Crain's New York - October 1, 2012 - (Page 6)

The unlikely assemblyman Continued from Page 3 THE INSIDER was backed by the Bronx Democratic machine. So Mr. Gjonaj left nothing to chance. His campaign style was flamboyant, with hints of a car salesman: He handed out roses at subway stops,and on sweltering days set up cool-down tents for passersby. Friendly landlords helped place his campaign literature in apartment buildings. And when thousands of residents of the massive Tracey Towers complex faced a 65% rent increase, Mr. Gjonaj got a temporary restraining order to block it. Political insiders complained that he was just scaring up votes, but it worked. Tracey Towers residents shot a video endorsing him, and the housing complex voted overwhelming for Mr. Gjonaj. “It was a political stunt by a guy who had the money to hire a lawyer to get it done,” griped one Bronx political insider. Mr. Gjonaj said the legal maneuver was about protecting tenants, not about getting votes. “I have the wherewithal. Real estate is obviously my forte. And when there’s an injustice, someone has to stand up,” he said. “I’m happy to do it.” The injunction expired eight days after the election. He said he is confident the court will uphold it. Mr. Gjonaj, who is expected to win the Nov. 6 general election in the heavily Democratic district, cited his work on the taxi commission as evidence of his political skills. He cast the deciding vote for the recent fare increase and voted against the Taxi of Tomorrow over concerns about wheelchair accessibility. R Murdoch outfoxed by fringe party upert Murdoch learned last week that he’d been fooled by a minor New York political party. For the past two years, the conservative News Corp. billionaire and staunch supporter of Israel has been enrolled in the Independence Party, whose New York City faction has been linked to anti-Semitic statements and other unbecoming activity. Mr. Murdoch registered as a member of the party in August 2010, according to voter registration records. Psychotherapist Fred Newman, the late leader of the party’s city chapter, also drew scrutiny from the Post and others for supporting the idea of therapists having sexual relations with patients. Motivate. Celebrate. Congratulate. Macy’s Gift Cards are the perfect present for clients, customers and employees. Redeemable at over 800 stores nationwide and on macys.com, they’re one of the smartest business decisions you’ll make this year! And, they never expire. Call 1-800-452-4440 and be sure to ask about our volume discounts, or visit macys.com/corporatesales A News Corp. spokesman explained that Mr. Murdoch simply checked the wrong box on a voter registration form. “I can tell you with 100% certainty that this was an error,” he said. “His intention was to register as an independent.” On his form, however, the “party enrollment change” as well as the “address change” boxes were checked. Mr. Murdoch had been an unaffiliated voter until registering at a $44 million penthouse he’d bought on Fifth Avenue. Prompted by the Crain’s inquiry, Mr. Murdoch will leave the Independence Party and reregister as unaffiliated. The party boasts more than 400,000 members in New York, but insiders have long believed that many if not most of them intended to be independents, not Independence Party members. Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, said Mr. Murdoch is “not alone.” Candidates in Independence Party primaries who ring the doorbells and phones of party enrollees, he said, “are often adamantly told by the voter, ‘What are you talking about? I’m not in any party. I’m an independent.’ ” The city faction of the party (which has broken from the statewide party) has been excoriated by Mr. Murdoch’s own New York Post, in particular because of a statement by party leader Lenora Fulani that Jews were “mass murderers of people of color.” Ms. Fulani later termed the 9/11 attacks a “result of how America has positioned itself in the world.” The Post has called her “a selfconfessed Marxist” and an “antiSemite” and described her party as “cult-like.” Democrats’ debt ceiling could rise The money race between Republicans and Democrats battling for control of the state Senate was already lopsided before Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $1 million to the GOP faction last week, renewing speculation about whether Democrats can compete in November. Outnumbered 33-29, Minority Leader John Sampson’s Senate Democrats are expected to report more than $1 million on hand early this month. Their GOP counterparts recently reported having $3.6 million, despite having spent heavily already. John Sampson Eight Republican Senate candidates have been running television ads, in some cases for months. The Democrats’ campaign arm, $1.4 million in debt, sent its first two mailers last week. Democrats argue that demographics, issues and Barack Obama at the top of the ticket will make up for their financial disadvantage. But some say they should seek loans to take a crack at retaking the Senate majority. “It’s a presidential year,” one Democratic consultant said. “It could be four years before you get another shot.” For daily political and government news, subscribe to CRAIN’S INSIDER @ www.crainsnewyork.com/insider 6 | Crain’s New York Business | October 1, 2012 newscom ‘They’re all career politicians. He’s not’ “I truly believe I did a great negotiating job,” he said. Matthew Daus, former TLC commissioner and a leader of the New Era Democrats, a club that endorsed Mr. Gjonaj, said his outsider status is needed in Albany. “They’re all career politicians in the Assembly,” Mr. Daus said. “He’s not.” Mr. Gjonaj raised tens of thousands of dollars from real estate and construction interests, and thousands more from the Bronx’s growing Albanian-American community. In total, he raked in $227,893, almost twice what Ms.Rivera raised over the same period. The cash allowed Mr. Gjonaj to pay top consultants like the Advance Group and fund barbecues and other campaign events. But in Albany he will start at the bottom of the political hierarchy, with a $79,500 salary and no seniority to muscle bills through. He plans to quit his brokerage business to focus on legislating. “I’m not in this for the paycheck,” Mr. Gjonaj said. by Andrew J. Hawkins and Chris Bragg http://www.macys.com http://www.macys.com/corporatesales http://www.macys.com http://www.crainsnewyork.com/insider

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crain's New York - October 1, 2012

IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
CORPORATE LADDER
FROM AROUND THE CITY
OPINION
GREG DAVID
REAL ESTATE DEALS
REPORT: SMALL BUSINESS
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR THE RECORD
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE LUNCH
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crain's New York - October 1, 2012