Latest news with #ConflictsofInterestBoard
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Bill de Blasio Agrees to Pay $329,000 to Settle Campaign Expense Dispute
Bill de Blasio, the former mayor of New York City, accepted blame and agreed to pay $329,000 to the city to resolve a conflicts-of-interest violation for bringing his security detail on trips during his failed presidential campaign in 2019. The Conflicts of Interest Board, which announced the settlement on Wednesday, had found that Mr. de Blasio violated the law by billing the city for his security detail to travel with him and his wife on 31 out-of-state trips, even after the board advised Mr. de Blasio in advance that the expenses were not allowed. The settlement, which reduced the board's fine from $155,000 to $10,000, was the board's first enforcement action against a mayor. The board said that Mr. de Blasio had already paid $100,000 of what he owed and would pay the rest in quarterly installments over the next four years. Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat who was mayor from 2014 through 2021, said in a statement that he had erred. 'I acknowledge that I made a mistake, and I deeply regret it,' he said. 'Now it's time to move forward.' His ill-fated presidential campaign lasted just four months. The city spent roughly $319,000 in travel-related costs for members of Mr. de Blasio's security detail to accompany him and his wife, Chirlane McCray, on campaign trips. The expenses included airfare, car rentals, overnight lodging, meals and other incidentals. The board — an independent body with five members appointed by the mayor, comptroller and public advocate — found in 2023 that Mr. de Blasio had to reimburse the city for the costs and pay the $155,000 fine. Mr. de Blasio had fought the case in court. On Wednesday, the board said that it agreed to lower the fine to $10,000 as part of the settlement because Mr. de Blasio said that his 'financial situation' prevented him from paying the full amount. After leaving office, Mr. de Blasio ran unsuccessfully for Congress and has worked in academia, teaching classes at New York University and the University of Michigan. He occasionally weighs in on local politics and appeared recently with Mayor Eric Adams at an event to promote funding for preschool for all, Mr. de Blasio's signature policy. Mr. de Blasio's improper campaign expenses were part of a report by the city's Department of Investigation, which found that he misused public resources for both political and personal purposes, including having a police van and officers help move his daughter to Gracie Mansion. He also faced a number of investigations into his fund-raising methods.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio to pay $330,000 over use of NYPD detail during 2020 presidential run
NEW YORK — Former Mayor Bill de Blasio will pay $330,000 in restitution and fines for violating city rules by using his NYPD detail during his long-shot 2020 presidential bid — the largest settlement in the history of New York City's Conflicts of Interest Board. The settlement, the first time the board has brought an enforcement action against a mayor, marks an end to the three-year legal saga centering on de Blasio's move to have his NYPD detail accompany him on 31 out-of-state trips during his failed 2020 presidential campaign. In Wednesday's agreement, the ex-mayor admitted to taking the security detail along with him despite prior warning from the board. 'In contradiction of the written guidance I received from the board, I did not reimburse the city for these expenses,' de Blasio wrote in the agreement. De Blasio has already paid $100,000 of the settlement, and has agreed to cover the rest in quarterly installments over the next four years, according to the settlement agreement. If he defaults on a payment, his total amount owed is upped to a whooping $475,000. 'Today I settled an outstanding case with the NYC COIB,' de Blasio said in a social media post. 'I acknowledge that I made a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Now it's time to move forward.' Reached over the phone, de Blasio declined to elaborate: 'That's all I have to say.' The historic settlement comes even though de Blasio for years maintained he had done nothing wrong. The ex-mayor also sued the board in 2023, seeking to overturn the the city ethics watchdog's order. That lawsuit was unsuccessful, with a Manhattan Supreme Court justice rejecting it this year and ruling that de Blasio was on the hook to repay the full amount. De Blasio and his attorney Andrew Celli argued after the fine was first imposed in 2023 that the board's decision was 'perilous' and set a standard under which the security of sitting mayors could be at risk. 'Every mayor faces threats, and all mayors are entitled to protection,' Celli said at the time. Queens City Councilman Robert Holden, a centrist Democrat and frequent de Blasio critic, lauded the settlement announcement. 'While the city hasn't yet been made whole, this settlement ends years of litigation and requires de Blasio to begin paying back nearly $330,000 in taxpayer funds,' Holden said. 'His arrogance and misuse of public resources caused lasting damage to this city — but at long last, justice is catching up.' _____
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio agrees to pay $330,000 for misusing public funds on failed White House bid
NEW YORK — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to pay a $329,794 fine to settle an ethics board's complaint that he misspent public funds on his security detail during his brief, failed run for U.S. president. The deal, announced Wednesday by the city's Conflicts of Interest Board, is the costliest repayment order in the ethics board's history. But it allows de Blasio to avoid an even steeper penalty of $475,000 that was previously imposed, a reduction the board said came in light of the former mayor's 'financial situation.' In exchange, de Blasio agreed to drop his appeal of the board's finding. And for the first time, he admitted that he received written warning that his out-of-state security expenses could not legally be covered by city taxpayers. 'In contradiction of the written guidance I received from the Board, I did not reimburse the City for these expenses,' de Blasio wrote in the settlement, adding: 'I made a mistake and I deeply regret it.' The payments concern the $319,794.20 in travel-related expenses — including airfare, lodging, meals — that de Blasio's security detail incurred while accompanying him on trips across the country during his presidential campaign in 2019. He will also pay a $10,000 fine. The campaign elicited a mix of mockery and grousing by city residents, who accused the Democrat of abandoning his duties as second-term mayor for the national spotlight. It was suspended within four months. Under the agreement, de Blasio must pay $100,000 immediately, followed by quarterly installments of nearly $15,000 for the next four years. If he misses a payment, he will be deemed in default and ordered to pay the full $475,000. The funds will eventually make their way back into the city treasury, according to a spokesperson for the Conflicts of Interest Board. An attorney for de Blasio, Andrew G. Celli Jr., declined to comment on the settlement. De Blasio had previously argued that forcing him to cover the cost of his security detail's travel violated his 1st Amendment rights by creating an 'unequal burden' between wealthy candidates and career public servants. Since leaving office in 2021, de Blasio has worked as a lecturer at multiple universities, most recently the University of Michigan, and delivered paid speeches in Italy. Offenhartz writes for the Associated Press.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio agrees to pay $330K for misusing public funds on failed White House bid
NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to pay a $329,794 fine to settle an ethics board's complaint that he misspent public funds on his security detail during his brief, failed run for U.S. president. The deal, announced Wednesday by the city's Conflicts of Interest Board, is the costliest repayment order in the ethics board's history. But it allows de Blasio to avoid an even steeper penalty of $475,000 that was previously imposed, a reduction the board said came in light of the former mayor's 'financial situation.' In exchange, de Blasio agreed to drop his appeal of the board's finding. And for the first time, he admitted that he received written warning that his out-of-state security expenses could not legally be covered by city taxpayers. 'In contradiction of the written guidance I received from the Board, I did not reimburse the City for these expenses,' de Blasio wrote in the settlement, adding: 'I made a mistake and I deeply regret it.' The payments concern the $319,794.20 in travel-related expenses — including airfare, lodging, meals — that de Blasio's security detail incurred while accompanying him on trips across the country during his presidential campaign in 2019. He will also pay a $10,000 fine. The campaign elicited a mix of mockery and grousing by city residents, who accused the Democrat of abandoning his duties as second-term mayor for the national spotlight. It was suspended within four months. Under the agreement, de Blasio must pay $100,000 immediately, followed by quarterly installments of nearly $15,000 for the next four years. If he misses a payment, he will be deemed in default and ordered to pay the full $475,000. The funds will eventually make their way back into the city treasury, according to a spokesperson for the Conflicts of Interest Board. An attorney for de Blasio, Andrew G. Celli Jr., declined to comment on the settlement. De Blasio had previously argued that forcing him to cover the cost of his security detail's travel violated his First Amendment rights by creating an 'unequal burden' between wealthy candidates and career public servants. Since leaving office in 2021, de Blasio has worked as a lecturer at multiple universities, most recently the University of Michigan, and delivered paid speeches in Italy.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio agrees to pay $330K for misusing public funds on failed White House bid
NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to pay $329,794 fine to settle an ethics board's complaint that he misspent public funds on his security detail during his brief, failed run for U.S. president. The deal, announced Wednesday by the city's Conflicts of Interest Board, is the costliest repayment order in the ethics board's history. But it allows de Blasio to avoid an even steeper penalty of $475,000 that was previously imposed, a reduction the board said came in light of the former mayor's 'financial situation.' In exchange, de Blasio agreed to drop his appeal of the board's finding. And for the first time, he admitted that he received written warning that his out-of-state security expenses could not legally be covered by city taxpayers. 'In contradiction of the written guidance I received from the Board, I did not reimburse the City for these expenses,' de Blasio wrote in the settlement, adding: 'I made a mistake and I deeply regret it.' The payments concern the $319,794.20 in travel-related expenses — including airfare, lodging, meals — that de Blasio's security detail incurred while accompanying him on trips across the country during his presidential campaign in 2019. He will also pay a $10,000 fine. The campaign elicited a mix of mockery and grousing by city residents, who accused the Democrat of abandoning his duties as second-term mayor for the national spotlight. It was suspended within four months. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Under the agreement, de Blasio must pay $100,000 immediately, followed by quarterly installments of nearly $15,000 for the next four years. If he misses a payment, he will be deemed in default and ordered to pay the full $475,000. The funds will eventually make their way back into the city treasury, according to a spokesperson for the Conflicts of Interest Board. An attorney for de Blasio, Andrew G. Celli Jr., declined to comment on the settlement. De Blasio had previously argued that forcing him to cover the cost of his security detail's travel violated his First Amendment rights by creating an 'unequal burden' between wealthy candidates and career public servants. Since leaving office in 2021, de Blasio has worked as a lecturer at multiple universities, most recently the University of Michigan, and delivered paid speeches in Italy.
