Both Corey Johnson had Christine Quinn were on the take from the Rudin Family
The purpose of this quiz is to draw parallels between Councilmember Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea) and former Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Chelsea).
For example, both officials have accepted donations from the Rudin Family, owners of Rudin Management Company, the real estate development company that bought St. Vincent's Hospital for pennies on the dollar and converted it into a $1 billion luxury condominium and townhouse complex. Corey Johnson has accepted a large campaign contribution from Fiona Rudin, wife of Eric Rudin. Eric Rudin's cousin is William Rudin, head of Rudin Management Company. Very large campaign contributions made by the Rudin Family to former Council Speaker Quinn became a campaign issue in the 2013 mayoral race. Despite the campaign controversy, Corey Johnson accepted the donation from Fiona Rudin.
To take the quiz below, just click on the name of the person, who you think is the right answer to the question.
Who has called on the NYPD to receive special treatment?
Corey Johnson
In 2015, Corey Johnson received a ticket from police for having moved between subway cars. He tried to get out of a ticket by calling top NYPD brass. Ultimately, Corey Johnson paid the fine, but he showed that he believed he could get out of ticket by asking for special treatment.
Christine Quinn
In 2012, Christine Quinn used police to clear out some activists, who were on a public sidewalk. One police officer used force on a gay activist. Christine Quinn has been described to be particularly sensitive to any criticism, including from activists. Click here for more information.
Who has done nothing to address allegations of conflicts of interests at local Community Boards?
Corey Johnson
Two members of Manhattan Community Board 2 have been fined for accepting free gifts from an entity that had business before the Community Board. Because Corey Johnson oversees Community Board 2, he bears responsibility for doing nothing to curtail the loose ethical culture at Community Board 2.
Christine Quinn
The former chair of Manhattan Community Board 2 worked for the Partnership for New York City, where William Rudin was on the Board of Directors. Rudin was applying to convert St. Vincent's Hospital into luxury condos, at the same time when Rudin could exert influence over the then Manhattan Community Board 2 chair, Brad Hoylman. Quinn never addressed the conflict of interest.
Who did nothing to save St. Vincent's Hospital or to bring back a Level I Trauma Center to the Lower West Side?
Corey Johnson
In the four years since he has been in the City Council, Corey Johnson has not secured a new hospital to replace St. Vincent's.
Christine Quinn
In the last four years, Christine Quinn has done nothing to secure a new hospital to replace St. Vincent's.
Who has readily embraced the role of money in politics?
Corey Johnson
Corey Johnson has opted out of the matching dollar program of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, which was instituted to reduce the role of money in politics. At the same time, Corey Johnson has used excess donations he has collected to seemingly buy support from other Councilmembers as part of his reported Speakership campaign. Embracing the role of money in politics like this undermines the autonomy of our elected officials.
Christine Quinn
In the years leading up to her mayoral campaign, Christine Quinn indescriminately accepted large campaign donations from many individuals, including the Rudin Family and William Rapfogel, in a naked attempt to build up a large campaign war chest. The donations were so controversial that the Quinn campaign was forced to return some of the contributions.
Who has kept a slush fund?
Corey Johnson
New reports have revealed that Corey Johnson used undeclared donations he accepted from his political supporters to pay his rent, buy clothes, and pay for office supplies. Reportedly, City investigations are probing the use of undeclared donations for personal purposes.
Christine Quinn
Shortly after becoming City Council speaker, Christine Quinn oversaw a secret reserve fund of taxpayer money that was used for special disbursements without any public scrutiny. The existence of the reserve fund was reportedly kept hidden by allocating amounts to groups with fictitious names that were later then redistributed. A Federal investigation was closed without any consequences to Christine Quinn.
Who has been a front-puppet for the real estate industry?
Corey Johnson
Corey Johnson worked for the real estate development arm of a credit derivatives broker that bought and evicted the tenants of an SRO called the Breslin Hotel that was converted into the trendy Ace Hotel. Corey tried to hide his work for the real estate developer until he was exposed by City Council Watch.
Christine Quinn
After Christine Quinn approved tax breaks for real estate developers building "affordable housing," her campaign committee raked in about $800,000 in donations liked to the real estate industry, according to one study.
Who never met a "lu-lu" they didn't like?
Corey Johnson
Despite campaigning for office on the promise of limiting controversial stipends to only the most senior leadership posts in the City Council, Councilmember Corey Johnson accepted the controversial stipends his first year in office in connection with a committee chairperson post -- a violation of his campaign promise, according to an article published in The Villager. Stipends, also known as "lu-lu's," have been doled out to Councilmembers by the Council speaker in a fashion that Government reform activists have criticized as a mechanism to undermine the autonomy of Councilmembers. The lack of autonomy of Councilmembers is one reason cited for why progressive legislation, such as the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, never comes up for a vote before the City Council.
Christine Quinn
From the start of her speakership, Christine Quinn defended the practice of doling out stipends, or "lu-lu's," to Councilmembers, even though, as early as 2006, then Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-New York City) was calling for their abolition, according to a report published by The New York Post. As the late, legendary journalist Gabe Pressman noted, "lu-lu's" were historically seen as a form of "largesse" handed out by party bosses to their favorites.