The nonprofit that is leading a so-called “grass-roots campaign” to support Mayor de Blasio’s universal pre-K plan was launched by three of his high-level campaign staffers, public records show.
The group, UPKNYC, is a coalition of citizens asking Albany to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to fund the mayor’s education initiatives.
The group was established by Bill Hyers, the mayor’s former campaign manager.
Its treasurer, Ross Offinger, is the mayor’s former campaign-finance director.
De Blasio’s former campaign consultant Stephanie Yazgi serves as its secretary.
Hilltop Public Solutions, the p.r. firm that formerly employed de Blasio senior adviser Rebecca Katz, is doing strategy for the UPKNYC campaign out of its Brooklyn office.
Dan Levitan, a spokesman at p.r. firm BerlinRosen, which is handling press, said, “UPKNYC is supported by thousands of grass-roots New Yorkers.
“Dozens of leaders from business, civil rights, academia, advocacy and the arts have joined our growing campaign committee.”
BerlinRosen is also handled communications for de Blasio’s campaign.
UPKNYC, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, was founded in early December as “Campaign for One New York,” and renamed UPKNYC on Dec. 31. Yoav Gonen