Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

OK, what to think of this press release,  Judicial Watch Investigation Ties Clinton, De Blasio, Billionaire Developer Ratner to ‘New Tammany Hall’ Scandal , from a conservative watchdog group? Well, given that the "incisive new expose " gathers much evidence critical of Atlantic Yards, and quotes me several times, I say it goes part of the way to describing what I call the Culture of Cheating . But it breaks no new investigatory ground, and it's ridiculous to suggest that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Forest City Ratner tenant (and potential President) Hillary Clinton form a Tammany Hall triumvirate. That's too bad, since I suspect most Judicial Watch followers--from the nearly 400 comments on Facebook , more than 4,000 shares, and some 6,000 likes--are Clinton opponents, with many of them fans of rival Donald Trump. See, Trump has worked the system for decades too, and richly deserves the description from journalist Wayne Barrett as a "state capitalist....

From FCR web site Bruce Ratner, whose firm sometimes has a lag in leasing office space, has made a deal with Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.  And while it's unclear whether Clinton got a discount--or whether anyone believes that the anodyne One Pierrepont Plaza represents "Brooklyn cool"--it can't be a bad thing for Ratner (and his ally Mayor Bill de Blasio) to have a Clinton connection. From Politico , which broke the story: The chaotic weeks of working out of Starbucks, friends’ Manhattan pads, and a tiny office space will soon come to an end for Hillary Clinton’s early staffers — they’re officially setting up shop at 1 Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights. A lease has been signed at that location for Clinton’s campaign headquarters, according to a source familiar with the deal. The operation will occupy two full floors of the building, which is close to 12 subways lines and a dozen bus lines. The Clinton team will be taking the space as is – ...

CNN reported yesterday, in  Hillary Clinton set on Brooklyn HQ, eyes April launch : As Hillary Clinton's expected April presidential launch nears, her already sizable campaign apparatus is moving into place and getting close to signing a lease for office space in Brooklyn. Clinton and her team have recently coalesced around the New York borough, according to multiple sources, and are nearing a deal for office space at the MetroTech complex in Brooklyn. The announcement should come in April. CNN reports: Clinton supporters see a number of benefits in Brooklyn, including ease of attracting talent to the New York area and the fact that it's known for ethnic and socio-economic diversity. On the downside, some Clinton supporters have expressed concern with being closely associated with New York City, and in particular Wall Street, which is only two subway stops away. The campaign headquarters also creates a logistical challenge for staffers in a city of high rents. The campaign i...