Alumnus Michael McConeghy wants answers to questions being asked by many followers of Hofstra athletics.

Steven Marcus, Newsday March 27, 2010:

Alumnus Michael McConeghy wants answers to questions being asked by many followers of Hofstra athletics. Still fending off criticism for dropping its football program, Hofstra took another hit last week with Tom Pecora’s departure to Fordham.

“I was full of pride when Jay Wright left to go to Villanova,” McConeghy said of the coach whom Pecora succeeded. “Here, I’m just confused. What does Tom Pecora know about the future direction of the university’s athletics department? What does this say to any recruit looking at Hofstra for basketball, or any other sport for that matter?”

Brad Gerstman of Gotham Government Relations:

Fellow alumnus Brad Gerstman, an attorney and strong advocate for returning football to Hofstra, agreed. “We lost football, we lost a wonderful basketball coach,” he said. “I’m also concerned about recruiting for all the sports programs. You just don’t know where Hofstra is headed.”

Read the entire article in Newsday right here…

Hofstra Continues to Lack Respect for Sports Program; Alumni Up in Arms

March 25, 2010; Roslyn, NY

After 16 years with the University, Hofstra Basketball Coach Tom Pecora is leaving his post for neighboring Fordham University. After nine years as head coach at Hofstra, earning a 155-126 recording including four 20-win seasons, Pecora is high-tailing it to Fordham for a reported $700,000 pay increase. This is just the latest in a series of setbacks for Hofstra’s Athletic Program.

Many Hofstra alumni are outraged over this development, and are calling on the administration to account for the lack of consideration and concern so clearly demonstrated.

The Hofstra administration again shows how little emphasis is placed on its sports programs,” said Brad Gerstman, a Hofstra alumnus, former football player and founder of www.savehofstrafootball.org. “After terminating the football program without notice, the administration has permitted their outstanding basketball coach to go to neighboring Fordham University, simply because of money.”

To many former Hofstra athletic alumni, it seems clear that President Rabinowitz is driving the athletic program into the ground in order to pursue other projects, namely to utilize the savings for an unproven and un-built medical school. Many feel as though the Board of Trustees stood by as mere witnesses to this terrible plan.

“Having spoken to students, athletes, and alumni of Hofstra, there is little faith left in this administration, and all athletic programs feel like they too can be terminated,” Gerstman said. “Recruits in all sports do not feel comfortable coming to Hofstra since the administration has created an unsettled environment for all the athletic programs.

“The Hofstra administration and Trustees should be ashamed for damaging the potential careers of current and future students, and for ostensibly setting the University back decades by damaging the campus environment and thus returning it to the days as a commuter school.”

Fordham will hold a press conference at 1pm today to announce Pecora’s hire. For more information, please visit www.savehofstrafootball.org

Gotham Government Relations Working Pro-Bono to Pass Bill

March 15, 2010; New York, NY – Gotham Government Relations is pleased to announce its participation in working to pass a new bill ending Autism insurance discrimination. Bill Number S7000, sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin, the Chair of the Senate Insurance Committee, will amend the insurance law and the public health law. The bill will also expand health insurance coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

Gotham Government Relations wholeheartedly supports this new legislation and is lending its full support, pro-bono, to get it passed in both houses and signed by the Governor this session.

“Gotham is honored to work with the bi-partisan coalition of legislators in ending the autism insurance discrimination that has lasted way too long in New York State,” Gotham co-founder Brad Gerstman says. “Too many families struggle day to day with medical bills associated with the treatment of autism. Our goal is to work tirelessly with the legislators, autism groups, and families to have this outstanding bill enacted into law before the end of the 2010 legislative session.”

According to the CDC, Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined and the disorder costs the nation over $35 billion per year. Bill S7000 will require private health insurance companies to provide families the coverage needed for the proper treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The bill has no age caps or dollar caps on these benefits and covers many integral procedures necessary to the treatment of autism.

About Gotham Government Relations

New York’s fastest-growing government relations firm, Gotham Government Relations, provides lobbying, advocacy and consulting to its clients. Gotham offers its clients forward-thinking strategies that tap into political trends and opportunities. The work of its partners has resulted in shaping public policy on a number of key matters, including business advocacy and strategy; land use; special education; and charitable causes. For more information, log onto www.gothamgr.com or call us at 516.880.8170.

New York City, New York-
In an historic gathering of statewide professional tobacconists, a group of over two dozen retail tobacconists gathered at the Grand Havana Room in New York City to launch the New York Tobacconist Association (NYTA).

With the onslaught of anti-tobacco ordinances and legislation, the coalition of traditional competitors are coming together to combat further intrusion into their businesses, to oppose measures that can impact the product choices of their patrons, to address the cost of both doing business in New York, and the cost of goods to their customers.

As noted by Ron Melendi, General Manager of De La Concha tobacconists of New York City, “It is time for our voices to be heard. For too long, we have let our representatives pass laws that adversely affect our businesses, and the ability of our customers to enjoy a perfectly legal array of products. It’s time to say enough is enough.” Melendi was named the founding chairman of the NYTA.

At the heart of it all is Gotham Government Relations, the firm hired by NYTA to lobby these local and state issues.

“Our goal is to educate our legislators on these issues and to advocate that they are currently eroding the rights of New York State residents,” said Brad Gerstman, partner at Gotham Government Relations. “Our clients are small business owners who make a tremendous contribution to New York culture and the economy; and thus, in turn, pay significant taxes to the state and local governments”. “We must stop the policies of hurting our local businesses, who serve adult customers and have made a choice to smoke in cigar bars and smoke shops”; said David Schwartz, partner at Gotham. “Certain members of the legislature want to control every choice that New Yorkers make and its time our Government stop intruding on personal freedoms”, said Schwartz.

The New York effort is also being assisted by Cigar Rights of America (CRA) as a national consumer-based organization for cigar enthusiasts. CRA Executive Director Glynn Loope was present at the organizational meeting, stating “Each of these shops represent thousands of customers. Now, they are voters for the cause. We will educate them about how their representatives vote, about the legislation they introduce, and work to halt this Prohibition Era style of policies flowing from New York City to Albany.”

With the recently adopted flavored tobacco ban central to the group’s concern, there will be a comprehensive agenda of issues to be addressed. In addition to the flavored tobacco issue, the group will address fees and taxation, regulatory matters, and any further indoor or outdoor smoking restrictions.

The New York Tobacconist Association elected a charter board of directors, adopted by-laws, and initiated an “open door” policy that any premium licensed tobacconist in New York can join the group. A plan is currently underway for statewide recruitment for consumer members joining Cigar Rights of America, and retail tobacconists joining the NYTA.

About Cigar Rights of America

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) was founded on the principle of fighting for the freedom to enjoy premium cigars. A consumer-based, non-profit public advocacy organization that works with local, state and federal governments to protect the freedoms of cigar enthusiasts, CRA works with its constituency of members including manufacturers, retailers and cigar enthusiasts to focus on opposing restrictive smoking bans and increased taxation of cigars. www.CigarRights.org

About Gotham Government Relations

New York’s fastest-growing government relations firm, Gotham Government Relations, provides lobbying, advocacy and consulting to its clients. Gotham offers its clients forward-thinking strategies that tap into political trends and opportunities. The work of its partners has resulted in shaping public policy on a number of key matters, including business advocacy and strategy; land use; special education; and charitable causes. For more information, log onto www.gothamgr.com or call us at 516-880-8170.

Brad Gerstman talks about his connection to Hofstra Football and what he plans to do to keep Hofstra in the game. Watch the video here…

You can learn more and get involved at SaveHofstraFootball.Org

How can any sports athlete at Hofstra University feel safe considering the decision by the University to terminate their successful football program in order to provide more educational scholarships? A football program at most universities has its ups and downs, unfortunately losing money at times, and this applies to all athletic programs at a university. However, Hofstra took a drastic approach by terminating its football program where other universities would have found a way to restructure and renew the program, especially a football program where scholarships are involved. If the administration continues with the same logic that the money is better spent for nonathletic scholarships, what Hofstra athlete now or in the future can feel secure in its decision to play for the University?

It is clear that Hofstra president Stuart Rabinowitz doesn’t see the benefits of athletics in terms of its tremendous intrinsic value to a university. All Ivy League Universities and other top schools in the country understand the value of athletic programs to their schools. In fact, from 1937 until recently Hofstra use to understand this value as well. That being the case, how can a wrestling or field hockey recruit from high school roll the dice on Hofstra after it has cut it’s strongest and most highly publicized program without any notice?

A high school recruit need only look at how these football players were treated when the news of the termination was disseminated. The school never even notified the parents of the student athletes. They never provided social guidance or advisory services for the students affected after the news was released. The bad news was provided in a cold statement by the athletic director and then he simply walked out of the room to let the kids fend for themselves.

If I was an 18 year old outstanding baseball player considering coming to Hofstra University to play, I would immediately scratch the school off my list. Why take the risk?

Brad Gerstman is a partner at Gotham Government Relations.

More:

Radio: Brad Talks to WFAN Radio about what Hofstra football means to the school, Long Island and student athletics nationwide.

Video: Hofstra Alumni speak out on the end of football

What do you think? Take our poll…

Gotham partner Brad Gerstman talks to WFAN’s Bob Salter about the untimely cancellation of Hofstra football and what this tradition means to the school, student athletics and Long Island. Listen here….

You can learn more and get involved at SaveHofstraFootball.Org

Gotham Partner and Hofstra alumnus Brad Gerstman gathered with former team mates last night to sound off on the cancellation of Hofstra’s football program. See the video from ABC’s Eyewitness News…

You can learn more and get involved at SaveHofstraFootball.Org

Brad Gerstman, High-Powered Lobbyist, Outraged over Hofstra University’s Decision to Dismantle its Football Program. Hofstra Alumni and Gotham Government Relations Partner Seeks Clarification and Reconsideration

Roslyn, NY; December 4, 2009

Hofstra Alumnus and Gotham Government Relations Partner, Brad Gerstman, is speaking out today on the discontinuation of Hofstra University’s Football Program. Gerstman was a member of Hofstra’s Football team from 1986-1989, during which time the team reached the playoffs all four years. Brad is currently one of the founding partners of New York’s fastest-growing government relations firm. He was disappointed to hear the news of Hofstra’s decision to terminate the football program.

“I am deeply upset about this decision,“ Gerstman says. “As an alumnus, former football player and a member of this community, I will personally seek clarification and details on why this occurred. I hope that the University will reconsider this irresponsible decision that ultimately will impact the region in a very profound way, from Long Island high school football players to current Hofstra football players and fans, and many others.”

Hofstra’s President was quoted as saying the cost of the University’s Football Program far exceeds any possible return. Gerstman, however, would like the school to reconsider and take into account how damaging the loss of a football program will be to the reputation of the institution, especially considering that a number of Hofstra alumni have gone on to become professional football players and coaches. Without a football team, Hofstra would join the dubious rank of being one of the nation’s first elite universities without a football team.

“The University is part of the fabric of Long Island and I believe this is damaging to Long Island and the reputation of the school,” Gerstman says. “More importantly, Hofstra isn’t simply a small private business operating in a vacuum. They receive grants from our government and decisions made by the administration can and do impact the region. As such, it’s curious to me that as caretakers of an institution which has had football since it’s inception in the 1930’s, they can make such a radical change in a secretive way, without any notice to anyone, input from outside stakeholders, or public debate.”

Gerstman will seek immediate clarification and reconsideration from University officials on this decision. Gerstman is asking that elected officials, former Hofstra football players and other members of the community step up to seek further explanation.

Gotham Government Relations offers its clients forward-thinking strategies that tap into political trends and opportunities. The work of its partners has resulted in shaping public policy on a number of key matters, including business advocacy and strategy; land use; special education; and charitable causes. For more information, log onto www.gothamgr.com or call us at 516-880-8170.

Our US Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced that terrorist prisoners being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will be tried in the Southern District of New York. The trials will be around the corner from Ground Zero, which is very symbolic in many ways.

That being said, I have two questions to ask. The first is why hold the trial in NYC? My second question, is why are these Guantanamo Bay detainees being tried in Federal District Court instead of Military Tribunals?

Taking a step back for a moment and looking at the general state of New York, one would come to the conclusion that holding these trials in NYC may not be the best idea. We have a floundering economy, New York City and the Federal Government have budget problems and NYC is the biggest American target for future terrorist attacks. Despite these facts, the Obama administration thinks that New York is the best forum for these trials. However, one must wonder whether the Obama administration thought about the cost to New York for the additional security that will be required to have the trials here? Not only will there be security issues but think about the traffic and disruption this will cause in the lives of NYC citizens who are simply trying to live their day to day lives and take care of their families. New Yorkers who live and work near where terrorists will be held and tried face additional risks of an attack. Think about the fear each of us New Yorkers felt going over our bridges, riding our subways and trains after September 11th. Does the Obama administration appreciate the fact that those fears will resurface as a result of holding these trials in New York?

If the abovementioned doesn’t make logical sense as to why we shouldn’t have the trials in New York, let’s look at it from a legal standpoint. These Guantanamo Bay detainees, these terrorist, are true enemy combatants and therefore are subject to military tribunal trials. Those who commit war crimes are arrested in environments that are very different from everyday domestic crimes. Since this is the case, rules of evidence in these military tribunals aren’t the same as in our Federal District Courts. Moreover, the rules of discovery in the Federal Courts will likely cause many dilemmas in terms of military secrets and classified information, which again puts American lives at risk. Which begs the question, why place a square peg in a round hole? This situation doesn’t make sense from a legal standpoint and I don’t understand how it makes sense to the Obama administration from any standpoint.

Those who would argue that holding the trials in New York is appropriate because all Americans are tried in the same manner, with a judge and jury, wouldn’t be completely wrong. However, even though this may appear to be the most honest and fair-minded approach, these are crimes that were committed during war. We are offering far too many protection to terrorists that are trying to kill us and our very way of life that offers such protections. To make matters worse, we are doing it in our backyard. The questions is, why us?