Sunday’s feelings of motherly love spilled into Monday for the birthday celebration of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine at Houston Hall, where Attorney General Tish James serenaded the crowd with Stevie Wonder’s rendition of Happy Birthday, and Lexington Democratic Club president Vanessa Aronson with her motherly glow with just a few weeks to go before the birth of her second child… Recalling childhood memories was a theme this night as The Partnership for NYC’s Michael Blaustein recalled his University at Albany days, while Russell Murphy, who is now global communications director at Lime (which just launched in eastern Queens) recalled his time as a then-Councilmember now NYCDOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez staffer… I too recalled my formative years working in my 20’s with Nicholas & Lence’s Cristyne Nicholas and Josh Knoller, who were present, alongside our former client BUS4NYC’s Patrick Condren – who was an eligible bachelor for many years until now – with girlfriend Linda Dambassis Franchilli… also in the room, was state Senate candidate Craig Herskowitz, MD Squared’s Michael Mintz and Cozen O’Connor’s Rose Christ – who may or may not have changed her instagram handle for a temporary moment (ask her about it) – talking about an upcoming Pratt Institute fashion show…
Tuesday night at Gustavino’s in midtown Manhattan, City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias was honored by the Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA), an organization that provides critical services to over 40,000 people annually. There, she shared a story about growing up with her wheelchair-bound grandfather who needed help getting around. She shared this anecdote and explained this informs her City Council budgetary decision-making. (When you understand our legislators, you understand why they make the decisions they make! #PoliticalPersonalities) NYC Housing Commissioner Adolfo Carrion received a shoutout from the podium for his partnership with JASA, and Minority Whip and Zionist Inna Vernikov was there as well, spotted at the step-and-repeat speaking with Molly Krakowski, Senior Director of Government Affairs for JASA, about an upcoming ribbon cutting for a JASA facility in her district…
Midweek, Mayor Eric Adams (wearing a Knicks Playoff hat) joined Governor Kathy Hochul, Rep. Dan Goldman, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, NYCEDC’s Andrew Kimball and many others from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in Red Hook to announce a huge revamp of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, reaffirming the plans to work with Equinor to deliver offshore wind – with turbines being assembled there – creating jobs and economic activity for the region… Meanwhile, simultaneously in Albany, the Capture the Energy annual expo, attracted guests like LIPA’s Gaspare Tumminello, who maintains a 5am virtual push-up contest with Bob Catell, Chairman, New York State Smart Grid Consortium. We understand there are many other political personalities on a 5am text thread, encouraging others to wake up and work out. Long Island Assemblywoman and state Senate candidate Taylor Darling is one of those participants…
Downtown at Eleanor’s Legacy, Lisa Lin, Supervising Court Attorney for Queens County Criminal Court, was endorsed for her state Senate race in District 5 on the south shore of Nassau County, at a luncheon featuring Candis Tall, political director for 32BJ, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer…
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and wife Sigal, welcomed hundreds of political personalities to the 125th anniversary of Nassau County where the evening kicked off with the (phenomenal) Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band, cheered on by Nassau Police Commissioner Pat Ryder and Detective Sergeants Carlo Maltempi and Bill Hussain… In the upstairs VIP room, guests like WABC radio’s Sid Rosenberg, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena posed for photos with the evening’s hosts. We’ve learned that Stefano Perez, formerly with the office of Assemblyman George Alvarez in the Bronx, is now working with Long Island’s Jake Blumencranz…
Downstairs for the main event, Matty Aracich, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties and Grant Newburger, its Director, Communications and Organizing, hosted a table which included Chris Fusco, Commissioner of Labor for Nassau County. In his remarks, Bruce Blakeman, endorsed and spoke very highly of the pending downstate casino license coming to the Nassau Coliseum as part of the Sands project, shouting out former Governor David Paterson who is working with Sands. Also in the room where it happened, Dan Lloyd, founder, Minority Millennials; Ali Nigolian, Executive Director, Nassau County Police Department Foundation; Town of Hempstead Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, and Nassau County Director of Minority Affairs, Lionel Chitty.
ICYMI former Assemblyman Walter Mosley has been nominated to become the new Secretary of State, as Robert Rodriguez will now serve as President and CEO of the Dormitory Authority.
Political Personality of the Week
Assemblyman Landon Dais
Landon Dais is a community leader, legal expert, baseball coach and advocate for social justice. His diverse background in law, economic development, and political activism positions him as a unique and powerful voice for his constituents.
Landon is an attorney who has worked in the cannabis industry, advancing marijuana legalization, workforce development programs, and criminal justice reform. Before embarking on his legal career, Landon served as a Deputy Director at the Police Athletic League and worked at Turner Construction, contributing to projects such as the new Yankee Stadium.
Landon resides with his two sons and wife in Highbridge, where she grew up after immigrating with her family from the Dominican Republic, and now serves on Bronx Community Board 4. Deeply invested in his community, Landon is a member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, leads the Highbridge Heights Homeowners Association, and contributes his expertise to the Mid Bronx Desperadoes Board, focusing on building affordable housing in The Bronx.
Landon began his educational journey at Fordham Prep, went on to earn a B.A. in Business Management from Morehouse College, an M.S. in Real Estate Development from Columbia University, and a J.D. from Hofstra Law School.
Fast Facts
- Baseball coach
- Husband and father of two boys, Lenox and Lexington
- Graduate of Hofstra Law School
- Recipient of NAACP Roy Wilkins Award
- Founder of Black and Latino fathers support group called “Brunch of Dads”