Letter To Bill De Blasio

September 9, 2009 Councilman Bill de Blasio Friends of Bill de Blasio 2009 320 Seventh Avenue, #278 Brooklyn, NY 11215 Dear Councilman de Blasio, I am writing about an issue that is of grave concern to all New Yorkers who believe in the integrity of New York City's campaign finance system, which is one of the best in the country and was designed to ensure clean and fair elections. The editorial boards of the New York Times, the Daily News, and the New York Post have all criticized your campaign's ties to third parties and their for-profit vendor, and questioned whether you are benefiting from below market services and over the limit contributions. The Times said that it “threatens to undermine” the campaign finance system. The Daily News called it an “election funding scam” and stated that third parties had “likely funneled big unreported contributions to candidates,” most prominently your campaign. In addition, the Campaign Finance Board has issued an unprecedented proactive warning to you and other campaigns about coordinated activity. But even in the face of all these questions, you have done nothing to explain your campaign's use of this vendor or disclose even basic information about the relationship, let alone address it, even when given the opportunity at last night's debate. In the interest of transparency and accountability, and providing a fair and even playing field as we enter the final week of the primary campaign, I request that your campaign: •

suspend its contract with vendor Data and Field Services (DFS) including canvassers, field staff, etc.

•

publicly release its previous contracts with DFS, including the contract for use of a targeted voter file that the campaign reportedly paid only $5,000 for when the fair market value has been estimated as at least $25,000 and could easily be tens of thousands of dollars more.

•

publicly release information on the number of DFS employees campaigning for you, their names, their salaries, and how much they've been paid to date.

•

disclose whether the campaign has in fact been contacted by the CFB about issues relating to DFS and publicly disclose any information and documentation that has been provided to the CFB.

34-12 36th Street, Suite 131 • Astoria, NY • 11106 • 718.706.5095 (P) • 212.937.2230 (F)

•

account for why it's legitimate for any third party to create and use a corporate front group when you stated at last night's debate that it would be wrong to create this exact type of entity.

It's incumbent on a candidate who wants to be the city's top government watchdog to hold himself and his campaign to a higher standard of transparency, disclosure and compliance with the law. Claiming that you have not yet been found in violation of the law is not good enough. I urge you to take this opportunity to act decisively, fully answer questions, and assure voters that you can be truly independent, as is demanded of any candidate who seeks to be the next Public Advocate. Sincerely yours,

Eric Gioia

34-12 36th Street, Suite 131 • Astoria, NY • 11106 • 718.706.5095 (P) • 212.937.2230 (F)