GERSONGATE: GERSON DENIED MATCHING FUNDS BY CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD

 

 A press release from Pete Gleason, candidate for City Council:

 

Sources at the New York City Campaign Finance Board confirmed today that incumbent City Councilmember Alan Gerson has not received matching funds. The funds have been held as part of part of an investigation into the Gerson campaign's illegal use  of taxpayer funded non-profits for campaign work.

 

After the Daily News first reported that Gerson's involvement in the quid pro quo arrangement with the United Jewish Council of the East Side, the newspaper called Gerson's scandal "a festering boil on the body politic - excessive coziness between nonprofit groups and the elected officials who sponsor them." Tying the scandal to State

Senator Pedro Espada's misuse of state funds, the article goes on to call for an investigation into Gerson's activities by Attorney General Cuomo.

 

"Alan Gerson has been indirectly relying on taxpayer money to fund his campaign, so it makes sense that the CFB would not further subsidize Gerson's incompetence," said Pete Gleason, a Civil Rights Attorney and former FDNY Firefighter challenging Gerson in next month's Democratic primary for Lower Manhattan's 1st City Council District.

 

Gerson has been widely criticized for his shoddy work performance during the campaign. Gleason has highlighted Gerson's failure to attend one quarter of City Council meetings and his continued acceptance of a $10,000 annual stipend for chairing a committee that has not held the required minimum number of hearings.

 

Pete Gleason has been endorsed by Fernando Ferrer, the Downtown Independent Democrats, New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU, AFL-CIO and The New York Community Council is widely seen as a frontrunner in the race.