Eleonora Srugo wants to ‘Sell the City’ on Eric Adams

Real estate agent and reality TV star Eleonora Srugo is known for starring on Netflix’s “Selling the City.” Now, she wants to sell New York on keeping Mayor Eric Adams.

Srugo, a Douglas Elliman agent and close ally to the mayor, filed paperwork this week for a new independent expenditure committee to support Adams called Save the City PAC, state campaign finance records show. (The committee is distinct from Save NYC, a committee formed by Betsy McCaughey and Ray Kelly to oppose Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.)

Srugo’s friendship with Adams has drawn attention as rumors have circulated that the two were dating, which she has dismissed. She’s often shared her appreciation for the mayor on social media, posing with Adams in Instagram posts at events they’ve both attended.

Srugo previously donated $10 to Adams’ reelection campaign – one day before the June primary, which Adams sat out. Forming an IE isn’t something she “ever imagined” doing, she told City & State. But to her, this race is different. “I think this election is incredibly consequential for the future of New York City – these issues that are deeply personal to me, and I don't think that the alternative candidates are particularly qualified for the job.” As for how much she plans to fundraise for the IE and how, Srugo said via text, “No clue,” with a smiley face emoji.

As for why she formed the PAC in support of Adams in particular, Srugo said, “I think that for the most part, in the first term of his mayoralty, he was primarily playing defense. I think we had an unprecedented migrant crisis. I think he sort of stopped the bleeding in terms of preventing the trends that we were going towards with crime, homelessness, cleanliness, and also just a lot of cleanup to do in a post-pandemic New York.”

She added, “I'd like to see him get a fair shot at pushing forth new initiatives and sort of leaving a real legacy in a second term.” 

Notably, the filing does not list her employer as Douglas Elliman, but Kosher Nostra LLC, her LLC she says she’s had “for years.” Srugo, who was born in Israel, said the name is an allusion to the Jewish mafia of the late 19th century and 20th century (“I got it from a book called ‘Tough Jews’ that I read and loved in high school, and I've just always liked it,” she said. “It's just, like, my little nod to a book and a story and a part of New York City history that resonates with me as a Jewish immigrant”). 

The IE’s formation comes as real estate and business leaders have begun to organize out of fear of what a potential Mamdani mayoralty could mean for them, with some projecting heavy spending against the democratic socialist. Mamdani has attempted to put concerns to rest, with Partnership for New York City CEO and President Kathryn Wylde facilitating meetings between the Democratic nominee and city business leaders. 

Adams, meanwhile, has transitioned to full campaign mode since the primary. Outside spending would come in handy for Adams, who has continually been denied public matching funds by the city’s Campaign Finance Board. Even as the campaign continues to submit requests for public matching, the Campaign Finance Board has been unable to verify many of his donors’ billing addresses.