Running Bill

From Attorney General Letitia James to Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, most New York officials are relying on private funds to attend the annual political summit. Two notable exceptions: the current governor and the current NYC mayor.
The mayor, who owes $435,000 to a law firm that lobbies the city, promised to repay the debt “over time” after citing the COVID crisis. Meanwhile, he’s still refusing to reimburse taxpayers $320,000 for his presidential campaign NYPD security.
The mayor, who’s eying a run for governor, will leave office with debts ranging from legal bills from probes of his fundraising tactics to his tab for using NYPD security during his short-lived presidential campaign, THE CITY’s examination found.
The mayor secretly asked whether taxpayers could pick up the tab for his police detail as he traversed the country — and was told no. He’s refusing to pony up, and has little campaign cash on hand as he flirts with a run for governor.
The mayor’s federal Fairness PAC may have violated the law by accepting a $123,000 donation from his presidential campaign.
The hotel plan, which dates to 2017, was approved days after Michael Cheng and associates brought in big bucks for de Blasio’s PAC, records show.
A nonpartisan watchdog group cites THE CITY’s reporting in FEC complaint charging the mayor flouted federal campaign donation and spending rules.
The Chelsea Hotel team, which needs approval for renovations, collected checks for the mayor from Barry Diller, Diane von Furstenberg and others.
The mayor’s federal and state political action committees have spent nearly $1.2 million — but only $200,000 went to other candidates or committees.
The historic hotel’s owners helped raise $57,400 for the mayor’s presidential campaign and PACs while trying for approval of overhaul tenants oppose.
The video was paid for by a state PAC the mayor used for fundraising and spending before his presidential run — an approach that’s raised questions.
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The mayor’s team set up the committee to help Democrats win election in New York. But it helped in the run-up to his campaign, records show.
While de Blasio make taxpayers foot the expense bills of the cops who follow him on campaign jaunts, Indiana’s Buttigieg picks up his own tab.
Taxpayers’ tab for the mayor’s security detail for presidential campaign travel started two months before his official announcement, records show.
When part of Manhattan was plunged into darkness, de Blasio’s publicly-funded NYPD security team had to book pricey last-minute rooms and flights.
The mayor and his wife’s NYPD security details have cost New Yorkers at least $100,000 in campaign travel so far, an analysis by THE CITY found.
The mayor of America’s biggest city touts accomplishments from Pre-K to policing as he readies for the campaign trail. Here’s how he’s delivered.
As he wages an expected presidential run, the mayor leaves some projects that are behind schedule or have deadlines looming. Here are seven to watch.
Check out some of the stories THE CITY has produced about Mayor Bill de Blasio’s fundraising and other issues that have drawn scrutiny.