Results tagged “nonprofit”

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?

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."

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]

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!

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.

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."

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.