BY NORAH SHEPPARD-HUTCHINS
Daily Post Staff Writer
Oisin Heneghan, the developer who on behalf of a Russian billionaire has proposed a 39-story building on 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park, has hired one of the nation’s top PR firms, whose clients have included Michael Jackson’s estate and disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Jim Bates with Sitrick and Company is representing Heneghan, council members Drew Combs and Betsy Nash told the Post.
Sitrick specializes in corporate, financial, transactional and crisis communications. They have offices in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and New York City, according to their website.
Some of Bates’ notable clients include the Estate of Michael Jackson, Weinstein, the Screen Actors Guild and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. Before he got into PR, Bates was an editor and writer for the Los Angeles Times for 22 years.
This comes after Heneghan sued the city of Menlo Park on Oct. 2, claiming he has the right to build a 39-story tower on the former Sunset Magazine campus at 80 Willow Road under state law.
The lawsuit came after the council declined to approve the project. City Manager Justin Murphy sent Bonta’s office a letter on Oct. 1, claiming the city followed all applicable state laws and does not have to approve the development by the imposed deadline.
Additional controversy sparked as a Russian businessman, Vitaly Yusufov, is the owner of the 80 Willow Road property. Yusufov faces sanctions in Ukraine, while his father, former Russian Energy Minister under Russian President Vladimir Putin, Igor Yusufov, also faces sanctions in Ukraine and in Canada.
National security concerns
Congressman Sam Liccardo asked the U.S. Department of Treasury to look into potential sanctions against Yusufov and his father, and raised concerns about national security.
Liccardo argued in his letter that because the property is in Silicon Valley, with many major tech companies in the vicinity, Yusufov and other possible owners should be looked into due to national security concerns.
The Post reached out to Heneghan and Bates but did not receive a response.
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