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February 8, 2008
Mayor Accuses Realty Firms of Seeking Undue Influence
The New York Times
by Ray Rivera
Yes, we thought this article had to be from The Onion, but no, it really did appear in today's Times.
In a rare public scolding of an industry that is friendly with his administration, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg criticized real estate companies on Thursday, saying it appears they are trying to buy influence in the 2009 mayoral campaign.
The city’s most prominent real estate firms have been flooding likely candidates with donations in recent months, and many of the companies have given identical or nearly identical amounts to three of those planning to run for mayor: the Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn; Representative Anthony D. Weiner; and the city comptroller, William C. Thompson Jr.
“I happen to think it’s a disgrace,” the mayor said about the firms’ giving equally to each of those three.
NoLandGrab: Here's the scary part — if the real estate industry has run roughshod over New York City during the administration of a billionaire mayor who spent $150 million of his own money on his two campaigns, what'll life be like under a mayor who actually owes a debt to the likes of Rudin, Ross and Ratner?
Posted by eric at February 8, 2008 6:10 PM