Insider Baseball How Current and Former Public Officials Pitched a Community Shutout for the New York Yankees
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Insider Baseball
How Current and Former Public
Officials Pitched a Community
Shutout for the New York Yankees
Good Jobs New York
July 2007Acknowledgments
The report was written by Good Jobs New York’s project director Bettina Damiani,
research consultant Eileen Markey, and research analyst Dan Steinberg. Additional
research was conducted by Good Jobs First Research Analyst Allison Lack.
Special thanks for the keen eye and editing expertise of Good Jobs First Executive
Director Greg LeRoy and Research Director Phil Mattera. Thanks to Frank Mauro,
Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, for his assistance with additional
research requests. Thanks to Betty Grdina.
About Good Jobs New York
GJNY investigates and publicizes the way in which public resources are allocated
in the name of corporate retention. With this knowledge we hold government
officials and companies accountable to taxpayers.
GJNY is a joint project of the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) and Good Jobs First
(GJF). FPI (www.fiscalpolicy.org) is a nonpartisan research and education
organization that focuses on the broad range of tax, budget, economic and related
public policy issues that affect the quality of life and the economic well being of
New York State residents. Good Jobs First (www.goodjobsfirst.org) is a non-profit,
non-partisan national resource center for constituency-based groups and public
officials, promoting corporate and government accountability in economic
development and smart growth for working families.
Good Jobs New York
11 Park Place, #701
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212.721.7996
www.goodjobsny.org
Cover photo: Construction of new Yankee Stadium is well underway where 22 acres of parks once
stood. July 2007.Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary………………………………………………………...…….1 2. Nine Days in June…………………………………………………….…….….…4 3. Background: The New Yankee Stadium …………………....................................5 4. Warm-ups: Randy and Rudy in the Luxury Box ……………………….…….....9 5. Filling out the Roster: Former and Current Public Officials...……………….…11 6. The Stadium Turnstile: Familiar Faces Win Government Approvals…………..16 7. What’s BCIDC and Why Does It Want our Tax Dollars? ...................................19 8. Conclusion and Policy Options………………………………………………….21
Executive Summary Yankees;
To seize public parklands, win rapid ● Stanley Schlein, a Bronx political
permitting, and land massive taxpayer operative since the Koch
subsidies for their new stadium in the Administration, and an attorney for the
South Bronx, the New York Yankees Bronx Democratic Party who worked
hired numerous former public officials for Assembly Member Rivera while
and benefited from the actions of a few also chairing the civil service
current elected officials to play insider commission until Mayor Bloomberg
baseball, shutting out Bronx residents and refused to reappoint him after public
New York City taxpayers. concerns were raised about his conduct
as a judicial appointee.
In a secretive, undemocratic process that
climaxed in a lightning series of events in Numerous other former public servants
June 2005, these past and present officials and officials – once responsible for
helped the Yankees seize 22 acres of protecting the public treasury – now work
heavily used public parks and win at firms whose priority is the Yankees’
development subsidies exceeding half a pocketbook. For example:
billion dollars. City municipal records, • Joseph Seymour, former executive
lobbying declarations, legal documents, director of the Port Authority of
project plans and corporate filings reveal New York and New Jersey and
that the heavy hitters include: now senior vice president at the
Community Initiatives
● Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Development Corporation (conduit
who approved millions of dollars in for the garage financing);
subsidies to the team including a $21
million rent reduction and whose firm, • Bruce Serchuk, a partner at the
Giuliani Security and Safety, is listed firm Nixon Peabody (a firm listed
in court documents as a security in public documents as being
consultant for the stadium; retained as bond counsel for both
the Yankees and the New York
● Randy Levine, former City Industrial Development
Commissioner of the Office of Labor Agency) and a former senior
Relations and then Deputy Mayor for technical reviewer at the Internal
Economic Development under Mayor Revenue Service;
Giuliani, and now President of the
Yankee organization; • Howard Safir, Giuliani’s former
police commissioner, now of the
● Roberto Ramirez, former Bronx firm SafirRosetti, is listed in court
Assembly Member and Bronx County documents as a security consultant
Democratic Chair and now of the for the project; and
Mirram Group, who reported lobbying
his former colleagues on behalf of the
1
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseball• Frank Chaney and Melanie were heavily used by local residents and
Meyers, former officials at the children from 20 schools. Today, the
New York City Department of City construction of the stadium is well
Planning, now work for the firm underway and the former parks are
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & occupied by cranes and bulldozers. Public
Jacobson which was paid to lobby officials promised interim parks
the Planning Commission and (temporary open space while the
other agencies on behalf of the replacement parks are constructed) would
Yankees. be opened shortly after construction began
in August 2006 but they became a reality
Together with others, revolving-door only recently.
players helped the most valuable sports
franchise in America score over half a The deal grossly violates the Bloomberg
billion dollars in subsidies. With no public Administration’s commendable proposals
hearings and hurried votes in both Albany for sustainable development and reduced
and New York City, they also ensured the greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in
Yankees could abruptly seize 22 acres of PlaNYC2030. By destroying open space
Macombs Dam Park and parts of Mullaly and subsidizing fans to attend games by
Park, popular recreation places in the automobile (while ignoring a nearby
poorest Congressional district in the transit station), the new stadium and its
United States and one of New York’s huge new garages will increase traffic in a
highest asthma-rate neighborhoods. community already plagued by auto-
induced asthma.
The new Yankee stadium project
undermined democratic planning Taxpayer subsidies for the project are still
principles and benefited the Yankee’s flowing: the City is offering to further
profit margin over the employment, subsidize thousands of stadium parking
recreational and public health needs of the spaces on the former park lands by
community. Despite the opposition of the allocating $190 million in civic facility
local community board and a “no” vote bonds. The IDA has held a public hearing
from the City Council member on the garage financing but has yet to vote
representing the neighborhood around the on the project.
stadium, the project was rammed through
so hurriedly that community members Our findings do not suggest any illegal
were only allowed to weigh in after major behavior or conflicts of interest. But they
decisions had been made. do reveal a large, costly redevelopment
project that was rushed through the public
Providing subsidies for this project, approval process without meaningful
particularly the massive parking garages participation from the community or
that have already received $70 million of clearly defined benefits to residents and
state funds, dealt a grave blow to the taxpayers. Public faith in government is
community’s quality of life. The tree eroded when private corporations hire
lined Macombs Dam and Mullaly Parks
2
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballformer government officials and use their consultants or lobbyists), including their
expertise and influence to evade public and private positions and dates of
participatory planning and established public service.
economic development principles.
Extend the Cooling-Off Period
To guarantee there’s no replay of the To reduce the revolving-door influence
Yankee Stadium fiasco, Good Jobs New problem, the City should extend to three
York offers policy options to protect years the time period which former
residents’ rights. elected officials and agency personnel
must wait after leaving office before they
Honor Land Use Policies and the can work as lobbyists or with firms
Community Boards involved directly on projects involving
New York City has a strong democratic their public-sector jobs. Currently, the
planning process on the books (called the City’s conflict of interest law has
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure or loopholes permitting public officials to
ULURP). It should be embraced, not immediately go to work at firms that do
gamed. business with the city.
Major decisions on this project (the Scratch the Parking Garages
seizure of the park land, the types of City and state officials should act on their
public subsidies offered for example) stated city-wide commitment to fund
were privately agreed to by the Yankees public transportation as an alternative to
and public officials in the project’s driving. Recently officials pledged funds
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)-- to build a Metro North train station near
a copy is available at the Yankee stadium. With an estimated
http://www.goodjobsny.org/yankeestadiu 10,000 fans per game choosing Metro
m_mou.pdf. Agreements should not be North to get to games, the number of
negotiated without the consultation of the proposed parking spaces can be
local community board and until details of substantially cut back and park land
proposals are made available and restored.
mandated public hearings are held.
Disclose the Revolving Door
Just as elected officials must reveal the
companies or partnerships from which
they receive income in financial
disclosure statements, developers seeking
land use approvals or development
subsidies should be required to disclose in
applications the names of all former
government officials involved in the
project (either as direct employees or as
3
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballNine Days in June Neighborhood residents had never been
informed that such a land grab was being
It was June 2005, and residents of the considered. There had never been any
South Bronx enjoyed the return of public hearing on the proposal, nor had
summer while playing in their cherished the local community board yet been
Macombs Dam and Mullaly Parks. They advised or consulted.
had no idea that in these waning days of
the legislative session in Albany city and Dumbfounded and outraged, residents
state representatives were stealthily organized to protest the deal’s remaining
preparing to introduce “emergency” formalities. But the land seizure was the
legislation in Albany that would seize the biggest hurdle and meant the deal was
parks. almost certainly done.
On June 15, 2005, city and state officials The Yankees are a popular and storied
quietly signed a “Memorandum of part of New York City, as emblematic of
Understanding” (MOU) with the Yankees the metropolis as the Statue of Liberty or
committing land and subsidies for the the Brooklyn Bridge. But the nation’s
stadium project. The officials agreed to most valuable sports franchise, we found,
make a “collaborative effort to seek State is also a politically entrenched
legislation as quickly as possible” entertainment corporation well fed at the
authorizing the construction of both the public trough.
stadium and large garages on public
parklands, with the Yankees assuming This report is a follow-up to Good Jobs
“primary responsibility for gathering” the New York’s February 2006 Loot, Loot,
support of local elected officials.1 Loot for the Home Team (available at
www.goodjobsny.org) report on the
That weekend, the bills were introduced stadium deal’s public subsidies that
in the state legislature by Bronx Assembly investigates the web of political
Member Carmen Arroyo and Queens connections that enabled the Yankees to
State Senator Frank Padavan, and on shutout Bronx residents and New York
Monday, June 20th, the City Council City taxpayers.
passed a “home rule message” sponsored
by Bronx City Council Members Joel
Rivera and Helen Foster requesting that
the state move forward (Foster, who
represents the stadium neighborhood and
is chair of the Council Parks Committee,
would later vote against the land-use
approvals for the project).2 By June 23rd,
both houses of the state legislature had
unanimously approved the legislation,
effectively sealing the fate of the parks.
4
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballBackground: The New Yankee Borough President Adolfo Carriόn, who
Stadium Plan submitted his approval of the project to
the City Planning Commission in
The Yankees are building a $1.3 billion December 2005. In April 2006, the City
stadium one block north of their existing Council overwhelmingly approved the
location at East 161st Street and River overall land-use scheme for the stadium
Avenue in the Bronx. The project includes despite opposition from Council Member
the construction and rehabilitation of Helen Foster, who represents the district
9,000 parking spaces. The stadium and where the stadium is situated (although as
garages are being built on Taxpayer Subsidies Amount mentioned in the previous
22 acres of heavily used (millions, section, Foster initially co-
public park land, including present sponsored the legislation
value)
all of Macombs Dam Park requesting that the parks be
City Subsidies $384.1
and parts of Mullaly Park alienated). Carrion would
3
that were quietly seized – Direct subsidies for $203.9 later remove members of
the technical term is land/infrastructure the community board who
“alienated” – by the City Forgone property $166.8 4 voted against the plan.10
Council and State taxes, sales taxes,
legislature in June 2005. and income taxes on When the community
bond interest group Save Our Parks
Rent rebates $13.45
The local community challenged the taking of
board subsequently held State Subsidies $108 the parkland in court, a
hearings and voted against Direct subsidies for $74.76 state judge dismissed the
the plan. The board’s garage construction case partially based on the
resolution concluded that and stadium city’s promise to build
“the alienation of the maintenance interim parks during the
parkland is against the Forgone sales taxes $33.3 7 construction phase of the
interests of the community and income taxes on project. 11 Today the new
and its children,” citing bond interest stadium construction has
health concerns associated MTA Subsidies $51.2 displaced children from
with increased traffic, lack Federal Subsidies $120.2 more than 20 local schools
of community input into and countless residents that
Forgone income $120.28
the plan, and the dangerous used the parks. The interim
taxes on bond
precedent of turning over interest (for stadium parks were opened
public parkland for private and garages) recently, months after the
use in the heart of a Total $663.5 date initially promised.
9
residential community.
Ground was broken in August of 2006
Despite the community board’s official and the team expects the stadium to be
role in the city’s Uniform Land Use ready for the 2009 season.
Review (ULURP) procedure, its vote is
only advisory and was ignored by
5
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballWhat Will it Cost? of those “planning costs” were spent on
Although the Yankees have repeatedly high powered consultants who lobbied the
boasted that the construction of the city and state for even more subsidies.
stadium will be privately financed,
subsidies for the project stand at half a These documents were obtained by GJNY
billion dollars in direct grants, tax breaks, pursuant to a New York City Freedom of
interest rate discounts, and infrastructure Information Law Request. Copies of the
improvements. billing records submitted to the city are
Fiscal Benefits Amount available as an online
This includes a cost (millions) appendix to this report:
increase of $80.4 million City new tax $178.5 www.goodjobsny.org/ya
which was recently revenue/savings nkee_planning_expenses.
revealed in the Fiscal Stadium $96.212 pdf
Year 2008 New York construction/operations
(see GJNY’s report Loot,
City Executive Capital Loot, Loot for the Home NYC’s Controversial
Plan. Team for an analysis of Internal Revenue
why this estimate for new Service Ruling
By the city’s own tax revenue is overstated) The New York City
calculations, the stadium Parking garage $56.8 Industrial Development
will not generate enough construction and Agency (IDA) won a
operation
new revenue to cover the landmark ruling from the
over half billion dollars Rent/maintenance $15.513 Internal Revenue Service
of subsidies. Many of the savings (net savings (IRS) to issue nearly
900 new “permanent resulting from the city no $900 million in low-
longer being responsible
jobs” will be seasonal for maintaining the new
interest, triple tax-exempt
and low-wage, stadium and no longer bonds to finance the
generating paltry “ripple collecting rent from the construction of the
effects” and making it team) stadium, saving the
difficult to justify such a Salvage value of current $1014 Yankees an estimated
lavish expenditure of tax stadium (i.e. selling of $172 million in interest.16
dollars. stadium seats)
State/MTA new tax $137.215 The law firm Nixon
While most of the revenue Peabody represented the
subsidies were approved Total Revenue $315.7 IDA in its dealing with
by the Bloomberg the IRS. 17 Incredibly,
administration, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani the firm is also listed by the Yankees in
shortly before leaving office in 2001 court documents as their “bond counsel,”
authorized the Yankees for the next five as discussed in Chapter 6: The Stadium
year to deduct up to $5 million a year of Turnstile.
stadium planning costs from their rent
payments to the city. Official documents The Federal Tax Reform Act of 1986
since uncovered reveal that over $200,000 repealed the use of tax-exempt private
6
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballactivity bonds for sports facilities. But Chief Counsel Donald L. Korb was
Congress, apparently intending to questioned at length about the process and
preserve tax-sheltered financing for multi- substance of the decision. 21
use, publicly owned arenas, did not repeal
the tax exemption for bonds that are paid Despite this attention, in April 2007, the
off with tax dollars. (Private activity IDA proposed issuing another $190
bonds, such as industrial revenue bonds, million of tax-exempt debt to finance the
are paid off by the corporation benefiting construction of the stadium’s three
from the loan, not from general municipal parking garages, which the city predicts
tax revenues. Because bond buyers will will create 20 permanent full-time jobs.
accept a lower interest rate when it is Although the state contributed $70 million
exempt from federal, state and city to the garages, the Economic
income taxes, companies can borrow Development Corporation acknowledged
money at interest rates roughly 25 percent that its first Request for Proposals (RFP)
lower than taxable bonds.) was not “economically viable,” and the
second RFP only received two responses
City lawyers submitted a request to the (the IDA is the bond issuing arm of the
IRS for a special ruling allowing EDC).22 With the financial viability of
payments-in-lieu-of taxes (or “PILOTs”) the garages in doubt, the IDA dubbed
to be considered the legal equivalent of them a “Civic Facility Project” in order to
taxes for the purpose of servicing the legally issue tax-exempt bonds for their
bond debt and providing the Yankees with construction.
tax-free bonds.18 This argument
contradicted statements made by the New The IDA needed a not-for-profit
York City Corporation Counsel as well as organization to act as a conduit for such
the City’s Budget Director in testimony tax-exempt financing and selected Bronx
before the City Council in spring, 2005 Community Initiatives Development
when they outlined financing for the Company (BCIDC). BCIDC is a “special
massive development proposed for purpose” LLC whose sole member is the
Manhattan’s Far West Side.19 Community Initiatives Development
Corporation, a non-profit corporation with
In June 2006, the IRS granted the City’s operations in six states that apparently
request despite language in its own exists to secure tax exempt financing for
regulations that seemed to contradict the various projects including parking garage
ruling.20 companies.23 Its Senior Vice President,
Hailed as the “deal of the year” by Bond Joe Seymour is the former Executive
Buyer, the leading national trade Director of the Port Authority of New
publication on bonds, the maneuver drew York and New Jersey. 24 The New York
the attention of Congress. The Committee City Industrial Development Agency has
on Oversight and Government Reform’s held a public hearing on the garage
Subcommittee on Domestic Policy held a project; read testimony from the hearing
hearing in March, 2007 at which IRS at
7
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballhttp://www.goodjobsny.org/yankeestadiu Stuart Gaffin, an Associate Research
m_garages_news.htm. Scientist at the Center for Climate
Systems Research
What is PlaNYC2030?
A description of at Columbia
CIDC and its PlaNYC is a major initiative by the University,
subsidy proposal is Bloomberg Administration to make New synthetic turf is
in chapter 7: What York City a more environmentally sustainable “un-naturally
is BICDC And city by the year 2030. Announced in warm” and initial
Why Does It Want December of 2006, the ambitious plan studies found “heat
our Tax Dollars? includes dramatic proposals to benefit New islands” above such
Yorkers by: promoting increased and turf in New York
The Stadium improved access to public transportation, City, with
Through the Eyes reducing car traffic, creating more open space temperatures over
of PlaNYC2030 and affordable housing, improving air and 140 degrees.26 Safe
water quality, and cleaning up chemically
In December 2006 plans for disposing
contaminated properties (i.e., brownfields),
Mayor Bloomberg among others.
of the potentially
announced an hazardous turf also
ambitiously The plan has been widely recognized as a need to be
“green” agenda major achievement by a variety of considered since
dubbed environmental and advocacy organizations. the lifespan of
PlaNYC2030, The comprehensive website offers additional synthetic turf is
including details: www.planyc2030.org approximately 10
aggressive targets years.
for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
promoting transit use, and improving The long term maintenance of current and
quality of life. However, the Yankee replacement parks is also a concern. This
stadium project violates the is especially true for low-income
Administration’s vision for a sustainable neighborhoods like the South Bronx.
city.
Numerous park advocacy reports have
Trees mitigate global warming by documented inadequate park maintenance,
converting CO2 into oxygen. Yet the most recently a June 2007 report by
Yankee Stadium project replaces trees Citizens Budget Commission with support
with synthetic turf, contrary to PlaNYC. from New Yorkers For Parks which
Synthetic turf, often made of recycled stated: “All parks are not kept in
rubber, contains potentially carcinogenic acceptable condition, and parks in poorer
materials. neighborhoods are more likely to be in
worse condition than parks in wealthier
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum has neighborhoods.”27
unsuccessfully pushed for the Parks
Department to study the potential health
risks of synthetic turf.25 According to
8
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballWarm-ups: Randy and Rudy in the This rent reduction was hammered out by
Luxury Box Levine, who by then was working for the
Yankees, and his successor Deputy Mayor
As mayor from 1994 through 2001, Rudy for Economic Development Robert
Giuliani anointed himself the Yankees’ #1 Harding. The definition of planning
fan. And he certainly earned the title. A expenses was left so broad that it included
life-long pinstripe fan who grew up in an audacious clause allowing the Yankees
Dodger country in Brooklyn and Long to use at least $200,000 of the savings to
Island, Giuliani as mayor repeatedly pay lobbying expenses. Copies of the
advocated for building a new Yankee billing forms submitted to the city are
Stadium on the Far West Side of available as an online appendix to this
Manhattan. report:
http://www.goodjobsny.org/yankee_plann
Giuliani’s Deputy Mayor for Economic ing_expenses.pdf
Development, Planning and
Administration from 1997 to 2000 was Private citizen Giuliani may be benefiting
Randy Levine, who would become financially from the Yankee project in the
president of the Yankees in 2000. Levine Bronx. According to an affidavit the New
and Giuliani were colleagues at the U.S. York Yankees filed in a federal lawsuit
Department of Justice early in their initiated by the community group Save
careers. Giuliani first named Levine his Our Parks, Giuliani Security & Safety a
Commissioner of the Office of Labor division of Giuliani Partners and one of
Relations, a position he took after serving Giuliani’s post-mayoralty private ventures
as chief labor negotiator for Major League serves as a security consultant for the new
Baseball (MLB). 28 As Deputy Mayor, stadium. Another firm, SafirRosetti, run
Levine spent much of his time promoting by Giuliani’s former police commissioner
the West Side stadium proposal. He also Howard Safir, will also serve as a security
received a waiver from the New York consultant. Details of the contracts
City Conflict of Interest Board allowing including their value have not been made
him to keep a consulting contract with public. 29
MLB. A copy of the waiver is available as
an online appendix to this report: According to the most recent federal
www.goodjobsny.org/yankees_levine_coi campaign disclosure report, Yankee
.pdf officials have already contributed $16,300
to Giuliani’s presidential campaign.30
The Giuliani Administration eventually
backed away from the West Side stadium After Levine left City Hall to become
plan for lack of public support. But amidst president of the Yankees organization, his
the debate, Giuliani granted the Yankees a cozy relationship with his former boss did
$5 million annual rent reduction to pay for not go unnoticed. Mike Lupica, one of
new “stadium planning” expenses (the New York’s preeminent sports writers,
City technically owns Yankee Stadium). wrote upon Levine’s departure: “It is now
9
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballcompletely official that Steinbrenner’s
private box at the Stadium has become an
annex to Giuliani’s City Hall.” 31
The decision by the Yankees’ aging
owner George Steinbrenner’s to step back
from the day-to-day operations of the
team meant Levine was in charge of
delivering the new stadium.
10
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballFilling out the Roster: Former and parks that was voted upon three days
Current Public Officials later.33
The location and massive public financing Despite a 1989 change to the city charter
of the new stadium were possible because that reduced the overall power of the five
the Yankees convinced government Offices of Borough President, land use
bodies that are established to guard the policy remains one of the central
public coffers to instead act for the benefit functions of each office. Borough
of the franchise. President Adolfo Carriόn’s support for the
Yankee stadium project was critical in
New York City legislators, as in other big terms of moving it through the land-use
cities, often defer to the city council review process and limiting objections
member or state legislator who represents from other elected officials.
the affected area when voting on large
development projects. Officials will rarely To help gain the backing of these leaders,
criticize or vote against a project that is the Yankees hired former Bronx elected
not in their borough or district; in officials and public servants as lobbyists
exchange, they receive unquestioned and donated to Bronx political campaigns.
control of their own projects. Thus the
Yankees had only to convince the Bronx The Yankees’ lobbying roster included
borough delegations. The central the consulting firm Mirram Group, led by
institution of Bronx politics and the key to former Bronx party boss Roberto Ramirez
the Yankees’ plan for taking over the (Jose Rivera’s predecessor) and über-
parks was the borough’s Democratic Party operative Stanley Schlein.
organization, which has been led by State
Assembly Member Jose Rivera since Mirram Group
2002. The Yankees paid Mirram Group, a
political consulting and lobbying firm run
Moments before the June 2005 alienation by former Bronx Democratic Party boss
vote was about to begin, a state assembly and Assembly Member Roberto Ramirez,
member raised questions about interim $301,900 in the first quarter of 2006. This
parks. The sponsor of the legislation, was the single largest lobbying fee
Assembly Member Carmen Arroyo registered in the city last year.34
responded, “I recommend you take the
package that Mr. Rivera is offering Ramirez was elected to the state assembly
today.” It is unclear what the package in 1990 and became the first Latino to
consisted of or who negotiated it.32 lead a county political organization in the
state when he became chairman of the
Jose Rivera’s son Joel Rivera is a Bronx Bronx Democratic Party in 1994. He is
Council Member and the Council’s widely credited with reviving a party
Majority Leader. Joel Rivera co- organization that grew weak amidst the
sponsored the City legislation to seize the borough’s economic decline and
11
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballdemographic changes in the 1970s and accountability measures or community
1980s. 35 representation. In addition, the Building
Trades Employers’ Association claims the
In 1998 after his terms in Albany, agreement made local hiring
Ramirez founded Mirram Group and the commitments without its knowledge.38
firm quickly became a major player in
Democratic politics. It delivered big for Stanley Schlein has been a fixture in
the Yankees by securing the support of Bronx politics since the Koch
the state legislature and city council. administration and is widely regarded as
Ramirez’s firm was responsible for having enormous influence within the
encouraging city council members to vote Democratic Party and city government.
for the plan even though terms of the Last year, he worked as the main lawyer
rumored “Community Benefits for the Bronx Democratic establishment,
Agreement” between the Yankees and as an Assembly staffer for Jose Rivera, as
Bronx officials had not been made public. chairman of the city’s Civil Service
Commission, as a lobbyist for the
The Natural Yankees, and as a court appointed lawyer
Stanley Schlein has a decades-long for the incapacitated.39
pedigree within Bronx politics. The
Yankees paid Schlein $83,000 to lobby Schlein served as a key operative in lining
the Mayor’s office, the City Council, the up political support for the new stadium.
Bronx Borough President, the Department Randy Levine told the New York Times
of Parks, the Department of Finance, and that Schlein “knows his way around. He
office of Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff.36 was instrumental in helping us frame the
He helped win City Council passage for issues in getting our legislation through
the stadium plan by brokering a deal in and dealing with the community.”40
which the Yankees agreed to give 25
percent of jobs to Bronx residents while In February 2006, state court officials
annually donating for the next 40 years barred Schlein from accepting
$800,000 worth of cash grants and free guardianships and other judicial
tickets to the community through “a appointments, citing “conduct
person of prominence” to be selected by incompatible with the appointment and/or
the Bronx politicians.37 unsatisfactory performance.”41 Months
later, Mayor Bloomberg chose not to
The annual donation is the main feature of reappoint Schlein as chairman of the Civil
the “mitigation agreement” (erroneously Service Commission, which is the agency
dubbed a “community benefits considered “the guardian of the merit
agreement”) by the Yankees and elected system.”
officials. The deal has been criticized by
local residents as a “slush fund” for the In October 2006, it was reported that the
Yankees to wield continuing influence in Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public
the community, and for failing to include Corruption Unit was investigating the real
12
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballestate dealings of Schlein and Jose Federal: Due to land use issues and the
Rivera.42 financing structure, the stadium project
required the approval of several federal
The Essential Borough President agencies: the National Park Service, the
Ironically, Bronx Borough President Army Corps of Engineers, and the
Adolfo Carriόn early in his tenure chided Internal Revenue Service. The Yankees
subsidized stadium proposals, saying: “It targeted the feds by hiring Michael
has to be schools over stadiums. It has to Rossetti, a lobbyist from the law firm
be our children first.” But by 2005, he Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
became one of the project’s biggest (“Akin Gump”), to lobby the U.S.
cheerleaders.43 The Borough President’s Department of Interior, where he had
support for the project was critical and previously worked. Yankee President
Yankee officials worked hard to garner it. Randy Levine also serves as Senior
Counsel at Akin Gump.48
Yankee President Levine gave Carriόn
$2,000 for his 2005 re-election campaign, Because the Department of the Interior,
according to New York City Campaign through the National Park Service (NPS),
Finance Board records.44 Carriόn is the had paid for improvements to Macombs
only local Democrat to whom Levine, a Dam Park in 1979 under the Land and
Republican, has contributed. The YES Water Conservation Fund, the NPS was
Network and its employees also required by federal law to approve the
contributed $9,850 in 2003 to Carriόn’s plan to replace the park. The project could
2005 re-election.45 The YES Network is a not move forward unless the NPS
cable television station owned by the determined that the replacement parkland
Yankees’ holding company.46 was of equal or greater value and that “all
practical alternatives” were considered
Executives at Tishman Speyer, the before the parks were seized.49
developer of the stadium, also contributed
to Carriόn. Chairman Robert Tishman Correspondence between state and federal
gave Carriόn $1,000 in May of 2003 and officials indicates that the NPS initially
its managing director of development expressed concern about the parkland
Valerie Peltier contributed another $1,000 swap. NPS agent Jean Sokolowski wrote
in March of 2004.47 in a May, 2005 e-mail, “Develop[ing]
recreational facilities atop two of the
The Lobbyists’ Lineup garages is a questionable LWCF option.”
The Yankees spent over a million dollars Over the ensuing months, NPS officials
on high-powered lobbyists on the federal, corresponded regularly with
state, and city levels to help usher the representatives from the city, state, and
stadium project through the obstacle the Yankees, and eventually decided not
course of approvals needed. to conduct their own assessment of the
land swap and instead relied on the city’s
Environmental Impact Statement.50
13
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballIn April 2006, NPS official Jack Howard Associates, two prominent PR firms were
told Metro newspaper that the city’s plan enlisted by the Yankees.55
to break ground on the stadium in the
coming months was unrealistic and that Assembly Member Jose Rivera leads the
the process could be lengthy. In a startling Bronx state delegation, but no legislation
turn of events, the NPS approved the hits the floor of the State Assembly
parkland conversation on June 17, 2006, without the nod of Speaker Sheldon
about two weeks after it officially Silver, who represents Lower Manhattan
received the proposal from state officials. and the Lower East Side. The Yankees
51
hired Brian Meara’s public relations
company to specifically woo the
In the period between January 1 and June Assembly Speaker. 56Meara is reportedly
30th, 2006, Akin Gump was paid $20,000 a close personal friend and adviser to
by the Yankees to lobby the Department Silver.57
of the Interior, the cabinet agency that
includes the NPS.52 Lobbying reports In his lobbying disclosure filings with the
indicate that the Yankee work was state, Meara reveals a tidy triangle of New
handled by former U.S. Congress Member York politics. He was working for Powers
and now Akin Gump Senior Advisor Bill & Company, the lobbying firm run by
Paxon and partner Michael Rossetti. former state Republican committee
Paxon represented the Buffalo area from chairman William Powers, who is now a
1989 to 1999 and chaired the National New York co-chair for Giuliani’s
Republican Congressional Committee. presidential campaign. According to
Rossetti was counselor to the Interior records from the state’s Temporary
Secretary until 2004 and had previously Commission on Lobbying, the Yankees
worked for Governor Pataki’s Office of began paying Powers & Co. $16,000 a
Advocate for Persons with Disabilities.53 month in February 2002 to lobby state and
local officials and have renegotiated the
State: The Yankee organization spent just terms each year since.
over a million dollars between 2003 and
2006 lobbying city and state agencies for Copies of Powers billing documents
the new stadium, according to a report by submitted to the city are available at
Common Cause/NY. The Common Cause www.goodjobsny.org/yankee_powers.pdf
report also notes that the Yankees’ owner,
president, and chief operating officer have Powers & Co. then subcontracted to
contributed a total of $25,600 to the Meara’s firm at a rate of over $6,000 per
campaigns of city and state politicians key month for the 24 months of 2005 and
to stadium development since 2003.54 2006.58
New York City public relation firms were City: To ensure the proposal was cast in
also paid to lobby public officials. Brian the best light possible Rubenstein &
R. Meara Public Relations and Rubenstein Associates, a major public relations firm
14
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballin New York was paid $8,500 in 2006 to
lobby the mayor’s office on behalf of the
Yankee organization.59 As discussed
elsewhere in this report, others lobbied
City Hall and numerous public agencies
on behalf of the Yankees: Mirram Group;
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson;
and Stanley Schlein.
15
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballThe Stadium Turnstile: Familiar Faces commissioner and administrative city
Win Government Approvals planner at the New York City Citywide
Administrative Services and a member of
In addition to the elected members of the the New York City Economic
State Legislature and the City Council, the Development Corporation (EDC) board.62
Yankee stadium deal required approvals Chaney served as the Director of Land
from various city agencies Use for Staten Island Borough
and staff. Once again, the Fried, Frank, President Guy Molinari from
Yankees hired firms with Harris, Shriver & 1998 to 2003.63
former insiders who knew Jacobson LLP,
the city’s planning and whose history dates Another Fried, Frank partner
development process from back to the beginning who lobbied the Planning
their years as public of the last century, is Commission was Melanie
servants. Specifically, the one the nation’s Meyers, who served as general
Yankees targeted the largest law firms with counsel to the Department of
Planning Commission, the clients and offices City Planning under Giuliani
Department of Parks and worldwide. Fried from 1994 to 1998.64
Recreation, and the City Frank’s clients range
Council. 60 from multinational Stephen Lefkowitz, a real estate
corporations to local partner for the firm and son of
The degree of each and foreign former longtime state Attorney
individual’s involvement is governments. General Louis Lefkowitz, put
not always evident, but the his vast public sector experience
connections include: to work for the Yankees as a lobbyist and
lawyer. According to billing documents
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & that the firm submitted to the Yankees,
Jacobson: A law and lobbying firm Lefkowitz attended numerous stadium
specializing in land use matters, was meetings and helped the draft the
according to public records paid by the Memorandum of Understanding for the
Yankees $180,000 in 2005 and $227,290 project. Copies of the billing documents
in 2006 to court the Planning are available as an addendum to this
Commission, City Council and report. Between October 6, 2004 and
61
Department of Parks and Recreation. December 20, 2004, Lefkowitz logged in
52 hours on the project. This work cost
The Fried Frank officials sent to lobby the taxpayers $36,849 due to the Yankees
Planning Commission certainly know ability to deduct planning expenses from
their way around the Department of City their rent payments to the city.
Planning. Frank Chaney, a real estate
associate at Fried Frank, used to be a Lefkowitz, who worked as a lawyer for
deputy director at the Department of City the New York State Senate and Urban
Planning. According to his bio on the Development Corporation in the 1970s,
firm’s website, he was also an assistant has more recently served as outside
16
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballcounsel for developers craft the financing
or public agencies in Nixon Peabody LLP is one of structure. Prior to joining
some of the city’s the largest multipractice law Nixon Peabody, Serchuk
largest redevelopment firms in the United States, with worked in the Office of the
projects, including offices in sixteen cities and Chief Counsel at the IRS
Times Square, Battery approximately seven hundred and in the Office of Tax
Park City, the Time attorneys collaborating across Policy at the Treasury
Warner Center, and twenty-five major practice Department.67 According to
Bruce Ratner’s areas. the Nixon Peabody
Brooklyn Metrotech website, while at the IRS
and Atlantic Yards projects. Serchuk was responsible for drafting and
reviewing private letter rulings and
Copies of Fried, Franks billing documents technical advice memoranda, including
submitted to the city is available at rulings regarding private activity bonds.68
www.goodjobsny.org/yankees_fried.pdf
As discussed above, the tax-exempt bonds
Nixon Peabody: Possibly hitting the for the stadiums were approved by a
biggest public financing private letter ruling from the
home run in recent years, Sive Paget & Riesel IRS, in apparent contradiction
this financial services law is a full service of the intent of a 1986 federal
firm helped win the IRS environmental law tax reform law. 69
ruling that enabled the firm that specializes
Yankees and the Mets to in environmental Sive, Paget & Riesel: Several
receive a combined $1.4 impact review and partners from this prominent
billion in triple tax-exempt litigation. The firm environmental law firm have
financing for the has a client base of histories at the New York City
construction of their major corporations, Department of Law
stadiums.65 environmental environmental division.
groups, and federal, Yankee billing documents
While Nixon Peabody state, and local indicate that the firm was
pursued the IRS ruling on government involved in drawing up the
behalf of the New York City agencies and team’s amended lease
Industrial Development municipalities agreement with the city and
Agency, the Yankees also throughout New court documents associated with
list retaining Nixon Peabody York State. the Save Our Parks lawsuit
as “bond attorneys” to indicate they performed “work
perform work “vital” to the new vital” to the new stadium also.70
66
stadium.
Partner Michael Bogin’s biography for the
According to the New York Observer, law firm states that he led the litigation
Nixon Peabody Partner and tax-exempt section of the state Attorney General’s
bond specialist Bruce M. Serchuk helped Office of environmental protection. From
17
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseball1993 to 1995 he was deputy assistant
chief of the environmental law division
for the New York City Law Department.
Steven Russo, a partner at the firm, was
deputy chief there at the same time. 71
Another partner, Mark Chertok has been
special environmental counsel for EDC
and the Empire State Development
Corporation (ESDC). 72
Partner David Paget defended the
Yankees in Federal Court in 2006 against
Save Our Parks.73 Paget has also advised
the ESDC in its environmental review of
the Brooklyn Atlantic Yards project,
previously worked for its developer,
Forest City Ratner until October, 2005. A
New York State Supreme Court Justice
initially dismissed Paget as the ESDC
counsel, calling it “a severe, crippling
appearance of impropriety.” The decision
was later overturned.74
Copies of Sive Paget billing documents
submitted to the city is available at
www.goodjobsny.org/yankees_sive.pdf
Tishman Speyer: Tishman Speyer was
hired by the Yankees to construct the Tishman Speyer Properties is
one of the leading owners,
stadium. Tishman’s manager for stadium
developers, fund managers and
development, Anthony Mannarino, was operators of real estate in the
the former head Executive Vice President world. It owns properties such
of the New York City Economic as Rockefeller Center and the
Development Corporation from 1990 Chrysler Building.
through 1994, and served as Acting
President in 1994.
Copies of Tishman Speyer’s billing
documents submitted to the city are
available at
www.goodjobsny.org/yankees_tishman.p
df
18
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballWhat’s BCIDC and Why Does It want CIDC’s senior vice president, Joseph
our Tax Dollars? Seymour, is the former executive director
of the Port Authority of New York and
Even though the new stadium will have New Jersey. 75
fewer seats than The House Ruth Built,
the Yankees apparently expect to attract CIDC’s President William Loewenstein
many future fans from distant parts of the was a strategic partner with incentives
City and from the suburbs; hence their procurement advisors Stadtmauer Bailkin
stadium plan calling for massive amounts Biggins, LLC, until 2006 76 (Biggins is a
of new parking space. While it will enjoy former executive director of New York
the rewards of greater auto access, the City’s Office of Economic Development,
team won’t bear the risk of operating the and was later appointed Commissioner of
garages. Ports, International Trade and
Commerce.)77
On April 4, 2007 the New York City
Industrial Development Agency held Lowenstein is currently a “market team
hearings on $190 million in tax-exempt member” with the successor firm
“civic improvement” bonds for a firm to Stadtmauer Bailkin Economic
build and rehabilitate 9,000 parking Development Group (SB-EDGe). One of
spaces adjacent to the new stadium. Stadtmauer Bailkin, LLP’s specialties
involves securing economic development
The firm, Bronx Community Initiatives subsidies for corporate clients; it is listed
Development Corporation LLC, was on the New York City Industrial
established in March 2007 immediately Development Agency’s core application
prior to its application with the NYCIDA for the parking bonds as legal counsel for
signed in March. BCIDC is not a Bronx CIDC.78
organization nor can it be said to have
been initiated by the community. Instead, One of Stadtmauer Bailkin’s managing
it is a “special purpose” limited liability directors, Jane Orlin, has promoted herself
company whose sole member is a national as having written incentive guidelines
entity, the non-profit Community while she was an employee of the New
Initiatives Development Corporation York City Economic Development
(CIDC). CIDC works in multiple states Corporation.
and exists to secure tax exempt financing
for a variety of developments, a small In addition to the Yankees parking
portion of which are parking garages. garages, CIDC has taken on other risky
CIDC is headquartered in Hudson, New projects using taxpayer dollars, some of
York over 100 miles north of the stadium which have failed. The Syracuse
and apparently it has never worked in the Industrial Development Agency (SIDA)
Bronx before. issued $7 million in tax-exempt bonds for
CIDC to build a senior citizen apartment
complex in the city. The complex opened
19
Good Jobs New York - Insider Baseballin 2001 but CIDC had trouble renting the
apartments – city officials believed the
rent was too high. CIDC defaulted on the
mortgage, forcing a change in ownership
just one year after the complex opened.79
Syracuse also lost public money on a
risky project facilitated by CIDC’s
president, William Loewenstein. In 1999,
Loewenstein – who was paid $57,000 per
year by the city to help recruit new
businesses – introduced Syracuse officials
to a California manufacturing company,
Spectrum MedSystems Corp. The
company had existed since 1994 with no
history of profitability. Spectrum was
supposed to create 400 jobs and it
received about $2 million in loans from
the city. The company ran out of money
and the factory never opened, leaving the
city responsible for the loans; some had
been borrowed from the federal
government. In 2002 Syracuse’s new
economic development director ended the
city’s 21-year consultancy with
Loewenstein. According to the Syracuse
Post-Standard, the new director said he
knew of no company Loewenstein
recruited that had ever created a job in
Syracuse.80
20
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballConclusion and Policy Options Disclose the Revolving Door
Just as elected officials must reveal the
The Yankees employed firms with a small companies or partnerships from which
army of former public officials to help they receive income in financial
win a huge land grab and subsidy package disclosure statements, developers seeking
at the expense of Bronx residents and city, land use approvals or development
state and federal taxpayers. subsidies should be required to disclose in
applications the names of all former
For our metropolis to flourish, the government officials involved in the
interests of the profit-driven real estate project (either as direct employees or as
entities must be balanced with the needs consultants or lobbyists), including their
of all New Yorkers. Significant public and private positions and dates of
undertakings, like Mayor Bloomberg’s public service.
recently proposed PlaNYC, need real
citizen participation to flourish. Good Extend the Cooling-Off Period
Jobs New York offers these policy To reduce the revolving-door influence
options: problem, the City should extend to three
years the time period which former
Honor Land Use Policies and the elected officials and agency personnel
Community Boards must wait after leaving office before they
New York City has a strong democratic can work as lobbyists or with firms
planning process on the books (called the involved directly on projects involving
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure or their public-sector jobs. Currently, the
ULURP). It should be embraced, not City’s conflict of interest law has
gamed. loopholes permitting public officials to
immediately go to work at firms that do
Major decisions on this project (the business with the city.
seizure of the park land, the types of
public subsidies offered for example) Scratch the Parking Garages
were privately agreed to by the Yankees City and state officials should act on their
and public officials in the project’s stated city-wide commitment to fund
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)-- public transportation as an alternative to
a copy is available at driving. Recently officials pledged funds
http://www.goodjobsny.org/yankeestadiu to build a Metro North train station near
m_mou.pdf Agreements should not be the Yankee stadium. With an estimated
negotiated without the consultation of the 10,000 fans per game choosing Metro
local community board and until details of North to get to games, the number of
proposals are made available and proposed parking spaces can be
mandated public hearings are held. substantially cut back and park land
restored.
21
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballAppendix A: Taxpayer Subsidies for the
New Yankee Stadium and Parking Garages
City Subsidies Amount (millions, present value)
Land/Infrastructure/Transit $203.91
Forgone property taxes $144.22
Forgone sales taxes $10.53
Rent rebates $13.44
Forgone mortgage ?
recording tax
Tax-exempt bonds for $105
stadium (income tax
exemption on bond interest)
Tax-exempt bonds for $2.16
garages
City Total: $384.1
State Subsidies
Garage construction/infra. $707
Maintenance funds $4.78
Forgone sales taxes $11.49
Forgone mortgage ?
recording tax
Tax-exempt bonds for $1810
stadium
Tax-exempt bonds for $3.9
garages
State Total: $108
MTA-Metro-North Station $51.2
Federal Subsidies
Tax-exempt bonds for $10011
stadium
Tax-exempt bonds for $20.2
garages
Federal Total: $120.2
Total: $663.5 million
1
2008 Executive Capital Commitment Plan
2
Independent Budget Office, “Update to IBO’s Analysis of the Financing for the Proposed Yankee Stadium,” April, 2006.
3
Ibid
4
Yankee Stadium Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
5
Independent Budget Office’s revised estimate, July 2007.
6
Industrial Development Agency Cost-Benefit Analysis, Bronx Community Initiatives Development Company, April 5, 2007.
7
MOU, ESDC GPP
8
Ibid.
9
Independent Budget Office, “Update to IBO’s Analysis of the Financing for the Proposed Yankee Stadium,” April, 2006.
10
Independent Budget Office’s revised estimate, July 2007.
11
Independent Budget Office’s revised estimate, July 2007.
22
Good Jobs New York - Insider BaseballEndnotes
16
Update to the Independent Budget Office’s (IBO) Analysis of the
1
Memorandum of Understanding, New Yankee Stadium Project, Financing for the Proposed Yankee Stadium, April 10, 2006.
17
June 15, 2005. Available at Press release from Nixon Peabody
http://www.goodjobsny.org/yankeestadium_mou.pdf http://sev.prnewswire.com/banking-financial-
2
A City Council “Home Rule message” is a formal request for services/20060824/NYTH10724082006-1.html
18
specific state legislation. Municipalities cannot alienate or Ibid
19
discontinue the use of parkland without authorization from the state Transcript of New York City Council testimony is available at
.
legislature www.goodjobsny.org/pagecardozo_pilots.htm
3 20
2008 New York City Executive Capital Commitment Plan Section 1.141-4(e)(5)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code stated “a
4
Update to the Independent Budget Office’s (IBO) Analysis of the payment in lieu of taxes made in consideration for the use of
Financing for the Proposed Yankee Stadium, April 10, 2006, New property financed with tax-exempt bonds is treated as a special
York City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Cost-Benefit charge.”
21
Analysis, Bronx Community Initiatives Development Company Copies of testimony available at:
.
LLC, April 5, 2007 Independent Budget Office’s revised estimate, http://domesticpolicy.oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1228
22
July 2007. Patrick Arden, “Tight Fit,” Metro, July 5, 2007.
5 23
Yankee Stadium Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) available CIDC’s 990 form submitted to the IRS.
24
at www.goodjobsny.org/yankeestadium_mou.pdf Joseph J. Seymour Appointed Executive Director of the Port
6
Empire State Development Corporation General Project Plan Authority of New York and New Jersey December 13, 2001,
7
Independent Budget Office, “Update to IBO’s Analysis of the
press release from the Port Authority of New York and New
Financing for the Proposed Yankee Stadium,” April, 2006 and
Independent Budget Office’s revised estimate, July 2007. Jersey, Press Release Number: 163-2001
8 25
Independent Budget Office’s revised estimate, July 2007 Press release: Public Advocate Gotbaum Calls for Independent
(regarding the stadium bonds). GJNY estimate regarding the parking
Testing of Pellets Used in City Parks. April 17, 2007
garage bonds.
9 www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/news/ToxicTurf41307.html
Minutes from the general meeting of Bronx Community Board #4, 26
Telephone conversation between Bettina Damiani and Dr. Gaffin
held on November 22, 2005 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.
June 27, 2007
10 Patrick Arden, “Carrion: No payback for foes of stadium,” Metro, 27
Making The Most Of Our Parks, Citizens Budget Commission
June 15, 2007.
11 June 2007, available at www.cbcny.org.
SAVE OUR PARKS et al. v. THE CITY OF NEW YORK et al., 28
Wayne Barrett, “Moonlighting for Baseball Giuliani Gets Big
Index No. 110836/06, IAS Part (Cahn, J.)August 15, 2006.
12 Bucks from Wilpon and Steinbrenner, Village Voice, August 11,
IDA Cost-Benefit Analysis, Yankee Ballpark Company LLC,
1998.
March 9, 2006. 29
13 Save Our Parks sued the Yankees and the City for the removal of
Update to the Independent Budget Office’s (IBO) Analysis of the
parks citing a clause in the National Park Service policy that parks
Financing for the Proposed Yankee Stadium, April 10, 2006. The
. upgraded with Federal funds must receive prior approval to
IDA had previously estimated this savings would be $41.2 million
14 alienation. A judge ruled in favor of the Yankees and the City. Save
IDA Cost-Benefit Analysis, Yankee Ballpark Company LLC,
Our Parks et al. v. Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary, United States
March 9, 2006.
15 Department of the Interior et al, Case No. 06 Civ. 6859 (S.D.N.Y.
This figure accounts for all state fiscal benefits related to the
2006), Declaration of Lonn Trost, filed September 18, 2006, Exhibits
construction of the new stadium, parks, and parking garages and the
A and C.
operations of the stadium and garages. The stadium-related benefits 30
Campaign contributions for Presidential candidates are available
were calculated by Economics Research Associates and include
at: www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp?cycle=2008
revenue from sales tax, personal income tax, hotel tax, parking tax, 31
Mike Lupica, “The Boss’ New City Hall Underboss,” Daily
and other miscellaneous taxes. All of this information is contained in
News. January 9, 2000
the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement. 32
Transcript of the minutes of the New York State Assembly, June
23, 2005.
1
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