Latest news with #CommissiononEthicsandLobbyinginGovernment
New York Post
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani's rent-stabilized NYC apartment could face ethics watchdog probe
The state ethics watchdog agency has received a complaint urging a probe into how Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani obtained his rent-stabilized apartment and whether he complied with gift rules for elected officials. 'Questions have been raised in public discussion about the timeline of his tenancy in relation to when New York State ethics rules apply to elected officials,' Jason Soren, an economist with the free-market American Institute for Economic Research, said in an August 12 letter to the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. Mamdani has said he was a tenant in his $2,300 one-bedroom pad in Astoria, Queens, before he was elected to the state Assembly in 2020, and didn't know it was rent-stabilized at the time. Advertisement 5 Zohran Mamdani pays $2,300 a month for his one-bedroom apartment in Astoria. Stephen Yang for the New York Post But Soren said he was skeptical that Mamdani — the Democratic socialist front-runner to win the mayoralty — was not versed in the state's rent-regulation laws, considering he once worked as a foreclosure prevention specialist helping tenants fight off evictions. 'Mr. Mamdani has stated that he began living in the apartment before his election to public office and that he was unaware of its rent-stabilized status at the time,' Soren said. Advertisement 'If at the start of Mr. Mamdani's tenancy, the relevant ethics regulations were applicable to him, then it could be appropriate to investigate whether any assistance he may have received in securing a rent-stabilized apartment qualified as a gift under the law.' New York elected officials are generally prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts of more than 'nominal value' from individuals and entities that do business with the state. The average rent for a market-rate one-bedroom apartment is about $3,000. 5 Mamdani has said he was a tenant in his $2,300 one-bedroom pad in Astoria, Queens, before he was elected to the state Assembly in 2020, and didn't know it was rent-stabilized at the time. Brigitte Stelzer Soren said an ethics agency review of the state's gift regulations as they pertain to Mamdani could 'provide clarity and address the questions that have been raised.' Advertisement 'It is critical to the maintenance of the public's trust, and to the confidence of Assemblyman Mamdani's constituents in Assembly District 36, that these questions are answered definitively and thoroughly,' Soren said. Mamdani's rent-regulated apartment has come under scrutiny after a rival for the mayoralty, ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo raised it as an issue. 5 Mamdani said he was making $47,000 when he moved into the building on 35th Street in Astoria. Brigitte Stelzer Cuomo claimed Mamdani abused the rent-regulated system because he's from a wealthy family and should not occupy an apartment that should go to someone else who is not well-off. Advertisement The former governor, who is running as an independent in the November election, even proposed 'Zohran's Law' to impose a means test to qualify for a rent-stabilized apartment. The Mamdani campaign dismissed the complaint as nonsense and said he moved into the apartment when he was making $47,000. 5 Cuomo claimed Mamdani abused the rent-regulated system because he's from a wealthy family and should not occupy an apartment that should go to someone else who is not well-off. SARAH YENESEL/EPA/Shutterstock 5 Mamdani has vowed to push the city rent guidelines control board to freeze the rent of nearly 1 million government-regulated apartments, if elected mayor. Matthew McDermott 'Right-wing think tanks and MAGA billionaires' pathetic attempts to distract from Zohran Mamdani's mission to make NYC more affordable will fail, just as they did in the primary where New Yorkers resoundingly rejected Andrew Cuomo in a humiliating defeat,' said Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec. The ethics commission confirmed that it has received Soren's complaint, but said the law bars it from publicly commenting on the existence of any investigative matter or whether it will open a probe. Mamdani — the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani — has vowed to push the city rent guidelines control board to freeze the rent of nearly 1 million government-regulated apartments, if elected mayor.
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
New York's ethics watchdog ruled constitutional by state's top court
New York 's top court on Tuesday affirmed the constitutionality of an ethics watchdog created three years ago to stem public corruption, rejecting arguments from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo related to a $5 million book deal. The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government had been fighting for its survival after Cuomo's lawyers persuaded lower courts that the panel was given unconstitutional enforcement powers. Cuomo contended that the law creating the agency violated the separation of powers mandated under the state constitution, since enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch. The Court of Appeals sided with the commission in a 4-3 vote, reversing lower court rulings. Judge Jenny Rivera wrote in a majority opinion that the law creating the commission gives it narrow powers to avoid having top state officials regulating their own ethics. " Trust in government is essential to democracy because its erosion leads to apathy, disaffection, and the breakdown of civic institutions," Rivera wrote. 'Given the danger of self-regulation, the Legislature and the Governor have determined that there is an urgent need for the robust, impartial enforcement of the State's ethics and lobbying laws.' The commission was formed by the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul as a more independent alternative to a previous ethics panel widely criticized for being overly beholden to top government officials. It debuted in the wake of Cuomo's 2021 resignation in a sexual harassment scandal. Cuomo was fighting an attempt by the commission that could force him to forfeit $5 million he got for writing a book about his administration's efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials claim Cuomo hadn't kept a promise not to use any state resources on the book. Cuomo denies those allegations. A trial court judge sided with Cuomo in 2023, noting that enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch, yet the governor cannot control ethics commission members, force them to explain their actions or remove them for neglecting their duties, the judge wrote. A mid-level appeals court upheld the judge's ruling in May. The ruling Tuesday lifts a cloud of uncertainty that has been looming over the commission for more than a year and was cheered by good government advocates. The commission's leadership released a prepared statement saying the top court's validation 'is especially important now, when the need for an agency with our mission is as great as it has ever been." Judge Michael Garcia wrote in a dissent that the law forming the commission violated constitutional 'bedrock principles' requiring a separation of powers. He accused the majority of focusing on the individual powers granted to the commission under the statute and pronouncing 'each, in turn, not wolf. But step back — it's not grandma; it's a wolf.' 'We intend to file for reconsideration — as is our right,' Cuomo spokesperson Richard Azzopardi wrote in an email, 'but it is disturbing that any judge of NY's highest court would countenance flagrant violations of the constitution when it conflicts with what is most convenient to the political class.' Cuomo resigned in August 2021 after the attorney general released the results of an investigation that concluded he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo has denied those allegations.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York's ethics watchdog ruled constitutional by state's top court
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's top court on Tuesday affirmed the constitutionality of an ethics watchdog created three years ago to stem public corruption, rejecting arguments from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government had been fighting for its survival after Cuomo's lawyers persuaded lower courts that the panel was given unconstitutional enforcement powers. Cuomo contended that the law creating the agency violated the separation of powers mandated under the state constitution, since enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch. A divided Court of Appeals sided with the commission, reversing lower court rulings. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Judge Jenny Rivera wrote in a majority opinion that the law creating the commission gives it narrow powers to avoid having top state officials regulating their own ethics. 'Given the danger of self-regulation, the Legislature and the Governor have determined that there is an urgent need for the robust, impartial enforcement of the State's ethics and lobbying laws,' Rivera wrote. The commission was formed by the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul as a more independent alternative to a previous ethics panel widely criticized for being overly beholden to top government officials. It debuted in the wake of Cuomo's 2021 resignation in a sexual harassment scandal. Cuomo was fighting an attempt by the commission that could force him to forfeit $5 million he got for writing a book about his administration's efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials claim Cuomo hadn't kept a promise not to use any state resources on the book. Cuomo denies those allegations. A trial court judge sided with Cuomo in 2023, noting that enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch, yet the governor cannot control ethics commission members, force them to explain their actions or remove them for neglecting their duties, the judge wrote. A mid-level appeals court upheld the judge's ruling in May. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 after the attorney general released the results of an investigation that concluded he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo has denied those allegations. The commission had been able to continue operating as the court case progressed. There was no immediate comment from Cuomo or the commission.
Associated Press
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
New York's ethics watchdog ruled constitutional by state's top court
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's top court on Tuesday affirmed the constitutionality of an ethics watchdog created three years ago to stem public corruption, rejecting arguments from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government had been fighting for its survival after Cuomo's lawyers persuaded lower courts that the panel was given unconstitutional enforcement powers. Cuomo contended that the law creating the agency violated the separation of powers mandated under the state constitution, since enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch. A divided Court of Appeals sided with the commission, reversing lower court rulings. Judge Jenny Rivera wrote in a majority opinion that the law creating the commission gives it narrow powers to avoid having top state officials regulating their own ethics. 'Given the danger of self-regulation, the Legislature and the Governor have determined that there is an urgent need for the robust, impartial enforcement of the State's ethics and lobbying laws,' Rivera wrote. The commission was formed by the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul as a more independent alternative to a previous ethics panel widely criticized for being overly beholden to top government officials. It debuted in the wake of Cuomo's 2021 resignation in a sexual harassment scandal. Cuomo was fighting an attempt by the commission that could force him to forfeit $5 million he got for writing a book about his administration's efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials claim Cuomo hadn't kept a promise not to use any state resources on the book. Cuomo denies those allegations. A trial court judge sided with Cuomo in 2023, noting that enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch, yet the governor cannot control ethics commission members, force them to explain their actions or remove them for neglecting their duties, the judge wrote. A mid-level appeals court upheld the judge's ruling in May. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 after the attorney general released the results of an investigation that concluded he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo has denied those allegations. The commission had been able to continue operating as the court case progressed.
