A little more background on Curran's top campaign contributors

                                                                              

Nassau County-owned Gold Coast mansion "Mille Fleurs" from OldLongIsland.com

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat running for re-election this Nov., reported more than $2 million in her campaign committee bank account two weeks ago. (see previous Jan. 18 item).

The two largest contributors to "Laura Curran for Nassau" in the past six months were the Simon Property Group, which gave $25,000 on Sept. 18, 2020 and Karli Hagedorn, chairwoman of the non-profit Friends of Sands Point Preserve, a county-owned park along North Shore's Gold Coast, who gave $20,000 on Jan. 11, 2020.

Since then, some political pundits have pointed out a little more information about both of Curran's largest donors.

About a month after the Simon Group contributed $25,000 to Curran's campaign, the Nassau Industrial Development Agency on Oct. 28  voted unanimously to begin negotiations for tax breaks on a Simon Group partnership to build and rent an Amazon warehouse in Syosset.

Newsday reported that Simon, which owns the Roosevelt Field shopping center, had formed a partnership with Castagna  Realty Co., owner of the Americana shopping Center, called Syosset Park Development LLC,  to develop the $71 million project on the old Cerro Wire property.

Although Curran appointed the IDA board -- confirmed by the county legislature -- the agency is considered independent of the county.

And then there is the $20,000 contribution from Karli Hagedorn.

It was given on Jan. 11 -- the same day the Legislature's Rules Committee unanimously approved a "Use and Occupancy" permit for Karli, and her husband James Hagedorn to live at the county-owned Gold Coast Mansion in the Sands Point Preserve called "Mille Fleurs."

Nassau's landmark portfolio manager, Smith and DeGroat Real Estate, headed by Matt Smith, acted on behalf of the Hagedorns, the paperwork says.

The one-year permit, much like a lease, actually began Aug. 1, but clarifications delayed its submission to the legislature, county officials said. Karli Hagedorn signed it on June 4.

According to the permit, the Hagedorns will pay $108,000 annually to live in the mansion.

Records submitted to the legislature indicated that Hagedorn, whose late father Horace co-founded the Miracle-Gro fertilizer company, earned more than $19 million from the business in 2016, indicating he is a good credit risk.

The legislature's Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) questioned whether the rent was sufficient since the tenants were not paying taxes for living in "one of the most unique and beautiful spots on Long Island." 

Nicolello was told the rent was based on fair market values.

The only other lawmaker to question the deal was Legis. Laura Schaefer (R-Westbury). "How old are Karli and James Hagedorn?" she asked.

Huh?

The parks representative assured Schaefer that both were adults.

According to the permit, the Hagedorns are responsible  for normal maintenance and utilities, except for electricity, which the county will pay.

The permit also prohibits gifts. . "In accordance with the county executive order  2-2118, the permittee shall not offer, give or agree to give anything of value to any county employee, agent, consultant, construction manager, or other person or firm representing the county...including members of a county representative's immediate family, in connection with the performance by such county representative of duties involving transactions with the permittee on behalf of the county, whether such duties are related to this agreement or any other county contract or matter..."

Well, the $20,000 went to Curran's campaign committee, not to Curran herself.