Latest news with #FixTheCity
Bloomberg
24-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Billionaires Boost Cuomo's Fundraising Lead in NYC Mayor's Race
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo expanded his commanding fundraising lead in the New York City mayoral race with help from a few billionaire donors, according to newly published numbers filed with the city's Campaign Finance Board. Cuomo has accumulated $3.9 million since his entry into the race on March 1, as well as another $9.1 million from a pro-Cuomo political action committee called 'Fix the City.' He's also leading by significant margins in multiple polls, with four weeks remaining until the June 24 Democratic primary.
Bloomberg
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Cuomo Improperly Coordinated with PAC on $600,000 Ad, NYC Board Says
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign improperly coordinated with an outside super PAC on a six-figure ad campaign, New York City's Campaign Finance Board said Monday. 'Fix the City,' a political action committee started by Cuomo supporters and former administration officials, spent $622,056 on an ad that appeared to have used materials provided by Cuomo's campaign for New York City mayor through its website, including videos and messaging, the board found.
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Cuomo Loses $622,000 in Campaign Funds for Coordinating With Super PAC
Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was denied more than $600,000 in public matching funds on Monday after the New York City Campaign Finance Board found that he likely engaged in illicit coordination with a super PAC supporting his campaign for mayor. Mr. Cuomo first aroused suspicion when he posted on his campaign website what looked to be a set of detailed spending instructions for anyone hoping to help. The super PAC, Fix the City, began airing an ad just days later that appeared to align with some of those requests, echoing themes and data points. The tactic in question, known as red-boxing, has become common in federal races as a way to circumvent anti-coordination rules. But the New York City campaign finance board has explicitly warned against it. Mr. Cuomo still received $1.5 million in public matching funds, though he had theoretically qualified for $2.1 million. But the board decided to withhold $622,056 — the amount that the super PAC paid for the ad — because it said there was 'reason to believe' that the television commercial was 'not independent of the Cuomo campaign.' Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Mr. Cuomo, said in a statement that the campaign would work to resolve the issue with the board. 'Our campaign has operated in full compliance with the campaign finance laws and rules, and everything on our website was reviewed and approved by our legal team in advance of publication,' he said, adding that other candidates had published similar information online. 'We look forward to making that clear when we respond to the board's preliminary ruling and receiving the full matching funds to which the campaign is entitled.' Mr. Cuomo leads in polls in the volatile mayor's race just six weeks ahead of the June 24 primary. Fix the City, which is being run by a longtime Cuomo loyalist who was once his right-hand man, has raised more than $7 million. Mr. Cuomo is running on a message of competence, but his campaign has made a series of mistakes. He was initially denied public matching funds last month. His campaign said that there had been a 'technical software error' that would be resolved quickly. Then, not long after Mr. Cuomo's campaign posted information on his website that appeared to be aimed at the super PAC, the Campaign Finance Board sent a warning to every city campaign about new rules limiting cooperation. Mr. Cuomo subsequently took down the web page containing the instructions late last week. A spokeswoman for Fix the City, which has defended its independence, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Zellnor Myrie, a Democratic mayoral candidate who called for an investigation into Mr. Cuomo's red box last week, said the conduct was consistent with earlier episodes in which Mr. Cuomo pushed the bounds of campaign finance or other ethics rules. 'As Donald Trump repeatedly undermines our judicial system, Democrats need a leader in City Hall who exemplifies integrity and will uphold the rule of law,' Mr. Myrie said. 'Not one who skirts the law for personal gain.' The board on Monday also voted to continue withholding millions of dollars in matching funds from Mayor Eric Adams over concerns about the fund-raising practices outlined in the federal corruption case against him. Even after the charges were dropped under pressure from the Trump administration, the campaign finance board has withheld the funds.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Following New York City lobbying push, DoorDash spends $1M on Cuomo's mayoral bid
NEW YORK — Online food delivery firm DoorDash recently gave $1 million to the super PAC boosting Democrat Andrew Cuomo's New York City mayoral bid — the single largest donation in the race. It follows the company's lobbying push last year, when it reported spending nearly $500,000 getting an audience with City Hall officials and lawmakers on a bill to let delivery platforms charge restaurants higher fees, among other issues. The seven-figure donation will give the pro-Cuomo group, Fix the City, more firepower to support the frontrunner ahead of the June 24 Democratic primary, which polls show he is heavily favored to win. The donation will be included in the super PAC's weekly filing on Monday. In addition to paying its own staff to lobby, DoorDash has hired several firms including Actum, which employs one of Cuomo's early endorsers — former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who is also on Fix the City's board. Diaz is on listed on DoorDash's lobbying disclosures through his work at Actum, but he and Actum Partner Michael McKeon said the ex-politician has never worked on behalf of the delivery company. DoorDash is regulated by state and city officials on issues like tipping workers and minimum wage requirements. The company previously signaled it would donate this year to 'pro-local economy' candidates in New York City and state-level New Jersey races. 'In recent years we've seen a wave of policies emerge from New York City that, while well-intentioned, have often had unintended consequences,' John Horton, the company's head of public policy for North America, said in a statement. 'These policies have made it harder for local businesses, Dashers, and consumers to thrive. We're committed to supporting leaders who prioritize practical, pro-local economy solutions that encourage growth and innovation. In New York's mayoral race, we believe Governor Cuomo represents the kind of leadership that can deliver on those goals." Fix the City has raised more than $8 million — and spent north of $3 million — since forming in March, largely from real estate executives and pro-Trump people like billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. The group is helmed by Steve Cohen, a longtime Cuomo confidant. 'We continue to be incredibly encouraged by the outpouring of support for Andrew Cuomo's candidacy from donors who share our belief that he is the mayor for this moment,' super PAC spokesperson Liz Benjamin said. Two of Cuomo's rivals have super PACs supporting their candidacies, but those groups are not expected to match the money being raised by Fix the City. A group backing Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's candidacy has reported raising less than $88,000; a super PAC aligned with former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer has yet to report any fundraising. Campaign finance regulators recently warned mayoral campaigns against coordinating with outside groups after Cuomo's campaign used a legal practice known as 'redboxing' to communicate his preferred communications strategy, POLITICO reported. The New York City Campaign Finance Board moved last year to tighten rules against passing messages between campaigns and super PACs. Cuomo's campaign and Fix the City have insisted they are following the law.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pro-Cuomo super PAC already raises $2.3 million from real-estate honchos, power players
A super PAC backing Andrew Cuomo's mayoral bid has already raised massive donations totaling $2.3 million — including from real-estate interests and big shots in the past week, new records reveal. Among the honchos who recently donated to the former governor's 'Fix The City' super PAC is billionaire Stephen Ross, founder and chairman of Related Companies, who kicked in $50,000. His firm developed Hudson Yards. He also owns the Miami Dolphins. Billionaire construction magnate John Fish also forked over $250,000, show records filed with the state Board of Elections. His New-England-based Suffolk Construction firm has a Big Apple office and worked on the renovation of the Waldorf Astoria, among other projects. Lawyer Joseph Belluck, who chairs the State University of New York Board of Trustees panel on charter schools, kicked in $100,000, as did RFR Holdings, a real-estate firm founded by Michael Fuchs and Aby Rosen. The Fix The City super PAC can raise an unlimited level of contributions as opposed to the campaigns of candidates, which can only collect a maximum of $2,100 from donors if they request public matching funds. Fix the City was created by close associates of Cuomo in the past few weeks. The Cuomo campaign and Fix The City are barred under the law from coordinating campaign activities. Another super PAC has been formed to support mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a lefty state assemblyman from Queens. The group is called New Yorkers for Lower Costs. It has yet to report any contributions. Mamdani on Monday said that with public matching funds, he has raised $8 million to back his campaign for City Hall, with lefties such as 'Sex and the City' actress Cynthia Nixon raising money for him. Government watchdog groups have griped that the Super Political Action Committees — known as independent expenditure groups — are an end-run around the campaign system. But they're legal under a controversial US Supreme Court ruling. New York City has strict limitations on donors who have business before the city. They can only donate $400 directly to a candidate. 'This is kryptonite for the city campaign finance system,' John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany,' said of the super PACS. 'These super PACs are a way to get around donation limits to candidates from people with business before the city. 'It allows pay to play,' he said. Super PACs in 2021 raised $7.8 million to support Eric Adams' successful mayoral election. Cuomo leads the Democratic primary field with 41% of the vote, followed by Mamdani with 18%, a poll conducted by Bradley Honan for the Tusk Strategy group found. City Comptroller Brad Lander gets 8% of the vote, followed by Adams with 6% support and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer and Speaker Adrienne Adams with 4% backing each, while. 15% of primary voters remain undecided.
