C&W’s Paul Massey Declares Republican Mayoral Candidacy
By Terence Cullen August 4, 2016 2:13 pm
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Cushman & Wakefield’s Paul Massey plans to file paperwork today to form an official committee for his New York City mayoral run as a Republican, his campaign announced in a press release.
The longtime brokerage executive’s move ends months of speculation over whether he would make the mayoral bid, looking to unseat incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat who has generally been well-received by the real estate industry.
“I love this city and I am concerned about where it’s headed,” Massey said in prepared remarks. “We are currently meeting with New York City civic and thought leaders, as well as with individual New Yorkers to hear their ideas and to listen to their concerns. In the months ahead, we will be sharing our strategic vision for the city.”
He told CO at this year’s International Council of Shopping Centers RECon in Las Vegas that he would set up a four-point platform, and would be reaching out to communities across the city to get their take on what’s beleaguering the five boroughs. The issues include having a safe city, improving the school system, advocating for affordable housing and developing a solid infrastructure plan.
It was not immediately clear if this means Massey will leave C&W, where he is the president of New York investment sales for the brokerage. Massey and Robert Knakal sold their brokerage, Massey Knakal Realty Services, to C&W in January 2015 for $100 million. A C&W spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment. Knakal did not immediately return a request for comment, but advocated for his friend to seek political office in a May column in CO.
“He is a great leader who makes those around him feel better about themselves and gets the best out of people,” Knakal wrote at the time. “He constantly looks to improve himself and wants to help those around him do the same.”
The 30-year real estate veteran has been public mulling a mayoral bid over the last several months. Massey set up the since-shuttered 1NY Together nonprofit, a political action campaign to advocate for a safe city. The crime rate, however, has been at nearly historic lows in nearly all categories.
In early June, his campaign spokesman told CO that if Massey were to run, SL Green Realty Corp.’s David Amsterdam would be his “campaign CEO.”
Massey isn’t the only New Yorker, let alone real estate executive, looking to remove de Blasio from office. Developer R. Donahue Peebles has publicly said he’s considering making a bid as a Democrat, which would force a primary against hizzoner. Councilman Eric Ulrich, a Republican who represents parts of southern Queens, has also launched an exploratory committee about making his own run.
“If I run I think it’s going to happen,” Massey said at ICSC of his confidence in taking City Hall.
With additional reporting by Danielle Balbi and Liam La Guerre.
