REBNY loses out as Mark-Viverito becomes speaker

The Real Estate Board of New York-backed political action committee, Jobs for New York, pumped $8 million into City Council races, but wound up losing out with the election of City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Mark-Viverito, arguably the body’s most liberal member, is also one of its least real estate-friendly, Crain’s reported, calling REBNY a “loser” in the contest for the powerful political position.

The new speaker enjoys Mayor Bill de Blasio’s backing, as well as the support of the Hotel Trades Council. An opponent of former Mayor Bloomberg’s Midtown East rezoning proposal, she dubbed the plan “a big giveaway.”

Mark-Viverito beat out fellow council member Dan Garodnick for the top post. Garodnick, no real estate darling himself, had recently enjoyed a slight softening in the real estate industry’s stance against him. [Crain’s] — Julie Strickland