Latest news with #pro-Cuomo
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Campaign Finance Board's voter-guide fiasco errors are no laughing matter
A near-$7 million bungle by the city Campaign Finance Board is fresh sign that an outfit with huge power over city elections is in dire need of overhaul — if not elimination. The CFB's voter-outreach arm, NYC Votes, last month spent $6.85 million of taxpayer money mailing 3.5 million 'voter information' guides that were riddled with huge errors, from listing Mayor Eric Adams and four other non-candidates as on the ballot in the Democratic primary to falsely 'informing' the public about a Republican primary that doesn't exist. It also left out two entire City Council races. 'It's an interesting error from a system that demands absolute perfection from candidates, where a one letter typo can cost a campaign tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees or even removal from the ballot entirely,' fumed Corinne Fisher to PoliticoNY; she's one of the candidates the guide falsely lists as on the ballot. NYC Votes also managed to advertise the wrong date for the primary during at least four games at CitiField, Gothamist discovered. Maybe they think Mets fans shouldn't vote? Or maybe the CFB should adopt a slogan from Casey Stengel's verdict on the Amazins: 'Can't anybody here play this game?' The board says it'll mail out new guides with the correct info to all 3 million potential Democratic primary voters; we guess it won't worry about Republicans who rely on its bad info and head to the polls for a fictional race. All this would be easier to laugh at if the Campaign Finance Board didn't have such vast and unaccountable power over city campaigns. On Friday, it airily slammed the Andrew Cuomo campaign with a $675,000 penalty because it disapproves of the Cuomo website, following a $622,000 fine two weeks before over the same issue — namely, how an independent pro-Cuomo superPAC can use the site to figure out his chief issues. And of course the board has summarily refused to allow the mayor any matching funds at all, crippling his re-election campaign over federal charges that have now been permanently deep-sixed. Reminder: Back 2013, the CFB all but anointed Bill de Blasio the next mayor by denying funds to his most-similar competitor, John Liu. And in 2001, it imperiously declared that there would be no additional campaigning in the primary elections after they had to be rescheduled when the planes hit the towers on the original Primary Day — a completely arbitrary decision that was conceivably key to Mike Bloomberg's victory that November. If you're keeping score, that's two mayors out of the last three who arguably won thanks to this elected board whose decisions can at best be contested in court cases that won't be settled until long after any given Election Day — and it has already played a huge role in this year's contest, too. Yet it can't even produce a reliable voters' guide: Surely, the Charter Reform Commission should be at least looking at some proposal to oversee or eliminate the CFB and the entire corrupt 'public campaign finance' system? For the record: Primary Day is June 24, even for Mets fans.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bloomberg allies throw support behind Cuomo's NYC mayoral bid — as ex-gov smashes fundraising record
Well-heeled allies of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg are throwing their weight — and their deep pocketbooks — behind Andrew Cuomo in New York City's mayoral race, The Post has learned. Cuomo's campaign announced Friday that it raised a record $3.9 million — and a top source revealed the donors include the former mayor's daughter Emma Bloomberg, who gave the $2,100 maximum contribution to the ex-governor's political comeback bid. Bloomberg's right hand Kevin Sheekey, who ran the billionaire's 2020 presidential bid and is a top exec at his namesake media company, also donated to the Cuomo campaign's kitty, the source said. Thomas Secunda — the billionaire co-founder of Bloomberg LP — gave $40,000 to the pro-Cuomo super PAC Fix the City, according to the source. 'The donations show warmth from the Bloomberg orbit and Mike,' the source said. With anticipated public matching funds, Cuomo will have raised roughly $8.28 million since announcing his campaign on Feb. 28. The donations illustrate the growing sense of inevitability swirling around Cuomo's mayoral run, as well as Bloomberg's likely misgivings about Israel-bashing state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who has solidified a strong second-place standing in the Democratic primary race. Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Israel, to the point many Jewish activists consider antisemitic. The billionaire Bloomberg, by contrast, is a big backer of Israel. He recently donated $44 million to Israel's nonprofit medical service and this week visited the Charlotte R. Bloomberg Mother and Child Center, named after his mother, in Jerusalem. Cuomo holds a massive lead in the Democratic mayoral primary of 37%, with the Democratic socialist Mamdani behind with 18%, according to a recent poll. But Mamdani led among voters under age 45 — with 38% compared to 18% for Cuomo, according to the survey by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. The donations to Cuomo are also arguably a blow to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent as his political fortunes fell amid his now-dismissed federal corruption probe. Bloomberg, aside from some personal meetings with Adams, has largely steered clear of New York politics. The former mayor's financial network of loyalists is deep and wide, so it's likely other contributions will flow to Cuomo.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuomo claims he's hit $8 million cap for NYC mayoral primary, but matching funds could be at risk
NEW YORK — Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign said Friday the ex-governor has raked in enough donations to surpass the $8 million fundraising cap — but that math hinges on an anticipated disbursement of public matching funds that could be in jeopardy due to legal concerns related to a pro-Cuomo super PAC. According to a statement from Cuomo's campaign, he received $2.4 million in donations during the latest reporting period, spanning between March 14 and May 19. His detailed filing for the period, due Friday, wasn't immediately available, but that haul would mean Cuomo has raised a total of $3.9 million in private cash since his Feb. 28 mayoral campaign launch. Bill Mulrow, Cuomo's campaign chairman, said the private haul is enough for Cuomo to qualify for a $2.8 million public matching funds payout at next week's disbursement, adding to the $1.5 million he netted on May 12. Such an influx of public cash would push Cuomo's total war chest to $8.2 million, more than enough to get to the max $7.9 million mayoral candidates can spend on a primary campaign. 'We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,' Mulrow said. There is a potential obstacle to Cuomo's cash rally, though. On May 12, the city Campaign Finance Board withheld more than $620,000 in matching funds from Cuomo because Fix the City, a pro-Cuomo super PAC, had spent that amount of money on airing a television ad the CFB's members said they had 'reason to believe' was the product of illegal coordination between the PAC and Cuomo's campaign. By law, super PACs can raise and spend as much money as they want to boost a political campaign as long as they don't engage in any coordination with the candidate. Shortly after that finding, Fix the City spent another $675,000 on the same ad, raising the possibility the board could withhold more matching cash from Cuomo in the future. At the May 12 board meeting, CFB member Richard Davis said the ad amounted to an improper in-kind contribution to Cuomo and that it thereby would deduct whatever was spent on it from the matching funds the ex-gov qualifies for. 'The board's investigation into this matter is ongoing, and we will continue to evaluate the issue of improper coordination,' Davis added. Cuomo's campaign maintains the ad wasn't the product of illegal super PAC coordination and has said it will challenge the CFB's ruling. A CFB spokesman declined to comment Friday. The matching funds program is a big boon to mayoral candidates, as it matches any donations they get from city residents with taxpayer cash up to $250 at an 8:1 ratio. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 as he faced impeachment over sexual misconduct accusations he denies, continues to poll as the clear favorite to win the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, and a sizable campaign war chest will help him continue to air ads and otherwise get his message out. Fix the City, which is operated by a group of longtime Cuomo allies, has already raised another $9 million and spent nearly $5 million of it on Cuomo-boosting ads. Several other mayoral candidates say they have also reached the fundraising cap. Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has consistently polled as the runner-up to Cuomo, suspended fundraising in late March after becoming the first mayoral candidate to reach the spending cap. Earlier this week, City Comptroller Brad Lander announced he had also reached the spending cap with anticipated public matching funds factored in. Full fundraising filings for the latest stretch were due from all mayoral primary candidates Friday, though none had been released as of early afternoon. A key question heading into Friday's filing was whether City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams' mayoral campaign will have raised enough money from enough individual donors to qualify for matching funds. Earlier this week, the speaker's team said she had, but the Daily News also reported this month that her matching funds claims have been marred by a high rate of errors that could pose an issue for eligibility. If mayoral primary candidates don't qualify for matching funds in this stretch, they won't get another shot at getting them until June 20, just four days before the primary election. A fundraising filing was also due Friday from Mayor Eric Adams, who isn't running in the primary, as he dropped out of it last month amid fallout from the controversial dismissal of his corruption indictment. Adams is instead seeking reelection in November's general election as an independent candidate. ________
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuomo claims he's hit $8M cap for NYC mayoral primary, but matching funds could be at risk
Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign said Friday the ex-governor has raked in enough donations to surpass the $8 million fundraising cap — but that math hinges on an anticipated disbursement of public matching funds that could be in jeopardy due to legal concerns related to a pro-Cuomo super PAC. According to a statement from Cuomo's campaign, he received $2.4 million in donations during the latest reporting period, spanning between March 14 and May 19. His detailed filing for the period, due Friday, wasn't immediately available, but that haul would mean Cuomo has raised a total of $3.9 million in private cash since his Feb. 28 mayoral campaign launch. Bill Mulrow, Cuomo's campaign chairman, said the private haul is enough for Cuomo to qualify for a $2.8 million public matching funds payout at next week's disbursement, adding to the $1.5 million he netted on May 12. Such an influx of public cash would push Cuomo's total war chest to $8.2 million, more than enough to get to the max $7.9 million mayoral candidates can spend on a primary campaign. 'We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,' Mulrow said. There is a potential obstacle to Cuomo's cash rally, though. On May 12, the city Campaign Finance Board withheld more than $620,000 in matching funds from Cuomo because Fix the City, a pro-Cuomo super PAC, had spent that amount of money on airing a television ad the CFB's members said they had 'reason to believe' was the product of illegal coordination between the PAC and Cuomo's campaign. By law, super PACs can raise and spend as much money as they want to boost a political campaign as long as they don't engage in any coordination with the candidate. Shortly after that finding, Fix the City spent another $675,000 on the same ad, raising the possibility the board could withhold more matching cash from Cuomo in the future. At the May 12 board meeting, CFB member Richard Davis said the ad amounted to an improper in-kind contribution to Cuomo and that it thereby would deduct whatever was spent on it from the matching funds the ex-gov qualifies for. 'The board's investigation into this matter is ongoing, and we will continue to evaluate the issue of improper coordination,' Davis added. Cuomo's campaign maintains the ad wasn't the product of illegal super PAC coordination and has said it will challenge the CFB's ruling. A CFB spokesman declined to comment Friday. The matching funds program is a big boon to mayoral candidates, as it matches any donations they get from city residents with taxpayer cash up to $250 at an 8:1 ratio. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 as he faced impeachment over sexual misconduct accusations he denies, continues to poll as the clear favorite to win the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, and a sizable campaign war chest will help him continue to air ads and otherwise get his message out. Fix the City, which is operated by a group of longtime Cuomo allies, has already raised another $9 million and spent nearly $5 million of it on Cuomo-boosting ads. Several other mayoral candidates say they have also reached the fundraising cap. Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has consistently polled as the runner-up to Cuomo, suspended fundraising in late March after becoming the first mayoral candidate to reach the spending cap. Earlier this week, City Comptroller Brad Lander announced he had also reached the spending cap with anticipated public matching funds factored in. Full fundraising filings for the latest stretch were due from all mayoral primary candidates Friday, though none had been released as of early afternoon. A key question heading into Friday's filing was whether City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams' mayoral campaign will have raised enough money from enough individual donors to qualify for matching funds. Earlier this week, the speaker's team said she had, but the Daily News also reported this month that her matching funds claims have been marred by a high rate of errors that could pose an issue for eligibility. If mayoral primary candidates don't qualify for matching funds in this stretch, they won't get another shot at getting them until June 20, just four days before the primary election. A fundraising filing was also due Friday from Mayor Adams, who isn't running in the primary, as he dropped out of it last month amid fallout from the controversial dismissal of his corruption indictment. Adams is instead seeking reelection in November's general election as an independent candidate.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Bloomberg allies throw support behind Cuomo's NYC mayoral bid — as ex-gov announces $3.9M campaign fundraising haul
Well-heeled allies of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg are throwing their weight — and their deep pocketbooks — behind Andrew Cuomo in New York City's mayoral race, The Post has learned. Cuomo's campaign announced Friday that it raised a record $3.9 million — and a top source revealed the donors include the former mayor's daughter Emma Bloomberg, who gave the $2,100 maximum contribution to the ex-governor's political comeback bid. Bloomberg's right-hand Kevin Sheekey, who ran the billionaire's 2020 presidential bid and is a top exec at his namesake media company, also donated to the Cuomo campaign's kitty, the source said. Thomas Secunda — the billionaire co-founder of Bloomberg LP — gave $40,000 to the pro-Cuomo Super PAC Fix the City, according to the source. 'The donations show warmth from the Bloomberg orbit and Mike,' the source said. 3 Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has raised $3.9 million in his mayoral run, according to his campaign. Michael Nagle 3 Several of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's allies have donated to Cuomo. AP With anticipated public matching funds, Cuomo will have raised roughly $8.28 million since announcing his campaign on Feb 28. The donations illustrate the growing sense of inevitability swirling around Cuomo's mayoral run, as well as Bloomberg's likely misgivings about Israel-bashing state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who has solidified a strong second place standing in the Democratic primary race. Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Israel, to the point many Jewish activists consider antisemitic. The billionaire Bloomberg, by contrast, is a big backer of Israel. He recently donated $44 million to Israel's nonprofit medical service and this week visited the Charlotte R. Bloomberg Mother and Child Center, named after his mother, in Jerusalem. Cuomo holds a massive lead in the Democratic mayoral primary of 37%, with the Democratic socialist Mamdani behind with 18%, according to a recent poll. 3 Bloomberg allies' backing of Cuomo could be a bad sign for Mayor Eric Adams. Andrea Renault/ZUMA / But Mamdani led among voters under age 45 — with 38% compared to 18% for Cuomo, according to the survey by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. The donations to Cuomo are also arguably a blow to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent as his political fortunes fell amid his now-dismissed federal corruption probe. Bloomberg, aside from some personal meetings with Adams, has largely steered clear of New York politics. The former mayor's financial network of loyalists is deep and wide, so it's likely other contributions will flow to Cuomo.
