Michael Bloomberg made a hefty contribution towards Arnold Schwarzenegger's effort to get legislative redistricting in California.

But some other notable New Yorkers have opened up their wallets and given to another Schwarzenegger venture: his campaign committee. That's according to a financial report posted yesterday for Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Dream Team:  read more »

While the Rudy filing may lack donations from the blockbuster Hollywood-type stars that one might find giving to a Democrat like Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, there are a number of names that are, for various reasons, worth noting.  read more »

Howard Rubenstein, who represents the New York Post, also represents the Former Special Agents of the FBI. (He also works with the New York F.B.I. office— Mr. Rubenstein has also been identified in the press as a "Kushner family spokesman." Jared Kushner is the owner of the New York Observer.)

Don't be a hater, Harry.

The argument revolves around Fauchon's retail space in the Drake Hotel, which Mr. Macklowe purchased last month for over $418 million, and now reportedly plans to demolish to building a luxury apartment building.

Fauchon, which occupied the only storefront in the Drake, had more than a decade left on its lease. But Mr. Macklowe made clear that he wanted to clear the building. Early this month, he paid Fauchon $4 million to shorten its lease. Fauchon expected to remain there until April 2007, doing business as usual.

As for whether Mr. Macklowe is a chocolate lover or a chocolate hater, the lawyer who represented him in court, Richard Claman, would not say. He referred a reporter to a spokesman for Mr. Macklowe, Howard J. Rubenstein, who said he did not know, either, but promised to put the question to him.

Mr. Rubenstein called back a few minutes later and said: "When I started asking him about chocolate, he started talking to me about French fries. He wouldn't talk about chocolate."

"There are significant new elements, which differ substantially from prior negotiations. For example, we are concerned by provisions that would allow the Port Authority to walk away at any time from now until September if it feels that the demands it has made of other government entities, and that are completely out of Silverstein's control, are not being met."

Equally intriguing is the Real Estate Board of New York's take, as printed in Crain's:

One provision would hold developer Larry Silverstein, who owns the lease for the 16-acre site, in default if he fails to build all 5.9 million square feet of office space. While he would not lose control of the buildings, he would not be allowed to earn any profit or a development fee.

"It is an unusual provision and depending on its language, it could be a serious problem," says Steven Spinola, the president of the Real Estate Board of New York.