David Greenfield has undeclared state campaign fund stuffed with real estate cash

Brooklyn City Council member David Greenfield has a separate state campaign account that allows him to raise money from companies barred under city rules from donating.

Greenfield, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Land Use, has $308,641.71 in a campaign account called “GreenfieldNY,” most of which came from real estate companies, the New York Observer reported. Greenfield hasn’t declared what state office he might pursue, though both the state account and his re-election account with the city, “Greenfield NYC,” are run by another City Council hopeful, Brooklyn political operative Kalman Yeger.

The New York City Campaign Finance Board bars donations from corporations, companies and law firms and limits individual and political action contributions to $2,750.

Thor Equities’ Joseph Sitt [TRDataCustom] is one of the biggest donors to the state account, having donated $10,000. Sitt has indicated that he will seek more zoning changes in order to move forward with developments in Coney Island and Red Hook. The Edelstein family, whose “Imperial Court Hotel” was fined thousands of dollars by the city for violating zoning laws, collectively donated $25,000 to Greenfield.

Yeger told the Observer that it “offensive” to suggest that the donations would in any way influence Greenfield’s decisions on the land use committee.

“It is not uncommon for candidates to establish a separate committee for a potential future race,” Yeger told the Observer. “This is normal, is permitted and anticipated by law, and this committee follows every legal requirement.” [NYO] — Kathryn Brenzel