A political nonprofit supporting Mayor Bill de Blasio – which took $1.1 million from real estate players – has apparently become more trouble than it’s worth.
The Campaign for One New York is set to shut down, with an announcement likely later this month, sources with knowledge of the group told the Wall Street Journal. The group has already ceased raising money.
The Campaign advocated for de Blasio initiatives such as universal pre-K, and paid for consultants and national travel expenses for the mayor.
It came under fire from ethics watchdogs who criticized the group for taking unlimited contributions from groups and individuals with business before the city, including a number of prominent real estate developers.
Two Trees Management CEO Jed Walentas, whose Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment was approved in 2014, gave $100,000 to the group. Toll Brothers City Living’s David von Spreckelsen gave the group $50,000, and Alexander Levin of Alexander Levin Development threw in another $90,000.
While the group has operated legally, the sustained criticism came to be seen by de Blasio administration as, sources told the Journal, especially in light of the upcoming mayoral election in 2017. [WSJ] – Ariel Stulberg