A group of influential billionaires and business leaders recently met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to discuss the handling of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. Among those present were Kind snack company founder Daniel Lubetzky, hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb, billionaire Len Blavatnik, and real estate investor Joseph Sitt. The meeting took place over a Zoom video call on April 26, shortly after Mayor Adams had already sent police to disperse the protesters on Columbia’s campus.
During the call, the group discussed various strategies to shape public opinion on the war in Gaza, including making political donations to Adams and pressuring Columbia’s president and trustees to allow the police intervention. Communications obtained by The Washington Post and sources familiar with the group’s conversations shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts to influence public discourse and decision-making processes regarding this complex issue.
It is concerning that a select group of wealthy individuals and business leaders are exerting influence on how protests are handled in New York City, especially when it comes to such a sensitive and emotionally charged issue as the conflict in Gaza. The involvement of prominent figures like Lubetzky, Loeb, Blavatnik, and Sitt raises questions about the power dynamics at play in shaping public discourse and decision-making processes. It is important for Mayor Adams to ensure that these discussions are transparent and include input from a diverse range of voices in order to make informed decisions about how best to handle such protests in the future.
