Tan lines were noticeably absent from the list of this week’s spotted as the concrete jungle welcomed back political operatives, government officials, lobbyists and advocates from a rainy week in San Juan.
The NYCEDC press conference featuring NYC Mayor Eric Adams kicked off the week with the announcement of an RFP for electric helicopter technology – could this mean shorter commutes from City Hall to Gracie Mansion?
As some of our New York electeds, like Council Members Inna Vernikov and Eric Dinowitz, prepared to make a trip down to D.C. in solidarity with Israel (12 NYC electeds were in Israel this week!), government staffers gathered for New York Jews in Politics happy hour including Moshe Davis, Adrien Gardner Lesser, Pesach Osina, Eva Wyner, Menashe Shapiro, Joel Eisdorfer, Commissioner Fred Kreizman, Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy, Miranda Goodwin-Raab, HPD’s Ilana Maier and Gabby Eiss at Sen Sakana in midtown.
As the news broke this week that Rep. George Santos won’t be seeking re-election, former Rep. Tom Suozzi hosted a campaign kickoff event at Opus Steakhouse in Nassau County to win his seat back. Overheard: some unsuccessful local Democratic candidates there discussed switching party lines next time. Party Fluid anyone?
On the Upper East Side at Beach Cafe, SFNet’s Valerie Mason celebrated her newly elected position as Chairwoman of Community Board 8 while New York Young Republican Club Executive Director Gavin Wax was also spotted in the restaurant with a group of Hungarians, celebrating Hungary’s support of Israel at the United Nations.
Minority Millennials’ Dan Lloyd spotted shaking hands with Larry Rockefeller at the EANY event at the Metropolitan Club, where attendees coalesced around decreasing carbon emissions… Governor Kathy Hochul was on Long Island this week for the completion of Westbury’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative project, and to celebrate the renaming of Life’s WORC HQ in Garden City to the Victoria Schneps-Yunis Building.
When it rains it pours, all taking place on the same night: EAC Network Gala at the Garden City Hotel featuring Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez; Gracie Mansion Conservancy Gala honoring Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera; and Assemblywoman Taylor Darling’s “Studio 54”- themed birthday party in Franklin Square.
Political Personality of the Week
Jeff Garcia, Executive Director, NYC Office of Nightlife
We hear retired First Grade detective and restauranteur Jeff Garcia will be taking on his new role as Executive Director of NYC Office of Nightlife. He is known for his work as President of the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association as well as Co-Founder and former President of the Latino Cannabis Association. This Dominican dad is also an avid cyclist.
