New records reveal that the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul invited Tom Perez, a senior advisor to President Biden who oversees New York’s handling of the immigration crisis, to watch the game on January 21 in the state’s comfortable “I Love New York” suite at Highmark Stadium.
The Empire State Development organization, which is in charge of strengthening New York’s economy, manages the VIP suite.
As a Buffalo native and ardent Bills supporter, some questioned what Perez had done to merit the special treatment.
Records show that on January 21, Biden administration staffer Tom Perez received an invitation to a suite at Highmark Stadium for a Buffalo Bills playoff game.
Records show that on January 21, the Hochul administration invited Biden administration staffer Tom Perez to a suite at Highmark Stadium for a Buffalo Bills playoff game.
“My name was not on the guest list. However, had I done so, I would have questioned Perez regarding the Biden border situation,” stated state senator George Borrello, a Republican from the Buffalo area.
Tom Perez, Biden’s top adviser, meets with Adams, the budget officer, over the NYC migrant crisis, which the mayor estimates could cost $12 billion.
Assemblywoman Jaime Williams, a Democrat from Brooklyn who represents the areas around the emergency migrant shelter at Floyd Bennett Field, stated, “If Perez and the Biden administration ‘love New York,’ then they should secure the border.” Joe Biden will accept the nomination at the trimmed-down DNC.
Every year, Empire State Development is expected to release a report detailing who gets to attend Bills games in the “I Love New York” suite.
Hochul and her spouse, William, who was once a senior official with Delaware North, the concessionaire of the Bills stadium, are regular visitors.
But as Perez watched the Bills lose to the Chiefs from the suite with a visitor, Dr. Jose Perez of Hamburg, the governor was in Manhattan hosting her own Bills-themed fundraiser, according to the documents.
The Empire State Development organization is in charge of the “I Love New York” suite.
The Empire State Development organization is in charge of the “I Love New York” suite.
Perez did not immediately respond via the White House.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), who attended the game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 17 in the suite, was among the other guests of the state. Heastie loves the Cowboys.
Buffalo Democrat Crystal Peoples-Stokes, the majority leader of the assembly, was present with a visitor.
Hestie friend and lobbyist Patrick Jenkins, who is linked to both the Queens Democratic Party and the governor, was in the VIP area with his spouse, Dawn Cotter-Jenkins.
Kathleen Achibar, a lobbyist from Boyd of Bolton St. Johns with connections to the Buffalo area, was also present in the Cowboys game suite.
Speaking at the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in the White House was Tom Perez.
Perez’s job is to assist New York in handling the immigration situation.
Actor William Fitchner and ten Toronto-based employees of Oscar-winning Guillermo del Torro sat in the state suit during the Bills’ Oct. 1 game versus the Miami Dolphins.
Film and television firms that create content in New York State are eligible for substantial tax benefits.
With the exception of Perez, all of the attendees made charity gifts equal to the cost of the ticket, according to the Empire State Development report. It was not mentioned in the report that he was urged to make such a donation.
When asked about Hochul’s decision to skip Perez at the Bills game, her staff responded that she is in communication with the White House regarding the migrant problem and other matters.
“Governor Hochul meets with White House officials on a weekly basis, and she had extensive face-to-face talks with Chief of Staff Zients and Senior Advisor Perez during her visit less than two weeks ago,” a Hochul representative stated.
Hochul was at the game in Manhattan.
Hochul, a native of Buffalo, and the Bills’ ownership reached a contentious agreement in 2022 to construct a new stadium across the street from the existing, 1970s-era one in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park.
The new stadium was initially estimated to cost $1.4 billion, the majority of which is being covered by New York taxpayers. It is scheduled to open in 2026.
For the new stadium, New York State will provide $600 million in subsidies, while Erie County will provide an additional $250 million.
Before the Tennessee Titans stated this year that they would be spending a total of $1.26 billion on public support for their new stadium, the combined $850 million had been the greatest taxpayer subsidy for a facility in NFL history.
Monday night, Empire State Development stated that the Bills stadium suite is run to promote Western New York’s economic growth.
According to the office, suite visitors can donate to their preferred charity for the admission price, which is set by the Bills.
The suite for the new stadium was turned down by the state.
Rather, a suite for the new stadium was offered to Erie County, and county officials would decide on its use and compliance.
