By Ben Fractenberg
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Mayor Michael Bloomberg is hoping to persuade wealthy donors to support only political candidates who commit to advancing New York City’s priorities.
The mayor is mailing letters and pocket-sized issue cards to 50,000 New Yorkers who gave $200 dollars or more to federal campaigns, asking them only to contribute money to candidates who pledge their support for the city, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Seven of the 10 ZIP codes that donated the most money nationwide to candidates during the 2008 presidential election are in New York City, the AP reported. More than $6 million of that money came from a section of the Upper East Side.
Since 2006, Bloomberg has been sending out a checklist to wealthy New York donors listing issues they should ask candidates before cutting them a check. The credit card-sized guide provides donors easily accessible issues when candidates approach them for contributions.
“We want you to know about New York City’s highest priorities — and as someone who is active in politics, you have the opportunity to call for action on those priorities,” Bloomberg wrote in the mailings released Thursday.
The issues Bloomberg is championing this year include lifting the state cap on charter schools, pushing Congress to pass immigration reform, and requiring background checks on people trying to purchase weapons at gun shows.
“New Yorkers — Democrats and Republicans alike — provide a disproportionate share of the country’s political campaign contributions, but too often those candidates forget about our needs and priorities after their elections,” Bloomberg said in the letter. “With your help, we can change that.”
