City

* In mid-March, the Federal Election Commission found that Brooklyn Congressman Ed Towns's campaign had taken in an additional $14,500 in campaign contributions than what is legally allowed, according to a letter sent from the FEC to the campaign and obtained by City and State. Towns' campaign took $5,000 donations from four different individuals, and $3,000 from another, when the legal limit per donor is only $2,500, according to the letter. The campaign also took $6,000 from the American Postal Workers Union's political committee, for which the donation limit was $2,500. And Towns took $550 from corporations that the FEC termed "possible prohibited entities." The FEC ordered Towns' campaign to respond to the letter by April 19 or else refund the money. Reached for comment, Charles Lewis, who is listed on press releases as Towns' campaign contact, told us: "I'm just kind of shying away from the campaign, and focusing on my government responsibilities." He referred the questions to Towns' campaign manager, who did not return a phone call. Through last December, Towns had $162,000 in campaign cash on hand. To read more visit cityandstateny.com by clicking here.