June 13, 2018
Mr. Stephen K. Carlisle
President
Cadillac Division, General Motors
Dear Mr. Carlisle:
This is a formal request on behalf of New York taxpayers for the return of the $1 million Andrew Cuomo recently gave Cadillac to spruce up its SOHO headquarters in New York City after receiving $31,500 in political donations from the General Motors PAC.
It’s clear that the $1 million had zero bearing on Cadillac’s decision to stay in New York City, and, frankly, New York taxpayers need the money more than you do. A million dollars is a paltry amount to America’s iconic luxury automotive brand, but it can mean a lot to New Yorkers in need. It could pay for wheelchair accessibility ramps, special needs school teachers, or improvements at senior citizen centers, for example.
Cadillac, and its parent company, General Motors, have a long and admirable history of supporting philanthropic causes around the United States and abroad. Surely there is a New York charity worth Cadillac’s generosity.
I am a great admirer of Cadillac, and I don’t mean to put you on the spot. But Mr. Cuomo has given away billions of dollars in grants and tax breaks to political donors over the past eight years, and in cases like yours it’s so obviously wrong. Just consider the optics: The PAC donates $31,500 to Mr. Cuomo; Mr. Cuomo gives Cadillac a million tax dollars it doesn’t need. That doesn’t pass the smell test. Not in my book.
Congratulations on Cadillac’s record-breaking sales in 2017, and best of luck for continued success this year and beyond. I look forward to Cadillac doing the right thing for the taxpaying consumers of New York State.
Sincerely,
Marcus J. Molinaro
Republican Candidate for Governor
