By denying Adams funds, the undemocratic Campaign Finance Board is election-meddling

The unelected city Campaign Finance Board just denied Mayor Adams access to more than $4 million in matching funds for his reelection fight — showing yet again the profoundly undemocratic nature of New York’s public-campaign-finance system.

The board declared Adams ineligible to receive public monies on the strength of alleged crimes and corruption, yet his trial on federal charges — and thus any factual finding of guilt — won’t even start until April. 

And those charges themselves sure look like they’re motivated by politics (i.e. payback to Adams for challenging President Biden on the border crisis).

Yes, when it comes to the public fisc, even the appearance of impropriety is supposed to be a big no-no. 

And Adams can appeal the decision; he still has millions in his war chest; etc. etc.

But this is at least a serious wound to his candidacy. 

Again, at the hands of the CFB, which is neither directly elected nor remotely answerable to the voters of New York, nor really to anyone. 

Yet it behaves as though it has the public mandate to shape and even decide election outcomes. 

Consider the 2013 mayoral race: The CFB suddenly denied matching funds to then-Comptroller John Liu over alleged corruption, too — and so cleared the left lane of the Democratic primary (and near-certain victory in the general election) for a lumbering, communist-loving dimwit from Cambridge, Bill de Blasio. 

That proved to be deeply consequential for all New Yorkers, eventually ushering in an era of high crime, failing schools, COVID insanity and general civic decay. 

(The CFB also impacted the mayoral race in 2000, by the way, making up rules on the fly about what funds could go out the door for what after the 9/11 attacks forced a postponement of the primaries.)

Now all the leftists taking aim at Adams are jumping with joy over this decision.

The matching-funds rules themselves increase the field of candidates who’ve learned how to work the public-finance system, paying out an unthinkably lavish $8 for each (apparently) qualifying $1 in donations.  

All on the taxpayers’ dime. 

New York City progressives love to scream and shout that democracy is under threat. 

Whatever happens in Adams’ case, the latest CFB intervention is a reminder the progressive idea of democracy often isn’t very democratic at all.