Brad Lander, candidate for City Council in Brooklyn, has sworn up and down he won't take developer money. Or so he keeps saying. [UPDATE: See below for answer to those who are missing the point]. [UPDATE 2: Further comments below regarding to what degree Ratner's offering of money signifies Brad is "the development candidate."]

But looking at Brad's recent filings, I find that he has taken money from one of the most controversial development companies in Brooklyn. Richard Greenspan, project coordinator for Bruce Ratner's company Forest City Ratner, donated $2750 to Brad Lander's campaign on July 9th, 2008. Richard Greenspan not only works for one of NYC's biggest developers, but he is also the son-in-law of Charles Ratner the founder of Forest City Ratner.

Brad...you CAN'T get more developer linked than this money. Did you not catch this yourself? Did you think no one would notice that your vow to take no developer money looks a bit, shall we say, thin if you take money right from part of the Ratner extended family?

Now I remember the last time I highlighted a candidate getting big bucks from the Ratner family it was Vito Lopez when Michael Ratner, brother of Forest City Ratner CEO Bruce Ratner and his wife each gave Vito Lopez's campaign $3100...right before Assemblyman Lopez inserted a provision into a bill that would give Bruce Ratner an extra $300 million in property-tax benefits. The Ratners tend to expect favors for their contributions to candidates. But Vito Lopez has never denied that he would happily take developer money. Brad Lander denies it. Yet I see both Vito and Brad taking money from the Ratner family.

So Brad...what do the Ratner's want for their downpayment? And why can't you keep to your promise? Let me refer you again to my article on political donations and conflicts of interest. So far you seem to miss the point completely.

I should also note that Brad doesn't list Richard Greenspan on his "supporters" list, though he has now added the homophobic and intolerant Dov Hikind, after I pointed out he left him off, perhaps because many in the district will be highly suspicious of anyone who pals around with Dov Hikind. Will Brad now add "Richard Greenspan of Forest City Ratner" to his supporter's list?

UPDATE: To those who point out that he is returning this money. That is all well and good. But my point isn't really altered by that, though maybe I wasn't clear. In fact as you go through his filings, many, many developers donate. Some gets returned (the most blatant ones). But Greenspan, as well as many others, are seeing Brad as their candidate to buy...and that has to raise a red flag to people. Greenspan and the Ratners must see Brad as on their side the same way Vito is clearly on their side.

UPDATE 2: I should note that No Land Grab seems to think I am being unfair. On the other hand, Hildy Johnson on Room 8 agrees with me (though without giving credit where I am quoted). I maintain that the fact that Brad is so attractive to developer money remains a clear red flag to anyone concerned about the excessive influence of developer money. When Ratner and Dov Hikind are among your supporters, you are not likely to be a candidate I am willing to support. So I still think people, perhaps even No Land Grab, is missing the point. However, I respect No Land Grab and consider it worth referring to their opinion on this. I am more ambivalent about Hildy's agreement with my point particularly since Hildy doesn't follow etiquette of citing others.