Yassky Almost Publicly Gets in Bed with Architect, Then Blinks

Maybe it was the bad press from Brownstoner and The Politicker that did it? Or the call from the Daily News?

First, Brownstoner reported that Congressional candidate and City Council Member David Yassky would be holding a fundraiser with Robert Scarano, the controversial Brooklyn architect who recently gave up the right to self-certify his work after a number of complaints about odd things about some of his buildings were filed with the Department of Buildings. Then, The Politicker reported that the event was cancelled. Specifically: "The fundraiser which had been tentatively scheduled for tonight has been cancelled because the campaign didn't think it was appropriate."

"Tentatively scheduled"? There was nothing "tentative" about the invitation quoted by Brownstoner, which called Yassky the "Council's most accomplished, progressive legislator... We need to help him now since he is a supporter of our industry." (Emphasis added.) Among the industry supporters of Yassky are Moishe Kestenbaum, the owner of 184 Kent in Williamsburg, whose de-landmarking Yassky championed, and Joshua Guttman, owner of the ill-fated Greenpoint Terminal Market.

Candidate Chris Owens told the Daily News that the fundraiser and its abrupt cancellation is indicative of "Yassky campaign games with developers, and playing games with people who are willing to cut corners to make money."