Blakeman’s bank statements don’t match his disclosure reports

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and several basketball friends have been secretly using the NYPD Police Academy's gymnasium in Queens for pickup games, according to sources. The mayor's group usually arrives around 10 or 11 p.m. and enters through a loading dock. While sports enthusiasm has bolstered past mayors' political brands, Mamdani's choice of venue is drawing attention.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman's campaign finance disclosure reports have been inconsistent since the spring. Bank statements obtained by POLITICO suggest the campaign's financial reports may have hidden issues. The campaign's bank had $1.7 million in its checking account on Sept. 28, while the disclosure report stated only $178,000 was present that day. The bank records show numerous transactions not mentioned in the campaign filings, such as a $13,500 payment to an unknown recipient on July 29.

The campaign also failed to account for a $18,000 wire transfer from actress Lois Robbins on Sept. 2 and an $18,000 wire from attorney Howard Fensterman in July. These discrepancies raise questions about the accuracy of Blakeman's financial disclosures. Blakeman is the first gubernatorial candidate in state history to participate in the matching funds program, which allows him to receive up to $3.5 million in public money.

His campaign has amended several reports, sometimes significantly altering the initial figures. The campaign has previously stated that technical issues caused by numerous donors are responsible for the discrepancies. Blakeman's campaign has not responded to a request for clarification on the inconsistencies.