Opponents of Willets Point Questioning Shulman
A group of Willets Point business owners filed a complaint with the City regarding Claire Shulman’s involvement in lobbying on behalf of the plan to develop Willets Point.
According to her accusors, Shulman, the former Borough President of Queens, failed to properly register as a lobbyist in 2008. She currently heads the Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corporation, an organization that is strongly in favor of Mayor Bloomberg’s development plan. They also claim she registered properly in 2007.
I am not familiar enough with the City’s regulations on lobbyists, but let’s wait and see how this plays out. It could be a complete non-issue, or maybe there’s some traction to their claims. It seems like something of this nature would have come up long ago, but perhaps the businesses owners in Willets Point just stumbled upon this possibility.
2 Comments to Opponents of Willets Point Questioning Shulman
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Although Claire Shulman is not a 2008 registered lobbyist, on numerous occasions she has attempted to influence “determinations” made or to be made by Queens Community Board 7, the Queens Borough President, the City Planning Commission, the City Council, and possibly other entities.
There is an advisory opinion available at the Lobbying Bureau’s web site (http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/lobbying/1987-7.shtml) which concludes: “It is the opinion of the City Clerk that all efforts to influence the determinations of Community Boards are ‘lobbying’ or ‘lobbying activity’ under Administrative Code Section 3-211 and those who attempt to influence the determinations of Community Boards must register as lobbyists with the City Clerk.”
Willful failure to register may subject Shulman to a criminal penalty, as well as a civil fine of $30,000.00.
In addition to Shulman’s non-registration, there is at least one other pro-development entity that has operated in plain violation of NYC’s lobbying laws. Stay tuned.
This is the biggest non story of the cycle.
Whether Claire Shulman goes to jail or is fined or is exonerated it doesnt change the facts one bit.
What it does show is the out right desperation on the part of the WPIRA.