NYC Mayor Fundraised for a Local PAC, Now Funds are Being Distributed Out of State.

NEW YORK - A Political Action Committee (PAC), Striving for a Better New York, led by Al Cockfield, a close confidant of New York's Mayor Eric Adams, has drawn attention for its unusual out-of-state expenditures despite amassing over $1 million from supporters of the mayor.

The PAC delineates its mission on its website as actively endorsing and contributing to contenders for New York State offices who are vocal on issues affecting ordinary New Yorkers. But a departure from this stated aim has been noticed.

Notably, contributions have been made to a Baton Rouge, Louisiana mayoral candidate ($1,000), a candidate contesting for county prosecutor in Kansas City, Missouri ($1,000), and a Houston, Texas controller candidate ($2,500).

According to the state Board of Elections' most recent campaign finance filings, the committee, in the span of a year and a half, has donated $15,000 to 11 candidates running for offices far beyond New York. Connections between these candidates and Cockfield emerge from their shared racial identity, as all of them are Black like Cockfield.

Interestingly, during this period, the PAC did not raise any funds. Following a strong fundraising start in 2021, it hasn't raised any money since March 2022, and has been gradually draining its coffers. As of last month, it held a balance of just under $215,000.

In a brief phone call, Cockfield voiced his support for candidates both local and beyond New York, declaring, "All politics is local." However, he did not respond to specific inquiries concerning his PAC operation and his association with Mayor Adams.

While Cockfield's conduct doesn't appear to be breaking any rules according to five campaign finance experts, it does cast a spotlight on his use of the PAC - an organization he's been accused of using for personal benefit.

Cockfield, a politically connected pastor who leads two Christian schools and a charter school, and has contributed to affordable housing solutions with his church, God’s Battalion of Prayer, is also a "government affairs adviser" at a law firm. He has been instrumental in the fundraising campaign for Adams and held a prominent place on stage during the election night. His daughter, Amaris Cockfield, serves in the mayor's press office.

Reports from THE CITY, The Guardian, and Documented unveiled that Cockfield played a role in overturning the halt orders placed on a hotel developer's projects by the Adams administration. However, Cockfield's PAC gained significant scrutiny in 2022 by The New York Times for its large payouts to Cockfield himself, a $60,000 donation to a school he founded and operates, and expenses at trendy hotels and club spots.

In response to the story, the state Board of Elections’ Division of Election Law Enforcement opened a case against the PAC, witch was closed the following year without any penalties after Cockfield paid back the charter school donation and personally offset a $721 charge to a boutique Manhattan hotel, Nine Orchard.

This wasn't the first BOE investigation regarding the PAC. Following the refund of almost $100,000 in anonymous LLC contributions and payment of a $1,000 fine by Cockfield, he reduced the PAC's non-political expending significantly. After December 2022, he stopped reporting his prior $7,173 per month salary and only charges indicating luxury tastes are $562 at the STK steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan on March 1 for an unidentified meeting.

Nevertheless, dubious spending continues with the PAC reporting a $5,000 payment to an entity, DRX Consulting, which isn't easily identifiable according to both The Times and POLITICO.

Following Mayor Adams' primary victory in 2021, Cockfield launched the PAC and raised over $1.3 million predominantly from real estate developers and tech firms. Adams spoke at an early PAC fundraiser and his campaign fundraising limit led to a redirection of donations to Cockfield's PAC.

Although Brianna Suggs, Adams’ campaign fundraiser at the time, joined the PAC, she left after her last payment in January 2023 and following a federal investigation into Adams’ campaign fundraising which saw her home raided. She has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Despite its spending on candidates outside of New York, Striving for a Better New York primarily donates to New York candidates. Almost all recipients, such as Rep. Greg Meeks, Attorney General Tish James, Assemblymembers Brian Cunningham, Stefani Zinerman and Nikki Lucas, are Black incumbents. The largest single donation in the past year was a $50,000 contribution to Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn’s leadership PAC. The reason for this large donation? She asked for it, she told POLITICO.

Kathleen McGrath, a spokesperson for the Board of Elections, informed POLITICO that there are no restrictions on New York PACs giving to candidates out of state, and that any potential regulation would be subject to the jurisdiction of the receiving candidates.

Darren Rigger, a partner at Dynamic SRG, a fundraising firm, expressed that organizations might donate out of state to affect control of Congress. Strict regulations on PAC donations would be a legislative and enforcement challenge, he stated.

Following the fundraising efforts of Mayor Adams, his team has distanced him from the PAC, with his political adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, declaring that she doesn't work with Cockfield and was unaware of the PAC's spending.

Cockfield emphasized that the PAC was his initiative in a 2022 interview with POLITICO, stating, "Is it Eric’s PAC? No. It is Rev. Al Cockfield’s PAC."

This article originally appeared in the Wednesday edition of New York Playbook. Click here to subscribe.

Sophie Wagner for TROIB News