In first-ever campaign contribution, the Brooklyn Nets boost Tish James in AG race (but real estate most likes Maloney)

The latest campaign finance filings are out in state races; Real estate spending heavily on attorney general race, City & State reported yesterday, noting that the Real Estate Board of New York’s political action committee has given:

• $15,000 to the campaign of NYC Public Advocate Letitia James
• $15,000 to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s campaign
• $5,000 to Verizon lobbyist Leecia Eve’s campaign

Specific real estate businesses, though, have focused on Maloney, who has a corporate background and may be seen as more business-friendly: he got $150,000 from limited liability companies (LLCs) linked to the Durst Organization. James got $10,000 donation from Durst.

Note that "top two contenders" is a little vague, since, while James--endorsed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic Party--is the individual leader in polls (see Siena Poll, below), most voters are undecided. The other candidate, law professor Zephyr Teachout, has refused PAC and LLC money and positioned herself as the most anti-establishment.

Also see coverage of last night's AG forum, and James's "Sheriff of Wall Street" comment.

The Nets pony up

I'll point out a first-ever campaign contribution from the Brooklyn Nets, to James's campaign, of $2,500. I suspect that's a bit of "insurance," keeping the lines of communication open. And it might help continue James's "softer stance" on Atlantic Yards.

And in the governor's race

The numbers are much bigger in the governor's race. As Politico reported:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has begun to burn through his sizable war chest at a rapid pace, spending $7.5 million from July 17 through Aug. 13.
That left him with $24.4 million remaining a month before he is due to appear on the Democratic primary ballot with Cynthia Nixon. In the comparable pre-primary filing period in 2014, Cuomo spent only $3.2 million, leaving him with $32.5 million in the bank.
Nixon, meanwhile, has spent $607,000 in recent weeks. She has $442,000 to spend in the final month before the primary.

So this is my opportunity to remind readers that, while Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner is out of the game, focusing on his charitable work, he contributed $52,000 to Cuomo from 2014 to 2016.

And while that's hardly a large share of Cuomo's money, it's a lot more than anyone who might have wanted to bend Cuomo's ear regarding alternative views of Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park.