By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh
Thomas Lopez-Pierre, who ran unsuccessfully for New York City Council in 2017, is in trouble for his campaign finances. The candidate, who rapidly became known for his anti-Semitic slurs and for disparaging speech about “greedy Jewish landlords”, is being fined in connection to a probe by the Campaign Finance Board.
As reported by Crain’s NY, Lopez-Pierre will have to pay back $54,107 of the $99,180 in matching funds the Campaign Finance Board gave him for his failed bid against City Councilman Mark Levine of Manhattan. Lopez-Pierre has also been assessed $6,182 in fines for assorted forms of malfeasance. The panel charged him with a long list of wrongs including: neglecting to report over $12,000 in contributions; failing to cite over $10,000 in transactions; exceeding the $100 limit on individual cash expenditures; using campaign funds for personal use; and making campaign expenditures after the election was already over.
Lopez-Pierre’s treasurer testified to the board that he had manipulated her, and not kept her fully informed of the financial activities. She further alleged that he had purposely recruited her for the job in spite of her admitted inexperience, specifically so that he could manipulate the system. “In hindsight, I believe the candidate knowingly targeted me to become treasurer to take advantage of the campaign finance process and my lack of knowledge so that he might commit fraud when possible,” Sandra Monperousse told the board. Lopez-Pierre did not appear at the hearing, and he did not respond to requests for comment.
The controversial Democratic candidate was infamous for having said that it is the “greedy Jewish landlords” who force out longtime residents in order to gentrify NYC neighborhoods. He was also known to have made racial slurs to African Americans who showed support for his political opponents. He had also in the past admitted that “he didn’t tell the truth”, when he had said that he was behind a GoFundMe campaign to stop his rants. He admitted he just lied to cause confusion and dissention on the other side and thwart their efforts to hinder him. He has also invited controversy as the former co-owner of a Harlem singles club which set up professional men with young, attractive ladies. In the 2017 city council election, Lopez-Pierre had received only 25.36 percent of the votes while Levine received over 74 percent of the votes as the incumbent.
All this, however, has not discouraged Lopez-Pierre from affirming that he will be running in 2021 for City Council once more for the 7th district in Northern Manhattan, representing Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, West Harlem and a portion of the Upper West Side. Levine is currently in his second and final term and will be vacating his seat.
