Glenwood gave $500G to secretive Cuomo ally, trial reveals

Glenwood Management and the holdings of Leonard Litwin gave $500,000 in 2011 to a secretive political-action committee that promoted Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s agenda, according to documents released Sunday as part of state Sen. Dean Skelos’ corruption trial.

Federal prosecutors released a list of itemized contributions by Glenwood, the New Hyde Park-based developer, the state’s largest campaign contributor over the last decade. Glenwood executives are providing key testimony not only in the ongoing trial of Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) but also of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan).

 It’s been previously reported that Glenwood and the dozens of limited-liability corporations affiliated with it gave more than $1 million to Cuomo’s 2014 campaign.

But what’s new is the documentation that Glenwood also significantly boosted the Committee to Save New York, a pro-business coalition that backed Cuomo for two years before abruptly shutting down when faced with potentially having to disclose its donors.

The committee spent $17 million in 2011-12, Cuomo’s first two years as governor, promoting his agenda to freeze state spending and impose a local property-tax cap, among other things. The group ceased activity in 2012 just as new lobbying disclosure requirements were about to kick in, although the group contended that wasn’t a factor in its decision.

Some of the committee’s donors have been previously identified. The New York Gaming Association gave it $2 million; Genting, the Malaysian-based gambling company that operates video slots at Aqueduct, gave it $400,000; and the Buffalo-Niagara Partnership, a business lobby gave $800,000, according to various news reports.

 And Glenwood gave heavily too.

 It gave the committee 10 checks of $50,000 apiece, according to the list released in the Skelos trial. All were dated Oct. 24, 2011. Cuomo met with top Glenwood officials in 2011 to discuss rent-control regulations, according to his past schedules.

In the ongoing trials, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has alleged that Glenwood was pressured separately by Skelos and Silver to make campaign contributions and channel business to certain individuals and companies in exchange for favorable legislation.