Council Speaker Christine Quinn calls $1 million ad blitz by group of liberal opponents, New York City is Not for Sale 2013, a 'disgrace'
The mayoral candidate said the unlimited independent expenditure is not appropriate in a local race and blamed the ads on rival Bill de Blasio. The group brushed off claims the spending amounted to an attack on the campaign finance system.
Comments (13)By Erin Durkin / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, April 8, 2013, 9:33 PM
Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News
Council Speaker Christine Quinn has asked Time Warner Cable to pull the first ad over alleged distortions. The company has said it would investigate.
The mayoral race roared to life Monday when Council Speaker Christine Quinn
lashed out at a $1 million ad blitz by liberal groups trying to defeat
her, calling it an attack on the city’s campaign finance system.
Quinn then sent out an email headlined “What a disgrace," casting herself as a victim and asking for $10 donations to “fight back.”
Quinn said the unlimited independent expenditure by the group New York City is Not for Sale 2013 is “not appropriate” in a local race where the candidates are abiding by spending limits.
“I don’t care who the ad is about, I don’t care who the ad is from, we have no place for this type of independent expenditure in New York City’s campaign system,” she said. “I just hope this is the first and the last.”
RELATED: MAYORAL HOPEFUL CHRISTINE QUINN DUBBED 'POWER-HUNGRY POLITICIAN' IN AD ATTACK
The donors behind the ads brushed off her criticism.
“On issues that matter most to New Yorkers such as paid sick leave, living wages and term limits, her personal ambition drove Christine’s politically calculated actions,” said Arthur Cheliotes, head of Communications Workers of America Local 1180.
Cheliotes is behind the anti-Quinn group along with a wealthy businesswoman, Wendy Kelman Neu; a group that is trying to ban carriage horses, New Yorkers for Clean Livable and Safe Streets; and other donors the organizers refused to name.
Quinn’s campaign blamed the ads on rival Bill de Blasio, who has
received large donations from the co-founder of the anti-carriage horse
group, Steve Nislick, and Nislick’s wife. De Blasio also is the only
Democrat vowing to get rid of horse-drawn carriages.
RELATED: BILL DE BLASIO, CHRISTINE QUINN BUTT HEADS OVER COUNCIL PORK
“It is absolutely inappropriate for her to make allegations for which she has no proof,” de Blasio said, denying he had anything to do with the ads. “She’s nervous about my candidacy.”
Good-government groups warned such a large independent expenditure could trigger a flood of spending by outside groups on attack ads similar to what happened in the 2012 presidential race.
“Independent expenditure campaigns distort races, distort issues, and change the dynamic of a race in unwelcome ways,” said Dick Dadey of Citizens Union. “This is nasty national politics coming into our city.”
Quinn's campaign asked Time Warner Cable to yank the first ad in the blitz, contending it contains distortions. The cable company said it would investigate.
The ad blitz divided the labor movement. The Teamsters union, which represents horse carriage drivers, attacked the spending.
With Jennifer Fermino
edurkin@nydailynews.com
Quinn then sent out an email headlined “What a disgrace," casting herself as a victim and asking for $10 donations to “fight back.”
Quinn said the unlimited independent expenditure by the group New York City is Not for Sale 2013 is “not appropriate” in a local race where the candidates are abiding by spending limits.
“I don’t care who the ad is about, I don’t care who the ad is from, we have no place for this type of independent expenditure in New York City’s campaign system,” she said. “I just hope this is the first and the last.”
RELATED: MAYORAL HOPEFUL CHRISTINE QUINN DUBBED 'POWER-HUNGRY POLITICIAN' IN AD ATTACK
The donors behind the ads brushed off her criticism.
“On issues that matter most to New Yorkers such as paid sick leave, living wages and term limits, her personal ambition drove Christine’s politically calculated actions,” said Arthur Cheliotes, head of Communications Workers of America Local 1180.
Cheliotes is behind the anti-Quinn group along with a wealthy businesswoman, Wendy Kelman Neu; a group that is trying to ban carriage horses, New Yorkers for Clean Livable and Safe Streets; and other donors the organizers refused to name.
Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News
A Quinn opponent at a New York City is Not For Sale news conference outside City Hall on Monday. Government watchdogs have expressed concern that the spending could trigger a flood of cash into the city's mayoral race from outside groups.
RELATED: BILL DE BLASIO, CHRISTINE QUINN BUTT HEADS OVER COUNCIL PORK
“It is absolutely inappropriate for her to make allegations for which she has no proof,” de Blasio said, denying he had anything to do with the ads. “She’s nervous about my candidacy.”
Good-government groups warned such a large independent expenditure could trigger a flood of spending by outside groups on attack ads similar to what happened in the 2012 presidential race.
“Independent expenditure campaigns distort races, distort issues, and change the dynamic of a race in unwelcome ways,” said Dick Dadey of Citizens Union. “This is nasty national politics coming into our city.”
Quinn's campaign asked Time Warner Cable to yank the first ad in the blitz, contending it contains distortions. The cable company said it would investigate.
The ad blitz divided the labor movement. The Teamsters union, which represents horse carriage drivers, attacked the spending.
With Jennifer Fermino
edurkin@nydailynews.com
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