Federal probe centers on political ties of Queens architect Gaskin

The Queens architect who has worked on some of the city’s largest recent construction projects, including the AirTrain to John F. Kennedy Airport, is the target of an investigation into his ties to the Democratic political leaders who backed them. Robert Gaskin has contributed thousands to the campaigns of Rep. Gregory Meeks, state Sen. Malcolm Smith and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and has done work on properties owned by each. He has also been hired to do work for the church of former Rep. Floyd Flake, of Aqueduct Entertainment Group notoriety. A probe by a federal grand jury in Manhattan is looking into whether there is a connection between those ties and the fact that the politicians were also strong supporters of city projects for which Gaskin has won contracts. Among them: planning for the Greater Jamaica Economic Development Corp. and the JetBlue corporate center in Jamaica. [Post]