How Bruce Ratner Wins Approval for his Projects

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After 3 Ratner Lobbyists Are Send to Jail He Keeps Hiring More Lobbyists

Forest City Ratner's 2011 city/state lobbying: 50% jump, with big contract to Kasirer; in Congress, D'Amato's firm lobbied for EB-5, and even got paid for not lobbying
Forest City Ratner may not be among the state's top ten in lobbying expenditures any more, but the firm still dished out more than $500,000 in 2011 to influence legislation and official action in Albany and New York City. The total represents a nearly 50% increase over its spending in 2010, according to online lobby data  How Bruce Ratner Wins Approval for his Projects(True News)

 

1.28.2013

Bruce Ratner to step down as Forest City CEO(CrainsNY)

Ratner Lobbyist Trial Forged Email Conspiracy Theory - No Love?

Doubt Cast on Defendant’s Romantic E-Mails(NYT) In a Yonkers corruption trial, a prosecutor accused Zehy Jereis of fabricating e-mails in which he expressed desire for a former city councilwoman. In the sprawling Yonkers political corruption trial, prosecutors charged that defendant Zehy Jereis forged emails in effort to create the appearance that a $175,000 bribe for a Yonkers councilwoman was actually the result of a romantic infatuation, * Defendant Jereis cross-examined in Yonkers corruption trial: contestations, contradictions, and a major question: were the lovesick emails a sham?(Atlantic Yard Review)

Ratner's Lobbyist Trial Reveals A Web of Other Corruption Crimes and Still No Media Coverge
Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan called for an ethics investigation into the allegation that surfaced at a Yonkers corruption trial that Sen. Tom Libous promised a law firm increased business if it gave his son a $150,000-a-year job.* Yonkers trial: evidence that Council Member Annabi fudged numbers to get home loans, didn't disclose help from Jereis(Atlantic Yards Review)
* Sen. Skelos: I spoke with Sen. Libous, said he did nothing wrong; that's good enough for me. Convict claims Libous rigged job for son.

Atlantic Yard Blogger Writes in NY Magazine About the Ratner Lobbyist Trial . . .  Which Has Been Basically Black Out by the NY Media

Yonkers Corruption Trial Puts Forest City Ratner in the Spotlight(NY Magazine) Brooklyn-based developer Forest City Ratner is not facing any criminal charges in a juicy corruption trial of a political operative and a former city councilwoman in Yonkers. But the trial, which began in mid-February, has shed some light on the nebulous web of politicians and politicians-turned-lobbyists that were working to approve a $650 million Forest City real-estate project.

NYT Ends Ratner Lobbyist's Trial Blackout To Spin FCR Flack Spin Crap
So, after three days of testimony from Forest City Ratner officials, and a one-day grace period, the New York Times today finally publishes an article about the Ridge Hill project and Yonkers corruption

Times finally publishes article on Ridge Hill trial, lets flack DePlasco defend Forest City against unidentified "critics," downplays developer's dubious behavior (Atlantic Yards Review)

Bruce Ratner Built the NYT's New Headquarters 

The ending of the NYT article does lean Ratner's way:

A Forest City spokesman, Joseph DePlasco, spins on Wednesday Ratner the Victim.  That critics had focused unfairly on the developer’s role. “This is really about a company trying with great difficulty to navigate the byzantine maze of politics in Yonkers,” he said.

Ratner's Team Afraid to Make It Look Like Pay to Play

The developer was not charged with wrongdoing, but it clearly behaved dubiously--details omitted from the Times coverage. Its representatives strung along Zehy Jereis, nervous about giving him the lobbying job he requested, since that would be a quid pro quo, but afraid that not giving him a job would scotch efforts to flip Annabi's vote.

At one point in the article, the Times notes an email sent by Bender:

"Mr. Bender responded bluntly: “get sandy on bd tell your brother we need help now.”

But the NYT did not report Mr. Bender was actually a lot more blunt. He preceded that sequence with the phrase "no fucking around."

 

The NYT did not get into where the money came from to bribe Councilwoman Annabi

Ms. Annabi’s lawyer, William I. Aronwald, suggested during cross-examination of one witness that Mr. Pirro had been paid $1 million for his efforts to lobby for Ratner.  Zehy Jereis was paid 60,000 as a consultant after the project was approved.  But the question that has not been addressed was where the 160,000 bribe money came from to pay Annabi. 

The NYT Left Out the Fact That This is The Second Ratner Bribe Trial This Year

Ratner Lobbyist Richard Lipsky pleaded guilty to bribing former Senator Carl Kruger $250,000. Kruger who stated out in politics with Bruce Bender at the Thomas Jefferson Club according to FBI tapes was helpful to his old clubmate. An FBI raid of Lipsky's house uncovered $100,000 in cash and $4,000 in "crisp" bills in his suit pocket. We still don't know where the Lipsky Kruger's bribe cash came from.

Window Into Developer’s Relentless Quest to Get a Yonkers Project Approved(NYT) For Forest City Ratner, it had become a make-or-break moment: The developer had already spent roughly $70 million on a proposed 81-acre luxury mall and housing complex in Yonkers, but was one vote shy of winning the City Council’s approval. . .  “I have taken every angle with this Sandy,” Mike Spano, a consultant, wrote on Sept. 25, 2005, in an e-mail to Bruce Bender, then a Forest City executive. Mr. Spano had also enlisted others — including union heads, the Yonkers Republican Party chairman, a well-connected lawyer and even his brother, State Senator Nicholas A. Spano — in the effort to persuade Ms. Annabi.* A Yonkers corruption case involving a councilwoman’s approval for a mall and housing complex also reveals developer Forest Ratner’s aggressiveness in seeking support from an elected official * Rhil Reisman details a patronage trail that somehow always leads to ex-Sen. Nick Spano.

Shocking: Forest City Had No Idea of Their Lobbyists Criminal Backround

 We didn't know we hired a crook: Ratner firm (NYP) 6:00PM  Officials of developer Bruce Ratner’s firm are claiming the company had no clue it recruited a convicted drug dealer and election fraudster to salvage a stalled $842 million mixed-use development in Yonkers.

NY Post: Forest City didn't conduct background check into Jereis, spokesman claims they had "no way of knowing" his criminal past(Atlantic Yards Report)

Past press coverage of Jereis Legal Problems: NY Times, Journal News, NY Daily News

Norman Oder ‏ @AYReport #RidgeHill trial: Forest City execs pushed to pay Jereis despite internal doubt bit.ly/xePyv8 Company wasn't 'bilked,' as per NYTimes Did Forest City Ratner get "bilked" by Yonkers defendant (as suggested in 2010 Times coverage)? Trial testimony indicates the opposite(Atlantic Yards Report)

 

The Daily News Does Not Cover the Trial But Does PR for Forest City Ratner

Barclays Center looks for Brooklyn foodie vendors at new Atlantic Yards Nets arena  (NYDN)  Looking for local eateries to sell 'Everything from pickles to pizza,' say officials

Ridge Hill trial: Forest City execs pushed payment for no-show job despite internal resistance; prosecution's case complicated by Bender's agreement that developer convinced Annabi to switch vote

After all, testimony yesterday indicated that Forest City executives had no problem with Zehy Jereis's seemingly no-show job and, even though he hadn't submitted required monthly reports and a lower-level employee had raised a red flag, two of the firm's top government relations executives, Bruce Bender and Scott Cantone, ordered that he be paid $15,000.

 

Trial Day 4 No NYC Media Coverage - Too Big For Coverage?

NYT, NYP and DN Continues to Covers-Up For Developer Bruce Ratner 

This Report Made Possible by Atlantic Yards Report

On a day when a former Yonkers city councilman testified about a company that has already received $750 million and has had its lobbyist convicted of bribing criminal Carl Kruger $250,000 the NYC's papers black out coverage of the second Ratner bribery trial.  Where an Ex-Yonkers Council Member: "Forest City Ratner games the system and does not play by the rules"(Atlantic Yards Report)

Ratner Gamed the System

The Journal News offers an overview article on the developer, Forest City known for tough political skills around region. The toughest critic is a local:

Forest City Ratner has “little or no regard for public opinion,” said John Murtagh, a former Yonkers councilman and opponent of the Ridge Hill project who recently testified in the trial. “Their entire business model is to exploit every tax loophole and taxpayer-funded subsidy that they can. Promise the world and deliver far less, and do it all by manipulation.”

Ratner Protesters Disappearance Act Help the Developer Get Away With Gaming the System 

In 2006 Ratner protest attracts thousands today when it becoming clearer and clearer that the developer's lobbyist bribed public official to gain millions in government funding the protesters have disappeared. The public silence makes it a slam dunk for newspapers to get away with their blackout of the Yonkers bribery trial where the developers lobbyist have already been exposed.  Notice how the developers is never indicted only those who work for the developer.  Maybe a renewed protest could demand that the prosecutors find out were the lobbyists got their bribery money and who else was involved.

NYT MIA In Ratner Lobbyist Trial

A house ad in the Times and a question mark about coverage of Forest City Ratner's role in the Yonkers corruption case(Atlantic Yard Review) It was curious that, after a Forest City Ratner executive testified last Thursday about the developer's questionable behavior connected to its Ridge Hill project, a key part of the corruption case against two Yonkers figures, no article appeared in the New York Times.  . .  It seemed even more curious after a look at the print paper Friday. There, at the bottom of A22, a page devoted to metropolitan coverage, was a house ad (right) for the Times. Such house ads are typically used to fill space when there's no paying ad or article to take precedence.

The NYT Test: The Bender Evaluation Lets See If the Paper Covers the Trial This Week?

Bruce Bender, a former executive with the development company Forest City Ratner who came out of Kruger's Thomas Jefferson club was taped in the feds Kruger bribery case and in now scheduled to tell what he knows about the Yonkers bribery.  Yonkers Council Majority Leader John Murtagh Jr. said FCR Vice President Bruce Bender leaned on him in 2006 to change his expected vote opposing a controversial FCR development. Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol The NYT Tower was built in partnership with Forest City Ratner.   That new Times headquarters almost bankrupted the paper when the the real estate market collapsed in 2008.  The building had to be refinanced with Mexican billionaire Carlos Sims and TARP money (+funny stuff) givem to GMAC who held the building mortgage. 

 

On the Third Day of the Ratner Lobbyists Bribe Trial the NYP Begins Covering, NYT and DN still in Black Out Mode

NYT had reporters there, but no story today yet?  

But NYP Coverage Was Misleading According to Atlantic Yards Report 

An executive at Forest City Ratner testified in Manhattan federal court yesterday that he hired former Yonkers GOP chairman Zehy Jereis for a no-show job to help push through legislation on a stalled $630 million development project, the Post writes: http://nyp.st/A2HhtG

Correction This is not correct. He testified that they hired Jereis *after* the legislation passed and that they specifically avoided doing do before it passed because it wouldn't look good. If they had hired Jereis before the vote it would have looked even more like a quid pro quo and Forest City might have been indicted Scott Cantone, FCR’s senior VP for government affairs, testified in Manhattan federal court that the firm hired then-Yonkers Republican Party chairman Zehy Jereis as a “consultant” in 2006 because Jereis was the only one who could swing a key vote their way to push through a stalled $650 million mixed-use development called “Ridge Hill.”  --it was because he was the only one who could have swung a vote to push through the project

More on the Trial 

‘No-$how’ Ratner woe NYP) An executive at Forest City Ratner testified in Manhattan federal court yesterday that he hired former Yonkers GOP chairman Zehy Jereis for a no-show job to help push through legislation on a stalled $630 million development project. FCR's Cantone testifies: defendant Jereis probably wouldn't have gained no-show job had he not gotten defendant Annabi's vote switch on Ridge Hill; also, Brooklyn Assemblyman Lentol played key cameo(Atlantic Yards Report) Forest City exec tries to explain no-show job given to defendant in #RidgeHill Yonkers corruption trial

 

The Boys Meet in Brooklyn to Cut A Deal to Clear the Way for Ratner Yonkers Project

Lentol Involved in the Ratner Trial

During yesterday’s testimony, it was also revealed that state Assemblyman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn) helped broker the first meeting with Jereis who is on trial for bribing a Yonkers former city councilwoman and FCR officials in June 2006 at Marco Polo Ristorante in Brooklyn.

 

Bill to Ban Crooked Ratner Lobbyist Like Richard Lipsky 

 Ratner Lipsky is awaiting jail for bribing Carl Kruger who is also heading to jail. Ban con lobbyists: pol(NYP) A Bronx Democrat wants lobbyists convicted of felonies to be suspended for three to five years from plying their trade.

 

Post, NYT and Daily News "Watergates" Covers-Up For Developer Bruce Ratner

Media Blackout Day 2 For the Second consecutive day of Corruption Trial That Could Implicate Rattner or His Staff in Pay to Play Bribery Corruption None of the NYC's papers covered it. Only Atlantic Yards Report and Lohud.com are covering the Ratner project trial. 

Atlantic Yards Report:

In court, former Yonkers Council Member explains why she resisted Forest City's plan: "I truly believe that Ridge Hill had been given a sweetheart deal"

LoHud.com:

2 Ridge Hill foes testify on Sandy Annabi's vote * Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano takes stand at corruption trial (Lohud.com) Prosecutors once suspected Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano of misleading federal authorities when they were investigating the role of his brother, former Sen. Nicholas Spano, in the Ridge Hill development corruption case.

Norman Oder @AYReport Ex-Yonkers pol: #RidgeHill got sweetheart deal bit.ly/zktvs5 Ex-officials from #AtlanticYards developer Forest City may testify soon

Post, NYT and Daily News "Watergates" Covers-Up For Developer Bruce Ratner 

On The First Day of Corruption Trial That Could Implicate Rattner or His Staff in Pay to Play Bribery Corruption None of the papers covered it NYP Instead Cheerleads for Ratner Says His Arena Shaping Up New Nets arena shaping up(NYP)'

Blogger Atlantic Yards Reports Covers the Corruption Trial  FCR's Bender mentioned in first day of Ridge Hill trial testimony: he was at two key meetings regarding defendant Annabi's changed vote * Witnesses testify of Sandy Annabi's spending: Rolex watch, diamond necklace (LoHud)

Ratner's Lobbyist Trial

Ratner's lobbyists Tip of Corrupt Crime Wave Which the Media Ignores

Albany’s favorite felon (NYP Ed) The Post calls for tighter policing of the lobbying industry, citing the fact that former Sen. Nick Spano is retaining his lobbying license despite a guilty plea on tax evasion charges. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway still pays Spano between $6,000 and $15,000 a month. And Western Region OTB pays him $50,000 a year.  Genting aqueduct just took him off the payroll this week. * The Post says that Nick Spano’s trip to prison is a temporary detour before he resumes a lucrative lobbying career. *New twists in Ridge Hill corruption trial: Forest City consultant Pirro said to claim job for defendant Jereis would get defendant Annabi to flip her City Council vote(Atlantic Yards Review) * Former Sen. Nick Spano lost another lobbying client.

 

NYP Left Out Lobbyist Lipsky Bribed Kruger

The NYP failed to mention in its editorial that Lobbyist Richard Lipsky who worked or the same developer Forest City Ratern involved in the Spano case, was convicted of bribing Carl Kruger. Besides paying $250,000 An FBI raid of Lipsky's house uncovered $100,000 in cash and $4,000 in "crisp" bills in his suit pocket. We still don't know who gave Lipsky all that cash.Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Paying Bribes to a State Senator(NYT) 

 

Is Spano Plea Connected to Ratner Lobbyist Corruption Trial Starting Next Week? 

Another Corrupt Lobbyists Former Elected Official

A former State Senator turned lobbyist pleaded guilty to a felony today. *  Don’t worry, he can still lobby. * Ex-Westchester Senator Admits Tax Obstruction * Ex-Politician Pleads Guilty in Taxes Case(WSJ)

Net Gangs

When ACORN endorsed Republican Spano in 2006, was Forest City Ratner a factor? Worth pondering, though plea deal suggests no ties to Ridge Hill (Atlantic Years Report)

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Maybe A Connect to Second Forest City Ratner Trial

Bruce Bender Leaves Forest City Surrounded By Corruption and Right Before Another Bribe Trial Involving the Company

Yonkers pol Nick Spano to plead guilty to tax evasion; brother Mike, now mayor, served as FCR agent on Ridge Hill; did Nick have a Ridge Hill connection? (Atlantic Yard Report) * Media Black Out Shake Up At Forest City Ratner Surrounded in Kruger Corruption(True News) * Times columnist Michael Powell  pointed out the developer is involved in two federal indictments. Powell wrote, "The Brooklyn and Yonkers cases are not simply about wayward politicians. The cases share an intriguing tie to the developer Bruce Ratner, who in project after project deploys lobbyists and politicians to change zoning ordinances and chase down rich packets of subsidies." * Forest City executive in charge of Ridge Hill, and his successor, both leave company within one year (Atlantic Yard Review)

True News Has Been Asking Where the Bribe Money in Both the Cases Involving Ratner Came From?

Who Paid the Elected Officials Kruger and Annabi?

Lobbyist Richard Lipsky pleads guilty to bribing crooked pol Carl Kruger (NYP) Lipsky bribed Kruger for $250,000 and was caught during an FBI raid with $100,000 in his apartment.  The FBI and U.S. Attorney says former Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi  was birbed $160,000 to change her votes on to Yonkers Forest City Ratner Ridge Hill project. 

We Know What Was In It For Kruger Did Pols Get Gifts?

In 2006 No Land Grab Asked 1) Why are South Brooklyn politicos Kruger, Golden, Fidler and Nelson big on Atlantic Yards? Like, what's in it for them?

 

 

Lobbyist Hank Morris Payed Off Many Lobbyist Who Helped Him Elect Hevesi with  Pension Fund Deals

The NYP did not talk about another lobbyist Hank Morris who is in jail now for ripping of the pension funds.  Other lobbyist who got in trouble for pension fund abuses besides Morris, Kevin McCabe, Global Strategy, Patricia Lynch, Andrew Cuomo pay-to-play pension probe nails Hevesi pal Patricia Lynch * HANK MORRIS PLEADS GUILTY IN PENSION FUND PAY-TO-PLAY SCANDAL 

 

NYP Used By Sheinkopf When They Allow Him to Attack Liu A George Arzt Client

 Ridiculous: NYP Uses Consultant Who Took the 5th to Judge Liu's Conduct(True News)* Lobbyist Hank Sheinkopf Took the 5th in the Aquduct gambling investigations

 

More Lobbyist Corrupt To Come 

Lobbyist Bill Lynch set up a meeting with Rev. Flake with Patterson, even though Lynch was a lobbyist against a company against Flacke. Carl Andrews was just order by the court to tell what he knows about the AEG mess. Many Political Consultants/lobbyist Breed Corruption: Political Insiders Use Pols to Become Rich From Government * Andrew Cuomo Goes to Albany, Where Lobbyists Are Waiting - (Village Voice) * State Lobbying Soars Passed $200M * Stanley Schlein Rides Again A Bronx fixer's scandalous history doesn't bother Yankees or Democrats * Bronx Lobbyist Serves as Espada's Lawyer in Senate Talks - NYTimes.com

 

Queens Dictator Lobbyist  Stavisky Above the Law in the Banana Republic of Queens

Modern Boss Tweed

In 2005 in a NYT article Dick Dadey executive director of Citizens Union expressed concern about what he called "a growing problem" of council members being lobbied by firms that serve as political consultants to many of them. "It clearly gives a lobbyist who does campaign work unfair advantage, because it gives them a level of access to the elected official that they otherwise would not have." In 2005 the Parkside was paid a total of $1.7 million by more than 40 clients last year, many of them nonprofit receiving member items from the city council.  

The Parkside Group, carved out a dual role in New York politics: as lobbyist for nonprofit groups seeking city money and as a political consultant to a dozen council members, including the speaker and the Finance Committee chairman, who have a major hand in approving budget requests from those same groups. Miller who became so close to Parkside after it helped him win his speaker post asked one of Parkside partners to help him hire a chief of staff. Did Parkside Get Funds from Millers Slush Fund?  In 2004, Miller launched his ill-fated drive to become mayor right from Parkside's offices. Lobbyists' Role in Council Slush Fund Scandal Probed (City Sun 2008) * A Letter to Garcia: (Michael) Garcia U.S. Attorney | Room Eight * O'Hara and Stavisky Voting Residence Injustice While the Media looks the other way

The Trial That Can Up End The Lobbyist Takeover of Politics  . . .  Pirro Kiss of Death

Judge Allows New Claims in Bribe Trial(WSJ)  A Manhattan federal judge presiding over a Yonkers corruption trial ruled Tuesday that prosecutors can introduce previously unknown allegations involving former state Sen. Nick Spano, who pleaded guilty last week to tax evasion. * With Action by Judge, Details in a Yonkers Corruption Case Emerge (NYT) 

Was Councilwoman Sandy Annabi Bribed to Vote for A Ratner Project

An account released in court included statements, said to be made by Albert J. Pirro Jr., suggesting how a member of the Yonkers City Council Sandy Annabi could be persuaded to vote for a development. Mr. Pirro was quoted as saying to Dennis Robertson, then a councilman. “We will just give Zehy a consulting contract, and we will get. Prosecutors have also charged that Mr. Jereis repeatedly asked Forest City Ratner’s representatives to hire him as a consultant, and that the developer agreed in 2006 to give him a job “sometime after Annabi formally voted in favor of the Ridge Hill project,” according to a federal indictment. He eventually received a $60,000 consulting deal. her vote.”* l Pirro was caught on tape telling developers that he could get a Westchester lawmaker’s approval for a project by offering an associate of hers a job.

What Did Bruce Ratner Know and Do?

Feds Must Find If the High Fees Paid To Lobbyists Are Intended for Bribes

Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Paying Bribes to a State Senator(NYT) Prosecutors charged that over several years, Mr. Lipskyhad shared lobbying fees with Mr. Kruger in return for the senator’s actions on matters about which Mr. Lipsky had been paid to lobby. A major client of Lipsky, a large one, was a real estate developer that has been identified in news reports as Forest City Ratner.

 

Media Only Reports on the Pleas Ignores Others Involved

The NYT  mentioned Rattner' Forest City real estate company as one of Lipsky's clients but did not say what Kruger did for them or who was involved with them. * Lobbyist Lipsky Admits to Bribery(WSJ) * Lobbyist Linked To Kruger Pleads Guilty In Bribery Case(NY1)

 

Lipsky was Ratner's Forest City 2nd Lobbyist Bribery Indictment in A Year                       

Developer of Major New Rochelle Project, Forest City Ratner, Bribed Yonkers Official Sexy Sandy Annabi, U.S. Attorney Charges (Talk of the Sound)

A Forest City Ratner executive whose cozy relationship with state Sen. Carl Kruger is featured in a new criminal complaint against the Brooklyn politician personally lobbied a Yonkers councilman hours before a controversial vote that later led to bribery charges against a councilwoman. Yonkers Council Majority Leader John Murtagh Jr. said FCR Vice President Bruce Bender leaned on him in 2006 to change his expected vote opposing a controversial FCR development. Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol

Forest City Public Tit Money Caught in Corrupt Kruger

Bruce Bender, an executive with the development company Forest City Ratner who came out of Kruger's Thomas Jefferson club, was pressing him for $15 million in state funding for three Brooklyn projects.  Mr. Kruger said he would get back to him. Half an hour later, he checked with his aides, found out he had $500,0000 left over at his own discretion, and told them to give it to the company for a project at Prospect Park.  “I love you,” Mr. Bender said a few minutes later  In a Series of Phone Calls, an Ear Into a Federal Corruption Case * Atlantic Yards Efforts in View in Kruger Case(WSJ) * "I Don't Mind F-king The Bridge."(Develop Don't Destroy) *WSJ, regarding Kruger case, goes easy on FCR's obligation to rebuild bridge, reveals unmet request for additional city housing subsidy (Atlantic Yard Report)

Maybe A Connect to Second Forest City Ratner Trial

Bruce Bender Leaves Forest City Surrounded By Corruption and Right Before Another Bribe Trial Involving the Company

Yonkers pol Nick Spano to plead guilty to tax evasion; brother Mike, now mayor, served as FCR agent on Ridge Hill; did Nick have a Ridge Hill connection? (Atlantic Yard Report) * Media Black Out Shake Up At Forest City Ratner Surrounded in Kruger Corruption(True News) * Times columnist Michael Powell  pointed out the developer is involved in two federal indictments. Powell wrote, "The Brooklyn and Yonkers cases are not simply about wayward politicians. The cases share an intriguing tie to the developer Bruce Ratner, who in project after project deploys lobbyists and politicians to change zoning ordinances and chase down rich packets of subsidies."

True News Has Been Asking Where the Bribe Money in Both the Cases Involving Ratner Came From?

Who Paid the Elected Officials Kruger and Annabi?

Lobbyist Richard Lipsky pleads guilty to bribing crooked pol Carl Kruger (NYP) Lipsky bribed Kruger for $250,000 and was caught during an FBI raid with $100,000 in his apartment.  The FBI and U.S. Attorney says former Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi  was birbed $160,000 to change her votes on to Yonkers Forest City Ratner Ridge Hill project. 

We Know What Was In It For Kruger Did Pols Get Gifts?

In 2006 No Land Grab Asked 1) Why are South Brooklyn politicos Kruger, Golden, Fidler and Nelson big on Atlantic Yards? Like, what's in it for them?

Is Spano Plea Connected to Ratner Lobbyist Corruption Trial Starting Next Week? 

Another Corrupt Lobbyists Former Elected Official

A former State Senator turned lobbyist pleaded guilty to a felony today. *  Don’t worry, he can still lobby. * Ex-Westchester Senator Admits Tax Obstruction * Ex-Politician Pleads Guilty in Taxes Case(WSJ)

Net Gangs

When ACORN endorsed Republican Spano in 2006, was Forest City Ratner a factor? Worth pondering, though plea deal suggests no ties to Ridge Hill (Atlantic Years Report)

 

Bruce RatnerGate: Nobody Knew About the Kruger Bribes . . .  Press Clean Up Time

Bruce Bender Leaves Surrounded By Corruption

Forest City Departures, New Firm In Offing(YNN) Bruce Bender and Scott Cantone are striking out on their own to create a new political consulting firm. Bender got some unwanted press recently when he was caught on the federal wiretap negotiating for state funds for a non-Ratner project with former Sen. Carl Kruger, who lost his seat after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges. Lobbyist Richard Lipsky, who represented Ratner, also pleaded guilty in the pay-to-play probe. Federal prosecutors said he paid hundreds of thousands in bribes to Kruger, the former Senate Finance Committee chairman. 

Forest City Public Tit Money Caught in Corrupt Kruger Web

Bruce Bender, an executive with the development company Forest City Ratner who came out of Kruger's Thomas Jefferson club, was pressing him for $15 million in state funding for three Brooklyn projects.  Mr. Kruger said he would get back to him. Half an hour later, he checked with his aides, found out he had $500,0000 left over at his own discretion, and told them to give the money for a ice skating  project at Prospect Park.  “I love you,” Mr. Bender said a few minutes late.  Where did convicted Richard Lipsky get all the cash he gave to Kruger?

 

Bender is Involved in Another Ratner's Forest City Bribery Indictment in A Year                       

Developer of Major New Rochelle Project, Forest City Ratner, Bribed Yonkers Official Sexy Sandy Annabi, U.S. Attorney Charges (Talk of the Sound)

A Forest City Ratner executive whose cozy relationship with state Sen. Carl Kruger is featured in a new criminal complaint against the Brooklyn politician personally lobbied a Yonkers councilman hours before a controversial vote that later led to bribery charges against a councilwoman. Yonkers Council Majority Leader John Murtagh Jr. said FCR Vice President Bruce Bender leaned on him in 2006 to change his expected vote opposing a controversial FCR development. Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol

 

Where Are the Investigative Reporters?

One of the biggest government funded developers in the city Bruce Ratner had major shake up in his company yesterday having to do with charges of corruption and not a single newspaper picked up the story. A company that has haul in $726 million in special public benefits. It a story of lobbyist bribing public officials to get public money and zoning changes for projects by Ratner's Company Forest City.  Ratner VP Bruce Bender from Kruger's Thomas Jefferson Club who was taped by the FBI getting state money from the convict Carl is gone. Bender is also name in a lawsuit where New Rochelle pols were indicted for bribes on another Forest City project. * Report: Bender, Cantone leave Forest City for new consulting firm; could pending Ridge Hill corruption trial be the spur?(Atlantic Yard Report)

 

Convict Kruger Bribed and the Developer Knew Nothing? 

The NYT whose HQ was built and financed by Ratner wrote about his bribery problem on January 9th 2012 after Forest City Lobbyist Richard Lipsky pead to bribing Inmate Kruger.  Where did the $250,00 that Lipsky bribed Kruger come from?  or the $100,000 the FBI found in the lobbyist home when they raided it.  Mr. Ratner has walked between the legal raindrops. Federal prosecutors have not implicated him or his company, Forest City Ratner, in either of these corruption cases. He must have no idea how he got the hundreds of millions from Kruger, Filder and the other pols for his company.  He also must be clueless about the bribery cases against him.  Another example how the media filters corrupt story to protect the powerful and only report on the incitements and convictions.

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Bruce RatnerGate: Nobody Knew About the Kruger Bribes . . .  Press Clean Up Time

Bruce Bender Leaves Surrounded By Corruption

Forest City Departures, New Firm In Offing(YNN) Bruce Bender and Scott Cantone are striking out on their own to create a new political consulting firm. Bender got some unwanted press recently when he was caught on the federal wiretap negotiating for state funds for a non-Ratner project with former Sen. Carl Kruger, who lost his seat after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges. Lobbyist Richard Lipsky, who represented Ratner, also pleaded guilty in the pay-to-play probe. Federal prosecutors said he paid hundreds of thousands in bribes to Kruger, the former Senate Finance Committee chairman. * Executive departures from Forest City pile up: four of five listed as key lobbyists in 2006 are gone(Atlantic Yard Reports)

Forest City Public Tit Money Caught in Corrupt Kruger Web

Bruce Bender, an executive with the development company Forest City Ratner who came out of Kruger's Thomas Jefferson club, was pressing him for $15 million in state funding for three Brooklyn projects.  Mr. Kruger said he would get back to him. Half an hour later, he checked with his aides, found out he had $500,0000 left over at his own discretion, and told them to give the money for a ice skating  project at Prospect Park.  “I love you,” Mr. Bender said a few minutes late.  Where did convicted Richard Lipsky get all the cash he gave to Kruger?

 

Bender is Involved in Another Ratner's Forest City Bribery Indictment in A Year                       

Developer of Major New Rochelle Project, Forest City Ratner, Bribed Yonkers Official Sexy Sandy Annabi, U.S. Attorney Charges (Talk of the Sound)

A Forest City Ratner executive whose cozy relationship with state Sen. Carl Kruger is featured in a new criminal complaint against the Brooklyn politician personally lobbied a Yonkers councilman hours before a controversial vote that later led to bribery charges against a councilwoman. Yonkers Council Majority Leader John Murtagh Jr. said FCR Vice President Bruce Bender leaned on him in 2006 to change his expected vote opposing a controversial FCR development. Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol

 

NYT Ends Ratner Lobbyist's Trial Blackout To Spin FCR Flack Spin Crap
So, after three days of testimony from Forest City Ratner officials, and a one-day grace period, the New York Times today finally publishes an article about the Ridge Hill project and Yonkers corruption

Times finally publishes article on Ridge Hill trial, lets flack DePlasco defend Forest City against unidentified "critics," downplays developer's dubious behavior (Atlantic Yards Review)

Bruce Ratner Built the NYT's New Headquarters 

The ending of the NYT article does lean Ratner's way:

A Forest City spokesman, Joseph DePlasco, spins on Wednesday Ratner the Victim.  That critics had focused unfairly on the developer’s role. “This is really about a company trying with great difficulty to navigate the byzantine maze of politics in Yonkers,” he said.

Ratner's Team Afraid to Make It Look Like Pay to Play

The developer was not charged with wrongdoing, but it clearly behaved dubiously--details omitted from the Times coverage. Its representatives strung along Zehy Jereis, nervous about giving him the lobbying job he requested, since that would be a quid pro quo, but afraid that not giving him a job would scotch efforts to flip Annabi's vote.

At one point in the article, the Times notes an email sent by Bender:

"Mr. Bender responded bluntly: “get sandy on bd tell your brother we need help now.”

But the NYT did not report Mr. Bender was actually a lot more blunt. He preceded that sequence with the phrase "no fucking around."

 

The NYT did not get into where the money came from to bribe Councilwoman Annabi

Ms. Annabi’s lawyer, William I. Aronwald, suggested during cross-examination of one witness that Mr. Pirro had been paid $1 million for his efforts to lobby for Ratner.  Zehy Jereis was paid 60,000 as a consultant after the project was approved.  But the question that has not been addressed was where the 160,000 bribe money came from to pay Annabi. 

The NYT Left Out the Fact That This is The Second Ratner Bribe Trial This Year

Ratner Lobbyist Richard Lipsky pleaded guilty to bribing former Senator Carl Kruger $250,000. Kruger who stated out in politics with Bruce Bender at the Thomas Jefferson Club according to FBI tapes was helpful to his old clubmate. An FBI raid of Lipsky's house uncovered $100,000 in cash and $4,000 in "crisp" bills in his suit pocket. We still don't know where the Lipsky Kruger's bribe cash came from.

Window Into Developer’s Relentless Quest to Get a Yonkers Project Approved(NYT) For Forest City Ratner, it had become a make-or-break moment: The developer had already spent roughly $70 million on a proposed 81-acre luxury mall and housing complex in Yonkers, but was one vote shy of winning the City Council’s approval. . .  “I have taken every angle with this Sandy,” Mike Spano, a consultant, wrote on Sept. 25, 2005, in an e-mail to Bruce Bender, then a Forest City executive. Mr. Spano had also enlisted others — including union heads, the Yonkers Republican Party chairman, a well-connected lawyer and even his brother, State Senator Nicholas A. Spano — in the effort to persuade Ms. Annabi.* A Yonkers corruption case involving a councilwoman’s approval for a mall and housing complex also reveals developer Forest Ratner’s aggressiveness in seeking support from an elected official * Rhil Reisman details a patronage trail that somehow always leads to ex-Sen. Nick Spano. 

 

The 1% Who Benefit From the Bribery Always Walk 

Veteran trial attorney Murray Richman, who represented Annabi after she was first indicted, also questioned whether federal prosecutors were sometimes drawn to cases for the splashy headlines rather than digging deeper into larger public corruption.
“They go for the hangers,” said Richman, referring to a term used in billiards whereby players target balls that are perched closest to the holes and thereby are the easiest to sink. “There’s no question that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is quite selective in the cases they bring,” he said. “They follow the evidence as they perceive it, but they pick on a particular bone and they stay at the same bone and don’t put a wide enough net out there.”  In Brooklyn Carl Kruger Heads to Jail and so may the lobbyist who work for Ratner, Richard Lipsky Annabi verdict is latest win for U.S. attorney(LoHud)

If the office is "quite selective," does that mean certain developers have gotten a pass?  We Know He Go One From the Media When They Decided to Not Cover the Trail

 

What They Say What They Mean

When Ratner's FlackDePlasco says the developer is an example of a good corporate citizen,  he really means that he is being paid to get good press for a guy that will hire corrupt lobbyists who will do anything to get his projects public dollars.  Forest City Ratner: good corporate citizen or relentless seeker of advantage? (100% non-invented quotes)(Atlantic Yards Report)  “I think all of this stems from [Bruce Ratner's] sense of what it means to be a good corporate citizen..." -- Forest City Ratner spokesman Joe DePlasco, in the Forward, May 2011 *

"“Just left emergency rm my wife needs surgery tomorrow no fucking around get sandy on bd tell your brother we need help now I have to close this and take care of my family.” -- Forest City Ratner executive Bruce Bender, September 2005, revealed in Ridge Hill corruption trial, February 2012

"My dilemma is as you know, I don't mind fucking the bridge, I can't fuck it right now, I've got to leverage that bridge, what's my value?" -- Forest City Ratner executive Bruce Bender, December 2010, revealed in Carl Kruger investigation, March 2011
 

No Land Grab Blog April Fools Joke is telling

Leading New York Developer Arrested in FBI Raid

After Yonkers Corruption Conviction, Investigation to Continue U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is promising more to come for those named in the case. Sen. Tom Libous denied the influence-peddling allegation directed at him by a disbarred attorney who testified at the trial, insisting there’s “nothing to investigate.” 

 

With Two Convictions of its Lobbyists MSM Protects Developer Bruce Rattner

Barclays Center promotional round-up: Daily News, NY1, Channel 13(Atlantic Yards Review)
estate correspondent), now has another reason to offer editorial support of the Barclays Center arena: the Daily News Golden Gloves, the newspaper-sponsored boxing tournament, is moving its two-day finals to the Brooklyn venue: Nets Develop Business Deals In Their Future Borough(NY1) Meanwhile, NY1 published a segment, headlined Nets Develop Business Deals In Their Future Borough, that provided a tour of the new Nets offices in Brooklyn, led by relentless promoter Brett Yormark (Nets/Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment CEO), keyed to the big news that the Brooklyn Marriott is now the arena's official hotel * Following up a belated but worthy analysis of Charlie Rose's "infomercial" with Bruce Ratner, Noticing New York Michael D.D. White turns his righteous ire to the performance of Channel 13, which has used the upcoming Andrew Bocelli concert at the Barclays Center as a lure for donors--while not exactly providing the incisive coverage of the arena the controversy merits.

 

 

We Know Russia is Ratner's  Corrupt Lobbyist What About Brooklyn and Yonkers

Prokhorov, in the New Yorker, said he hasn't broken laws, but admits to corrupt dealings (and shrugs them off as inevitable in Russia) (Atlantic Yards Review) *Forest City Ratner Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Bribing Elected Official(newrochelletalk.com) * Ex-Yonkers City Councilwoman convicted of bribery * True News: Another Ratner Lobbyist Gets Convicted and Nobody Notices * How Bruce Ratner Wins Approval for his Projects(True News)