CFB Launches Interactive Tool That Maps New York City Residents' Political Contributions to City Candidates
September 22, 2016
The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announces the launch of an interactive mapping tool (http://www.maps.nyccfb.info) that gives New York City residents an exciting new way to look at political contributions to candidates for City offices.
The mapping tool displays aggregate contributions from individuals to every candidate running for municipal office in the 2017 City elections. The contributions can be displayed in five ways: by ZIP code, neighborhood, city council district, state assembly district, or local election district.
As the New York Times noted, the interactive map demonstrates how the incentives built into the City's $6-to-$1 matching funds programs encourage candidates to raise funds from residents living in every neighborhood in the City. The mapping tool was developed in collaboration with the Center for Urban Research (CUR) at the CUNY Graduate Center. CUR previously worked with the CFB to develop a contribution mapping tool for the 2013 election cycle that was published in conjunction with the CFB's report on those elections, "By the People: The New York City Campaign Finance Program in the 2013 Elections."
"This tool gives voters a powerful new way to understand the money flowing to City candidates and how the matching funds program puts City residents at the center of our elections," said Amy Loprest, executive director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board. "With the City's own elections fast approaching, we hope New Yorkers will use this tool to explore and better understand the choices they will face in 2017."
"In politics, as in life, place matters, and now residents of New York City can understand who is receiving contributions from their neighbors as well as from all the different neighborhoods of the city," noted John Mollenkopf, director of the Center for Urban Research / CUNY Graduate Center.
"The maps reveal local fundraising patterns that wouldn't be apparent by looking at lists or campaign statements," said Steven Romalewski, mapping director at the Center for Urban Research. "We hope this way of visualizing the data will help voters, the media, candidates, public officials, and others to better understand the importance of the city's campaign finance program."
A Note on Using the Map
Hovering over or tapping on any area of the map will display specific contribution data including total amount, average dollar amount, and number of contributions. Overall total contributions are also displayed regardless of geography in the info-box to the right of the map, allowing you to contrast specific findings to broader contribution figures. Links to the underlying contribution data from the CFB's database are available for both specific geographical selections and for overall total contributions. Simply use the embeddable permalink beneath the map to share the specific visualization you've generated on social media or email. Visit the CUR website to read more about this mapping tool.
About the Campaign Finance Board
The CFB administers one of the strongest, most effective campaign finance systems in the country. NYC’s matching funds program amplifies the voice of average New Yorkers in city elections by matching their small contributions with public funds. By increasing the value of small-dollar contributions, the program reduces the possibility and perception of corruption from large contributions and unlimited campaign spending, and encourages citizens from all walks of life to run for office. Through its rigorous oversight and enforcement efforts, the CFB holds candidates accountable for using public funds responsibly.
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