Barkan Report Kallos Disappointed in ‘Pay-to-Play’ Allegations in Borough President Race by Ross Barkan

A City Council candidate on the upper west side of Manhattan is slamming a borough president candidate for showeing member items on nonprofits who donated to her campaign. 

“I am disappointed in Council Member Lappin following recent reports that she gifted City funding to organizations who gave cash to her campaign,” said attorney Benjamin Kallos, a candidate to replace Councilwoman Jessica Lappin. “This is an unfortunate example of the same old pay-to-play politics from New York City’s elected officials.”

Kallos, who has made more transparent budgeting practices a centerpiece of his campaign, was referring to a Daily News report that Lappin, along with Councilman Robert Jackson, showered discretionary funding on nonprofit groups whose boards and staffers have contributed to their campaigns. City Council discretionary funding, in the wake of the recent bribery scheme involving Councilman Dan Halloran, has received new scrutiny. Mayoral candidates Bill de Blasio and Sal Albanese have called for the abolition of so-called member items. 

“Constituents in need should have access to the same opportunities for City funding regardless of the size of the nonprofit or the ability of its employees and board members to contribute to politicians,” Kallos continued. “City funds for a district should not go out of district just because affiliates of a larger nonprofit have donated more.  No nonprofit should have to use tax dollars to benefit politicians instead of constituents in need.”

A Lappin spokesman told the Daily News the member items were given only to “worthy causes.” 

Kallos is up against Assemblyman Michael Kellner, the Lappin-endorsed fundraising leader in the race, as well as several other candidates.