Below are excerpts from the New York Observer’s article titled “Meet Avi Schick, New York’s New Steamroller”.

Avi Schick’s foray into the world of economic development has been swift. Less than two years ago, Mr. Schick, 41, was a deputy in the state attorney general’s office, the lead prosecutor on Eliot Spitzer’s suit against former New York Stock Exchange Chairman Dick Grasso.

A longtime attorney, today he sits as president and acting CEO of New York State’s powerful development agency, with control over numerous multibillion-dollar projects.

Reviews of his 15-month tenure as ESDC president, a key oversight position, are mixed as he has formed powerful allies and a set of detractors.

His supporters, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver among them, speak of an intelligent, active, competent official who has been a highly effective administrator for the projects in his purview.

A physically imposing Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn, Mr. Schick is cordial and warm as he sits and talks with a confidence about his work. The posts of LMDC chairman and ESDC president, which also includes overseeing the $4 billion-plus Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn and the possible use of eminent domain for Columbia University’s West Harlem expansion, keep him tied to his work.

Mr. Schick’s position at ESDC was newly created by Governor Spitzer, as the former governor took the job of one man, under the Pataki administration, and divided it up to have an upstate chairman, an upstate president, a downstate chairman, formerly Mr. Foye, and a downstate president, Mr. Schick.

Now more than a year since Mr. Spitzer created it, this division is the source of much criticism by business leaders and elected officials, who say both ESDC’s leaders and clients are hamstrung by the lack of a clear power structure. Mr. Schick’s position at ESDC was newly created by Governor Spitzer, as the former governor took the job of one man, under the Pataki administration, and divided it up to have an upstate chairman, an upstate president, a downstate chairman, formerly Mr. Foye, and a downstate president, Mr. Schick.

The Paterson administration has thus far been mum on its thinking regarding ESDC leadership.

As for Mr. Schick, who is said to be in the running for the downstate chairmanship, his spokesman issued a brief statement saying he is “honored to continue to be of service.”

Click HERE to read the complete article at the New York Observers website.

(Photo Credit: Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times)