George Arzt | The New York Observer

Arzt on Spitzer on Silver

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:46:49 -0500

Here's a clip from this morning's panel at the New School about Eliot Spitzer's political prospects for the rest of his first term.

In the clip, consultant George Arzt shares a not-so-public moment from a V.I.P. reception at a fund-raiser for Denny...

At the New School, Special-Election Theories and Spitzer Memories

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:04:40 -0500

This morning, the New School hosted a panel discussion on whether Eliot Spitzer can regain his political capital. (The answer is already looking quite different in light of yesterday's special election.)

Some highlights:

Panelist Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice said "hallelujah!" about yesterday's results and said Democrats should be given a chance to control the entirety of state government.

Panelist Bill Cunningham, now of Dan Klores Communications, said that Albany's often-criticized "dysfunction" may actually be considered...

Weprin's C.O.S. Departs, May Run for His Seat

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:41:39 -0500

Last night at David Weprin’s fund-raiser for his city comptroller campaign, I learned that the City Councilman’s long-time chief of staff, Jack Rubin Friedman, is leaving in January to become the head of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. One attendee told me that Rubin might run for Weprin’s seat in 2009. (Rubin was standing nearby and interjected that it’s only a possibility at this point.)

The event at the Woolworth Kitchen and Towers...

Maloney Raises for the Future

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:03:24 -0400

Tonight's "Party in the Garden" at the home of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney might be about more than raising money for Democrats and for her congressional reelection. According to one close Maloney supporter I spoke to, tonight also serves to build her election war-chest for a 2010 Senate run if Hillary Clinton wins the presidential election. Asked directly about the possibility that funds raised tonight are at all connected with the prospect of a Senate...

Riverside South Goes French

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:09:55 -0400

After years in which one architect--Costas Kondylis--has dominated the 13-block-long Riverside South development, the new kid in town, Gary Barnett (Extell Development), has commissioned the Pritzker Prize-winning French architect Christian de Portzamparc to design the next three buildings, according to George Arzt, a spokesman for the developer. Monsieur de Portzamparc's Web site says the program consists of three buildings with 3.2 million square feet of office, hotel and residential space between 59th Street and 61st...

The Arzt Prophecy

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:45:00 -0500

Predictions this morning from George Arzt, former Post-man, current friend of Spitzer: "I think Hevesi wins. I think that Spitzer wins overwhelmingly, giving the Working Family Party the 50,000 they need to stay on the ballot. I dunno if they move up from the "F" line*. Kirsten Gillibrand will upset Sweeney. I think Reynolds will eke out a win in Buffalo. Sue Kelly will win. Fossella will win. Walsh will lose." The Senate for Democrats, he...

Becoming Lobbyists

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:26:20 -0500

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...

Self-Inflicted Wounds Doom Ferrer’s Campaign

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 19:00:00 -0500

Fernando Ferrer sought to turn the contest for New York City Mayor into a brawl last weekend. Who could blame him? Up until Sunday’s first public debate, nothing had gone right for Mr. Ferrer. His decision to throw some oratorical haymakers when he got the chance was almost inevitable. The tactic was not a total failure. Although some of his attacks seemed lumbering, there were enough sharp jibes at Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the...

Gang That Couldn't Campaign Straight: Eve Markewich Flop

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 20:00:00 -0400

To further fortify her already advancing campaign, Ms. Markewich decided—fatefully, as it turns out—to hire two of the city’s best-known political guns, George Arzt and Hank Sheinkopf. But instead of ensuring victory,...

Gang That Couldn’t Campaign Straight: Eve Markewich Flop

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 20:00:00 -0400

With a who’s who in New York politics endorsing her and what’s left of the city’s Democratic machine behind her, Eve Rachel Markewich’s campaign for the obscure but powerful position of Manhattan Surrogate seemed to be rolling inexorably toward victory. To further fortify her already advancing campaign, Ms. Markewich decided—fatefully, as it turns out—to hire two of the city’s best-known political guns, George Arzt and Hank Sheinkopf. But instead of ensuring victory, the wily...

Ubiquity Watch

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 08:05:00 -0400

There should be some prize for political consultant ubiquity. And if there were, one reader notes, PR man and former Koch spokesman George Arzt would have picked it up on Saturday, when he was quote twice on the same page of the Metro Section. He gets extra credit, of course, for putting two opposing spins on the same topic, political money, in his two quotes: On the Mayor's race: "The Democrats obviously need money to at least be...

Hevesi Returns In Comeback Run For Comptroller

Sun, 27 Oct 2002 19:00:00 -0500

A year ago, Alan Hevesi's career was over. A year ago, he was the man who came in a distant fourth in the Democratic Mayoral race-after being the early favorite. A year ago, he was supposed to do what losing political candidates do, which is take a lucrative private-sector job that traded on his 30 years of experience as an Assembly member and City Comptroller.

But Mr. Hevesi's career, it turns out, is not over....