Jobs for NY Scorecard: PAC Underperforms $5 Million Investment ...
For Immediate Release September 12, 2013
Contact: Susan Lerner: 212-691-6421
Jobs for NY Scorecard: PAC Underperforms $5 Million Investment City Campaign Finance System Thwarts REBNY’s Effort to Buy City Council Elections NEW YORK, NY (09/12/13) – Due to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the 2013 primary elections in New York City experienced an onslaught of unprecedented spending from outside interests. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) established a Political Action Committee (PAC) called “Jobs for New York” (JFNY) and raised nearly $7.1 million. Jobs for New York raised its funds from just 25 REBNY member companies who used 121 different LLC’s and subsidiaries to circumvent New York State campaign contribution limits and donate an average of $277,400 each. In the City Council primaries, Jobs for New York spent nearly $5 million on mass mailings, flyers, phone banking, and advertising in 22 races. Jobs for New York spent $4.2 million on expenditures in support of its chosen candidates and $722,000 on expenditures attacking their opponents. Common Cause/NY has produced a scorecard of Jobs for New York’s attempt to influence the City Council elections. Although described by the press as an effort by the real estate industry to form a “counterweight” to the labor-backed Working Families Party (WFP), Jobs for New York actually supported the same candidates as the WFP in 13 of the 22 races. When Jobs for New York backed candidates opposed by the Working Families Party, Election Day yielded a low rate of return for the REBNY backed PAC. New York City’s campaign finance program, which provides public matching funds, allowed non-JFNY backed candidates to remain competitive despite being vastly outspent.
Fast Facts
In 6 races, JFNY opposed Working Families Party backed candidates. They spent an average of $316,000/race but only won two of the races, achieving a 33% success rate.
In 13 races, JFNY endorsed the same candidates as the WFP, spent an average of $206,000, with a success rate of 92%. There is one pending recount that might give them a 100% success rate.
The other 3 races include District 9 in Harlem, where Inez Dickens was backed by JFNY but WFP was neutral, the Republican primary in CD 50, and the race for CD 5 in which JFNY spent just $1,200 backing Micah Kellner’s unsuccessful campaign.
In 7 separate races JFNY spent over $300,000/campaign. Of their top investments, they won 2, lost 3, and 2 are headed to recount
“Thanks to the counterweight of the public matching system, City Council candidates were overwhelmingly able to communicate with voters despite REBNY’s best efforts to manipulate the discourse. In their top seven priority races, Jobs for New York spent over $2 million but failed to claim more than just two Election Day victories. That’s a terrible rate of return on a big investment, but good news for voters. The big winner this Election Day is the City’s campaign finance system which continues to amplify the voice of average New Yorkers.” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY. “The new crop of Council Members should commit themselves immediately to supporting legislation introduced by CM Lander which would further curtail the influence of big dollar special interests.”
Data & Analysis I. Jobs For New York vs. Working Families Party Jobs for New York’s excessive spending, by itself, was no guarantee of success. Where JFNY backed candidates were actively opposed by the Working Families Party and/or Progressive Caucus, JFNY’s success rate was a dismal 33%.
DISTRICT
CANDIDATE SUPPORTED BY JFNY
TOTAL JFNY SPENDING
OUTCOME
MARGIN
19
Vallone, Paul A
$369,785.28
RECOUNT
1.6%
27
Caughman, Manuel
$317,177.43
LOST
7.2%
38
Gonzalez, Sara M
$346,220.63
LOST
15.2%
37
Espinal, Jr., Rafael L
$217,536.78
WON
14.5%
47
Treyger, Mark
$311,412.49
WON
16.7%
48
Kagan, Ari
$333,932.34
LOST
3.3%
RESULT DETAILS Vallone leads by roughly 150 votes over Austin Shafran (WFP endorsed) with recount pending Daneek Miller (endorsed by WFP and Progressive Caucus) leads other candidates by roughly 400 votes, Caughman far behind in 4th place Carlos Mancheca (WFP endorsed) wins Incumbent Espinal defeats WFP and Progressive Caucus backed candidate Treyger defeats WFP backed candidate Both Kagan and the WFP and Progressive Caucus backed candidate Igor Oberman lose to Chaim Deutch
II. Candidates Backed by Both Jobs for New York and Working Families Party Thirteen candidates were backed by both JFNY and the WFP, 6 of whom were also backed by the Progressive Caucus. These candidates all won except Kirsten Foy (CD 36) who is currently behind in a recount. DISTRICT CANDIDATE SUPPORTED TOTAL SPENDING OUTCOME MARGIN 15.0% 15 Torres, Ritchie $377,867.42 WON 36
Foy, Kirsten J
07
Levine, Mark D
46
Maisel, Alan
1
Chin, Margaret S
35
Cumbo, Laurie A
22
Constantinides, Costa G
11
Cohen, Andrew J
16
$347,817.17 $294,164.29
RECOUNT WON
$284,163.38 $281,704.49
WON WON
18.6%
$256,714.55 $235,572.21
WON WON
9.4%
WON WON
35.6%
Gibson, Vanessa L
$221,588.13 $212,254.18
12
King, Andrew L
$47,082.23
WON
25.0%
24
Lancman, Rory I Richards, Donovan J
WON WON
40.6%
31
$41,779.91 $37,502.24
14
Cabrera, Fernando
$34,857.91
WON
50.2%
0.6% 23.5% 17.0% 33.7% 27.3%
15.2%
III. Top Seven Races Where Jobs for NY Spent Over $300,000 DISTRICT CANDIDATE SUPPORTED TOTAL SPENDING OUTCOME MARGIN 15.0% 15 Torres, Ritchie $377,867.42 WON 19
Vallone, Paul A
36
Foy, Kirsten J
38
Gonzalez, Sara M
48
$369,785.28 $347,817.17
RECOUNT RECOUNT
1.6%
LOST LOST
15.2%
Kagan, Ari
$346,220.63 $333,932.34
27
Caughman, Manuel
$317,177.43
LOST
7.2%
47
Treyger, Mark
$311,412.49
WON
16.7%
0.6% 3.3%
IV. Jobs For New York Donors
"Jobs For New York" Donor
Amount
Contribution Details
THE DURST ORGANIZATION THE RELATED COMPANIES
$637,500.00 $500,000.00
BROOKFIELD FINANCIAL PROPERTIES
$450,000.00
FISHER BROTHERS GLENWOOD MANAGEMENT JACK RESNICK & SONS
$425,000.00 $425,000.00 $425,000.00
RUDIN MANAGEMENT
$425,000.00
SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES
$425,000.00
SL GREEN TISHMAN SPEYER NEWMARK GRUBB KNIGHT FRANK JAMESTOWN PROPERTES TISHMAN CONSTRUCTION/TISHMAN HOTELS TWO TREES MANAGEMENT HIMMEL & MERINGOFF PROPERTIES
$425,000.00 $425,000.00 $420,000.00 $250,000.00
TF CORNERSTONE
$212,500.00
THE BRODSKY ORGANIZATION ROCKROSE DEVELOPMENT CORP L&L HOLDINGS THE WITKOFF GROUP VORNADO REALTY TRUST THE GOTHAM ORGANIZATION BFC PARTNERS STELLAR MANAGEMENT & CHETRIT GROUP
$187,500.00 $150,000.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $85,000.00 $25,000.00
7 contributions through 7 LLC's 6 contributions through 4 LLC's 4 contributions through 3 LLC's, 1 LP 4 contributions through 4 LP's 17 contributions through 17 LLC's 8 contributions through 8 LLC's 5 contributions through 1 LLC, 4 LP's 2 contributions through 2 individuals and 2 LLC's 3 contributions through 3 LLC's 6 contributions through 5 LLC's 28 contributions through 28 LLC's 1 contribution through 1 LP 2 contributions through 2 individuals and 1 LLC 2 contributions through 2 LLC's 15 contributions through 15 LLC's 2 contributions through 2 individuals 4 contributions through 4 LLC's 2 contributions through 2 LLC's 1 contribution through 1 LLC 1 contribution through 1 LLC 1 contribution through 1 LLC 4 contributions through 4 LLC's 1 contribution through 1 LLC
$25,000.00
1 contribution through 1 LLC
ATCO PROPERTIES
$5,000.00
1 contribution directly through corporation
$250,000.00 $250,000.00 $212,500.00
Additional Background In an August 26th Daily News op-ed Susan Lerner proposed that candidates commit to a “People’s Pledge” to reduce outside spending. She also called on the City Council to pass legislation introduced by Councilman Brad Lander which would require PACs to list their top five donors on all campaign advertising. Read the op-ed here: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/big-bucks-damage-democracyarticle-1.1439766
Contact: Susan Lerner: 212-691-6421
Jobs for NY Scorecard: PAC Underperforms $5 Million Investment City Campaign Finance System Thwarts REBNY’s Effort to Buy City Council Elections NEW YORK, NY (09/12/13) – Due to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the 2013 primary elections in New York City experienced an onslaught of unprecedented spending from outside interests. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) established a Political Action Committee (PAC) called “Jobs for New York” (JFNY) and raised nearly $7.1 million. Jobs for New York raised its funds from just 25 REBNY member companies who used 121 different LLC’s and subsidiaries to circumvent New York State campaign contribution limits and donate an average of $277,400 each. In the City Council primaries, Jobs for New York spent nearly $5 million on mass mailings, flyers, phone banking, and advertising in 22 races. Jobs for New York spent $4.2 million on expenditures in support of its chosen candidates and $722,000 on expenditures attacking their opponents. Common Cause/NY has produced a scorecard of Jobs for New York’s attempt to influence the City Council elections. Although described by the press as an effort by the real estate industry to form a “counterweight” to the labor-backed Working Families Party (WFP), Jobs for New York actually supported the same candidates as the WFP in 13 of the 22 races. When Jobs for New York backed candidates opposed by the Working Families Party, Election Day yielded a low rate of return for the REBNY backed PAC. New York City’s campaign finance program, which provides public matching funds, allowed non-JFNY backed candidates to remain competitive despite being vastly outspent.
Fast Facts
In 6 races, JFNY opposed Working Families Party backed candidates. They spent an average of $316,000/race but only won two of the races, achieving a 33% success rate.
In 13 races, JFNY endorsed the same candidates as the WFP, spent an average of $206,000, with a success rate of 92%. There is one pending recount that might give them a 100% success rate.
The other 3 races include District 9 in Harlem, where Inez Dickens was backed by JFNY but WFP was neutral, the Republican primary in CD 50, and the race for CD 5 in which JFNY spent just $1,200 backing Micah Kellner’s unsuccessful campaign.
In 7 separate races JFNY spent over $300,000/campaign. Of their top investments, they won 2, lost 3, and 2 are headed to recount
“Thanks to the counterweight of the public matching system, City Council candidates were overwhelmingly able to communicate with voters despite REBNY’s best efforts to manipulate the discourse. In their top seven priority races, Jobs for New York spent over $2 million but failed to claim more than just two Election Day victories. That’s a terrible rate of return on a big investment, but good news for voters. The big winner this Election Day is the City’s campaign finance system which continues to amplify the voice of average New Yorkers.” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY. “The new crop of Council Members should commit themselves immediately to supporting legislation introduced by CM Lander which would further curtail the influence of big dollar special interests.”
Data & Analysis I. Jobs For New York vs. Working Families Party Jobs for New York’s excessive spending, by itself, was no guarantee of success. Where JFNY backed candidates were actively opposed by the Working Families Party and/or Progressive Caucus, JFNY’s success rate was a dismal 33%.
DISTRICT
CANDIDATE SUPPORTED BY JFNY
TOTAL JFNY SPENDING
OUTCOME
MARGIN
19
Vallone, Paul A
$369,785.28
RECOUNT
1.6%
27
Caughman, Manuel
$317,177.43
LOST
7.2%
38
Gonzalez, Sara M
$346,220.63
LOST
15.2%
37
Espinal, Jr., Rafael L
$217,536.78
WON
14.5%
47
Treyger, Mark
$311,412.49
WON
16.7%
48
Kagan, Ari
$333,932.34
LOST
3.3%
RESULT DETAILS Vallone leads by roughly 150 votes over Austin Shafran (WFP endorsed) with recount pending Daneek Miller (endorsed by WFP and Progressive Caucus) leads other candidates by roughly 400 votes, Caughman far behind in 4th place Carlos Mancheca (WFP endorsed) wins Incumbent Espinal defeats WFP and Progressive Caucus backed candidate Treyger defeats WFP backed candidate Both Kagan and the WFP and Progressive Caucus backed candidate Igor Oberman lose to Chaim Deutch
II. Candidates Backed by Both Jobs for New York and Working Families Party Thirteen candidates were backed by both JFNY and the WFP, 6 of whom were also backed by the Progressive Caucus. These candidates all won except Kirsten Foy (CD 36) who is currently behind in a recount. DISTRICT CANDIDATE SUPPORTED TOTAL SPENDING OUTCOME MARGIN 15.0% 15 Torres, Ritchie $377,867.42 WON 36
Foy, Kirsten J
07
Levine, Mark D
46
Maisel, Alan
1
Chin, Margaret S
35
Cumbo, Laurie A
22
Constantinides, Costa G
11
Cohen, Andrew J
16
$347,817.17 $294,164.29
RECOUNT WON
$284,163.38 $281,704.49
WON WON
18.6%
$256,714.55 $235,572.21
WON WON
9.4%
WON WON
35.6%
Gibson, Vanessa L
$221,588.13 $212,254.18
12
King, Andrew L
$47,082.23
WON
25.0%
24
Lancman, Rory I Richards, Donovan J
WON WON
40.6%
31
$41,779.91 $37,502.24
14
Cabrera, Fernando
$34,857.91
WON
50.2%
0.6% 23.5% 17.0% 33.7% 27.3%
15.2%
III. Top Seven Races Where Jobs for NY Spent Over $300,000 DISTRICT CANDIDATE SUPPORTED TOTAL SPENDING OUTCOME MARGIN 15.0% 15 Torres, Ritchie $377,867.42 WON 19
Vallone, Paul A
36
Foy, Kirsten J
38
Gonzalez, Sara M
48
$369,785.28 $347,817.17
RECOUNT RECOUNT
1.6%
LOST LOST
15.2%
Kagan, Ari
$346,220.63 $333,932.34
27
Caughman, Manuel
$317,177.43
LOST
7.2%
47
Treyger, Mark
$311,412.49
WON
16.7%
0.6% 3.3%
IV. Jobs For New York Donors
"Jobs For New York" Donor
Amount
Contribution Details
THE DURST ORGANIZATION THE RELATED COMPANIES
$637,500.00 $500,000.00
BROOKFIELD FINANCIAL PROPERTIES
$450,000.00
FISHER BROTHERS GLENWOOD MANAGEMENT JACK RESNICK & SONS
$425,000.00 $425,000.00 $425,000.00
RUDIN MANAGEMENT
$425,000.00
SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES
$425,000.00
SL GREEN TISHMAN SPEYER NEWMARK GRUBB KNIGHT FRANK JAMESTOWN PROPERTES TISHMAN CONSTRUCTION/TISHMAN HOTELS TWO TREES MANAGEMENT HIMMEL & MERINGOFF PROPERTIES
$425,000.00 $425,000.00 $420,000.00 $250,000.00
TF CORNERSTONE
$212,500.00
THE BRODSKY ORGANIZATION ROCKROSE DEVELOPMENT CORP L&L HOLDINGS THE WITKOFF GROUP VORNADO REALTY TRUST THE GOTHAM ORGANIZATION BFC PARTNERS STELLAR MANAGEMENT & CHETRIT GROUP
$187,500.00 $150,000.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $85,000.00 $25,000.00
7 contributions through 7 LLC's 6 contributions through 4 LLC's 4 contributions through 3 LLC's, 1 LP 4 contributions through 4 LP's 17 contributions through 17 LLC's 8 contributions through 8 LLC's 5 contributions through 1 LLC, 4 LP's 2 contributions through 2 individuals and 2 LLC's 3 contributions through 3 LLC's 6 contributions through 5 LLC's 28 contributions through 28 LLC's 1 contribution through 1 LP 2 contributions through 2 individuals and 1 LLC 2 contributions through 2 LLC's 15 contributions through 15 LLC's 2 contributions through 2 individuals 4 contributions through 4 LLC's 2 contributions through 2 LLC's 1 contribution through 1 LLC 1 contribution through 1 LLC 1 contribution through 1 LLC 4 contributions through 4 LLC's 1 contribution through 1 LLC
$25,000.00
1 contribution through 1 LLC
ATCO PROPERTIES
$5,000.00
1 contribution directly through corporation
$250,000.00 $250,000.00 $212,500.00
Additional Background In an August 26th Daily News op-ed Susan Lerner proposed that candidates commit to a “People’s Pledge” to reduce outside spending. She also called on the City Council to pass legislation introduced by Councilman Brad Lander which would require PACs to list their top five donors on all campaign advertising. Read the op-ed here: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/big-bucks-damage-democracyarticle-1.1439766
