Stinkynigs
03-01-2009, 08:16 PM
the man who is president obama's newly minted urban czar pocketed thousands of dollars in campaign cash from city developers whose projects he approved or funded with taxpayers' money, a daily news probe found.
Bronx borough president adolfo carrion often received contributions just before or after he sponsored money for projects or approved important zoning changes, records show.
last year jonathan coren and a partner wanted to build 166 units of affordable housing in parkchester.
Coren, for the first time in his life, became a registered fund-raiser - for carrion. He raised $2,577 from multiple donors in the three weeks before carrion approved the project on march 26.
On a single day - april 12 - he raised another $1,255, less than a month before the planning commission, which includes a carrion appointee, approved idle llc's project.
top officials at the atlantic development group, the project's developer, and boricua college contributed nearly $70,000 to carrion during the time the project, called boricua village, moved through the system.
Atlantic needed carrion and his planning commission rep to approve zoning changes and lift height restrictions for the tower.
The first application for the project was filed march 28, 2006. Less than a month later, carrion got eight donations on the same day for $8,750, records show.
They all came from boricua college administrators, including a $4,000 check from president victor alicea. Alicea has been a fund-raiser for carrion.
On march 26, 2007, carrion approved the application.
in 2004, a real estate group moved to build affordable housing on the site of an old mott haven brewery on st. Ann's ave. The project stalled.
In april 2007, dozens of employees of jackson development group started donating to carrion. There were 23 contributions in two months, including $1,000 from a construction worker.
By november 2007, 41 donations from jackson employees to carrion totaled $35,650. In may 2008, carrion approved the project. Two months later, he announced he was sponsoring $3 million in taxpayer funds for the project.
Jackson did not return a call seeking comment.
tri-line is also building a staples store in a new mall a block from the stadium called gateway at bronx terminal market. Velazquez said he got the job through competitive bidding.
Developer related companies' subsidiary, btm development partners, needed carrion and the city planning commission to change zoning, modify height restrictions and approve permits for parking spaces.
As the project moved forward, the neighborhood railed about increased traffic and the impact the chain stores would have on local businesses. All the while related executives wrote campaign checks to carrion.
On march 10, 2005, five $1,000 donations from related executives arrived. On june 20, 2005, the company notified the city it planned to build a 1 million-square-foot retail center with 2,610 parking spaces and a 250-room hotel.
On oct. 19, 2005, carrion approved the project, with his office monitoring local hiring. Since 2003, carrion has received $39,100 from 24 gateway-related donations.
Related declined to answer questions.
yes we can!
EDIT: oops. forget the link. here tis... http://www./ny_local/bronx/2009/02/28/2009-02-28_buildings_sprang_up_as_donations_rained_.html
Bronx borough president adolfo carrion often received contributions just before or after he sponsored money for projects or approved important zoning changes, records show.
last year jonathan coren and a partner wanted to build 166 units of affordable housing in parkchester.
Coren, for the first time in his life, became a registered fund-raiser - for carrion. He raised $2,577 from multiple donors in the three weeks before carrion approved the project on march 26.
On a single day - april 12 - he raised another $1,255, less than a month before the planning commission, which includes a carrion appointee, approved idle llc's project.
top officials at the atlantic development group, the project's developer, and boricua college contributed nearly $70,000 to carrion during the time the project, called boricua village, moved through the system.
Atlantic needed carrion and his planning commission rep to approve zoning changes and lift height restrictions for the tower.
The first application for the project was filed march 28, 2006. Less than a month later, carrion got eight donations on the same day for $8,750, records show.
They all came from boricua college administrators, including a $4,000 check from president victor alicea. Alicea has been a fund-raiser for carrion.
On march 26, 2007, carrion approved the application.
in 2004, a real estate group moved to build affordable housing on the site of an old mott haven brewery on st. Ann's ave. The project stalled.
In april 2007, dozens of employees of jackson development group started donating to carrion. There were 23 contributions in two months, including $1,000 from a construction worker.
By november 2007, 41 donations from jackson employees to carrion totaled $35,650. In may 2008, carrion approved the project. Two months later, he announced he was sponsoring $3 million in taxpayer funds for the project.
Jackson did not return a call seeking comment.
tri-line is also building a staples store in a new mall a block from the stadium called gateway at bronx terminal market. Velazquez said he got the job through competitive bidding.
Developer related companies' subsidiary, btm development partners, needed carrion and the city planning commission to change zoning, modify height restrictions and approve permits for parking spaces.
As the project moved forward, the neighborhood railed about increased traffic and the impact the chain stores would have on local businesses. All the while related executives wrote campaign checks to carrion.
On march 10, 2005, five $1,000 donations from related executives arrived. On june 20, 2005, the company notified the city it planned to build a 1 million-square-foot retail center with 2,610 parking spaces and a 250-room hotel.
On oct. 19, 2005, carrion approved the project, with his office monitoring local hiring. Since 2003, carrion has received $39,100 from 24 gateway-related donations.
Related declined to answer questions.
yes we can!
EDIT: oops. forget the link. here tis... http://www./ny_local/bronx/2009/02/28/2009-02-28_buildings_sprang_up_as_donations_rained_.html