Friday, June 8, 2007

Lobbyists making out like bandits

The strong local economy that is driving record city surpluses is also helping the lobbying industry.

Revenues of people paid to influence city government grew 18 percent last year to $44 million, according to an annual report released by the city clerk’s office.


As the Local Economy Prospers, So Does the Lobbying Industry

One factor most likely driving the growth is the city’s development boom, as developers hire lobbyists to help them navigate the land-use application process, said Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, a government watchdog group.

CITY LOBBYISTS HIT $44 MILLION JACKPOT

The firm of Peter Vallone Sr., which opened in 2002 after he served as council speaker for 16 years, reported revenues of $1.6 million.

Lobbyist Spending in City Doubled Since 2001

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I met "Don Ciccio" Vallone and "Junior" Vallone once in their district office!

The very walls reeked with the smell of a well controlled fiefdom!

Let's all salute the old "Godfathers" of Astoria and wish them luck in their new "family" business as NYC real estate/building industry lobbyists!

P.S.
Peter Senior.....please buy yourself a better toupee.....not that blow dried rug you've been sporting....was it from the "Hair Club For Men"? !!!

georgetheatheist said...

Ah, leave the old guy alone. I've seen him in public with urine stains on his trousers.