Competitors for downstate casino licenses were not afraid to throw lobbyists at the city. But none spent more last year than a developer involved in separate real estate projects.
Jorge Madruga’s Maddd Equities came out at the top of the city lobbying spending rankings last year, City & State reported. The developer spent more than $1.8 million on lobbying, according to an annual report from the New York City Office of the City Clerk’s Lobbying Bureau, an outlay that involved six different firms.
Maddd Equities has several notable projects in the works. In July, the firm bought the Bronx General Post Office from Youngwoo & Associates for $44 million. Its plans were not clear at the time, but the landmarked building is zoned for commercial and residential use, opening up possibilities.
And at the start of last year, the city’s Economic Development Corporation tapped Maddd Equities and frequent partner Joy Construction to redevelop the long-vacant Kingsbridge Armory site in the Bronx. Maddd and Joy are tasked with turning the century-old armory site into a 13,000-seat event venue with community space, a recreation center, an educational facility and culture and commercial spaces.
Unsurprisingly, three entities tied to the three winning gaming license bids factored into the top lobbyist spending last year.
Queens Future, tied to the Citi Field-adjacent casino, paid almost $1.7 million total to 11 lobbying firms. Genting New York, which is expanding Resorts World in Queens, spent $1.1 million on lobbyists, while Bally’s tossed out $830,000 towards its Throggs Neck project. All three of the companies ranked in the top six of lobbying spending.
There was, however, a casino loser that also ranked high. That would be TSG Coney Island, tied to Thor Equities’ bid in Coney Island, which spent $1.4 million on lobbying firms in the city last year. The local Community Advisory Committee axed the casino project in September.
Other major lobbying clients in the city last year tied to real estate interests included Airbnb (and its quest to roll back short-term rental restrictions), Northwell Health with its expanding Upper East Side hospital and the Seaport Entertainment Group.
Meanwhile, lobbying firm Kasirer retained its crown at the top of the total compensation chart for the ninth straight year, reporting more than $17 million in spending from clients.
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