From the Daily News:Sometimes being on the New York City Council is like being Santa Claus - but with tips.
Three-quarters of the Council’s 51 members got campaign contributions from employees or board members of the nonprofits they helped bankroll with taxpayer money.
A Daily News review of campaign finance and other city records found:
- City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) earmarked $150,000 for the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, whose board chairman raised at least $10,900 for her abortive mayoral campaign.
- Councilman John Liu (D-Queens) sponsored or co-sponsored $37,500 in Council funds for the Chinese-American Planning Council. He picked up $9,713 in checks from employees, board members and their spouses (up to $20,213 with matching funds).
It all adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from groups that got millions in taxpayer cash - more than $200,000 in contributions, or up to $467,000 with public matching dollars.
And that's a conservative estimate.
16 comments:
A new twist on the "pay to play" game...
contribute to receive funding!
And this show goes on without the feds ever looking behind the curtain!
That's because you well tweeded voters keep on electing and re-electing crooks like Quinn, Katz, Stavisky, etc.
Thank you for making this shameful performance possible by remaining silent!
The doorman's district includes a largely Irish neighborhood so he's buying votes which is par for the course for any pol.
What did you expect from a lowly clubhouse footman a sainthood?
Eric will drop to his knees and assume the position at the drop of a hat to retain his position!
Our Mr. Joy-boy!
Wipe the "evidence" off your lips Eric!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
CLEAN ELECTIONS, NOW!
A non-profit that is a 501(c)3 CANNOT be involved in politics or fund raising.
I am certain that a carefull look at this will reveal illegalities with many organizations.
The next step is to look at the developers and their potential influence on non-profits, starting with the Library and moving right across the boro to the East River waterfront.
The cultural message is rigorously party line, right LaGuardia?
And, of course, our mayor. Who has it down to a science. He doles out both city monies AND his own funds (often listed as anonymous--is that legal?)not in order to get $$$ back, but to get influence, support, silence. And all the major nonprofits(coughDoeFundcough)know that to get on line you gotta toe the line. These orgs used to advocate for the powerless, now they abdicate to the powerful.Call in the Feds as they say!
As an employee of a nonprofit, and someone who inherited political activism from her parents (which is why I am in a nonprofit), I contribute money and time to candidates who share my interests. I do not know, nor do I ask my co-workers if they contribute to political candidates, so their is no conspiracy among us, and there is nothing illegal about employees and/or board members of nonprofits contributing their own money or time to a political candidate. It is only when they use the company time or money that they jeopardize their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Some candidates give my nonprofit-employer member item funding, not in return for my meager contribution, but because my organization brings much needed services to their constituents.
Sometimes it just happens that way.
Before maligning an organization, you should really have all the facts, not just the ones you like. Some member items are actually good investments for the community - like those going to fund afterschool programs. Most people are in favor of afterschool programs for our children, aren't they?
I know Emerald Isle and the Chinese American Planning Council, I have referred many of my clients to them, and they to me. They provide good services to the community, despite their individual employee and board member support for Quinn.
You are not wrong anonymous employee of a nonprofit, you are just not totally right. I concur that the staffs of these orgs are dedicated, hardworking, and real do-ers. They accomplish a lot. And credit to you.
However, it has long been a fact that orgs are used by the wealthier class to advance themselves, improve their status, link up with others, etc in order to spread the wealth.
The board of your organization, for ex. Look into it. Talk to your coworkers. There is always a quid pro quo. Over time one's ideals begin to tarnish compromise after compromise, deal after deal. Principles once sacrosanct yield to accomodation. You learn to look the other way. Then you wake up one day and you realize you have all kinds of power mad freaks running the show and you have your pitiful salary and large caseload. Give it a thought.(Are you young, may I ask?)
Maybe some of those employees have "concluded for themselves" (ha, ha) that NOT GIVING contributions to certain pols might mean that they're organization winds up underfunded and
they might, in turn, eventually lose their jobs....no?
It's all been carefully cloaked!
Sounds like Jeffrey Rosenstock is posting and pimping for his "Theater In The Dark" way out in the middle of never never land!
C'mon....Queens Council on The Arts is the biggest clearing house along the money trail that runs from not for profit orgs to pols and vice versa!
What's Terri Osborne's take (both in money and opinions) on all this?
MYTH:
Some candidates give my nonprofit-employer member item funding, not in return for my meager contribution, but because my organization brings much needed services to their constituents.
REALITY:
OK, THAT TAKES CARE OF YOU. I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
NOW WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THOUSAND OR SO COMMUNITY GROUPS OUT THERE?
YOU CAN VOUCH FOR YOUR PURITY AND VIRTUE, BUT FOR THEM?
LETS GET REAL. THEY HAVE A FUND RAISER. YOU SHOW UP AND THANK THEM FOR YOUR ICE CREAM MONEY.
IF THEY ARE DAMAGING YOUR COMMUNITY, DO YOU STILL SHOW UP?
MYTH:
Sometimes it just happens that way.
REALTY:
I HAVE TWO STUFFED BUNNY RABBITS, DAISY AND TUMPER, THAT I CARRY AROUND EVERYWHERE I GO.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE MUCH IN COMMON.
That sleazy doorman needs a ribbed dildo up his ass and a ball gag in his mouth!
Maybe then he'll finally stop flashing us that phony smile of his!
Just found out today that the Philharmonic concert in Conningham Park will not happan this year. No funding. Thank you Mayor Bloomberg. You didn't run out of money for the Central Park concerts and Operas. Guess you don't have any friends living in Queens. Shame on you. The poorest countries in the world have money for concerts for their people.
Again - SHAME ON YOU
The Courier just turned its back on the people of Queens and endorsed the mayor.
"I know Emerald Isle and the Chinese American Planning Council, I have referred many of my clients to them, and they to me. They provide good services to the community, despite their individual employee and board member support for Quinn."
curious? do your clients include American citizens, the ones who vote and pay taxes?
or are you talking about illegal immigrants? because Emerald Isle Immigration Center does not help or aid American Citizens. in any way. not even to provide jobs for the locals.
What exactly has Eric Gioia done for anyone that you know?
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