Cop cash question splits campaigning Queens lawmakers ahead of Primary Day

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Black Lives Matter demonstrators march near the Unisphere earlier this month. AP PHOTO/SETH WENIG

Black Lives Matter demonstrators march near the Unisphere earlier this month. AP PHOTO/SETH WENIG

By David Brand

As the weeks leading up to the June 23 primary elections coincide with historic nationwide protests against racist police violence, a new issue has emerged for Queens elected officials running for re-election: What to do with campaign contributions from cops and correction unions.

Reject the money and risk alienating moderate and conservative voters? Keep the cash and face the fury of a powerful progressive movement led by New Yorkers of color? Or try to thread the needle and appeal to both sets of voters — without coming across as spineless?

Here’s where things stand for now, with four days to go before Election Day:

At least four state senators and four assemblymembers from Queens say they have redirected at least some campaign cash from law enforcement groups to nonprofit organizations and charities in the weeks following the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minnesota. 

Two other state senators said they would keep the money they had received, while a third did not respond to calls and emails. Four of the borough’s 17 assemblymembers — an 18th seat remains vacant — also said they would hold onto their cop campaign cash. 

With early voting already underway and law enforcement money emerging as a contentious issue, nine assemblymembers and one senator did not respond to phone calls, emails, texts and Twitter messages.

The movement to redirect the campaign contributions began after a 19-year-old Queens justice reform activist, Aaron Fernando, created a spreadsheet last month listing the amount of money that city and state elected officials have received from law enforcement political action committees and unions this campaign cycle. The groups include the New York City Police Benevolent Association, the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, the Detectives Endowment Association and various law enforcement political action committees.

Other local activists and progressive candidates took up the cause, calling on politicians to reject or redirect the money. A few Queens candidates have also signed onto a national “Say No to Money From Police” pledge.

Assemblymember Aravella Simotas was the first to announce she would redirect the money from law enforcement interests. Simotas is facing a tough primary challenge from Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate Zohran Mamdani. 

“It’s time to draw a CLEAR line in the sand,” Simotas tweeted Sunday, along with a video of NYPD officers beating and kicking demonstrators in Brooklyn. 

“I will be donating $5,350 I've received from police-affiliated groups for my reelection to the NYC bail fund and orgs working to end mass incarceration and help New Yorkers in communities of color survive police encounters.”

Queens Assemblymember Catalina Cruz seconded Simotas, pledging to donate the $1,000 she has received from law enforcement groups this cycle to charity. She is facing a primary challenge from Ramon Ramirez, a candidate aligned with the East Elmhurst Corona Democratic club.

A third Western Queens lawmaker, State Sen. Michael Gianaris, also pledged to give away the money he received from law enforcement groups to his current campaign committee. Gianaris faces a primary challenge from former Republican Iggy Terranova.

Though he has lately antagonized law enforcement interests by advocating for the total elimination of cash bail, Gianaris has received more than $115,000 from police and law enforcement groups since 2001, according to financial disclosure reports reviewed by the Eagle. He took in $18,650 this election cycle.

On June 3, Assemblymember Michael DenDekker pledged to give away a portion of the law enforcement money he has received in his first contested primary since taking office. 

A coalition of activists, including one of his four challengers, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, pressured DenDekker to refund or donate up to $22,000 in campaign contributions. Their advocacy included a march to DenDekker’s Jackson Heights office. He responded by announcing he would donate $13,000 to local charities.

“I care deeply about all of my neighbors, and I am tired of all the repeated injustices that have been perpetrated against People of Color, especially by police officers," DenDekker said. "I am committed to making significant changes to law enforcement so that illegal misconduct is properly punished and that the police are held accountable.”

Shortly after his announcement, the PBA sent an email to members rescinding their endorsement of DenDekker.

Next, State Sen. Jessica Ramos said she would send the $3,500 she received from police and correction officer unions to the Street Vendor Project.

Following these announcements, the Eagle reached out to every other state lawmaker in Queens to learn their position and plans for money from cop and correction interests.  

Photo courtesy of Toby Ann Stavisky’s Office

Photo courtesy of Toby Ann Stavisky’s Office

A spokesperson for State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky said she would send the $1,000 she received from police unions to the CUNY Law School Foundation.

State Sen. John Liu said he donated the $2,500 he received from the Correction Officers Benevolent Association to the Legal Aid Society. Liu’s Northeast Queens district includes the home of PBA President Pat Lynch, whose reactionary screeds have fueled backlash to the union’s campaign contributions. Liu said he understands Lynch’s brand of advocacy.

“I’ve known Pat for a long time, he’s a union leader, he needs to say what a union leader needs to say and do,” Liu said.

Meanwhile, New York’s Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, which boosts the campaigns of Democratic senate candidates across the state, has raised nearly $900,000 from law enforcement groups since 2011, the year Gianaris became chair, according to financial disclosure records.

In contrast to their Queens colleagues, State Sens. Joseph Addabbo and Leroy Comrie said they would keep the money from law enforcement.

“While I understand the basis for such an inquiry, respectfully I will not be returning duly recorded and legitimate donations previously made to my campaign from the NYC PBA or any other law enforcement union, since I believe these unions represent the vast majority of agents who perform an honest and trustworthy public service,” said Addabbo, who has received $8,450 from law enforcement groups this cycle.

Leroy Comrie. Photo via State Assembly

Leroy Comrie. Photo via State Assembly

Comrie, who has taken in $3,750 from law enforcement this session, said he strives to work with the PBA, despite the history of conservative politics and bitter resistance to change.

“I don’t believe in soup du jour,” Comrie said. “Alienating the PBA is not helpful. If anything we need to have larger, deeper conversations.”

“Can we make sure the PBA in general is a more responsible organization? That’s part of our challenge as well,” he continued. “It’s not going to be easy to change from a reactionary organization to a participatory one.”

State Sen. James Sanders did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking information for this story.

On the Assembly side, veteran lawmaker Jeff Aubry pledged to give $500 of the $1650 he has received from law enforcement groups this cycle to the East Elmhurst Corona Civic Association to assist with COVID-19 relief. 

“My record on criminal justice reform is unparalleled & I will not leave space for anyone to question who I am/what I believe,” Aubry tweeted June 4. He is facing a challenge from ex-State Sen. and Councilmember Hiram Monserrate, who was sent to prison for steering council funds to a nonprofit that used the money to assist his senate campaign. Monserrate was also convicted of a domestic violence-related misdemeanor.

Assemblymembers Stacey Pheffer Amato, Andrew Hevesi and David Weprin all said they would retain the law enforcement money.

“Law enforcement and first responders make up a huge portion of my constituency, and I’m proud to have their support throughout my years in office. Campaign contributions have never determined how I vote on a given piece of legislation,” said Pheffer Amato, who has received $1,850.

A spokesperson for Hevesi, who received $500, said he “won’t be returning campaign contributions because they are irrelevant to his decision making as a legislator and he sees this as a distraction from real issues where they can affect change.”

Weprin, who has received $6,800 from law enforcement this cycle, has faced pressure from his opponents for Assembly, district leader and judicial delegate — he holds all three positions — but said he saw no reason to give away the contributions. Weprin is running against Mahfuzul Islam and Albert Baldeo in Assembly District 24.

“People are trying to be symbolic, but I don’t see how abuses in other places should affect the NYPD,” he said. “Yes we’ve had abuses, but I’m not planning to give back union money that was legally obtained.”

Five assemblymembers who have received campaign contributions from law enforcement did not respond to emails, calls, texts and Twitter messages for this story. They are Assemblymembers Edward Braunstein ($4,000), Cathy Nolan ($2,850), Mike Miller ($2,500), Daniel Rosenthal ($1,000) and Nily Rozic ($750). Assemblymembers Brian Barnwell, Vivian Cook, Ron Kim and Clyde Vanel did not respond either.

Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, who received $500 from law enforcement, also said she plans to keep the money — but with a specific purpose in mind.

“I’m earmarking that money for buses down to the march on Washington August 28,” she said.