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September 5, 2008

Politics as unusual

10TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

"Atlantic Yards" Voter Guide, The Ratner Clan Likes Ed Towns

Atlantic Yards is only one reason to remove an incumbent who only shows signs of life when he's up for reelection, but it's reason enough to loosen the Ratners' purse strings:

Four Ratners including Bruce and his extended family in Ohio, as well as Forest City Ratner's Cleveland-based parent Forest City Enterprises have contributed a total of $12,300 to entrenched incumbent Congressman Ed Towns in Brooklyn's 10th Congressional District.
...
Towns supports Atlantic Yards, while his September 9th primary challenger Kevin Powell opposes the Atlantic Yards project.

While the project is certainly not the central issue in the congressional primary race, the developer's largesse—coming from as far as Cleveland—shows how Ratner likes to cover all of his political bases.

25TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT

Gay City, Connor, Squadron Endorsement Scramble
There's a bit of a ripple in one former candidate's endorsement of the incumbent:

Last week, [Ken] Diamondstone, who had considered another run against [State Senator Martin] Connor this year, but dropped plans for that in favor of a City Council bid next year, endorsed [Daniel] Squadron. In his appearance with Squadron, Diamondstone returned to two issues that animated his challenge two years ago - Connor's agreement years ago to a legislative package that repealed the commuter tax on those working in the city, but living outside it, and the incumbent's low profile on the controversial Atlantic Yards project which could bring massive development to the critical intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues in Brooklyn. Diamondstone was outspoken in his opposition to Forest City Ratner's plans for the project.

WNYC News Radio, Race for 25th State Senate District Heats Up
Two years after the official approval of the project, Bruce Ratner's controversial Atlantic Yards plan is still one of the sorting criteria for local candidates, though in this race things are still quite muddled:

In a hotly contested race for the 25th State Senate District, Democratic incumbent Martin Connor squared off last night against his challenger Daniel Squadron.

During the two hour debate, the 28-year-old Squadron argued he would bring new blood and change to Albany, while Connor, a 30-year-old political veteran, says his experience there is invaluable. Connor painted his opponent as a trust fund newcomer who has only lived in the district for two years while Squadron contended that Connor is part of the stagnant Albany culture that needs to be reformed. They clashed on numerous issues including the commuter tax, the smoking ban and the Atlantic Yards development.

NoLandGrab: Squadron has made cautionary statements against the Atlantic Yards project in the past, but all of his heavy-hitting political backers are big-time supporters of the project, leaving many Brooklynites scratching their heads on the way into the voting booth.

64TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Runnin' Scared [News blog of The Village Voice], Newell Late $ Surge Brings Him Within $2.9M of Silver

Paul Newell, one of the young challengers to Sheldon Silver for his Assembly seat (Luke Henry is the other), made a shocking announcement yesterday: he raised much more than Silver -- $40,015 vs. $19,575 -- in "the most recent filing period." Most of these Silver donations, his campaign points out, come from small, individual contributors, whereas Silver's come mostly from PACs and lobbyists. Among these the Newellites mention "Albany Lobbyist William Y. Crowell, III," one of whose clients is "Forest City Ratner -- which has benefitted from Silver's strong support for its Atlantic Yards and Beekman Tower projects."

Posted by lumi at September 5, 2008 5:35 AM