Uptown Council Candidate Disavows Controversial Super PAC Support

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A real estate-backed, pro-business super PAC is backing Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa for City Council in Northern Manhattan — a new disclosure revealed Thursday showed — but she quickly disavowed the money.

Thursday's disclosure revealed that Common Sense NYC has spent $13,350 in support of De La Rosa, one of eight Democrats running to succeed Ydanis Rodriguez in District 10.

Common Sense has spent more than $366,000 on this year's Council races, backing 14 candidates besides De La Rosa — and also spending thousands to oppose seven progressive candidates who it deems "dangerous," as THE CITY reported Thursday.

In De La Rosa's case, the spending covered mailers sent out last week that trumpeted her support for small businesses, say she will "get crime under control" and "fix programs for homeless and mentally ill New Yorkers," and build more affordable housing, among other pledges.

It is identical messaging seen on other Common Sense NYC candidate mailers sent out last week, including the ones created for Julie Menin in the Upper East Side City Council race.

"This is really disappointing," one David Friend said on Twitter about the donations made to De La Rosa.

Candidates have no say in which outside groups choose to support them.

The Upper Manhattan City Council was quick to disavow the support, responding directly to Friend's comment on Twitter.

"Hi, this is an uncoordinated independent expenditure and our campaign has denounced the interference of the PAC in the race," De La Rosa tweeted.

She gave a longer statement of denouncement to The CITY.

“As an Assembly Member, I have stood with tenants and voted for the strongest tenant protections and rent reform laws in decades — legislation opposed by many of the real estate interests Common Sense NYC represents,” De La Rosa told the publication.

Leaders of Common Sense NYC told THE CITY that they were focused on opposing "socialist-related" candidates, including those who support slashing NYPD funding. Many of their mailers, like the one for Menin, claim that their chosen candidates offer "real solutions for real problems."

The City Council primary election will be held on June 22, with early voting from June 12–20. Find your polling place here.

Patch reporter Nick Garber contributed to this report.