Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Real Estate Interests Really Love Giving Money To Cuomo
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 29, 2010
Modified Jan 29, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 29, 2010
Modified Jan 29, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Attorney General and likely gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo has been netting huge contributions from major real estate interests — a group that some allege Cuomo's office has been hesitant to prosecute. Over the past three years, Cuomo has bolstered his substantial warchest by $18 million with money from land holders and developers including Stuyvesant Town defaulters Tishman Speyer, Atlantic Yards planner Bruce Ratner, and embattled builder Shaya Boymelgreen. But some say he's been less than responsive when faced with complaints against real estate interests.
According to the Times, the real estate industry has opened its wallets to Cuomo, giving the likely candidate one dollar out of every five that he's brought in during the past six months despite the fact that the real estate market is in shambles. But some property buyers allege that Cuomo's office has ignored complaints about residences that don't live up to builders' promises. In one instance, Cuomo's office refused to get involved in a case over a Prospect Heights building developed by Boymelgreen, who had donated $8,000 to his campaign (Cuomo returned that money after the Times brought it up). "Any suggestion that members of the real estate industry exert improper influence over this office's real estate finance unit is laughable and belied by the facts," said spokesman John Milgrim. "The bureau is staffed with professionals of the highest caliber and integrity, and the bureau itself is a model for other regulators."
In his defense, Cuomo just launched a suit against a Manhattan and Queens landlord accused of harassing hundreds of rent-regulated tenants in an effort to replace them with higher-paying renters. The Times reports that Vantage Properties is accused of regularly filing eviction notices that were really "deceptive and misleading representations" intended to scare away rent-regulated tenants. "Landlords who illegally harass tenants to boost their bottom line do great harm to the fabric of the city," said Cuomo.
Tagged
andrew cuomo
governor
influence
money
real estate
real estate interests
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC's horse carriage industry facing potential extinction with Thursday Council vote
The mayor and City Council struck a deal to end the practice after years of protest.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 11:48 a.m. ET
Jersey City housing development deal expected to send money to schools, city government
The Canal Crossing project broke ground this week, with plans for housing, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and a public park.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
Jersey City housing development deal expected to send money to schools, city government
The Canal Crossing project broke ground this week, with plans for housing, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and a public park.
By
Michael Sol Warren
The divide among Mamdani allies over reforming the NYPD
By
Elizabeth Kim
How NY Gov. Hochul, Bruce Blakeman would tackle rising electric, heat bills
By
Jon Campbell
Early Addition: Some NYC workers got up extremely early to commute from the Poconos
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .