Mamdani Taps RXR’s Rechler for Business Advisory Council

Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 15 business leaders to a new advisory council, including RXR’s Scott Rechler, giving real estate and industry executives a direct line to City Hall, according to Commercial Observer. The Business Advisory Council will meet quarterly to feed private-sector feedback to the administration.

The move comes as the mayor’s office looks to keep momentum behind this year’s job growth while managing a rocky relationship with parts of the business community.

Who’s on the Council

Beyond Rechler, the council includes Steiner Studios Chairman Doug Steiner, Jefferson River Capital Chairman Tony James, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and Amalgamated Bank President and CEO Priscilla Sims Brown. The 15 members span finance, hospitality, banking and real estate. Together, they represent industries with a stake in New York’s commercial health.

Rechler has held other advisory roles. He served on the MTA’s Traffic Mobility Review Board in 2022, which helped design the toll structure behind congestion pricing, before resigning. “This council brings together the people building the next generation of New York’s economy, in finance, tech, life sciences and beyond, to help us double down on what makes this city the best place on Earth to start a company, grow a business and build a career,” Mamdani said. “We want the most ambitious people in the world to come here, stay here and build here.”

The Details

The mayor’s office cited 4,852,400 jobs across the five boroughs as of July 2026. More than 6,000 private-sector jobs were added in the first half of the year, according to a New York City Economic Development Corporation report released the same week. City Hall says the council will help sustain that momentum. It will give employers a formal channel to flag friction points before they become policy fights.

“Since Mayor Mamdani took office, I have found him and his team to be constructive and responsive partners,” Rechler said. “As a New Yorker who cares deeply about this city, I look forward to working with them and my fellow council members to provide candid input on what it takes to keep New York the greatest city in the world.” The mayor’s office had not announced a date for the council’s first quarterly meeting.

Zooming Out

The council’s launch follows Mamdani’s push to fund NYC’s business improvement districts with $8.4 million earlier this year. The move is part of a broader effort to engage commercial real estate stakeholders. That comes even as the administration pursues policies some industry groups oppose.

Together, these moves suggest City Hall wants stronger ties with the business community. The goal appears to be more consistent dialogue rather than one-off outreach after conflicts emerge. Past mayoral advisory bodies have had mixed results, with their influence often depending on how closely City Hall works with them.

Why It Matters

The appointment follows public criticism from Citadel’s Ken Griffin and Vornado’s Steve Roth over Mamdani’s pied-a-terre tax proposal. Mamdani launched the proposal with a video targeting Griffin’s Manhattan second home. Rechler’s appointment signals an effort to rebuild ties with major property owners.

For landlords and developers, the council could provide earlier insight into zoning, tax and labor policies. Those issues can directly affect project underwriting. However, the group’s influence over binding decisions remains untested. Its impact will depend on whether members’ feedback shapes future legislation.

What’s Next

The council is expected to meet quarterly. That gives members a recurring forum to weigh in before policies are finalized. Watch for how much influence the group has when contentious real estate measures come up for a vote. More real estate executives could also gain access to the mayor’s policy circle.