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United for Affordable NYC
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| United for Affordable NYC | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | New York, N.Y. |
| Type: | 501(c)(4) |
| Year founded: | 2016 |
| Website: | Official website |
United for Affordable NYC is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization formed to support the Affordable Housing Plan of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D).
Background
When Bill de Blasio (D) was elected mayor of New York City, he made affordable housing in the city one of the cornerstones of his campaign. During 2014, his first year in office, de Blasio unveiled a 10-year plan to "build or preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing" throughout the city.[1] According to New York Magazine, the plan consisted of three coordinated campaigns:[2]
| “ | 1) gradually rezoning large swaths of the city, 2) decreeing that when areas do get rezoned, all new buildings must include a sizable chunk of affordable housing, and 3) updating the citywide rules to improve the kinds of buildings that go up — higher ceilings, more storefronts, bay windows, texture, and stoops.[3] | ” |
Work
| More on Bill de Blasio |
|---|
| Profile |
| • Bill de Blasio
|
| Associated nonprofits |
| • The Progressive Agenda Committee • Campaign for One New York • United for Affordable NYC |
United for Affordable NYC was established in 2016 as de Blasio's plan was under consideration in the city council. The nonprofit organization was started by the mayor's allies and advisors to advance de Blasio's proposed affordable housing policy shift. According to the Gotham Gazette, the organization focused on changing two city land use rules, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and Zoning for Quality and Affordability.[4]
In March 2016, the New York City Council approved both changes to land use rules, according to the New York Daily News. The paper summarized the rules, writing, "One plan will require developers to include some affordable housing in all major projects that need city approval, while another will allow taller buildings with fewer parking requirements. They passed by votes of 42-5, and 40-6 with one abstention, respectively."[5]
After the council vote, United for Affordable NYC announced that it would begin the process of shutting down. Another nonprofit associated with de Blasio—the Campaign for One New York—also began the process of shutting down in March 2016, and it began sending contributions to United for Affordable NYC around that time, according to The New York Times. The paper reported that, a week prior to the council vote, United for Affordable NYC "had raised most of its contributions from the Campaign for One New York and from labor unions, and had already spent most of what had been raised."[6]
Campaign finance complaint
In February 2016, the government watchdog group Common Cause filed a formal complaint with the Conflicts of Interest Board and the Campaign Finance Board of New York City against de Blasio, the Campaign for One New York, and United for Affordable NYC. Common Cause's complaint read, in part:[7]
| “ | New York City’s campaign finance law is designed to moderate the corrosive impact of large campaign contributions on elected officials. New York City’s interest in avoiding 'pay to play' politics is so strong that, since 2007, it prohibits those who do business with New York City from contributing more than $400 in campaign contributions to City candidates. We believe that the Mayor’s direct involvement with the Campaign for One New York raises troubling questions regarding the legality of his conduct under New York City’s conflict of interest and campaign finance laws.[3] | ” |
In July 2016, the New York City Campaign Finance Board found that the Campaign for One New York's activities did not constitute work for the de Blasio campaign, as most of the communications and advocacy were done in 2014 and were unrelated to de Blasio's 2017 re-election campaign. In a statement on the decision, the board wrote:[8]
| “ | The fundraising conducted by the Campaign for One New York plainly raises serious policy and perception issues and illuminates the ways in which the jurisdiction of the Act is limited. More than 95 percent of the funds it received would have been prohibited under the laws that apply to candidates for office—including contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, and people doing business with the city. Most contributions exceeded the limit applicable to candidates, and at least a dozen were as large as $100,000. ... he Board calls on the Council to pass legislation to close this loophole and amend the law to more closely regulate fundraising by elected officials and their agents for non-profit organizations, especially 5-01(c)(4) entities. In addition to placing clear limits on fundraising solicitations, any reform should include comprehensive public disclosure, and audits to ensure the disclosure is complete and accurate. [3] | ” |
Tax status
United for Affordable NYC is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) status refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning social welfare organizations.[9] Organizations that have been granted 501(c)(4) status by the Internal Revenue Service are exempt from federal income tax.[10] Section 501(c) of the U.S. tax code has 29 sections listing specific conditions particular organizations must meet in order to be considered tax-exempt under the section. Unlike 501(c)(3) organizations, however, donations to 501(c)(4) organizations are not tax-deductible for the individual or corporation making the contribution. 501(c)(4) organizations may engage in political lobbying and political campaign activities. This includes donations to political committees that support or oppose ballot measures, bond issues, recalls, or referenda.
- See also: 501(c)(4) organizations on Ballotpedia
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'United for Affordable NYC'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Bill de Blasio
- Campaign for One New York
External links
- United for Affordable NYC website
- United for Affordable NYC on Facebook
- United for Affordable NYC on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ New York Daily News, "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Bill de Blasio opens up on NYPD relations, charter schools, housing, being late and more," December 19, 2014
- ↑ New York Magazine, "De Blasio’s Affordable-Housing Plan Is His Obamacare: Imperfect But Monumental," March 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Gotham Gazette, "The Mayor’s Nonprofit Experiment and His Reelection Bid," April 15, 2016
- ↑ New York Daily News, "De Blasio’s affordable housing plans both clear City Council with ease, despite spirited protest from community groups," March 22, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Nonprofit Linked to Mayor de Blasio Is Closing," March 17, 2016
- ↑ Common Cause, "Violation of Campaign Finance Law and/or Conflicts of Interest Law arising from The Campaign for One New York and United for Affordable NYC," February 22, 2016
- ↑ New York City Campaign Finance Board, "CFB Statement on Determination Regarding the Campaign for One New York," July 6, 2016
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "IRC 501(c)(4) Organizations," accessed July 10, 2014
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