Affordable New York, a local super PAC associated with property rental giant Airbnb, is making a substantial impact in a City Council contest aimed at replacing the term-limited Democrat Diana Ayala, who has served in the South Bronx and East Harlem.
According to the latest campaign finance disclosures, the super PAC has allocated $100,000 to support Ayala’s chief of staff, Elsie Encarnacion.
This investment follows a trend of significant spending in other Bronx Council races.
Affordable New York has previously contributed $186,120 to Councilmember Kevin Riley’s reelection effort against Andy King, who once held the seat; $74,738 to support Councilmember Oswald Feliz; $99,862 toward the reelection bid of Councilmember Althea Stevens; and $65,000 for Councilmember Eric Dinowitz’s campaign.
Additionally, the PAC has backed Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías with $27,692 and spent $100,635 on Rafael Salamanca’s attempt to unseat Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
So far, Affordable New York has spent over $1.1 million on New York City elections this year, with 58% of that amount focused in the Bronx.
In a significant move, Riley, Salamanca, Feliz, Stevens, and Ayala co-sponsored a bill last November that would allow owners of one- and two-family homes to rent out their residences as short-term rentals.
This bill comes in response to a law enacted a year prior that banned the rental of entire homes or apartments for fewer than 30 days.
Nathan Rotman, who serves as the director of policy strategy for Airbnb’s North America division, indicated that the company is just beginning its investment in local elections.
“We are planning additional major investments in primary and general election races across New York City in 2025 and the state in 2026 to support candidates who champion common-sense solutions that address the affordability crisis head on, promote neighborhood safety, and empower homeowners to share their homes,” stated Rotman in an interview with THE CITY.
Airbnb’s ambitious political strategy aligns the company with other major tech firms such as Uber and DoorDash, all of which are pouring substantial resources into City Council elections.
The company’s focus on the Bronx is particularly noteworthy, as locals face severe challenges with housing affordability.
With $100,000 spent on May 23 for online advertising promoting Encarnacion, Affordable New York represents the second independent expenditure effort aiming to sway the contest to succeed Ayala.
The first independent expenditure, titled Ending Homelessness & Building A Better NYC, has been solely funded by two donations totaling $1.6 million from Wall Street financier Michael Jenkins.
This PAC has invested $293,616 in support of candidate López, using T-shirts, tote bags, mailers, and internet ads.
Additionally, it has launched mailers attacking Encarnacion and Santana for allegedly “playing political games” while constituents face dire circumstances.
Their spending has already surpassed the $228,000 maximum a candidate can receive under New York City’s matching funds program designed to curtail the influence of outside money in local elections.
Tomás Ramos, who operates the nonprofit Oyate Group, manages Ending Homelessness & Building A Better NYC and has taken aggressive steps, including legal challenges to remove five candidates running against López from the ballot for the upcoming Democratic Primary on June 24.
An election attorney described these legal moves as “borderline frivolous.”
As candidates engage in discussions during forums, such financial backing has turned into a source of contention.
During a recent event organized for newly eligible seniors at The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in Mott Haven, candidate Raymond Santana voiced concerns about the potential gentrification associated with the support that López is receiving.
“An independent PAC is trying to take your community and gentrify it and raise higher prices when you can’t afford to be here,” Santana asserted to the audience.
He further criticized Encarnacion, labeling her part of an outdated political establishment responsible for issues such as soaring rents and the opioid crisis in the neighborhood.
State committee member Nicholas Reyes directed charges toward López, stating he initiated legal action that complicated the campaign for others on stage.
López, asserting his position as the frontrunner, responded to criticisms by expressing his primary focus on communicating with voters, asserting that he does not control PAC spending.
“I can’t control what they spend their money on. I can’t even tell them. I can’t have any communication with them,” López commented, emphasizing his commitment to the community’s future.
As the electoral battle intensifies, the burgeoning influence of super PACs in local politics signals a critical juncture in the Bronx’s political landscape.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/06/03/airbnb-affordable-new-york-elsie-encarnacion-cd8/
