Developers fund REBNY-backed Richards for Queens borough president
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Donovan Richards. Photo by William Alatriste via City Council/Flickr
By David Brand
Councilmember Donovan Richards asked developers to fund his bid for Queens borough president and the real estate industry listened, contributing thousands of dollars to his campaign over the past few weeks.
Richards lobbied developers to “cut a check” to his campaign during a candidate forum hosted by the Queens Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 4. In response, officials from some of the largest real estate firms in the city — including some with major projects in Queens — plied his campaign with more than $8,600, according to disclosure reports filed with the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
“If [Miranda] won’t take real estate checks, I surely will, so if you’re in this room and want to cut a check,” Richards said after another candidate, Anthony Miranda, said he would reject developer money at the forum in Queens Village.
Borough presidents make advisory recommendations on land use proposals, including projects backed by major development firms. In Queens, large-scale projects at Sunnyside Yards, Willets Point and the Flushing Creek Waterfront are all in the works. Large-scale development continues in Long Island City and Flushing.
Richards took in three contributions from officials with The Related Companies, one of two firms selected to develop Willets Point. Related founder Stephen Ross contributed $160, Vice President Charles O’Byrne chipped in $160 and CEO Jeff Blau gave $150 between Feb 12 and 14.
Members of the Muss family, who own Forest Hills-based Muss Development, have contributed at least $1,945 since Feb. 4. The family behind Flushing-based developer Pi Capital contributed $750. James Pi, a founding principal, chipped in $750 on Feb. 3.
None of the developers contributed more than $750, the maximum amount that would still allow Richards to qualify for city matching funds.
Richards, who has not yet taken a position on the Flushing Waterfront rezoning plan, has also received money from the developers steering the project — albeit a day before he made his pitch at the Queens Chamber of Commerce forum.
F&T Group Vice President Helen Lee gave Richards $750 on Feb. 3. F&T Group is one of three firms that comprise FWRA LLC, the corporation that has set out to build a controversial residential and commercial development project along the Flushing Creek waterfront.
On Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, Richards received $1,070 from the Walentas family, which owns Two Trees, a major firm that has transformed the Brooklyn waterfront from Williamsburg to Dumbo. Richards took in another $2,250 from three other Two Trees officials between Feb. 11 and Feb. 13.
The same week, Real Estate Board of New York President James Whelan backed Richards in an email to board members, the New York Post reported.
“We firmly believe Council Member Donovan Richards would best serve in this role,” Whelan wrote.
Richards’ campaign spokesperson Thomas Musich said the relationships with developers have helped Richards secure affordable housing units for his Southeast Queens council district.
“In his district alone, those relationships have resulted in seven projects that are 100 percent affordable and will result in 6,000 units for Queens families,” Musich said. “As borough president, he will continue that success across the borough by creating partnerships that ensure all residents are able to find an affordable place to live.”
Three Queens borough president candidates, former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, Western Queens Councilmember Costa Constantinides and former NYPD Sergeant Anthony Miranda, have each said they would reject developer money in the race for borough president.
Former Queens prosecutor James Quinn and Flushing businessperson Dao Yin are also running for borough president. The special election is March 24.
Additional reporting by Victoria Merlino
