Biviano and Simon Spar Over Real Estate Contributions

By on August 24, 2009 5:03 pm in Election09, Government

The Doug Biviano campaign today questioned fellow 33rd District City Council candidate Jo Anne Simon’s connections to developers and real estate interests.

At last week’s debate for candidates for the council seat, Simon said that she “[hasn’t] accepted any contributions from real estate interests” in response to a question about her resistance to taking a position on the Gowanus Superfund site.

An examination of the New York City campaign finance board’s database, however, shows campaign contributions totaling $10,498 from individuals who list “real estate” in their occupation title.

Karen Johnson, the Simon campaign’s political director, characterized the Biviano’s campaign’s claims as “totally untrue.”

“I’m very disappointed,” she said. “He’s resorted to distortions because he’s desperate.” Johnson said that the contributors listed do not have ties to large developers in the city, and are simply small property owners and landlords.

Johnson also said that, in total, the Simon campaign has raised more money from more people than any other campaign. IIndeed, there have been 835 contributions totaling $108,033.00 for the Simon campaign, compared to the 306 contributions totaling $24,068.00 for the Biviano campaign.

Henry McCaslin, Biviano campaign spokesman, said “The fact is she has a long and troubling history of placating developers that goes back to the organization she created to divide the opposition to Atlantic Yards. It is not surprising that real estate interests are now lining up to fill her pockets in this campaign.”

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  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    Biviano misstates Simon’s position on Atlantic Yards. But there is a troubling pattern of misstatements about her position on the use of eminent domain.

    Check it out at realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com

    Real Reform Brooklyn

  • http://www.bivforbrooklyn.com Wilson F. Karaman

    Unfortnately the money doesn’t come in quite as fast when you’re not taking special interest money, but that’s the price of running an upstanding campaign, and it’s a price our campaign will gladly pay. What’s disappointing is that Jo Anne didn’t just admit what’s blatantly available for anyone to see: she takes money – and a whole lot of it – from real estate interests. Instead of being accountable and apologizing, she’s trying to spin the facts. This is a character issue, and the bottom line is that Jo Anne said one thing and is doing another.

    Regarding her modified claim that she doesn’t take money from “large developers,” among many others the CFB report shows contributions from a developer at Muss Development, who built Renaissance Tower and the downtown Brooklyn Marriott. Perhaps our definitions of “large developers” differ, but this is exactly the kind of doublespeak you get from Jo Anne.

    http://www.muss.com/renaissance/

    http://www.nyccfb.info/searchabledb/AdvancedContributionSearchResult.aspx?ec_id=2009&ec=2009&cand_id=818&cand=Simon,%20Jo%20Anne&emp=muss%20development%20(begins%20with)&emp_name1=muss%20development&emp_exact1=B

    Peace,
    Wilson F. Karaman
    Campaign Adviser
    Doug Biviano for Brooklyn

  • Community Reactivist

    Even multiple large donations from realtors, even if they’re not large developers, arouses some suspicion. Many of those salivating for housing in Broooklyn Bridge Park are realtors who want those commission! I suppose I can’t blame them for trying to better their lot, but I CAN turn a jaundiced eye on a candidate who suddenly claims to be opposed to housing in BBPark after years of tacit and not-so-tacit approval of it. Seeing a preponderance of realtor- and real estate-driven donations is suspicious. I need to study the donations more closely, methinks she doth protest too much.

  • nicky215

    She is not a leader. Look at all the money she got from the people who want condo towers in Brooklyn Bridge Park and sit of the ESDC Board. That is a double wammy.taking money from those who want overdevelopment and 1000 apartments in a public Park. She will not serve the people will but will be a broker for developers and the very rich.

  • Sloper

    Isn’t her husband a real estate broker? Isn’t her campaign office next to his real estate office?

  • nicky215

    yes he is a real estate broker and works very very closely with devlopers.

  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    Nicky215:

    We are reviewing the CFB filings over here. If you are serious that Simon has taken money from ESDC board members, you better name names.

    Real Reform Brooklyn

  • William Lockridge Harris

    Currently I own 2 small brownstones in Boerum Hill. Simon, the candidate, and I live in one of them, married. Does this make Simon a “developer”? More likely what I would call an “operater.” There is a wide difference between the two. We obtain our income from rents, not building towers or harassing tenants. We put out the trash, that sort of thing.

    Candidate Simon’s office is indeed several doors from mine. We have the same landlord. I did not assist in placing her there and received no benefit from her placement. I am glad to have her as a neighbor, for sure.

    To my knowledge the only “developer” Simon may know (really an operator) is myself and a few real estate operator friends. I’m talking here about ownership of a few small buildings, many of them not even in the 33rd. The big shots we don’t hang with, though we both respect responsible development–of which the Ratner scheme for Atlantic Yards fails to pass even casual inspection.

    So: what is a “developer”? And: are all developers bad? Don’t forget–somebody “developed” where you live, most likely 150 years ago. If you own a house, a coop, a condo—does that make you a “developer”?

  • the banned

    where does Doug live? Does he own or rent a house or apartment in the District? You have to have a permanent residence in the District in order to represent it.

  • info

    He lives in the Heights.

  • the banned

    I know he lives in the Heights, but does he have a permanent residence here?

  • jcm

    Most voters, I hope, know the difference between developers who have projects that require city approvals and people who work in real estate as small landlords, brokers, etc. If you look at contributions to Simon, it seems like there are more from educators than any other single group. I’m sorry that Biviano has gone so negative.

  • DAB

    the banned, are you suggesting people who rent are somehow unqualified to serve on city council? or have less of a stake in the community? because if so, why don’t you punch yourself in the taint.

  • the banned

    DAB, owning or renting are both good.
    does doug rent or own an apartment in the District?
    I don’t think so. Perhaps he’s waiting to win the election to sign a lease? This happens every so often in brooklyn. The person elected as councilman has no domicile in the District.

  • nabeguy

    TB, knock off the carpet-bagging accusation and focus more on what the candidates are advocating for the neighborhood, whether they live in it or not. I seriously doubt that Biviano has spent his time and money scouting around for a soft district to throw his hat into on the hope that he’ll fool the electorate into thinking he’s one of them. Unless you know otherwise (and even if you do), stop throwing out red herrings. Wait a sec. you call yourself “the banned”. You wouldn’t happen to also go by the name of Martin Conner?

  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    The Banned & All Others:

    If you really want to see carpetbagging, check out what Steve Levin is up to. It will make your skin crawl.

    http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/steve-levin-carpetbagging-the-plot-thickens/

    Keeping It Real

  • the banned

    I call myself the banned because until yesterday my postings were banned from this blog. probably because I am an independent and do not always agree with the party line. I also usually disagree with nabeguy and not just because he seems like an arrogant bully. Anyway, I am thrilled to be back from the gulag. I may be banned again any minute.

    Doug Biviano lives in an apartment he neither owns or rents. He cannot stay there for much longer, his net family income is zero dollars a year. I’m just wondering what the heck this father of three kids is thinking.

  • http://brooklynheightsblog.com Qfwfq

    “banned”: It looks like you weren’t banned so much as a couple of your comments (from back in April) were caught up in our spam filter, and then you decided you were banned for being a radical, or something. A simple, friendly “what’s up with that?” email would have sufficed. Though some of your previous comments did come perilously close to crossing the line (keep it civil, citizens!).

    I can assure you, BHB really doesn’t care what you personally have to say on any particular topic. But keep saying it!

  • http://www.bivforbrooklyn.com Wilson F. Karaman

    Doug is the superintendent of a building on Grace Court in Brooklyn Heights, where he lives with his wife and three kids. Not quite sure where you’re coming from, the banned…

    It’s not a question of “going negative,” jcm, it’s a question of a holding a candidate accountable for her words. When Jo Anne says “I don’t take money from real estate interests,” she’s not being truthful. Simple as that.

  • nicky215

    Joanne has gotten conributions from ESDC board members that want 1000 luxery condos in Brooklyn Bridge Park. To be specific $250 from Joanne Witty, $1250 from David Offensend, $1000 from Henry Guttman and $250 from his wife Karolyn Guttman. Real Reform does that answer your question.

  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    Nicky215:

    We will take a closer look.

    Thanks for the heads up.

    RRB

  • Jazz

    RRB are you a front for the Thies campaign?

  • the banned

    qfwfq: you are being disingenuous. To say my comments were caught in a spam filter means what? That I used profanity of some kind? I never use profanity. It is not my style. I was caught in a spin filter. And not just in April. But now I am happy to see that you are opening up the dialogue a bit and allowing a variety of views to appear side by side.

  • Jazz

    Banned now you’re trolling.

  • http://brooklynheightsblog.com Qfwfq

    “banned”: “caught in a spam filter” means that the software used to filter out illegitimate, ie, “spam”, comments determined — through heuristics not solely comprised of a profane word filter — that your comments may be illegitimate. I know sometimes it feels like the world is against you, but really, it’s just indifferent. Now move on.

  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    Jazz:

    No.

    RRB

  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    Jazz:

    No. Sorry.

    RRB

  • Jazz

    So nice you answered twice? Allow me to ask are you related to anyone in politics?

  • nabeguy

    An arrogant bully, huh? Sounds like something my wife would say. “banned”, your posting status may in part be due to your emotional status…perhaps if you back off the paranoia a bit, your voice will sure to be heard and we can continue to agree to disagree. Which leads me to ask, why the big beef with Biviano? According to Wilson, he’s a building superintendant, and therefore pays no rent. Is there something criminal in that or is there some smoking gun that I’m overlooking?

  • http://realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com/ Real Reform Brooklyn

    no…no…

    didn’t think it went through the first time.

    RRB

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