In a shocking turn of events, Gov. Kathy Hochul and other top New York Democrats have been accused of abusing their power by turning a luxury suite at the Buffalo Bills stadium into a private party room during a high-profile game. The allegations state that Hochul, along with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Majority Leader Crystal People-Stokes, took over the VIP luxury suite for the game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 17, 2023. Not only did the suite include a lobbyist that Heastie is allegedly romantically involved with, but it was also filled with friends and family members.
Lawyer David Grandeau, who formerly served as the state’s chief regulator of the lobbying industry, filed a complaint with the state’s ethics watchdog. In his letter to the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, Grandeau stated, “It is clear that the public officials secured the benefit of the use of the box and the tickets for themselves and their guests for their private benefit and/or non-governmental purposes.” He further accused them of abusing their power and generating valuable perks that were not available to everyday New York citizens and taxpayers.
The guest list in the luxury suite included Heastie’s alleged girlfriend Rebecca LaMorte, lobbyist-college chum Patrick Jenkins, and Jenkins’ wife, Dawn Cotter-Jenkins. The presence of these individuals raised questions about their access to the suite and whether they were there for personal benefit or official business.
It is worth noting that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s husband, William Hochul, a former top administrator with the Buffalo Bills’ concessionaire, Delaware North, was also present in the suite as a guest of the governor. This raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and whether the economic development agency, which reports to the governor, was involved in providing access to the luxury suite.
In response to the allegations, Gov. Hochul stated that Heastie’s presence in the suite had more to do with their Bills-Cowboy rivalry than any official business. She emphasized the importance of tolerance for those with opposing opinions and playfully apologized to Heastie for the Cowboys’ loss.
The state’s panel on ethics and lobbying acknowledged receiving Grandeau’s complaint and thanked him for bringing the matter to their attention. The 16-seat VIP suite, which is run by the Empire State Development Corp (ESD) to boost New York’s economy, has been previously used by top officials and influential individuals. It was previously reported that Tom Perez, a top aide to President Biden, sat in the suite during a playoff game.
ESD reported that all attendees in the suite made charitable donations equal to the value of their seats. However, Grandeau argues that this is evidence of personal benefit rather than official capacity. He questions why Patrick Jenkins, a lobbyist, was present and how he obtained access to the suite.
Hochul’s office defended her actions, stating that she followed all guidelines governing the ESD suite and used personal funds to cover the cost of tickets. The governor made a donation of $531.00 to FeedMore WNY, which was determined to be the value of a ticket for the game. A.J. Baynes, CEO of the Amherst business group, supported Hochul’s attendance in the suite, stating that it led to productive discussions on infrastructure for the town of Amherst.
While Hochul claimed to have paid $531 for tickets, it is worth noting that Buffalo Bills luxury suites can fetch much higher prices, ranging from $9,000 to $30,000 for a regular season home game. This raises questions about the true value of the seats in the state’s “I Love NY” suite.
These allegations of abuse of power and misuse of government resources are reminiscent of past controversies involving public officials. Former Gov. David Paterson faced an ethics probe in 2011 for using his position to obtain Yankees tickets and ultimately had to pay a hefty fine.
As the investigation into this incident continues, it remains to be seen how these accusations will impact the reputation of Gov. Kathy Hochul and other top New York Democrats. The public will be watching closely to see if any further action is taken and whether accountability will be upheld for those involved in this alleged abuse of power.
