NY Post says U.S. Attorney Bharara’s focus is on the deal for tax breaks for luxury condo — One57
State Senator Golden’s former Democrat opponent implies that means — Marty Golden, as the "author" of those breaks
I guess we will have to — "STAY TUNED" — Just like Bharara told the media after he indicted Assembly Speaker Silver
Basically, this is the bottom line of what the New York Post said about the probe by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara today: “US Attorney Preet Bharara is investigating the massive tax breaks granted to Midtown’s luxury One57 condo building... sources told The Post on Sunday....” (See “Bharara probing tax deals given to luxury condo building” by Larry Celona and Bruce Golding, 1/26/15, NY Post [http://nypost.com/2015/01/26/bharara-probing-tax-deals-given-to-luxury-condo-building/]). The Post specifically mentioned this: “One57’s tax abatements were granted under the “421-a” program, which was highlighted in last week’s criminal complaint against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is charged in a $4?million corruption scheme. He was accused of using his power over development incentives to steer business to a law firm run by his former Assembly counsel....”
Kemmerer's Tweet
Prior newspaper articles and even this blog have connected that specific property and its coverage under the 421-a tax abatement program to special legislation personally introduced by NYS Senator Martin Golden. That particular bit of information was given a new boost earlier this evening when Golden’s Democrat opponent in the 2014 General Election blasted out this tweet:______________________________
Jamie Kemmerer
@JamieKemmerer Jan 26, 2015, 6:28 PM
As the author of the language for these tax breaks, I'm sure Golden must be watching this very closely. nypost.com/2015/01/26/bha… #corruption
______________________________
As Preet Bharara sometimes likes to say, “Stay tuned."
Last November Kemmerer accomplished one thing. Marty will be a Senator for as long as he feels like it.
ReplyDeleteRESPONSE: THE "OTHER POSSIBILITY" EDITION
ReplyDeleteOr possibly not....
the tax break scam stinks of corruption. I dont see Golden walking on this. The developer always cuts the deal with the authorities.
ReplyDeletelooks like Nicole is going to be moving again.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Golden's staffers have been subpoenaed yet? Today's Newsday says Silver staffers have been. I wonder if there is some overlap in subpoenas - meaning the same Hynes' investigation subpoenas also going out to the same Golden folks? Gale, keep us on top of this. What is also interesting is that Marty Golden has hired a well-respected and very high-powered and expensive criminal defense attorney, Robert Gottlieb. Hynes, on the other hand, is using an old timer, barely any name recognition who only did minor election law work in Brooklyn and he is about 90 years old . . .
ReplyDeleteEXCLUSIVE UPDATE: THE "MEET THE PRESS" EDITION
ReplyDeleteSOMEBODY IS SET TO SET OFF A BOMB UNDER A CUOMO-SILVER CONNECTION TO THE SHUT-DOWN OF THE MORELAND COMMISSION
DID THE WEITZ & LUXEMBURG FOLKS MAKE A LOT OF DONATIONS ? --- SURE THEY DID --- DID THEY WANT MORELAND TO GO FORWARD ? WHAT DO YOU THINK ? --- SHELLEY S. WAS A PARTNER THERE....
I didn't even get to the good part yet. One of my BSIs tells me that the W&L law firm gave some post-Moreland Commission $$$$-spendolas to people named Rice and Schneiderman that might have weighed heavily on what they did and said about the shut-down of that commission by Cuomo.
During Kathleen Rice's AG run, the Weitz & Luxemberg law firm contributed twenty percent of her total campaign contributions. That seems to be a lot. In total between 2009 - 2013 W&L gave her $300,000. Also a property firm named Thor Equities gave Kathleen many funds. Thor Equities has benefited from the bill sponsored by Marty Golden which gives those big tax breaks to them. Kathleen withdrew the subpoenas sent to Thor while she was on the Moreland Commission. Bruce Blakeman the Republican Conservative candidate who ran against Rice in the recent 4th CD race tried to raise these issues but he was just whistling in the wind as no one listened. Also, Justin Weitz was hired by Kathleen as an ADA in her office in 2009. He is the son of Perry Weitz - the "W" of W&L. During her AG run in 2010 there was concern that this could be a problem so he was sent off to another DA's office. He has since left there and works at W&L.
ReplyDeleteWow !!!!
ReplyDeleteThat stuff posted above is a recipe for fried Rice
This looks like another Rice and "Monkey Business" story....
ReplyDeleteTake a look at this - http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/01/8561061/shocked-law-firm-places-silver-leave
ReplyDeleteW & L just gave the ultimate Bullshit response about referral fees. All referral fees to Silver come from W & L accounts & W & L has a non-delegable duty to report to clients who is sharing in fees.
If you don't report this you're supposed to lose your license to practice law. Also, law firms are not allowed to split fees just for a referral. An attorney must do work to collect any portion of fee, no matter how small. End of story.