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whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

Depending upon who you ask, the US government "has a problem of spending too much money" or "has a problem of not taxing enough". The federal government continues to accrue debt.

New York City is in a different situation. While many feel New York City should be spending its money differently and just about everyone wishes that they personally had to pay less taxes, the city consistently balances its books.

While that is a "good thing", what we perceive may not be reality.

I don't think many people realize how many programs might disappear when our billionaire mayor finally retires, and takes his checkbook (and that of his friends) with him.

Today's example:

Bloomberg Funds Plan to Aid Minority Youth

The Bloomberg administration plans to launch a three year program aimed at creating job opportunities for young black and Latino men. The $127 million plan, called the Young Men's Initiative, will be funded by $30 million of the mayor's own money, $30 million by George Soros, and the rest by the city. It will place job-recruitment centers in public-housing complexes where many young black and Latino men live, retrain probation officers in an effort to reduce recidivism, establish new fatherhood classes and assess schools on the academic progress of male black and Latino students.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg also raised $1.5 million in private donations to resume January Regents testing, which the state cut from the budget. Five anonymous donors matched Bloomberg's personal $250,000 contribution to the effort. The funds only cover this year's tests.

By living off the largess of our mayor and his friends, are we setting ourselves up for new reality once he leaves office?

Will the next mayor look like an underachiever because he is unable to support the present programs thru his own funds or additional taxes?

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

can't throw money at the problem and expect it to work.

its a culture thing. that's why black immigrants do better than black Americans. unless the immigrants Americanize. sometimes the kids do and they'll have the same problems as american ones.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

I didn't know that Bloomy was giving so much money.

Wish more rich people were like him, Soros, Buffett, etc.

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

At $235 Million, Bloomberg Was Biggest Giver in U.S.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/nyregion/27bloomberg.html

Much of his largess stays right here in NYC.

Bloomberg reports giving $254 million in 2009 to almost 1,400 nonprofit organizations, saying, "I am a big believer in giving it all away and have always said that the best financial planning ends with bouncing the check to the undertaker."[28]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg#Philanthropy

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
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Can we hire him to some official position of "Commissioner of Giving Us Money"?

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

Some believe that he effectively bought his third term, and was able to circumvent the NYC mayoral term limits law as a result of his donations.

Some city council members have stated off the record that they believe the would not continue to support charities in their districts if they voted against "suspending" the term limits law.

....money is rarely free

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

Boygabriel said:
I didn't know that Bloomy was giving so much money.

Wish more rich people were like him, Soros, Buffett, etc.

Warren Buffet gave $37 billion to Bill Gates' foundation.

George Soros gave away $330 million to the Open Society Foundation and made the biggest single person donation of 2010- the top 10 of which amounted to ~$3.5 billion.

That was just off a Google search man. The rich, even the most evil oligarchs, all engage in a lot of philanthropy. Much of it for bragging rights, but still no less effective in its end result.

I don't think Bloomy leaving will have too big of an effect. It's not like he or his buddies are taking their billions to Colorado. If anything it will let him focus on his philanthropic endeavors.

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

This newspaper focuses on Philanthropy, and the skills involved in successfully getting a donation from rich people and their foundations.

http://philanthropy.com/section/Home/172

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

Cool The Kid said:
Warren Buffet gave $37 billion to Bill Gates' foundation.

George Soros gave away $330 million to the Open Society Foundation and made the biggest single person donation of 2010- the top 10 of which amounted to ~$3.5 billion.

That was just off a Google search man. The rich, even the most evil oligarchs, all engage in a lot of philanthropy. Much of it for bragging rights, but still no less effective in its end result.

I don't think Bloomy leaving will have too big of an effect. It's not like he or his buddies are taking their billions to Colorado. If anything it will let him focus on his philanthropic endeavors.

No, I was listing guys who DO give away money to social causes.

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

the point remains:

We have moved to a system in which our non-profits increasingly depend upon non-government funding sources to survive. This receipt of this money is no longer just for "non-essential things".

Bloomberg has been key in bringing in the $ for these non-profits.

When we look for our next mayor, should one of the things we evaluate candidates on be how good we think they will be at keeping the $ from rich people flowing?

If we had tried to tax Bloomberg and Soros that amount, they would have told us to go f' ourselves....

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
PragmaticGuy
above average
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 397

The point of most charities and foundations is that they depend on people giving to them whether or not they take the tax deduction. If they depend on the government to fund them then hell...the government should just run the programs. I can't see any reason for our taxes to support any private non-profit group. And remember, the Nat'l Endowment for the Arts is not private. By the way...if you noticed the government is getting out of funding NPR and letting their subscribers do it as they should.

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

Governments often contract non-profits to do work for them because they believe [sometimes in error] the non-profit will do the work better (or at least "cheaper") than if they did it themselves.

In the case of social services, non-profits are able to do things much cheaper than government because their workers are frequently not-unionized; they make less money and have a less generous fringe benefit package.

The use of not-for-profits also allows government to minimize their liability. For example, "We didn't abuse that disabled client that is a ward of the state, that was a contracted non-profit. We set rules for our contractors and they broke them"

....whereas if the government was providing the service itself, it would have no such dodge.

Returning to the arts and NPR, does the government fund a lot of things that only appeal to a small segment of the population and therefore should have no hand in? Absolutely.

But that may be a different thread. ...there is little agreement as to which things it should fund and which it should not. It is a conversation will likely not be resolved soon.

On a national basis, the debt crisis shows us it may be easier to spend money we don't have, than to raise money via taxes. ...but I would like to focus only on "fiscally responsible" NYC.

...I don't dare take on the "whole" conversation; I seek to only address a small part of it.

My thoughts:

We've always looked for mayors who share our vision of what should and should not be funded by government dollars. In addition to meeting this criteria, should we look for mayors who share our vision of what should be funded by private dollars?

We are increasingly depending on private funds.

Non-profits choose their executive directors in part based on how successful they have been in getting donations from the rich. Should the voters of NYC use similar criteria?

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

PragmaticGuy said:
if you noticed the government is getting out of funding NPR and letting their subscribers do it as they should.

Yes, let's get rid of the only broadcast media outlet that isn't completely beholden to advertisers.

Great idea.

I forget the old quote. It's something like:

"I can make money or I can produce the news, but I can't do both"

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

Boygabriel said:
Yes, let's get rid of the only broadcast media outlet that isn't completely beholden to advertisers.

Great idea.

I forget the old quote. It's something like:

"I can make money or I can produce the news, but I can't do both"

NPR is beholden to something though. To the point that them being gov't sponsored is a bit dubious.

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 1 yr ago
sandcastler
above average
Joined: Sep '06
Posts: 251

Bloomberg. Feh.

First he supports Ray Kelly and the NYPD in their bullshit priming of the marijuana arrest numbers through illegal searches, or at the very least the mayor does not tell Kelly to knock it off. This results in extraordinary numbers of Black and Latino males in prison.

And costs the City $75 million a year.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/17/new-york-spends-75-millio_1_n_836868.html

Then Bloomberg he promises $10 million a year for 3 years of his own money that will help fund some effort to find out why so many of Black and Latino kids have prison records and find it hard to get a job. Money goes to consultants. Bloomberg looks generous.

And we can’t get by without his largesse? I ain’t buying it.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

Great point. Perhaps we wouldn't need so much ex-con job development if we stop putting so many people of color in jail for low level non violent drug offenses.

Leadership on the drug issues is hard.

Few Americans are willing to do it.

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

I suspect that drug policy will continue to be only a small issue in the next mayoral campaign.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

FWIW a lot of other shit comes with drugs.

One idea would be to legalize it. But I'm sure in typical Bloomberg fashion us colored folks would be left out of the deal or seen as an impediment.

Dudes in the hood need something to do besides selling drugs.

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

whynot_31 said:
I suspect that drug policy will continue to be only a small issue in the next mayoral campaign.

The more the NYPD's racial profiling and targeting of non-white communities gets publicized, the better chance we have of changing this.

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

While I am not opposed to legalizing drugs and am convinced it would eliminate a lot of the violence that comes with the trade, I think some mistakenly view it as a a panacea....

We would still have a large group of people who did not complete high school, have limited legal work experience, come from lousy families, and are often addicted to drugs.

A lot of the folks who deal drugs are not particularly employable (even as unskilled, entry laborers) in even a good economy.

...yes, I think the resources we presently use for the drug war (police, courts, prisons, etc) could somehow give the drug sellers a better option, but the challenge is huge.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
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Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

It's definitely not a panacea.

And the problem isn't even chronic (ha) fuck-ups who are going to deal drugs all the time.

It's 16 year olds caught smoking weed on the corner, or dealing dime bags, who end up going through the system rather than getting counseling or something that creates a far safer community.

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

yes, our present system arguably does little for the 16 y/o you mention.

Hold on, I'll see if I can upload a RFP on the topic.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

ok, I chopped a 50 page RFP down to around 10 pages, and uploaded.

Background:
This RFP is presently open, and non-profits I know are busy typing away before the deadline.

I am hope one particular non-profit to get it, but competition is stiff.

I have highlighted the parts that are relevant to this conversation to provide a primer to those not in the field.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Boygabriel
M Train Devotee, G Train Appreciator
Joined: Nov '05
Posts: 4,431

whynot_31 said:
test

Yes!

Spend a buck, light a number for one the 400,000 victims in Darfur: darfurwall.org

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

typos galore » I am hope one particular non-profit to get it, but competition is stiff.

ack! Make that that:

I have a particular non-profit in mind that I hope gets it, but competition is stiff.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

Does Bloomberg's Spending Spree Cross the Line?

http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/news/2011/08/does-bloombergs-spending-spree-cross-the-line/

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

Private money in the public service doesn't stop at education. Increasingly, donations fund all sorts of programs -- parks, social welfare initiatives and museums, to name a few. While some praise the philanthropy, others question the lack of funding by government and the increased influence these often-unnamed donors may have on policy and decision-making.

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20110919/203/3605

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

NYC government continues to downsize.

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20111215/203/3658

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

Boygabriel said:
Can we hire him to some official position of "Commissioner of Giving Us Money"?

I don't know how I missed this, but I can't say I'm surprised.

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

After his current term as Mayor is over, Bloomberg may be retiring, but his money is not.

He will be using it to create a Super PAC to lobby for his issues. It would not surprise me if this PAC had access to his money after his death....

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/262977-new-york-mayor-bloomberg-suggests-superpac-is-just-the-beginning

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 7 mos ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

Lot of these guys realize they can't take it with them, and they only need so much.

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 7 mos ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

Unable to sustain itself via small cuts and donations, NYC will attempt to shed $1.7 B in expenses:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-plans-1-7b-budget-cut-years-article-1.1200360#ixzz2ByM2RmQa

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 6 mos ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,067

This article focuses on attempts to raise some fees that do not come close to resolving the gap.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121112/new-york-city/city-increase-school-lunch-costs-parking-fees-fill-budget-gap

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 6 mos ago

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