The New York Observer » Bill Thompson

Akerman Senterfitt Lawyer Steven Polivy: $700M in Nonprofit Projects to Hit Pipeline Starting This December

Through most of the 1990s and 2000s, nonprofits could count on low-cost financing issued through the state’s industrial development agencies to develop buildings, facilities and other infrastructure and construction projects. The bonds didn’t expose the state to any credit risk; rather the vehicle allowed lenders to avoid being taxed on the proceeds in the investment, which in turn incentivized them to accept lower interest rates on the debt. But in 2007, the State Legislature failed to renew the vehicle, cutting off NFPs from an important pipeline of funds. Now, in December, the city’s Economic Development Corporation is planning to roll out a new financing vehicle that will allow lenders to issue low-interest rate tax-free debt to NFPs. The city estimates that at least $700 million worth of projects that had been backlogged could now have access to funds. The Commercial Observer spoke with Steven Polivy, an attorney with law firm Akerman Senterfitt LLP about the upcoming vehicle as well as the impasse that has prevented the IDAs from providing tax free financing in recent years. Mr. Polivy specializes in arranging real estate financing and development transactions that utilize government incentive and financing programs.
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Bill Thompson Will Announce More 2013 Plans ‘In A Day or Two’

Former City Comptroller Bill Thompson told The Politicker this morning that he expects to make some announcements regarding his 2013 mayoral bid "in the next day or two."

Thompson made a public appearance at the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, sitting on the dais with other elected officials, but leaving before Mayor Read More

When the Lobbying Commission Meets

The city's Lobbying Commission is meeting tonight at 6PM at 22 Reade Street, according to a reader who received

Bill Thompson Robos for Gustavo Rivera

The Gustavo Rivera campaign is expected to blanket the homes of Bronx voters with robo-calls from some of his more prominent supporters over the next 36 hours or so.

Among the star-studded line-up getting on the horn in Rivera's bid to oust Pedro Espada: Thompson, Rev. Al Sharpton, former borough president Freddy Ferrer, city council member Read More

Democrats Hold Pre-emptive Press Conference Against Nonpartisan Elections

Outside New York's Municipal Building on Wednesday, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio stood at the podium--backed by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and former comptroller Bill Thompson--to dismiss the notion of nonpartisan elections.The charter review commission--assembled by Mayor Bloomberg to fulfill a 2008 promise he made to the City Council, Read More

Covering Andrew Cuomo

Here's what it's like to try to report at an event for a gubernatorial candidate who has not publicly said he's gubernatorial candidate, and yet is acting gubernatorial.

Powell Hires

Adam Clayton Powell IV's congressional campaign will soon be hiring Jaime Estades, a Democratic operative who most recently worked on Bill Thompson's mayoral campaign, and got his start helping elect David Dinkins as mayor.Estades will be the "campaign coordinator," Powell told me.Estades first day is on the job is Monday.On Saturday, Powell is expected Read More

Buddies

Michael Bloomberg and Bill Thompson seemed to enjoy running into each other last night at the 100 Black Men, Inc. annual gala.

Thompson Gave Retroactive Raises Before Leaving Comptroller’s Office

Shortly before Bill Thompson left the New York City comptroller's office, he granted a handful of raises to employees who, like him, would not be employed at 1 Centre Street after December 31, 2009.

A source told me Thompson froze salaries in 2008 for about 111 employees, who all made more than Read More

Thompson Backs Gillibrand

This afternoon, in the wake of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's weekend appearance at the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, her campaign rolled out the endorsement of former city comptroller and mayoral candidate Bill Thompson, who Ms. Gillibrand supported in his mayoral run last year.

"I was impressed with how warmly Read More

A Whole Bunch of Democrats Endorsing a Candidate for Monserrate’s Seat

At about the same time Hiram Monserrate will be at federal court filing a lawsuit to halt his expulsion from the State Senate, and prevent a March 15 special election to replace him, those who do support the decision to expel him will be having their own meeting.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other lawmakers Read More

Let the Mayor’s Race Begin Again

A reader sends along an invitation to a January 26 education event with Bill Thompson, who is so far the only announced 2013 candidate for mayor. (Though others may be preparing for it too.) Here's the invite:

Education Voters invites you to join them for a discussion withBill ThompsonFormer New York City Comptroller & Read More

Liu Not Taking Any Chances With First Name

After watching Bill Thompson's friends call him "Billy" throughout the campaign, and hearing about all the problems Governor David Paterson is having getting people to stop using his underdog first name, new Comptroller John Liu has upped the level of decorum in the office. According to a new directive, employees are required to Read More

Ferrer on Thompson’s 2013 Plans

Basking in the glory of having beat expectations in the 2009 mayor's race, Bill Thompson is now announcing plans for another bid in 2013. It's easy to consider him the front-runner, but running from his position is difficult.

Just ask Jef Pollock, who advised the another former Democratic mayoral candidate who did well in one mayoral Read More

An Opening for Thompson, In Theory

As was expected, reported, revised, and now confirmed, Rudy Giuliani won't run for anything in 2010.

What does that mean for Kirsten Gillibrand?

"Her path is now cleared," one Democratic operative "enthused" to the Daily News.

Is it? Mr. Giuliani's decision clears the way for almost any Democrat to trounce a Republican field that's Read More