Hotel union to back Mayor de Blasio for second term

City Hall supported Hotel Trades Council on key issues, including crackdown on illegal Airbnb postings

Peter Ward and Bill de Blasio (Credit: Getty Images)
Peter Ward and Bill de Blasio (Credit: Getty Images)

After months of sitting on the sidelines, the city’s powerful hotel trade union finally threw its support behind Mayor Bill de Blasio’s in his bid for reelection.

The Hotel Trades Council considers the mayor a “trusted ally and friend” who has helped secure a $15 minimum wage, HTC president Peter Ward told Politico. The 35,000-member union is set to endorse de Blasio today at a rally at its headquarters.

“New Yorkers will undoubtedly be well-served with Mayor de Blasio at the helm for four more years,” Ward [TRDataCustom] said in a statement.

The hotel industry has enjoyed de Blasio’s support on key issues, including a citywide crackdown on illegal Airbnb postings.

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This week, the City Council is also set to vote to extend a law preventing hotels with 150 rooms (or more) from converting a portion of those rooms into condos.

HTC and de Blasio supported the bill, which is expected to pass.

Although de Blasio is still courting the healthcare workers union, SEIU 1199, other groups like the Working Families Party, United Federation of Teachers and District Council 37 have thrown their support his way.

De Blasio’s challengers include Cushman & Wakefield executive Paul Massey, Rev. Michael Faulkner, former NYPD detective Bo Dietl and Staten Island Assembly member Nicole Malliotakis. Earlier this month, Red Apple Group CEO and former mayoral contender John Catsimatidis said he wouldn’t run. Bill Staniford, PropertyShark’s former CEO, dropped out of the race last month. [Politico]E.B. Solomont