We dont like MCIs. However, the MCI law was written by Big Real Estate. We need to change the law and we can do it if tenants support our housing groups. CRAIN’S INSIDER: LANDLORDS JUMPING INTO STATE SENATE BATTLE, HELPING REPUBLICANS NOTE: This is as good an illustration as we will have as to why tenants should help Democratic State Senators. All three of the Democratic candidates mentioned below that REBNY is targeting for defeat are pro-tenant, and are priorities for Tenants PAC. You can help by sending a check to Tenants PAC, 277 Broadway, Suite 608, New York NY 10007, or you can make a secure on-line contribution at tenantspac.org. BLOGS > THE INSIDER REBNY jumps into Senate battle CHRIS BRAGG OCTOBER 2, 2014 4:32 P.M. Jobs for New York Inc., an outside spending group that poured $8 million into New York City’s 2013 elections, is now poised to help Republicans in the high-stakes battle for the state Senate, records show. The group registered a new state-level campaign committee Thursday and listed three races it plans to target, according to a spokesman for the state Board of Elections. All three beneficiaries are Senate Republican candidates: Terrence Murphy, who is running against Democrat Justin Wagner for the seat vacated by Republican Greg Ball; Susan Serino, taking on Democratic state Sen. Terry Gipson; and George Amedore, who is in a rematch against Democratic state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk. The treasurer of the new state-level group is William Auerbach, the chief financial officer for the Real Estate Board of New York, which ran the 2013 city-election effort for the real estate industry. On Wednesday, records show, Jobs for New Yorks city-level committee transferred nearly $9,000 in leftover funds into its new state-level unit. Senate Republicans, who are struggling to hang on to power in Albany, have pursued policies friendly to the real estate industry, while Democrats are mulling pro-tenant policies if they regain the Senate. With the state Assembly solidly in Democratic hands, the outcome of the races for the Senate will determine the fate of many bills in the next two years. For instance, REBNY opposes a bill that Manhattan state Sen. Brad Hoylman recently introduced to raise taxes on pricey apartments whose owners primary residences are elsewhere. A year ago, a source close to Jobs for New York told Crains that the group was considering jumping into the 2014 elections. REBNY believes that the need for good jobs and more housing, and the tax revenue that results from such activity that will pay for vital government services, are just as important at the state level as the city, the source said. A REBNY spokesman did not immediately offer a comment Thursday. In the 2013 city elections, the group was successful in most of the races in which it made an endorsement, although it did court controversy by producing some negative mailers. The real estate industry was able to pour huge money into the effort because of what’s known as the “LLC loophole” in state election law. Corporations can give only $5,000 annually to outside groups, but each limited-liability company (even those controlled by the same person) can give up to $150,000. Developers often form a new LLC for every project. Big money is coming in on both sides of the state Senate battle. A charter-school group recently raised $1.75 million to help Senate Republicans. A number of deep-pocketed unions are expected to give outside help to Senate Democrats. crainsnewyork/article/20141002/BLOGS04/141009949#
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:58:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015