At the REBNY gala, Mamdani skips, while Hochul promises to continue as an ally of the industry

Will he or won’t he?

That was the question ahead of the Real Estate Board of New York’s annual gala on Thursday.

The trade group invited Mayor Zohran Mamdani to the event, but the new mayor did not show up.

This wasn’t terribly surprising, considering the mayor — then a member of the Assembly — protested outside the gala last year and indicated this week that he had no plans to attend this year’s party at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

On the other hand, mayors in recent years have shown up or canceled at the last minute, left before dinner to meet with President Donald Trump or even berated industry guests for not supporting specific policies.

However, members of the Mamdani government, including Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, and Ahmed Tigani, Commissioner for Buildings, were present.

“We were pleased to welcome senior members of the Mamdani government to tonight’s event,” REBNY President Jim Whelan said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting Mayor Mamdani at future events.”

Just like last year, Governor Kathy Hochul took the stage during the dinner to address the crowd. She touted her State of the State priorities, including a proposal to reform environmental analysis.

“I will continue to work with all of you as an ally to break down barriers and create the incentives you need,” she said. “Like you, I’m tired of the red tape that sends your projects through hell before they’re ever finished.”

Hochul, who is running for re-election this year, also nodded to the perennial joke — as well as the fact — that gala guests often talk about whoever is speaking at the event.

She said Karen Keogh, secretary to the governor, had warned to expect a “spirited” crowd.

“My response was, ‘If they want me to listen to them when they come to Albany, they better listen to me tonight,’” she said.

At the end of her speech, she said the crowd wasn’t as bad as last year and that she would talk about policy with Whelan and REBNY Chairman Jed Walentas.

The gala, which attracts real estate’s biggest names, could also be a temperature check, a way to gauge the political toxicity of the industry right now.

Other elected officials were spotted during the cocktail hour – either by TRD or other guests – including City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Attorney General Letitia James, City Comptroller Mark Levine, Councilman Kevin Riley, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, Councilman Eric Dinowitz, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who plans to challenge Hochul, was also there.

The landmark Waldorf Astoria reopened last year after a $2 billion apartment renovation. Part of the cocktail hour took place in the Basildon Room, where all the wallflowers had the chance to admire the gold and silver leaves on the walls, the restored frescoes on the ceiling and the floral carpet, which fortunately is not original to the room, but whose design is inspired by its predecessor.

Michael Hershman of the Soloviev Group said early in the evening that the mayor’s absence was a “missed opportunity.”

“It is in the best interest of the real estate community and the mayor to be able to talk about what is best for the city and what is best for the residents of the city,” he said. “And if we do that with an open mind, I think we can find common ground.”

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