Lander disavows developer dough after 2017 campaign funded by NYC's biggest firms and lobbyists
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Councilmember Brad Lander is running for city comptroller. Photo by William Alatriste/City Council
By David Brand
Brad Lander is once again swearing off cash from developers and lobbyists as he vies to become city comptroller, just like he did in his 2009 and 2013 campaigns for council.
But the co-founder of the Progressive Caucus hasn’t always stuck to the purity pledges that informed those early campaigns: “Not paid for by PACs, corporate lobbyists or developers” his 2009 campaign website avowed; he repeated a version of the commitment in his 2013 reelection bid.
During the 2017 election cycle, however, Lander received more money from developers than all but two of his council colleagues, City Limits reported at the time. At least $10,500 came in from high-ranking officials at some of the city’s largest development firms, including Two Trees, Related Companies and Forest City Ratner.
In total, Lander took in $85,088 from contributors who violated the pledges he made in his first two council campaigns, including powerful lobbyists and the Real Estate Board of New York, according to a review of financial disclosure reports.
As he geared up for the comptroller run in 2018, Lander renewed his anti-influence peddling posture and again vowed to reject money from lobbyists, corporate PACs and developers. Still, he moved nearly $37,000 from the 2017 campaign into his 2021 account, disclosure reports show.
Betsy Gotbaum, the head of good government group Citizens Union and a former public advocate, said she found the shifting personal policies “irritating.”
“It is extremely hypocritical,” Gotbaum said. “If you’re going to say you’re not going to take money then don’t take it. That’s fine if you want to do that. I think it’s ridiculous, but if you’re going to do that, then do it.”
Lander has picked up endorsements from New York City’s leading progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, as he frames himself as the candidate furthest to the left in the crowded comptroller field.
“He’s not taking money from corporate PACs or lobbyists, or from for-profit real estate developers or landlords. That means he really needs the support of donors like you,” reads his latest fundraising appeal.
A campaign official acknowledged the 2017 election cycle contributions, but said Lander did not roll over any real estate money into his 2021 account and that he used some of the cash to fund the progressive group Get Organized BK.
He accepted the developer and lobbyist cash before agreeing to a campaign contribution pledge created by New York Communities for Change in 2018, the official said. Under that pledge, considered the standard for progressive pols, candidate vow to reject money from real estate and corporate PACs, developers and their spouses, and large landlords.
Campaign spokesperson Naomi Dann also said Lander has never accepted money from people with projects in Brooklyn’s Council District 39, and has returned money that violated the NYCC pledge this cycle.
“Throughout his decade in the city council, Brad has declined any contributions from developers or lobbyists with property in his district,” Dann said. “In 2018, Brad went further by committing to the New York Communities for Change pledge to reject all donations from for profit real estate developers, large landlords and their lobbyists — and has refunded any donations accordingly. Additionally, Brad continues to refuse donations from corporate PACs or lobbyists.”
