HTC's primary plans
The union, which represents some 40,000 gaming and hospitality workers, will spend $1 million on City Council primaries to support its endorsed candidates.
HTC will boost mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo with $1 million that includes TV and digital advertising, as first reported this afternoon by The New York Times.
And the organization will spread its money to races outside City Hall: $500,000 on borough president primaries — including Keith Powers in Manhattan — and several New Jersey elections.
Candidates will benefit from a robust mail and digital effort — as well as a GOTV operation the union conducts each election cycle.
A union spokesperson laid out the plans to Playbook this afternoon, with four weeks until the Democratic primary in New York City.
It all adds up to an unprecedented push by HTC — first reported here — to bolster its already considerable influence with Democratic elected officials before its industry-wide contract expires in 2026. Friendly officials applying public pressure on private-sector owners will come in handy.
The union's allies are in contests for top political jobs next year — adding to the group's expansive political clout.
Council Member Julie Menin, likely running for speaker, sided with HTC in its pitched battle to require hotel owners to obtain operating licenses and restrict subcontracting work — a bill the union helped draft amid a multimillion dollar industry lobbying effort. Menin's speaker candidacy is expected to have HTC's backing, according to a person familiar with the union's plans.
The hotel union was integral in Corey Johnson becoming city council speaker in 2017, but backed an unsuccessful rival to Adrienne Adams in the 2021 speaker's race.
Menin, Council Members Christopher Marte and Shaun Abreu will be among those getting a boost from HTC's efforts this cycle. Candidates Ty Hankerson, Elsie Encarnacion and Virginia Maloney will also receive support.
Cuomo is the heavy favorite to win the June 24 primary and HTC endorsed his bid in April. Union President Rich Maroko was among those who called for Cuomo's resignation in 2021, after a state attorney general report found he sexually harassed women on his staff. He ended up stepping down, though he denies the allegations.
'Our primary objective in everything we do is to make sure that our members have a voice at work but we're also fighting to make sure they have a voice in the democratic process,' Maroko said in a statement. 'That's why we fought to win unique and groundbreaking contractual rights that allow each of our eligible members to vote on paid time, to ensure that NYC's blue collar hospitality workers are never disenfranchised and that they always have a loud and impactful voice in the democratic process.'
The labor industry's political clout nationally has waned for decades as membership decreased and blue-collar workers, once reliably Democratic voters, have gravitated toward Donald Trump's MAGA movement.
It's different in New York — a deep blue city that's the most unionized in the country. Here labor's support is crucial in primary races, with scant policy differences between candidates giving endorsements extra sway. And few unions other than HTC can provide organizational muscle to get their members to the polls on Election Day.
Unionized hotel workers receive paid time off to vote, a stipulation in their most recent contract — a unique codicil that boosts the union's influence. The labor group's turnout is further juiced by targeted text messages and phone calls to remind workers of their civic duty.
'With its citywide contract expiring next year, this is arguably the most important election cycle for the union in the past decade,' an HTC official said. 'That's why it's spending more on this primary election cycle than it ever has before.' — Nick Reisman
IN THE COURTS
CONGESTION PRICING LOVERS, REJOICE!: A federal judge ruled today that the controversial Manhattan tolling program can continue uninterrupted until at least June 9 and issued a temporary restraining order to stop the federal government from cutting MTA funding in the meantime.
The order by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman is another setback for President Donald Trump in the bitterly fought saga. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called it a 'massive victory.'
'We've won — again,' Hochul said in a statement.
The MTA has previously fended off legal challenges to congestion pricing from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and numerous foes inside New York.
Hochul said Trump's Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, 'can issue as many letters and social media posts as he wants, but a court has blocked the Trump administration from retaliating against New York for reducing traffic and investing in transit.'
In February, Trump posted a graphic of himself wearing a crown and said, 'CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!'
In the months since, Duffy has threatened to retaliate by withholding money and approval for an array of public works projects in the state.
'The judge's ruling today was not on the merits of our case against Hochul's class warfare, but rather a temporary pause to have more time to reach a decision,' a DOT spokesperson said. 'Enforcement actions for noncompliance were merely under consideration, and we will comply with the judge's request to hold.'
The restraining order is only an interim step, though. Judge Liman said he wants to quickly decide the case's broader issues, which largely center on Duffy's authority to pull approval for a program approved by his predecessors in the Biden administration — but that could take months. — Ry Rivard
From the Capitol
QUEENS CASINO GAMBLE IS A GO: A tumultuous chapter in billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen's crusade to build a casino next to Citi Field came to a close today.
The victor? Cohen. The loser? State Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district includes the proposed site, and who — in theory — protested Cohen's efforts until the very end.
Cohen's bill to allow a casino to be built next to Citi Field passed the Senate today, with only five Democrats — state Sens. Joseph Addabbo, Jabari Brisport, Cordell Cleare, Liz Krueger and Ramos — voting against the measure.
The Cohen proposal would remove the 'parkland designation' from the site of the proposed casino — clearing the way for construction — and would designate a separate plot of land as parkland to replace it.
Cohen is one of several bidders vying for three licenses to operate downstate casinos — licenses that are set to be awarded by the end of the year. In order for his bill to move forward, he needed the Legislature to free up the parkland adjacent to Citi Field.
Historically, local elected officials are given de facto 'member deference' when it comes to matters of parkland alienation.
Ramos made her opposition to the casino plan known last year and even held a press conference bashing the proposal: 'I'm in a position to defend the will of my constituents, and I would be shocked, actually, if the state Senate would allow for someone else to introduce such legislation,' she said last year.
But that's exactly what happened.
State Sen. John Liu, a Democrat who last year was opposed to efforts to insert the bill in the state budget, introduced legislation in March that freed up parkland both in his district and hers — a move that circumvented Ramos and allowed Cohen's bill to come to the floor with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins' blessing.
While Ramos still opposes the casino plan, her reaction to Liu's bill has been one of resignation, rather than protest.
Following the bill's expected passage today, Hochul will have to sign of on it for it to become law. She has not given any indication she's against the measure, and Cohen is one of the most prolific donors to the New York Democratic party. — Jason Beeferman
GROUNDING ICE: The latest plan in Albany to combat the Trump administration targets airlines contracting with ICE for deportation flights.
State Sen. Pat Fahy and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages unveiled a bill today focused on airlines participating in removals that occur without judicial hearings or court warrants. Those airlines would be banned from contracting with state and local governments under the bill and would lose their tax exemption for jet fuel.
'We are saying this is not going to happen on our watch — not with our tax dollars and not in our state,' Solages said. 'This is not just about policy, this is about us stopping a constitutional crisis.' — Bill Mahoney
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is releasing two new ads that build off his and his family's multilingual abilities for his city comptroller run against City Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan.
The ads, 'Tell You' and 'Yo Conozco,' with the latter entirely in Spanish, feature Levine's son, Alejandro, speaking about his dad.
The campaign is spending $225,000 to push out the ads this week, with the English-language hit airing on cable and digital platforms tomorrow.
The Spanish-language ad will also air on digital platforms tomorrow and will hit cable airwaves next week when the campaign plans to spend even more dough.
'This one is personal for me,' Levine said in a statement. 'It means the world to hear these words from my son, and I hope New Yorkers can see the values that I've always tried to live by — integrity, honesty, and a love for this city — reflected in him.'
The ads mirror his previous spot, which Levine used to show off his ability to speak in five languages.
Brannan has also released two ads, including one featuring Coney Island as a backdrop and highlighting his opposition to Adams' budget cuts last year.
'The most revealing part of Mark Levine's new TV commercial is what's missing: any sign that he's ever stood up to Eric Adams over the past 3.5 years,' Brannan's spokesperson Sam Raskin said.
Levine's spokesperson, Annabel Lassally, shot back: 'It's deeply disappointing, but not surprising, to see Justin Brannan responding to a heartfelt ad narrated by Mark's son with an entirely dishonest attack,' she said. 'Mark has consistently stood up to the Adams administration — on housing, budget cuts to libraries, pre-K, and public safety — and his record speaks for itself."' — Jason Beeferman
BIG ENDORSEMENT FOR MAYOR ... OF ALBANY: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is throwing his weight behind Chief City Auditor Dorcey Applyrs in the crowded Democratic primary for mayor of the state's capital city.
'Dorcey Applyrs is the right person at the right time for the City of Albany,' he said in a statement. 'With more than a decade of experience serving the people of Albany, she knows firsthand the strengths of the city and its people as well as the challenges they face.'
It's the first time Heastie has weighed in on a local Albany election, Applyrs' campaign said.
The endorsement is also notable given Heastie's decision to stay neutral in the race for mayor of New York City, which includes his Bronx district.
'I am honored to have the endorsement of a leader the caliber of Speaker Heastie who I respect very much,' Applyrs said in a statement. 'His confidence in me and our strong partnership is more important than ever as when I am elected our next mayor we will be making critical decisions about the best ways to capitalize on New York State's $400 million investment in our community.'
Also in the race are Albany County Legislator Carolyn McLaughlin, medical technology startup founder Dan Cerutti, and Albany Common Council President Corey Ellis. — Jason Beeferman
IN OTHER NEWS
— PACKAGING REDUCTION AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE ACT: Senate Republicans rallied against the packaging bill today. (Buffalo News)
— UPSTATE UNION BATTLE: An apple farm is refusing to follow a contract it mediated with its union, despite state lawmakers' efforts to allow farms to unionize in 2019. (New York Focus)
— SUBSIDIZED LANDLORDS EVICT: More than 300 eviction warrants were sought by landlords who received public funds to house tenants who were recently homeless or suffer from mental illness and substance abuse. (Gothamist)
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Randi said that as long as existing businesses properly file their applications for a renewal, they will be allowed to remain open until legislators come back to Albany to fix the problem. — Nick Reisman and Jason Beeferman FROM THE DELEGATION ICE'D OUT WITH AN APPOINTMENT: The Trump administration's response to a lawsuit filed this week by House members barred from inspecting migrant detention facilities has revolved around the Democrats making unannounced visits. But lawmakers in New York have sought access both announced and unannounced. Rep. Dan Goldman requested an appointment in June and was still denied entry to the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Democratic lawmakers have simultaneously cited their authority to conduct oversight without giving advance notice of 'detention facilities holding individuals in federal immigration custody.' The 67-page lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington includes Goldman and Adriano Espaillat as plaintiffs. It references new DHS guidelines that congressional Democrats say infringe on their authority, including the need for seven days' notice ahead of a visit. In June, Goldman's team emailed Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff a request for an appointment nine days before he and Rep. Jerry Nadler came to 26 Federal Plaza amid reports of unsafe conditions. They still were denied access. The reason, according to DHS? The 10th floor of the building is a processing, not a detention, facility. 'These members of Congress could have just scheduled a tour,' Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said earlier this week in a statement reacting to the legal complaint by 12 members of Congress. McLaughlin was asked again today on Fox News about the lawsuit and why lawmakers 'think that they can just show up announced.' 'Exactly, this is about political theater,' she said in response. 'This isn't oversight.' Goldman, Espaillat, Nadler and Rep. Nydia Velázquez have said migrants are being held for several days there in unsafe conditions as revealed in videos. And they have said they would use every tool to shine light on the treatment of migrants as President Donald Trump escalates his deportation agenda. — Emily Ngo FROM CITY HALL LET 'EM OFF EASY: Turkish construction executive Erden Arkan should be sentenced to only one year probation after giving illegal straw donations to Adams' campaign, his lawyer argued in a memo Friday while denying Arkan had any coordination with the Turkish government. Arkan, the co-founder of KSK Construction Group, pleaded guilty in January. His lawyer, Jonathan Rosen, said the federal probation office recommended that he receive only a year's probation and no prison time. Arkan 'did not 'coordinate' his decision to use straw donors, the scheme at issue in this case, with the Turkish Consulate or any Turkish official,' despite what prosecutors alleged, Rosen wrote. A Turkish Consulate official invited Arkan to a meeting where he met Adams, but the decision to give illegal straw donations in the names of his employees came only after Arkan tried and failed to solicit donations legally from business contractors, who largely refused to give to Adams. 'Fearing embarrassment from the now impending fundraiser, Erden pivoted to a new strategy,' Rosen explained. Rosen also argues that federal prosecutors were using Arkan to get to Adams, and he should be let off now that Adams' case has been dropped. 'The government's characterization of Eric Adams as a 'tainted prosecution' ... calls into question any bona fide federal interest in Mr. Arkan's continued prosecution in federal court,' he wrote, quoting former Trump administration Department of Justice official Emil Bove's letter. A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — Jeff Coltin AROUND NEW YORK — FAKED SIGNATURES: Mayor Eric Adams' reelection campaign submitted forged petition signatures in an effort to get on the November ballot as an independent candidate. (Gothamist) — TALL ORDER: The Department of Education approved close to $750,000 in catering spending at a single Brooklyn restaurant in the fiscal year 2025. (amNewYork) — HEALTH CUTS: Federal funding cuts to Medicaid could worsen New York's nursing shortage. (City & State) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
