Bloomberg Staffer's Stock Holdings Questioned

A top staffer in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration may be cashing in indirectly on city funding and tax breaks. Howard Wolfson, who served as a strategist for Hillary Clinton before taking the job as deputy mayor for governmental affairs in March, owns stock valued at between $5,000 and $39,999 in Forest City Enterprises, according to financial data released today. The company is a subsidiary of Bruce Ratner's Forest City Ratner Companies, and is building the new Nets arena in downtown Brooklyn. Neighborhood activists—including City Councilwoman Letitia James—had long opposed the arena, claiming it would tarnish the neighborhood. The project has received more than $200 million in city money for land acquisition and infrastructure repair, as well as tax exemptions and city-owned property at no cost.