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Bill de Blasio’s Rough Start to the Week

It’s no secret that New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has gone a few rounds with the press over stories about shady connections and questionable fundraising practices. Coming off the Democratic presidential primary debates last week, de Blasio was greeted with headlines back home on Sunday and Monday calling his leadership into question. While the reports do not demonstrate – or even suggest – legal wrongdoing, government watchdogs still see cause for concern. “Mayor de Blasio is a walking ethical disaster. This should not be the example we set for national politics,” Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, told City & State via a spokeswoman.

De Blasio Campaign Finance Move Violated Federal Rules, Watchdog Claims

“The Mayor clearly took the wrong lesson from the earlier investigations into his campaign finance activities,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of good government group Common Cause – New York. “It was not an invitation to continue to skirt the spirit and intent of New York City campaign finance laws by expanding into violating federal laws.”

Voting & Elections 06.27.2019

Albany's Progressive Renaissance Skipped Campaign Finance Reform

“I think it’s really unfortunate the legislature was unable to address the campaign finance issues that are so apparent in our state,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, a good government group. “Even while striving for public financing of elections, there’s nothing that stops you from improving the campaign finance system, bit by bit.”

Money & Influence 07.12.2018

Attorney general urged to probe senator's use of nonprofit's housing

Common Cause Executive Director Susan Lerner cited Crain's findings that, according to campaign finance documents and other official records, Hamilton has used a residential building at 284 New York Ave. in Brooklyn belonging to the block association as the base of his political operations for more than a decade, in violation of zoning and occupancy rules.

Ethics 02.2.2015

Good Government Groups Call for Ethics and Rules Changes as Assembly Picks New Speaker

Today, representatives of New York's leading good government watchdog groups, the Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, the League of Women Voters and NYPIRG, responding to the disappointing process on display this past week leading to the selection of a new Assembly Speaker, urged the members of the Assembly to use this historic opportunity to pass long-overdue reforms that would transform how it conducts business.

Ethics 01.22.2015

Common Cause New York Statement on Arrest of Assembly Speaker

The arrest of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver by federal authorities for undisclosed income further reveals the crucial role the Moreland Commission played in bringing corruption in New York State government to light.

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