Oliver House Developer Spending Big Bucks To Lobby Councilman Bill DeBlasio

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Lobbying For Gowanus Rezoning? $365,000
Getting Your Way? Priceless

Client: Toll Brothers
Attn: David Von Spreckelson
New York Urban Division
16 Court Street Suite 1009
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Lobbyists:
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, LLP
1177 Av. of the Americas New York, NY.10036

Compensation:
in 2006: $ 23,085.50
in 2007: $ 65,025.50
in 2008: $276,966.50

Grand Total: $365,077.50

Targets: New York City Council, City Planning Commission, Brooklyn Borough President, Brooklyn Community Board 6 and Mayor's Office, State Assembly

Subject: Rezoning Of Property Bounded By Bond St., Carroll Street, the Gowanus Canal and 2nd Street

What chances do Carroll Gardeners have to protect their neighborhood from over-development if developers are spending mega bucks on lobbyists in order to influence local politicians and community boards?
Yesterday, I reported that Bill Stein, developer of Oliver House at 360 Smith Street had spent $ 35,000 to lobby Councilman Bill DeBlasio.
A further search on New York City's government page revealed that the Toll Brothers have spent a total of $365,000 to facilitate the rezoning of the two blocks along the Gowanus Canal that they wish to have rezoned for residential use so that they can build condos.
Now, don't get me wrong. I know that lobbying is perfectly legal, but it's something that I associate with Washington and big government. Finding out that it happens right here on such a local level is disturbing in many ways.
As local residents, we should insist on a level playing field as well as equal attention from our politicians and representatives.
We may not have the money that these fat cat developers can throw around, but we pay plenty of taxes...and we vote!



Related Reading:
http://www.nyc.gov/lobbyistsearch/search?client=TOLL+BROTHERS%2C+INC.

Oliver House Developer Spending Big Bucks To Lobby Councilman Bill DeBlasio

Toll Brothers Come To CB6 Complete With Union Entourage


For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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Stein's Labyrinth Around 360 Smith And The 2nd Place F Train Entrance

Bill Stein's Blue Edifice

The Carroll Gardens community was informed last week that the 2nd Place F train subway entrance will closed for about 6 to 8 months ( +/-) as part of developer Bill Stein's Oliver House construction at 131 Second Place /360 Smith Street.
Below are just some of the comments left on the post that I wrote on the subject
last week when the blue plywood edifice first went up.

********This sucks!!!

******** This f@#*ing s*@t piss me off. God damn Condo thats going to tower 70 feet over every other build in the area is taking away a piece of the neighbor. Yeah Brooklyn needs more condos for more yuppies and NO I'm NOT Bitter.


******** Last nite i came home and was about to exit at the plaza exit, i look up and there are the neighborhood panhandlers just LOOKING down the stairs, waiting to accost. I should of taken a photo it was classic. Like night of the living dead classic. I never give to drug addicts but i tolerated them in the plaza (and get furious when i see fall for their b.s and give them money) but this just cant fly, there is just no room.

I am familiar with the other guy pictured too...i guess he will have to find a new place to go. anyway i agree with carola& castillo and disagree with anon.


********I also agree that there needs to be an attendant at the turnstile to help the elderly, disabled, and people with carts, baby carriages, and luggage through the maze. Why is having a public meeting such a big request for the MTA and our elected officials to arrange. To wait for the CGNA meeting in September is totally too late and not acceptable [...]
For months we have been asking for some answers from the developer Billie Stein, your office, and NYC Transit about a number of concerns. For some reason, the MTA/NYC Transit can be in communication with the developer all summer, and answer his multitude of questions, but it can't be in communication with us, their patrons. Their job in government relations is community relations, but it is too inconvenient for them to deal with the community. They might get screamed at!! If they would have answered our questions in the beginning, there would not be all of these rumors that are going like wildfire throughout the community in private emails. I think the MTA is used to dealing with neighborhoods in Manhattan where they just close an entrance and people just shrug their shoulders and use another entrance. I think that Manhattaners just have a feeling of hopelessness, and are resigned to the MTA's incompetence, and subway inconveniences [...]
We are a true neighborhood, and expect a certain level of service, which seems to be a strange request for the MTA. We expect for the MTA to do its job and meet with the community, answer our questions, and address our concerns. Is this too much service to ask?

What Do You Think?

Related Reading:

Stein's Labyrinth Around 360 Smith And The 2nd Place F Train Entrance

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