According to the latest edition of City & State magazine's New York City Power 100, Forest City Ratner Chairman Bruce Ratner, last year ranked at #45 ("seems as strong as ever thanks to his close relationship with the de Blasio administration") is off the list, "lost in the shuffle" along with such luminaries as Rupert Murdoch (previously #39), Mort Zuckerman (#46), and James Dolan (#69).
Well, these lists are always arbitrary, but it was a year without much progress--two building starts have been delayed, and Forest City Ratner's parent company announced an unspecified delay in Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park. And Ratner was nudged out, unceremoniously, from the board of Forest City Realty Trust, and slammed by activist investors.
Still, if he and CEO MaryAnne Gilmartin manage to get a huge project approved at Site 5, getting the state to agree to transfer bulk from the arena block across the street, well, that will reaffirm significant clout. And it's not like the state has refused any such requests.
Worth noting
Some longtime Forest City consultants are still doing well. From the list:
Suri Kasirer, #50 (formerly #53)
President, Kasirer Consulting
Suri Kasirer’s firm consistently ranks near the top of all lobbyists in New York City and Albany because she does her homework and gets things done at the intersection of state and city government. Her clients include major real estate developers, Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. As Mayor Bill de Blasio’s cozy relationship with lobbyist and fundraiser James Capalino has been threatened due to various probes, Kasirer may find herself with an even larger piece of the pie.
Valerie Berlin and Jonathan Rosen, #19 (formerly #16)
Principals, BerlinRosen
The progressive public relations firm that helped hoist Bill de Blasio into the mayoralty in 2013 will need more creativity this year to keep him there for a second term against a resurgent Republican Party, plenty of possible Democratic competitors and some trust issues with the electorate. As candidate de Blasio looks to build support, chances are he'll be seeking a few clandestine emails full of advice from these trusted – and powerful – agents of the city.
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