DE BLASIO USES CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO PAY PARKING VIOLATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2009

Contact:          Alex Zablocki

                        347-885-1200

 

WHILE THE WORKING PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY FIGHT TRAFFIC AGENTS AT EVERY TURN, DE BLASIO LET THE CITY FOOT HIS BILL: ZABLOCKI SAYS DE BLASIO WAS WRONG TO USE TAXPAYER FUNDS TO PAY EIGHT PARKING TICKETS ISSUED TO HIS CAMPAIGN

 

Using the opportunity to discuss better ticketing policy, Zablocki calls for restrictions on where traffic agents can issue tickets; he calls for leniency when it comes to issuing tickets to motorists; Zablocki vows to work with small business owners and the NYPD to ensure traffic agents are better trained and willing to work with business owners and drivers

 

New York, NY – Alex Zablocki, Republican candidate for Public Advocate, slammed his Democratic opponent today for using taxpayer money to pay his campaign parking tickets. From September 12, 2009 to September 25, 2009, Bill de Blasio received eight parking violations.  On October 8, 2009, de Blasio used taxpayer matching funds to pay $380 for parking violations to the NYC Department of Finance, as the table shows below:

 

(FROM NYCCFB.INFO)

 

INV._DATE	DATE	NAME	AMOUNT	EXPLAIN
09/12/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$92	parking ticket
09/16/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$77	parking ticket
09/30/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$45	parking ticket
09/28/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$42	parking ticket
09/29/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$34	parking ticket
09/29/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$34	parking ticket
09/24/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$28	parking ticket
09/25/2009	10/08/2009	NYC Department of Finance	$28	parking ticket

                                                                                                       $380

 

            "The Campaign Finance program wasn't created to pay the parking tickets of candidates.  It is no wonder voters have such a distrust of politicians.  Motorists across the city are being harassed by traffic agents and nickel and dimed by our city, while politicians use taxpayer money to pay their tickets. It's wrong and it has to stop", Zablocki said. "It might only be $380, but that is our money. I don't recall a program in place that allows regular people to use taxpayer money to pay their fines," Zablocki continued.

 

            Alex Zablocki will be writing to the Campaign Finance Board asking for their opinion and clarification on the use of CFB dollars to pay city fines. Zablocki thinks de Blasio should personally refund the city $380 to cover these violations.

 

Parking tickets aren't news to New York motorists.  At a recent meet and greet with voters at a Pathmark in Staten Island, Zablocki witnessed traffic agents storming the private parking lot issuing tickets to motorists for expired registration and inspection stickers.  While motorists shouldn't have expired stickers, Zablocki believes the harassment has to stop.  He says if elected Public Advocate, he would push legislation that would prevent traffic agents from entering private parking lots and issuing summonses.   Zablocki also wants traffic agents to have some leniency with drivers that "just miss" the expired meter.

 

"We need to work on better police and community relations, especially when it comes to issuing parking violations. Mistakes happen and traffic agents have to be mindful of that.  I believe traffic agents shouldn't be harassing motorists on private property.  With the economy the way it is, we don't need to put further burdens on drivers by ticketing their cars while they shop for groceries. Our city is better than that," Zablocki said.

 

Zablocki said that if he is elected Public Advocate on November 3^rd, he would hold meetings in every borough with small business owners, BID's, chamber of commerce associations and the NYPD to work on better practices for traffic agents and ways to work with shop owners and customers, so they feel they aren't criminals in the minds of traffic enforcement.

 

Alex Zablocki, who is the Republican candidate for Public Advocate, is 26 years old and the youngest candidate to run for the position.  Zablocki is a native New Yorker and resides in Staten Island where he owns a home.  More information about him and his candidacy can be found at www.alex2009.com.

 

# # #