Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
VIAFAXto518-474-8322
February16,2011MitraHormoziChair,NYSCommissiononPublicIntegrity540BroadwayAlbany,NewYork12207
Re:InvestigationoftheCommitteetoSaveNewYork&GovernorCuomo
DearMs.Hormozi:TheundersignedorganizationsherebysubmitthiscomplaintrequestingthattheCommissiononPublicIntegrity(the“Commission”)preparetoundertakeaninvestigationintotheconnectionbetweenTheCommitteetoSaveNewYork(“CSNY”,orthe“Committee”)andtheofficeofGovernorAndrewCuomo.
WebelievetheCommitteetoSaveNewYork
--whichisinextricablylinkedtotheGovernor’sofficethroughpersonalandprofessionalrelationships,whichwasestablishedatthe“urging”ofthegovernorhimself,whichhasreportedlyraisedmorethantenmilliondollars($10,000,000)tospendontelevisionadvertisementsinexplicitsupportoftheGovernor’sbudgetproposalsthatarecurrentlybeforethestatelegislature,which,weoutlinebelow,didnotregisterasalobbyistwiththeCommissioninamannercompliantwiththeCommission’srulesandtheStateLobbyingAct,andwhichshouldbeexpectedtofirstreportonthoseexpendituresbytheMarch15,2011bi-monthlyreportingdeadline--
shouldberequiredtolistGovernorCuomoonitslobbyingregistrationasathirdpartyonwhosebehalfitislobbying.
UndertheCommission’sauthoritygrantedtoitbytheNewYorkStateLobbyingActcreatedbyChapter2oftheLawsof1999,asamendedbyChapter62,oftheLawsof2003,Chapter1oftheLawsof2005,andasamendedmostrecentlybyChapter14oftheLawsof2007,theCommitteeshouldberequiredtoregisterasalobbyistlistingthemselvesasaclient.Thatregistrationformrequiresregistrantstostatethatifa"clienthasretained,employedordesignatedthelobbyist...tolobbyonathirdparty'sbehalf,[theymust]completethethirdpartiesnameaddressandphonenumber[onthestatementofregistration].”
ItisourunderstandingthatTheCommitteetoSaveNewYork,actingasbothaclientanditsownlobbyist,wasnon-compliantwithitsregistrationrequirementsunderthestateLobbyingLawandundertheCommission’srules.Further,itisourunderstandingthattheCommitteeisintendingtolobbyonthebehalfofathirdparty--namely,GovernorAndrewCuomo--andthereforemustincludetheGovernor’sname,address,andphonenumberontheCommittee’sstatementofregistration.
 
CSNYisinextricablylinkedtotheGovernor’sofficethroughpersonalandprofessionalrelationships
TheCommitteehasutilizedarangeofhiredguns,includingEricSedlerofASGKPublicStrategies,“thefirmfoundedbyDavidAxelrod,untilrecentlyaWhiteHouseadviser”tohelpcraftitsmessage.
1
TheprimaryspokesmandeliveringthatmessagefortheCommitteeisWilliam“Bill”Cunningham,amanagingdirectoratDKC,and“aclosefriendofthegovernor”
2
asthey“gobackdozensofyears.”
3
DKC(DanKloresCommunications)isa“publicrelationsandconsultingfirmcloselytiedtothenewgovernor”
4
because,likeMr.Cunningham,DanKloresis“aclosefriendofMr.Cuomo’s.”Inaddition,JohnMarinohasbeenactivebehindthescenesintheCommittee,andis“aformerstateDemocraticPartychairmanwhoisclosetoMr.Cuomo,[and]alsoworksatDKC.”
5
AsearlyasDecember9,2010,theNewYorkTimesreportedthatwhile,“Officially,Mr.Cuomohasnoconnectiontothecommittee,[sic]histiesareevident,andhehasbeenfullyapprisedofthegroup’sprogress,executivessaid.”
6
AJanuary18,2011reportcitedMr.Cunninghamassaying,onbehalfoftheCommittee,“We’remonitoring.Tosay‘coordinating,’Ithinkthat’sastrongword.It’sfilteredinthere,butthere’snotadirecthitaroundthetablewithpeopleintheadministration.”
7
Butjustonedayearlier,onJanuary17,2011,Mr.Cunninghamnotedthatwhile,“therewasnodirectcoordinationbetweenitsoperationandtheCuomoadministration…therewaslittleneedtodoso.”TheNewYorkTimesreported:“Weknowwhatthegovernor’sagendais,andwedon’tneedalotofguidance,”saidMr.Cunningham,whowasanaidetoMr.Cuomo’sfather,formerGov.MarioM.Cuomo.
8

1
“BusinessGroupPreparesPlanstoCounterUnions.”CharlesV.Bagli.NewYorkTimes.January7,2011www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/nyregion/08save.html
2
“BusinessGroupPreparesPlanstoCounterUnions.”CharlesV.Bagli.NewYorkTimes.January7,2011www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/nyregion/08save.html
3
“Thegovernor’slobby:Businessleaders(andothers)formacommitteetosaveCuomo.”JimmyVielkind.January18,2011.CapitalNewYork.www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2011/01/1178882/governors-lobby-business-leaders-and-others-form-committee-save-cuom
 
4
“GroupTakesOnAlbanyWithCuomo’sBlessing”NicholasConfessoreandThomasKaplan.NewYorkTimes.January17,2011.www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/nyregion/18cuomo.html
5
“CuomoGainsanAllyforaLoomingFightWiththePublic-EmployeeUnions.”CharlesV.Bagli.December9,2010.NewYorkTimes.www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/nyregion/10unions.html
6
“CuomoGainsanAllyforaLoomingFightWiththePublic-EmployeeUnions.”CharlesV.Bagli.December9,2010.NewYorkTimes.www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/nyregion/10unions.html
7
“Thegovernor’slobby:Businessleaders(andothers)formacommitteetosaveCuomo.”JimmyVielkind.January18,2011.CapitalNewYork.www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2011/01/1178882/governors-lobby-business-leaders-and-others-form-committee-save-cuom
 
8
“GroupTakesOnAlbanyWithCuomo’sBlessing”NicholasConfessoreandThomasKaplan.NewYorkTimes.January17,2011.www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/nyregion/18cuomo.html
 
OneaccountafteranotherreportsthattheinextricablelinksbetweentheGovernorandthestaffandleadershipoftheCommitteearesodeepthat“therewaslittleneed”todirectlycoordinate.
CSNYwasestablishedatthe“urging”ofthegovernorhimself
TheCommitteewasformedinresponsetodirectrequestsfromtheGovernor,asitwasreportedasearlyasDecember9,2010thathehad“publiclyaskedbusinessleaderstobackhimup.”
9
OnJanuary17,2011,Mr.CuomoexplicitlyreferencedtheCommitteeandsaid,“Iencouragepeopletojointhatgroup.”
10
Thereportcontinued,statingthattheCommittee“wasorganizedat[theGovernor’s]urging,afteraseriesofmeetingslastspringandsummeratwhichthethen-candidatepressedbusinessleaderstotakeamoreaggressiveroleinAlbany.”
11
OnJanuary9,2011,Crain’sNewYorkreportedthat,“Mr.Cuomopersonallycalledforthegrouptocoalescearoundhispushtooverhaulspending,”andthatthatpersonalrequestwas,“sparkingmuchoftheenthusiasm”arounditsfundraisingefforts.TheCrain’sreportcontinued:

“Andrewbringscommandandcontroltothetable,”aveteranDemocraticstrategistsaid.“Ifthegovernor'speoplecallyou,ifthegovernortellsyoutodoit,everyonehastodoit.”
12
AllofthiswasdoneattheGovernor’s“urging,”allthewhile,accordingtoaveteranAlbanywatchdog,themembersoftheCommittee,“collectivelyhavebillionsofdollarsatstakeinthedecisionsthatMr.Cuomowillmakeinthecomingyear,onissuesincludinginsuranceandbankingregulationsandrentcontrol.”
13

CSNYhasreportedlyraisedmorethan$10millioninundisclosedcontributionstoprovideexplicitsupportoftheGovernor’sbudgetproposals
OnJanuary7,2011,theNewYorkTimesreportedthattheCommitteehad,“alreadychangeditsnameonceduringitstwo-monthexistenceandoneprominentboardmember,RichardD.Parsons,thechairmanofCitigroup,hasalreadyresigned.”TheJanuary7reportcontinued:
9
“CuomoGainsanAllyforaLoomingFightWiththePublic-EmployeeUnions.”CharlesV.Bagli.December9,2010.NewYorkTimes.www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/nyregion/10unions.html
10
“GroupTakesOnAlbanyWithCuomo’sBlessing”NicholasConfessoreandThomasKaplan.NewYorkTimes.January17,2011.www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/nyregion/18cuomo.html
11
“GroupTakesOnAlbanyWithCuomo’sBlessing”NicholasConfessoreandThomasKaplan.NewYorkTimes.January17,2011.www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/nyregion/18cuomo.html
12
“Businessleadersfilla$10Mwarchest.”DanielMassey.Crain’sNewYork.January09,2011.www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110109/FREE/301099968/1072#
 
13
“GroupTakesOnAlbanyWithCuomo’sBlessing”NicholasConfessoreandThomasKaplan.NewYorkTimes.January17,2011.www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/nyregion/18cuomo.html
Search
Search History:
Searching...
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
  • p.

    • More From This User

    2 p.
    Our City Our Homes_platform
    keeleychris
    35 Reads
    1 p.
    CVH Power- Maloney Endorsement- NY-18- Oct2012
    keeleychris
    114 Reads
    2 p.
    Turn up the Heat- Invitation-SKELOS-8-18-12
    keeleychris
    52 Reads
    2 p.
    Turn up the Heat- Invitation-CUOMO-8-18-12
    keeleychris
    53 Reads
    1 p.
    May 11 NYC Mass Mobilization for Jobs & Housing
    keeleychris
    151 Reads
    25 p.
    PB-NYC Funder Briefing - Smaller
    keeleychris
    88 Reads
    21 p.
    PBNYC Intro Briefing 4.23
    keeleychris
    234 Reads
    11 p.
    PBNYC Research Findings
    keeleychris
    89 Reads
    1 p.
    Fair Election Flyer-April2012
    keeleychris
    208 Reads
    11 p.
    JCOPE Letter Mar 2012- Cmte to Save New York and Gov Cuomo
    keeleychris
    745 Reads
    2 p.
    Candidates Forum 100 AD
    keeleychris
    72 Reads
    1 p.
    GovOnePercentFlyer
    keeleychris
    935 Reads
    1 p.
    Western NY Public Meeting-Oct 2011
    keeleychris
    169 Reads
    1 p.
    Community & Labor March on Wall St
    keeleychris
    104 Reads
    1 p.
    SmithToBizCouncil-Release Sept2011
    keeleychris
    150 Reads
    1 p.
    NYS GOP 2
    keeleychris
    105 Reads
    23 p.
    Adams Forum Twitter Transcript
    keeleychris
    278 Reads
    3 p.
    ObamaJobsSpeech-Release Sept2011
    keeleychris
    221 Reads
    1 p.
    Newsday-Opposition Continues Over Mills Tax(Aug10-2011)
    keeleychris
    83 Reads
    1 p.
    Mills Tax Release Baruch Aug2011
    keeleychris
    114 Reads
    1 p.
    Bird Dog Mills Tax Release NewPaltz Aug2011
    keeleychris
    181 Reads
    3 p.
    NewYorkTimes - Albany Finishes Rare on-Time Budget(Mar31-2011)
    keeleychris
    114 Reads
    3 p.
    NewYorkTimes - Despite Hecklers Lawmakers Close in on Rare Early Bu...
    keeleychris
    131 Reads
    1 p.
    March 30 State Capitol Flier- Not Mills
    keeleychris
    149 Reads
    1 p.
    March 30 State Capitol Flier-Genera
    keeleychris
    209 Reads
    Notes
    Load more