New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie called up a labor group after it laid off his lobbyist gal pal last month, The Post has learned.
The powerful Bronx politician called up Mike Hellstrom, co-chairman of Greater New York LECET, to ask about why his girlfriend Rebecca LaMorte had been let go, the organization confirmed.
The call came after Heastie had pledged not to hold meetings with the group in the wake of ethical questions about his relationship with the lobbyist.
“Rebecca Lamorte’s recent departure was part of a larger restructuring of Greater NY LECET that impacted several employees,” Dan Morris, a spokesperson for the labor group, said in a statement. “The organization is no longer employing lobbyists as staff members.
“Rebecca was given a generous severance package, and the organization wishes her the best,” the statement continued. “In a brief conversation with Speaker Heastie, Mike Hellstrom, Co-Chairman of Greater NY LECET, emphasized that Rebecca’s departure had nothing to do with her personal life.”
A spokesperson for Heastie didn’t respond to a request for comment from The Post.
The development, first reported by NYS Focus, is the latest in a bizarre series of events unfolding after Heatie’s relationship with LaMorte surfaced publicly.
Heastie was quick to scold reporters asking about the ethical quandary associated with dating a lobbyist, saying “I am never, again let me make that clear, addressing my personal life.”
Days later, LECET’s executive director resigned without explanation.
Heastie agreed to a vague recusal agreement stipulating that he wouldn’t take meetings with LECET or its counterparts after media reports on their relationship.
“Senior staff will come to and advance a consensus decision to the Speaker for any matters specific or unique to such organizations,” a March letter by Heastie’s Assembly counsel laying out the recusal policy reads.
Though LECET’s role is dwarfed by the other major labor interests lobbying Albany, unions scored massive wins out of the state legislature this year. The include a base wage for construction jobs associated with some new housing and mandating project labor agreements with major SUNY projects.
ALaMorte has been active in state and city politics beyond her role with LECET. She ran an unsuccessful campaign for City Council in 2021 and has advocated for disability rights issues, especially around public transit.
While she has been a regular in the state capitol, LaMorte’s relationship with the speaker has undoubtedly escalated her access in Albany. Earlier this year, she posted — and quickly deleted — a photo of herself with legendary rapper Nas in Heastie’s office.