NEW YORK — On the airwaves, an independent group of Andrew Yang supporters has launched an offensive: an ad buy worth a whopping $2 million.

But Yang is finding himself on the defensive, in part because those supporters include pro-charter school billionaires.

"His patrons want to privatize education, plain and simple,” City Comptroller Scott Stringer, a Democratic candidate for mayor, said at a news conference Friday. “And they're willing to pay for it."


What You Need To Know

  • Andrew Yang continued to take heat for not knowing 50-a, law that once shielded police disciplinary records

  • Independent group is buying $2 million worth of airtime to run pro-Yang ads

  • Scott Stringer criticized wealthy Yang supporters, created digital video mocking Yang’s campaign flubs

  • Yang said “politicians are paying more attention to the polls than the issues”

Stringer was pushing his own plans, like a proposal to put two teachers in every classroom in grades Kindergarten through five. But he also posted an online video ridiculing Yang for some recent stumbles, like his unfamiliarity with 50-a, the controversial law that once shielded police disciplinary records.

Yang, meanwhile, appeared at a Bronx rally speaking out against hate crimes. Speaking to reporters afterwards, he pushed back against the idea that he lacks knowledge of the issues.

“We have very, very detailed policy proposals — the most detailed of any campaign in the field,” he said.

Elsewhere, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, joined by supporters including several Brooklyn elected officials, opened his Brooklyn campaign headquarters.

"When you look at my story, you see your story,” the Democratic mayoral candidate told the crowd. “I am you. I am that blue-collar worker."

Others stuck to policy Friday. Shaun Donovan rolled out his plan to bring back tourism, while Kathryn Garcia discussed her proposal to repurpose 25% of the city's road space.

"We need to re-envision how we're using this public space,” she said.

Maya Wiley, meanwhile, contrasted her knowledge of policing issues to Yang's.

"Can you imagine a woman running to be the mayor of the largest city in the nation not actually knowing or understanding how the police department works?” she said. “Let's be honest: I don't think that would fly."

Yang's response: "We all know when politicians are paying more attention to the polls than the issues that New Yorkers care about every day."

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