Blas visit ‘pays’ off
Israel trip timed to donors’ event
Mayor de Blasio’s weekend trip to Israel was timed to coincide with a conference in Jerusalem sponsored by two of his biggest financial backers, The Post has learned.
Alexander Levin, president of the World Forum on Soviet Jewry, funneled $100,000 in the last 18 months to the Campaign for One New York, which has been called a political slush fund for the mayor.
Levin’s group is cosponsoring the International Mayors Conference, where de Blasio was keynote speaker Sunday, alongside the American Jewish Congress and the American Council for World Jewry, which are both chaired by influential Democratic donor Jack Rosen.
Rosen has been a guest of the White House, flown the Clintons in his private jet, and owns the $3.3 million Park Ave. pad where Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin moved in 2012.
Records show Rosen has also shelled out $25,000 to de Blasio’s nonprofit, which has raised $3.8 million to tout preK and his progressive agenda.
“I think this is all objectionable conduct,” said Susan Lerner, director of the nonprofit Common Cause New York. “It seems far from coincidental that the mayor chose to make a trip to Israel at the same time as this conference.”
Both men accompanied de Blasio to a number of events in Israel.
The mayor’s office also coordinated his Israel itinerary to align with Jewish donors who have given generously to de Blasio’s campaigns for public office.
Getting face time were the likes of Martin Kleinman, president of Americare, whose family has contributed more than $28,000. His firm has been the target of federal lawsuits and at least two multimilliondollar state fines over questionable Medicaid billing.
Leon Goldenberg, of Goldmont Realty, whose family has donated more than $14,000, and Ari Noe, CEO of OTR Media Group, whose family and firm donated more than $12,000, also joined the mayor.
City Hall officials declined to comment on the timing of the trip but confirmed campaign donors were given the OK to attend the mayor’s events in Israel.