NY Observer > Sherman http://www.observer.com/taxonomy/term/25787/feed Articles from Observer.com en Becoming Lobbyists http://www.observer.com/node/28604 Citizens Union's Dick Dadey emailed over revenue numbers for the top New York political consulting and lobbying firms for the past five years that give a strong sense of how political consultants' main product line is increasingly...lobbying. It's not a new trend, but it's a worrying one for good-government groups, as the question of whether influence is being peddled depends largely on the consultants' personal integrity. In the worst case, the political work is basically a loss leader for the core lobbying business.

Revenue for lobbying has increased more rapidly then revenue for campaign consulting since 2001. Although there is fluctuation in some years--the number and intensity of contracts clearly affects this--the general revenue trend for lobbying is up.

In the top five earners, as revenue for each firm increases, the share derived from campaign consulting has become smaller. Overall, only three of the top ten firms make more than 30% of their revenue from campaign consulting. While those three are in the top five in overall revenue, numbers show a trend towards lobbying. In first and second place for overall revenue, respectively, are the two firms who increased lobbying revenue the most over five years, the Parkside Group by 98%, and Kasirer Consulting by 93%.

Since 2001, the top ten consulting/lobbying shops in total revenue (with the share of revenue from lobbying in parentheses):

1. The Parkside Group: $7,585,897 (70%) 2. Kasirer Consulting: $6,541,569 (89%) 3. Mirram Global: $5,275,157 (30%) 4. Hank Sheinkopf: $4,725,904 (11%) 5. The Advance Group: $2,773,644 (10%) 6. Constantinople Consulting: $2,343,968 (95%) 7. George Arzt: $1,784,163 (94%) 8. Wiscovitch Associates: $680,860 (79%) 9. Pryor, Cashman, Sherman & Flynn: $391,476 (79%) 10. Schnur Associates: $209,950 (70%) —Nicole Brydson UPDATE: As a bunch of readers noted, we could have been clearer about the sources and limits of this data. This is a list of consultants who work on city races and lobby city officials. The sources, Dadey emails, are the New York City Campaign Finance Board and the City Clerk's lobbying search database. So other sources of revenue, and other lobbying contracts, aren't included.]]> http://www.observer.com/node/28604#comments Politics George Arzt Hank Sheinkopf Istanbul Sherman Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:26:20 -0500 Observer Staff 28604 at http://www.observer.com The Critical Media http://www.observer.com/node/32354
Recent stories on New York Daily News gossip Lloyd Grove, the former Washington Post gossip, surrounding his two-year anniversary in New York: The New York Observer yesterday: "Sources familiar with the circumstances of Mr. Grove's hiring say that the scribe has been working under a two-year contract [...] According to Daily News sources, the talk inside the paper is that Mr. Grove is in contract negotiations with News executives." Gawker, yesterday: "Say it ain't so! [...] Sherman's piece doesn't actually quote — either directly or indirectly — anyone saying Grove's contract won't be renewed." The Washington Post: "What does Grove have to say about all this? "It's not true," he told us yesterday. "That article had not one correct fact in it." Gawker, today: "Remember yesterday when the Observer said Lloyd Grove was not much longer for the Daily News? [...] Well, hey, Lloyd, you know what they say: As long as they spell your name right..." —Choire Sicha
]]> http://www.observer.com/node/32354#comments Style Daily News LP Lloyd Grove Sherman The Washington Post Company Thu, 22 Sep 2005 05:31:00 -0400 Observer Staff 32354 at http://www.observer.com In Doctorow's Brilliant March, Writer Finds Humanity in War http://www.observer.com/node/51281 A great blessing in life is that most people can get used to anything.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/51281#comments Arts & Culture E.L. Doctorows Hollywood Sherman Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:00:00 -0400 Lee Siegel 51281 at http://www.observer.com Call Him Broom Boy: Sanitation Saint Is A Very Local Hero http://www.observer.com/node/47972 For kicks, others climb Everest or spend $20 million to look back at Earth from outer space.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/47972#comments Diego Martinez Lexus Motor Company Sherman Snapple Beverage Corporation Sun, 24 Aug 2003 20:00:00 -0400 Ralph Gardner Jr. 47972 at http://www.observer.com The Tanks of August Wipe Out Common Sense http://www.observer.com/node/41945 WELLFLEET, Mass.-According to informed sources, i.e., the guy who sells clams down the road, this to  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/41945#comments Cape Cod Manhattan Sherman The Boston Globe Sun, 12 Sep 1999 20:00:00 -0400 Terry Golway 41945 at http://www.observer.com