WABC 7 reports, "Investigators executed a search warrant at Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr.'s non profit this morning, searching for evidence in several ongoing investigations into the Bronx Democrat. Eyewitness News is told law enforcement officials descended on the Soundview Health Center on White Plains Road at 7 a.m. Investigators from multiple agencies  including the FBI, IRS, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office -- immediately began bringing out boxes of evidence." Investigators are apparently looking for signs of wire and mail fraud. Yesterday, Cuomo filed a suit against Espada, accusing him of siphoning $14 million from Soundview for himself and his family. We expect an outraged comment from Espada shortly. more ›

Attorney Andrew Cuomo has sued State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx) for "looting" Soundview HealthCare Network, the Bronx non-profit, where Espada is the President and CEO. Cuomo's suit claims "Espada diverted Soundview’s charitable assets and used the money for himself, his family, his friends, and his political operation. In the past five years, Espada has siphoned more than $14 million out of Soundview, including an unconditionally guaranteed severance package worth an estimated $9 million which was put into a contract signed in 2005." more ›

Months after winning his third term, the NY Times reports that Mayor Bloomberg "is quietly pulling the plug on an unusual program that has poured nearly $200 million of his fortune into nonprofit groups across the five boroughs, in a sign of major change under way in his charitable giving plans." Which means that the many nonprofits that have benefited from his giving since 2001 are left worrying about what they'll do. more ›

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) has taken a lot of criticism for founding a nonprofit accused of pocketing nearly $30,000 of money raised for Hurricane Katrina victims. So the Congressman told the press he would open his books. "I'd love to have you come to my office. We can show you the files of the individuals that we helped," Meeks told NY1. But when a Post reporter took him up on his offer, the Congressman's staff turned the journalist away. more ›

A Queens nonprofit connected to Assemblywoman Vivian Cook spent $560,500 in cash to buy a vacant lot containing nothing but "a decrepit shed, a beat-up picnic table and a dirty paint can"—even though the property's value was only estimated at $287,000, according to the Post. Using money from the Port Authority intended to win community support for the construction of the AirTrain line, the nonprofit purchased the over-priced lot and spent $255,625 on "street cleaning" and "street maintenance," even though the city already provides street sweeping. more ›

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Grammy Award-winning singer Wyclef Jean's charity Yele Haiti received millions of dollars of donations before coming under fire for years of shaky accounting and reports that the nonprofit had given $410,000 to businesses tied to Jean. Now, according to Yele sources and tax documents, it appears that the former Fugee paid his personal assistant and mistress $105,000 in 2008—more than three times the salary of the program's director, according to Gawker. more ›

Instead of helping a Pee Wee football league buy helmets and pom poms, a charity founded by two Queens Democrats spent $400,000 on salaries, “expenses,” consultants and meals, paperwork shows. The Rosedale Jets Football Association submitted an application to New Directions, hoping to receive some of its funding for community outreach. "They said they never received our application," said Gerald Karikari, an immigration lawyer and the team's chief financial officer. more ›

The charity accused of fleecing Hurricane Katrina victims out of over $30,000 never gave survivors "a dime," according to a New Orleans local tapped with finding the neediest storm victims. "These people came down here, sold a good story and didn't deliver," said Louis Rainey. "We didn't get the funds ... We never got a dime." more ›

The staff of an embattled Queens nonprofit overlaps closely with the payroll of state Sen. Malcolm Smith, one of the charity's founders. At least four workers at the New Direction Local Development Group—which is under federal investigation and allegedly fleeced Hurricane Katrina victims out of about $30,000 raised on their behalf—have also worked for Smith at a time when the politician gave the organization about $56,000 in state funds. more ›

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) can't seem to catch a break. Already under scrutiny for his ties to a nonprofit under federal investigation for its role in a controversial plan to bring slot machines to the Aqueduct Race Track and accused of scamming Hurricane Katrina victims, Meeks is taking fire for using campaign cash to pay longtime supporters. more ›

In a year when charitable giving dropped among the nation's wealthiest people, Mayor Bloomberg handed out $254 million in donations—making him not only richest man in New York City but also the country's fourth biggest giver. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Bloomberg—who is worth an estimated $17.5 billion—donated money to 1,358 different nonprofits and dedicated $125 million to help six charities devise a plan to help reduce traffic accidents in developing countries. more ›

Two picturesque Bronx developments at the edge of the Long Island Sound are accused of barring blacks from purchasing homes in the quiet confines of their communities. The Fair Housing Justice Center is suing Edgewater Park and nearby Silver Beach Gardens for racial discrimination, as well as one its longtime residents, Realtor Amelia Lewis. Investigators sent fake couples to try to buy homes in the community: a white pair received a warm welcome, but when a black couple inquired they were immediately asked for references and then told by Lewis “there’s no way you’re going to get in there.” Stats revealed that though blacks account for 35 percent of homeowners in the Bronx, they own less than 1 percent of the 1,100 homes in Edgewater Park and Silver Beach Gardens. The prosecution says it was tipped off by the communities’ low profiles. “Any time anything’s hidden or secret,” the justice center’s lawyer told the NY Times, “you have to ask, ‘Why would you want to be hidden?’” more ›

Has the Age of the Hipster come to an end? And if so, will "helpster" be the next word that everyone calls other people, but no one uses to describe themselves? That's the question raised in this New York Press article, which details the rise of "helpsters" — socially conscious cool kids who have stopped acting like "disaffected aesthetes with nihilistic tendencies" and started becoming "motivated and committed Samaritans." more ›

Edward Norton may run 15 miles twice a day, but does that mean he'll be able to keep up with the three Maasai warriors who will be running alongside him next month at the New York Marathon? more ›

The embattled community organizing group ACORN is filing a lawsuit today in Maryland District Court, accusing individuals behind an embarrassing series of hidden camera videos of violating state law by recording employees' conversations without permission. Similar to the videos recorded in ACORN's Brooklyn offices, the Maryland video shows workers giving inappropriate advice to two filmmakers (left) posing as prostitute and pimp seeking assistance in getting a house for a brothel. Alan Schwartz, general counsel for Acorn, accused the fake pimp, James O’Keefe, of "trying to destroy an organization whose principal purpose is to help poor people." more ›

Move over Metro and amNewYork, put down that Kindle commuters—there's a new option for underground reading: books. Non-profit group Choose What You Read NY has started a free underground book exchange that encourages folks to recycle used books by passing them on to fellow straphangers. A sticker with the organization's logo signifies where the book came from, and readers are encouraged to bring it back for someone else once they are done. The distribution takes place once a month right now—they say, "You will find us near major subway stations on the first Tuesday of each month." Drop-off boxes will also be on hand, and are currently set up at three other locations as well (Whole Foods, Revival Bar and KGB Bar). Learn more at their Facebook page, and read about the program from the founder herself, Claire Wilson. She says, "This isn’t about being highbrow. We’re not saying we want everyone to read Kafka on the train. If you want to read a tabloid, go for it—but choose one and buy it. Don’t just take whatever is pushed at you." [via Idealist] more ›

Besides offering affordable health care for constituents in the Bronx, the non-profit community health care center run by State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. also provides lots of jobs for the community... of people related to Espada. The Post's Isabel Vincent has donned her Hazmat suit to take a closer look at Espada's Soundview HealthCare Network, which stays afloat thanks to millions of taxpayer dollars. What she found may not surprise you. (It even comes with a handy graphic charting the family money tree.) For instance, two employees previously convicted of fraud for using Soundview money to promote Espada's political campaign are back on staff, and the charity still owes some $347,000 in income tax withheld from employees. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been investigating the shady shenanigans, but the Post has already found plenty of questionable conduct, such as Espada paying himself over than $450,000 a year, some $80,000 more than the standard for a charity its size. Then there's Soundview's not-illegal-but-still-sleazy employment of all Espada's sons with near six-figure jobs. Oh, and the charity's board is packed with Espada's friends and relatives, including his grandfather Victor, who's over 90 years old, lives in Puerto Rico, and "votes" via conference call! more ›

After revelations that State Senator Pedro Espada Jr.'s non-profit Soundview Health Clinic owed about $347,000 in back taxes, the State Comptroller's office revoked a $3 million payment to Soundview. The Times Union reports that Espada, as the group's CEO, claimed there were no liens, claims or judgments over $15,000 in a document he signed; the Times Union notes, "The document warns those who sign it that an intentionally false statement may be a crime or lead to cancellation of state funding." The company has "two open [NY State] claims from this year, totaling $73,842 for employee withholding taxes, and one open warrant from last June for $88,476 for unemployment taxes" and a $185,000 IRS debt filed in April. Espada was paid over $400,000 for his work as recently as 2007. Related: The NY Times looks at how Espada's lawyer during State Senate negotiations is also a lobbyist. more ›

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the president and director of SBCC Management Corporation, which manages HUD-subsidized properties in the Bronx, stole $200,000 from the non-profit—and SBCC's president is Richard Izquierdo Arroyo, grandson of State Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo and nephew of City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo (SBCC director is Margarita Villegas). Almost $15,000 from the non-profit were given to campaigns for someone believed to be Carmen Arroyo and Running Scared details some of the other spending: "The pair, along with an unnamed relative, ran up tabs worth $15,000 at clothing stores including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and --our favorite-- Promgirl. They also ran up bills of $66,000 with fine dining at the likes of Portofino, A Venice Restaurant, Tavern on the Green, and -- go figure -- IHOP. Another $48,000 went for airfares and hotels in San Juan, and Brooklyn (!). Another $34,000 was plunked down for car rentals, garages, and parking tickets in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and around the Empire State." Richard Arroyo and Villegas were indicted; City Councilwoman Arroyo, who apparently directed at least $50,000 in funds to SBCC, said, "I am confident that in the end, they will be able to clear their names." more ›

The NY Post's big cover story is a look at the corporations who donate money to the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network. more ›