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August 7, 2006
'YANK' PITCHES FOR RATNER
NY Post
By Patrick Gallahue
A quick check of Forest City Ratner's latest lobbying efforts for Atlantic Yards shows that a long-time Yankees' lobbyist is pulling in the big bucks from Bruce.
In the last six months, Ratner's lobbying costs have nearly doubled - from $206,000 to $358,000 - with the majority of the extra cash going to a single law firm with a history of working for the Bronx Bombers: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.
The firm, which collected $200,845 from Ratner between January and June, employs Stephen Lefkowitz, a lawyer for the Empire State Development Corp. between 1971 and 1975. The ESDC is the same agency that is now deciding the fate of the massive building plan.
NoLandGrab: We've been wondering why the ESDC has been deaf to the requests and pleas by the community and leading politicians to extend the comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Now we're wondering why, if this project is such a good deal for the City and State, Bruce Ratner has to shell out hundreds-of-thousands of dollars on a major-league lobbyist.
Given that the Yankees' deal with NYC allows them to bill Lefkowitz's fees through to the taxpayers, is it possible that Bruce Ratner might be able to do the same?
Posted by lumi at August 7, 2006 4:37 PM