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In crowded Queens DA race, Melinda Katz continues to rake in real estate dollars
In a sea of candidates who have vowed to reject real estate, Katz accepted $158K from the industry
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz is still raking in real estate dollars in her run for District Attorney despite vowing to prosecute developers who are responsible for construction fatalities or injuries.
Out of the $560,000 Katz raised from mid-January to May, Katz accepted $158,300 in donations from the real estate industry, according to board of elections, The City reported. That’s 29 percent of her total donations between mid-January and late May.
In April, it was revealed that Katz received a quarter of her donations from real estate players. But rather than reject developer dollars, as Corey Johnson, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Julia Salazar and others have done, Katz is doubling down.
Katz’ largest donation was in three $6,250 checks from David Walentas, his wife Jane and his son Jed, CEO of Two Trees Management. Dan Tishman of Tishman Realty and Construction chipped in another $15,000.
Real estate industry trade groups have also picked Katz as their candidate. The Rent Stabilization Association donated $10,000 and the Real Estate Board of New York donated $2,500. [The City] — Georgia Kromrei