By: Denise McTutchin
According to a Crain’s report, Michael Blake, Bronx Assemblyman, Candidate for Congress, and Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, utilized funds for his own political agenda on numerous accounts. Government ethics groups are currently looking into this report very closely and examining claims made to support this inappropriate use of government money.
However, Blake is continuing to push back, stating the following: “To create the impression that doing political activity, on the days that I also did official work and/or traveled to Albany, is unusual or wrong—is nonsensical.”
It may seem difficult for investigations to reveal truth or relevance of the matter: even if it is very much validated that Blake used his expenses on anything other than attending events that were part of his re-election campaign (by taking trips with the sole purpose of furthering his own career) it is almost impossible to trace or match a fund to a specified motivation, and if said motivation is any less good for the people than the original plan mandated.
But the following examples suggest otherwise: On April 25th, 2017, Blake spent $175 on a hotel stay, but then missed all votes made in Assembly that day, including his own. What was he doing instead? Why did he miss this important vote? That question can easily be answered from a video posted of Michael Blake, appearing at the Ohio Black Legislative Caucus Day of Action, thousands of miles away from where he was actually supposed to be.
On May 9th, 2017, he again missed all Assembly votes and, instead, attended the Spring Gala of Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, as seen from a post on his personal Instagram. On August 6th, 2017, Blake asked for $331 as compensation for a flight and for another hotel stay dedicated to the American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention conference; it was confirmed that he was miles away, in Martha’s Vineyard, at the Democratic Party fundraiser with Georgia Rep. John Lewis, publicized on Instagram. The list goes on. There is certainly no denying this repeated issue.
If Blake is not hiding these indecencies, then is there something missing? Are they really indecencies if they are being implemented for a greater good? Or is the shameless rule-breaking a moral violation? Is there even a point in looking into the reports, if they are confirmed by Black himself? As he stated, following these various accusations, “elected officials do official work or travel, and also do political work on the same day, all the time. It’s not unusual.”
