What did comptroller William (Bill) Thompson fail to qualify for in the race for NY mayor?”
The campaigns of Mayor Bloomberg and Controller William Thompson traded barbs Thursday about who failed to protect New York renters at the tail end of the real estate bubble. Bloomberg’s campaign accused Thompson of investing $86 million in city pension money with firms that bought affordable apartment buildings and hiked rents, forcing out longtime tenants. The investment came after employees of one of those firms, Fisher Brothers, gave $63,000 to Thompson’s campaigns. “The contrast couldn’t be clearer,” said Bloomberg spokesman Howard Wolfson. “Thompson has taken money from real estate interests and given them pension funds to invest in failed deals.” Yet the pension fund that made the investment was chaired by Bloomberg’s then Finance Commissioner, Martha Stark – who later resigned under an ethical cloud. “He’s trying to talk out of both sides of his mouth,” said Thompson campaign manager Eduardo Castell. “This was a good investment at a good time that had the full support of the ma
Bill Thompson is going up against a billionaire in the race for mayor, and he can’t even raise a few million. The comptroller has failed to qualify for the first round of coveted campaign matching dollars, according to the NYC Campaign Finance Board. That means when the first payments go out today, Thompson’s campaign will not receive a check for 1.5 million dollars. CFB spokesman Eric Friedman said Thompson was unable to document that he had raised the $250,000 in small donations needed to qualify for this round of matching dollars. But Friedman said it was likely Thompson would receive the money in the next round, due on August 20th. The CFB matches individual contributions of up to 175 dollars at a rate of 6 to 1. “I have all the confidence in the world that he will ultimately qualify for matching funds,” said Thompson.
Bill Thompson is going up against a billionaire in the race for mayor, and he can’t even raise a few million. The comptroller has failed to qualify for the first round of coveted campaign matching dollars, according to the NYC Campaign Finance Board. That means when the first payments go out today, Thompson’s campaign will not receive a check for 1.5 million dollars.
