NEW YORK: Senator Chuck Schumer has added Howard Rubenstein to his ’Group of Thirty,’ a commission created to address the lack of affordable retail and commercial space in New York City.
NEW YORK: Senator Chuck Schumer has added Howard Rubenstein to his
’Group of Thirty,’ a commission created to address the lack of
affordable retail and commercial space in New York City.
Though Rubenstein’s focus will be on promoting economic development, he
admitted that Schumer - a longtime crony - has asked him to lend a hand
with the group’s PR. He stressed that the group will have nothing to do
with the upcoming Senate battle royale between Hillary Clinton and mayor
Rudy Giuliani.
’This is not political, as far as I’m concerned,’ Rubenstein said. ’The
mayor has people on the committee, and there are Democrats on the
committee.’
Though few agencies with NY offices seem to be sweating their monthly
rent checks, Rubenstein claimed that PR firms and other professional
services businesses are being priced out of the market.
’Rents in midtown have doubled over the last three or four years,’ he
said, noting that prime office space - like his - often costs as much as
dollars 75 per square foot. ’We’re trying to ensure that companies
aren’t forced to leave New York.’
