Fix the City, the Super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo’s campaign for mayor of New York, has just received a $1 million donation from the food delivery company DoorDash, according to their most recent financial disclosure. While Cuomo is still the frontrunner in the race as the June 24th Democratic primary approaches, the donation will give a needed boost to his campaign, as the former governor was denied millions in matching funds from the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) last month over incomplete donor information.
John Horton, DoorDash’s head of public policy for North America, said in a statement that the Big Apple had passed measures recently that, while well-intentioned, “often had unintended consequences.” The statement continued: “These policies have made it harder for local businesses, Dashers, and consumers to thrive. We’re committed to supporting leaders who prioritize practical, pro-local economy solutions that encourage growth and innovation. In New York’s mayoral race, we believe Governor Cuomo represents the kind of leadership that can deliver on those goals.” Last year, New York City passed a law mandating a minimum wage of $17.96 for delivery drivers who work for DoorDash and similar services. In response, DoorDash made it harder to tip delivery workers, and consumers saw a new $1.99 fee added to their bill. In February, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $16.75 million settlement with the company over stealing delivery workers’ tips.
The app-based food delivery service’s donation is part of a broader push to elect friendly politicians, having announced last week that it was committing $5 million for “pro-local economy candidates” across the tri-state area, according to Horton. “We’ve heard from our communities around the country that bad policy is spurring the cost of living crisis, and we want to be sure that DoorDash is part of the solution.”
DoorDash’s donation comes one week after the CFB issued a statement to mayoral candidates warning that they cannot coordinate their campaigns with Super PACs that support them. The communication followed reports in POLITICO and The New York Times revealed that Cuomo employed a common tactic known to circumvent such rules known as “redboxing,” in which a candidate communicates their preferred messaging to Super PACs through their website. While the move is technically legal, with federal authorities deeming it fair play as long as such communications are public, the CFB ruled against the practice in a vote last November. On Monday, the CFB denied Cuomo’s campaign $622,056 — the cost of a recent television ad from Fix the City — stating that they had “reason to believe” that the promo was “not independent of the Cuomo campaign.”
