NEWS: Margery Perlmutter Confirmed by City Council
As you may have read in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/nyregion/25lobby.html), the Gotham Gazette (http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20060524/203/1869/ or the New York Sun (http://www.nysun.com/article/33517?page_no=1) Margery Perlmutter’s appointment to the Landmarks Preservation Commission was approved by the City Council by a vote of 39-10. The Historic Districts Council is disappointed in the Council’s action to confirm the nomination of Margery Perlmutter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Although the Council decided that Ms. Perlmutter’s qualifications and the rulings of the Conflict of Interest Board were sufficient reason to support the Mayor’s nomination, we and many of our preservation colleagues continue to feel that a more appropriate candidate who did not share her encumbrances and could have added to the diversity of the Landmarks Commission should have been proposed. HDC agrees with CM Tony Avella, who opposed the nomination and said, “We are approving the first registered lobbyist to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. You can’t serve two masters.” Other council members who opposed the nomination were:
Tony Avella: [email protected]
Fax: 718 747-3105
Charles Barron [email protected]
Fax: 718 649-3111
Gale Brewer [email protected]
Fax: 212-873-0279
Helen Foster [email protected]
Fax: 718-588-7790
Vincent Gentile [email protected]
Fax 718-748-5222
Eric Gioia [email protected]
Fax: 718-383-9076
Melissa Mark Viverito, [email protected]
Fax: 212-722-6378
Letitia James [email protected]
Fax: 718-260-9099
Annabel Palma [email protected]
Fax: 718-931-0235
David Yassky [email protected]
Fax: 718-643-6620
We are very appreciative of their support in taking a difficult stand on principles. Please take a moment to send them your thanks.
In closing, we were somewhat reassured by Ms. Perlmutter’s responses to the Committee’s vigorous and thoughtful questions and believe that her professional expertise and knowledge will add to the LPC’s important work. We also look forward to working with the Mayor and the Council on ensuring that our concerns about appointments to the Landmarks Preservation Commission are appropriately addressed. As a large majority of commissioners are serving on expired terms, we anticipate many opportunities in the future to engage our elected officials on this.