Mayor de Blasio has decided not to return nearly $50,000 raised from a taxi industry kingpin who has agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle accusations he cheated his drivers.
Evgeny “Gene” Freidman, who controls nearly 900 valuable taxi medallions, raised $49,450 from 11 donors for de Blasio, including a $8,950 from himself and his wife, campaign finance records show.
But last month, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman accused him of overcharging the drivers that lease his medallions and cars, as well as imposing on them other improper fees. Freidman did not admit any wrongdoing, but he agreed to the settlement.
On Wednesday de Blasio filed his final disclosure with the city’s Campaign Finance Board, covering the period between Nov. 29 and Jan. 11.
During that period, Hizzoner returned $40,125 from 34 individuals, the disclosure shows. Freidman and the people he bundled money from were not on the list.
A spokesman for de Blasio declined to comment on why the money was not returned.
Dick Dadey of the group Citizens Union, said the checks should be returned. Dadey said charges by the Schneiderman’s office “spoils any money that [Freidman] puts in the political system. To accept money from a man with poor integrity is not a good move.”
