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Nick Garber

@nickgarber.bsky.social
3.5K followers 208 following 91 posts

Politics reporter, New York Focus | Formerly Crain's New York, NYC Patch | Tips: nick[at]nysfocus.com, or DM for Signal

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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Labor unions, which have opposed some past reform efforts, are notably on board with this effort — DC37's Henry Garrido is vice-chair of the new task force, headed by DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. Their involvement could cut both ways. nysfocus.com/2026/10/05/m...
nysfocus.com
Mamdani Enlists Unions in Push to Overhaul NYC Hiring
A new mayoral task force will study the dysfunctional 143-year-old civil service system and propose changes in Albany.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Exclusive: the Mamdani administration will take a swing at reforming NYC's civil service system — the first serious effort by any recent mayor to revamp the antiquated, 143-year-old system that critics say deters talent and worsens staffing shortages: nysfocus.com/2026/10/05/m...
nysfocus.com
Mamdani Enlists Unions in Push to Overhaul NYC Hiring
A new mayoral task force will study the dysfunctional 143-year-old civil service system and propose changes in Albany.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Five NYC Council members, one state senator and one state Assemblymember acknowledged AI use in recent op-eds, in addition to Adams and Applyrs. None of the pieces included a disclosure—though the legislature just passed a bill that would require them. nysfocus.com/2026/08/27/n...
nysfocus.com
New York Politicians Are Using AI to Write Their Op-Eds
Politicians including the governor's running mate and the mayor of Albany acknowledged using artificial intelligence to write op-eds.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
NEW: How often are politicians using AI to write for them? We confirmed at least 10 recent op-eds that NY officials used AI to help write—including pieces by Lt. Gov. nominee Adrienne Adams and an essay by Albany's mayor on the city's fiscal crisis: nysfocus.com/2026/08/27/n...
nysfocus.com
New York Politicians Are Using AI to Write Their Op-Eds
Politicians including the governor's running mate and the mayor of Albany acknowledged using artificial intelligence to write op-eds.
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Reposted by Nick Garber
Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefe.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Read this new one by Rachel Aviv. It is astonishing, one of the best magazine stories I've read in a long time. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
newyorker.com
The Scientist Who Lived with Dozens of Children from the Pacific Islands
Carleton Gajdusek won the Nobel for his work on a disease in Papua New Guinea. But his biggest experiment was on the children he took back to the U.S.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Amazon’s spending against the Delivery Protection Act is by far the most it’s ever reported giving to a NY lobbying effort. It’s paid for spots like this ad by “New York Delivers,” claiming the bill would raise grocery prices. (1M views on Facebook) nysfocus.com/2026/07/23/a...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
NEW: Amazon has quietly spent $5 million to bankroll a campaign against a City Council bill that would force it to directly employ its delivery drivers—funneling the money through a coalition that’s made small business owners the face of its cause: nysfocus.com/2026/07/23/a...
nysfocus.com
Amazon Bankrolled $5M Campaign Against NYC Delivery Bill
Amazon supplied almost all the funding for a campaign presented as a coalition of New York City workers, small businesses, and national carriers.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Scoop: NYC’s brand-new casino, Resorts World Queens, is already disputing how much money it owes to the state — and is pushing legislation in Albany that could avert well over half a billion dollars in payments: nysfocus.com/2026/06/01/n...
nysfocus.com
New York's Brand-New Casino Is in a $500M+ Fight With the State
Resorts World is floating legislation to avert more than $500 million in payments to the horseracing industry.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
The legislation, which Resorts World pitched during budget talks, would have those payments come out of a pot of money that includes the casino’s taxes—but it would expire once other casinos open in NYC around 2030. At that point, they’ll split the racing support payments 3 ways.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Resorts World believes its required payments to the state’s horse racing industry, worth over $150M annually, are included in its overall tax rate. The state’s Gaming Commission believes they’re separate, sources say. nysfocus.com/2026/06/01/n...
nysfocus.com
New York's Brand-New Casino Is in a $500M+ Fight With the State
Resorts World is floating legislation to avert more than $500 million in payments to the horseracing industry.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Scoop: NYC’s brand-new casino, Resorts World Queens, is already disputing how much money it owes to the state — and is pushing legislation in Albany that could avert well over half a billion dollars in payments: nysfocus.com/2026/06/01/n...
nysfocus.com
New York's Brand-New Casino Is in a $500M+ Fight With the State
Resorts World is floating legislation to avert more than $500 million in payments to the horseracing industry.
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Reposted by Nick Garber
Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
New: with New York locked out of the redistricting wars until 2028, some Democrats are fuming about a missed opportunity in 2024, when Albany drew a surprisingly cautious congressional map — at the direct urging of Hakeem Jeffries, sources say. nysfocus.com/2026/05/20/j...
nysfocus.com
Cautious Maps in New York Haunt Democrats’ Redistricting War
Hakeem Jeffries urged Albany to avoid maps that aggressively boosted Democrats, sources told New York Focus.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Jeffries' allies defend those maps as the best they could do without risking another lawsuit. But several Dems say they wanted to go bigger, given a power shift on the NY's top court. "I think it is politically criminal what they did," said one operative. nysfocus.com/2026/05/20/j...
nysfocus.com
Cautious Maps in New York Haunt Democrats’ Redistricting War
Hakeem Jeffries urged Albany to avoid maps that aggressively boosted Democrats, sources told New York Focus.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
New: with New York locked out of the redistricting wars until 2028, some Democrats are fuming about a missed opportunity in 2024, when Albany drew a surprisingly cautious congressional map — at the direct urging of Hakeem Jeffries, sources say. nysfocus.com/2026/05/20/j...
nysfocus.com
Cautious Maps in New York Haunt Democrats’ Redistricting War
Hakeem Jeffries urged Albany to avoid maps that aggressively boosted Democrats, sources told New York Focus.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Marc Landis, Westside PAC's treasurer, is a Board of Elections commissioner who spoke out at a March meeting to oppose a petition challenge against another candidate filed by a Boylan supporter. @citizensunionny.bsky.social called this a "flagrant conflict of interest." nysfocus.com/2026/04/27/c...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
the Westside Progress PAC has gotten $175,000 from a separate PAC, Next NYC—formed by Cuomo's former campaign manager. Donors to that group include longtime fundraiser Jennifer Bayer Michaels, though the donors' names won't appear on lit like the below nysfocus.com/2026/04/27/c...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
NEW: a super PAC that's dumped $ against @lindseyboylan.bsky.social's Council bid has raised money from former Andrew Cuomo supporters, including his chief fundraiser—but conceals their names using a pass-through setup. The PAC's treasurer is a sitting BOE commissioner. nysfocus.com/2026/04/27/c...
nysfocus.com
Cuomo Allies Pour Money Into Race Against Lindsey Boylan
A super PAC has spent six figures on the race over the last week — more than all the candidates had raised as of last month, combined.
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Colin Kinniburgh @colinreports.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
America’s largest bank is expanding its data center in Orangeburg, NY, near the New Jersey border. In exchange for $77 million in tax breaks from the state and county, the bank promises to create exactly one permanent job. My story in @nysfocus.com: nysfocus.com/2026/04/20/d...
nysfocus.com
This Data Center is Getting a $77 Million Tax Break to Create One Job
No other project in the country has gotten such a large subsidy to create so few jobs, according to watchdogs.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Gov. Hochul's administration has encouraged Mayor Mamdani to reduce spending on CityFHEPS vouchers, Carter cases and the school class-size mandate as part of discussions about sending more state aid to NYC, sources say: nysfocus.com/2026/04/16/h...
nysfocus.com
Hochul Pushes Mamdani to Slow Spending in Exchange for Aid
The governor has asked for cost-cutting plans on pricey housing vouchers and public school programs, sources say.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
citing its costs, several states opted out of the policy since it was put in Trump's OBBA last year. New York seemed likely to do the same—then the @nypost.com and Bruce Blakeman slammed Hochul for the omission. She announced days later that she'd propose it. nysfocus.com/2026/03/30/h...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
experts across the ideological spectrum—including typical Mamdani allies @nyfiscalpolicy.bsky.social —have called "no tax on tips" unfair and potentially harmful to workers by undermining efforts to raise wages. Indeed, business groups like the NYC Hospitality Alliance support it.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
New: New York's state budget is poised to exempt taxes on tips up to $25K, a Trump-backed policy widely criticized by economists. It'll cost New York City $239 million. But Mayor Mamdani supports it, even though it would cancel out some of his cost-saving efforts: nysfocus.com/2026/03/30/h...
nysfocus.com
Hochul's Embrace of Trump's 'No Tax on Tips' Will Cost NYC Millions
The city could lose $239 million from the policy, which is supported by business groups while unions remain on the sidelines.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
the memo also lists all the cost shifts and cuts that the mayor's office wants to reverse — a likely part of any ultimate deal with Gov. Kathy Hochul — and puts a price tag on them: $2.3 billion nysfocus.com/2026/03/06/m...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Mamdani's office circulated this list of revenue proposals in recent days after some lawmakers complained they still weren't sure exactly what he was asking for. Besides income + corporate tax hikes, it includes a property tax surcharge on homes over $5M and a bigger mansion tax
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Mamdani's team believes the new plan is more politically viable, per people who've been briefed on it. It would raise the NYC Business Corporation Tax, rather than the statewide corporate tax, as he'd campaigned on. nysfocus.com/2026/03/06/m...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
new: Mayor Mamdani is asking Albany for a smaller corporate tax hike than he'd campaigned on: a 1.8-point increase on NYC businesses to raise $1.75B, down from $5B in his campaign proposal. He's also voicing support for a range of new taxes on pricey real estate: nysfocus.com/2026/03/06/m...
nysfocus.com
Mamdani’s New Albany Asks: Smaller Corporate Tax Hike, Fees on Pricey…
The mayor narrowed his big business tax proposal in the hopes of making it easier to pass.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Adams' plan would've lowered property taxes for 275K homeowners and raised them on another 168K, by shifting assessed values toward market value. But it did nothing to fix the high tax bills on apartment buildings — a disparity that Mamdani has pledged to address. nysfocus.com/2026/03/02/m...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
New: Eric Adams quietly pitched state lawmakers on a plan to fix NYC's broken property tax system. We've published it for the first time. But no lawmaker was even willing to sponsor the bill—a warning sign for Mayor Mamdani as he prepares his own plan: nysfocus.com/2026/03/02/m...
nysfocus.com
Can Mamdani Fix Property Taxes After Adams Failed?
As Zohran Mamdani prepares to unveil property tax reforms, he must weigh a plan he inherited from his predecessor.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
📰🔍👀Today's my first day at @nysfocus.bsky.social, where I'll be covering the people and policies shaping New York, the Mamdani agenda in Albany, and hopefully lots of other big, weird, complicated stories. Get in touch: nick[at]nysfocus.com.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
State people, please get in touch (and NYC people, please stay in touch!) and add me to your lists: nick[at]nysfocus.com.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
💥Professional news💥: after 3 great years, Friday is my last day at Crain's New York. Next week I'm joining @nysfocus.bsky.social as a politics reporter, covering the people and policies shaping New York, as well as the Mamdani agenda in Albany. Can't wait to tackle some big, thorny stories.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
New: Mayor Mamdani is starting to shake up NYC's approach to economic development: • Enlisting Lina Khan to interview potential heads of the Economic Development Corp. • Putting EDC under a new deputy mayor • Talking with EDC about city-owned grocery stores: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Mamdani shakes up city’s economic development approach, with Lina Khan’s input
The mayor put the Economic Development Corp. under a new deputy mayor, and enlisted Khan to interview potential leaders.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
The City Council has a new website & leaflets blasting the mayor's housing ballot questions as giveaways to developers. Some ethics experts say they comes dangerously close to electioneering. A council member called them a "waste of taxpayer dollars" Story: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
here's the ad, which is technically issue-neutral since the group behind it—the Coalition for New York's Future—is nonprofit. @opennewyork.org and the Charter Commission itself are expected to mount their own efforts. Labor unions are considering a vote-no campaign. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZg...
youtube.com
Affordable Housing Is on the Ballot
YouTube video by Coalition for New York's Future
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
NYC's pro-housing ballot measures are getting a boost from the city's biggest businesses. The Partnership for NYC, through an affiliate, is spending $750K on a campaign about the Charter questions, including TV ads already airing. More campaigns will follow: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Business lobby puts up money to boost pro-housing ballot measures
The Partnership for New York City is putting money behind the charter revision questions that would speed housing reviews.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
the Manhattan Plaza Capital Trust will be set up as a charity and governed by a three-person board — but with no explicit limits on how the money can be spent www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Times Square casino bidder offers millions to an affordable housing complex. Tenants are wary
SL Green and Caesars surprised Manhattan Plaza tenants by pledging $1.5 million a year for the Hell’s Kitchen development.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
the efforts by SL Green, Caesars Palace and Roc Nation to woo Manhattan Plaza tenants have included multiple visits by Alicia Keys, a Roc Nation artist who grew up in the complex.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
New: the developers of the Times Square casino bid are trying to win over the influential affordable housing complex Manhattan Plaza with an unusual $22.5M gift, plus a cut of annual profits. Tenants aren't sure what to make of it. www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Times Square casino bidder offers millions to an affordable housing complex. Tenants are wary
SL Green and Caesars surprised Manhattan Plaza tenants by pledging $1.5 million a year for the Hell’s Kitchen development.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
skinny "sliver" buildings legalized by City of Yes are starting to take shape, beginning with a recently sold UES townhouse that could become a 15-story tower, CJ Hughes reports: www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/...
crainsnewyork.com
Skinny UES development site with towering potential sells for $8M
Architect Nory Hazaveh bought the site, which could support a 15-story “sliver” tower from Taconic Partners.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
NYC's office-to-apartment conversions are booming, w/ 44 known projects slated to produce 17K homes, per a new @nyccomptroller.bsky.social report But the design of the 467m tax break means the city may spend billions on conversions that would've happened anyway www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
​Office conversion boom on track to create 17K homes, comptroller finds
The 467-m tax break may produce much-needed housing but at a cost of $5B in tax revenue.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
the Big, Beautiful Bill includes long-sought changes to affordable housing funding that could boost NY developers and create some 73K extra housing units statewide over 10 years. BUT... that silver lining could evaporate if Trump's huge HUD cuts are passed: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Trump law boosts New York housing, but looming cuts could blow it up
The One Big Beautiful Bill expanded the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, but cuts to federal housing programs could devastate renters.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
So why spend all the money for Mealy and other council incumbents? They’re likely to win but might be nervous, so it’s an easy way to curry favor. “The best is where I’m not even taking a gamble, but it kind of feels like I am,” said a PAC strategist. ebx.sh/5Y76KI
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Why are corporate giants pouring millions into low-profile council races?
Real estate developers and labor groups are backing little-known City Council candidates in hopes of gaining influence.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
The beneficiaries of PAC money are an odd bunch: archrivals Airbnb and the hotel union HTC are backing the same Queens candidate. And no council candidate is getting more money than Darlene Mealy, who’s been accused of rarely showing up to her job. www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Below the radar of the mayoral race, corporate giants & others have spent a record $11M on City Council primaries. Among them: a little noticed PAC whose #1 funder is Bill Ackman. I spoke to super PAC strategists about why that money is flowing to some unexpected candidates. t.co/mYq8sf5h8h
crainsnewyork.com
Corporate giants are pouring millions into low-profile council races
Real estate developers and labor groups are backing little-known City Council candidates in hopes of gaining influence.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
candidates are barred from coordinating with PACs; experts say there's no reason to think Brannan will break rules by speaking at hearing. Still, he faces competing pressure to oppose the casino rezoning (by neighborhood groups) or support it (by the HTC union) www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Coney Island casino puts leading comptroller candidate in hot water
At a June 12 hearing, Justin Brannan will grill the same casino developers spending thousands to boost his campaign.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
New: the Coney Island casino bid has put @justinbrannan.bsky.social in an unusual political pickle. At a council hearing next week, Brannan may question the same casino developers spending $30K on an outside super PAC to support his comptroller campaign: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Coney Island casino puts leading comptroller candidate in hot water
At a June 12 hearing, Justin Brannan will grill the same casino developers spending thousands to boost his campaign.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
new: the Adams administration has filed its response to the lawsuit seeking to overturn City of Yes. City lawyers say doing so would "cause havoc" in the housing market with many projects already underway, and also say the complaint is riddled with errors: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Overturning City of Yes would cause ‘havoc’ for housing market, city tells judge
The Adams administration urged a judge not to gut the landmark zoning plans.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
we have a new super PAC—Manhattan City Council candidate Rachel Storch is being boosted by an independent expenditure funded by Jessica Tisch's brother, Sam. Sam's wife Eliana is an officer. Storch is opting out of matching funds and has raised $433K: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
Billionaire Tisch family boosts Manhattan council candidate with a super PAC
East Side candidate Rachel Storch will benefit from an independent expenditure funded by Sam Tisch.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Exclusive: DoorDash has formed a super PAC and plans to spend $2M on City Council primaries, fresh off its $1M donation to the pro-Cuomo PAC. It's considering supporting possible speaker candidates Julie Menin and Kevin Riley, plus 4 open-seat contenders: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
DoorDash banks $2M to boost council candidates, after big Cuomo donation
The delivery giant is supporting likely speaker candidates and four other “pro-local economy” contenders.
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Nick Garber @nickgarber.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
new, long-awaited data on NYC's 485x housing tax break validates some early fears: zero projects proposed with 100+ units and only 2 in Lower Manhattan, where wage rules are higher. Developers have signaled interest in 118 total projects worth 2,600 units: www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
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