Liu fundraises on taxpayer time

From the Daily News:

City Controller John Liu likes to hit the fund-raising circuit in his free time, but he also powwows with campaign contributors during his work-day, the Daily News has learned.

A review of Liu’s public schedule for 2011 shows that he met with at least nine donors and moneymen while on the clock as the city’s top financial watchdog -- possibly breaking election laws.

Chapter 68 of the City Charter says city employees “may campaign only during their personal time and may not use their official city position to advance either their own candidacy or the candidacy of others.” But Liu, a likely mayoral candidate, penciled in work-time meetings with three bundlers - each within a month of them handing over thousands of dollars to his campaign.

Hugh Mo, a former NYPD deputy commissioner, had a tete-a-tete with Liu on Thusday, June 2, between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., records shows.

That was the same month Mo collected $2,700 for Liu from other donors.

When asked about the meeting, and whether campaign financing was discussed, Mo repeatedly said, “No comment.”

City Councilman Peter Koo gathered $7,200 from nine different donors between July 7 and July 11. Then he got together with Liu on Thursday, July 21, from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., records show.

State Assemblywoman Grace Meng, another a Liu bundler, was also at the July meeting. That month, she raised $4,000 from five different donors for the controller, records show.

Meng told the News she and Koo were at a press conference with Asian American media in which Liu thanked public officials for helping him get elected.

So calling press conferences to thank each other is now considered part of public service?