Four years ago, a socialist bartender named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shocked the political world by unseating Congressman Joe Crowley, Queens’ longtime Democratic party boss.
Now, the Crowley clan has a chance to get revenge.
Former City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, Joe’s cousin, is running for State Senate, and one of her primary opponents is Kristin Gonzalez, a Democratic Socialist backed by Ocasio-Cortez.
Campaign finance records show an ideologically heterodox coalition lining up to support Crowley, who has a big fundraising lead in the race, including at least $80,000 from registered Republicans, lobbyists, and people in the real estate industry.
Bradley Tusk, a former campaign manager for Republican Mayor Mike Bloomberg turned venture capitalist and political “fixer,” gave Crowley $7,500 (Tusk is a donor to THE CITY). Alfonse D’Amato, a pro-Trump Republican and the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a lobbying firm gave $2,500 to Crowley.
“I’ve known her personally and professionally for a long time,” D’Amato said in a statement. “We worked together on a television program. She is a good person.”
Crowley, a self-described “tenant advocate” who has pledged not to take money from “big real estate developers,” has, in fact, received a handful of contributions from big developers in addition to tens of thousands in donations from landlords and other real estate industry professionals.
James Pi, founder of Pi Capital Partners, one of New York City’s largest private real estate companies with over two billion dollars in assets it manages, controls or owns, contributed $5,000 to Crowley. H. Dale Hemmerdinger, chairman of Atco Properties & Management, which owns and manages more than 20 buildings and has previously been accused of “slumlord” tactics, gave $1,000 to Crowley.
Crowley did not respond to questions about whether she would return the money she received from the big real estate developers.
One Brooklyn landlord, who gave $2,000 to Crowley, said he hopes she “takes into account everybody, and not just [the] populist movement.”
“I think [there’s] an unfair picture being painted of bleeding, blood-sucking capitalists when 99 percent are just trying to do the right thing and give back to their communities,” he said, referring to real estate owners.
In a statement, Crowley, who has raised more than $500,000, said she is proud to have built a “strong coalition” of donors, volunteers, and labor unions, many of which have both contributed to and endorsed her campaign.
“As a single mom who has battled the hardships so many of our families are currently facing, I have the experience and will fight for a more affordable New York with better access to housing, transit and childcare,” said Crowley, a former union painter and the daughter of a big Irish family.
Asked for her response to other campaigns accusing her of breaking her pledge not to take big real estate money, Crowley continued: “It is clear that my opponent wants to only focus on the inside political track. Despite that—I’m not playing that game. The stakes are too high and voters at every door I visit are deeply concerned how we will improve their quality of life. That’s why I am running.”
15 comments:
Corporations are people too.
Long time political hack with no real values that last from one election to the next. People who don't like AOC may root for her, but any search of Crowley's political past will turn up nothing positive.
As Socrates so wisely stated centuries ago: "Know thyself".
I’m no big fan of Liz but most of these reporters are DSA. They are also Rodriguez cheerleaders.
They all write glowing pieces on their favorite progressives no matter the race.. TheCity, nytimes, CITY AND STATE, Gothamist are all as tight with the DSA as streetsblog is to TA.
It’s a shame.
Im outraged!!!
Lizzie, ditch the dark eye makeup. Much more beautiful.
She may have the money but the Irish can no longer sway the vote.
The Asians, Black and Hispanics and horde of white people the Crowley's pissed off will never vote for her. All the money and media help in the world wont fix that, one would need to seriously rig the election. Good luck with that because now those BOA people all have lawyers behind their backs watching every move and count.
$80,000 from registered Republicans, lobbyists, real estate industry.
“fixer,” gave Crowley $7,500
Triple those numbers and its still a drop in the bucket
It costs over $1 million dollars to get a song on a radio playlist.
Millions a week for political ---and thats per network !
Bloomberg spent $200 million, 10 years ago including owning his own news and radio network !!!
To get such Print, TV and radio support without $100 or $200 million Crowley would need support from the Mayors office of Media and that's not gonna happen because Crowley and her supporters are white people !!!
@"that's not gonna happen because Crowley and her supporters are white people !!!"
Wait a minnit! are you implying the current city hall administration is bigoted?
That's impossible, just out of the question. The administration is democrats, and we all know that democrats cannot be racist.
Al Damato backed Maloney against Bill Green in Brooklyn and Queens
Go AWAY dizzie lizzie!
No one wants you!
Disappear already!!!
Al Damato the pothole senator helped the people.
Lizzie needs to take better care of her liver
Where's Dan Halloran to boink her again?
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