They were ranked 24th in total lobbying compensation in 2019, far behind more traditional shops like Kasirer or Bolton-St. Tusk Strategies runs issue campaigns for clients, and formal lobbying on the city level is a relatively small part of the company’s business. They all also continue to work for Tusk Strategies’ other corporate clients at the same time – even if Yang’s campaign takes up most of their days. And with Yang having led all the public polls so far, it’s not too early to consider what position the firm would be in if Yang won.Ĭoffey and Yang’s other co-campaign manager, Sasha Ahuja, both work for Tusk Strategies, as do Yang’s press secretary Jake Sporn, policy director Erika Tannor, senior adviser Eric Soufer and senior communications adviser Alex Sommer. But none of those firms are as central to the candidate’s operation as Tusk is to Yang’s. And former Citigroup Vice Chair Ray McGuire has hired Greenberg Traurig for compliance, and the group also has a lobbying practice. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams employs Pitta LLP, a consulting firm run by the same people as Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno, a lobbying firm. For just a few examples, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is consulted by Global Strategy Group, which also has a lobbying practice. Other leading mayoral clients also have registered lobbyists consulting on their campaigns. Johnson won, and Coffey continued to lobby Johnson on behalf of Tusk clients, including the New York City Police Benevolent Association and New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets, a group that opposes the horse carriages in Central Park. While employed at Tusk, he had been a paid adviser on New York City Council Member Corey Johnson’s effort to get elected speaker in 2017. That’s exactly what Yang co-campaign manager Chris Coffey drew attention for in 2018.
Consultants build “a special relationship of trust” with the candidate, and Lerner added they’re increasingly cashing in on that relationship. “We believe that it is improper for the same firm to be both a campaign consultant, and then lobby the person that they helped to elect,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of good-government group Common Cause New York. And the arrangement raises concerns about what kind of access this lobbying firm – and the private clients that hire Tusk – would have to the mayor if Yang were to win the election. They’re employed by Tusk Strategies, a lobbying firm that’s regularly hired by clients to advocate for or against bills that are being considered by the City Council and the mayor. Andrew Yang’s two campaign managers, his press secretary, his policy director and multiple senior advisers don’t actually work for his New York City mayoral campaign.
0 kommentar(er)
