New York Post

Half of DeB funds going out of town

- By FRANK RYAN

Mayor de Blasio likes using taxpayer money to create “good-paying” local jobs — unless he’s campaignin­g.

De Blasio’s re-election bid has spent $1.27 million at businesses headquarte­red or located outside the five boroughs, according to campaign finance records through Aug. 28.

That’s nearly half of roughly $2.7 million shelled out by the campaign, including outstandin­g bills, since de Blasio took office in 2014.

The money went toward office technology, political consultant­s, polling and other services sold by companies as far away as San Francisco and as close as Yonkers.

Revolution Messaging, an agency in Washington, DC, has been paid $268,130 since last September for digital work, Web site developmen­t and online advertisin­g consulting.

That company was founded by members of President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 bid, providing “authentic digital storytelli­ng for progressiv­e causes,” according to its Web site.

De Blasio’s campaign paid ADP Payroll Solutions, based in El Paso, Texas, $228,372 between March 2016 and this past August, records show.

The campaign also splurged while fund-raising outside the city, spending $168,185 on hotels, catering and clubs nationwide.

In June, de Blasio outlined a 10year plan to create jobs paying more than $50,000 a year using at least $1.35 billion in public funds.

“Some believe in supply-side economics,” de Blasio said then. “Others, like myself, believe the role of government is to make smart investment­s that build a better society, and that we have an opportunit­y in this city to shape the economy of the future.”

The mayor’s re-election campaign has received $2.87 million in public matching funds so far.

De Blasio campaign spokesman Dan Levitan dismissed questions about the out-of-town spending, including $21,180 to New Jerseybase­d Oxford Health Insurance.

“The vast majority of our resources are used communicat­ing directly with New Yorkers, and the vast majority of our campaign team — including consultant­s — lives and works in New York City,” Levitan said. “To suggest we are spending inappropri­ately by using . . . a major New York health insurer is beyond silly.”

De Blasio’s rival, Assemblywo­man Nicole Malliotaki­s (R-SI), spent only around 30 percent of her campaign cash outside the city.

We have an opportunit­y in this city to shape the economy of the future.

— Mayor de Blasio in June on investing in the city, while his campaign funds go to out-of-town companies

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