How Dark Money Affects Political Outcomes
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What happens to democracy when the public can't "follow the money" in elections? The community will have a chance to ponder this and other questions about so-called "dark money" now flooding into U.S. political campaigns at an upcoming jointly sponsored League of Women Voters – Scarsdale Public Library event.
On Thursday, April 7th at 1 pm in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Public Library, librarian Nancy Zachary will facilitate the discussion of journalist Jane Mayer's new book, Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right (Doubleday 2016). The Library has copies of Mayer's book available for borrowing and registration is free and open to the public on the Library's website or by clicking here.
What is "dark money" and should voters be concerned about it? Federal campaign finance law requires political candidates to identify all Political Action Committees (PACs) and party committees that contribute directly to a candidate's campaign, and each individual who contributes more than $200 to a campaign in an election cycle. However, "dark money", contributions to tax-exempt nonprofit corporations, such as 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organizations, many of which exist solely to influence election outcomes, is not subject to spending limits or disclosure requirements so long as the organizations do not coordinate directly with a candidate.
The proliferation of 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organizations and sharp rise in "dark money" spending in recent elections followed the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, which overturned a century of U.S. campaign finance legislation and now allows all corporations, nonprofit "social welfare" organizations, and unions to spend unlimited money from their general treasuries indirectly supporting political campaigns.
Since Citizens United, the number of groups applying for 501(c)(4) status has more than doubled and the money they are spending on politics has "skyrocketed," according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. They estimate that in the 2012 election, 501(c)(4) groups spent at least $333 million, an increase of 53 percent from 2008. And this year's election is expected to set a new record for secret donations. Already, on January 28, 2016, Bloomberg news reported: "Groups that don't have to disclose their donors have accounted for almost two-thirds of political ad spending this [election] cycle."
In Dark Money, Jane Mayer focuses specifically on a relatively small number of wealthy individuals -- the Koch brothers, the Olins, the Scaifes, the Bradleys and others – who have funneled millions of dollars in donations through "social welfare" groups to influence elections while avoiding public scrutiny. But Mayer's investigation goes beyond campaign finance to document such billionaires' comprehensive plans, simultaneous funding publications, think tanks, academic fellowships and university research centers, which, she argues, have played an equally pivotal role in furthering their political goals, as well as their business interests.
The New York Review of Books (March 10, 2016) calls Dark Money "absolutely necessary reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics." Whether or not you agree, come join what is sure to be a lively discussion on April 7th.
This article was submitted by Mary Beth Evans, Chair, Money in Politics Committee and Deb Morel, President of the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale.
Ambassador Offers Music Program to Improve Memory
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The Ambassador of Scarsdale announced this week that they have been awarded The Music & Memory Program certification and now offer the program to its residents coping with progressive memory issues. Adding this cutting edge programming at The Ambassador further advances the mission of enhancing the quality of life for elders through personalized music.
According to General Manager Jean Dunphy, "This program is not only person-centered, it meets individuals where they are, regardless of their level of cognition or ambulation and has established a new best practice and gold standard in the care industry. Trained staff will be using logs to measure individualized behavioral objectives shown through residents' cognitive and social responses to the program in hopes of seeing desirable long-term outcomes in order to make therapeutic music a standard of care."
While music programs have always been a focus at The Ambassador, the use of the Music and Memory Program's personalized playlists and interventions have been shown to also offset the use of pharmacologic interventions, reduce behaviors associated with sun downing, and decrease feelings of boredom, isolation, pain and depression. The Ambassador's hope is to add to the research that is helping the healthcare industry understand how this form of personalized therapeutic music benefits people with cognitive impairment.
The Ambassador is located at 9 Saxon Wood Road, White Plains NY 10605. For further information, click here or contact Jean Dunphy at 914-428-3782, or by email at jdunphy@theambassadorscarsdale.com.
Backyard Sports Cares To Host Fourth Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
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Backyard Sports Cares (BYSC), a Westchester-based non-profit that provides team oriented sports programs for underserved and special needs children, will host its Fourth Annual Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament "Fun"draiser on Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY.
Now in its fourth year, the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament draws eager basketball enthusiasts, ranging in age and skill level from 15 to 50+, from across the county. The event, which has generated more than $200,000 over the last three years, is responsible for the sustainability of key sports and recreation programs that help underserved, at-risk and special needs kids experience the joy and character building benefits of team play.
In addition to cheering on their friends and family on the court, attendees will be entertained by dance moves from the Westchester Knicks City Dancers, and several NBA celebrities will make appearances, taking photos, signing autographs and possibly shoot some hoops with participants.
"Last year's Three-on-Three tournament raised over $70,000.00," said Danny Bernstein, Backyard Sports Cares founder and executive director. "These funds helped sixty (60) underserved young athletes participate in 'Friday Night Tennis,' enabled thirty (30) Mount Vernon children to experience weekend summer camp, and helped cover travel fees for more than two hundred (200) children who otherwise would have been unable to participate in a Travel Soccer program. This year, we want to raise the bar even higher."
How to Register
Teams will be divided into four divisions: Open (most competitive), 35 years and older (competitive), Adult Recreation (18 years and older) and High School (grades 9-12). Games will be played in a round robin format.
There are a limited number of teams in all ability levels. Each $1,800 team registration includes three to five players, individual jerseys, hats, bags, delicious food, beverage and much, much more. To learn more or register a team for the event, please click here: The registration fee is tax deductible. Corporate matches are welcome.
Local collaborative program partners include: Yonker's WESTHAB, Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), New Rochelle School District, White Plains Youth Bureau, Port Chester School District and the Carver Center in Port Chester and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Dumpling Fest Draws a Crowd
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Over 500 people attended a Dumpling Fest celebrating the Chinese New Year sponsored by the Scarsdale Chinese Association (SCA) at the Scarsdale Congregational Church on Saturday February 27. The overwhelming turnout was a testament to Scarsdale's growing Chinese community.
This year, the theme was dumplings and the event included demonstrations, hands-on learning, and tasting. Dressed in traditional garb, members of the older generation rolled up their sleeves and produced hundreds, if not thousands, of dumplings filled with chicken, vegetables and more. There was also sticky rice – a Chinese dessert that includes chocolate.
Children enjoyed Chinese crafts, the lion dance was performed and Scarsdale Mayor Jon Mark spoke and enjoyed the feast. It was a wonderful community gathering and celebration of the Year of the Monkey.
Dr. Jacob Appel to Speak on Ethical Dilemmas in Modern Medicine at the Scarsdale Forum
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The Scarsdale Forum invites the community to hear Jacob M. Appel, MD, JD, discuss "Ethical Dilemmas in Modern Medicine: What Every Citizen Should Know," at it's Sunday Speaker Series on February 28th at 3pm in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Don't miss this opportunity to discuss the tough issues of today with one of Scarsdale High School's finest graduates.
Jacob M. Appel, MD, JD, is a psychiatrist and professional bioethicist who writes about issues at the nexus of law, medicine and morality. Dr. Appel taught bioethics for many years at Brown University and later at NYU and Columbia, before joining the faculty at the Icahn Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He has been a regular ethics columnist at the Huffington Post, Opposing Views and Education Update, and has contributed Op-Eds and commentary to dozens of national and regional newspapers including The New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, San Francisco Chronicle and Providence Journal. He publishes in such journals as Hastings Center Report, The Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, Bulletin of the History of Medicine, The Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, The Journal of Medical Ethics, The Journal of Bioethical Inquiry and numerous law reviews. His essays, which have been shortlisted for Best American Essays on multiple occasions, were recently collected in the volume, Phoning Home (University of South Carolina Press, 2014). His seventh volume of fiction, a collection of short stories, was published by Black Lawrence Press in July 2015.
The Scarsdale Forum is a civic non-profit that seeks to foster citizen participation and enhance community spirit in Scarsdale...a spirit that is fun, friendly, ethical and honors the people who live here by maintaining an excellent quality of life. The Forum's popular Sunday Speaker Series brings in accomplished speakers in a variety of fields to speak on topics of general interest. Visit www.scarsdaleforum.com for more information.
