A group predominantly fueled by major labor unions has spent more than $500,000 on television ads opposing a constitutional convention.
A Board of Elections filing for the group, New Yorkers Against Coruption, show $598,112 was spent on the commercial opposing the upcoming referendum, which is held every 20 years.
The filing shows the organization has $1.6 million, with major donations coming from the New York State United Teachers, which gave $500,000, and $350,000 from AFSCME. The Civil Service Employees Association gave $250,000 to the effort.
At the same time, the group reported spending $148,627 on mail.
The group is a coalition of organizations — including the Conservative Party, gun-rights organizations and environmental groups — who worry a convention would be a staging ground for potentially losing hard-won rights in the existing state constitution.
New Yorkers Against Corruption also reported in-kind donations in the form mostly printing of palm cards and advertisements in the Chief Leader, a newspaper that reports on the labor movement.