Strange Things About Pam Harris’ 2016 Campaign Finance Filings

Rachel Silberstein -
Pam Harris at a press conference in Kaiser Park last week. (Photo by Alex Ellefson/Sheepshead Bite)

Assemblywoman Pamela Harris — who has been under fire last week for the blurred line between her political office and the non-profit she founded, Coney Island Generation Gap (CIGG) — may have a bit more explaining to do after campaign contributions and expenditures for the first half of 2016 were posted to the New York Board of Elections’ campaign finance website Friday.

Here are a few unusual things that popped out to us in the filings related to Harris’ fight to retain her seat in the 46th Assembly District.

  • Braha Brothers LLC — which has been traced to Eli Braha of New York real estate firm Berkley Acquisitions — donated $2,000 to the Harris campaign. Red Flag: The LLC also gave $10,000 to a PAC associated with controversial GOP presumed presidential nominee Donald Trump.
  • An unnamed 270 West 39th St. Co, LLC, with an address of PO Box 300, Island Park, NY 11558, donated $500. Red Flag: The LLC has been flagged as shady by New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) to the Board of Elections for listing only a PO Box. Harris’ filings also indicate she accepted money from two other LLCs listing the exact same PO Box — each of them contributing $500 to her campaign.
  • Rocco Brescia, who replaced Harris as executive director of CIGG, was cut two $2,000 checks by Harris — presumably for expenses related to the non-profit — and contributed $100 to her campaign. Red Flag: Harris has apologized for accepting the $100 donation, and has vowed to terminate her relationship with the non-profit.

As we’ve reported, Harris is being challenged for her seat by Kate Cucco, a Bay Ridge activist and former chief of staff to Harris’ predecessor Alec Brook-Krasny, in the September 13 primary. Cucco is running on a slate that includes Chris McCreight and Brigitte Purvis, who are taking on Harris’ allies Dilia Schack and Treyger for the male and female district leader positions.

The 46th Assembly District includes Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Seagate, Coney Island, and parts of Gravesend and Brighton Beach. We reached out to the assemblywoman’s campaign for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.