What does it mean to be Denied Public Matching Funds?

Oona Milliken, host: In a week and a half, New York’s mayoral candidates will find out if they qualify for the city’s public matching funds program. The program is designed to level the playing between candidates with access to big donors and those with less. But mayor Eric Adams was denied this year. It’s only the second time in the program’s history this has happened in a mayoral race. So, what exactly is this program, and how did it start? Oona Milliken has more. 

Oona Milliken, Byline: David Lawson lives in Astoria. He’s 39 and recently went back to school to get his masters in Arts Administration. He’s one of many New Yorkers participating in the matching funds program. He says he’s a fan. 

David Lawson1: I do like to think of it as this leveler, as something that can make it so these candidates don't have to be so beholden

Milliken2: Lawson says assembly member Zohran Mamdani has his vote for mayor. He likes Mamdani’s proposal to create city funded grocery stores. And his push to expand a free bus ride program. So, he says he gave $36 dollars to Mamdani’s campaign. Lawson says it’s nice to know his money counts for a little extra.  

Lawson2: And also so someone like me giving $36 can really end up giving, you know, a couple hundred dollars which I am not in a position to comfortably give right now

Milliken3: Here’s how the program works. The city will match any donation from a voter. But that voter has to live locally. And donations from Super PAC’s aren’t matched. Candidates including City Council, Borough President and Mayor may apply. The program got its start back in 1988. 

Milliken4: New York City looked a lot different then. New Yorkers could still smoke indoors. The DVD hadn’t been invented yet and Ronald Reagan was president. At the time, Former Mayor Ed Koch and City Council Speaker Peter Vallone were trying to push the program through. Vallone said the hardest part was convincing his fellow politicians to get on board. Here he is in an interview for LaGuardia Community College in 2012. 

Archival tape Peter Vallone1: “Because what you’re basically saying is, ‘Look, why don’t you do good government and pay for somebody to run against you.

Milliken5: In 1988, the idea was pretty novel. Vallone had to essentially convince politicians currently in power to make it easier for their opponents to take their spot. So, he leaned on an age old strategy: flattery.  

Vallone2: Because you’re such a good Council member that on a level playing field you can’t lose. But understand something, all you’re going to be is on equal footing. He or she is going to have the same amount of money that you have”

Milliken6: Vallone succeeded that same year and New York was the first major city to adopt this kind of program. It was included in a law called the Campaign Finance Act and was seen as a way to fight corruption. Insider deals, kickbacks, shady favors, bribes and embezzlement were commonplace. Not unlike the allegations against our current mayor - Eric Adams. Which is why he’s been denied from participating in the program this year. 

Archival tape ABC7News: “A new challenge for Mayor Eric Adams, the city voted to withhold the use of taxpayer dollars on his reelection campaign.” 

MIlliken7: Adams allegedly misused millions in campaign funds raised through the public matching funds program. Tim Hunter is with the New York City Campaign Finance Board. He can’t comment on current political races. But, he says the act was originally created in the 80s to fight this kind of culture. 

Tim Hunter1: “It started as a response to what was seen as, you know, rampant corruption in New York City government, and a series of reforms were enacted” 

Milliken8: The act did several different things. First, it established the New York City Campaign Finance Board. The one Hunter works for. It’s non-partisan, and oversees and audits political funding. Second, it created the public matching funds program. Back in the 80s, funds were matched one to one. Today, candidates stand to make a lot more. Here’s Hunter in a Youtube video explaining. 

Tim Hunter, YouTube: Here’s how it works. For example, if a New Yorker where  to donate $10 dollar to a participating candidate, we’d matching with $80 of government funds 

Milliken9: But the criteria can be strict and the rules are complicated. For a mayoral race, candidates must have raised more than a quarter million dollars. And they have to have a minimum of one thousand local donations to qualify. There’s also a cap on how much candidates can receive. Currently, Zohran Mamdani is the only mayoral candidate to have reached it. He’s now received eight million in public funds. His biggest competitor, Former Governor Andrew Cuomo will find out if he’s eligible for the matching funds program on April 15. 

Oona Milliken, Columbia Radio news.