Airbnb starts spending to support vocal critic Jumaane Williams

As Airbnb attempts to regain relevance again in New York City, they are keeping their friends close and their adversaries closer. The tech giant’s super PAC, Affordable New York, has begun promoting the campaign of incumbent Public Advocate Jumaane Williams – an outspoken critic. 

Filings with the state Board of Elections show that Affordable New York has already bought digital campaign materials promoting Williams, though the New York City Campaign Finance Board filings have yet to reflect the spending.

Airbnb told City & State it plans to contribute $250,000 to promote Williams, a left-leaning self-described “activist elected official” who is facing a Democratic primary challenge from Queens Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar. 

“As Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams is deeply committed to preserving the affordability of our city. Airbnb launched Affordable NY to support leaders who stand up for working-class homeowners and fight for policies that reflect the economic realities of this city,” Michael Blaustein, the policy lead at Airbnb, said in a statement.

The company’s support for Williams is confusing, given his contentious history and outspoken criticism of Airbnb and similar short-term rental companies. During his tenure as a City Council member, Williams openly opposed Airbnb and championed cracking down on short-term rental companies. The public advocate just recently criticized Airbnb’s campaign spending and extended influence during the 2025 campaign season. 

“AirBnB has fought with me for years, because I’ve fought to keep rents low and tenants in their homes. New York’s housing stock isn’t for sale to an app, and neither are our elections,” Williams posted on X last month. 

Campaigns are barred from coordinating with independent spenders. Williams’ campaign was unaware of Airbnb’s meddling until City & State reached out to them, according to Williams’ campaign adviser Alex Voetsch. 

“At a time when working class New Yorkers are struggling to find affordable housing, we cannot put profits over people. I've also heard the concerns of small homeowners, particularly in Black and Brown communities, too long ignored,” Williams said in a statement to City & State. “With that said, we can and must address their concerns without undermining the original intent of Local Law 18 (restricting short-term rentals), which was to improve our City's housing crisis.”

Despite the rhetoric, Williams hasn’t been 100% opposed to short-term rentals. In 2023, he sponsored a bill to amend the city administrative code to increase the number of guests homeowners could short-term rent to from two to four occupants. Although his bill didn’t get through the council, the amendment to the occupancy law would grant larger groups or families with children access to short-term rental units.

If Airbnb’s commitment bears out, Williams will not be the only beneficiary of the company’s ample political spending. Airbnb’s political action committee, Affordable New York, is one of the largest spenders of the 2025 campaign season. The PAC has already spent $1.1 million on local races, according to the latest city Campaign Finance Board filings. Airbnb has already sunk $5 million into the committee, and they said they plan to double that to influence city and state elections this year and next year.

After the New York City Council passed a law in 2022 greatly restricting the short-term rental market in New York City, Airbnb has faced an uphill battle to regain a foothold. The influential hotel industry and hotel workers union are united with tenant advocates in opposition to allowing Airbnb and other short-term rental companies to take hold in a city already facing a critical shortage of affordable housing. 

The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and tenant rights advocacy groups held a rally at Airbnb’s New York office Wednesday to protest a City Council bill that would loosen short-term rental regulations. 

Several of the candidates the PAC is supporting have shown openness toward relaxing short-term rental restrictions, especially for owners of smaller homes. 

Williams currently has a commanding lead over Rajkumar in the polls, though she has raised more direct campaign funds. Rajkumar is also supported by a PAC called United New Yorkers for Progress that has so far reported raising about $30,000. Rajkumar’s campaign spokesperson Arvind Sooknanan criticized the Airbnb support of Williams and said Williams “evicted tenants from his own property – then turned around and called himself a tenant advocate.”  Williams moved to evict tenants in 2014 from a Canarsie property he recently lost to foreclosure, the New York Post reported. “Jenifer Rajkumar has fought – and won millions – in court for tenants,” Sooknanan said.