PAC MONEY
Unions and Real Estate Battle for Influence in Bronx Borough President Race
Gibson draws union backing as real estate interest groups pour money into Salamanca Jr.’s campaign.
Left to right: Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and challenger, Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr.
By Marina Samuel and Kennedy Sessions
Incumbent Vanessa Gibson faces District 17 Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. for the second time, after Salamanca Jr. dropped out of the 2021 borough president race to focus on his City Council re-election. This time, term-limited Salamanca Jr., who is chair of the City Council’s Land-Use committee, poses a serious challenge to Gibson’s campaign.
Affordable New York, a newly-formed political action committee funded by Airbnb Inc., has spent over $40,000 on digital campaign advertisements supporting Salamanca Jr., and seven other City Council candidates across the five boroughs in this election cycle. Last year, Salamanca Jr. co-sponsored a Council bill that would have reversed limits on legal short-term rentals on Airbnb in New York. The bill did not pass.
While the borough president’s role is largely ceremonial, the borough president does wield authority on land use, community board appointments, and managing the borough’s budget.
Another PAC, Taxpayers for an Affordable New York, run by the Real Estate Board of New York, the landlord lobby, has made significant donations to both candidates. The PAC advocates for “responsible rent reform that protects tenants and property owners”, according to its website. It gave $500 to Gibson and $1,600 to Salamanca Jr..
Hunts Point Produce Market PAC also donated $750 to Gibson and $1,000 to Salamanca Jr.’s campaign. Gibson and Salamanca Jr. had also both received $1,600 contributions from the Montefiore PAC.
Gibson has received strong financial support from 50 union-affiliated PACs, including 1199 SEIU, DC37, and the United Federation of Teachers, who all maxed out their contributions to the incumbent. 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the union representing over 250,000 healthcare workers in New York City and Long Island, endorsed Gibson on April 2. Salamanca Jr. has received no donations from union-affiliated PACs as of the most recent campaign disclosure filings.
Gibson leads in fundraising with $321,000 raised so far, followed by Salamanca Jr., who has brought in $247,000.