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Politics
New York

SL Green leads real estate in Eric Adams’ campaign cash

Commercial landlord execs maxed out donations amid Times Square casino bid

Mayor Eric Adam with SL Green chair Marc Holliday (left) and SL Green founder Stephen Green (right) and 1515 Broadway
Mayor Eric Adam with SL Green chair Marc Holliday (left) and SL Green founder Stephen Green (right) and 1515 Broadway (Getty, SL Green)

One of Manhattan’s largest commercial landlords appears to be trying to stack more chips in its favor for a Times Square casino.

SL Green Realty chair Marc Holliday and founder Stephen Green — who stepped down from day-to-day operations several years ago — each contributed a maximum $2,100 to Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection campaign, the New York Daily News reported. The contributions were part of a $1.3 million haul in the last six months for Adams’ bid to keep NYC’s top job.

The executives were in good company. Politico reported other real estate-related contributors to Adams’ campaign in the last six months include Durst Organization principals Helena and Alexander Durst ($2,100 each), TF Cornerstone co-founder Fred Elghanayan ($2,000) and “good cause” lobbyist opponent George Fontas ($400).

In total, Adams has raised $2.6 million from 2,000 individuals for his campaign. The donations from the SL Green figures loom large, however, because of the firm’s attempt to bring a casino to one of Manhattan’s most prominent districts.

Adams is just one of many pieces to the vast jigsaw puzzle. The state is set to grant three downstate gaming licenses and the crowded running includes Related Companies in Hudson Yards, Vornado Realty Trust at Herald Square and the Soloviev Group in Midtown East.

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To fuel its bid, SL Green has partnered with Caesars Entertainment on the casino proposal, placed at 1515 Broadway. SL Green would transform eight floors of the tower into a gaming hub, reserving 250,000 square feet for restaurants and other entertainment options. There is also an 800-key hotel slated for development.

SL Green has brought in several prominent figures to sway the non-believers to bet on the Times Square option.

Jay-Z and his company, Roc Nation, joined the project last year to oversee entertainment at the casino. And in February, former Adams chief of staff and de facto reelection campaign head Frank Carone also found his way to the casino bid, albeit in a consulting capacity — Carone is not allowed to lobby City Hall following his departure from the administration.

Adams’ reelection brushed up against controversy this month when six people were indicted for allegedly using straw donors to support his winning 2021 campaign, hoping it would land them large construction contracts. Adams was not accused of wrongdoing and his campaign has vowed to cooperate in the probe.

— Holden Walter-Warner

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Campaign DonationsCasinosEric AdamsMarc HollidaySL GreenTimes Square