The Democratic mayor of Jersey City, Steve Flop, is reportedly the leading candidate to head one of New York City’s major business organizations, according to sources.
Flop has previously supported Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s contentious initiative for a government-operated grocery store, explaining, “I don’t live in New York and I don’t want to,” while also expressing interest in taking on the role of CEO for the New York City Partnership.
If he accepts the position, he would need to relocate across the Hudson River.
He would succeed Kathryn Wilde, who has been in charge since 2000 and has announced her retirement after representing several influential business leaders, as noted by someone familiar with the discussions.
Wilde reportedly earned over $1.5 million in 2023, based on tax records from a nonprofit.
Flop, who is 48, ran in this year’s New Jersey gubernatorial race but came in third during the Democratic primary with only 16% of the votes. He worked at Goldman Sachs during the 9/11 attacks before serving in the Marines and then entering politics.
As mayor, he defended Mamdani’s grocery initiative after it faced criticism from some quarters for being economically ill-advised. In a response, he remarked that while he doesn’t live in New York, he believes public grocery initiatives have merit, pointing out that such concepts aren’t new in the United States.
In his remarks, Flop referenced the USDA’s historical involvement in funding public grocery stores and how these efforts have persisted under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Such programs aim to provide underserved communities with better access to nutritious food at reasonable prices.
Flop noted that Jersey City, home to around 300,000 residents, has experimented with initiatives to enhance access to healthy food options, like the “healthy corner store” program that supported local bodegas and small markets.
He did admit that past efforts didn’t quite meet his expectations, stating, “We gave it a real shot… it’s tough to shift store owners’ longstanding economic practices, even when the public good is evident.”
During his governor’s campaign, Flop criticized the idea of imposing a fee on New Jersey drivers entering Manhattan, suggesting that the state could develop its own strategies to support public transportation.
According to insiders, Flop’s extensive experience as mayor benefits his candidacy for the New York City business role. He contributed to significant developments in Jersey City, like building new homes, creating jobs, and lowering crime rates and property taxes.
Flop has also been a proponent of liberal workforce policies, such as paid family leave and higher minimum wages in New Jersey.
The NYC Partnership represents about 300 of New York’s largest companies, spanning various sectors including finance and technology, and focuses on urban economic growth, innovation, and improving mobility.
Among its members is John Catsimatidis’s Red Apple Group, the parent company of Gristedes supermarkets.
A lifelong New Jersey resident, Flop hails from a family with roots in Romania. His mother is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.
He graduated from SUNY Binghamton University in 1999 and later attended Oxford University in the UK before joining Goldman Sachs.
On September 11, 2001, Flop was in Lower Manhattan witnessing the attacks firsthand. Shortly thereafter, he left his position at Goldman Sachs to enlist in the Marines.
His reserve unit was deployed to Iraq in January 2003, serving in the sixth Engineer Support Battalion. He completed his service at the rank of Chief Corporal.
