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May 18, 2020
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Th e on ly sure bulwark of con tin uin g liberty is a govern men t stron g en ough to protect th e in terests of th e people, an d a people stron g en ough an d well en ough in formed to main tain its sovereign c on trol over th e govern men t.” – Fran klin D . Roosevelt
Government has never been more important in the daily lives of New Yorkers, and all of us at YNY are honored to have successfully connected people and organizations with government for over 25 years. We want to acknowledge the many organizations we proudly represent who have stepped up in recent months to partner with the City and the State to help us get through these extraordinarily challenging times. To Wegmans, Maimonides Medical Center, JetBlue, SUNY Downstate, Outward Bound, Lyft, Bailey House, Chess in the Schools, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Industry City, Brooklyn Defender Services, Two Trees, Amazon, Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Hospitality Alliance, and the New York Building Congress – your leadership and generosity are an inspiration. Thanks to them and so many others on the front lines, we know we will get through this. We are New Yorkers, after all.
DEEP ROOTS. FRESH PERSPECTIVES.
Yosw ei n New Yor k 1 1 1 Broa dw a y, S u i te 1 50 4 New York, NY 1 0 0 0 6 w w w .yn y.c om • 21 2.233.57 0 0
May 18, 2020
City & State New York
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CELESTE SLOMAN; FELIX LIPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK
EDITOR’S NOTE
JON LENTZ Editor-in-chief
IN 2016, CITY & STATE published an investigative series on nursing homes. One story identified a spike in abuse and neglect complaints. Another story exposed how nursing home residents were moved to homeless shelters. A third story documented allegations of neglect at a top-rated Bronx facility. A key takeaway was ineffective state oversight. This theme has been revived as thousands of COVID-19 deaths are being reported in New York’s nursing homes. Initially, operators didn’t have to say how many residents were dying from the disease. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration eventually began collecting the numbers, but greater transparency came in fits and starts – and only after public pressure. Last week, The New York Times reported that lobbyists had persuaded the administration to tuck a measure into the state budget to protect nursing home operators from many lawsuits involving coronavirus infections. While it’s now harder for families to sue, the industry claims the protections are critical to continue operating. And to be fair, nursing homes had to accept patients still recovering from the coronavirus, despite the risk to other residents – until Cuomo changed course on that front too. One less obvious lesson is that, even as the economy is crashing, there’s still plenty of work for lobbyists. In this week’s magazine, we shed light on the 50 biggest lobbying shops in New York City – including how much they’re making and who they’re working for.
CONTENTS
SOCIAL DISTANCING … 8 Is it really a job for cops? FEELING THE HEAT … 10
How to keep seniors cool in a pandemic
TOURISM … 12
NYC suffers without out-oftowners
TOP LOBBYISTS … 18 The 50 firms that made the most in NYC
WINNERS & LOSERS … 42
Who was up and who was down last week
CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
NEW YORK CITY HEALTH COMMISSIONER DRAWS IRE OF POLICE
NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan, Barbot reportedly told Monahan she doesn’t give “two rats’ asses about your cops.� Monahan had requested 500,000 face masks, but Barbot said she could only supply 50,000 because she needed masks “for others.� The New York Post broke the story, reporting that after the phone call, the New York City Police Department learned of a health department medical equipment stockpile in a New Jersey warehouse.
A heated conversation between two top New York City officials in March surfaced publicly for the first time recently, the latest example of tension between officials during the coronavirus crisis. In a phone conversation between city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot and
THE KIDS AREN’T ALL RIGHT
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The department appealed to City Hall for the supplies, at which point they received 250,000 masks. After the story was published, police unions in the city called for Barbot to be fired, with the Sergeants Benevolent Association going so far as to tweet, “Truth is this bitch has blood on her hands.� But the Daily News reported the spat differently. The newspaper said that police officers arrived unannounced at the New Jersey warehouse with the intent of commandeering 500,000 N95 masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency storage facility that were intended for hospitals and other health care workers. Flustered health department employees at the warehouse got in touch with Barbot, which led to the phone call with Monahan where she made the controversial comment. A spokesman for the health department said Barbot apologized long ago for what she said in a moment of frustration.
As if the coronavirus crisis wasn’t bad enough already, a mysterious new inflammatory disease has sickened over 100 children in New York – and killed at least three – and is thought to be linked to COVID-19. Last week, amNewYork noted this development on its cover, showing two children riding bikes in Manhattan, donning face masks for protection, as the state investigates this new risk to kids.
“I know people seem to be a little frustrated, but it’s kind of like we’re circling the airport till they tell us it’s safe to land.� – Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, on waiting to reconvene the state Legislature until the federal government decides whether to provide direct state aid in the next stimulus package, via State of Politics
The news is the latest bit of palace intrigue in city government. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio and Barbot have reportedly been feuding behind the scenes over the city’s coronavirus response. Generally, reports say that the health department had been pushing to do more sooner, while the mayor resisted. He recently shifted the city’s contact tracing program away from the health department and put it in the hands of the public hospital system run by Dr. Mitchell Katz, who is favored by de Blasio. The move was derided by other health officials. The leak of a conversation from two months ago that paints Barbot, with whom de Blasio reportedly does not get along, in a negative light has drawn questions about its timing and purpose.
NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR NURSING HOMES
“That’s probably the deadliest decision ever made in New York state history.� – Assemblyman Ron Kim, on the March 25 state Health Department directive that mandated nursing homes readmit residents with COVID-19 from hospitals, via the New York Post
Cuomo instituted new requirements for nursing homes, mandating that they test all staffers twice a week and ordering that they not be sent COVID-19 patients who are leaving the hospital. The latter mandate is a reversal of March guidance from the state Department of Health that required nursing homes to admit patients with the coronavirus if they were stable. Nursing
ED REED/MAYORAL PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE; SHANNON DECELLE FOR CITY & STATE; ASSEMBLY; JEROME STRAUSS/SHUTTERSTOCK
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homes have become coronavirus hot spots in the state, accounting for more than 5,000 confirmed or presumed COVID-19 deaths, and the prior requirement has been called a “fatal error.” And thanks to a provision in the state budget passed in April, nursing home operators have new protections against lawsuits. If families feel that a nursing home mismanaged a loved one’s care during the pandemic, they now have less legal recourse. State lawmakers are looking to conduct an independent investigation into both nursing homes and Cuomo’s policies toward the facilities. Meanwhile, nursing home operators around the state are struggling with the new testing mandate. It’s even created a backlog at the public Wadsworth Center lab in Albany that analyzes tests for free. The lab is now reportedly telling counties to stop sending swabs.
THE
WEEK AHEAD
City & State New York
HALF OF NEW YORK REGIONS BEGIN REOPENING
As of May 15, half of the state’s 10 regions have begun the first phase of reopening. Those are the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Central New York and Finger Lakes. That means that these five regions have hit all seven benchmarks that Gov. Andrew Cuomo established for reopening. Those requirements include 14 straight days of declining net hospitalizations and deaths, and having at least 30% of hospital beds available. In the five regions deemed ready to reopen, certain businesses and activities can begin, such as construction and curbside pickup at retailers. The more populous downstate regions of Long Island, New York City and the mid- and lower Hudson Valley will still be subject to the state’s stayat-home order through at least May 28, or until they hit all seven benchmarks.
THURSDAY 5/21 Nonprofits are hurting as they try to deliver critical services to those affected by the pandemic, but sector leaders are talking solutions at a 2:30 p.m. webinar hosted by C&S sister publication New York Nonprofit Media.
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Why are NYC’s EMS workers paid peanuts? New York City’s emergency medical services workers have been facing harsh conditions since COVID-19 broke out. “I’ve seen more cardiac arrests, which means people who aren’t breathing and have no pulse, in the last two months than I probably have in the last five years,” said Anthony Almojera, a lieutenant paramedic with the FDNY and vice president of the city’s FDNY EMS Local 3621 union. Before the virus, the city’s 911 system typically got about 4,000 EMS calls per day. On March 26, it received over 7,000, a call volume unseen since 9/11. Since early March, EMS workers have become stricken with COVID-19, putting a strain on an already strained profession, blighted by high turnover rates due to low salaries and a lack of benefits. Over 1,000 FDNY EMS workers have contracted or are being monitored for the disease, out of 4,500 total FDNY EMS employees. At least five have died from it. In New York City, the starting salary for a trained EMS worker is about $33,320, whereas the starting salary for a NYPD officer is $42,500 and $45,196 for a city firefighter. While EMS workers often work alongside firefighters, they are not entitled to the same line-of-duty benefits. If an EMS worker dies on the job, their beneficiaries will receive three years worth of their pay, while cops’ and firefighters’ beneficiaries will receive their full salary in perpetuity, as well as their health benefits. EMS union leaders suspect that they haven’t seen a bump in pay because city and state officials don’t recognize the risks involved in what they do, such as being attacked by patients and handling biohazardous materials while racing through traffic. Some have also alleged that low wages are the result of racial and gender discrimination, since the city’s EMS workforce is predominately women and minorities.
THURSDAY 5/21 New unemployment numbers scheduled to be released by the federal government will likely show further job losses, though it remains to be seen how the Empire State will stack up against other states.
INSIDE DOPE
In Jan. 2019, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed criticisms regarding the disparity in pay during city contract negotiations with FDNY EMS unions after their contracts expired in 2018. “I have deep, deep respect for our EMTs and everyone who works at EMS,” he said. “I think the work is different.” But in 2017, a study revealed that EMTs were just as likely as firefighters and cops to be killed on the job and even more likely to be injured. EMS workers also respond to a much higher volume of 911 calls than other first responders, even though there are far fewer EMS workers. In September 2019, FDNY EMS Local 2507, along with several other EMS unions, filed a lawsuit against the city alleging that the city was engaging in discriminatory pay practices. Three months ago, City Hall began working with EMT and EMS unions on a collective bargaining agreement to increase the starting salaries for EMT workers, as more workers continue to leave their low-paying jobs. However, nothing has come of these talks yet. Moreover, New York City’s Independent Budget Office says that providing workers with raises during these financially desperate times is unrealistic. “The public embrace of EMS workers and the recognition of their role as first responders has come at a time when city dollars are shrinking,” the office said in a statement to City & State. “This makes the ability to provide raises that would put them on par with other first responders very difficult to afford in the current fiscal climate.” Low salaries have led to an extremely high turnover rate among EMTs over the years. Due to a lack of workers, EMS response times increased by 19 seconds for life-threatening emergencies and a minute and 30 seconds for all other emergencies, in 2019. -Amanda Luz Henning Santiago
Politicians from both parties are keeping an eye on the unemployment numbers. If the latest numbers are alarming enough, it could help another stimulus bill get through Congress.
FRIDAY 5/22 With 32 days to go, all candidates in the state Senate and Assembly primaries have to file their financial disclosure forms. The numbers will tell which races to watch – and how COVID-19 has affected fundraising.
D NNING CityAndStateNY.com
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP may be refusing to wear a mask, but many other elected officials from New York are complying with public health officials’ recommendation to do so. Here are some notable politicians who have been donning a mask to protect themselves and others against the spread of COVID-19.
THE MASK NEW YORK POLITICIANS WHO AREN’T AFRAID TO COVER THEIR FACES.
1 ANDREW CUOMO 2 BILL DE BLASIO 3 CARL HEASTIE 4 COREY JOHNSON 5 MICHAEL GIANARIS GOV.
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER
STATE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER
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6 7 TOM REED 8 JERROLD NADLER 9 CAROLYN MALONEY 10 ELIOT ENGEL REP.
GRACE MENG (with one of her sons)
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DARREN MCGEE/OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR; MICHAEL APPLETON/MAYORAL PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE; ALL OTHER PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY LAWMAKERS
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FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT ON NY AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MAY 28, 2020 - 2:00-3:00PM EST COVID-19 has brought major changes to New York’s financial services industry as well as its broader economy. Jobs are being lost at a record pace, and the ripple effects include a loss of tax revenue that may lead to cuts in police, education and health care. What can be done to help the people, the small businesses and the city and state itself? Join the below panelists to discuss.
PA N E LI STS I N C LU D E
SCOTT M. STRINGER New York City Comptroller
LINDA A. LACEWELL Superintendent, NYS Department of Financial Services
RSVP at CityAndStateNY.com/Events .For more information on programming and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lissa Blake at lblake@cityandstateny.com
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CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
S E P A R A T The NYPD has been scrutinized for the way it’s enforcing social distancing. But is it really a job for cops?
by J E F F C O L T I N
ing has seemed to cause tension from the start. Even before New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio officially enacted fines on March 30 for those who weren’t following social distancing safety guidelines, the NYPD had arrested at least three people in Brooklyn. One woman, the Intercept reported, was held in a cell for 36 hours where most people didn’t have face masks. Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and de Blasio passed executive orders demanding social distancing under state and city health laws, only punishable by a fine. But police stops can escalate quickly, and a failure to comply with an officer’s orders can lead to an ar-
rest. According to Oren Yaniv, a spokesman for the Brooklyn district attorney’s office, there’s no actual crime of “failure to social distance,” so police are arresting violators for more generally applicable crimes, like obstruction of government administration. However those arrests are rare. In the last seven weeks, the NYPD reported making at least 120 arrests and issuing nearly 500 summonses for social distancing violations. That’s an average of fewer than three arrests per day in a city of 8.6 million. By contrast, there were an average of 57,143 stop-and-frisks a month in the year 2011, the overwhelming major-
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OES ANYBODY REALLY want the NYPD enforcing social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic? Donni Wright certainly doesn’t. He is the man who was punched in the face and thrown to the ground by a plainclothes officer in a May 2 arrest that was recorded on video and shared widely. The scuffle on Avenue D in Manhattan ended with three people arrested and various charges including “resisting arrest,” but it started with police enforcing social distancing. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a retired NYPD captain, doesn’t want cops keeping people 6 feet apart either. The NYPD “has historical tension in certain communities.” To encourage more interactions with the police now, he said in a May 6 interview on WBAI radio, “is alarming.” Adams, who is black, made the point that it’s dangerous to increase the likelihood of interactions between people of color and the police, even if those interactions are in the name of health. But to add insult to injury – as Adams noted in a video posted May 6 – there’s an impression that cops are enforcing social distancing more harshly in low-income communities of color than in richer, whiter ones. The Brooklyn district attorney’s office reported on May 7 that of the 40 people arrested in the borough for violating social distancing, 35 were black, four were Hispanic and one was white. “We can’t let this become a tale of two parks,” Adams said. The backlash to the police’s role has led to some cops themselves wanting to give up the responsibility. “This situation is untenable: the NYPD needs to get cops out of the social distancing enforcement business altogether,” Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said in a statement. “The inevitable backlash has arrived,” Lynch continued, and now city officials “are once again throwing us under the bus.” Enlisting cops to enforce social distanc-
May 18, 2020
City & State New York
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I O N D U T Y upped its staffing citywide for social distancing enforcement. The May 2 arrests in Manhattan caused outrage on social media, and videos of two separate rough arrests in Brooklyn were widely shared. Twitter users shared photos of the aggressive policing of people of color side by side with photos of officers peacefully handing out face masks to white sunbathers in riverside parks in wealthier areas. There’s no disagreement that some interactions with police arising out of social distancing enforcement have gone horribly wrong. While NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said that “a punch should not be assumed to be excessive force,” he also said he wasn’t happy with the arrest in Alphabet City, and the main officer involved was placed on modified duty pending an investigation. Still, de Blasio defended the NYPD’s role in enforcement at a May 8 press conference. “Enforcement is necessary to saving lives, and we’re not going to have proper enforcement without the largest, best police force in the country being in the game here,” he said. The The police were tasked with keeping people 6 feet apart in public, a task that is growing more difficult as the weather gets warmer and more New Yorkers go outdoors.
ity of which targeted African Americans and Latinos. Fear is not keeping black and brown New Yorkers out of parks, said Adrian Benepe, the former New York City parks commissioner, who now works at the Trust for Public Land. He has visited parks in majority minority neighborhoods all over Upper Manhattan and the Bronx and saw many people enjoying themselves and only “a very modest police presence.” “It’s been extremely gentle,” he told City & State. “It’s largely police standing there and giving out masks.” But criticism hit a fever pitch the first week of May, following a weekend when the NYPD
mayor did acknowledge some room for improvement. The racial disparity in stops needed to be fixed, he said, and officers need “more training” and “clearer protocols.” In fairness to de Blasio, enforcing the law is normally the job of police, and it’s not obvious why social distancing is inherently different from normal NYPD tasks such as crowd control at parades and other public events. But Eugene O’Donnell, a former police officer who’s now a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told City & State that if de Blasio and the public are going to blame police for conflicts arising out of social distancing regulations, they could simply refuse to enforce it. “There’s a simple solution,”
O’Donnell said, “police don’t do anything, and people die – but police don’t get blamed.” Some of the city’s district attorneys are trying to pressure the police to do nothing – or at the very least, not to make arrests. Following the public backlash, Gothamist reported that top prosecutors in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens have pledged not to prosecute some or all arrests arising from social distancing rules. Some critics think the mayor is relying too much on the cops, and should adjust tactics. That could mean working with community-based organizations or local clergy to get the right messages across, New York City Council Public Safety Committee Chairman Donovan Richards said at a May 5 City & State webinar. “People that people in the communities actually know and respect,” he said. “I’m not saying they don’t respect the police department, but when you come in with a law enforcement-heavy solution, that is not the answer.” FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh too thought the answer was more about education than enforcement in this “essentially human emergency.” “That’s what we ask people to remember,” she said on the webinar. “If they’re going out and they’re not socially distancing or they’re not wearing a mask, it’s our (FDNY) members that they’re putting at risk, and their friends and family that they’re putting at risk.” Police officers aren’t the only ones doing enforcement. More than 1,000 employees at other agencies, including the FDNY and the parks department, were called up over the weekend to help keep people socially distanced. On May 10, de Blasio announced the city would more than double the number of “social distancing ambassadors” on patrol, to 2,300. Some of them, like Parks Enforcement Patrol officers, technically have the power to put people under arrest, but they rarely go that far. And none of them carry guns. That’s a program that Benepe would like to see go even further with these city employees and peace officers handling more enforcement. NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents, who have little to no work to do with a decline in driving and fewer parking violations, could be brought in to help, instead of regular patrol officers. But maybe, Benepe said, the city doesn’t need that much enforcement at all. “Most people value their lives,” he said. Keeping 6 feet away from people you don’t live with is like “picking up after your dog. It’s pretty much self-enforcing.”
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CityAndStateNY.com
As temperatures rise, none of the old ways of keeping seniors cool are safe in the era of social distancing. by K A Y D E R V I S H I
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HE POPULATIONS MOST at risk of dying from the coronavirus are also among the most vulnerable to heat strokes in the summer. With hotter weather creeping in and shelter-in-place orders still in effect, elderly New Yorkers and residents with chronic medical conditions could face new challenges trying to stay cool. Recommendations that people stay at least 6 feet away from one another make New York City’s usual cooling initiatives difficult to organize. Seniors, the chronically ill and others trying to beat the heat can normally access so-called cooling centers, which are publicly accessible buildings like senior centers and
May 18, 2020
community centers that have air conditioning. But encouraging people who are more likely to die from COVID-19 to congregate in one location would be risky. And even if cooling centers were operational, they would likely have to be at a much lower capacity. “We’re looking at how do we modify our existing cooling center strategy, but also how do we use nontraditional cooling possibilities,” Deanne Criswell, commissioner of the New York City Emergency Management Department, said during a City & State webinar in early May. “Can we do noncongregate cooling capability, maybe through isolation hotels, maybe through other means? How do we provide or increase in-home cooling for those of our vulnerable?” More than 80% of heat stroke deaths in New York City have involved people who don’t have air conditioning in their homes. And though nearly 90% of New Yorkers had air conditioning at home in 2007, that still leaves about 1 million residents – particularly low-income people and public housing residents – stuck in the heat. An average of 13 New York City residents died per year from heat-related illnesses between 2000 and 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The deaths were disproportionately among people from poorer neighborhoods and
those with heart disease and other medical conditions. But some studies indicate that the number of heat-related deaths in the city may be much higher than that because it depends on how a “hot day” is defined and on the different methods used to link deaths to heat waves. Estimates vary from nearly 200 deaths a year to more than 600, according to a report from the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. Rising temperatures as a result of climate change make the risk of extreme heat waves more acute each summer as well. Mayor Bill de Blasio has also indicated an interest in keeping cooling centers open this year. City Councilwoman Margaret Chin agreed that the possibility of bringing back spaces where older adults can gather – albeit with precautions to maintain social distancing – may be helpful. “I think going forward, one thing is to see what is a new way of bringing seniors together in a safe situation,” she said. “It won’t be like the past, where you cram 100 or more seniors in one space.” Gregory Morris, president and executive director at the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center, a nonprofit that operates within a public housing development, also supported bringing back cooling centers.
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City & State New York
Seniors and other vulnerable New Yorkers who can’t afford air conditioning often rely on cooling centers on hot days. COVID-19 may change that.
“The reality is some people are going to have difficulty paying for air conditioners, even if there are reductions in cost,” he said, adding that nonprofits operating cooling centers could also conduct wellness checks at the sites.
But additional strategies that reduce possible crowding have also had some support. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer called on city officials in late April to stockpile fans and air conditioners in anticipation of a hot summer. To distribute cooling units to those most in need, Stringer has encouraged the city to pitch in to a federally funded cooling assistance benefits program administered by the city’s social services agency. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program allows low-income applicants to get up to $800 to install an air conditioner or fan in their home if they can prove they have a medical condition that is worsened by heat. “The city has to strategize (and) the mayor has to backstop the program so in the case of heightened demand, in case of
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COVID, every New Yorker – including undocumented residents – could qualify for an air conditioner,” Stringer told City & State. The program currently isn’t available to undocumented immigrants, but the comptroller said if the city put in its own funding, the eligibility requirements could be expanded. Katelyn Andrews, director of public policy at LiveOn NY, which represents organizations that help seniors, said the program could also theoretically waive requirements that applicants prove that they have a particular medical condition in order to qualify. “All older adults will be in a more precarious position and should have access to this,” she said. In crafting a strategy for how to cool vulnerable New Yorkers, she said the city could also use attendance records at cooling centers from previous years to figure out which communities are likely to be in the greatest need. Individual senior centers and nonprofits may also play a key role identifying individuals and families in need of support. “We have a pretty good sense of which residents have the most extraordinary heat, cooling center-type needs,” Morris said. “By virtue of interacting with the community, we may know who has air conditioners and who doesn’t.”
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CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
NYC without selfie sticks is every New Yorker’s fantasy. It came true – and it hurts. by A N N I E M C D O N O U G H
RICARDO LUIZ ANTUNES/SHUTTERSTOCK
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EW YORK CITY without tourists is something many New Yorkers crammed onto crowded subway cars – or avoiding overrun attractions like Museum of Modern Art – may fantasize about now and then. This summer, it’s likely to be a reality, but it will probably hurt more New Yorkers than it helps. International flights to the United States have been largely restricted and reduced in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, while huge numbers of domestic flights have been canceled over the past two months. Anyone who has been reading the news or watching Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s daily press briefings knows that the New York City area – thanks in part to its status as a tourist hub – has had by far the worst coronavirus outbreak in the United States. So tourism is unlikely to pick up in the coming summer months, resulting in untold lost income for New Yorkers and lost tax revenue for the city. Still, those who work in and study the tourism industry say that the pandemic isn’t the end of tourism in New York. The question is not whether visitors will eventually return to New York, but how and when they can start to do so safely. “I’m pretty bullish on New York, and I think there are going to be some bright spots and you might have some glimmers of hope,” said Cristyne Nicholas, co-founder of Nicholas & Lence Communications and former CEO and president of NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism arm. “But I think it’s going to be a very slow turnaround.” Tourism has been rising in New York for roughly a decade, since the end of the last recession, and during good economic times, it has been going up for several decades. NYC & Company reported 65 million vis-
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The folding maps and fanny packs are gone. But visitors spend tens of billions of dollars in New York every year. What happens when that all goes away?
As other states open up, New Yorkers may want to flee – taking the virus with them.
THIS SUMMER, with movie theaters, amusement parks, and concerts all closed or canceled for the foreseeable future, well-heeled New Yorkers might be especially eager to get out of town. Some New Yorkers have already left the
city despite the stay-at-home order, or plan to do so later this summer, leaving for vacation homes in coastal beach towns or for states whose economies are already reopening. Georgia, for example, has seen an influx in out-ofstate visitors since businesses began reopening in late April. “I think some of them already started to venture out, and out of the city, especially knowing that school is out,” said Cristyne Nicholas, co-founder of Nicholas & Lence Communications and former chief executive and president of NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism arm.
Other New Yorkers may want to get out of New York City for the summer, but lack the means to do so. Now, with the city’s public pools closed, summer camps canceled and the opening of public beaches up in the air, it’s likely that the only people who will be able to cool off in a pool or catch a breeze by the water are those who can afford to vacation outside of New York City. But as travel does start to pick up again, public health experts say that people moving about risk carrying the virus elsewhere. Eleanor Murray, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health, told City & State that it’s not yet clear how many New Yorkers have been or are currently infected with COVID-19, but it is known that people can be infectious even if they don’t yet have symptoms. “It’s very likely that at least some New Yorkers who travel out of state or city will be infectious and carry the virus with them, and this is very likely to spread the outbreak,” Murray wrote over email. It’s not surprising then, that well-off New Yorkers leaving the city for a second home in regions like the Catskills and the Hamptons have provoked outrage from locals who worry about their community’s resources to fight an outbreak. “The best evidence suggests that on average each person with SARSCoV-2 infects between two and five other people, which means that even one person who is infectious can potentially start an outbreak in an area that hasn’t had one yet,” Murray wrote. One group of upstaters that isn’t unhappy, though, is real estate agents. Some New Yorkers, sick of cramped quarantine situations and desperate for a backyard, are now searching for homes in areas such as the Hudson Valley – and some suburban and upstate real estate brokers have been flooded with business.
itors in 2018, and said last summer that the city was on track for nearly 67 million visitors in 2019, though official numbers have yet to be released. Naturally, spending by tourists has increased too. In 2018, direct spending by visitors to New York reached $46 billion. The city’s tourism agency has not released any research on the impact of the pandemic on tourism this summer, saying it’s too soon to forecast. But Nicholas said June, July and August typically bring a lot of tourists, adding that many domestic tourists typically come in the summer. One study by the personal finance website WalletHub put New York as the ninth most-affected state for coronavirus-related decreases in tourism, just below Washington, D.C. and just above California. (Number one is Hawaii.) Virtually all businesses in New York City are hurting right now because of the pandemic-inflicted shutdown. The restaurants that tourists spend money in are closed or running only limited take-out and delivery service. Theaters, museums and other cultural attractions are entirely closed. Book stores, restaurants and even the Tenement Museum are closing permanently or are at risk of doing so because of their sudden revenue drop. Four-star hotels, lacking customers, have turned into housing for exhausted health care workers. NYC & Company tracks monthly hotel occupancy, and the most recent data available is from March of this year. That month, just as the coronavirus outbreak intensified in New York, there was only 30.6% occupancy in city hotels. In March of 2019, hotels were at 84.4% capacity. Tourism accounts directly for over 300,000 jobs in New York City, according to research from NYC & Company. Visitor-dependent businesses like tour guides or sightseeing companies have now had to lay off or furlough their employees. In late April, half of the staff of NYC & Company itself were furloughed for three months. But interest in visiting New York in the long term doesn’t appear to be waning. Lori
JAMES CASIL, RBLFMR/SHUTTERSTOCK
SUMMER EXODUS
Most businesses in New York have been struggling during the health crisis, but tourism has been hit especially hard. Tourism accounts directly for over 300,000 jobs in New York City.
Pennington-Gray, the director of the Tourism Crisis Management Initiative at the University of Florida, has been surveying Americans on their anxieties about travel due to the coronavirus, and how the pandemic will affect future travel plans. The surveys have shown a few promising results for New York. The state is still a top-three destination for respondents, alongside California and Florida. And perhaps most surprisingly, when respondents were asked where they plan to visit first after travel restrictions are lifted, the fourth most popular category was big cities. (The most popular was the beach; the least popular was cruises.) Pennington-Gray noted that the survey asks respondents how soon after the coronavirus is contained they expect to travel, and most said two to six months, or six months
to one year. But containing the virus is not a simple goal. Will a testing-and-tracing system contain outbreaks? Or does nothing short of a vaccine ensure true containment? “We asked a question about how far away would things be back to normal, and most people are saying 2021 – and that’s the new
normal, not what we were used to,” Pennington-Gray said. “But people aren’t expecting it to come back anytime soon.” Without knowing when the coronavirus will be contained, there’s no telling exactly when tourism returns. Pennington-Gray said that when visitors do come
“I’M PRETTY BULLISH ON NEW YORK. … BUT I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE A VERY SLOW TURNAROUND.”
– Cristyne Nicholas, former CEO and president of NYC & Company
May 18, 2020
back, it will likely be “drive tourism.” “As soon as it’s contained, there should be some influx of tourism,” she said. “That’s what we’re finding nationally, that people are most likely going to stay closer to home and they’re going to drive, it’s going to be domestic. They’re going to do things that are not in large crowds – open spaces, outdoors.” Nicholas, who ran NYC & Company after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, is optimistic that some tourism can return sooner, depending on the type of visitor. “There are a lot of people in the tri-state area that can certainly come back and help. What we did right after 9/11, we weren’t marketing right away to international visitors. We were first going to domestic (visitors),” she said, echoing Pennington-Gray’s prediction that in the early days, drive tourism will be predominant. “I don’t see people rushing to the airports to go on flights right now.” When talking about the return of tourism, it matters what kinds of tourists you’re talking about. Nicholas split potential travelers into three groups: first, younger millennials who may feel less at risk from the virus; second, middle-aged people with families who will be cautious but want to continue to travel; and finally, older travelers. “The thing that in my opinion will take the biggest hit will be the Baby Boom-
er, older traveler,” Nicholas said. “That was very, very big and important because they had disposable income and they were also intrepid travelers.” In light of the higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 for people more than 60 years old, Nicholas said, “I think that group in particular is going to be super cautious.” As Nicholas notes, the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus may inhibit travel even after the pandemic itself is over. “There are multiple factors that influence travel and one of them is discretionary in-
come. We know that people have been hit hard,” Pennington-Gray said. If visitors did come to New York City in the medium-term future for a trip or vacation, they would be in danger of contracting the virus and bringing it home with them. “Tourists or visitors to New York are absolutely at risk of infection,” said Eleanor Murray, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health. “We don’t yet have a very reliable test to tell who has been infected in the past, and we don’t know how long immunity might last for those who were previously infected, largely because this virus is very new.” So how can tourism safely return to New York? Pennington-Gray and Nicholas said businesses in each sector of the tourism industry are already talking about the “new normal.” It will involve reduced capacity at hotels, social distancing at all the businesses that tourists frequent. “There’s different phases that people will come back, but they’re not going to come back until they know that they’ve done what they need to do to keep the visitor safe as well,” Pennington-Gray said. Nicholas suggested that businesses will want to open, even if they’re doing less business. “I think tourism businesses are just going to try to survive with whoever they can,” she said. “I believe that if they can open, they will. And even if they will only get 35% to 50% of the business, the market will meet the demand.” As for public health measures short of a vaccine that could help make travel safer, Murray said that more robust testing – along with fastidious hygiene and distancing measures – could help. “Over the next few months, I expect that we will get better antibody tests and a better understanding of COVID immunity,” she wrote over email. “These, combined with testing for active infection and contact tracing will make travel safer for people coming into and out of New York – but only if people obey any quarantine and isolation orders they may be given.”
■
MISHELLA/SHUTTERSTOCK
New York City relied heavily on domestic tourism in the wake of 9/11, when people were still nervous to fly. Observers hope the same will be true after the health crisis ends.
NOMINATIONS OPEN THOUGH MAY 15TH City & State's Regional Heroes RECOGNIZING NEW YORK’S PANDEMIC HEROES Lists Recognizing New York's pandemic heroes
REGIONAL HEROES LISTS NOMINATIONS MAY 15TH Nominations are now openOPEN for CityTHROUGH & State's Regional Heroes Lists!
As New York is battered by COVID-19, New Yorkers have responded in As New York is battered by COVID-19, Newcare Yorkers have responded remarkable ways: first responders and health professionals tendin to the ill, remarkable ways: first responders and health care professionals tend to the ill, nonprofit workers carecare forfor the government officials go above nonprofit workers themost mostvulnerable, vulnerable, government officials go above and beyond, business leaders theircommunities—and communities—and countless and beyond, business leaderssupport support their countless contribute to pullingour ourstate state and thisthis difficult time. time. othersothers contribute to pulling andcity citythrough through difficult In honor of these exceptional weare are publishing a series of special In honor of these exceptionalindividuals, individuals, we publishing a series of special to highlight their workinindifferent different regions New York, in lieu ourof our issuesissues to highlight their work regionsofof New York, in of lieu traditional POWER traditional POWERlists. lists. To begin, we are looking LongIsland, Island, Westchester, Upstate NY, NY, andand the five To begin, we are looking atatLong Westchester, Upstate the five boroughs of New York City. Do you know a local hero who deserves to be boroughs of New York City. Do you know a local hero who deserves to be recognized? Nominate a regional hero here recognized? Nominate a regional hero here https://www.cityandstateny.com/content/city-state-regional-heroes-2020 or https://www.cityandstateny.com/content/city-state-regional-heroes-2020 email lblake@cityandstateny.com or email lblake@cityandstateny.com
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CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
TOP
New York City’s
LOBBYISTS E
VERY YEAR, the New York City Clerk’s Office publishes a list of the city’s top 10 lobbyists, based on total lobbying compensation for the previous calendar year. Kasirer has topped the list in the last few cycles, followed by Capalino+Company and then such mainstays as Bolton-St. Johns, Constantinople & Vallone, and Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno. But City & State was curious to learn more about the other players who hadn’t cracked the top 10. After all, many of these firms still earn impressive sums representing influential clients. So this year, we crunched the numbers and came up with an improved and expanded list: New York City’s Top 50 Lobbyists. Like the city’s official top 10, our list is based solely on what the city defines as lobbying revenue – and it excludes income firms
may take in for other services, including communications and campaign consulting. But unlike the city’s rundown, we took a different approach in opting to combine compensation totals for companies that are part of the same corporate structure, even if they file separately – which vaulted Cozen O’Connor (along with Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies) into our top 10. We then reached out to each firm for some basic details as well as responses to one or more questions. The responses have been edited for length and clarity. For any firms that didn’t answer us, we filled in the gaps with details from public filings. We’re pleased to present New York City’s Top 50 Lobbyists. Reporting by Jana Cholakovska, Amina Frassl, Jon Lentz and Alice Popovici
Tom Connolly, George DeRosa, Ed Draves, Bill McCarthy and Patrick McHugh wish to congratulate our partners Emily Giske, Mike Keogh and Juanita Scarlett and the entire Bolton-St. Johns New York City team for a year of tremendous growth and outstanding representation. We are also excited to welcome our newest partners Samara Daly and Teresa Gonzalez to our firm.
BSJ is grateful to all of our clients who have answered the call to help New York respond to the COVID-19 crisis. It has been an honor to represent hospitals and their medical staffs, first responders, educators, essential workers who prepare meals, deliver food, keep supermarkets running or fill prescriptions for New Yorkers; as well as our clients who have housed and built field hospitals, donated personal protective equipment, and volunteered time and talent to the development of innovative solutions to help New Yorkers access technology, remote learning tools and economic assistance. In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to partnering with the city, state and federal governments to help recover, reimagine and rebuild New York.
NYC
7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich St., # 4641 New York, NY 10007 212-431-4748
ALBANY
146 State Street Albany, NY 12207 518-462-4620
www.boltonstjohns.com
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Suri Kasirer, Julie Greenberg, Kara Hughes & Omar Toro-Vaca President; Executive Vice President; Senior Vice President, Corporate and Legislation; Senior Vice President, Real Estate COMPENSATION:
$14,322,411.60
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Lester Marks, Jovia Radix, Jennifer Rivera KEY INDUSTRIES: Nonprofits, real estate, urban planning, land use, hospitality, media and entertainment, technology, health care, hospitals NOTABLE CLIENTS: Altice, Charter Communications, Delta Airlines, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Motion Picture Association, Mount Sinai Health System, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, NBCUniversal, Nordstrom, Northwell Health, Target, T-Mobile
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR? We
are always proud to represent and advocate for a diverse portfolio of New Yorkers, and we accomplished great things on their behalf in 2019. We negotiated over $49 million in funding for our nonprofits – from American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, UJA and Citymeals on Wheels, to Ballet Hispánico, Lincoln Center and The Public Theater. We led the government affairs team for Nordstrom’s East Coast flagship store, which opened in October 2019. It was an incredibly complex project and a $1 billion investment by Nordstrom in this single store that occupies the base of three buildings. We also worked with Target to open stores in Kips Bay and on the Upper East Side, which makes nine stores altogether since we began representing them. On behalf of Tishman, we navigated through a 74-711 Uniform Land Use Review Procedure and successfully obtained approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Department of City Planning, and the
City Council for replacing a ten-story parking garage with a contextual condo building on East 16th Street. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? Looking
back, while there were challenges in 2019, we never could have imagined those we would be faced with now. That said, the biggest challenge we faced last year was that of working to help clients navigate the complex dynamics at play as a result of the upcoming city government sea change. While still early in the political season, every elected official term-limited out of office at the end of 2021 had their sights set on their next move. To have every project and every piece of legislation viewed and considered through that lens - and the politics of navigating how getting one official’s support would impact the positions taken by their likely opponents for another office - made operating in a highly politicized environment even more challenging than usual. We helped our clients achieve significant goals despite the challenges. For instance, we
worked with the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting NYC in a successful campaign to bring the groundbreaking ballot initiative ranked-choice voting to New York City. We look at every challenge as an opportunity to figure out new paths to succeed on behalf of our clients. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? COVID-19 has
changed all of our lives and has certainly changed the political landscape. It has given elected officials the opportunity to define their leadership style in the face of the unknown, and has forced us all to reimagine how we engage for now and for the foreseeable future. For our clients, we’ve had to be nimble and pivot – adjusting the way we engage with government, how they communicate with elected and government officials about the critical needs they’re filling for the city’s neediest residents, and revise and reframe the strategies we recommend to our clients. Being nimble and resourceful is key to our success and to the city’s future.
DON POLLARD
KASIRER
May 18, 2020
22 CityAndStateNY.com
CAPALINO+COMPANY
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
Jim Capalino, Travis Terry & Mark Thompson CEO; CFO; Group Leader COMPENSATION:
$11,945,845.46
KEY INDUSTRIES: Social ser-
vices, real estate, health care, technology, consumer products, finance NOTABLE CLIENTS: UPS, Macy’s, Fair Futures, Accenture, BYD Motors, HNTB, Nike, Somos Community Care
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, our city is experiencing one of its toughest tests in its history. While Capalino+Company’s focus is always on serving our clients, our firm also has a responsibility to use its skills as advocates and our relationships to support government in taking action in this crisis. We have worked with our business and nonprofit partners to secure personal protective equipment for frontline workers, open testing sites, enable remote learning and deliver meals to homebound seniors. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? Our com-
pany has evolved a lot in the last year into an urban strategy firm. We’ve grown our non-lobbying services to help clients with strategic planning, investment financing and market research. We have made great strides in
POLITICAL CONSULTANT COMPANY City & State
212.571.7717 PUBLIC RELATIONS
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developing and executing forward-thinking strategies to help our clients get things done. The challenges from the coronavirus pandemic are significant, and balancing our work with our core values of helping communities is always front and center. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? Tragedies always have
a way of bringing out the best in us. Prior to COVID-19, our politics were antagonist, angry and uncompromising. That will change for at least in the short term to become less polarizing as there is now an increased expectation and reliance on government to guide us through this crisis. We all have to work together to find solutions to revitalize New York.
1 15 YEARS
Top 10 New York Public Affairs Firms
518.426.4930 CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT
CAPALINO+COMPANY; BOLTON-ST. JOHNS
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May 18, 2020
May 18, 2020
3
City & State New York
BOLTON-ST. JOHNS Emily Giske & Mike Keogh Partners COMPENSATION:
$5,594,309.26
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Juanita Scarlett, Samara Daly, Teresa Gonzalez, Anne Marie Anzalone, Robin Brown, Julie Jursik, Julian Kline, Violet Moss, John Albert, Keyla Antigua KEY INDUSTRIES: Health care, education, transportation, technology, city finance, nonprofit service, land use advocacy NOTABLE CLIENTS:
Tech:NYC, LGBT Network, United Way, Hudson Companies, Girls for Gender Equity
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR? We
are proud to have developed the most diverse firm in the city of New York, and continue to attract uniquely qualified talent who are recognized as public
policy and government affairs leaders across the state. Our team is also a leading advocate for women, the LGBTQ community and immigrant communities across the city, and we ensure that the people generally left out of political conversations get a voice, leading to more inclusive results. We are also proud to have secured millions of dollars for nonprofits providing critical services in areas like criminal justice, immigration, education and social services. More notably, we were able to help our clients restore $6 million in funding for the NYC School Breakfast Program and secure funding for indigent legal services. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR?
The biggest challenge has been to continue to meet a variety of public policy initiatives for a group of diverse clients in a changing political climate. We continue to leverage our relationships to help govern-
23
ment achieve the best policy outcomes by identifying critical objectives and working to reach those objectives in a collaborative way that also preserves and promotes widespread social and economic opportunity across New York City. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? The COVID-19
pandemic is an unprecedented event that is going to present ongoing challenges. If anything, the crisis made starkly clear just how important government is in getting us through major public health events. During the initial outbreak, our firm assisted clients in responding to the crisis on the front lines. We are especially proud of our work with clients like the United States Tennis Association, whose National Tennis Center is the site of a field hospital meeting the immediate medical needs of Queens residents.
Kasirer is the #1 lobbying and government relations firm in New York. We advocate on behalf of a wide range of clients who seek local expertise in navigating the City.
321 Broadway, 2d Fl New York, NY 10007 T: 212 285 1800 kasirer.nyc
24 CityAndStateNY.com
CONSTANTINOPLE & VALLONE CONSULTING Anthony Constantinople & Perry Vallone PRINCIPALS COMPENSATION: $5,062,242 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Peter Vallone Sr., Tony Constantinople, Jake Potent, Steve Williams, Jordan Press, Lauren George, Kevin Jones, Scott Karolidis, Yanni Trittas, Julianna Mirra, Carol Swift, Andrea Reres, Bailey McGillian KEY INDUSTRIES: Education, nonprofits, small business, energy, telecommunications, technology, affordable housing, real estate, transportation NOTABLE CLIENTS: Waste Management, T-Mobile, TD Bank, Walgreens, The College Board, NRG Energy, New York Edge, YAI WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
Advocacy has become more
inclusive: It requires working with community groups, faith leaders, parents and teachers. We build partnerships to grow our outreach to engage and persuade a wide group of constituents. Through this enhanced dialogue, our clients have achieved success that benefits communities like the construction and preservation of thousands of new affordable housing units and funding that helps make STEM education more accessible and interactive. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? There’s
no question that the political landscape in New York City has shifted dramatically in the past few years, presenting government relations firms with the need to build broader coalitions, engage community stakeholders and organizations, and present clients with comprehensive strategies that highlight local community needs. Those concerns have been incorporated in our work since the firm was
founded. We have always said that consensus building guides us on the path to success, a strategy that our founding partner Peter Vallone used effectively as speaker of the City Council. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? The COVID-19
pandemic has presented all of our clients with new challenges. Many are now dependent on guidance from an array of agencies that can change from week to week, requiring our team to process and disseminate information at a much greater pace. We are working with our clients to help government address the challenges created by the coronavirus, including increasing internet access for students so they can learn remotely and helping small businesses apply for loans. Building these partnerships has led to some of our most rewarding work when it comes to Speaker Vallone’s guiding principle of “do the right thing.”
Proud to rank among the top lobbying firms in NYC 50 State Street – Albany, NY 518 427 7350 | brownweinraub.com
Government Relations | Strategy | Healthcare Consulting & Advocacy | Corporate and Legal Affairs
CONSTANTINOPLE & VALLONE; ALI GARBER; PITTA BISHOP
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5
City & State New York
PITTA BISHOP & DEL GIORNO Vincent Pitta & Jon Del Giorno Founding Members COMPENSATION:
$4,372,511.99
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Robert Bishop, Carlos Beato, Theresa Cosgrove, Vito Pitta, Nadya Stevens, Bradford Gonzalez-Sussman, Ardian Tagani, Karen Mullaney, Mickey Cekovic KEY INDUSTRIES: Health care, construction, housing, immigration, transportation, civil service, police, family support services, private and public sector labor organizations NOTABLE CLIENTS: Public Health Solutions, EmblemHealth, MagnaCare, Richmond University Medical Center, AECOM, Detectives Endowment Association, New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers, TWU Local 100, Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR? We
were able to secure funding for construction of a new, modern emergency room, surgical tower and cogeneration plant for Richmond University Medical Center. We secured funding for women’s locker rooms and bathrooms in the city Department of Sanitation garages. We assisted the Consortium for Worker Education in coordinating their first ever gathering of their more than 60 partners in an open house showcasing their broad breadth of services and celebrating their successes.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? Our
biggest challenges have been to ensure consistent funding for the critical services provided by our social service and health care clients; foster and ensure the rigorous enforcement of health and safety standards to protect the men and women working in the NYC transit system, construction
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industries, schools, NYCHA and other agency facilities; and to provide our public and private clients with the strategic and logistical tools and support they need to realize their organizational goals and missions in an ever changing environment. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? Our clients in the
health care, transit, education, construction, sanitation, police and building engineering services have been on the front lines of this pandemic. Our current challenge is to ensure they have access to the equipment and supplies they need. We are providing them daily with multiple COVID-19 related alerts, as well as distributing to them personal protective equipment. In terms of our work, we expect we’ll be using a great deal more of the telecommuting and video conferencing skills we’ve developed in the past several weeks.
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DAVIDOFF HUTCHER & CITRON Sean Crowley & Arthur Goldstein Partner; Partner and Chairman of the New York City Government Relations Practice Group COMPENSATION:
$4,013,902.37
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Sid Davidoff, Jeffrey Citron, Howard Weiss, Keith Wright, Charles Capetanakis, Steve Malito, Brian Simon KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate, land use, construction, New York City budget, legislation and regulation, economic development, hospitality, health care, social services NOTABLE CLIENTS: Election Systems & Software, Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association, Junior Achievement of New York, Juul Labs, NBCUniversal
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
We have been focused on helping guide our clients through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 outbreak. We immediately formed a task force of attorneys and government relations professionals to advise clients on applying for emergency relief loans and grants through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Small Business Administration. With federal, state and local authorities enacting legislation and issuing guidance nearly every day, we have been in constant communication with our clients. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR?
COVID-19 presents an enormous challenge, with major sectors of the economy frozen and nonprofit organizations fighting to continue their important work. We have been working tire-
lessly to help them overcome these obstacles, whether through successful advocacy to keep essential businesses open with safety precautions or to protect funding for organizations that provide crucial services for children, foster families, persons with disabilities, the homeless and the formerly incarcerated. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? We are the same New
York that stood tall after 9/11 and the financial crisis. We believe that we must – and we will – work together to rebuild and recover. DHC’s government relations and legal team has worked closely with elected officials and agency leaders through six decades, advocating on behalf of clients including Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, cultural organizations, schools, labor unions and nonprofits. These institutions are vital to New York.
Government Relati tio ons and Public Aff ffa a ir s New York | Albany | Trenton | Washington www.tonioburgos.com
DAVIDOFF HUTCHER & CITRON; GREENBERG TRAURIG
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May 18, 2020
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City & State New York
GREENBERG TRAURIG Ed Wallace & John Mascialino FOUNDER OF GLP PRACTICE AND CO-CHAIRMAN, NEW YORK OFFICE; CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNMENT, LAW AND POLICY COMPENSATION:
$3,840,723.33
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Bob Harding, Mark Weprin, Larry Levy, Jonathan Bing, Bryan Grimaldi, Julia Rogawski, Roy Mogilanski, India Sneed, Ellen Gustafson, Jay Segal, Deirdre Carson, Nick Hockens, Daniel Egers KEY INDUSTRIES: Franchises and concessions, land use, real estate, technology, hospitality, not for profit, transportation, entertainment, contracts NOTABLE CLIENTS: Deloitte, JCDecaux, Morgan Stanley, AT&T, NYU Langone, The Broadway League
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
GT has expanded its New York Government, Law and Policy (GLP) Practice with a number of professionals who have added further depth of services and unique experience, including: Jonathan Bing, former state assemblyman; Bryan Grimaldi, former COO and general counsel of NYC & Company; Roy Mogilanski, former assistant director at the city Office of Management and Budget; India Sneed, former chief of staff to the 41st District New York City council member; and Ellen Gustafson, former director of operations for former New York City Councilman Daniel Garodnick. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? The
COVID-19 situation has been a challenge and a learning experience for everyone, but also, this crisis has been a validation that the choices we have made as a firm provided us the tools to
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serve our clients with the same speed and effectiveness despite working remotely. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? Elected officials are
put to the test. Some will rise to the challenge, others not. As for our work, which often depends on person-to-person advocacy and the sidebar exchange of information, we are adapting to video conferencing, and even greater transparency and sharing. The GLP team convenes at 8 a.m. daily with a set agenda of client-focused topics. The group is helping clients deal with their new unique challenges and has a Health Emergency Preparedness Task Force where members are closely monitoring actions anticipated or being taken by federal, state and local government to update clients in real time.
Coalition for the Homeless runs 11 lifesaving programs that provide emergency food, crisis services, housing and more for over 3,500 people every day of the week. Please visit www.coalitionforthehomeless.org to learn more about the services we provide and how you can help support those most in need. Thank you to Jim Quent and the Statewide Public Affairs Team for donating this ad.
www.statewidepublicaffairs.com
28 CityAndStateNY.com
W
HAT DO A land use attorney, a campaign consultant and the leader of an advocacy organization all have in common? In New York, there’s a good chance they’re all lobbyists. Lobbying plays a key role in city and state government, but it isn’t limited to the stereotypical operator working out deals in smoke-filled back rooms. That’s because the scope of actions that require individuals to register as lobbyists is especially broad in New York. According to both New York City and state law, a lobbyist is “every person or organization retained, employed or designated by any client to engage in lobbying.” That seems straightforward enough, but the key is defining what is considered to be lobbying. The definition includes “any attempt to influence” the passage or defeat of legislation, the adoption or rejection of rules or regulations by a state or city agency, ratemaking determinations and procurement decisions. That covers a wide array of avenues through which someone may attempt to influence just about any decision that requires some form of action by a government body or agency. Any lobbyist or firm that expects to spend or receive over $5,000 related to lobbying must register with the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, known as JCOPE, or the City Clerk’s Office for any activity in New York City. The same is required for any organization that does not hire an outside lobbyist, but expects to spend money lobbying on its own behalf. All registered lobbyists have to file reports on their activities every two months. Organizations that hire lobbyists and expect to spend over $5,000 must file reports as well. All of that information is available to the public in searchable databases. There are any number of traditional government relations firms that openly advertise their lobbying services, including top New York City lobbyists Kasirer, Capalino+Company and Bolton-St. Johns. These kinds of firms engage in activities that one generally thinks of when one thinks of lobbyists. Private companies, advocacy organizations and nonprofits employ them to go directly to lawmakers and other government decision-makers to get favored legislation passed, a project approved or a valuable contract procured. There are also law firms with government relations practices, like Greenberg Traurig, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron
May 18, 2020
and Cozen O’Connor. Lawyers in the government relations practices of these firms provide many of the same services of lobbying and public affairs firms not staffed by attorneys. Although some lawyers may not consider themselves lobbyists, the two occupations often overlap. Ken Fisher, a real estate attorney with Cozen O’Connor, said he considers himself to be both. If a lawyer representing a client engages in activity that state or city law considers lobbying, that person is a lobbyist. Fisher said that while there may be negative stereotypes associated with the word “lobbyist,” it doesn’t change the reality of the work. This is also true for law firms that file as lobbyists not because of government relations work, but because of their real estate or land use practice. Many major development projects in New York City first go through a lengthy process
LOBBYIST ˈLOB-EE-IST 1
2
(noun) an individual who seeks to influence legislation or sway public officials. (noun) anyone in New York who does anything at all like lobbying.
in order to get a rezoning approved. Traditional lobbyists often represent real estate companies to advocate for individual projects, but so do lawyers. Law firms specializing in real estate and land use, such as Kramer Levin and Fried Frank, which are both listed among the city’s top lobbyists based on annual revenue, may hire outside lobbyists to handle public relations and direct contact with elected officials, but their lawyers still engage in what the law considers lobbying. “When they stand up at a public hearing, they are advocating for their client in the same way that a third-party lobbyist may be in some elected official’s office,” Fisher said. There are also firms, thanks to a fairly expansive definition of lobbying in the state, that need to register even when they engage in activities that may not be considered lobbying elsewhere. One example is Tusk Strategies, which develops
and runs public campaigns for its clients and does not consider itself a lobbying firm. Although lobbying is one aspect of the campaigns the firm runs, along with social media and opposition research, Tusk Strategies CEO Bradley Tusk told City & State his firm typically relies on third-party lobbyists to complete such work if it’s required. And even though employees engage in some in-person advocacy if they happen to have a connection with the right lawmakers, “it’s a minor part of our overall work (and) there’s no allergy whatsoever to doing traditional lobbying,” Tusk said. Many advocacy organizations also register as lobbyists because their employees engage in direct lobbying of lawmakers. Some also hire the same lobbyists that major corporations do. Although these organizations generally don’t have a financial interest in what they are lobbying for in the way that private companies do, they are still considered lobbyists. The same goes for human services nonprofits, whether their own employees lobby or they hire an outside lobbyist. And while these organizations may have the public interest in mind, they also stand to benefit financially if, for example, they are allocated funding in a budget or are awarded a government contract. “The credibility between a mission-driven organization and a profit-driven organization may be different – one may be more suspect than the other,” Fisher said. “But the technique of lobbying, the objectives of the lobbying is the same.” The line may be drawn, though, for private citizens like Kat Sullivan. For months, JCOPE demanded that Sullivan, an alleged rape survivor, register as a lobbyist because she spent over $5,000 advocating for the passage of the Child Victims Act, including the purchase of billboards. Sullivan independently used some of her settlement money from a lawsuit over the alleged rape to support the legislation. JCOPE eventually dropped the issue. While Sullivan may have been attempting to influence public policy, she was not employed by anyone to do so, which is part of the state definition of a lobbyist. “If she had taken a bus to Albany and knocked on doors in the Capitol, no one would have questioned whether she had to report the bus fare,” Fisher said. “At the end of the day, the statute requires you to be engaged in compensation for somebody … but nobody hired her to do it.” - Rebecca C. Lewis
May 18, 2020
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City & State New York
COZEN O’CONNOR AND COZEN O’CONNOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES Katie Schwab & Stuart Shorenstein PRACTICE DIRECTOR, NEW YORK PUBLIC STRATEGIES; CHAIRMAN, NEW YORK PUBLIC STRATEGIES AND CO-FOUNDER, COZEN O’CONNOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES COMPENSATION: $3,478,493 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Ken Fisher, Rose Christ, James Ansorge, Jenny Fernandez, Zakariah Malik, Evan Preminger, Vivian Krieger, Alyssa Huminski KEY INDUSTRIES: Banking and financial services, education, food and beverage, labor and employment, nonprofit, real estate, retail NOTABLE CLIENTS: The New York City BID Association, New York University, Chubb, The Whitney Museum, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Pratt Institute, Apollo Theater
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
Our biggest achievement has been obtaining more than $40 million in public funds for our nonprofit clients in New York City alone. Another was working with Cozen O’Connor’s top litigators for our long-term Public Strategies client Manhattan Neighborhood Network to lay out the public policy arguments which helped win a 2019 landmark decision on the First Amendment state actor doctrine in the U.S. Supreme Court. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR?
In the context of term limits, a challenge has been navigating the minefield of several thousand bills proposed in the New York state Legislature and City Council, many of which would directly impact businesses, nonprofit organizations and property owners for better or for worse. Assessing the impacts and foreseeing unanticipated consequences
COZEN O’CONNOR
salutes the resiliency of our fellow New Yorkers and congratulates all the NYC Top 50 Lobbyists
5 Penn Plaza 19th Floor, New York, NY 10001 119 Washington Avenue 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12210 www.patrickbjenkins.com
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has required persistence and substantial coalition building. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? Being part of a national
firm enables us to have the technology and resources to effectively work remotely. However, the inability to have in-person encounters with decision-makers requires tailored advocacy, since officials are also dealing with the emergency. Public officials are faced with massive revenue shortfalls, unprecedented health and privacy issues, hamstrung operations and limited channels of communication. They need to confront inequities in areas such as remote learning and employment opportunity, without compromising public health and safety. At the same time, they need to develop a forward-looking recovery strategy for a transformed New York, all against a backdrop of elections in 2021 that are already underway.
30 CityAndStateNY.com
GETO & DE MILLY Michele de Milly & Ethan Geto PRINCIPALS COMPENSATION:
$3,371,050.00
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Daniel White, Mark Benoit, Maya Kremen, Laura Sinagra Dolan, Cristiana Peña, Christopher Johnson KEY INDUSTRIES: Economic development, real estate, land use, professional sports, parks and open space, education, hotels, nonprofits dealing with affordable housing, mental health, children’s health and social services, LGBTQ+ advocacy, criminal justice reform, the arts NOTABLE CLIENTS: Property Markets Group, New York City Football Club, Restoration Hardware, Zeckendorf Development, Playwrights Horizons, The Howard Hughes Corporation, New Alternatives for Children, Trinity School
99 Solutions Salutes all of City & State’s 2020 Top 50 NYC Lobbyist! We would also like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the US military, NY government, and frontline workers throughout this ongoing crisis.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
We advanced economic development and complex rezoning projects in New York City that are creating jobs, affordable housing and public open space, and have worked to ensure major multifamily property owners are able to maintain and preserve vital housing stock for working families and low-income residents. We’re proud of policy and budget wins on behalf of our nonprofit and advocacy clients, particularly criminal justice reform efforts including reentry education, workforce development and the expansion of successful Cure Violence initiatives. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? Some may
see the coming term limit-driven turnover of the most of the city’s elected officials as a challenge, but we see this as a very exciting time electorally. We have great relationships with
city, state and federal officials and are focused on ensuring our clients are alerted to the status of the competitive races that will transform city government. Another challenge we’ve taken on is guiding clients in how to take advantage of new technologies and methods of data analysis that can enhance their community outreach and messaging. HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? We have been
advising clients on how to maximize the impact of their philanthropic efforts for local communities during the pandemic, as well as connecting these business and nonprofit executives with government and civic leaders to advance a post-COVID-19 economic recovery. For our firm this includes positioning residential and commercial development projects as priorities to rapidly move forward, create jobs and get the economy moving again.
Greetings from EXTERNAL GROUP, Fellow City & State NY Readers: A heartfelt thanks to every public servant and civicminded individual out there supporting the daily functioning of our communities, during these historic times. You are the champions of our collective success!
GETO & DE MILLY; KATE GLICKSBERG; CMW STRATEGIES
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May 18, 2020
May 18, 2020
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City & State New York
CMW STRATEGIES Michael Woloz PRESIDENT AND CEO COMPENSATION:
$3,143,199.92
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Jeff Rodus, Skip Piscitelli, Danna DeBlasio, Kathy Cudahy, Matthew Walsh, Sofiya Minsariya KEY INDUSTRIES: Banking, transportation, energy, real estate, retail, nonprofits, culturals NOTABLE CLIENTS: Bird, Instacart, American Museum of Natural History, MoMA, National Supermarket Association, Hotel Association of New York, Central Park Conservancy, Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, Home Depot
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
First, we changed our name from Connelly McLaughlin & Woloz to CMW Strategies, so we’re excited about that! We opened an Albany Office and hired one of the most seasoned Albany veterans in Skip Piscitelli. We continued to grow our client base in the tech, nonprofit and real estate sectors. One of our biggest achievements was the state legalization of e-scooters on behalf of our client, Bird. We worked closely with a great lobbying team to persuade lawmakers that alternatives like e-scooters will play an important role in the future of mobility in New York. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST YEAR? Our big-
gest challenge has been keeping up with a surge in legislation in the city and the state that impacts our clients which represent so many different
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industries and sectors. The balance of utilizing community engagement and coalition building, straight-up lobbying, media and legal analysis is a delicate dance that is complex and requires a lot of strategy. The more bills, the more time we spend on strategizing – but we like that part the best! HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED NEW YORK’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE (AND YOUR WORK)? Face-to-face interac-
tion is so important to advocacy, lobbying and legislating. That’s become very difficult and has imposed challenges on the way we communicate. This is a social business, and performing a social business remotely has its challenges. That said, we have become adept at working remotely, which I think will have some lasting impacts long after the pandemic subsides.
Thank you, from all of us at Constantinople & Vallone
Thank you to the first responders and frontline workers fighting COVID-19 and keeping New Yorkers safe. For a list of resources available to businesses impacted by COVID-19 please visit our website. CandVConsulting.com | (212)393-6500
32 CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
Company, H.E.L.P. USA, Long Island University
15
MIRRAM GROUP Catherine Torres
COMPENSATION:
$3,031,919.35
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Roberto Ramirez, Luis Miranda, Eduardo Castell, John Emrick KEY INDUSTRIES: Higher education, health care, nonprofits NOTABLE CLIENTS: TWU Local 100, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Montefiore Medicine Academic Health System Inc., Hispanic Federation
12 FRIED FRANK Zachary Bernstein, David Karnovsky, Melanie Meyers & Carol Rosenthal Real Estate Partners COMPENSATION:
$2,739,667.11
KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate NOTABLE CLIENTS: Tishman
Speyer, Vornado Realty, Two Trees Management, Related Companies, Rudin Management Co.
ANTONIO QUESADA
human services, legal representation, art and cultural institutions, education access, juvenile justice, immigration rights, criminal justice reform, affordable housing NOTABLE CLIENTS: Cultural Institutions Group, Legal Services NYC, Children’s Defense Fund, The Trust For Public Land, Universal Hip Hop Museum, SAGE WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
This firm was founded with the goal of stabilizing organizations that provide services to the most vulnerable and in-need New Yorkers. This past year brought us COVID-19, which in turn brought the issues we focus on every year to the surface: health care access, food insecurity – and more broadly, race and class disparities. Because of our singular focus on the nonprofit community, we are able to connect our clients with both government entities and other members of the community to ensure that they are able to survive this and other crises and continue to serve as vital resources to the city.
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14
THE WRIGHT GROUP NY
KRAMER LEVIN
Antonio Quesada & Larisa Wick
Gary Tarnoff
Government Relations Specialists
Partner and CoChairman, Land Use
COMPENSATION: $2,644,933 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
COMPENSATION: $2,290,087 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEE: Paul
John Wright, Emily Contillo, Patricia Pulvirenti, Naya Stevens KEY INDUSTRIES: Health and
THE PARKSIDE GROUP
YOSWEIN NEW YORK
Partner
Selver
KEY INDUSTRY: Real estate NOTABLE CLIENTS: Vorna-
do Realty, The Walt Disney
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Joni Yoswein Founder, President and CEO
Harry Giannoulis President COMPENSATION: $2,211,377 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Paul
Thomas, Evan Stavisky KEY INDUSTRIES: Affordable housing, education, energy, labor, nonprofits, tech NOTABLE CLIENTS: 32BJ SEIU, Microsoft Corporation, Entergy, Fresh Direct, CAMBA
17 JONI YOSWEIN COMPENSATION: $2,257,500 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Jamie Van Bramer, Jeffrey Denman, Christopher Carroll KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate, health care, nonprofits, economic development, technology NOTABLE CLIENTS: Wegmans, Lyft, Industry City, Amazon, Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Outward Bound Schools, Brooklyn Defender Services, Maimonides Medical Center, JetBlue, New York Building Congress, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Two Trees Management, Chess in the Schools, New York City Hospitality Alliance WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
While we are proud of the work we do for all of our clients, perhaps no project was more exciting for us – or for New York City residents – than helping to open the first Wegmans Food Market at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Wegmans’ commitment to local hiring and community engagement was unparalleled, and we are honored to be continuing to work with them as they step up in a major way to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
MERCURY PUBLIC AFFAIRS Jan Feuerstadt & Jonathan Greenspun Partner; Managing Director
JAN FEUERSTADT COMPENSATION: $1,835,333 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Mi-
chael McKeon, Charlie King, Fernando Ferrer, Jeff Klein, Patrick Halpin, Jake Dilemani, Ted Anastasiou, Greg Lavine, John Tomlin, Amaris Cockfield KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate, transportation, technology, sustainability, energy, infrastructure, education, waste management, health care, nonprofits NOTABLE CLIENTS: WeWork, New York Residential Agent Continuum, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVE-
LUKE TRESS; YOSWEIN NEW YORK; MERCURY PUBLIC AFFAIRS; HERRICK, FEINSTEIN
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May 18, 2020
MENT IN THE PAST YEAR? In
these modern times, Mercury takes a holistic approach with most clients, offering a full suite of services to complement our strong government relations advocacy, inclusive of digital, communications, crisis, and grassroots and grasstops. This unique approach has positioned our clients for success.
18 PATRICK B. JENKINS & ASSOCIATES Patrick Jenkins & Dwayne Andrews President; Senior Vice President COMPENSATION: $1,654,500 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Bharati Kemraj, Ryan Day KEY INDUSTRIES: Education, nonprofits
City & State New York
Our biggest achievement by far is keeping important lines of communication open during these unprecedented times.
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RWDSU
20 HERRICK, FEINSTEIN LLP
NOTABLE CLIENTS: Bank
Street College of Education, Eagle Academy Foundation, Coalition of Community Charter Schools, Uber, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, HNTB WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates prides itself on maintaining a constructive dialogue between its clients and the city’s decision-makers and stakeholders – in good times and in bad. Our biggest achievement, by far, is keeping those important lines of communication open for our clients during these unprecedented times.
19 TONIO BURGOS
ADVOCACY MESSAGING OPEN-HOUSE PROMOTIONS NEW HIRE ANNOUNCEMENTS Contact us at advertising@cityandstateny.com for advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
Partner; Chief Planning and Development Specialist
Tonio Burgos CEO COMPENSATION: $1,505,536 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEE: Seth
Kaye
KEY INDUSTRIES: Health
care, labor, nonprofits, transportation NOTABLE CLIENTS: American Airlines, Greater New York Hospital Association, Montefiore Medical Center, Pfizer,
An advocacy campaign including City & State First Read provides a targeted way to reach decision makers in New York government and politics. Campaigns Include:
Mitchell Korbey & Jennifer Dickson
MITCHELL KORBEY COMPENSATION:
$1,371,328.20
34 CityAndStateNY.com
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR? Herrick is
currently representing Property Markets Group regarding New York City’s rezoning study for the Gowanus Canal area.
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We engaged all of the partners in the community. ... We made the stakeholders the project’s loudest champions. and depth of knowledge with the addition of Kemp Hannon, James Curran, Jon Federman and Patrick Lespinasse.
22 STROOCK Ross Moskowitz
BROWN & WEINRAUB
Partner
Sabrina Shulman & Patrick Lespinasse
COMPENSATION:
Senior Consultant; Senior Adviser
$1,266,578.50
KEY INDUSTRY: Real estate NOTABLE CLIENT: FWRA LLC
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COMPENSATION: $1,371,066 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Carolyn Kerr, Ron Greenberg, Alex Betke, Mike Cassidy, Emily Whalen KEY INDUSTRIES: Health care, energy, infrastructure development, financial services, advanced technology NOTABLE CLIENTS: Applied DNA Science, Parsons Construction Group, Orsted Wind Power North America, TIAA, Harley-Davidson, Compassion & Choices, Healthcare Association of New York State WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
We continued to grow our team
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
housing.
We have substantially increased our depth and reach in numerous focus areas via the addition of eight experienced and respected consulting and advocacy professionals from Jackson Lewis’ government relations group.
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TUSK STRATEGIES
BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER
Marla Tusk General Counsel COMPENSATION:
CB Mobley Counsel
$1,103,806.45
COMPENSATION:
Bradley Tusk, Chris Coffey KEY INDUSTRIES: Advocacy, labor, nonprofits, tech NOTABLE CLIENTS: Arc of Justice, Bird Rides, Charter Communications, Community Housing Improvement Program, New Yorkers for Clean Livable & Safe Streets, Police Benevolent Association
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
TLM ASSOCIATES
SABRINA SHULMAN
Exxon Mobil, State Farm
$1,034,988.54
James Colgate, Judith Gallent, Philip Karmel KEY INDUSTRY: Real estate NOTABLE CLIENTS: Hudson HK LLC
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Thomas McMahon & James McMahon
25
ERIC PALATNIK PC
Founder and President; Partner
PARK STRATEGIES
Founder
COMPENSATION: $1,239,342 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Pablo Zangerle, Sharada Polavarapu KEY INDUSTRIES: Affordable housing, economic development, energy NOTABLE CLIENTS: Bank of America, Community Preservation Corp., Enterprise Community Partners, Greenpoint Manufacturing Design Center WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
We have worked with clients and government partners to continue historic city and state investments in affordable
Eric Palatnik
Dave Poleto Managing Director and Partner COMPENSATION: $1,073,494 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Joe
Rossi, Greg Serio, Lisa Marrello, Chris D’Amato KEY INDUSTRIES: Nightlife, hospitality, tourism, travel, transportation, health care, construction, real estate, insurance, financial services, information technology, energy NOTABLE CLIENTS: Brookfield Financial Properties, Mount Sinai Health System, Catholic Health Services of Long Island, Voyce Global,
ERIC PALATNIK COMPENSATION:
$1,021,958.11
KEY INDUSTRIES: New York
City real estate, land use, discretionary entitlement actions NOTABLE CLIENTS: BP Products North America Inc.,
TIMOTHY H. RAAB & NORTHERN PHOTO; ERIC PALATNIK PC; RG GROUP; GUERIN BLASK
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Raymond Levin, Patrick O’Sullivan Jr., Ellen Hay, Robert Huberman, Veronica Chuah KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate, land use, zoning NOTABLE CLIENTS: Property Markets Group, BFC Partners, RAL Companies, Two Trees Management, Read Property Group
May 18, 2020
May 18, 2020
Rybak Development, Jasper Venture Group
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
A great example of our work is the Parkway Hospital rezoning in Forest Hills, Queens, that was approved in April 2019. The property was an abandoned hospital that had closed during the downturn in 2009 and was an eyesore to the neighborhood. Although everyone was anxious to see the property put to productive use, just what should go there was not clear. We assembled a team of the industry’s top professionals and developed a plan to develop both market-rate housing and affordable senior housing. A key component of the project’s success, beyond being a great way to revitalize the site, was that we engaged all of the partners in the community, including the neighboring public school, the community board, elected officials, and others early and often. We made the stakeholders the project’s loudest champions. It’s that model of community-developer partnership that is central to our success.
28 NATIONAL STRATEGIES Al Gordon CEO COMPENSATION: $925,329 KEY INDUSTRIES: Tech,
education, health care, energy, public safety, transportation, financial services NOTABLE CLIENTS: Crown Castle Fiber, McAfee Public Sector
City & State New York
35
MENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
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30
RG GROUP
JACKSON LEWIS PC
Fran Reiter
EDITOR’S NOTE: Key mem-
Partner
bers of Jackson Lewis’ team from last year have joined other firms, including Jonathan Bing, who joined Greenberg Traurig. Compensation: $867,501
KEY INDUSTRIES: Health
FRAN REITER COMPENSATION: $904,000 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Catherine Giuliani, Alan Rosenberg, Gregory Mitchell KEY INDUSTRIES: Technology, consulting, energy, real estate NOTABLE CLIENTS: KPMG, Oracle America, Broadcom, Red Hat, Splunk, Transit Wireless WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
RG Group specializes in procurement lobbying and strategic advisement. We pride ourselves on being the go-to firm for technology companies seeking to do business, or enhance their business, in New York’s public sector. Our success is based on our ability to understand our clients’ products and services, identify appropriate government customers, arrange introductions to those customers and help them navigate New York’s complex procurement processes.
Our success is based on our ability to identify appropriate government customers (and) arrange introductions ...
care, housing, nonprofits, tech, transportation NOTABLE CLIENTS: The Broadway League, NYU Langone Hospitals, Via Transportation, The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale
Fontas Advisors is a boutique consulting firm built to provide an incredibly high quality of service across a curated group of clients across New York City, state and New Jersey. While we are largely known for our work in New York City, in 2019 — only our second year in operation — we launched our Albany practice, representing a diverse array of real estate, tech, transportation, and nonprofit clients. Recently, we welcomed former state Sen. John Sabini and Scott Crowley, former deputy director of the City Council finance division, to our team to expand our capabilities.
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DALYGONZALEZ
AKERMAN
Teresa Gonzalez & Samara Daly
Steven Polivy
Principals
Chairman, Economic Development and Incentives Practice, New York COMPENSATION: $807,822 KEY INDUSTRY: Real estate NOTABLE CLIENTS: Home
Depot, Macy’s, Maimonides Medical Center
TERESA GONZALEZ
32 FONTAS ADVISORS George Fontas Founder and CEO COMPENSATION: $727,616 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Scott Crowley and John Sabini
KEY INDUSTRIES: Tech, real
estate
NOTABLE CLIENTS: Dell,
Google, LeFrak, Savanna, New York Road Runners WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVE-
EDITOR’S NOTE: DalyGonza-
lez’s Samara Daly and Teresa Gonzalez recently became partners at Bolton-St. Johns, but DalyGonzalez continues to operate for some clients and projects. COMPENSATION: $680,000 KEY INDUSTRIES: Arts and culture, real estate, tech, environment NOTABLE CLIENTS: Hudson Companies, The Durst Organization, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, AECOM, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
36 CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
Marazzi, Stuart Beckerman KEY INDUSTRIES: Zoning and land use NOTABLE CLIENTS: 3 East 89 Holding LLC
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BENDER CANTONE CONSULTING
GOTHAM GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS
Bruce Bender & Scott Cantone Co-founders and Principals COMPENSATION: $670,300 KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate,
transportation, gig economy, cultural institutions, nonprofits, startups NOTABLE CLIENTS: Independent Drivers Guild, Brooklyn Museum, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Trinity Place Holdings, Madison Realty Capital
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR? On
behalf of IDG, Bender Cantone Consulting successfully advocated for the Legislature’s passage and governor’s approval of state legislation that expanded the authority of the Black Car Fund to provide health benefits, such as telemedicine, mental health wellness and eye care to 80,000 for-hire vehicle drivers who are affiliated with Uber, Lyft and Via. On behalf of Trinity Place Holdings and Madison Realty Capital, Bender Cantone successfully negotiated public-private partnerships with the city of New York for the location and construction of new public schools.
35 SLATER & BECKERMAN EDITOR’S NOTE: The law firm
Slater & Beckerman merged into Hirschen Singer & Epstein in March 2020. COMPENSATION: $630,441.50
KEY EMPLOYEES: Stefanie
Bradley Gerstman Founding Partner COMPENSATION: $627,000 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEE:
David Schwartz
KEY INDUSTRIES: Advocacy,
real estate, retail
NOTABLE CLIENTS: Red Apple Group, The Plumbing Foundation City of New York
37 99 SOLUTIONS Jacquelyn Williams Principal COMPENSATION: $615,000 KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate,
telecommunications, cannabis
NOTABLE CLIENTS: Real Es-
tate Board of New York, Tishman Speyer, Power House/ Gemini Arts Initiative, Crown Castle, Acreage Holdings WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
There are several notable accomplishments that are part of the
99 Solutions portfolio, however working with others to bring the first Wegmans Food Market to New York City is one of my firm’s greatest accomplishments. It was the culmination of a longtime project that prioritized economic parity by providing opportunities for new careers and giving workers the tools they need to be successful and competitive in this business climate. Last year we expanded into the newly developed cannabis industry. Under these circumstances, the firm had to evaluate the numerous challenges and barriers that come with the issue of legalization. For over a decade, we have provided advice, guidance and education to a variety of clients both public and private, businesses, nonprofit organizations and the community. Along with embracing this new industry, a major test in this effort was to embrace the pace at which information can change. The firm welcomes the challenges related to this issue and remains committed to ensure that communities of color are treated fairly and equitably, communities that we serve every day. This terrible COVID-19 pandemic has forced the political landscape to mutate into more of a global ethos. Overnight, the disease has forced us to think beyond zip codes and county lines and to focus on how we all withstand and recover from this. It’s no longer political, it’s personal, and we must ALL contribute to our survival, public and private, Red and Blue, black and white. As for my work, I’ve been baptized into the IT waters and the world of social media; I’m sure I am not alone! Now, Zoom, Skype, Webex and others are my new office mates, but I kind of miss my human ones.
Overnight, the disease has forced us to think beyond ZIP codes and county lines. It’s no longer political, it’s personal.
38 NICHOLAS & LENCE COMMUNICATIONS Cristyne Nicholas & George Lence CEO; President
CRISTYNE NICHOLAS COMPENSATION:
$606,833.33
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Laura Rothrock, Joshua Knoller
KEY INDUSTRIES: Travel
and tourism, transportation, business improvement district formation and expansion, buildings and infrastructure, nonprofits NOTABLE CLIENTS: Statue Cruises, NYC Ferry operated by Hornblower, Clean Energy Fuels, Halletts Point Alliance, Gray Line New York, Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District, Lincoln Square Business Improvement District, New York Coalition of Code Consultants, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, Times Square Advertising Coalition WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
Nicholas & Lence Communications has been instrumental in helping Hornblower Cruises and Events, the company’s first client in 2007, enter into the New York market. Over 13 years later, the company is proud to work with Hornblower entities including Statue Cruises, the only authorized and official provider of tickets and tours from New York and New Jersey to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, as well as NYC Ferry, the first
JILL SINGER GRAPHICS; WILLIAM ALATRISTE/NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL; QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S OFFICE; GAMING COMMISSION
We have been able to raise significant capital funding from the city and state, and have successfully navigated complex land use and rezoning issues, both on behalf of our clients.
May 18, 2020
City & State New York
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FROM GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TO GOVERNMENT
MANY LAWMAKERS BECOME LOBBYISTS. FEWER GO FROM LOBBYING TO LAWMAKING.
I
N NEW YORK , former elected officials have to wait at least two years before they can enter the lobbying business – and many do. The ranks of New York lobbying firms are full of former elected officials and high-ranking members of their staffs. “You go down the list, and everybody worked for government,” said George Arzt, who runs his own communications firm and formerly served as press secretary to then-New York City Mayor Ed Koch. But the other way around – a trajectory from government relations into public service – isn’t so common. Here’s a list of elected officials who were already familiar with the other side of the table by the time they were first elected, or left public service and gave lobbying a shot before running for office again.
COREY JOHNSON ELECTED POSITION: New York City
Council Speaker, District 3 (Manhattan)
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS EXPERIENCE: Johnson has sought to distance
himself from real estate interests as an elected official, but a decade ago the mayoral hopeful was working for them. From 2008 to 2010, Johnson was the government relations director at GFI Development, a Manhattan-based real estate developer.
KEITH POWERS ELECTED POSITION: New York City
clients, including the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the College Board.
BARRY GRODENCHIK ELECTED POSITION: New York City
Councilman, District 23 (Queens) LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: Grodenchik
spent a few years working for The Parkside Group, an influential lobbying firm with ties to Queens Democrats, between two stints in public service. He was elected to the state Assembly in 2002, but was defeated in his 2004 reelection bid. He was with the Parkside Group from 2005 to 2009, before being elected to the New York City Council in 2015.
ROBERT JACKSON ELECTED POSITION:
State Senator, District 31 (Manhattan) LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: Jackson
lobbied the New York City Council on behalf of the Dart Container Corporation before he ran for state Senate in 2018. The styrofoam company was one of many fighting city attempts to regulate the use of polystyrene foam. Jackson previously served in the New York City Council.
Councilman, District 4 (Manhattan)
MELINDA KATZ
was elected to the City Council in 2017, Powers was a vice president at Constantinople & Vallone. He worked at the firm for six years, beginning in 2011. During that time, the firm represented a wide variety of
District Attorney
LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: Before he
ELECTED POSITION: Queens
LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: Katz was a
shareholder at the law and lobbying firm Greenberg Traurig after leaving the New York City Council in 2009, and before a successful
run for Queens borough president in 2013. Now the borough’s district attorney, she has held several elected posts, including assemblywoman and member of the New York City Council.
RON KIM ELECTED POSITION: Assemblyman,
District 40 (Queens)
LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: After working
for a long list of city and state elected officials, Kim was also a lobbyist with The Parkside Group before being elected as the first Korean American in the state Legislature in 2012.
JOHN SABINI ELECTED POSITION: Former New York
City Councilman and State Senator, Jackson Heights, Queens
LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: Before
long tenures in the New York City Council and the state Senate in the 1990s and early 2000s, Sabini was a vice president at MWW Strategic Communications, a public relations and lobbying firm, from 1989 to 1991. He has returned to lobbying, founding his own Queens-based firm and recently joining Fontas Advisors.
DOMENIC RECCHIA ELECTED POSITION: Former New York
City Councilman representing District 47 (Southern Brooklyn), reportedly considering another run LOBBYING EXPERIENCE: After being term limited out of the City Council in 2013 and a failed congressional campaign the next year, Recchia began lobbying the city and state governments on behalf of clients including The Guild for Exceptional Children and Community Health Project Inc. Laws limit council members to two consecutive four-year terms, but after a break, another run is allowed, and is reportedly on the former lawmaker’s mind. - Holly Pretsky
38 CityAndStateNY.com
39 THE ICKES AND ENRIGHT GROUP Harold Ickes Principal COMPENSATION: $568,749 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEE: Kev-
in McCabe
KEY INDUSTRIES: Culturals,
health care, finance, tech
NOTABLE CLIENTS: American
Beverage Association, Election Systems & Software, Northwell Health, JPMorgan Chase, MasterCard
40 STATEWIDE PUBLIC AFFAIRS Jim Quent Partner COMPENSATION: $566,968 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Christopher Duryea, Wayne Lair, Kevin Banes, Roy Lasky KEY INDUSTRIES: Nonprofits, restaurant and hospitality,
JIM QUENT
beverage construction, transportation NOTABLE CLIENTS: The Coca-Cola Co., National Restaurant Association, Dunkin’ Brands, Construction Safety Advisory Committee of New York, New York City Special Riggers Association, Allison Transmission, Coalition for the Homeless, Metropolitan College of New York, Special Olympics WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
The COVID-19 crisis has created unprecedented challenges for our clients, yet has brought out their best to support fellow New Yorkers in need. Any achievement pales in comparison to successfully engaging our clients’ resources to assist the city and state in mitigating the impact of this public health crisis. We are proud to have had a part in expanding the long-term availability of affordable housing as well as securing funding for eviction prevention, and mobile soup kitchens and food pantries to help New Yorkers most in need. We have engaged the site safety managers and special riggers associations to assist the council and Department of Buildings in implementing the Construction Safety Act, which will ensure all workers are properly trained, reducing
The COVID-19 crisis has created unprecedented challenges for our clients, yet has brought out their best.
accidents and fatalities on and around the thousands of job sites in New York City. Our firm is proud to be assisting our clients in providing incredible support for first responders and health care workers in the form of personnel, personal protective equipment, food and coffee, and financial support. As our name suggests, Statewide Public Affairs is able to assist our clients in successful decision-making based on providing real-time information and political perspective as city and state governments address this crisis, and we are most proud of these achievements.
41 CAPITOL CONSULTING Jeff Leb Managing Partner COMPENSATION: $543,000 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Ga-
briel Davidson, Julia Brown KEY INDUSTRIES: Health care, education, real estate, social services NOTABLE CLIENTS: EmblemHealth, Success Academy Charter Schools, The Jewish Board, The Blue Card WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
Our biggest achievement has been to secure over $23 million for our clients in capital and expense funding from the city and state.
42 THE CAREY GROUP LLC Regina DeMilia Senior Vice President COMPENSATION: $540,000 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES: Mi-
chael Carey, Stephen Hayes KEY INDUSTRY: Real estate
NOTABLE CLIENTS: Triangle Equities, The Rabsky Group
43 SHELDON LOBEL PC Richard Lobel Managing Partner COMPENSATION: $515,325.05 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Sheldon Lobel, Fayanne Betan, Rebecca Davoudian, Amanda Iannotti, Frank Noriega, David Rosenberg KEY INDUSTRIES: Land use, zoning law NOTABLE CLIENTS: Spitzer Engineering, L+M Development Partners, CAMBA Housing Ventures WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
In the past year, the firm has filed or received grants for numerous applications with city zoning agencies, including more than 20 rezonings with the City Planning Commission. Our clients have been granted rezonings throughout the city, which have included upzonings of residential and commercial bulk, changes in use from manufacturing to mixed-use commercial and residential use, and increases in the number of permitted commercial uses. We are proud to represent a broad range of clients, including both local and multinational development firms, affordable housing developers, business owners, schools, medical institutions and single-family homeowners.
44 BEAUDOIN & COMPANY Heather Beaudoin Principal COMPENSATION: $450,750
STATEWIDE PUBLIC AFFAIRS; GEORGE ARZT COMMUNICATIONS; STATE AND BROADWAY
citywide ferry service that launched in 2017. NYC Ferry provides an affordable way to travel between waterfront communities throughout New York City and spanning over 60 nautical miles of waterways over six routes, helping Hornblower to become the dominant ferry, cruise and event operator in New York and the nation.
May 18, 2020
May 18, 2020
KEY INDUSTRIES: Labor, law NOTABLE CLIENTS: Build-
ing and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Joint Council No 16 International Brotherhood of Teamsters
45 HR&A ADVISORS Jamie Dang & John Alschuler Chief Operating Officer; Chairman of the Board COMPENSATION: $424,000 KEY INDUSTRY: Real estate NOTABLE CLIENT: Alexandria
Real Estate Equities Inc.
46
City & State New York
We hope to see the results later this year and will continue the fight against pay discrimination. tions, policy, legislation NOTABLE CLIENTS: Associated Brick Mason Contractors of Greater New York, Soho Broome Condos WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
An achievement has been establishing a reputation for personalized, results-driven solutions, a natural product of my knowledge and understanding of the regulatory procedures requiring completion to manage successful projects.
48
GLOBAL STRATEGY GROUP
GEORGE ARZT COMMUNICATIONS
Jon Silvan
George Arzt
Founding Partner and CEO
President
FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
George Arzt Communications has helped change the New York skyline by helping builders navigate governmental agencies to build such iconic skyscrapers as Extell’s 157 W. Fifth St. along with 138 Willoughby in Brooklyn, and Jonathan Kalikow’s 430 E. 58th St. The firm also secured critical funding for the New York Blood Center to assist gay and queer men of color onto the economic ladder and into HIV-prevention programs, along with aid for children in foster care through its client Forestdale, one of the city’s preeminent family service nonprofits.
49 THE ADVANCE GROUP
COMPENSATION: $399,100 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Scott Levenson & Sebastian Levenson
KEY INDUSTRIES: Environ-
Founder and President; Client Relations
Justin Lapatine
ment, nonprofits, real estate, tech NOTABLE CLIENTS: Fund for the City of New York, RXR
47 EXTERNAL GROUP Steven Figueiredo President COMPENSATION: $397,096 KEY INDUSTRIES: Construc-
tion, real estate, zoning, retail, hospitality, government rela-
COMPENSATION: $346,000 KEY INDUSTRIES: Labor,
GEORGE ARZT COMPENSATION: $383,000 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Brian Krapf, Bob Liff, Maya Gelfand KEY INDUSTRIES: Real estate development, politics, education, health care NOTABLE CLIENTS: Extell Development Co., Gilbane Building Co., New York Blood Center, Kings County Democratic Committee WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR
nonprofits, real estate, bars, restaurants NOTABLE CLIENTS: CWA Local 1180, OPEIU Local 153, Community Voices Heard, Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Local 2507 WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
We were victorious in reaching a settlement in CWA Local 1180’s pay discrimination case against the city after years of fighting. We also helped bring fundamental change to how the city analyzes pay discrimination
39
with new legislation requiring a report on wages for city workers. We hope to see the results of the first analysis later this year and will continue the fight against pay discrimination.
50 STATE & BROADWAY Jacqueline Williams & Lawrence Scherer Founding Partners
JACQUELINE WILLIAMS COMPENSATION: $339,704 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES:
Richard Winsten, Patrick Kennedy KEY INDUSTRIES: Labor unions, film, gaming, transportation, financial services, public policy NOTABLE CLIENTS: New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, Broadway Stages, Local 372 New York City Board of Education Employees WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FIRM’S BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PAST YEAR?
The firm’s biggest achievements in the past year include: the passage of legislation to incentivize diversity in the hiring of episodic television writers and directors; to provide farmworkers with overtime and collective bargaining rights; equal pay for substantially similar work for both public and private sector employees; the extension and funding of the COBRA subsidy for the New York entertainment industry; and the two-year extension of the film tax credit at $420 million per year.
40
CityAndStateNY.com / PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES
May 18, 2020
DCJB, LLC . Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 5/4/2020. Office: Richmond County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 54 West Terrace Staten Island, NY 10312. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
May 18, 2020 For more info. 212-268-0442 Ext.2039
legalnotices@cityandstateny.com Notice of Formation of JB Capstone Enterprises, LLC, filed with SSNY on 2/4/14. Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 12 East 37th St, 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10016. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Notice of Formation of 5hndred Autohaus, LLC filed with SSNY on March 3, 2020. Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 615 Manor rd, Staten Island, NY. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. NOTICE OF FORMATION of a limited liability company (LLC). The name of the limited liability company is 1321 EAST 7TH STREET LLC. The date of filing of the articles of organization with the Department of State was January 21, 2020. The County in New York in which the office of the company is located is Kings. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process may be served, and the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company served upon him or her to 1321 East 7th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11230. The business purpose of the company is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under the laws of the State of New York.
App. for Auth. (LLC) Solid & Striped LLC. App. for Auth. filed w/ the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/1/20. LLC formed in DE on 6/7/12. Office Location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 529 W. 20th St., #7E, NY, NY 10011, registered agent upon whom process may be served. Purpose: All lawful purposes. Notice of Formation of AR Practice Management Firm, LLC filed with SSNY on March 5, 2020. Office: NY Dutchess County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 59 Hudson Heights Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Notice of Qualification of ReVased, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/23/20. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Maryland (MD) on 10/16/18. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o ReVased, LLC, 1829 Reisterstown Road, #425, Baltimore, MD 21208. Cert. of Form. filed with Director of State of MD Dept of Assessments and Taxation, 301 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF FORMATION of YL Partners LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/10/20. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail a copy of process against LLC to the LLC, 145 East 48th Street, # 29B, New York, NY 10017. Purpose: any lawful act. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1328147 FOR LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 471 MYRTLE AVE. BROOKLYN, NY 11205 KINGS COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION. MR LEE’S OF MYRTLE AVENUE INC Notice of Formation of Rise N’ Shine Commercial Cleaning, LLC filed with SSNY on April 20, 2020. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served: Jordane Johnson. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 160 Concord Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. NOTICE OF FORMATION of limited liability company (LLC). Name: MO WELLNESS FOUNDATION, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/01/2020. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: MAURICE HURD 3410 DE REIMER AVE APT 7J BRONX, NY 10475. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
Design Lady LLC. Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/07/2020. Office: Bronx County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 7014 13th avenue suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. ZNK, LLC Art. of Org filed with the SSNY on 4/17/20. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 47 E 30th St., Apt. 5, New York, NY 10016. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Design Lady LLC. Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/07/2020. Office: Bronx County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 7014 13th avenue suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 61.6’) on the building at 680 Monroe St, Brooklyn, NY (20200557). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 349’) on the building at 180 Water Street, New York, NY (20200549). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.
LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM
PUBLIC NOTICE Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate wireless communications antennas at five locations. Antennas will be installed at a top height of 98 feet on a 117foot building at the approx. vicinity of 510 West 21st Street, New York, New York County, NY 10011; at a top height of 71 feet on a 75-foot building at the approx. vicinity of 901 Walton Avenue, Bronx, Bronx County, NY 10452; at a top height of 25 feet on a 25-foot building at the approx. vicinity of 229-19 Merrick Boulevard, Queens, Queens County, NY 11413; at a top height of 132 feet on a 149-foot building at the approx. vicinity of 135 5th Avenue, New York, New York County, NY 10010; at a top height of 229 feet on a 223-foot building at the approx. vicinity of 165 W 46th Street, New York, New York County, NY 10036. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Morgan Rasmussen, m.rasmussen@trileaf.com, 1395 S. Marietta Pkwy, Building 400, Suite 209, Marietta, GA 30067; 678-653-8673 ext. 657 THE ANNUAL RETURN OF THE BAUDOIN FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC for the year ended December 31, 2019 is available at its principal office located at 460 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 for inspection during regular business hours by any citizen who requests it within 180 days hereof. Principal Manager of the Foundation is PATRICIA BAUDOIN. DCJB, LLC . Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 5/4/2020. Office: Richmond County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 54 West Terrace Staten Island, NY 10312. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1328147 FOR LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SELL LIQUOR, WINE, & BEER AT RETAIL UNDER THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT 471 MYRTLE AVE. BROOKLYN, NY 11205 KINGS COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION. MR LEE’S OF MYRTLE AVENUE INC PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 72’) on the building at 393 Lenox Ave, New York, NY (20200535). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 169.5’) on the building at 239 Park Ave, New York, NY (20200565). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to collocate antennas (tip heights 131’ & 145’) on the building at 888 Main Street, New York, NY (20200505). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to collocate antennas (tip heights 55’ and 60.3’) on the building at 101 Van Buren Street, Brooklyn, NY (20200441). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.
PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES / CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
Notice of Formation of Rise N’ Shine Commercial Cleaning, LLC filed with SSNY on April 20, 2020. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served: Jordane Johnson. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 160 Concord Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to collocate antennas (tip heights 139.1’ & 145.1’) on the building at 310 East 55th Street, New York, NY (20200488). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-8091202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. Notice of Formation of Saturday Cartoons LLC filed with SSNY on 1/17/20. Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 694 Metropolitan Ave,#201 Brooklyn, NY 11211. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Notice of formation of MikeGeez Fitness Boutique, LLC. Filed with SSNY Richmond County on 1/20/2020. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it ay be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 4131 Hylan Blvd, SI, NY 10308. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity. Notice of Formation of Peach Ink LLC filed with SSNY on February 18, 2020. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 50 Deertree Lane, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.
LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM
Notice of formation of JJS 220, LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 5/11/20. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served and the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: The LLC, 1 Stoneleigh Plaza, Bronxville, New York 10708. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NOTICE OF FORMATION of WIRED FOUNDATIONS LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/22/2020. Office Location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: WIRED FOUNDATIONS, LLC P.O. Box 8350, Pelham, NY 10803. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. LEGALNOTICES@CITYANDSTATENY.COM Notice of Formation of SHLUF LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 5/5/20. Office location: NY County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 888 7th Ave., 4th Fl., NY, NY 10106, principal business address. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM
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42 CityAndStateNY.com
May 18, 2020
CITY & STATE NEW YORK MANAGEMENT & PUBLISHING CEO Steve Farbman, President & Publisher Tom Allon tallon@cityandstateny.com, Comptroller David Pirozzi, Business & Operations Manager Patrea Patterson, Administrative Assistant Lauren Mauro
Who was up and who was down last week
CREATIVE Art Director Andrew Horton, Senior Graphic Designer Alex Law, Graphic Designer Aaron Aniton
LOSERS BRAD HOYLMAN & LINDA ROSENTHAL The Manhattan Democrats won a partial victory this week when the Cuomo administration agreed to extend the lookback window for the Child Victims Act. This will give victims making allegations of past abuse until January 2021 to sue without worrying about the statute of limitations. Things just got better as the week went on, with a state judge ruling that the 2019 law is constitutional after all. And those court shutdowns? They’re ending too!
OUR PICK
OUR PICK
WINNERS
Gov. Andrew Cuomo may not like them, but there’s a benefit to third parties: Lose one party line, and you might still be on the ballot! For example, AOC lost the WFP line, but she’s still running for reelection as a Democrat. Of course, some candidates who try to get multiple lines still fall short – like progressive council candidate Sandy Nurse, and, temporarily, Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright. Here at City & State, we get to decide who’s on our own ballot each week – but at least the voting is nonpartisan.
EDITORIAL editor@cityandstateny.com Editor-in-Chief Jon Lentz jlentz@cityandstateny.com, Managing Editor Ryan Somers, Senior Editor Ben Adler badler@cityandstateny.com, Special Projects Editor Alice Popovici, Deputy Editor Eric Holmberg, Senior Reporter Jeff Coltin jcoltin@cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Zach Williams zwilliams@cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Rebecca C. Lewis rlewis@cityandstateny.com, Tech & Policy Reporter Annie McDonough amcdonough@ cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Kay Dervishi, Associate Copy Editor Holly Pretsky
DIGITAL Project Manager Michael Filippi, Digital Content Manager Amanda Luz Henning Santiago, Digital Marketing Strategist Caitlin Dorman, Web/Email Strategist Isabel Beebe
ANDREW CUOMO The governor is facing criticism due to his mismanagement of the state’s nursing homes, where 5,300 individuals succumbed to COVID-19, threatening his nationwide reputation as one of the best political leaders amid the crisis. Plus, a new state law that was included in this year’s state budget adds new legal protections for nursing home operators, making it more difficult for unhappy residents and their families to sue. How do you say “sad” in sign language?
ADVERTISING Vice President of Advertising Jim Katocin jkatocin@ cityandstateny.com, Account/Business Development Executive Scott Augustine saugustine@cityandstateny.com, Vice President, Advertising and Client Relations Danielle Koza dkoza@cityandstateny.com, Sales Associate Cydney McQuillan-Grace cydney@cityandstateny.com, Legal Advertising Executive Shakirah Gittens legalnotices@ cityandstateny.com, Sales Assistant Zimam Alemenew EVENTS events@cityandstateny.com Sales Director Lissa Blake, Events Manager Alexis Arsenault, Event Coordinator Amanda Cortez
Vol. 9 Issue 19 May 18, 2020 No public pools
THE BEST OF THE REST
THE REST OF THE WORST
TIMOTHY CLUNE
OXIRIS BARBOT
The guv finally has to share the spotlight in his popular coronavirus briefing with a sign-language interpreter, thanks to legal action by this disability rights activist. Somehow every other governor in the country managed.
MARK GJONAJ & FRANCISCO MOYA
The New York City councilmen have been trying to crack down on delivery apps since before the city had a full-blown pandemic on its hands, and their legislation to limit fees charged by those apps during an emergency finally passed in the council.
Just days after de Blasio snubbed the city health commissioner by letting Health + Hospitals run contact tracing, somebody leaked the weeks-old bombshell that Barbot didn’t “give two rats’ asses” about NYPD cops getting masks when they stormed her warehouse. Cue the outrage. Cue the petty pandemic palace intrigue.
No tourists No vacations
Endless Bummer Welcome
to the
NYC'S TOP 50
CIT YANDSTATENY.COM
@CIT YANDSTATENY
LOBBYISTS
May 18, 2020
Cover exopixel/Shutterstock
BILL DE BLASIO
It seems like yesterday hizzoner was being called anti-Semitic for cracking down on Hasidic Jews failing to social distance. Well, would an anti-Semite slow a probe into yeshivas at the behest of Orthodox leaders?
WINNERS & LOSERS is published every Friday morning in City & State’s First Read email. Sign up for the email, cast your vote and see who won at cityandstateny.com.
CITY & STATE NEW YORK (ISSN 2474-4107) is published weekly, 48 times a year except for the four weeks containing New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas by City & State NY, LLC, 61 Broadway, Suite 1315, New York, NY 10006-2763. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to City & State New York, 61 Broadway, Suite 1315, New York, NY 10006-2763. General: (212) 268-0442, subscribe@cityandstateny.com Copyright ©2020, City & State NY, LLC
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PARK STRATEGIES, LLC Congratulations to the Honorable, Alfonse D’Amato for being named again to the Albany Power 100 list. We are also honored to be recognized as one of the top government relations firm in NYC . As we all attempt to navigate these challenging times, we want to stay thank you to the healthcare industry and other frontline workers who are making a difference. We also want to express our appreciation for our dedicated team of professionals who are working alongside our clients, government, and partners to move NY forward.