THE CITY
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz is doubling down on developer dollars in the crowded race to become district attorney.
Katz’s
donors include a who’s who of the city’s multi-billion dollar real
estate industry, making up roughly 29% of all the money she received
between mid-January and late May, the latest campaign finance filings
with the state Board of Elections show.
She raised $560,000 during
the four-month filing period — about $158,300 of which came from
people, companies and organizations in the real estate industry,
according to THE CITY’s analysis of campaign finance disclosure
documents filed by the committee KATZ NYS.
Of
the nearly $318,000 Katz raised from individuals, at least $126,000, or
40%, was contributed by developers and people in the real estate
industry.
She’s bucking a growing trend
of local politicians — among them Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, City
Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — who
say they won’t accept developer dollars.
Katz’s platform includes a pledge to assign an investigator to every workplace accident that results in serious injury. She told THE CITY
last month she would “absolutely” prosecute developers who are at fault
in construction fatalities or injuries, and not just contractors
implicated.
With
the June 25 Democratic primary looming, the borough president is the
fundraising frontrunner in the seven-way race to replace the late
Richard Brown.
Katz’s
largest cumulative donation came from the family behind Two Trees
Management, whose founder, David Walentas, and his wife each donated
$6,250, in addition to the $6,250 donated by his son, Jed. That was
followed by a $15,000 contribution by real estate developer Daniel
Tishman of Tishman Realty & Construction.
Her
campaign was also buoyed by donations from developers and construction
companies that do business in the borough she’d have jurisdiction over
if she becomes the next DA.
Katz received $12,500 from two people associated with Jackson Heights-based Nash Builders, which constructed an eight-story building in Elmhurst, and $11,250 from individuals tied to The Mattone Group, a College Point-based developer.
Two
political committees tied to the Rent Stabilization Association, which
represents 25,000 property owners and agents, donated $10,000 to Katz.
The political arm of the Real Estate Board of New York, an influential
trade group, gave her $2,500.
19 comments:
Of the major candidates running for DA, Katz and Lancman want to close Rikers and open facilities around the city. In Queens, in Kew Gardens. Lasak wants to keep Rikers open.
Why is everybody surprised? This is just business as usual for her. She's in bed with the real estate developers and stands to make money when they close Rikers and develop that. She is a lawyer, yet knows nothing about the criminal justice system. PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE for the one candidate for DA that knows the legal system -- GREG LASAK. He was a judge, knows the system and wants to FIX RIKERS - NOT CLOSE IT. If you want a jail in your neighborhood and a slap on the wrist system, then vote for Katz.
If she opens a few more buttons, I might be up for her.
Lasak is my choice.
What a hack,sucking the Government teat for years.
Greg Lasak is the only qualified candidate. And please, registered Democrats, after you vote for Lasak please vote for Wyatt Gibbons for Civil Court Judge. His opposition is an AOC wannabe from the Bronx with a checkered past.
"Yes" to the vote for Civil Court Judge. Wyatt Gibbons....not a hard name to remember.
VOTE!!! The election depends on how many people go to the polls. Your vote has never been more important.
Show me a political candidate in NYC that does not get donations from real estate.
Judge Lasak is they ONLY qualified candidate in this race. Quite telling that EVERY SINGLE law enforcement union in the city has endorsed him. He has also been endorsed by the DC-37 local that represents civilian court employees. Judge Lasak is the man for the job an Queens would be lucky to have him.
Harry Bingham IV
Can anyone tell me of a democratic candidate that actually wants to prosecute the bad guys and not cry for "criminal justice reform" or "close Rikers"?
Lasak should campaign on being tough on crime. The flyers I've gotten from his campaign emphasize how he got convictions overturned for those "wrongfully convicted". He's trying to appeal to the same wacko liberal base that all the other candidates are targeting. Lasak' strategy is wrong.
Isn't Wyatt Gibbons' wife or paramour a judge also? That's just what we want. All in the family! Isn't Lasak a long-time hack from the Manton Democrat machine? That's just what we want also! How about voting for unconnected entities and cleaning up the political mess in Queens? Fat chance anything will ever change. The sheep will continue to get screwed in perpetuity. By the way, isn't Lancman's wife a judge also? And wasn't the wondrous Schumer's wife, under the name Iris Weinshall, a former NYC Commissioner of Transportation? Bull crap!
People think all they need to do is vote. In nyc you have to pony up some cash for your guy. Every dollar counts.
Greg Lasak is the best candidate, period!
"Isn't Wyatt Gibbons' wife or paramour a judge also?" So what? Maldonado's a connected Bronx hack whose husband is a convicted felon. (Look it up)
Isn't Lasak a long-time hack from the Manton Democrat machine? No! He's not a politician, never received court appointments, was appointed by Santucci and was so competent that Brown kept him where he served with pride until finally being made a judge. If he was a political hack like Melinda he would have gotten the nod not she!
That's just what we want also! How about voting for unconnected entities and cleaning up the political mess in Queens?
So who are you voting for?
Anon above is right. Lasak is not a machine hack. In fact, he has been an excellent public servant. He could have easily turned to the private sector years ago and made a fortune but he didn't. Give credit where it's due: He's a stand-up guy with more experience than the rest of the candidates combined and he's the one that deserves the job.
My guess is Katz will win this, county will throw its weight behind her
Anon above- Uh... I think County already has thrown its weight behind her. The real question is whether County backing is enough anymore.
Excuse me, above anonymous responder. I believe Lasak received the Democratic line for Supreme Court. Who would get such line except a good Democrat? This is equivalent to an appointment to a judgeship in Queens County by the Queens County Democrat Organization. So your statement that he never received a "court appointment" is not borne out by the facts. You have the right to your opinion, and God bless the US for giving you that right. Why not comment about Lancman? His wife is a judge too. See a pattern here? Since you are obviously a Democrat eligible to vote in the Primary, I'm sure that you voted for Governor Cuomo. If he was so wonderful, then why don't you support his pick for Queens DA, Melinda Katz? As far as your question as to who I am voting for, maybe there should be some legitimate competition from the opposing party, or are only Democrats qualified. By the way, are any of these candidates being cross-endorsed by the Queens Republican Party? Maybe Lasak, a Democrat, should get their endorsement. If he gets it, will you still contend that he is non-political?
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