Corrupt NYC Non-Profits Giving Money To Politicians

The Times Union has uncovered more than 100 non-profit organizations that have directly made campaign contributions to politicians. The article, entitled "Brooklyn is a hotspot for illegal election activity by nonprofits," reports:

    In the last quarter century, New York City's most populous borough has quietly established itself as the state's hotbed for illegal election activity involving nonprofit organizations.

    A Times Union investigation has found that during that span, more than 100 nonprofit organizations in Brooklyn that are prohibited by federal and state laws from participating in campaigns and other electioneering activities have made donations or lent support to candidates or political committees. The donations are more than double the amount of prohibited activity by nonprofits in any other municipality across the state during that period.

    The newspaper's investigation has also revealed sparse enforcement of the statutes governing election integrity in that sector, leaving charitable groups and their leaders - or the candidates they have supported - with minimal concern that their actions may have legal consequences.

    Named for the section of the Internal Revenue Code that governs them, 501(c)(3) nonprofits receive two valuable benefits: an exemption from paying federal taxes and tax deductions for donors. Federal law has barred organizations from campaign activity for decades, and New York has a similar prohibition that took effect in 2019.

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    The Times Union unearthed instances of 19 nonprofit organizations endorsing candidates, displaying their political signs, promoting their fundraisers, or speaking at campaign events in Brooklyn. These occurred despite mandates that their work be exclusively focused on public-benefit purposes, including charitable, religious, educational or scientific endeavors. 

Most of the politicians that benefited were Democrats--of course--but the two Republicans were both Chinese which raises the specter of foreign influence.

    Many of the nonprofits are also "hometown associations," which are organized around immigrants' native cities or provinces. Some said they organize cultural events for the Chinese community, help members sign up for government benefits, provide programming for the young or elderly, and similar activities, according to tax filings and interviews.

    A New York Times investigation found these types of organizations have also acted as an arm of the Chinese government to promote pro-China candidates, including by intervening in multiple elections in New York.