That’s How You Build Support

Put a political campaign-style push together at the last minute, call it something like “FUCKUPNYC,” or something, and basically make up shit:

With demands for a robust lobbying effort growing before the April 1 deadline for a state budget, Mr. de Blasio has started an advocacy group, which has moved swiftly and at times clumsily. It recently released a list of high-profile New Yorkers who were said to endorse his proposed tax increase; in interviews, three on the list said they were not, in fact, supporters.

[. . .]

After Mr. de Blasio’s team released a list of endorsements from business and civic leaders recently, some on the list — including Victor and Sarah Kovner, longtime Democratic activists, and Richard I. Beattie, a corporate lawyer — said in interviews that they did not support the mayor’s proposal.

Oh, and don’t forget mobilizing the unions you are getting ready to negotiate with:

He has also found new allies, including several labor unions that did not endorse him during the Democratic primary but are looking to get into his good graces as they negotiate contracts with City Hall.

[. . .]

Mr. de Blasio has the support of several powerful unions, including the United Federation of Teachers, which did not endorse him in the primary and is now seeking $3.4 billion in retroactive pay. He also has the backing of 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East, which supported Mr. de Blasio’s mayoral bid and is planning to give at least $100,000 to the effort. Labor leaders warned they might spend against lawmakers seeking re-election this fall if they stood in the way of Mr. de Blasio’s plan.