Special Interests Spend Big to Reshape City Council
While New York City’s campaign finance system caps how much money people can give to campaigns, there are no limits on what corporations can give to independent influence groups, which in turn can spend as much as they want to support their preferred candidates.
Some of the most influential real estate and financial interests in the city have coalesced behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, flooding an independent expenditure committee called Fix the City. In all, that group has amassed more than $9 million in donations — more than any individual candidate in the running is permitted to spend on the primary race if they’re participating in the public matching program.
But corporations and special interests have set their sights on City Council races as well, spending $1.7 million so far on independent expenditures to try and influence races across the city, according to campaign filings updated Tuesday. Such groups can spend unlimited sums so long as they do not coordinate with campaigns.
With the primary election coming up on June 24 and early voting starting June 14, spending is likely to accelerate. In 2021, when a majority of seats were open contests because of term limits, independent expenditure committees eventually spent $6.5 million on Council races.
https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/05/22/airbnb-uber-real-estate-board-city-council-citizens-united/