Facing Money Questions, De Blasio Says He's Just Playing The Game

NEW YORK — The fundraiser Mayor Bill de Blasio attended in Boston Friday morning was not unusual on its face, given that he has criss-crossed the country mulling a run for president in recent weeks. But the host of this particular event raised eyebrows back home.

The invitation came from the head of Suffolk Construction, a Beantown-based company that's eyeing expansion in New York City, The New York Times reported Thursday. The firm recently built a residential tower in Brooklyn Bridge Park and last year it hired Shola Olatoye, de Blasio's former chairwoman of the New York City Housing Authority.

Facing pointed questions about the event — and his reluctance to disclose details about it — in a Friday morning radio interview, de Blasio insisted everything was on the up-and-up. Politicians like him have to do these things to "get our message out," he said, and he's just playing by the rules as they're written.

"I think there’s a strange reality here where the very system that we’re living in, people are in some way trying to wish these weren’t the rules of the game, but they are," de Blasio, a Democrat, told WNYC host Brian Lehrer.

"Anyone who donates to me has a pretty clear sense of what they’re supporting, and there’s a whole lot of wealthy people who will never donate to me," he added.

The Friday fundraiser benefitted Fairness PAC, a political committee that de Blasio created to aid progressive candidates and groups but has recently used to pay for travel as he explores a White House bid, according to the Times.

De Blasio has pledged that Fairness PAC would not accept donations from any registered city lobbyist or anyone doing business with the city. Suffolk Construction and its chief executive, John F. Fish, do not fall under either of those categories.

But Suffolk has reportedly sought to increase its presence in New York. The Real Deal ranked it among the city's most active construction companies last year, and Olatoye said she would help the firm "expand its footprint in the region," according to Politico New York.

Fish is also a prolific political donor. He gave thousands of dollars to various candidates and committees last year, including a $5,000 donation to Fairness PAC on Dec. 24, federal campaign finance records show.

De Blasio reportedly did not want to make it known that Fish was behind Friday's event. A spokesman for Fairness PAC would not tell the Times who was hosting it.

While he did not directly explain why he wanted to keep the details under wraps, de Blasio maintained that his committee discloses its donors on a regular schedule as required by law.

After Lehrer pressed the mayor, noting that the disclosure he mentioned is only the minimum legal requirement, de Blasio said, "We tell the public. That’s all that matters."

He also said he does not solicit money from anyone who his campaign thinks would not be an "appropriate" donor.

"From my point of view, you follow the rules, follow the laws, disclose, have careful vetting and all government decisions are made on the merits. That’s how I go about it," the mayor said.

This is not the first time de Blasio has faced funding questions. Federal and state prosecutors closed inquiries into the mayor's fundraising practices without charging him, but the Manhattan district attorney said he violated "the intent and spirit of the laws."

De Blasio bemoaned the fact that he and other candidates have to rely on big money, saying he supports public campaign financing. He touted the recent City Charter amendment that expanded the city's public matching program for small-dollar donations.

"Until we have better laws that actually end the need for larger donations and empower low-dollar donations with matching funds and public financing, this is a reality," he said.