawmakers have pushed for the closure after the killing of Robert Brooks, who was beaten by corrections officers at the facility and later died. | Courtesy of the Office of Attorney General Letitia James | ||||
SHOW ME A PRISON: Closing Marcy Correctional Facility is gathering more steam in Albany. Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs told Playbook on Thursday that 62 of the 213 members of the Democratic-controlled Legislature have signed onto an effort urging Hochul to close the prison. That’s an increase from 56 lawmakers who originally signed the letter sent this week to the governor. Lawmakers have pushed for the closure after the killing of Robert Brooks, who was beaten by corrections officers at the facility and later died. Hochul has not weighed in on the proposed closure, but she has pressed immediate changes at the prison, including leadership changes and expanded oversight, following Brooks’ death. — Nick Reisman GRAYING NEW YORK: Revised Census data found New York’s population woes may not be as dire, but the state is also getting older. The left-leaning Fiscal Policy Institute on Thursday pointed to new federal statistics that showed the state’s population increased by 130,000 people between 2023 and 2024. And estimates from the Census Bureau found New York saw an increase of 34,000 people in 2022 — a reverse from an earlier projection the state’s population dropped by 102,000. Outmigration has political consequences. New York has steadily lost seats in the House for decades because its population was not growing as fast as the rest of the country — especially in the sunbelt. Republicans have also wielded the issue as a talking point to bash Democratic leadership. The anemic growth — coupled with a rapidly aging population — has economic and cultural consequences. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office in a report released Thursday found the number of people age 65 and older living in New York City has increased by 53 percent in the last two decades. “State and New York City leaders must ensure their budgets reflect the reality of our aging population and include adequate funding for services older New Yorkers need,” AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel said. “All New Yorkers deserve to age in place with dignity and support after a lifetime of contributing to our communities.” — Nick Reisman FARE THEE WELL: Two dozen state lawmakers, Rep. Jerry Nadler, the New York City comptroller and the borough presidents of Queens and Manhattan are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to correct “glaring inequities” in MTA fares. A Thursday letter, organized by the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, urges Hochul to put money in the state budget to increase discounts for more New Yorkers close to the poverty line and provide lower fares for seniors, kids and people traveling on commuter rail within New York City. “As our state grapples with a cost-of-living crisis, public transit — especially New York’s subways, buses and commuter rail lines — remain a lifeline of affordability,” the letter says. “With the recent launch of congestion pricing and the MTA’s planned fare increases going into effect later next year, the need for ‘carrots’ — fare incentives — to keep costs down for New Yorkers has never been greater.” — Ry Rivard More from Albany: — Medical-aid-dying supporters are making a renewed push for the stalled proposal. (Staten Island Advance) — Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has applied to be the Hudson Valley Community College president. (Times Union) — Hochul wants to boost financial support for expectant parents. (Buffalo News) | ||||
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People protest against Mayor Eric Adams' immigration policies in front of the New York City Hall. | Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images | ||||
DEM SHIFT ON IMMIGRATION: The 61 House Democrats who voted Thursday to pass a Republican-led bill to make sexual violence a deportable offense included battleground New Yorkers who also voted last week to require the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft. The support for legislation cracking down on illegal immigration by Reps. Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, John Mannion and Josh Riley — who all flipped GOP-held seats last year — reflects a national rightward shift on border issues. While several purple-district Democrats voted with Republicans, those in safe seats did, too. For example, Rep. Ritchie Torres, who represents the solidly blue Bronx, voted for both the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act and the Laken Riley Act. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), the firebrand who led the sexual and domestic violence bill, focused her ire Thursday on the majority of Democrats who voted against it, accusing them of protecting sexual predators. But Democrats who opposed it said it would have a chilling effect on survivors. “H.R. 30 is a harmful and unnecessary measure that exploits immigration laws to further destabilize our communities,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Current laws already address domestic violence and sexual offenses.” — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Former Rep. Lee Zeldin was grilled by the Senate over climate change in his confirmation hearing for EPA administrator. (E&E News) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a looming TikTok ban to be delayed to give the social media company more time to find an American buyer. (The Hill) — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over his decision to replace Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) at the top of the House Intelligence Committee. (The Hill) | ||||
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— Rudy Giuliani settles with the Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him. (POLITICO) — Randy Mastro’s firm bills top $1.1 million for New Jersey’s congestion pricing fight. (POLITICO Pro) — Car insurance premiums are surging in New York driven in part by the cost of claims. (Newsday) | ||||
| A message from RHOAR NYC: When New York City passed and began enforcing its overly strict short-term rental law, many hard-working families who relied on income from sharing their homes were financially devastated. After a year of advocacy and thousands of letters into City Hall from homeowners across NYC’s five boroughs, the New York City Council recently introduced Bill 1107 to restore short-term rental rights to registered one- and two-family homeowners who live in their homes. Passing Bill 1107 will mean increasing the economic tools available to everyday New Yorkers to maintain and stay in their homes, creating stability for the city’s most vulnerable homeowners and the local communities and businesses that depend on them. Learn more at www.rhoar.org. | ||||
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Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: Francisco X. Pineda, former EVP of asset management at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, is joining The New School as EVP for business and operations and COO. WATCH IT: In memory of filmmaker David Lynch, who died Thursday, remember the anti-litter PSA he made for city Department of Sanitation in 1991. (New York Post) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. … Manatt’s Cassie Prugh … Dina Simon of the Teachers' Retirement System of the City of New York. Missed Thursday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here. | ||||
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