Holly Pretsky

1 day ago | cityandstateny.com | Sahalie Donaldson |Annie McDonough |Holly Pretsky

Eric Adams Eric Adams / Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office His ideological stance in brief: Conservative, pro-business Democrat who is now running as an independent candidate. More likely to criticize progressives than the Trump administration. Major endorsements: None reported yet. Fundraising: $4.5 million raised so far. He has an estimated $2.7 million in the bank, as of May 30. He has been denied public matching funds so far. What is he running on?

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Holly Pretsky

Mayoral candidate Jessica Ramos is embracing the vulnerability. A recent campaign video shows her attending a May 10 Working Families Party rally in Foley Square to support Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was arrested May 9 at a protest outside a newly reopened ICE detention center in his city. In the video, Ramos first defended Baraka for trying to conduct oversight at the facility and said that immigration enforcement has been “ravaging our communities.” Then her monologue took a turn.

1 month ago | cityandstateny.com | Holly Pretsky

The political action committee affiliated with Airbnb is upping its spending in New York City local elections, the group exclusively told City & State. In February, the short-term rental giant put $5 million into its PAC, called Affordable New York. It is now planning to double that sum to help elect sympathetic candidates in city elections taking place this year and next year at the state level. “Airbnb is just getting started,” Policy Director Nathan Rotman said in a statement.

1 month ago | cityandstateny.com | Holly Pretsky

The “Labor Strong” coalition of five influential labor unions is announcing its second round of New York City Council endorsements Friday, the coalition exclusively told City & State. The coalition includes building service workers union 32BJ SEIU, public employees union District Council 37, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, the New York State Nurses Association and the Communications Workers of America District 1.

1 month ago | cityandstateny.com | Holly Pretsky

The second-most powerful person in New York City politics is not elevated to the role by the voters of New York City. The speaker of the New York City Council, currently Adrienne Adams, has the authority to set the council’s agenda, which means she has unmatched influence on what becomes New York City law. With a little maneuvering, she can convene a commission to change the city charter, subpoena members of the mayor’s administration and override mayoral vetoes.