Kasirer, Suri Kasirer's government relations firm founded in 1997, has established itself as the highest-grossing lobbying firm in New York City. This has been true for each of the last nine years and for 17 of the past 20 years, as confirmed by the City of New York. Kasirer's influence extends to a variety of projects that represent a significant cross-section of New York's real estate and political history.
Developments significantly shaped by Kasirer include the rezoning that enabled the construction of One Vanderbilt, the conversion of the 5 Times Square office building into residential units, the rezoning plan for the OneLIC Neighbourhood Plan, the rebuilding of the New York Blood Centre, the introduction of the Ranked-Choice Voting system in New York City, the expansion of Lenox Hill Hospital, and the approval process for the renovation of the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.
These projects demonstrate Kasirer's strategic expertise, extensive experience, and far-reaching network of decision-makers in New York City. In addition to these large-scale developments, Suri Kasirer is also deeply committed to social causes. She and her 45-person firm work concurrently with nearly 50 non-profit organisations. While these initiatives may not achieve the financial scale of multi-billion-euro construction projects, they significantly improve the lives of many New Yorkers.
Social Engagement and Family Influence
Suri Kasirer's philanthropic spirit is deeply rooted in her personal history. She grew up in Glendale, Queens, the daughter of Moses Kasirer, a Holocaust survivor from Romania who later became a rabbi and teacher. Her family's financial uncertainties, caused by irregular salary payments to her father at the Yeshiva, profoundly influenced her later commitment to non-profit organisations.
This personal experience led to successful efforts to pass local laws 1247-B and 1392-A, which mandate faster payments from city contracts to non-profit organisations. Kasirer, 67, explained that timely payments for non-profits were of great importance to her, as her father never knew when his next paycheque would arrive during her childhood.
Her father's experiences and his dedication to teaching profoundly influenced the family. Her brother and his eight children became teachers, many with connections to her father's Yeshiva. Kasirer herself also taught Jewish history and sociology at Yeshiva University during her studies and served as principal at the Lincoln Square Synagogue.
Commitment to Holocaust Survivors and Other Initiatives
Stuart Kaplan, CEO of Selfhelp, a non-profit organisation that provides support to older adults and especially Holocaust survivors, highlighted Suri Kasirer's passion for her causes. According to Kaplan, Kasirer's family background was crucial in securing approvals and funding for Selfhelp projects. Her willingness to share her family history created an immediate connection and helped the organisation gain important support.
After about five years as a teacher, Kasirer felt a desire to become more directly involved in advocacy. In the early 1980s, she became active in the movement for Soviet Jews, which advocated for greater freedoms, including the right to emigrate.
