--- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Is anyone concerned about the obscene amount of money raised by
the
> incumbents? If you use $63,000 as a final number, that comes to
about $32 for every
> person who cast a vote. I agree that we should move forward with
the council we
> have. But ignoring this kind of influence can be a truly na�ve act.
> Maureen
Are you suggesting campaign finance reform in AP? While the amount
of money per se doesn't necessarily disturb me, many of its sources
do, although they may in fact be legal. We know that Al Faiella and
his wife both contributed as I am sure Asbury Partners and others
that it might have asked to contribute. While real estate developers
contribute all the time in big cities, in NYC they usually give it
to both sides. Since the incumbents' kow towing to Partners was such
an issue (at least for their critics) it appears unseemly. It also
stuck in my throat that Fishman was at their victory party. It would
have been better if Partners, Faiella and crew contributed to
public campaign fund which would be distrbuted equaly among the
candidates. That says the developer supports whatever council comes
into office with no favoritism. However, let's not kid ourselves,
Asbury Partners had the most at stake in this election. Not because
any candidate would stop the development, but many would not look so
favorably on leting them get away with murder to the detriment of
AP. In the end, it really was not appropriate for the developer, who
has so much to gain here at the expense of citizens to back specific
candidates. This is in the context that they are negotiating with
the city for certain things, including what price to pay for the
Triangle and streets.
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