LOBBYISTS RAKE IT IN
City influence peddlers’ pay tops pre-COV level
Money is rolling in again for politically connected lobbyists seeking to influence Mayor Adams and the City Council on behalf of well-heeled clients and powerful interest groups after a lull during the COVID-19 pandemic, a city assessment reveals.
Compensation for lobbyists shot up 16% last year — up from $104.2 million in 2021 to $121.1 million in 2022, according to the annual study, prepared by the City Clerk’s Office, which regulates the lobbying industry in the Big Apple.
The surge was led in great measure by construction and real-estate interests and comes two years after businesses dropped their spending on influence peddlers during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s also a significant uptick over the pre-pandemic spending of $113.2 million in 2019.
Clients spent $106 million on lobbying City Hall in 2020.
The real-estate and construction sector, which must get rezoning projects approved by the council and mayor, accounted for 34% of all the spending on lobbyists, far more than any other industry, followed by community interest and not-forprofit groups, with 18%.
Vornado Realty, which is seeking to redevelop the Penn Station neighborhood, with potentially a casino, spent $730,246 to gain the ear of power players on either side of City Hall.
A coalition of landlords and homeowners, Homeowners for an Affordable NY, paid $1.4 million to lobbyist George Fontas to oppose “Good Cause Eviction” legislation that would make it harder for landlords to raise rents or evict tenants during lease renewals.
Kasirer is No. 1
The highest compensated lobbyist for the sixth consecutive year was Suri Kasirer’s firm, Kasirer LLC, with $17 million in clients’ business, nearly double second-place Bolton-St. John’s $9 million haul.
New players putting their chips on lobbyists to woo Adams and city lawmakers last year are firms eyeing bids for a casino in the Big Apple.
Mets owner Steve Cohen’s New
Green Willets company paid $436,665 to seven different lobbyists last year. Cohen is looking to build a casino or other entertainment venues around the Mets’ CitiField home.
Meanwhile, Seminole Hard Rock also paid $405,000 on lobbying.
A state regulatory agency will award up to three downstate casino licenses. But the mayor and council members will have the power to veto or approve a site under the law through representation on local siting boards, so gaming operators must win their support.
Others who spent money on wooing city pols are: the Civil Rights Foundation ($519,000), NYS Trial Lawyers ($742,841), and cable-TV’s Charter Communications, owner of Spectrum and NY1 ($570,000).