Workers’ Rights
Bender Cantone was retained by the Independent Driver’s Guild (IDG), which represents 80,000 app-based drivers in New York City, to develop and implement a comprehensive public affairs and lobbying strategy in an effort to secure greater legal protections and workplace rights for for- hire-vehicle drivers. Our thorough planning and execution has produced increased media coverage for our client as well as widespread support from numerous elected officials and stakeholders stakeholders for industry reform.
In August of 2018, our strategic efforts culminated in the passage of the first legislative package of its kind in the United States, which requires an industry-wide livable wage for drivers and increased regulation on driver protection issues.
Barclays Center & Atlantic Yards
Bruce Bender and Scott Cantone oversaw all aspects of government, community and media relations for the development of the 18,000 seat entertainment arena and a 22 acre mixed-use development. The final project includes 15 buildings offering more than 6,000 affordable, rental, and condominium homes, as well as new retail stores, restaurants, offices, and 8 acres of public open space.
The Bender Cantone team developed and executed a comprehensive public affairs strategy to secure an array of state and city public approvals, benefits, and subsidies that involved public opinion research, grassroots organizing, community and stakeholder outreach, and elected and government official relations.
Education Advocacy
As a long-term client, Bender Cantone has assisted Success Academy Charter Schools in developing and executing public affairs strategies that have allowed the network to obtain the government and community approvals necessary for expanding its schools and educational philosophy across the city.
Our firm has successfully briefed elected officials on policy issues impacting public charter schools and has developed and maintained extremely effective relationships on behalf of Success Academy. These relationships, along with our comprehensive public affairs strategy, have proven extremely effective in securing public funding and other policy revisions for the Success Academy Network.
Protective Netting
After Major League Baseball refused to require, and New York’s MLB franchises refused to install, additional protective netting to prevent the over 1,750 annual injuries to baseball fans, Bender Cantone was retained by a victim’s advocate who represented spectators that had been seriously injured at baseball stadiums by foul balls and bats.
Our team developed a public affairs and media strategy designed to pressure New York’s major and minor league baseball stadiums to install protective netting for fans. We assisted in the drafting of a proposed local law, fact sheets, op-eds and briefed elected officials on the issue. In response to the introduction of the legislation, the Council sponsor’s efforts, and related media reports, the New York Mets and Yankees installed additional protective netting at their major and minor league stadiums in New York City.
Draper Hall
Bender Cantone provided SKA Marin government affairs, community relations, and strategic consulting services for their redevelopment of 1918 First Avenue in Manhattan. The project, known as Draper Hall, is being redeveloped into a 14-story, 202-unit subsidized senior housing project.
We provided elected official, legislative and city agency relations in order to secure community board and City Council Land Use approvals. Our firm also worked to secure Heath and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) Board approvals on a 99-year lease for the property. In addition, Bender Cantone assisted SKA Marin with the second phase of this development known as the Gilbert, a 153-unit affordable housing project, where we negotiated and obtained Community Board and City Council Land Use approvals and City Council Reso-A Capital funding.
Not-for-profit budget advocacy
Over the last several years Bender Cantone has provided budget advocacy services to the NIA Community Service Network, a not-for-profit community service organization dedicated to addressing issues that impact youth, families, and seniors.
With more than more 30 sites located across many of New York City's most diverse and under-served neighborhoods, NIA’s primary focus is providing expanded day and after-school partnerships that serve several thousand students and seniors daily. In order to effectively advocate on behalf of the NIA Network, our team devised an extensive strategy to target elected and executive agency officials. Over the course of our partnership with NIA, Bender Cantone has assisted in expanding its services by securing millions of dollars in grants from City Council members, state legislators and city agencies.
Cultural Institution Advocacy
Over the course of many years, Bender Cantone has partnered with multiple cultural institutions across New York City in order raise funds for capital projects and the expansion of community outreach and educational programing. In the past, our team has developed government relations and community affairs strategies for such institutions as the Brooklyn Museum, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, The Woodlawn Conservancy, and the historic Greenwood Cemetery.
Bender Cantone has assisted our partners in raising millions of dollars for updated structural and technology improvements, operational resources, and exhibition and educational space. Our work has enabled these institutions to continue to provide outstanding cultural and educational services to their communities.
Small Business Advocacy
Bender Cantone was retained by an industry trade association, representing 150 small business owners in New York City, to impact legislation and public policy which was unfairly targeting, and would have severely impacted, their businesses and 5,000 employees.
Our firm developed a comprehensive public affairs strategy for the Association of Car Wash Owners and successfully impacted proposed bills in the City Council and State Legislature which would have negatively affected these small business owners and the earnings of thousands of workers employed in the industry. Bender Cantone also successfully leveraged relationships with City and State officials to ensure that proposed regulations, which would have shuttered local businesses and cost the New York City economy thousands of jobs, were not implemented.
8 Spruce Street
Bruce Bender and Scott Cantone oversaw all aspects of government relations and community affairs for this 76- floor luxury residential tower designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry. Originally known as the Beekman Tower or New York by Gehry, Bruce and Scott worked closely with local elected officials, community board members, and other stakeholders in order to build a large coalition of community support for the project.
Bruce and Scott successfully negotiated with the Mayor’s Office and the School Construction Authority to place an elementary school in the five-story base of the building. Our team also worked with city and state officials in obtaining incentives for the project, including $190 million in tax-exempt Liberty Bonds. P.S. 397, the Spruce Street School, opened in the fall of 2009 and 8 Spruce Street opened in February 2011.