A super PAC tied to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has now raised more than $3 million from real estate executives and construction unions.
The independent expenditure committee, Fix the City, has raised more than $7 million, according to campaign finance filings. The latest real estate executives to contribute include Vornado Realty Trust CEO Steve Roth, who gave $150,000, and his wife, Daryl, who donated $50,000.
A PAC tied to the New York City District Council of Carpenters gave $100,000, and another carpenters-related group (no information is provided on the city’s campaign finance website) contributed $50,000. The laborers’ union contributed $250,000.
Using a few different LLCs, executives from The Arker Companies have given at least $100,000.
The city’s Campaign Finance Board warned candidates on Monday against coordinating with super PACs after Politico New York reported that Cuomo’s campaign website posted videos and bullet points that communicated his preferred messaging. The city approved rules last year that indicate illegal coordination between a campaign and super PAC can happen if the latter uses “strategic information or data related to the candidate” in a way that the candidate “knew or should have known would facilitate the spender’s use of the information.” In other words, posting preferred messaging in a way that a super PAC can easily replicate in videos and ads it pays for.
Meanwhile, a super PAC backed by the Real Estate Board of New York is expanding its spending to more City Council races. The group is now funding campaign materials in support of Shanel Thomas-Henry, who is vying to replace term-limited Council member Francisco Moya. The super PAC is also supporting Ling Ye’s bid to unseat Council member Alexa Avilés. So far, the PAC, Jobs for New York, has raised more than $500,000 and spent more than $120,000 supporting those campaigns.
What we’re thinking about: What real estate-related legislation are you watching closely once the state budget passes? Send a note to kathryn@therealdeal.com.
A thing we’ve learned: As of 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, only one state budget bill had been printed.
Elsewhere in New York…
— Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo will run on a second ballot line in the general election, even if he wins the Democratic nomination, the New York Post reports. Cuomo plans to run on the independent “Fight and Deliver” ballot line in November.
— An NJ Transit strike is looking more likely after agency officials and union representatives failed to reach a contract agreement on Monday, Bloomberg reports. Rail engineers could walk off the job as soon as May 16.
— Columbia University is laying off 180 staff members after the Trump administration canceled, in whole or in part, more than 300 multiyear research grants, Gothamist reports.
Closing Time
Residential: The priciest residential sale Tuesday was $24.3 million for a 6,400-square-foot townhouse at 34 West 10th Street in Greenwich Village.
Commercial: The most expensive commercial closing of the day was $150 million for the Kimpton Eventi hotel at 835 Avenue of the Americas in Chelsea. Blackstone purchased the property from JD Carlisle.
New to the Market: The highest price for a residential property hitting the market was $27 million for a 9,000-square-foot house at 19 Jay Street in Tribeca. The Danny Davis Team at Corcoran has the listing.
Breaking Ground: The largest new building application filed was for a proposed 23,276-square-foot, 31-unit apartment building at 2304 Belmont Avenue in Belmont. Mohammad Badaly filed the permit on behalf of Azamat Rasulev.
— Matthew Elo