N.Y. Watchdog Seeks Review of de Blasio Ties to Nonprofits

A government watchdog group has filed a complaint with New York City elections officials requesting an inquiry into Mayor Bill de Blasio’s relationship with nonprofits backing his administration’s agenda, The New York Times reports. A number of such groups, most notably the Campaign for One New York, have sprung up during Mr. de Blasio’s tenure to support his policy goals in areas such as public education and affordable housing.

City electoral regulations strictly limit direct campaign contributions by people doing business with the city and ban donations from corporations, but these rules do not apply to gifts to nonprofits. The Campaign for One New York has received, and voluntarily disclosed, six-figure gifts from unions and from companies engaged in city business. In a letter Monday to the city Campaign Finance Board, Common Cause New York said such giving runs afoul of the campaign-finance rules. Mr. de Blasio said the advocacy group’s fundraising and spending have been done properly.