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It's not easy running free of real estate donations
CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER COREY JOHNSON began fundraising for his potential 2021 mayoral bid Jan. 28 with a striking pledge: He would not accept any donations from real estate. Not even the most liberal city lawmakers have managed to reject entirely the money from property interests.
Crain's recently exposed how two public advocate contenders, ex-City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams, falsely claimed not to have received real estate donations. Even progressive crusader Zephyr Teachout took money from L&M Development Partners' Ron Moelis during her failed bid for state attorney general last year.
Crain'sdiscovered in 2017 that Johnson himself accepted $63,000 from property interests while seeking the speakership two years ago. Those close to him said he wanted to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, given that the council wields enormous influence over zoning and land-use matters. But Johnson is not eschewing donations from powerful buildings and hotels unions that also often seek favorable policies.
More likely, Johnson is trying to draw on the insurgent spirit that helped Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unseat Queens Democratic boss Joseph...