“How are you?”
City Comptroller Brad Lander, a candidate for City Hall, is following in the footsteps of the late Mayor Ed Koch. Office “Survey” He will be asking New Yorkers questions about his work as the city's chief auditor and watchdog.
But the intelligence review raises concerns that Trump is using public funds to promote his Democratic bid for mayor by touting his own accomplishments.
“Did you know that New York City's five public pension systems achieved a combined 10% net gain in fiscal year 2024? These strong, robust gains will increase the retirement security of City retirees and save taxpayers $1.81 billion,” Lander, who oversees the pension funds, said in a memo to New Yorkers.
But as The Post previously reported, the gain fell short of the 13.2% return that a standard portfolio made up of 60% global stocks and 40% U.S. Treasuries would get, according to investment consulting firm Wilshire.
Meanwhile, the S&P 500 gained about 23% in the same period.
“This is clearly a political gesture, not a gesture on the part of the administration,” veteran Democratic political consultant John Reinisch said of Lander's letter.
“Political strategist Hank Sheinkopf said:[Lander] “He is using public funds for political activities. He is using his office as campaign headquarters.”
He called for an ethics investigation.
Landers asked survey respondents, “Which of our recent audits have you heard about?”
One of the options was “Adams Administration oversight of DocGo” — a no-bid, much-criticized $432 million emergency migrant shelter contract — and a 60-day shelter rule for migrant families, which Lander opposes.
He also asked if residents were aware of his audit of the use of ShotSpotter, a gunshot location and detection technology, which found that the alerts detected confirmed gunshots only 13 percent of the time. He also asked if residents were aware of his report on emergency storm preparedness.
The survey also asked respondents what topics were most important to them.
Reinisch said Lander is trying to reposition himself politically because many New Yorkers associate him with the Democratic Socialists of America and progressive left politics, and not with his work as comptroller.
The current mayor, Eric Adams, is considered a more moderate Democrat.
“Most New Yorkers probably don't know what the day-to-day work of the comptroller is and probably can't name very many things that Mr. Lander has done within the scope of his job as comptroller. That's not necessarily strange; it's pretty minor,” Reinisch said.
“He's well known as a fringe, far-left progressive activist, but even in a primary election that could work against him given the city's aversion to extremism,” Reinisch said. “Just look at recent examples of politicians who have marched in lockstep with the DSA and lost their primaries, such as Jamaal Bowman, who Lander endorsed, funded and campaigned with.”
“As a mayor running, it's not surprising he would seek to focus the conversation on his record as Comptroller, including promoting good examples of fiscal stewardship and oversight, rather than his ties to the extremist wing of the DSA,” Reinisch said.
A representative for Landers said the criticism was a cheap attack.
“We just received an email from the Comptroller's Office regarding pension fund filings and audits. What a surprise!” said Chloe Chick, a spokesperson for the Comptroller's Office.
“What's next for us? A weekly email from City Hall touting the Mayor's accomplishments or a smear campaign disguised as a news article? What is going to happen to our town?” she said.
