Hochul, Adams Attend REBNY Gala

The mayor ditched the party for Mar-a-Lago.

At least that’s how it seemed.

Leaders of the Real Estate Board of New York on Thursday night thanked the mayor for attending the trade group’s annual gala, though he never took the stage.

Last year, the mayor spoke at the event, and even reprimanded the jovial crowd for not doing enough to block a policy he didn’t like.

This year he stopped by: He schmoozed, chatted with real estate executives at cocktail hour, posing for pictures at one point with developer Jeffrey Gural and attorney Jay Neveloff.

When asked if he thinks he still has real estate’s support, the mayor recounted meeting with members of the industry in 2021, when he was running for mayor.

“I sat down with them and told them I was going to bring back confidence to the city, and we were going to make it safer,” he told TRD. “We were going to make sure our economy is great. We were going to make sure that our subway system was great. We lived up to everything we promised.”

The mayor was then whisked away, the reporter was told “the mayor has to go now,” and disappeared deeper into the “VIP area,” possibly into a lounge that was not accessible to all VIP attendees. A bit later, as reporters wondered if he’d take the stage, they got a New York Times alert that he was, in fact, en route to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.

It is not uncommon for elected officials to make an appearance at the REBNY event before heading to something else, though it is less common for them to have a potential presidential pardon on the line. Adams has reportedly shown a willingness to accept a pardon if he’s convicted on federal charges.

A spokesperson for the mayor issued a statement Thursday night indicating that the mayor would discuss city priorities with Trump.

“Mayor Adams has made quite clear his willingness to work with President-elect Trump and his incoming administration on behalf of New Yorkers — and that partnership with the federal government is critical to New York City’s success,” the spokesperson said.

Back at the Glasshouse on the West Side of Manhattan, Gov. Kathy Hochul briefly addressed the REBNY crowd, touting the housing package approved last year and the public safety priorities that she laid out in her policy agenda this week, including a pledge to increase overnight police patrols on subways for at least the next six months.

“The only way we’re going to fill up all of our buildings, and the new ones you’re working on, is to give people the foundation of safety so they’re not afraid to come in on our subways,” she said.

She did not mention her efforts to curb institutional investors from buying up homes throughout the state. She also praised the trade group and commented on the elected official turnout at the event, which is in its 129th year.

“Is there anybody, elected official, who is not here tonight?” she asked a crowd that, in keeping with tradition, continued to talk over her. “You’re missing a damn good party.”

Many elected officials joined the festivities, including Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar, First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer, Rep. Ritchie Torres (who received an award at the event), Rep. Tim Kennedy, City Planning Commissioner Dan Garodnick, Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr., Council member Joseph Borelli and city Comptroller Brad Lander. REBNY also indicated that Attorney General Letitia James was also at the event at some point.

The gala can sometimes serve as a temperature check for political attitudes toward the industry.

During the cocktail hour, Lander said the event provides the opportunity to talk about the state of the residential market with owners.

“I’m certainly the only candidate in the room who doesn’t take contributions from the principles of real estate development firms, but listening, talking to them about what’s working and what’s not working and how we can confront the affordability crisis we have in New York City, and keep the city moving forward, is critical,” he said.

Meanwhile, tenant groups and some elected officials gathered outside the venue to protest the event, holding signs that said “Rent Freeze” and “REBNY Raised My Rent.” Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, who has promised to freeze rents if elected mayor and outpaced other candidates in the latest fundraising cycle, joined the protestors.

“Tenants are the majority in New York City, and it’s time our politicians put us first,” Cea Weaver, director of the Housing Justice for All Coalition, said in a statement. She pointed to tenants’ role in electing the next mayor.

“Tenants are ready to vote for a candidate who will freeze our rents, invest in affordable housing, and house our homeless neighbors — instead of lining the pockets of real estate donors,” she said.

Inside, six stories above the protests, attendees sat down to a three-course dinner, waiters refilling their wine glasses. On the dais at the front of the hall, REBNY leaders spoke and then presented seven awards to members and elected officials.

REBNY President Jim Whelan addressed the crowd after Hochul, and talked about progress on housing and “real momentum” in the city’s office market. He noted that the trade group is continuing to fight the FARE Act, which changed the rules around residential rental broker commission, and any other “misguided policies that will hurt our members and New Yorkers.”

“We fight hard every day because you do too, and REBNY always has your back,” he said.