The Weekly Watchdog
What’s the price of a Billy Joel concert ticket these days? A key to the City apparently!
Good morning! Happy Sunday. Lots of news surrounding anti-corruption and good government policy this week, from policy proposals to holding the powerful accountable to the Mayor’s race, we got it all. We hope you enjoy the latest installment of the Weekly Watchdog.
News Worth Clicking
| Open Primaries + Even Year Elections = Better Democracy 🗳 A Real New York Mayoral Election Vital City By Josh Greenman |
New York City may have its first truly competitive general election this fall with potentially five legitimate candidates on the ballot, but, as our friends at Vital City point out, that may be more of an anomaly than a new normal. If we want consistently competitive City elections and, thus, higher civic engagement, we need two changes, both of which are CU priorities: a top-two open primary system, which takes place on even years. |
| Whistleblowing encouraged Democrats want New York to reward whistleblowers reporting fraud Times Union By Raga Justin |
New York lawmakers introduced a bill that would financially reward whistleblowers if their report leads to a settlement or enforcement action. The bill, known as the GRIFT Act, is largely seen as a preparatory response to what some predict will be a lack of enforcement against financial crimes from the federal government. The bill has a long way to go, but it would not be the first of its kind in the country. |
| $1.6 million for a Council seat? 💰🏦 Wall Street Mogul Pours Additional $650K Into PAC Supporting Council Candidates The CITY By Jonathan Custodio |
The never-ending saga of Super PACs interfering with our local elections continues this year as many independent expenditure committees pour money into advertising for candidates (mostly for Mayor), flouting local campaign finance rules and distorting our elections, but even this Super PAC has us scratching our heads a little bit. Michael Jenkins has poured $1.6 million into a PAC that has supported only one candidate for City Council so far. That’s a lot of dough for a seat where spending limits cap out at $228,000 per campaign… |
| Staff vs Board at the CCRB This Eric Adams Appointee and NY Post Veteran Is Upending Police Oversight Hell Gate By Nick Pinto |
One week, we’re celebrating the progress in police misconduct discipline actions by the new NYPD commissioner, the next we’re finding out that it’s all a bit too rosy to be true. Over at the Civilian Complaint Review Board, the Board started rejecting more and more misconduct cases its staff recommends moving forward, with the difference spiking to roughly 50%, up from the typical 10%. The reason, according to Hell Gate? Two Board members, one appointed by Mayor Adams and the other appointed by then-Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. |
| Technically not wrong, but is it really right? Part ☝ NYC mayoral hopeful Adrienne Adams helped funnel more than $3M in taxpayer funds to Queens church, affiliated non-profits The New York Post By Will Bredderman |
City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams has seemingly appropriated over $3 million in government funds to her church and its non-profits according to the New York Post. As our friends at Reinvent Albany point out, it’s not actually illegal and is really just how government often runs, but does that mean it shouldn’t be fixed? |
| Technically not wrong, but is it really right? Part ✌ Adams took tickets to Knicks game, Billy Joel concert from MSG: docs New York Daily News By Chris Sommerfeldt |
One Adams uses loopholes to give perks to friends – the other, to get perks from friends. Last year, we now learn, Mayor Adams got free courtside tickets to a Knicks playoff game and a Billy Joel concert, worth thousands of dollars. Aren’t public officials not allowed to get gifts from entities with significant business interests with City, like Madison Square Garden? Well, not if it’s in connection with an “official action”. The action? Adams gave an interview about the Knicks’s importance to the city and a Key to the City to Joel. Super official! |
| Ranked Choice Voting gets going 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ Cuomo’s campaign spurned after seeking a cross-endorsement deal with rival Politico By Bill Mahoney |
s we hurdle towards our second mayoral election using Ranked Choice Voting, we’re starting to see candidates in local races put its benefits to work, albeit maybe unsuccessfully in this specific case. Apparently, former Governor and now mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo offered to partner with State Senator and fellow mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie to promote their candidacies, but Myrie spurned Cuomo’s offer and doubled down on his criticism of the former Governor instead. |
| What to watch for next week, specifically May 2nd 📃 Judge in Mayor Adams’ now dismissed case order documents released New York Daily News By Josephine Stratman |
That’s it from the Weekly Watchdog this week, but we can already see our headlines forming for next week. Apparently, Judge Dale Ho, who oversaw Mayor Eric Adams corruption case, is ordering documents from the case to be released this Friday, May 2nd. Those documents include, “search warrant materials, affidavits describing evidence and discovery indexes,” to name a few. |