Mikey (aka @MrMikeBlake) from the block is going Hollywood. Actress Alfre Woodard headlines a community fundraiser for Democrat Michael Blake this Saturday, August 2 at the Eagle Academy for Young Men – Bronx campus* at 9am. Blake is running for an Assembly seat in the Bronx.
In a second fundraising email in as many days, Blake touts the awarding actress as a personal friend and supporter.
As we approach the second finance filing deadline on Monday, August 4th, I was hoping you would join me and a personal friend, Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winning actress, ALFRE WOODARD for a Community Fundraising Reception SATURDAY, August 2nd at 9:30 a.m., with doors opening at 9:00 a.m., at Eagle Academy for Young Men in the Bronx.
The former Obama operative, who is running for New York State Assembly in the Bronx, has run up against the state’s residency laws for candidates. Blake is accused of being ineligible to run for state office because he has not established sufficient residency in New York State or in the Bronx’s 79th assembly district.
But while the legal proceedings challenging his candidacy winds its through state court, Blake continues to campaign and add money to his campaign war chest of over $160,000 (with about $60,000 cash-on-hand). As he alludes to in his email, a second State Board of Elections campaign financial disclosure filing deadline looms on August 4.
*It seems that Mr. Blake has run up against local regulations, again. This time the NYC Schools Chancellor’s Regulations prohibit political fundraisers on public school property. Requests for comments from both the NYC Department of Education and the Blake campaign have not been responded to.
Those regs prohibit elected officials from fundraising events in school buildings as well as prohibit any political activities “60 calendar days prior to a primary and/or election.” The September 9 Democratic Primary is 38 days after his Saturday “community” fundraiser.
The Chancellor’s Regulations D-130 regarding After-School Use clear state:
NOTE: In an email received after 5 pm, a spokesperson for the Department of Education wrote,
“While we welcome forums involving all candidates as part of our civic responsibility, we do not permit political fundraising in our public schools. We will notify the group that we are cancelling their permit.”
Huummm…You have Blake not voting for O and an actress who recently starred in an anti-teacher union movie partnering at a Charter school….Huummmm…
The Eagle Academy for Young Men is a DOE school, not a charter school. The EAYM network has some autonomy but it’s not a charter school network ala Success or Icahn.