Lobbyists cash in during pandemic
Calls to NYC pols net $106M for 2020
The Big Apple’s lobbying industry proved to be nearly pandemic-proof last year as the COVID-19 outbreak otherwise ravaged New York City, new records show.
For months in 2020, most of the city was in lockdown, with Mayor de Blasio’s administration and the City Council holding virtual meetings and hearings.
But well-connected, high-powered lobbyists still found a way to scoop up bundles of cash from wooing City Hall and the council for their clients. The lobbyists raked in $106.3 million in 2020 — just slightly less than their $113.2 million in compensation during prepandemic 2019, according to a new report from the City Clerk’s Office.
One government watchdog wasn’t surprised.
“The seasoned, hot-wired lobbyists still get their phone calls returned. From a client’s perspective, lobbyists are more important than ever,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group.
Leading the pack for the fourth consecutive year was Suri Kasirer’s lobbying firm, Kasirer LLC — taking in $14.2 million, nearly matching the $14.3 million earned in 2019.
Kasirer’s 32-member firm pressed the mayor and council to provide COVID-19 relief to the hard-hit restaurant and hotel industries. Her clients included ROAR — Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants — and the Hotel Association of NYC, which has been trying to get the city to defer property taxes and interest fees on hotels that are closed and not generating revenue.
Kasirer’s well-heeled client list also includes Northwell Health, Columbia Presbyterian and Mount Sinai Health System. Northwell had been pushing a proposal to expand its Lenox Hill hospital on the Upper East Side, which is facing fierce neighborhood opposition.
The firm’s clients last year also included IF Cornerstone, which owns part of the vacant Long Island City waterfront property where the aborted Amazon headquarters project was supposed to be located.
“We are pleased to continue to be the leading advocate in New York City, and are proud to support our clients as they work to reinvest in and rebuild New York as we emerge from the pandemic,” Kasirer said. “This was a very tough year. This was a year from hell. My clients were struggling to deal with COVID.”
Lobbyist James Capalino’s firm was the second-highest compensated firm with $9.9 million — down from $11.9 million in 2019 — followed by Bolton-St. Johns, with $6.7 million. The top 10 lobbying firms also included Constantinople & Vallone (with former Council Speaker Peter Vallone) $5.7 million; Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno $4.8 million; Greenberg Traurig, $4.6 million; Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, $3.2 million; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, $3.2 million; Geto & de Milly Inc., $3.1 million; and CMW Strategies ( Connelly McLaughlin & Woloz), $3.1 million.