By Matt Chaban 4/10/12 4:41pm

It Takes a Village

Greenberg Traurig goes to bat for NYU's greenspace. (NYU)

NYU Brings Out the Big Guns: University Hires Ex-Council Members Ed Wallace and Melinda Katz to Lobby on Village Expansion

New York University is working fervently to win support for its major campus expansion in Greenwich Village. The school has lined up the support of the mayor, the real estate industry, construction unions, local businesses, even most of the city’s editorial boards, including a powerful vote of confidence from The Times. Still, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has expressed skepticism toward the project, which he would like to see reduced in size, and the community panned the rezoning outright.

To help makes its case, NYU recently retained Ed Wallace and Melinda Katz, two land-use attorneys who have helped shape a number of important development projects as they wended their way through public review—not least because both of them also once spent time as members of the  City Council, the body that will have the ultimate say on NYU’s rezoning. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 11/20/09 7:51pm

Angling for Finance Chair: Fidler, Recchia and Felder

Last week, Crain’s put out the names of two people from Brooklyn vying for the Finance Committee Chairmanship: Lew Fidler and Domenic Recchia.

There’s apparently another name to add to the mix: Simcha Felder, who I’m told has sent word to the speaker that he’s interested in the position.

The current Finance chairman is David Read More

By Azi Paybarah 10/29/09 7:53pm

Diaz Backs Thompson Even If It’s Not Entirely Helpful

Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. said about 100 ministers met with him and Bill Thompson in the Bronx this morning, vowing to help get him elected. Afterward, they went to a senior center.

“The enthusiasm, you should have seen it,” said Diaz. “A standing ovation. Ministers chanting Bill-y! Bill-y!”

I had to rely on Diaz’s account Read More

By Azi Paybarah 9/18/09 3:26pm

Yassky Pledges to Build a Case Against Liu on Policy

Melinda Katz endorsed David Yassky for comptroller on the City Hall steps this morning, saying he "has the honesty and integrity to watch the city taxpayer dollars."

Katz, who is from Queens, said the endorsement was not a dig at Yassky's opponent, John Liu, of Queens, whose claims to have worked in a sweatshop Read More

By Azi Paybarah 9/14/09 8:07pm

A Clergy Job in the Comptroller’s Office

It’s sometimes hard to find policy differences among the comptroller candidates, but the audience at a forum in East Harlem last night saw one.

The question was whether any of the candidates would create a “paid clergy position” within their office.

Melinda Katz said she’d consider it. David Weprin said absolutely. John Liu said no Read More

By Azi Paybarah 9/14/09 7:16pm

Poll: Liu Jumps

The latest (from Friday night) numbers from Survey USA show John Liu jumping nine points in nine days, and leading the pack of comptroller candidates, with 34 percent.

Melinda Katz, the only woman in the race, has 23 percent, slightly ahead of David Yassky, who has 19 percent. David Weprin is back with 7 Read More