Ken Fisher is quoted in Crain’s New York Business on Mayor de Blasio’s plans to implement a special permit for hotel development, following a hotel union’s (Hotel Trades Council) support of de Blasio’s presidential campaign. The permitting plans would be the first step in changes to a land use policy that could restrict hotel developments in the city. Additionally, some observers believe that the new permitting process would assure that new hotels used the union’s labor pool because of the influence the union holds with City Council members.

“This is pure politics under the guise of planning,” said Ken. “If you have a Councilmember that is supportive of the union, it’s unlikely a hotel project would get their signoff unless that project signed a neutrality agreement with the Hotel Trades Council at a minimum. There might be a district where that particular local Councilmember is immune to pressure from the union, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.”

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