Mayor de Blasio has appointed his own donors to examine and reform the city’s campaign-finance laws.
Seven of the 15 people Hizzoner handpicked for his Charter Revision Commission have given him a total of $10,250 since his 2001 run for City Council, filings show. De Blasio’s campaigns got another $2,125 in taxpayer-financed matching funds because of the donations.
Three commission members even hosted fund-raisers for de Blasio in 2013. Exactly how much they made for him doesn’t have to be disclosed, but filings show about $775,000 in contributions was raised on the dates de Blasio’s campaign said those six fund-raisers were held.
The commission is tasked with reviewing the entire City Charter but with a focus on voting and campaign-finance issues.
De Blasio said in February that he would order the panel to propose a plan for “deep public financing of local elections.”
“Nothing restores the faith of a people more than getting big money out of politics,” said the mayor, whose administration has been dogged by scandals involving political fund-raising and alleged favors done for big-money benefactors. De Blasio has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Commission member John Siegal, a partner at the law firm BakerHostetler, shelled out $6,125 to de Blasio’s campaigns and hosted four fund-raisers for his 2013 mayoral run. De Blasio also appointed Siegal to the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Sharon Greenberger, a commission member who heads the YMCA of Greater New York, gave de Blasio $1,250. And member Una Clarke, a former city councilwoman, donated $1,100 and hosted a fund-raiser for de Blasio in October 2013.
Another member, Carlo Scissura, head of the New York Building Congress, donated $650 to de Blasio but also hosted a fund-raiser for him in October 2013.
“When fund-raisers are chosen for appointments, it can be perceived as rewarding donors instead of a decision strictly on qualifications,” said Alex Camarda, a senior policy adviser for the watchdog group Reinvent Albany.
Commission member Kyle Bragg, secretary-treasurer for the 32BJ SEIU, gave the mayor $250 personally. But his 163,000-strong property-service workers union donated $26,625 to de Blasio over the years.
“Donations can be a conflict, but I don’t think automatically they are,” said Eric Lane, who was executive director and counsel to the Charter Revision Commission from 1986 and 1989 under Mayor Ed Koch. “But back then, this hadn’t become the kind of issue it has with de Blasio.”
Restaurant owner Harendra Singh recently testified that he bribed de Blasio with political contributions and was encouraged by the mayor to use illegal “straw donors” to help political cronies — including Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, daughter of charter commission member Una Clarke. De Blasio has denied he was bribed.
The commission held its first organizational meeting Thursday and will soon have its first public meeting in Staten Island.
De Blasio wants its recommendations by September so proposed changes can go to voters in November.
The City Council is forming its own Charter Revision Commission with any possible changes going on the ballot in 2019.
The council’s commissioners will be chosen by the council speaker, public advocate, comptroller, borough presidents and de Blasio.
Unlike de Blasio’s commission, the council’s has no mandate to focus on campaign finance.
De Blasio’s spokeswoman, Freddi Goldstein, said the mayor was standing by his commission.
“These appointees have deep civic and philanthropic roots in our city. They represent a wide variety of communities and perspectives,” she said. “And the mayor has every confidence they will conduct a thorough and independent review of the charter.”