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Working Families Party Hits Back At NY Post Attack
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 12, 2010
Modified Jul 12, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 12, 2010
Modified Jul 12, 2010
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Today's NY Post features a little hit job on the Working Families Party, a progressive political party that advocates for housing reform, living wages, paid sick days, health care, and a host of other issues. But Brooklyn resident Patrick Crooks, who worked with the WFP for three days—following a stint working for former City Councilman Eric Gioia (an outspoken critic of the WFP)—says he was encouraged by higher-ups to falsify signatures and addresses on petitions calling for rent regulation reform.
"I saw that everyone else was doing it [putting down fake signatures] and my field manager was encouraging it... just so it looked like other people had been signing... But from my second day onward I decided not to do it... It just didn't seem right to me," Crooks, 26, from Maryland, told The Post. Crooks also claims he was misled about the type of work he'd being doing when they hired him, that he was instructed to knock on doors in buildings with No Trespassing signs, and that he was paid through the party's former political arm, Data and Field Services, although the job posting he responded to was for the WFP.
You may recall that ACORN, a progressive group connected to WFP and similarly loathed by conservatives, was attacked when it was found that workers in Florida were falsifying names on voter registration forms (to get paid for work they didn’t do). Perhaps attempting to avoid ACORN's fate, WFP has responded quickly to the Post article, issuing a defiant statement (below). Our source at WFP tells us, "The Post wants to beat up on us, so they find a disgruntled former employee. It's more of the same." The source also finds it interesting that Crooks used to work for Gioia, who lost a tough election battle for public advocate against Bill de Blasio, who won with backing from the Working Families Party.
Today’s Post carries a story about Patrick Crooks, who worked for Data and Field Service for three days. (Data and Field Services is the grassroots field services company set up by WFP). Here are the facts:
Crooks’ employment: Crooks worked for DFS for 3 days as a field canvasser. He was never offered a job doing policy (nor is there currently an opening for a policy position). It quickly became clear to Crooks’ supervisors that he was unlikely to make it as a field canvasser. After being told he had to improve, and offered training on how to do so, Crooks never returned to work.
The Post says Crooks is a “former employee of the Working Families Party.” He was not - he was an employee of DFS. The documents he signed to begin employment clearly stated that DFS was his employer and explained what DFS is. (WFP contracts with DFS to run its grassroots fundraising canvass). The job posting he cites announces work for the WFP, because DFS was hiring canvassers to do work for the WFP.
Sign-up sheets: DFS Canvassers use sign-up sheets to collect contact information from WFP supporters they recruit. These are not petitions and there are no signatures collected. The sign-up sheets are not legal documents — they do not petition candidates onto the ballot or register people to vote. The sheets are the sole possession of the WFP, they are not turned over to anyone outside the organization or any government agency.
Some canvassers use a sign-up sheet from previous canvassing when they begin their day, to show new supporters how to fill the form out correctly and to make sure supporters write down all their contact information: phone, email, address, etc. Some employees fill in their own name as an example.
Entering buildings: DFS canvassers are told only to enter buildings when they have been invited by tenants while clearly identifying who they are, who they work for, and why they are there. All employees carry clipboards and visible ID badges. (Breaking and entering, we imagine, is not a helpful tactic for raising money door-to-door).
Tagged
bill de blasio
eric gioia
wfp
working families party
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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