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June 19, 2012
Senate Minority Leader John Sampson's curious EB-5 gig: helping market green cards to immigrant investors from China
Atlantic Yards Report
I have an article in City and State headlined THE “VOLUNTEER” V.P.: John Sampson’s unusual new gig marketing green cards to Chinese nationals.
It's not about Atlantic Yards, but there is a skein of connection. I wouldn't be following the (generally) little-scrutinized EB-5 industry if I hadn't gotten a tip in the summer of 2010 that it would be used for Forest City Ratner's Atlantic Yards project.
Since then, despite ample reasons for closer scrutiny, the EB-5 business has been booming.
In this case, Sampson, the Senate Minority Leader, quietly--as in no announcements/press releases in English--began participating as the (seeming) Chief Executive Vice President of the New York City Real Estate Regional Center (NYCRERC).
Sampson's role? To help market green cards to would be immigrant investors from China, under the federal government's EB-5 program.
NoLandGrab: What the hell's a "Chief Executive Vice President?" Either you're the chief executive, or you're a vice president. Not both.
Posted by eric at June 19, 2012 1:14 PM