Steve Cohen’s Amazin’, Maddening, Money-Losing Bid to Own New York

“Even if it’s potentially strategic humility,” he stated, “it’s still humility.”

Last yr, Cohen hosted de Blasio’s successor, Mayor Eric Adams, to debate growth concepts at Citi Field, incomes the eye of different potential on line casino bidders. Cohen, who in 2021 gave greater than $1 million to an Adams-boosting tremendous PAC, has additionally visited Zero Bond, the personal Manhattan membership the place Adams has been a daily. (Cohen’s daughter has served because the house’s curator.)

Already, the lads have discovered event to collaborate. Pressured final yr to carry vaccination necessities for professional athletes based mostly within the metropolis after Kyrie Irving, then with the Nets, refused to conform, Adams was inclined to alter the coverage however appeared delicate to criticism that he was caving to at least one participant. Cohen was positioned to assist them each: The mayor introduced the ban’s finish not on the Nets’ residence enviornment however at Citi Field — the place, because it occurred, a number of unvaccinated Mets would have been sidelined, too.

“Cohen is the de facto king of New York,” stated Neal Kwatra, a veteran political strategist, earlier than sizing up the proprietor’s former tormentor. “Bharara is doing podcasts.”

Told of the comment, Cohen smiled.

“It’s funny,” he stated, “how the world turns.”

Uncle Steve and Tía Alex

Of all of the Mets’ throwback indignities — late-season collapses, less-than-amazin’ expertise, little-sibling standing in its metropolis — the Bobby Bonilla contract stands aside.

Every July 1, Bonilla, 60, who final performed in 2001, collects a seven-figure verify. Rather than pay out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla’s contract, the Mets agreed to ship him practically $1.2 million yearly from 2011 by way of 2035, the form of maneuver that turned synonymous with the franchise’s mismanagement and small-time wheeler dealing.