| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman | | Presented by |  | | | With Timmy Facciola
|  Brad Lander has already taken money from dozens of real estate industry players. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images | | NEW YORK MINUTE: Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Eric Adams’ top aide who resigned this week, is expected to be indicted in Manhattan this afternoon on bribery charges. She denied all wrongdoing at a press conference on Monday. The charges involve two people who she helped with city business loaning her son $100,000 to buy a Porsche, The New York Times reported. JUST SAY NO: Brad Lander has sworn off real estate money for his mayoral campaign… kind of. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only candidate who has pledged that I do not and will not accept campaign contributions from real estate developers in New York City,” Lander proclaimed at a Dec. 7 mayoral forum on housing, announcing a vow akin to one Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez popularized five years ago. It’s a bit more complicated when you peel that back. Lander had already taken money from dozens of real estate industry players, including Andrew Staniforth, CEO of real estate startup Assembly OSM; Abe Naparstek, a partner with development firm G&S Investors, and Michelle de la Uz, executive director of nonprofit developer Fifth Avenue Committee. But most of those contributions, dating back to 2022, don’t count as breaking his pledge, Lander’s campaign argued. The specific promise, which is being published here for the first time, is that Lander won’t accept contributions from “principals of for-profit real estate development companies, who own/develop/manage over 100 units of multifamily residential RE in NYC (principal = Owner, Founder, CEO, and/or Senior Executive). Does not include architects or construction firms, unless they are also developers/owners.” So, Staniforth’s company hasn’t developed 100 units yet, for example, Naparstek is only active in the city’s suburbs and de la Uz runs a nonprofit (and holds the job Lander himself once did). Lander DID break the pledge in some cases, his campaign admitted after Playbook pointed out the donations. That includes $250 from Brian Ezra, founding partner at residential development firm Avery Hall and $500 from Michael and Meropi Neamonitakis, number 10 on the city’s worst landlords list. He refunded those contributions, the campaign said. The overly technical pledge reflects Lander’s own knotty and tortured relationship with an industry that’s essential to the city but often loathed by left-flank Democrats. He took a similar pledge in 2021, but not for his 2017 City Council race, the Queens Eagle reported, when he brought in thousands from major firms. Big real estate isn’t a boogeyman on the political left like it once was, as even socialists like Ocasio-Cortez are promoting massive amounts of residential construction by private developers as one solution for the housing crisis. One opponent, Zellnor Myrie, is leaning in as the YIMBY candidate. His campaign said it’s accepting all real estate money — and there’s lots to take if the well-heeled industry opens its wallets to him. Myrie needs the money, as he has yet to qualify for public matching funds. Scott Stringer too, said he isn’t restricting donations. He pledged not to take real estate money in his last campaign in 2021 but brought in tens of thousands of dollars from the industry and whispered hints at collaboration with its executives anyway. And Mayor Eric Adams, who once declared himself part of “real estate” as a landlord, certainly isn’t limiting any contributions from the industry that he has allied with. Lander isn’t the only one barring certain real estate donations, despite what he said at the forum. Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s campaign said he took New York Communities for Changes’ pledge on the issue. But he has not had to report any contributions yet. Why not take all donations? Lander is also turning down money from corporate lobbyists and fossil fuel executives, he explained to The New York Editorial Board. “It is my experience that in some cases when those folks are giving, some of them are doing it with something in mind,” he said. “or people believe they're doing it with something in mind.” — Jeff Coltin HAPPY THURSDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Uber: Study Reveals Uber Drivers Make More than EMTs: NYC Uber drivers now earn an average of $52,900 annually after expenses, outpacing the salaries of many essential city employees, including EMTs and sanitation workers. Despite delivering vital services, these workers struggle with stagnant wages while Uber drivers have benefited from five TLC-mandated pay hikes since 2020. Read more on the wage disparity impacting NYC’s workforce. Learn More. | | | Programming note: New York Playbook will be off beginning Monday. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Jan. 6. WHERE’S KATHY? Greeting shoppers in New York City. WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering remarks at the Hispanic Minister Organization’s Christmas Celebration, hosting a roundtable discussion with members of Jewish media organizations, and later participating in an ethnic media engagement with “Time Exclusive.” QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We want to make sure there are eyes everywhere.” — Gov. Kathy Hochul on the installation of security cameras on all subway cars.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
Many New Yorkers have been holding “know your rights” workshops on what federal immigration agents can and can’t do under the local laws limiting the city’s cooperation with ICE. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images | REVIEW ON RIGHTS: Many New Yorkers — from immigrant advocacy groups to government agencies — are preparing for the unknown scope of incoming President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans by focusing on the known: the ins and outs of the city’s sanctuary laws. They’ve been meeting the surge of questions with “know your rights” workshops, training sessions and handouts on what federal immigration agents can and can’t do under the local laws limiting the city’s cooperation with ICE. Some of the knowledge being shared includes the difference between an administrative warrant and a judicial warrant. “If we don’t train people, if we’re not proactive, well-meaning security or other staff or landlords will let ICE in because they don’t know they can’t,” Christine Quinn, president of shelter provider Win and a former City Council speaker, told Playbook. The city’s public schools are also offering guidance on rights. And a City Hall spokesperson told Playbook more materials and training will be coming from other departments in the near future. Sanctuary city laws are based on policy that dates back to Mayor Ed Koch’s administration, but they now include measures strengthened under Mayor Bill de Blasio. They’ve been targeted with criticism by Republicans nationally, including Trump and incoming border czar Tom Homan. Adams has also lamented the more recent changes and says he wants the NYPD to be able to cooperate with ICE when migrants “commit” a violent offense. Currently, city officers cannot honor ICE detainer requests unless the feds have a judicial warrant or a migrant was convicted of one of 170 violent crimes in the past five years. Adams is looking to loosen the policies, potentially through executive action. The mayor has said, however, that he intends to uphold the laws – which the City Council is opposed to changing. “As the mayor has said, no one in New York City should be afraid to take their kid to school, report a crime, or seek medical care, regardless of their immigration status,” Adams spokesperson Liz Garcia told Playbook in a statement. “That’s why several city agencies — in coordination with City Hall — will be providing updated materials and trainings to agency leadership and their community-facing city staff on their rights and responsibilities if approached by immigration enforcement agents.” — Emily Ngo HOW IT USED TO BE: The city agreed to pay $92.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit Wednesday over allegations officials held more than 20,000 people in jail after their scheduled release dates, between 1997 and 2012, in response to ICE detainer requests. (New York Times)
| | | | You read POLITICO for trusted reporting. Now follow every twist of the lame duck session with Inside Congress. We track the committee meetings, hallway conversations, and leadership signals that show where crucial year-end deals are heading. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
City Council Member Kalman Yeger has yet to actually file a resignation letter with the council informing them of his last day. | John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit | YEGER’S LAST DANCE: Today is expected to be City Council Member Kalman Yeger’s last stated meeting, with the Brooklyn Democrat (who also runs as a Republican and a conservative) set to depart after being elected to the state Assembly. Yeger, a frequent dissenter with the majority, has yet to actually file a resignation letter with the council informing them of his last day, though. “I’m fortunate they’ve given me some things to vote ‘no’ on — I wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall,” Yeger joked to Playbook, noting he planned to vote against the creation of a new Business Improvement District, decrying it as a tax increase caused by the city failing to keep the streets clean on its own. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — The Trump administration could play a role in crafting alterations to sanctuary city laws, Adams suggested in a Fox News interview Wednesday. (POLITICO) – A man who ran a secret police office in New York, Chen Jinping, pleaded guilty to being an agent of the Chinese government. (The New York Times) — Eviction rates at NYCHA properties privately managed in the PACT program are significantly higher than those at traditional public housing developments. (NY1)
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | | 
Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration officially signed off on a $9 billion contract with a home care company, in an expected move that has faced fierce criticism. | Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | BEGGING YOUR PARDON: Hochul did not embrace the idea of pardoning President-elect Donald Trump in his New York hush-money case. Trump on Monday lost an effort to toss his criminal conviction in the case after a state judge determined the landmark Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity does not apply to it. “There’s a pardoning process in the state of New York. It’s lengthy. It requires a couple of elements. One is remorse,” Hochul deadpanned during an unrelated news conference. The governor, a Democrat, said she is not “prejudging” a potential pardon, but added that fairness should rule the day. “There’s a process everyone has to go through — everybody, whether you’re the president, or anybody else,” Hochul said. The president-elect still has a pending motion in state court that argues his case should be tossed based on his November victory. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the case, which stemmed from paying a porn star hush money. — Nick Reisman CREDIT WHERE DUE: Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Andrew Gounardes is seizing on the findings of a child poverty report released Wednesday as he pushes to expand a family-friendly tax credit. “This report makes clear what we’ve been saying for years: the time to pass the Working Families Tax Credit is now,” Gounardes said. “The cost of living is crushing working-class and middle-class families in New York, making it hard to raise children here and pushing people into poverty.” Gounardes’ proposal would raise the current family tax credit to $1,600 per child and provide for a $100 minimum credit per child regardless of a family's income. It would also cap the number of eligible children and link the credit to the rate of inflation. The report from the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council concluded that low-income families might be excluded from some tax benefit programs while some benefit programs may not be providing sufficient help. The Democratic-led state Legislature has been willing to take up proposals that expand existing tax credits. In 2023, lawmakers and Hochul agreed to extend credit to children with families under age 4. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — A Texas lawsuit against a New York doctor has created a new challenge for interstate telehealth. (AP) — Hochul has more than 100 bills to consider before the end of the year. (Gothamist) — Districts across New York are struggling with funding and voter approval for electric buses. (NYS Focus)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Rep. Elise Stefanik’s path to confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is expected to be smooth. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | STE-FAN-IKS: Rep. Elise Stefanik’s path to confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is expected to be smooth, with some Senate Democrats commending her even if they won’t yet commit to voting for her. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, for one, heaped praise on the North Country Republican in a recent radio interview. “I’ve known Elise for the last 15 years. She’s very smart. She loves Israel. She’s very knowledgeable about this kind of foreign policy, so I think she’ll do a very good job,” Gillibrand said last month on Talkline Network, a Jewish broadcast network. “I think she’ll be well received. I think she can be a strong, strong voice for Israel.” The senator stressed her bipartisan relationships on Capitol Hill in the interview. A Gillibrand spokesperson told Playbook the senator will meet with the Trump nominee before making her decision. Stefanik, the House Republican Conference chair, is among the Trump picks seeing the least resistance from Democrats – though it’s worth pointing out the bar has been set by celebrities like Pete Hegseth, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Stefanik’s fierce defense of Israel has won the support of Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Additionally, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) has signaled she’ll back Stefanik. Asked if he’ll back Stefanik, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s office pointed out that confirmation hearings haven’t yet begun. — Emily Ngo COAT OF ARMS: Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s advocacy for 9/11 first responders is now memorialized on the walls of Congress in her official portrait: an indelible image of her wearing an FDNY coat over a gown. Maloney, House Democratic leaders and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society unveiled her portrait Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol, and it stood out from the rest. “You get a lot of awards but this is by far my favorite award that I’m getting from the rank and file,” the Manhattan Democrat told the New York Post. Maloney, who sponsored 9/11 health and compensation legislation, had tried — emphasis on tried — to make the FDNY coat a sort of uniform to advance her cause. She wore it on the House floor, around New York City and even to the Met Gala. Maloney, who served three decades in Congress, was honored as the first woman to chair the House Oversight Committee. Only 16 other portraits of women House members hang in Congress. Meanwhile, as part of her trip to Washington, Maloney’s daughter Virginia was set to host a fundraiser on the Hill for her New York City Council campaign — another sign she won’t be shy about running as “the Congressmember’s daughter.” One co-host of the fundraiser is Mike Iger, Maloney’s former chief of staff who’s now a federal lobbyist. — Emily Ngo and Jeff Coltin More from Congress: — A year-end budget bill would lock in health care funding for 9/11 first responders and survivors. (LoHud) — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats are ready to work with Republicans to deliver for taxpayers. (MSNBC) — Outgoing Rep. Marc Molinaro delivered his farewell speech on the House floor. (Spectrum News)
| | | | POLITICO Pro's unique analysis combines exclusive transition intelligence and data visualization to help you understand not just what's changing, but why it matters for your organization. Explore how POLITICO Pro will make a difference for you. | | | | | | | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — Rochester has become the largest city in New York to opt into the “Good Cause Eviction” law. (WXXI News) — Lake Placid is officially the backup location for the 2026 Olympics. (Spectrum News) — A humpback whale washed ashore on Long Island — the 11th this season. (Newsday)
| | | | A message from Uber: Study Shows Uber Drivers making over $52k while NYC Heroes Get Left Behind
A new study reveals a growing wage divide in New York City: Uber drivers are making an average of $52,900 a year after expenses, while city employees like EMTs and sanitation workers starting salaries are below $44,000. Since 2020, rideshare drivers have received five pay increases through TLC mandates while many frontline city workers face stagnant wages amid rising living costs. This gap underscores an evolving dynamic in NYC’s workforce, where gig workers see consistent earnings growth while essential city roles lag behind. This pay disparity is raising questions about the city’s priorities and the need for equitable wages in public service amidst the affordability crisis.
Read the full story to see how gig work earnings are reshaping NYC’s labor landscape. Learn More. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: New York Civil Liberties Union Legal Director Christopher Dunn is stepping down after 28 years with the organization to pursue his longtime interest in urban planning… John Avlon has been elected chair of the board of Citizens Union. … Christopher Clark has joined the Tully Rinckey law firm as an associate. — Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced Wednesday he will step down from the job next month, just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. (Daily News) SPOTTED: Former President Bill Clinton doing some holiday shopping on Tuesday in Katonah. WEDDING: Maeve Healy, chief of staff for Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), recently married Matthew Lafleur, product manager at C3 AI. The couple met through a mutual friend when she invited people over to watch LSU play in the national championship game. She went to Tulane and he’s from Baton Rouge, and the couple wed in New Orleans. Pic ... Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Peter Ward … Ronan Farrow … NYT’s Teddy Schleifer … Treasury’s Nicole Lindler … Amy Best Weiss of American Express … Max McClellan … Isabel Pellegrino … Maggie Polachek … Tomicah Tillemann … Michaela Balderston ... Sarah Scott … Michael Feinberg Missed Wednesday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
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