Ortiz tells working families to take the bus, carpool, and cut their carbon footprint. Meanwhile her campaign spent $410,000 on private jet flights in just six months.
That's the carbon equivalent of driving 1.2 million miles in a gasoline car.
In 2019, Ortiz stood on a stage and swore she would "never, ever" take money from big donors or corporate PACs.
In October 2023, she attended a $5,000-a-plate fundraiser at the penthouse apartment of a Wall Street hedge fund manager. When a reporter spotted her leaving, she ducked into a side entrance.
Ortiz campaigns as a "working-class" champion. She lives in a $3,200-a-month luxury apartment in Washington, D.C., with a rooftop pool and a concierge.
Her congressional salary is $174,000 a year. She makes more than 90% of the people she claims to fight for.
Ortiz showed up to a celebrity charity gala wearing a custom designer dress valued at over $35,000, while her district has one of the highest poverty rates in New York City.
When asked about it, she said it was "borrowed." The designer says she was not asked to return it.
Ortiz talks about treating workers fairly. Her own office has a 72% staff turnover rate, the highest in Congress. Former staffers describe a workplace of "constant chaos" and "screaming matches."
Three former staffers have filed workplace complaints. The campaign calls them "disgruntled."