A self-described Democratic Socialist in New York is under fire after turning to online crowdfunding to cover his living expenses while he waits to assume a taxpayer-funded post in the state Assembly.
The controversy centers on Brian Romero, a former legislative aide and the presumptive winner of the Queens 34th District Assembly seat, who briefly launched a GoFundMe campaign asking others to pay his rent and grocery bills. As reported by Breitbart, Romero, once considered a near-lock for victory in November, appeared to embody the very ethos of socialism by seeking to shift his personal financial burdens onto strangers rather than tightening his own belt or seeking private-sector work. The episode has raised fresh questions about the judgment and self-reliance of candidates who champion expansive government while seemingly struggling to manage their own finances.
Romeros appeal for cash came just months after he left his position as a senior adviser to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (DQueens), a move he said was required by state ethics rules once he qualified for the Assembly ballot. As many of you know, I had to leave my full-time job in the legislature when I got on the ballot for our Assembly race, he wrote, explaining that he had supposedly prepared for the transition. Public records cited in the reporting show that as recently as last year, Romero earned $106,469, and he claimed he had been saving for months, yet he now insists those savings have been exhausted.
Despite that six-figure salary, Romero announced just days ago that he was effectively out of money. Brian is open to work he declared on his LinkedIn page, signaling he was seeking income even as he positioned himself to collect a generous government paycheck in the near future. On Thursday, he went further, launching a GoFundMe titled Help Brian Cover Rent After State Assembly Run, asking supporters to bridge the gap until he could access public funds as an elected official.
In his online plea, Romero said he was excited that we won and I saved for months to get by but Ive now depleted my savings as Im close to closing down some consulting gigs. He added that the donations would be used to cover the rest of rent and groceries, framing the request as a temporary lifeline rather than a long-term dependency. The support from friends, colleagues, and community members so far has been overwhelming, and we are deeply grateful, he said, according to the account, before the page abruptly vanished.
The GoFundMe campaign, which has since been deleted, briefly revealed how much he had managed to collect before public scrutiny intensified. His [Romeros] GoFundMe site said early Friday he had raised $1,095 out of $2,000 being sought. The first $50 donation was anonymous, which wouldnt be allowed for campaign contributions. The largest anonymous contribution was for $200. But he abruptly closed down the online fundraiser Friday afternoon, after The Post started making inquiries. The consultant, who shares a $2,600-a-month apartment with his partner in Jackson Heights, appeared to recognize the optics of soliciting anonymous funds while running unopposed for a powerful public office.
When contacted, Romero attempted to distance himself from the fundraiser, characterizing it as a lapse in judgment. He told the newspaper the effort was a mistake and I decided to take it down. It was kind of done pretty quickly in consultation with some friends. He further claimed he would not keep any of the money, though he did not explain why a candidate confident enough to seek a $142,000 taxpayer-funded salary could not weather a few months without asking strangers to subsidize his lifestyle.
Romero is poised to replace his former boss, Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzlez-Rojas, who is moving on to the State Senate. With Republicans declining to field a candidate in the Queens 34th District, he faces no real electoral challenge and is effectively guaranteed the seat. If sworn into office, Romero will collect the state Assemblys $142,000 annual salary, plus per diem payments while the Legislature is in sessionan arrangement that underscores why many voters on the right believe self-styled socialists are far more comfortable spending other peoples money than living within their own means, even in an era when President Trumps second administration is working to restore fiscal sanity and personal responsibility at the national level.
Login