http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mark-viverito-lobbying-firm-tie-revealed-finance-report-article-1.1581432
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One of the city’s biggest lobbyists quietly assisted Melissa Mark-Viverito in her campaign for City Council speaker — putting him in a prime position with his clients now that she has been elected.
Documents released Wednesday show that the councilwoman set up a fundraising committee called Viverito NYC on Nov. 5 and designated Vito Pitta of the lobbying firm Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin as its "liaison."
The committee then corralled nearly $101,000 in donations from Nov. 15 until Jan. 4. The fierce behind-the-scenes campaign for speaker culminated on Jan. 8 with Mark-Viverito’s election by the Council’s 51 members.
About one-fifth of the contributions, $21,400, came from Pitta's clients, mostly municipal unions who pay him to press their causes before city government.
About one-fifth of the contributions, $21,400, came from Pitta's clients, mostly municipal unions who pay him to press their causes before city government.
On the other side of the ledger, Mark-Viverito’s committee spent $80,000 on her campaign for speaker — including “consultant” fees of $17,000 to Pitta’s firm, according to the campaign finance documents released by the state Board of Elections.
Lobbying records show that Pitta represents a variety of clients, from municipal unions to real estate developers, before the Council.
Participation by lobbyists on the campaign committees of politicians is a sore point with government watchdogs who say the arrangements can create conflicts of interest.
"We've been concerned about the relationship that exists between those who help elected officials get into office who then turn around and lobby those officials," said Dick Dadey of the good-government group Citizens Union.
Mark-Viverito spokesman Eric Koch replied, “As she has repeatedly said, she will be an independent speaker and any claims otherwise aren't grounded in reality."
In an e-mail to the Daily News, Pitta said his firm provided "political and campaign finance compliance consulting services" but did not do any fund-raising itself.
He also said his firm will reimburse $7,000 to Mark-Viverito’s committee. He gave no explanation for the reimbursement beyond characterizing the money as "advance payments."
The existence of Viverito NYC, and Pitta’s role, were not publicly known until the committee filed a financial report Wednesday, the most recent disclosure deadline for campaign committees created under state Board of Elections rules.
In addition to its payment of $17,000 to Pitta’s firm, Mark-Viverito’s committee made tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to the campaign accounts of politicians and party committees backing her, including Public Advocate Letitia James ($250), Brooklyn Councilman Robert Cornegy ($500), Manhattan Councilman Mark Levine ($2,500), the Working Families Party ($8,500) and the Staten Island Democratic Committee ($2,500), the records show.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mark-viverito-lobbying-firm-tie-revealed-finance-report-article-1.1581432#ixzz2qbaEMu7c
