Three Democratic mayoral candidates in New York City are under fire and now the targets of a $1 million Airbnb-backed digital ad campaign over their opposition to short-term rentals in the city, Politico reported.
In a 30-second spot that began airing Monday, a narrator warns that the “plans and policies” of progressive candidates, state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and current New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, “will make New York even more expensive.”
“They oppose common-sense solutions that would make the city more affordable!” the narrator says.
The ad, which is part of a larger push by Airbnb’s super PAC, Affordable New York, will only help former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral bid, according to Politico.
The ad “serves to benefit the front-runner, Andrew Cuomo, and puts him in the enviable position of getting support from both sides of the bitter lobbying battle between Airbnb and the hotel workers union,” the outlet reported Monday.
Cuomo has already secured the backing of the Hotel and Gaming Trade Council, which plans to spend $1 million of its own money to boost the former governor.
“Airbnb could spend even more in the mayoral race — a spokesperson for the super PAC said it could spend as much as another $1 million before the June 24 Democratic primary,” Politico said.
Bhav Tibrewal, HTC’s political director, said Airbnb’s strategy left him confused.
“As governor, Andrew Cuomo took action against unregulated short-term rentals and he’s promised to continue to stand up for tenants and workers as mayor,” he said in a statement obtained by Politico. “If Airbnb thinks it’s a flex to publicly light their money on fire, we’re happy to not stand in their way on this one.”
Airbnb’s dip into the mayoral election comes as it fights to exempt one and two-family homeowners from the city’s strict rental regulations. Current rules prohibit short-term rentals of less than 30 days – unless the host is present.
The law effectively knocked out much of Airbnb’s listings in the city as illegal.