Campaign on the Move
A candidate for the Queens City Council is taking an unusual approach to his campaign—he’s literally on the road. Phil Wong, who is expected to become the new budget director, transitioned his campaign efforts to a U-Haul truck after his lease expired at his Maspeth office.
On Tuesday, Wong cleared out his office on 69th Avenue to prepare for fulfilling the role of term-limited councilor Bob Holden.
“We should have a space soon, but we need a bit of time to get things like wifi and utilities set up,” Wong assured a news outlet.
The situation has been somewhat chaotic; Wong describes the landlord’s notification about the lease termination as just a terse email received last Friday. He revealed that the rent for the office was $2,700 a month.
On Monday night, Wong sent an email to supporters expressing that he felt “tapped out” financially and requested further campaign contributions to find a new office space.
In a reaction to Wong’s claims, the landlord’s representative, Christina Kotoia, asserted that Wong did not leave abruptly and that notifications were provided. “He’s trying to twist the narrative to gain sympathy for his campaign,” Kotoia stated, mentioning that a monthly lease was signed prior to Wong’s claims.
The lease documents further clarify that Wong was a temporary tenant and would need to vacate if a permanent tenant came forward.
“He was paying below market value, but the understanding was that if we found a permanent tenant, he would have to go,” Kotoia added. “It’s disheartening to see someone running for city council spread falsehoods about his landlord.”
Wong was reportedly planning to secure a new office for $5,000 per month starting Friday.
Meanwhile, Holden has chosen not to endorse any candidates vying for his seat, while Alicia Vitunas, his longtime vice chief of staff, is also running against Wong as a Republican.
It’s an interesting turn of events in this campaign, to say the least.
