Although Clinton's presidential campaign is expected to launch in the coming weeks, a few dozen Democratic operatives who will make up the core of Clinton's team have already begun "volunteering" -- with no pay -- for the former secretary of state. Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign-manager-in-waiting, began assembling a campaign apparatus earlier this year and a number of political operatives moved to New York in March to be in place for the campaign-in-waiting. Clinton has long had a Midtown Manhattan office that housed her personal staff of 10-15 people. That office is currently jam packed, however, with the future campaign staffers that will fill offices and desks in Brooklyn.
Because Clinton is not a declared candidate, Clinton aides would not detail what entity signed the office lease.
Where will Hillary Clinton’s campaign headquarters be? (CBS News)
By Reena Flores
April 3, 2015
CBS News
Hillary Clinton is reported to have planted her campaign flag in Brooklyn, signing a lease for an office to serve as her headquarters.
The Clinton campaign will occupy two spacious floors of One Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights, according to the signed lease. Politico first reported the news, citing a source familiar with the deal.
Just about seven miles from the Clinton Foundation's midtown Manhattan location, the former New York senator will be based out of a property that bills itself as "Modern Offices. Brooklyn cool." The offices will take up about 80,000 square feet of space, unifying a previously scattered operation. Clinton's campaign has reportedly been considering the building for just over a month.
The former secretary of state has yet to declare her official candidacy for the 2016 race, which could raise legal questions about campaign activity like renting an office for a base of operations. While candidates are legally able to explore the feasibility of a campaign without filing with the Federal Elections Commission, taking such steps -- like establishing a campaign headquarters -- without officially declaring a candidacy could provide ammunition for an FEC complaint.
FEC rules state that Clinton has 15 days from the time she engages in campaign activity to actually declare her candidacy and file for a campaign committee. In this case, the candidate -- or a campaign representative -- receiving or spending funds in excess of $5,000, for the purposes of a campaign, would require Clinton to file.
The building, a few blocks away from a Clinton Street, is also home to Morgan Stanley. And the offices of the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York reside in the same plaza.
Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters to be based in Brooklyn (MSNBC)
By Alex Seitz-Wald
April 3, 2015
MSNBC
A lease has been signed for office space in Brooklyn that is expected to be the headquarters of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to msnbc Friday morning. The move signals that a campaign launch is likely imminent.
Under federal election rules, candidates have just 15 days to declare a presidential run after engaging in campaign activity, like renting office space, though it’s unclear when Clinton signed the lease. It’s also unclear who or what legal entity signed the document.
The campaign will take up two floors of 1 Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights, which is described on its website as “Modern Offices. Brooklyn Cool.” Also in the building, which is connected to many transit lines, are the offices of U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, whom President Obama nominated to replace Attorney General Eric Holder. The back of the building happens to face Clinton Street. Politico first reported the news of the office space Thursday morning.
Clinton has been eyeing a New York City location for months, after ruling out suburban White Plains, New York. During her 2008 presidential run, Clinton headquarters were just outside Washington, D.C., a experience the campaign is not eager to repeat.
The borough of Brooklyn, which is close to Clinton’s home in Chappaqua, New York, the state she represented in the Senate, is known for its diversity and youthful energy, symbolism Clinton is likely to embrace.
Hillary Clinton leases campaign office for possible presidential bid (UPI)
By Amy Connolly
April 3, 2015
UPI
NEW YORK, April 3 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton has not yet announced her candidacy for a presidential run in 2016, but she signed a lease for campaign headquarters Friday.
The lease for two floors of office space in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. is the biggest indicator yet that the former secretary of state is on the cusp of launching her campaign. Under federal election rules, candidates have 15 days to declare a presidential run after participating in campaign activity, such as renting office space. It's not clear who or what legal entity signed the lease document, Politico reported.
Up until now, Clinton's small staff has been working from home or coffee shops. The new digs at One Pierrepont Plaza is described on its Web site as "Modern offices. Brooklyn cool." The 19-story building is located near popular restaurants, subway and bus lines and major bridges. Several floors in the building have about 40,000 rentable square-feet each. The building has a 24-hour attended lobby and a turnstile card access system.
Brooklyn Heights is among the wealthiest neighborhoods in New York City.
Here’s What Hillary Clinton’s New Brooklyn Neighbors Say About Her (Time)
By Sarah Begley
April 3, 2015
Time
Try the diner food, shop local and please don’t make the traffic any worse.
That’s what Hillary Clinton’s new Brooklyn neighbors had to say on Friday, as news broke the presumptive presidential candidate had leased campaign headquarters at 1 Pierrepont Plaza in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood.
In interviews with TIME, locals were mostly pleased that the Empire State’s political superstar had picked their neighborhood to spearhead her run for president, though they were wary about the prospect of more cars and people on the already-bustling commercial and residential strip.
“We always love celebrities in this neighborhood, but to me, the traffic is going to be so bad,” said Ting Ko, 38, a stay-at-home mom who lives nearby and supports Clinton’s run. “I would tell her to go to local diners. Grand Canyon, Park Plaza.”
Emerson Kokol, 23, a financial analyst who lives in the neighborhood, wasn’t concerned about the influx of security and traffic that Clinton’s campaign could bring. “It’ll definitely be more crowded,” he said, but he added that the subways are already “packed anyway, so what’s another 50 people, 100 people?”
Kokol recommended that the campaign staff try the nearby Heights Cafe, a cozy New American spot, and Teresa’s Restaurant, which serves Polish food.
One of Clinton’s biggest fans in Brooklyn Heights on Friday was Estela Johannesen, an owner of James Weir Floral, just a block from Clinton’s new headquarters.
“We all hope for better business,” said Johannesen, 50, who had heard the news from a customer that morning. “It would be great to have a woman run for president of the United States and it would be my pleasure to be around that campaign.”
At Azzuro, a dry cleaning and shoe repair shop, owner Edward Shamalov, 48, was already thinking ahead and said he’d put up posters for Clinton’s campaign in his shop if she put posters for his business in her office. “Why not?” he said. “She’s a tough lady, and we need that kind.”
But not everyone will welcome Clinton with open arms.
Philip Stevenson, 39, an art dealer and local resident, said he’d rather see Elizabeth Warren run for president instead of Clinton, whom he described as “opportunistic.” He predicted the headquarters would wreak havoc on the neighborhood. “It means more inconvenience, more traffic, more hassle, but she doesn’t care,” he said. “You can write that I find her loathsome.”
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