Common Cause/NY raised concerns on the conflicts of interest regarding New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's use of privately paid political and messaging consultants.
The consultants, who also represent private clients who have business before the City, have extraordinary access to the Mayor, apparently meeting with him more frequently than many department heads.
Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner points out that the Mayor is building “a shadow government.”
An additional troubling aspect is that the consultants are paid by One New York, a private c4 organization set up by the Mayor.
The huge donations which entities doing business with NYC are making to One New York, might be executing an end-run around NYC’s campaign finance laws at the behest of New York City’s Mayor.
Common Cause/NY is examining possible statutory or regulatory responses to this
problem.
Mr. de Blasio has been active in helping to raise money for the Campaign for One New York, which can accept unlimited donations. By doing so, he has bypassed the city’s campaign finance laws that would ban or strictly limit certain contributions, including those from corporations and limited liability companies and from people who have business dealings with the city.
Campaign for One New York Group has now drawn interest of the State Ethics Panel.
CLICK HERE to read Thomas Kaplan's article in the New York Times.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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