Scott Stringer aims to restore trust by banning donations from lobbyists and contractors in his mayoral campaign
New York City: In a bold move, mayoral candidate Scott Stringer is pushing to ban donations from lobbyists and city contractors. He believes this will help rebuild public trust after recent corruption scandals.
Stringer, who used to be the city comptroller, admitted that this ban might make fundraising tougher for candidates. Lobbyists and contractors usually contribute big bucks during election cycles.
Interestingly, a review showed that Stringer himself has accepted donations from major lobbying firms in the past. When asked about it, he acknowledged the hard work of lobbyists but stressed that a few bad actors can harm the government.
He’s been vocal about the need for reform, especially after the recent indictment of Mayor Adams for alleged bribery and illegal donations. Stringer’s plan includes stricter rules on foreign-owned corporations and interactions between lobbyists and city officials.
Stringer’s proposals are a response to the ongoing corruption issues in City Hall. He’s among many Democrats challenging Adams in the upcoming primary and feels it’s time to take a stand against corruption.
Adams, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, hasn’t commented on Stringer’s plan. He defends his fundraising efforts, claiming they help connect with overlooked communities.
Currently, lobbyists and contractors can only donate a limited amount to campaigns. Stringer wants to ban all donations from them and extend the ban to all employees of city contractors.
He plans to use executive power and City Council legislation to enforce these changes. His proposal also includes a one-year ban on donations from contractors after their city business ends.
Stringer aims to eliminate “bundling,” where individuals collect donations without contributing themselves. He also wants to prevent contractors from lobbying their former agencies for two years after leaving public service.
He believes strict penalties should be in place for any violations, including permanent bans for contractors and loss of licenses for lobbyists. Stringer is determined to clean up the system and restore integrity to public policy.
