Scott Stringer’s Consulting Work Raises Questions Ahead of Mayoral Run
NEW YORK — Scott Stringer, former city comptroller and current mayoral candidate, has drawn scrutiny over his consulting and lobbying firm, EMMS Strategy, which has represented politically influential clients, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and a hedge-fund-backed group that opposed federal financial transparency regulations.
Stringer’s Consulting Firm and Clients
After losing the 2021 Democratic primary to Mayor Eric Adams, Stringer founded EMMS Strategy in January 2022. His firm has worked with several organizations that intersect with his political and professional background.
Among them:
- The AFT, the parent union of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which backed Stringer’s 2021 campaign. A UFT-funded super PAC spent nearly $4 million supporting him. Though UFT has yet to start its 2025 endorsement process, Stringer is expected to seek its support again.
- The International Institute of Law and Finance, linked to at least one hedge fund, opposed increased SEC financial disclosure requirements. Stringer’s campaign says his work with them was focused on corporate governance, not financial regulations.
- Umoja, a food logistics and supply chain company. City lobbying records show Umoja paid Stringer $46,800 for lobbying work in 2023. Its principal, Daniel Ricciardi, and two family members later donated $4,200 to Stringer’s campaign.
- Other clients include Assured Global, a holding company connected to PPE distributor WeShield, and National Financial Services, owned by Fidelity Investments, which has a longstanding city contract.
Ethical Concerns and Responses
Stringer’s consulting work has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest should he return to public office. While New York City limits former officials lobbying their old offices, there are no restrictions on lobbyists transitioning into government roles.
John Kaehny, head of Reinvent New York, said there are no guardrails preventing lobbyists from entering city government, though ethics advocates support restrictions in the other direction.
In response, Stringer’s campaign pointed to his newly proposed ethics plan, which would ban city agencies from hiring individuals who lobbied them in the previous year. Stringer last lobbied the city in December 2023, meaning he would clear his own threshold if elected.
Financial Disclosures and Campaign Launch
After initially refusing to share his client list, Stringer disclosed it this month upon formally launching his campaign.
According to city financial records, Stringer earned between $60,000 and $100,000 from EMMS Strategy in the first three quarters of 2024. Other financial disclosures reveal:
- City Comptroller Brad Lander reported a $209,050 city salary and retirement accounts valued between $210,000 and $370,000.
- Mayor Eric Adams disclosed income and real estate holdings, including a Brooklyn co-op he previously claimed to have sold. He was also denied $4.3 million in public matching funds.
- State Sen. Zellnor Myrie reported only a deferred compensation plan worth under $55,000.
With the 2025 Democratic primary approaching, Stringer will face tough questions about his consulting work, political alliances, and whether his past lobbying ties will influence his campaign.
