Airbnb PAC starts spending to support Riley, Farías, Salamanca and more

An Airbnb-affiliated independent expenditure committee called “Affordable New York” has posted its first detailed expenditures on the city Campaign Finance Board portal. The group is the first political action committee to start spending on New York City’s 2025 primary elections. So far, they have $5 million to distribute, and they’ve spent $336,000 on seven candidates, according to disclosures. 

The PAC is spending $42,000 each in support of Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías and Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Mercedes Narcisse, who is facing a challenge from one candidate with public matching funds. They’re also throwing another $42,000 toward Ty Hankerson, a staffer of Speaker Adrienne Adams who is running in a crowded primary to replace her in the council. The group has dropped $124,000 on Council Member Kevin Riley’s reelection campaign as he tries to fend off a challenge from former Council Member Andy King. Affordable New York spent another $42,000 on Land Use Chair Rafael Salamanca in his bid against incumbent Vanessa Gibson for Bronx borough president. And they’ve spent $2,000 on Council Member Oswald Feliz. 

The support comes after the council considered allowing more short-term rentals in New York City. But a bill floated last year to permit more short-term rentals at one- and two-family homes suffered some setbacks when primary sponsor Farah Louis removed key provisions. The bill faced opposition from the hotel industry, affordable housing advocates and from the politically powerful Hotel and Gaming Trades Council union representing hotel workers. Original co-sponsors of the bill included Speaker Adams, Narcisse and Riley. Later on, Brooks-Powers, Salamanca, Feliz and Althea Stevens added their names as co-sponsors. 

Airbnb has been sidelined in the city since a 2023 law forced them to take thousands of short-term city listings down. The committee has purchased digital ads for all of the candidates they are supporting this month. For Riley, they’ve also bought a $55,000 mobile billboard, a print ad and a mailer that says Riley is “working hard for our quality of life.”