Real estate is spreading its money across a few different anti-Mamdani PACs.
As you probably know, industry executives poured millions into Fix the City, a pro-Andrew Cuomo super PAC, ahead of the June primary.
But Fix the City is far from the only game in town.
In fact, several PACs have formed in the primary’s wake, some more subtle than others in their aim to prevent a Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Consider New Yorkers for a Better Future Mayor 25, an anti-Mamdani PAC formed in July by Jeff Leb, who has been very active in city elections and formed other PACs that have drawn millions from the real estate industry. Lightstone Partners gave $150,000 to Better Future last month. Infinite Global Real Estate Partners’ Marty Burger and RFR’s Aby Rosen are also involved with the PAC, per the New York Times.
Another super PAC opposing Mamdani is Defend NYC, started by Jason Meister, an insurance specialist with Hotaling and a former Trump advisor. Marcus & Millichap broker Eric Anton is listed as the PAC’s treasurer. United for NY’s Future, an LLC tied to Emblem Health, gave the PAC $60,000.
Private investigator and former Adams ally Bo Dietl registered the plainly-named “Anyone but Mamdani” PAC in August. Kamson Corporation CEO Richard Kurtz gave it $50,000, and Himmel and Meringoff Properties gave $10,000. SkyBridge Capital’s Anthony Scaramucci, who famously served as communications director during Trump’s first term for 11 days, contributed $10,000.
An LLC tied to Two Trees Management gave Empower NYC, a super PAC backing Mayor Eric Adams, $100,000. GFP Real Estate’s Jeff Gural contributed $25,000. Both donations came before the latest set of indictments against Ingrid Lewis-Martin and Jesse Hamilton.
Douglas Elliman agent Elenora Srugo, star of Netflix’s “Selling the City,” formed a pro-Adams PAC in July, but no donors have been reported.
In July, former Republican Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey and former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly formed Save NYC, an anti-Mamdani super PAC, according to City & State. Hartz Mountain Industries’ Leonard Stern gave $25,000 to Save NYC in July. Goodman Properties gave $1,000, and Kamber Management principal Steven Levy gave nearly $2,000.
Many of these other PACs are focusing on opposing the Assembly member’s campaign, but haven’t specified a candidate to support. That could change as we get closer to the general election, when perhaps those groups will decide to coalesce behind one of the not-Mamdani candidates.
Of course, deciding who to back would be easier for these groups if one of the candidates dropped out. Still no sign of that happening.
What we’re thinking about: Who will redevelop Penn Station? Send a note to kathryn@therealdeal.com.
A thing we’ve learned: Silverstein Properties added a new entrance to its proposed Manhattan casino, dubbed the Avenir, at 41st Street and 11th Avenue, in response to concerns raised by Nabeela Malik, a member of the Community Advisor Committee appointed by Mayor Eric Adams. Architect Nancy Ruddy noted the new main entrance during a presentation on Wednesday at the Javits Center.
Elsewhere in New York…
— Federal officials announced a new timeline for the redevelopment of Penn Station and backed off a previous plan that included razing a block in Midtown, according to Gothamist. The announcement calls for proposals to be submitted in October, and for construction to begin by 2027. Proposals must not include plans to raze the block south of 31st Street, an idea that Amtrak officials had pushed for years.
— The NYPD’s traffic director, Franklin Sepulveda, allegedly tried to cover up his own hit-and-run accident, The City reports. He is accused of sideswiping a car near the division’s Midtown headquarters on April 3 and then directing a city employee to submit a false report about it. The NYPD is conducting an internal investigation of the incident.
— Mayor Eric Adams continued his attacks on Zohran Mamdani as House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries considers endorsing the Democratic nominee, according to Politico. Adams criticized Mamdani’s stances on policing and decriminalizing prostitution, saying that Jeffries and Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke “come from working-class communities” that largely don’t support Mamdani’s policy proposals. “It would be challenging to endorse his policies that are really anti what working-class people want,” Adams said.
Closing Time
Residential: The top residential deal recorded Wednesday was $7.3 million for a 4,205-square-foot condominium unit at Trump Park Avenue, 502 Park Avenue in Lenox Hill. Lisa Simonson and Charles McDonald with Brown Harris Stevens had the listing.
Commercial: The top commercial deal recorded was $17.4 million for a 10,218-square-foot office building slated for residential conversion at 11 Hubert Street in Tribeca.
New to the Market: The highest price for a residential property hitting the market was $5 million for a 2,094-square-foot condo at 30 East 85th Street on the Upper East Side. Matthew Fox and Stan Ponte with Sotheby’s International Realty have the listing.
Breaking Ground: The largest new building project filed was for a proposed 724,110-square-foot, eight-tiered, 2,019-space parking garage at 40-02 126 Street in Corona. Manuel Millan of STV Inc filed the permit on behalf of Tony Macari of NYC Parks.
— Matthew Elo
