WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW YEARS MAKE: In his 2017 City Council campaign, state Sen. Jabari Brisport vowed to reduce his salary if elected, aligning it with the median income of Brooklyn where he would serve.
Throughout his campaign, using social media, questionnaires, and his website, Brisport criticized the $148,000 annual salary for Council members, arguing it was excessive compared to the earnings of average New Yorkers. In a questionnaire, he committed to cutting his earnings to $47,000, the median income in Brooklyn, with the excess going to adequately pay his staff.
“I’m the only candidate not only talking the talk about income inequality and calling for higher taxes on the wealthy, but also walking the walk and pledging to slash my own salary to the median income of Brooklyn,” Brisport stated in an April 2017 interview with Gothamist, describing it as a “socialist plank.”
However, after failing in the 2017 Council race, Brisport shifted his focus and was elected to the state Senate in 2020. Since his tenure began in January 2021, he has not reduced his legislative salary, as confirmed by a review of payroll records by Playbook.
In 2023, Brisport supported a pay raise for legislators, increasing the minimum salary from $110,000 to $142,000, making them the highest-paid state lawmakers in the country. Despite his earlier pledge, Brisport has consistently received his full salary. By fall 2025, his earnings from the government totaled over $607,000, plus approximately $100,000 in travel stipends funded by taxpayers.
When questioned about his unfulfilled promises, Brisport indicated on Thursday that his priorities shifted when he launched his state Senate campaign in 2019. “When I ran for state Senate I decided to focus on fighting for higher wages for working class people and making New York more affordable for everyone,” Brisport explained to Playbook.
Brisport, representing parts of Brooklyn including Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill, is facing a Democratic primary challenge on June 23 from community activist Marlon Rice, who is running on a more moderate platform.
Brisport shares a close relationship with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, being both a friend and former roommate. Although Mamdani has not yet endorsed Brisport, a source close to the mayor indicated to Playbook that Mamdani plans to announce several state-level endorsements soon. — Chris Sommerfeldt
From the Capitol
BUDGET REFORM’S LONG ODDS: This year’s budget, the tenth-latest in state history, has left legislators frustrated with the governor’s dominant role in the process.
“Members are really tired,” remarked Assemblymember Anna Kelles, who is advocating for a constitutional amendment to lessen the governor’s authority. “It’s not just that people are angry. It’s been year after year, and it’s affected our ability to do our job.”
Despite recurring dissatisfaction post-budget sessions, significant changes seem unlikely in the near future.
“Do I support a change in the budgetary powers? Yes, personally I do,” stated Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie last month. “But you pass a constitutional amendment. Now this is the tough part: Now you’re in a campaign, the governor versus the Legislature. Who’s paying for that?”
If not approved soon, any amendment would only take effect for budgets starting in 2031. However, lawmakers might implement statutory changes later this year or in January. Options include withholding the governor’s paycheck during late budget negotiations, though symbolic for a governor with substantial personal wealth. Other technical adjustments, like moving the budget due date to July, have been suggested but may not resolve the power disparity.
“My expectation is there are going to be at least informal conversations after we’re done with session, ahead of the budget process next year, about how this process can work more fairly,” commented state Sen. James Skoufis. “But it’s one of those things that, after so many years of banging this drum, I’ll believe it when I see it.” — Bill Mahoney
‘THANK YOU, GOV’: While Gov. Kathy Hochul’s latest budget didn’t satisfy all immigration advocates’ demands, they have not heavily criticized her.
“I’ll say it 100 times: New York is not a sanctuary for criminals, and we will cooperate when crimes are being committed,” Hochul emphasized during a celebration of new state budget measures designed to counter ICE’s aggressive tactics.
The new measures include prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks, restricting them from entering sensitive locations like schools and churches without a judicial warrant, and ending agreements that allowed counties to house ICE detainees.
However, the budget does not prevent law enforcement from informally notifying ICE about crimes committed by undocumented individuals, a provision included in the New York for All act that advocates support.
Nevertheless, groups such as Make the Road New York and the New York Immigration Coalition are celebrating Hochul’s achievements.
“We commend the Governor and Legislature for passing this package, and for creating new meaningful protections for immigrant New Yorkers,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.
“This is really meaningful to us,” added Natalia Aristizabal, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, during the event. — Jason Beeferman
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
WHY WFP DIDN’T ENDORSE: Rep. Adriano Espaillat lost the Working Families Party’s endorsement due to his stance on Israel, as revealed by sources familiar with the party’s decision-making process.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that Espaillat’s opposition to the Block the Bombs Act, which aims to halt military sales to Israel until compliance with international law is assured, was a key factor. This decision leaves him without the party’s backing in his contest against democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier in NY-13.
Mamdani’s recent endorsement of Chevalier has added momentum to her campaign, which was initially seen as challenging. Chevalier has been vocal against Israel’s actions in Gaza and criticized the substantial funding Espaillat has received from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee over the years.
“I think Espaillat missed the moment,” one source mentioned to Playbook. “There was a moment — there still is a moment — to evolve, and he didn’t. And now he has a real race.”
The second source acknowledged Espaillat’s leadership on immigration issues in Congress but expressed concern over his stance on the weapons sale legislation.
Meanwhile, Hochul took a moment to commend Espaillat amid the endorsement news.
“I’m not commenting on why other people do what they do,” Hochul stated. “I don’t think anyone has done a better job than Adriano Espaillat, and that’s important to know. This is not intended to set up a collision course of who’s endorsing who. I support long-standing allies … and the people that I believe in. — Jason Beeferman
PAC IT UP: An Albany-based lobbying firm is gearing up for significant spending in several legislative races through its independent expenditure committee, New York Forward.
The committee, supported by Brown & Weinraub, plans to allocate “several hundred thousand dollars” across multiple contests. This includes backing Assemblymember Grace Lee’s bid for the state Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Brian Kavanagh.
Additionally, New York Forward is providing support for state Sen. Joe Addabbo and Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz, Andrew Hevesi, and Jordan Wright in their respective campaigns.
“New York Forward was created to support candidates who do the hard, constructive work of governing,” explained Evan Rantzaklis, leading Brown & Weinraub’s effort. “That means backing leaders who deliver for their districts, build coalitions, and take their responsibilities seriously. These first expenditures reflect exactly that mission.” — Nick Reisman
THE DEBATE DEBATE: One of the city’s less-publicized primary races will likely proceed without a debate.
The New York City chapter of the League of Women Voters has canceled a scheduled debate between Democratic Rep. Grace Meng and former diplomat Chuck Park, who is challenging Meng from the left. Kai Rosenthal, the chapter’s co-president, cited “many conflicts and short timing” as reasons for the cancellation.
Park attributed the cancellation to Meng’s reluctance. “Over the course of a month, we accepted all of Rep. Meng’s requests for new dates, a new venue, and a shorter time, but she was still unwilling to make it work,” he stated. “If she’s ready to face the public, she can name a date and time, and I’ll be there.”
Meng’s campaign, however, stated it had worked earnestly to arrange the debate. Responding to the cancellation via email, Meng campaign manager Harry Brussel expressed regret over the situation and asked to be informed if circumstances changed.
“It’s disappointing it didn’t come together,” Meng’s spokesperson commented in a statement to Playbook. “But this has been a long campaign and voters know full well what their choices are. They know Grace works hard and delivers and that Chuck complains about process.” — Madison Fernandez
IN OTHER NEWS
— RED LINE: A tense NY-21 Republican primary between Robert Smullen and Anthony Constantino was evident during a debate on Thursday, culminating in a handshake snub. (Times Union)
— PRIME EXAMPLE: In court filings, Attorney General Letitia James and the Teamsters union defended state action in Amazon’s challenge to New York labor law, pointing to delays and dysfunction within the federal labor board. (amNY)
— ACT NOW, REVIEW LATER?: New York City’s child welfare agency faces a class-action lawsuit from families alleging unauthorized child removals. (The New Yorker)
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