MONEY TALKS: Sherif Soliman, the budget chief for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, gave a private briefing to members of the Democratic Socialists of America about New York City’s financial status, which has sparked ethical concerns, according to a participant and a government watchdog.
The event, described as a “debrief” on the DSA’s “Tax the Rich Campaign,” took place on June 1 at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple in Clinton Hill. Invitations encouraged attendees to sign up as dues-paying DSA members to participate in the briefing.
During the meeting, Soliman mentioned having “the privilege of working alongside our mayor to lead the Office of Management and Budget,” as reported by a participant who wished to remain anonymous.
Soliman further stated, “So I have the power of the purse,” according to the participant.
As the lead negotiator in budget discussions with the City Council, Soliman provided a 10-minute presentation on how Mamdani’s administration addressed a multibillion-dollar municipal deficit using savings measures, state funding, and new revenue sources, including a tax on wealthy homeowners, the participant noted.
Soliman’s involvement in the DSA event highlights the close ties between Mamdani and the socialist group, which the mayor considers his “political home.”
A former city government official, speaking anonymously, suggested the briefing Soliman offered resembled the detailed budget discussions typically reserved for Council members during financial plan negotiations.
According to city ethics law, a non-elected public servant like Soliman is prohibited from using “any city resources,” such as their “city title” or “city personnel,” for “any non-city purpose,” as stated in a municipal government handbook.
Richard Briffault, a former chair of the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board, indicated that senior municipal employees might legally speak at events hosted by political organizations in their official capacity.
However, because the recent DSA event included a membership drive, Briffault expressed that Soliman’s participation, and the use of his full city title, might lead to legal questions. “This strikes me as maybe on that line of using his title to promote a political organization,” he stated.
Briffault mentioned the situation would be more severe if Soliman utilized municipal resources, such as staff or city time, to prepare for the briefing. Without such resources, any violations would likely be minor, he noted.
“If there was anything wrong, it was likely minimally wrong,” Briffault added.
Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for Mamdani, did not confirm whether Soliman used city staff or resources for his DSA presentation or if he consulted the Conflicts of Interest Board in advance. Pekec commented that it’s standard for mayoral officials to “engage with a wide range of external stakeholders on matters concerning the city.”
The Conflicts of Interest Board does not comment on potential ethical violations involving individual city employees due to confidentiality protocols.
Carolyn Miller, the board’s executive director, remarked that using a public servant’s title at a political event encouraging membership might breach ethics law. However, she noted that political club meetings also gather city residents, and a presentation on city policy might have a legitimate city purpose, making the use of a city title appropriate. — Chris Sommerfeldt
From the Capitol
HOMAN SPEAKS: Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, assured that the planned increase of ICE agents in New York would not resemble the events in Minneapolis.
“You will not see a Minnesota,” he declared during an interview with Chris Cuomo on SiriusXM. “I will not let Minnesota happen.”
Democrats are worried that a forceful enforcement effort in New York might lead to unrest similar to that which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens in the North Star State earlier this year.
Adding more federal immigration agents in New York would be a different approach, which Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has been preparing for since the beginning of the year.
Homan argued the increased enforcement is necessary following the approval of measures by Hochul and the Democratic-led Legislature designed to place legal limits on Trump’s deportation strategy.
Homan emphasized that the New York-focused operation will be “well planned.”
“It’s gonna be a controlled operation,” he explained. “It’s gonna be a targeted enforcement operation. Every day we leave the office and we know exactly who we’re looking for, more likely where we will find them, because we have a targeted operation.”
On X, Hochul stated that the measures she supported would not offer “sanctuary” to dangerous criminals.
“We will continue working with federal authorities to target violent offenders,” she said. “But we will not stand by if ICE floods our communities with agents, separates families, and turns our neighborhoods into the backdrop for a campaign of fear.” — Nick Reisman
From City Hall
RED WHITE AND BLUE: French jets, trailing red, white, and blue smoke, flew over the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty this morning as part of France’s 250th birthday gift to America. The Patrouille de France, similar to the Blue Angels, is touring the region and is expected to return to New York for a multinational military review on July 4, attended by President Donald Trump.
During a press conference at the French consulate on the Upper East Side, Brigadier General Pierre Gaudillière, head of the Liberté 250 mission, noted that planning for these flyovers began months ago to commemorate the military alliance dating back to when France aided George Washington in the Revolutionary War.
“As Americans observe our 250th anniversary, it is especially meaningful to have one of our oldest allies helping us mark the occasion in our skies,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. General Ricky Mills.
Asked about ongoing disagreements over the Iran war, both Mills and Gaudillière emphasized continued collaboration.
“In some arenas of the world, we can share the premises where our forces are deployed and sometimes the missions differ for political reasons,” Gaudillièr stated. “But there still is a very strong bond between the French and the American air and space forces.” — Ry Rivard
COUNCIL’S WISH LIST: Council Speaker Julie Menin outlined some of the Council’s budget priorities during a four-hour hearing.
This lengthy session with the Office of Management and Budget is nearing the end of the latest oversight hearings before lawmakers begin final negotiations with the Mamdani administration. The Council must approve the final budget plan by the start of the fiscal year on July 1.
“The Council and administration can agree to fund many programs for the success, health and safety of all New Yorkers,” Menin said, listing some of the top priorities.
She highlighted the Fair Fares program, which offers discounted transit fares for lower-income New Yorkers. She proposed aligning the Department of Parks and Recreation’s budget with historical spending and expanding the New York City Kids RISE program for young New Yorkers to begin scholarship funds early. Additionally, Menin aims to increase funding for oversight agencies like the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the Department of Investigation.
Although Mamdani recently balanced the city’s finances with significant help from Albany, Menin’s financial analysts estimate the city will have an additional $2 billion this fiscal year and next to fund some of the Council’s requests. — Joe Anuta
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
ZONED OUT: Assemblymember Grace Lee’s white Tesla has racked up two dozen tickets for parking, bus-lane, and speed-camera violations in the city over the last three years. Her opponent, who doesn’t own a car, is using this as an issue in their race for a state Senate seat in Lower Manhattan.
According to records from howsmydrivingny.nyc, Lee’s car has been fined $1,800 by the city over the past three years. Four of the six school-zone speeding tickets were at the same spot near P.S. 97 at FDR Drive and East Houston Street, located in the district she seeks to represent. She also received a parking ticket for “misuse” of her Assembly parking placard, which Niou said reflects a disregard for the law.
“People make mistakes, but abusing her placard and getting six school zone speeding tickets in just the last three years, seems like she doesn’t care about the danger and doesn’t believe that the law applies to her,” said Yuh-Line Niou, a former Assemblymember challenging Lee for the seat, in a statement to Playbook.
Lee has previously supported efforts to tighten driving regulations in the city and state. She joined city officials in 2024 to celebrate the reduction of speed limits in the city and stood with Hochul to applaud a state law expanding red light camera programs.
“In Lower Manhattan, where heavy traffic and busy pedestrian areas meet daily, these expanded and newly established programs will reduce accidents and hold reckless drivers accountable,” Lee stated at the time. “Together, we are building safer streets for all New Yorkers by protecting lives and preventing tragedies.”
Lee’s campaign spokesperson, Austin Shafran, responded to Niou’s criticism in a statement.
“This attack reeks of desperation from a flailing candidate who’s been absent from the community and doesn’t have much of a record of public service to run on,” he said. — Jason Beeferman
IN OTHER NEWS
— BLANK SLATE: Following pressure from Mamdani and tenant organizers, a landlord agreed to forgive millions in overdue rent for 5,100 apartments. (Gothamist)
— MOM AND POP: A Long Island official is advocating for a resolution mandating the use of “mother” and “father” in town code, responding to a state surrogacy bill that seeks to eliminate those terms. (New York Post)
— UNEQUAL BURDEN: A recent report indicates New York City’s property tax system, which Mamdani pledged to reform, imposes a greater burden on rent-stabilized buildings than on upscale homes. (The City Reporter)
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