Crowley rejects developer money in Queens borough president race
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Elizabeth Crowley pledged to reject campaign contributions from developers in the race for Queens borough president. Photo by John McCarten via City Council/Flickr.
By David Brand
Former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley vowed to refund any contributions she receives from real estate developers as she continues to fundraise ahead of the March 24 special election for Queens borough president.
Crowley has raised $104,797.20 since July 15, according to the financial disclosure reports filed with the New York Campaign Finance Board. She has raised more than any other candidate in the race to replace Melinda Katz, who left Borough Hall after taking over as Queens district attorney.
“If someone said, ‘This one or that one has ties to real estate, I’d be happy to reimburse,’” Crowley told the Eagle. “Their $1,000 is less important to me than $150 from a regular person.”
Several candidates for borough president have already had to refund a hefty portion of their contributions because the NYCCFB capped contributions at $750 for candidates participating in the city’s matching funds program. Crowley and the other active candidates have each opted to participate in the 8-to-1 matching program. Crowley has reimbursed more than $20,000.
Crowley has received a significant number of campaign contributions from people in the construction industry, but she differentiated construction firms from real estate developers.
“Developers — the ones who buy the property or put the plan to build a skyscraper — their projects have to be OK’d by the borough president,” she said. Borough presidents make advisory recommendations on land use plans.
If she receives future contributions from developers she will refund them, she said.
Seven other candidates have filed petitions with the Board of Elections to appear on the special election ballot. The candidates include community advocate Everly Brown, Councilmember Costa Constantinides, police reform advocate Anthony Miranda, mapmaker Danniel Maio, former Queens prosecutor James Quinn, Councilmember Donovan Richards and businessperson Dao Yin.
Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who also declined to accept money from developers — and refunded past contributions following an August Daily News report — dropped out of the race Tuesday.
