New York City taxpayers are footing the bill for security as Mayor Bill de Blasio campaigns for president – a sharp contrast to South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who pays for security with his own campaign funds, The City is reporting.
The news outlet estimated New York City taxpayers shelled out at least $100,000 for the New York Police Department security detail that accompanies de Blasio and his wife. However, the NYPD refuses to disclose just how much it is costing.
All detectives assigned to de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, for campaign outings have their airfare, hotel, rental cars and meal bills paid for by the police department.
“NYPD policy has been clear, and goes back many years and across multiple mayors,” a police spokesman said. “The NYPD, as a matter of long-standing general practice, does not comment on security measure of protected officials. That includes numbers of personnel, vehicles, cost and hotels.
Meanwhile a spokesman for Buttigieg, told the news outlet that he does not make his constituents pay the bill for his campaign security.
“We pay for security from the campaign,” said Liz Smith, Buttigieg’s press secretary. She noted he hires retired police officers or ex-Secret Service agents.
Buttigieg’s campaign recently announced it raised $2.35 million from New Yorkers during the past three months – more than twice the $1.1 million raised by de Blasio since launching his campaign.
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