SAVINO’S SOBRIETY UNDER SIEGE?
Ex-State Senator ‘In Recovery’ — But NYC Councilwoman’s Husband Keeps Pouring the Wine
NOTE: This piece first appeared on NYNewsPress.com.
By M. Thomas Nast and Dick LaFontaine with Richard Luthmann
Staten Island pol Diane Savino now bills herself as “in recovery,” but it isn’t clear whether she means alcohol, marijuana addiction, or simply a personal health battle.
The ex-N.Y. State Senator hinted at a vow of sobriety when, in 2021, she posted a photo of a wine glass captioned “NEVER,” suggesting a commitment to ditch the bottle. Savino’s own social media shows earlier snapshots of her enjoying wine, indicating a long-standing affection for it.
Now retired after 18 years in Albany, Savino joined Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in 2022. City & State noted she wasn’t afraid to “talk shit” about political gamesmanship. She is “still in the game” in the Adams administration.
But sources say her new label of sobriety is troubling some of her circle.
At recent political gatherings and social events, observers report seeing Savino passed wine by others, sometimes at the behest of Kevin Barry Love (the millionaire real estate developer who is married to NYC Council Member Kamillah Hanks).
Allegedly, Love doesn’t pay for the wine himself; instead, he coaxedly asks friends to buy glasses for Savino.
Savino’s biography once described her as “scrappy and effective,” and she has been cited for championing progressive labor causes. Yet she has never publicly explained what she’s recovering from – alcohol, other drugs, or even something like a health issue.
What is clear is that last year she seemed to draw a line under wine: she shared a photo of a glass and wrote “NEVER.” But more recent posts and appearances show her accepting drinks again (sometimes holding a glass of red wine).
Friends worry that this flip-flop signals a backslide. The timing is awkward: Savino’s move to City Hall comes as Adams faces a rough first year, and some wonder if his new liaison is leaning on old habits.
“She’s got a lot on her plate, and going from Senate scrutiny to City Hall drama is stressful,” says one ally. “Recovery – whether from alcohol or anything – is fragile. She needs a clear head.”
Savino’s own posts can be risque, but she hasn’t commented about her sobriety status. Colleagues quip she isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Now they hope she’ll speak up if she needs help.
Savino’s Sobriety Under Siege: Kevin Love’s Wine Tactics — and Legal About-Face
Kevin Barry Love is no stranger to controversy. A multimillionaire developer on Staten Island, Love grabbed headlines after ex-attorney Richard Luthmann sued him and his wife, Kamillah Hanks, over an unpaid $86,000 debt.
Back then, Love lashed out in The New York Post, dismissing the lawsuit as “a vulgar lie” and branding Luthmann “a mentally ill man.”
“Missing from his lawsuit is not a single piece of evidence other than the rantings of a mentally ill man,” Love sneered to reporters.
But now, Love’s story has changed drastically.
According to recently filed court documents in the New York County Supreme Court (Index No. 100012/2024), Love is now deemed to have admitted a slew of damning facts.
In a Notice to Admit, Luthmann demanded that Love acknowledge 31 specific allegations. When Love failed to respond within the statutory timeframe, those allegations became judicial admissions under CPLR § 3123.
Among the admitted claims:
Love made a threatening phone call to Luthmann’s attorney in April 2023, invoking the FBI, DOJ, and Mayor Eric Adams.
That threat led Luthmann’s lawyer to withdraw from the case without notice.
Love admitted he has a history of violent behavior — and a criminal record.
He orchestrated a fake Facebook smear campaign in 2017 against rival candidate Debi Rose and promised to pay Luthmann $25,000 in cash to run it.
He interfered in the collection of Luthmann’s debts, used threats against other campaign consultants, and lied to federal agents — actions that may violate 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
He has a history of marijuana use and referred to the NYC Campaign Finance Board as “worse than the IRS.”
And that’s just a sample. Listen to the whole call here and decide for yourself:
Love also admitted to being Kamillah Hanks’ agent-in-fact and “enforcer,” despite their never having been formally married. He allegedly misused legal expense deductions for Hanks’ daughter, committing tax fraud. He also coordinated efforts to sabotage Luthmann’s reputation with false criminal accusations.
This is a shocking reversal from the man who once told The NY Post that the claims against him were pure lunacy. Now, his silence in court — which constitutes legal admission — tells a very different story.
“He plays tough in the press, but in court, he folds,” said one insider familiar with the filings. “He went from calling it all ‘vulgar lies’ to admitting everything short of running a cartel.”
Onlookers say that a combative attitude is his norm.
Now, Savino appears to have found herself at the center of Love’s social scene.
“We’ve seen Kevin get a bottle of wine out and deliberately pour Savino a glass,” says a political staffer. “He makes a big production of it, asks people to chip in. It’s like he’s daring her to bend her own rule.”
Love, himself, is not foot-dragging due to stinginess – he’s often accused of just not spending his own money. Local activists have pointed out Love’s reputation for shortchanging even close associates.
Indeed, one campaign source noted that famously short arms match Love’s deep pockets. In other words, he’ll have others pick up the tab.
Savino’s detractors say Love’s behavior reeks of sabotage.
“He’s basically trolling her sobriety,” says one insider. “It’s like watching a party trick – a millionaire guy pretending to be Mister Generous with wine that he actually asked someone else to pay for.”
We asked Richard Luthmann for his thoughts.
“Kevin Barry Love has graduated from a deadbeat, a fake-Irishman, and a fraud, all the way to a complete and total scumbag. Diane has been like a sister to him for decades, and this is how he repays her? By leading her down this path? Stay away from him,” Luthmann said.
As the legal fallout mounts, questions are growing about the extent of Love’s influence in NYC politics — and what effect his antics are having on those around him, including Diane Savino.
With Savino now “in recovery,” critics say the last thing she needs is a political fixer who admits to threats, deception, and manipulation — all while pouring her wine on someone else’s tab.
Now, as Savino keeps her struggle relatively quiet, any sign of her holding a wine glass makes headlines.
For her part, Savino has made no public complaint. She’s been seen smiling and talking with Love and Hanks at fundraisers. However, several advisors say they have privately cautioned her to stay focused.
As one friend puts it: “Diane’s tough, but even the toughest can slip without good friends around.”
Savino’s Sobriety Under Siege: Support System and Moving Forward
Experts say Diane Savino’s case – whatever she’s recovering from – underscores how vital a strong support network is. Addiction counselors stress that recovery is not meant to be a solo battle.
According to addiction specialists, a healthy support system can “help you stay on track and keep you focused on your recovery.” Loved ones, sponsors, therapy groups, and friends all play a role.
Early recovery is especially “sensitive and vulnerable,” one expert notes: having peers and professionals to lean on can blunt stress and cravings. A positive network can even “elevate your mood,” helping someone enjoy a new, sober life.
Those close to Savino say she does have allies. Aside from Adams administration colleagues, former Sen. Savino also counts many Staten Island labor and community contacts from her years as a union leader and lawmaker as friends. It’s hoped they will encourage her to stay true to the pledge she made with that “NEVER” wine glass.
Right now, friends stress, every good influence matters.
One Adams aide, who asked not to be named, says Savino has been pragmatic when approached: “She just smiled and said, ‘I can handle it.’ I think she wants us to trust her.”
For Savino’s supporters, the message is simple: she’s spent decades building her career and a reputation as a fighter. They want her to find that same resolve in this personal fight.
“She’s come a long way,” says one veteran of Albany politics. “A slip could cost her not just credibility but health. But we’ve seen Savino beat tougher odds in life.”
Observers can only hope that, despite the wine on offer, she won’t lose sight of her own goals or the people who want to see her succeed.
For Diane Savino, staying sober may be just as much a political campaign as any she’s waged – and a strong team might make all the difference.