The Golden Laundry

According to State Senator Marty Golden's latest campaign filings, his campaign has paid out nearly $40,000 in campaign cash to the Bay Ridge Manor, run by Golden's wife and his brother, at 476 76th Street in Bay Ridge.

As an example of the spending practices that have been twisting local Democratic knickers for years, Golden's campaign dropped $6,000 at the Bay Ridge Manor for a primary night watch party -- when Golden wasn't being primaried and his race for re-election was a year away.

Golden has defended his family-friendly campaign spending as within his office's broad definition of "constituent services" -- which account for most of his reported campaign expenditures.  According to a Golden spokesperson, the Bay Ridge Manor was chosen as the "best priced", most accessible and most politically effective venue. 

Under New York State’s election laws, state lawmakers have free rein with their campaign cash, which they can spend on just about anything they choose.

Local Democratic club Bay Ridge Democrats, which challenged Golden's incumbency in 2012, has characterized Golden's campaign spending practices as money laundering, finding it "outrageous" that Golden's family would directly benefit from his campaign spending.  The "Golden laundry", according to a club spokesperson, illustrates why New York State so desperately needs campaign finance reform. 

Golden's office fired back that the "political hacks" at the BRD were using the "baseless" and "insulting" charges just to garner media attention -- something in which Golden clearly lacks all interest.

The article from the Daily News.