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September 5, 2006
The Ratner campaign money trail leads to... Michael (& his wife)
Atlantic Yards Report scoops the mainstream media by following the money.
So how does Bruce Ratner get practically the entire Brooklyn Party Machine to march in lock step when he has "sharply cut back on donating funds to political campaigns?"
Enter brother Michael Ratner, famed constitutional rights lawyer/minority Nets owner, and the rest of the Ratner clan.
Norman Oder uncovers several contributions of interest that answer some burning questions:
Why hasn't NYC Comptroller William Thompson subjected Atlantic Yards to the same scrutiny as the Hudson Yards/West Side Stadium project?
In 2001, Michele de Milly, whose firm has long done p.r. for FCR, organized five contributions of $4500--for a total of $22,500--to William Thompson's campaign for city comptroller. The donors were Michael Ratner, [Michael Ratner's wife Karen] Ranucci, [Bruce Ratner's girlfriend Pamela] Lipkin, Bruce Ratner's daughter Rebecca Ratner, and Ellen Ratner of Washington, another family member.
Why did Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum decry eminent domain abuse but support the Nets arena, and why hasn't she lifted a finger to help residents facing displacement now that eminent domain is still on the table?
Lipkin has made fewer contributions, though she did give $4950 last year to the campaign of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.
What about the Brooklyn Party Machine?
The Michael Ratner/Ranucci political money machine sent:
$5,000 to Roger Green, $5,000 to party boss Clarence Norman, $4,000 to Norman's sidekick Carl Andrews, $4,000 to Yvette Clarke, $4,000 to Edolphus Towns, and $10,000 to big booster Martin Malave Dilan.
Intense lobbying will occur around Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who will vote on Atlantic Yards through his representative on the Public Authorities Control Board. But should concerned Brooklynites even bother?
$6,000 to Sheldon Silver.
Get the picture? But wait, there's more. Based on the Ratners' pattern of giving, the family dynasty has plans upstate (casinos?), and they keep the tap flowing in the Bronx.
Posted by lumi at September 5, 2006 7:14 AM