The city’s Campaign Finance Board is expected Wednesday to take up the question of whether nonprofits aligned with Mayor de Blasio have circumvented campaign fund-raising and spending rules.
The Campaign for One New York, which is under investigation by the feds and Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr., has raised more than $4 million since 2014. It is now inactive.
In February, Common Cause asked the CFB and the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board to review de Blasio’s “unprecedented” use of nonprofits to advance his agenda, arguing that they “spawned a shadow government.”
Unlike traditional campaign accounts, “issue-oriented” nonprofits have no limits on how much money they can collect and spend.
The mayor’s critics say the nonprofits’ spending should be counted toward his campaign expenditures in the 2017 election.
“Mayor de Blasio has skirted the limits previously imposed by the board, which is why last month we urged them to look into the mayor’s questionable campaign finances,” said Bradley Tusk, a political consultant trying to unseat de Blasio.
“We are hopeful the board will reach a decision that will protect the integrity of the system.”
The CFB released an agenda Tuesday saying it would take up “the matter of Campaign for One New York and United for Affordable NYC” and candidates cooperating with “issue advocacy” organizations.