Knicks and MSG owner James Dolan’s firms pumped another $3 million into a Super PAC backing Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman — just hours before Tuesday night’s debate with Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.
Records filed with the state Board of Elections show a deposit of three $1 million transfers into Strong and Safe New York Inc.. — two from MSG Sports and an additional $1 million from the Dolan-run Sphere Entertainment Group.
Dolan has been Blakeman’s biggest booster in the business community.
The MSG and champion Knicks honcho decided to step in and help Blakeman and other “pro-business and common sense” candidates because of the vacuum left by other corporate leaders who haven’t stepped up this election cycle.
In prior election cycles, Estee Lauder cosmetics heir and philanthropist Ronald Lauder aided Republican candidates with his fortune, but he has not been active this cycle.
Dolan even called out leaders of the city’s most influential business group — the Partnership for the City of New York — for sitting out the governor’s race instead of backing Blakeman – or at least advocating for a lower tax, pro-growth agenda.
Some members of the Partnership are backing Hochul’s reelection.
