Proposal Would Ban Anonymous Campaign Ads in NYC Races

The New York Times reports on a new proposal by New York City Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan) that would authorize the New York Campaign Finance Board to impose fines on persons or entities that run anonymous campaign ads.

The intent is to ensure that anonymous ads – which are typically negative “attack ads” – identify who is paying for them.  Federal law requires such disclosure, and most other states do as well.

State law does not.  A bill that would impose a similar disclosure mandate statewide has been introduced in both houses of the State Legislature (A.8187 Zebrowski/S.5980-A Griffo).