Q&A
Questions on community support and financial contributions
1:02:25
·
3 min
Council Member Avilés inquires about community groups supporting the application and any financial contributions made by the applicant to these groups. The applicant's team provides information on involved organizations and clarifies the nature of any financial support.
- The Public Housing Civic Association and Red Hook West Resident Association are mentioned as supporting groups
- The applicant confirms minimal financial contributions to community groups, mainly for fundraisers or toy drives
- Questions are raised about payments to consultants or nonprofits involved in the project
Alexa Avilés
1:02:25
Okay.
1:02:26
And then lastly, What are the community groups that you are working with and and supporting this application?
1:02:35
And have you made any financial contributions, Mister Pilkell, to any of those groups?
Richard Lobel
1:02:41
Well, I'm just going to start with the nonprofit with representatives here would be who would administer the CBAs of Public Housing Civic Association.
1:02:50
And the in addition to which there are may I have that?
1:02:57
In addition to which, there are we've had discussions with the Redhook West, resident association, and the Redhook Art Project.
1:03:08
So there's some of the nonprofits we've been discussing this with.
1:03:12
Willie, have there been any
Alexa Avilés
1:03:13
My my understanding is that the Red Hawk Arts project is no longer party.
1:03:18
And
Richard Lobel
1:03:18
They're no longer party to the CBA, but they're still supportive of the project.
Alexa Avilés
1:03:22
Okay.
1:03:23
So we're just talking about the Redhook Housing Civic Association, which is a new entity, and the Redhook West.
Richard Lobel
1:03:30
Public Housing Civic Association.
Alexa Avilés
1:03:31
Public Housing.
1:03:32
Right.
1:03:34
So So those are those are the only 2 entities Right.
1:03:37
That are currently part of it.
Richard Lobel
1:03:38
And and I think that there's representatives here who can have a further discussion about it.
Alexa Avilés
1:03:42
They will they will tell me all about it.
Richard Lobel
1:03:44
No.
1:03:45
And I also just mentioned that THERE'S FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS IN THE CVA TO ALLOW THEM TO ADMINISTER THE CVA, BUT THERE'S BEEN No PRESIDENT.
Alexa Avilés
1:03:56
MR.
1:03:56
PICKLE, HAVE YOU MADE ANY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO ANY OF THESE ANTITIES?
Willy Pilku
1:04:03
I don't recall at the moment.
1:04:05
Maybe if they had a fundraiser on a page, I've maybe donated a minimal nothing specific to this project.
Alexa Avilés
1:04:14
Has anyone involved in this conversation been paid as a consultant?
1:04:18
Or
Richard Lobel
1:04:19
Well, I would tell you a council member that as a matter of course in negotiations with CBA for a nonprofit who has not yet entered into agreement and may not enter into an agreement, there is a third party agreement where we give them money for their lawyers.
1:04:33
The attorney client privilege runs to the nonprofit.
1:04:35
We have no communication with that attorney other than to pay their fees as they're incurred by the nonprofit so that that would be Right.
Alexa Avilés
1:04:43
But there's not been direct I'm asking if there's direct contributions to anyone involved in any of these conversations to their nonprofit entities over the last 2 years.
1:04:56
No.
1:04:57
No.
1:04:57
For the record.
Willy Pilku
1:04:58
For the record.
Francis Brown
1:04:59
You have
Alexa Avilés
1:05:00
made no contributions to anyone involved in these conversations in the last 2 years to their nonprofit entities.
Willy Pilku
1:05:07
None of the nonprofits that have issued letter other than an annual fundraiser that may had for a toy drive or anything.
Alexa Avilés
1:05:17
If so, how much how much did you contribute to these entities?
1:05:21
Not more than $1800.
1:05:24
To each I'd I'd you said maybe?
Willy Pilku
1:05:28
It varies.
1:05:28
It depends.
1:05:29
It could be a few $100 for toy drive for Christmas.
1:05:35
Or very small amounts.
Alexa Avilés
1:05:39
Over a 2 year period?
Willy Pilku
1:05:40
Yes.
Alexa Avilés
1:05:41
Okay.
1:05:43
Okay.
1:05:43
Thank you so much.
1:05:44
Thank you for your for your time.
Kevin Riley
1:05:47
And thank you, council member.