Powerful Liquor Authority Chairman Now Less Powerful

State Liquor Authority Chairman Daniel Boyle, ranked No. 21 on The Observer's 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate, has lost some clout in the apparent political fallout from his unsuccessful fight to sink the Cipriani family's restaurant empire.

According to the New York Post, fellow SLA commissioners Noreen Healey and Jeanique Greene "sprung a surprise resolution to strip Boyle - the sole board member to vote against the Ciprianis - of all powers previously delegated to him to conduct authority business. Instead, the resolution required approval of the full three-member board for any actions."

Mr. Boyle, a former Syracuse cop appointed by former Republican Governor George Pataki, told the Post last week that current Democratic Governor David Paterson's administration had tried to "intimidate" him into accepting a $500,000 settlement in lieu of yanking liquor licenses at nine Cipriani eateries, including the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center.

Ms. Greene and Ms. Healey, both Democratic appointees, were each recently granted use of a state-owned Ford Taurus, courtesy of the Paterson administration; previously, Mr. Boyle was the only board member with state car privileges.

Mr. Boyle told the Albany Times Union "he won't be pushed out of his post, which pays $120,800 a year, until his term expires in February."