CPI Charges Lobbyists and Clients with Violating Lobbying Laws
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2009
CONTACT: Walter C. Ayres
518-474-4418
ALBANY – The State Commission on Public Integrity today announced that it has charged thirteen lobbyists and clients with alleged violations of the lobbying law.
Patricia Lynch Associates, Inc. was charged with failure to file timely a Statement of Registration disclosing a lobbying contract with Subcontractors Trade Association. Powers & Company, Inc. was charged with failing to file timely a Statement of Registration disclosing a lobbying contract and inaccurately reporting the compensation from a contract with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The Commission also announced that it has reached a $500 settlement with Bolton St. John’s Inc. regarding charges that it failed to file an accurate Statement of Registration reporting compensation from its client, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, USA, Inc.
Several clients were charged with failing to file timely semi-annual reports as required by law. Those entities are Boymelgreen Developers; Community Services for Brooklyn, Inc.; Cooper Square Hotel, LLC; Democrats for Education Reform; Nassau-Suffolk Water District Commissioners Association; New Sunset Industrial Park LLC; Nice Systems, Inc; Phoenixone Communications; Quadraid Realty Partners; and Ryo Cigar Association, LLC.
The Commission also charged the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors with violating the law when it hosted two legislative receptions, one on June 9, 2008 and another on March 10, 2009. The Association is the fifth entity to be charged this year with violating the law for sponsoring a legislative reception that did not fit the “widely attended event” exception to the gift ban. In the previous cases, the entities admitted the violations and paid a civil penalty of $250, while also providing lists of attendees to the Commission, which intends to take appropriate further action with respect to any Executive Branch employees who attended. In addition, the Commission has forwarded the names of legislators who attended to the Legislative Ethics Commission, since the Commission on Public Integrity lacks jurisdiction over the legislature.
Barry Ginsberg, Executive Director of the Commission, said, “Bringing these cases is part of the Commission’s efforts to educate the lobbying community and change the culture of entitlement in Albany."
Pursuant to Executive Law §94(12)(b), a Notice of Reasonable Cause alleges a violation of the law, but is not a finding that the alleged violation occurred.
The Notices are available on-line at http://www.nyintegrity.org/enforcement/norc.html.