Jumaane: Oops, I got builder cash
Councilman Jumaane Williams said he’ll review his contributions to his lieutenant governor bid after it was reported he’d taken cash from real estate developers — after making a pledge not to accept money from the industry.
Williams made the pledge in a July 25 video, as part of his primary against Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.
But as the Albany Times Union first reported, he later accepted several donations from real estate developers or their family members.
“Some we have to go back and review, there was, particularly towards the end, a lot of money coming in,” Williams told The News. Among those who donated to Williams was Sadie Mitnick, a senior vice president at politically connected real estate giant Forest City Ratner, and two family members of Bruce Ratner.
Williams seemed to question whether some of those donations really counted as coming from real estate.
“Also, we just need to better define what real estate means, because is that from the company, from somebody who works, from a family member?” he asked. “I think there should be a better understanding of what that actually means.”
Williams made his pledge as he was seeking the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America, which he ultimately received.
The organization didn’t respond to a Daily News request for comment, but a spokesman for the group told the Times-Union it was disappointed.
Williams, who is now running for public advocate, argued he’d never made a decision based on contributions.