1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light FM. 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to Get Connected. Just days away now 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 2: from election day, November fourth, in early voting season, now 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 2: joined by Tim Hunter, representing the New York City Campaign 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: Finance Board. It's New York City's landmark campaign finance program, 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 2: providing public funds to candidates for city office. We spoke 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: to Tim in the spring, just before the primary, and 10 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 2: now in the middle of early voting and right before 11 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: election day we'll chat about their matching funds program again 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: and of course what's been happening this election cycle. Tim Hunter, 13 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: thank you for being on Get Connected. 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. 15 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: You can find out more at NYCCFB dot info. So 16 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 2: just going back to sort of get the lay of 17 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: the land again, Tim. The New York City Campaign Finance 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: Program is a non partisan program established in nineteen eighty eight. 19 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: How did we end up the program and what is 20 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 2: it designed to do well? 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 3: We ended up with the program due to a number 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 3: of corruption scandals happening right here in New York City, 23 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 3: you know, and in an effort to kind of curb 24 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: that corruption. The mayor and the City Council came together 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 3: to kind of brainstorm ways that you know, candidates could 26 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 3: you know, rely on working class, everyday New Yorkers instead 27 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 3: of the wealthy elite that tend to you know, have 28 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,839 Speaker 3: a handle on our on our politics here in our city. 29 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,839 Speaker 3: So in that effort, they created the Matching Funds program, 30 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 3: which started off as a one to one match for 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 3: small dollar contributions, and since then, almost forty years later, 32 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 3: it's turned into you know, nationally renowned program with an 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 3: eight to one match, allowing everyday New Yorkers to get 34 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 3: their contributions amplified by their local government. You know, we 35 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: do a lot of amazing work educating members of the 36 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 3: community about this program. These are your tax payer dollars 37 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 3: that are going towards helping everyday candidates run for office, 38 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 3: and we're hoping that maybe some of the New York 39 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 3: wropers listening consider running for office themselves. 40 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: So to do the math on this is eight to 41 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 2: one match, So you do a ten dollars contribution that 42 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: becomes ninety dollars that the candidate can spend on on 43 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: what what are they allowed to spend the money on. 44 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's exactly. The math is spot on. But the 45 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 3: candidates are only allowed to spend public funds on certain things, 46 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 3: and the campaign Finance Board spends a lot of our 47 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 3: time auditing every single campaign that runs, whether they receive 48 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 3: matching funds or not. So public funds can only be 49 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 3: spent on this thing that we called qualified expenditures, which 50 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 3: means anything that's in furtherance of the campaign. They're not 51 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 3: allowed to pay their family members. They're not allowed to 52 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 3: use that money for childcare. They would have to use 53 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: the private funds that they raised for that. But the 54 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 3: public funds that they use can be used to pay 55 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: campaign staff, to do outreach to candidates, to help feed volunteers. 56 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: These are all things that public funds can and in 57 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 3: the past have been used on. 58 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: This is a particularly interesting election cycle. Lots of things 59 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 2: have been going on related to public finance. In this 60 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: mayoral campaign, we had at least two of the candidates 61 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: who were denied matching funds one eleven times another head 62 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: issues that were eventually resolved. Can you give an example 63 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: of what what those denials were related to? What would 64 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 2: constitute a denial? 65 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, there are a number of reasons why candidates don't 66 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 3: receive public funds. I would say the number one reason 67 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: has to do with meeting threshold. We don't just give 68 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 3: out public funds to everyone. Candidates have to meet a 69 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 3: two part threshold, which means they need to raise a 70 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 3: certain amount of money from in district residents. So if 71 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 3: city council, that's that's resident that live in your district, 72 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: and if it's a city wide office like mayor, it 73 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 3: has to be contributions from everyday New Yorkers, from New 74 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 3: Yorkers that have an address here, that vote here. So 75 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 3: that's like a number one reason why we see candidates 76 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 3: get denied public funds. Other reasons can be due to 77 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 3: compliance reasons, you know, when we see something that we 78 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 3: think is a little bit, you know, weird on our end, 79 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: we will reach out to the candidate and ask them 80 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: for additional documentation, or in other cases, it could be 81 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 3: external factors like coordination or like working with the pack 82 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 3: that they're not supposed to. These are all reasons for 83 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 3: denial of public funds or a clawback of public funds, 84 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 3: and we have mechanisms at our disposal when we believe 85 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 3: that the Campaign Finance Act which is the law that 86 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: you reference that created our program. When that is violated 87 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 3: by candidates, we have a number of resources at our 88 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 3: disposal to go back and claw back those public funds 89 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 3: that were given out initially, especially if we believe that 90 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: the law was broken. 91 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: Let me ask you about the packs you're not supposed 92 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: to work with. You just mentioned that, But first I 93 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 2: want to remind everybody who we're speaking with. Our guest 94 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: is Tim Hunter. He represents the New York City Campaign 95 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: Finance Board, where right now in early voting. Election day 96 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 2: is November fourth, so we really wanted to speak to 97 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 2: him again. The website is NYCCFB dot info. You're listening 98 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 2: to get connected on one six point seven light FM 99 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,119 Speaker 2: Amina del Rio. So again, what do you mean about 100 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 2: packs you're not supposed to work with? 101 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, so for folks that aren't aware or political action 102 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 3: committees you know, are independent bodies, independent groups that can 103 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 3: receive any number of contributions that they want from whomever 104 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 3: they want, even corporations. This is due to a ruling 105 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 3: by the Supreme Court, you know, almost a decade and 106 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 3: a half ago that kind of like allowed for packs 107 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 3: to be treated as like entities that promote free speech, 108 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 3: which is then thereby protected by our constitution. So these packs, 109 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 3: we classify them as independent spenders, which means when they 110 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 3: are in our election cycle or when they are trying 111 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 3: to convince candidates, are convinced voters to get out and 112 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 3: vote for a candidate. Order to support a candidate, you know, 113 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: they have to number one, disclose who their top donors are, 114 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 3: even if they're not affiliated with the campaign. And number two, 115 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 3: they're not allowed to coordinate with the campaign, so they 116 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 3: can't act the campaign. Hey, is this ad okay? Or 117 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: can we say this or can we say that? They 118 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 3: have to be fully independent and if the board suspects 119 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 3: any type of coordination between the campaign and the pack 120 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 3: or the independent spender, the CFB, if that candidate is 121 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 3: a participant, reserves the right to deduct public funds, you know, 122 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 3: from that candidate and the amount of whatever expenditure was 123 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 3: made in support of that candidate. 124 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 2: You're talking a bit about Citizens United there about that 125 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: decision back in twenty ten that basically said corporations are 126 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: people and yeah, and so this program, in a sense, 127 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: it raises the power of small donations versus a handful 128 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 2: of large donations. Some people of course, corporations might argue 129 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: against that, But how is this designed to be a 130 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 2: benefit to all voters and raise the power of a 131 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: small donation. 132 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 3: Well, it's designed to do that by ensuring you know 133 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 3: that we are not only holding you know, those in 134 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: power accountable visa VI our disclosures and our audit process, 135 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 3: we're also making sure that we amplify those small donor contributions. 136 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 3: We also have an amazing feature in our program that 137 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 3: creates a cap or spending limit, which kind of prohibit 138 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 3: candidates from spending more than a certain amount on any 139 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 3: given election. Now, we can't do this for candidates that 140 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 3: are not participating in our program. That's unconstitutional because the 141 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 3: Supreme Court has already informed us that money is speech 142 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 3: and corporate corporations our speech. So if there's a candidate 143 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 3: that is not participating in our program, they are not 144 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 3: subject to those spending limits. However, if a candidate that 145 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 3: is not in our program raises over a certain amount 146 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 3: of money, that triggers expenditure limit relief, which allow the 147 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 3: other candidates that our program participants that maybe were worried 148 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 3: that they weren't able to spend enough, allows them to 149 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 3: spend a little bit more in order to increase the 150 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 3: chances that they will be more competitive against candidates that 151 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 3: could be self funded or could be bankrolling their entire campaign. 152 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: We did have a candidate in this particular mayoral cycle 153 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: also who said stop sending me money. He had hit 154 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: the cap. Can you talk a little bit about what 155 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: triggered that and what that suggests. 156 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 3: Because of our eight to one match, you know, candidates 157 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 3: now have to raise less money in order to be competitive, 158 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 3: especially when you're talking about citywide races where you need tens, 159 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,679 Speaker 3: if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy ad 160 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 3: time so New Yorkers can see you on their TVs 161 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 3: or get mailers in their mailboxes. So, once you trigger 162 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 3: that eight to one match and you get to this 163 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 3: spending limit for Mayo races, which is somewhere around seven 164 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 3: point nine to eight million dollars, that's how much money 165 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 3: that a lot of these candidates are raising in order 166 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 3: to competitively run for mayor. So once you hit that cap, 167 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 3: you're not allowed to raise past that because we deem 168 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 3: that this is enough money for you to you know, 169 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 3: run a competitive campaign unless you have an outside spender 170 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 3: in the race or an independent candidate in the race, 171 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 3: I should say that is raising that same amount of money. 172 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 3: So some candidates have taken to telling you know their donors. Heay, 173 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 3: we don't need money. What we actually need are are 174 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 3: people to go out and knockdoors. It allows candidates to 175 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 3: focus more on getting their message out to the voters 176 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 3: instead of focusing on fundraising and making calls and rubbing 177 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: elbows with the people you know that may have their 178 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 3: own interest in government. 179 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 2: So we haven't mentioned, by the way, what local elected 180 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: offices beyond mayor are eligible for the matching funds program. 181 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we know that early voting is happening and 182 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 3: there's going to be a number of candidates on the 183 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 3: ballot already, there's a number of candidates on the about 184 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 3: right now that you can head to the poll and 185 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 3: vote for. Head to the polls and vote for today. 186 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 3: But some of the candidates that are on the ballot 187 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 3: are not a part of the matching funds program, such 188 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 3: as the Manhattan District Attorney that is a county wide position, 189 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 3: not a local position, so that office does not utilize 190 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 3: our matching funds program, or that that office is not 191 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 3: eligible for a matching funds program. The candidates that are 192 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,199 Speaker 3: or the offices that are are the New York City mayor, 193 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 3: New York City Comptroller, the public Advocate, borrow presidents, and 194 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 3: our city council members. 195 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 2: Because we're getting so close to election day, I wonder 196 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 2: how close to election day are you still awarding matching funds. 197 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 3: Well, we award matching funds up until October thirtieth, so 198 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 3: this week will be the last matching funds payment. This 199 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 3: concludes our I want to say thirteen payments that we've 200 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 3: had across the entire election cycle. It's been an amazing ride. 201 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 3: I don't think that, you know, we're going to get 202 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 3: to the numbers we had in twenty twenty one, which 203 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 3: was when all of the seats were open. You know, 204 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 3: there was a lot of incumbents running for reelection again 205 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: this year, so we didn't give out the one hundred 206 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: and twenty five million dollars that we gave out last time. However, 207 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 3: we still gave out a lot of money, and you know, 208 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 3: hopefully when I come back on this show, I can 209 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 3: give you that grand total when we get there. 210 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 2: And if a candidate has public funds remaining after the election, 211 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 2: what happens to those This is taxpayer money. 212 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, this is taxpayer money. So we are not letting 213 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 3: the candidates keep it. We're the candidates have to give 214 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 3: that back to us. You know. We want to show 215 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 3: New Yorkers that their money is being put to good use, 216 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 3: and if it's no longer needed, we're returning it back 217 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 3: to the city to ensure that we are not wasting 218 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 3: tax pair dollars frivolously. Candidates, especially as they finish and 219 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 3: conclude their campaign, also have post election audits. So even 220 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 3: when the election is over, candidates still have to file disclosures, 221 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 3: They have to give us bank statements, they have to 222 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 3: give us time seats for their staff members. So this 223 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 3: is not money that is going into a black box. 224 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 3: You can go on our website as you highlighted at 225 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 3: NYCCFB dot info to see exactly how much money candidates 226 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 3: have left in their accounts and what they've been spending 227 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 3: that money on using our follow the Money tool. 228 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 2: I want to ask you a couple of bigger picture 229 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 2: questions just about the state. So in twenty twenty four, 230 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,199 Speaker 2: for the first time, State and Assembly were able to 231 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 2: receive public funds and small dollar donations SOT under two 232 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty dollars came from about represented about fifty 233 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 2: percent of those candidates total funding across the state. Back 234 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty two, when they couldn't receive matching funds, 235 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 2: small donations represented just eleven percent of funding, so it 236 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 2: really jumped up. What does that signify to you about 237 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 2: the candidates running and voter preferences or motivation? 238 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean this signals to me that candidates are 239 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 3: understanding that the game has now changed. You know, it's 240 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 3: important for us to prioritize a small dollar contributors over 241 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 3: you know, the contributions coming from corporations or or coming 242 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 3: from folks with business before the state. You know, back 243 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,599 Speaker 3: in the days, which is not that long ago, a 244 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 3: few years ago, you know, candidates when they had to 245 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 3: pick between talking to community members and getting one hundred 246 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 3: dollars contribution or talking to a few corporations and getting 247 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 3: a few thousand dollars in contributions, it made more sense 248 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 3: for them to talk to those corporations. However, now with 249 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 3: the new matching funds program that the state PCFB is running, 250 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 3: you know, candidates have more of an incentive to try 251 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 3: to go after these matchable contributions because not only can 252 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 3: you get these contributions matched, but these are also potential 253 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 3: voters in your district that you're able to speak to. 254 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 3: So I think that it's now incentivizing candidates to pursue 255 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 3: these grassroots contributions, and for contributors, it's kind of showing 256 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 3: them that they have more power in our democracy and 257 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: they have more of a say in our democracy, especially 258 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 3: when it comes to these local races that aren't as 259 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 3: high profile as the presidential or congressional races. So we're 260 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 3: very happy to see that, and we are rooting for 261 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 3: the success of our state matching funds program. 262 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: It's also really interesting you bring up the local races 263 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 2: because local races so often affect more of what you 264 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 2: do every day. It's your trash pickup, it's how your 265 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: schools are run. It's these things that are really in 266 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 2: your everyday life. 267 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 3: Yes, totally. It goes from sanitation to transportation, to education 268 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 3: to public safety. These are lawmakers or executives in some 269 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 3: cases that are representing the interests of every New Yorker. 270 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 3: And I like to tell people when they say, hey, 271 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 3: I don't know if I should vote in this election, 272 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 3: you know, my vote doesn't really matter. Well, I'll tell you. 273 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 3: If you're not at the table, then you're on the menu. 274 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 3: And it's important to make sure that you make your 275 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 3: voices heard, especially in this consequential general election where early 276 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 3: voting has already started. You know, you have a few 277 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 3: more days left, so don't wait. You know, a lot 278 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 3: in the June election, a lot of people waited till 279 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 3: election day and then we got hit with the massive 280 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 3: heat wave and it was really hot on election day 281 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 3: in June. So don't leave it up to chance. You know, 282 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 3: if you hear my voice on this radio, definitely make 283 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 3: your way to the polls today, tomorrow, or the rest 284 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 3: of this week. So that way you can make your 285 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 3: voice heard early and often. 286 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 2: And if you're really interested in how campaign finance works, 287 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 2: you have something to look forward to. In twenty twenty six, 288 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 2: it's the first time the program will be used for 289 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: statewide positions like governor and Attorney general in New York State. 290 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 2: Tim for somebody this election cycle is about to end. 291 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: You've said, let's vote, But if somebody wants to get 292 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 2: run in the next cycle, what kind of tools do 293 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 2: you offer to help people get started. There's a lot to. 294 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 3: Yes, there is a lot to do. So if you 295 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 3: are someone that is considering running for public office, specifically 296 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: local offices here in New York City City council, mayor 297 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 3: control or public advocate, you're proud you're gonna have to 298 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 3: wait until twenty twenty nine. Unfortunately, there are no more elections. 299 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 3: We had a twenty twenty three election due to redistricting 300 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 3: after the census, so once they read through the maps, 301 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 3: all those council races had to they open back up 302 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 3: again because the district's changed now. Unless there's a special 303 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 3: election where there's a vacancy in any of these races, 304 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 3: in any of these offices, you'll have to wait till 305 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 3: twenty twenty nine to run. However, if you want to 306 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 3: get a head start on that, the Campaign Finance Board 307 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 3: at our website NYCCFB dot info has a number of 308 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 3: trainings that you can utilize, and you can watch for 309 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 3: treasures and candidates alike to learn more about our program. 310 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 3: What constitutes a qualified expenditure, what is a matchable contribution, 311 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 3: what are contributions that are not allowed. It's very informative. 312 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: I've sat through the presentation. It's also very interactive, and 313 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 3: we also have a number of cool videos and if 314 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 3: you're getting cold fee if you don't want to just 315 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 3: jump into a training, you can look at our YouTube 316 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 3: page and you could just look up the New York 317 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 3: City Campaign Finance Board on YouTube and we have a 318 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 3: few seven minute videos that are kind of quick explainers 319 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 3: on how to run for office, what are the steps 320 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 3: that it takes, and things like that. Now, if you're 321 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 3: interested in running for a state office, you know that 322 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 3: happens every single two years, you know, more frequent than 323 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 3: our local offices, then you should visit the pcfb's website, 324 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 3: the Public Campaign Finance Board, which is housed under the 325 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 3: State Board of Elections, and they also are in the 326 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 3: process of putting up their trainings for next year's elections. 327 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 3: So if you're interested in running, thank you so much 328 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 3: for your willingness to serve the community. Make sure that 329 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 3: you know all the rules so that you can, you know, 330 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 3: plug in and ensure that you are adhering to the 331 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 3: rules and laws of the Campaign Finance Act. 332 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 2: Tim Hunter, I know it's been a very busy year 333 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: in a very busy season. Thank you again for joining us. 334 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: It's always a pleasure to speak with you. Tim Hunter 335 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: represents the New York City Campaign Finance Board. Thanks again, 336 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 2: thank you so. 337 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 3: Much for having me, and don't forget to go vote. 338 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: This has been get connected with Nina del Rio on 339 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light Fm. The views and 340 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views 341 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: of the station. If you missed any part of our 342 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: show or want to share it, visit our website for 343 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: downloads and podcasts at one O six to seven lightfm 344 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks for listening.