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Removal of Last Primary Opponent Could Cost Malliotakis


malliotakis campaigning 
GOP mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis (photo: @NMalliotakis)


After Michel Faulkner shifted his mayoral campaign to one for comptroller and real estate executive Paul Massey suspended his altogether, State Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis' campaign began referring to her as "the presumptive Republican nomee in the race for Mayor." Still, the only thing standing between Malliotakis and the GOP nomination was wealthy businessman Rocky De La Fuente, a candidate who recently relocated from California.

That hurdle was removed on Tuesday, when the city’s Board of Elections (BOE) ruled against De La Fuente after two Malliotakis supporters, Bryan Jung and James Thomson, filed objections against his ballot petition signatures with the blessing of the Malliotakis campaign. The objectors contended that hundreds of the candidate’s signatures were forged, and the board agreed.

While it cleared the field, the move may have created a different kind of hurdle for the presumptive GOP nominee, who expects to face off against the winner of the September 12 Democratic primary, likely incumbent mayor Bill de Blasio.

Though she has previously called it a waste of taxpayer money, Malliotakis is a participant in the city’s public matching funds program (she's said she's still against it but must participate if her opponents are). The initiative, run by the Campaign Finance Board (CFB), matches individual donations of up to $175 at a six-to-one ration for candidates that meet certain criteria and agree to restrictions on spending and debate participation. One criteria to receive funds is that a candidate must be in a competitive election; with the exclusion of De La Fuente from the GOP primary, Malliotakis’ camp has essentially disqualified itself from receiving any public funds before primary day.

On Thursday, the CFB voted to approve the disbursement of about $2.57 million in matching funds to de Blasio after he somewhat controversially submitted a statement of need arguing that his main Democratic opposition – former City Council Member Sal Albanese and police reform activist Bob Gangi – constituted more than just minimal opposition, based largely on media exposure. Until such a statement is approved, a candidate can receive up to 25% of the maximum allowable payments per race, which for mayoral races is a little over $958,000 of the possible $3,832,950 in funds, as long as they have some competition.

The public funds haul leaves the mayor with over $5 million on hand. After the primary election, he is eligible to receive up to another $3.83 million in public funds if he can likewise prove that the race will be competitive and raise more matchable donations. De Blasio can now reasonably spend a good deal of money in the primary to get his message out.

Malliotakis actually also submitted a similar statement of need to the CFB in which she lists De La Fuente as her opposition, incorrectly arguing that he is a non-participant in the matching funds program and that he intends to self-finance his campaign. In fact, the CFB’s records list De La Fuente as being a participant in the program, meaning that he would be held to the same thresholds and standards that Malliotakis would.

A Gotham Gazette analysis found that Malliotakis has raised about $140,000 in funds eligible for public matching – contributions by individuals living in the city of which up to $175 is counted – out of the $250,000 necessary to qualify for the program. This means that even in a contested primary election she would still be ineligible to receive public funds for now.

Matt Sollars, a spokesperson for the CFB, confirmed that even if Malliotakis does manage to raise enough funds to hit the threshold before September 12, the lack of a primary opponent will bar her from receiving the potentially millions of dollars that she would otherwise be entitled to. That fact raises the question of whether it was smart for her allies to move to knock De La Fuente off the ballot, given that Malliotakis would have been a strong favorite to defeat him in the primary. She also forgoes the exposure that one or two primary debates would have brought. It does, however, allow her to focus on raising money to use only for touting her candidacy and attacking de Blasio. And, Malliotakis has been able to garner significant media exposure thus far by identifying a variety of points on which to criticize de Blasio.

While de Blasio has all that extra money to spend, he will be debating Albanese and possibly others at least once, if not twice, both offering him a platform to reach voters and putting him in a high-profile venue for criticism and possible gaffe-making.

Once they have qualified, candidates for mayor are able to receive up to $3,832,950 for both the primary election and the general election; once they have raised the necessary $250,000 in eligible donations from at least 1,000 city residents, they are qualified for both elections as long as they have opposition. They are not required to spend all of their primary election funds in order to receive general election funds, and in fact are barred from spending more than $6,969,000 per election.

As of the mid-July campaign finance filing, Malliotakis had raised a total of $344,421, with $275,324 available to spend after expenses. Her next filing, due mid-August, will shed light on whether she has been able to pick up the fundraising pace and how close she is to qualifying for matching funds. In a statement at the time of the July filing, Malliotakis campaign spokesperson Rob Ryan said, "In a little more than two months the Malliotakis campaign has raised nearly $350,000. We are meeting our projections and expect to qualify for the Campaign Finance Board’s matching fund program in the next fundraising period. That means Bill de Blasio will be facing a competitive challenger on Election Day."

In a phone conversation, De La Fuente said that he does not intend to appeal the BOE’s finding. Even if there was a ruling in his favor, he would be added to the ballot just before the primary, a situation he likened to running a race where your competitor starts near the finish line. Instead, he said he was in the process of compiling evidence of what he called Malliotakis’ “fraud” and would be posting it online as well as sending it to the state attorney general for investigation.

Ryan, the spokesperson for the Malliotakis campaign, told Gotham Gazette, “It didn’t make political, financial, or strategic sense to be involved in a primary if one didn’t have to.”

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by Felipe De La Hoz, Gotham Gazette
     

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What's The [DATA] Point? 2008


whats the data point


What's The Data Point? Episode 7 -- 2008, [You can download What's The Data Point? wherever you get your podcasts, including on iTunes]

For this episode of the podcast we spoke with John Breit, a CBC Trustee, PhD Physicist, and former risk adviser to Merrill Lynch and the New York City Comptroller’s Office for the pension funds. Breit had a front row view of the economic collapse of 2008 and is an expert on the city's pension system, which is an essential piece of the city's fiscal health. In our discussion, Breit helps explain the problems with the city's pension system, the major liabilities involved, and more. It's a complicated topic that New Yorkers should know about, whether you are a current or former public employee, or not.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think: Ben Max of GG (@TweetBenMax), Maria Doulis (@MariaDoulis) of CBC, and special guest John Breit, a trustee of CBC (@cbcny):

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by Ben Max, Gotham Gazette
     

Read more by this writer.

Queens Council Primary Pits Assembly Member Versus Disgraced Former Rep


 Francisco Moya City Council

Francisco Moya (photo via Moya's Facebook)


Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, City Council Member for District 21 in Queens and chair of the powerful finance committee, shook up city politics in June when she announced she would not be running for re-election. Now, with her seat up for grabs and several potential candidates removed from the ballot by the Board of Elections, there is a dramatic head-to-head Democratic primary matchup to fill the City Council seat.

The contest is between State Assemblymember Francisco Moya and Hiram Monserrate, a former City Council member and state senator who spent time in prison after being convicted on fraud charges. This, after he was expelled from the Senate after slashing his girlfriend’s face.

Moya has quickly secured the backing of the Queens Democratic Party establishment and many labor unions and advocacy groups, but Monserrate has strong name recognition in the district, which includes Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights.

Key issues in the race include Monserrate’s history, as well as Moya’s work in Albany, and district issues like affordable housing, development -- especially in Willets Point, education, small businesses, and opportunities and protections for immigrant communities.

“For the last seven years, I have worked tirelessly in Albany to stand up for working families in Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and across this city,” Moya said in a campaign statement. “I have seen the challenges we face in providing a quality public school education to our children, encouraging the small businesses that drive economic growth in Queens, and standing up for the rights of immigrants, women and members of the LGBTQ community at a time of mass deportations, fear and Donald Trump.”

Moya has unsuccessfully pushed the Dream Act in Albany, legislation that would expand state college tuition assistance to undocumented immigrants and their children. The Council district has a very large immigrant population and many Spanish speakers.

As of the mid-July campaign finance filings, Moya had raised $111,473 for his campaign. He has received endorsements from unions including 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, the Hotel Trades Council (NYHTC AFL-CIO), and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). He has also been endorsed by Public Advocate Letitia James and the Queens Democratic Party, led by Congressional Rep. Joe Crowley.

In comparison, Monserrate had raised only about $30,000. Bertha Lewis, the president of the Black Institute and the Black Leadership Action Coalition (BLAC), a non-profit organization that works to shape public policy, recently endorsed Monserrate, reportedly due to his policy position on Willets Point, which he wants to transform into affordable housing (he attempted to move a deal on Willets Point the last time he was in the Council, according to the Village Voice).

Willets Point is an area known for its industrial sites that has been undergoing redevelopment since 2011. Many of the auto-shops and small businesses in the area have been shut down and are to be replaced by a hotel, a convention center, a large parking lot, a mall, and a number of housing units. The plan has faced criticism and multiple lawsuits for killing local businesses and failing to provide adequate affordable housing. In June, the New York Supreme Court ruled that the proposed construction of the mall could not be built on city parkland. The future of the area is unclear.

Both Monserrate and Moya have expressed opposition against the redevelopment plan and have called for the Willets Point land in question to be turned into affordable housing.

“I look forward to continuing the tremendous efforts of Council Member Ferreras-Copeland, and fighting for the progressive values that define our city,” Moya said in his campaign statement. “We know all too well how corruption and a lack of accountability can harm our community, and the last thing we need is to follow Council Member Ferreras-Copeland's tenure with the kind of failed leadership of the past.”

His reference to corruption was clearly aimed at Monserrate, who was removed from the state Senate in 2010 for his fraud conviction over misusing city funds for his Senate campaign. There is also video footage of Monserrate dragging his girlfriend by her hair through his apartment building in 2008.

Ferreras-Copeland, the outgoing Council member, served as chief of staff to Monserrate in the past, but came to distance herself from him, and the two became embroiled in controversy as Monserrate appeared to seek revenge. Moya previously defeated Monserrate in the 2010 primary for the District 59 Assembly seat. Monserrate also recently lost a 2016 district leader race.

In a statement to Gotham Gazette regarding why he decided to attempt another comeback in elected politics, Monserrate said, “My decision to run stems from one very simple thing: I love my community and district. My love for my community led me to serve as city councilman and state senator and it compels me to run for City Council once again. Our community faces difficult challenges and these challenges require strong and proven leadership.”

When previously asked about the controversy surrounding his assault charges, Monserrate said in a NY1 interview, “My mistakes are now in my past, several years ago. I have moved on.”

While Moya has received a variety of endorsements from elected officials and groups, there has not been a large show of force against Monserrate, with elected officials denouncing his candidacy. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said in a statement that Monserrate “has absolutely no business running for City Council” and called him “violent” and “corrupt.”

Cristina Furlong, an activist and the founder of a community organization called Make Queens Safer that aims to secure neighborhood streets, attempted to run in the primary as well, but her ballot signatures were ruled invalid on August 1. She had told Gotham Gazette that Monserrate “has an unrealistic platform. He’s running on the idea that we can fix Willets Point to make it affordable housing, and I think that people who are committed voters who are going to turn out on September 12 need to understand what’s realistic for our district.”

Furlong said, “I’m not a career politician” and that an outsider’s voice was important. She recognized the challenge of raising money for a competitive race against Moya and Monserrate.

Both Moya and Monserrate have stated they want to bring 100 percent affordable housing to Willets Point. Moya has said 33 percent of the units should be made affordable for low-income individuals making $25,000 or less. He has suggested forming a community advisory council to give residents a say in its development. Moya is also calling for greater funding for renovations at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and the creation of a “World’s Borough Market” modeled after the Essex Street Market on the Lower East Side and La Marqueta in East Harlem, which he says would support local vendors and businesses. Of all of the businesses in the area, he would like 65 percent of them to be owned by women or minorities.

Monserrate has not put forward a campaign policy agenda. His website touts “a lifetime of service and delivering for our community,” and past accomplishments.

Walking around Corona in late July, you would not necessarily know there is a contested election just a few weeks away. Aziz, who has managed Dream Pizza, a local pizzeria, for almost 30 years, spoke with Gotham Gazette about the issues he sees in the community. He said, “Everything is too expensive, especially rent and the taxes. Everybody complains about it. Business is not like it used to be.” Aziz said he is also concerned with the availability of good jobs. He didn’t indicate he was aware of the City Council election in September until prompted by Gotham Gazette.

Sam, who runs Game Star Communication, Inc., a local video game and electronics store also located in District 21, echoed similar sentiments, and said, “Small businesses are dying now. Internet business has hurt us a lot. The internet prices are sometimes lower than my prices, but they [online businesses] aren’t paying rent or property tax. They don’t have to pay employees like we do.”

Sam then paused, clicked his tongue, and said, “What are we going to do? We have to go vote.”

[For more on this contest, read Ross Barkan’s story on the race in the Village Voice]



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