Common Cause/NY Statement on Pastor Findlayter

NEW YORK, NY (02/13/2014)(readMedia)-- Today Mayor de Blasio defended his actions in response to an article in the Wall Street Journal, which reported that the Mayor made a phone call on behalf of a supporter, Pastor Findlayter, after he was pulled over by the police. The Mayor said:

"I think all this is case-by-case, and this is an usual situation, where a very prominent member of the clergy was obviously experiencing a very unusual situation," de Blasio told reporters after a storm briefing in Brooklyn today. "So, I thought it was appropriate to make an inquiry. And I got a response. And that's the end of the story."

In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY issued the following statement:

"The only thing unusual about the situation regarding Pastor Findlayter is that the Mayor involved himself in a police matter on behalf of a supporter and a friend. It is inappropriate for the Mayor to exercise favoritism, regardless of the Pastor's prominence. There are certainly broader policy concerns to be addressed about police practice in detaining citizens on open warrants, but that's a discussion the Mayor should have at the policy level, not on a case by case basis. It sets a terrible precedent for the policy making process."