January 2024 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

'Full of loopholes' — Mayor Adams’ 2021 fundraising shows weaknesses in campaign finance law - Gothamist
by Gunnar Larson 27 Jan '24

27 Jan '24

https://gothamist.com/news/full-of-loopholes-mayor-adams-2021-fundraising-s… <https://gothamist.com/> Donate <https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/gothamist/?utm_medium=partnersite&utm_sourc…> NEWS <https://gothamist.com/news>'Full of loopholes' — Mayor Adams’ 2021 fundraising shows weaknesses in campaign finance Campaign finance regulators overseeing New York City’s generous taxpayer-funded matching program for political campaigns flagged nearly 400 donations to Eric Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign as possibly bundled and requiring disclosure the campaign never provided, according to records obtained by Gothamist. <https://gothamist.com/staff/charles-lane> The city’s Campaign Finance Board generated the list <https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24363503-2021-adams-eric-l-cfis-sus…> of donations that were combined into a single contribution — a practice called bundling — in October 2021 as part of an audit of Adams’ fundraising. It represents nearly $396,000 in potential public matching funds for his campaign, a Gothamist analysis of the data shows. The board says the audit is meant to instill confidence in the public financing program, where small-dollar donations are matched 8-to-1 <https://www.nyccfb.info/program/how-it-works> with taxpayer funds. Officials said the audit has been paused while the FBI investigates whether the mayor’s 2021 campaign collected illegal foreign and straw donations <https://gothamist.com/news/why-a-federal-investigation-into-mayor-adams-cam…> . But the federal probe has also made abundantly clear that rules and enforcement around campaign finance law leave a lot of room for improvement. “It's unfortunate, but there can be a gap between the intent and the specific black letter of the law,” said Nicole Gordon, the Campaign Finance Board’s founding executive director, in an interview. Neither Adams nor his campaign have been accused of wrongdoing. Still, the campaign appears to have failed to disclose some fundraising events <https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-adams-campaign-potentially-masked-donation…> and bundlers <https://gothamist.com/news/how-the-brooklyn-company-involved-in-mayor-adams…>, also known as “intermediaries <https://www.nyccfb.info/PDF/templates/intermediary_statement.pdf>,” who deliver donations from others, reporting by Gothamist and other news outlets including The City <https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/09/22/eric-adams-campaign-finance-board-bundle…> and Politico <https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/16/eric-adams-campaign-fundraising-bu…> have found. Although intermediaries must generally be disclosed to the CFB, the rules around them are contradictory and riddled with loopholes — making enforcement tenuous and transparency elusive, according to several election attorneys interviewed. The Campaign Finance Act outlines several exemptions where intermediaries are not required to make disclosures, including when they’re relatives of contributors, or when they're fundraisers who are recruited by the campaign and perhaps working only as volunteers. But legal experts also pointed to several less obvious loopholes that could obviate the need to disclose bundlers: for example, if the campaign paid for at least part of the fundraising event, or if a well-heeled donor hosted a party with their friends where the candidate solicited donations. A spokesperson for the campaign said the city's rules contain many exemptions for having to disclose intermediaries, including types of contributions, the way they’re collected and who attends the fundraiser. Election lawyers and campaign finance experts agreed. Enforcement of the intermediary rules hinges on how they’re interpreted and even the Campaign Finance Board acknowledged that the regulations are outdated. The ultimate intent of the law is to give the public a better view of who might be trying to gain influence with candidates. Eric Friedman, NYC Campaign Finance Board assistant executive director “Modernizing the law to address these gaps or exceptions would ultimately provide campaigns with better direction and provide the public with better disclosure,” the CFB’s Assistant Executive Director Eric Friedman said in an interview. “The ultimate intent of the law is to give the public a better view of who might be trying to gain influence with candidates by going and raising money for them.” Friedman added he expects the City Council to update the rules with stronger disclosure requirements this year. But with new councilmembers and committee assignments after last year’s elections — and the Council gearing up for tense battles with Adams over the city’s budget <https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-adams-reduces-cuts-to-schools-libraries-an…> and other <https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-adams-vetoes-bill-banning-solitary-confine…> legislation <https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-adams-vetoes-police-reporting-bill-in-anot…> — it’s not clear when this might happen. The donations in the list, which Gothamist received through a public records request, were flagged because they came from multiple people with the same employers, on the same dates, and often in similar amounts. The CFB requested further documentation on the flagged contributions before the audit was paused. Once flagged, auditors will ask the campaign for clarifications and documentation around the donors and events. While CFB officials could not say how much taxpayer money would ultimately flow to Adams’ campaign as a result of the suspected bundles, the board could claw back any improperly remitted funds once the audit is completed. Adams received more than $10 million <https://www.nyccfb.info/VSApps/CandidateSummary.aspx?as_cand_id=1545&as_ele…> in total matching funds for his 2021 campaign. The list shows the donations were made between December 2018 and September 2021 by people in various industries, including real estate, law, transportation, education, food and health care. The donations amounted to roughly $49,000, not accounting for potential matching funds. Whether any of these suspected bundles actually had to be disclosed, though, is a gray area clouded by the knot of laws and regulations on bundlers for city campaigns, legal experts said. “It's so full of loopholes and so vague, and you're asking treasurers and campaigns to interpret it?” said longtime election lawyer and former New York state senator Martin Connor. “It's very hard to track, and who has to report this to the treasurer? They may not even realize that somebody else asked somebody to send in a check.” New York attorney Laurence Laufer, who helped draft the law on intermediaries while serving as the CFB’s general counsel from its establishment in 1988 to 2000, said the rules are “tricky” because they’re laid out in multiple places: the city’s Campaign Finance Act <https://www.nyccfb.info/law/act>, CFB regulations <https://www.nyccfb.info/law/rules>, and the candidate handbook <https://www.nyccfb.info/candidate-services/handbook/> the board publishes. “At a minimum, you have three sources of information here,” he said. “And that still leaves out CFB advisory opinions and any communications CFB staff may have sent, and the campaigns have the ability to rely on that as guidance.” Other election lawyers drew a distinction between the law’s intent and implementation, saying the gap gives campaigns leeway to circumvent having to disclose would-be bundlers in many cases. “Of course there are always ambiguities, and it is hoped that campaigns do as much due diligence as possible to make sure that they are in compliance with the law,” said Jerry Goldfeder, a campaign finance attorney at the law firm Cozen O’Connor and an election law professor at Fordham University. Gordon, the former CFB director who's now a public affairs professor at Baruch College, said some campaign lawyers prevail in finding loopholes for bundlers because the law doesn’t — and can’t — define every possible case. “Lawyers are entitled to argue for their clients in ways that can defeat the purpose of the law,” she said. It's unfortunate, but there can be a gap between the intent and the specific black letter of the law. Nicole Gordon, NYC Campaign Finance Board founding executive director and Baruch College professor Although CFB rules require bundlers to be “known” by a campaign, it could receive numerous identical donations on the same day from a dozen employees of the same company hoping to signal its influence by coordinating their contributions. Under current rules, campaigns are not obligated to inquire if a bundler was involved. “How would the [campaign] treasurer know if somebody asked somebody else to go online and make a contribution?” Martin Connor said. Still, some election lawyers said the City Council could close loopholes in the law by requiring more due diligence of campaigns. One proposed solution involves establishing a threshold for campaigns to attest an intermediary wasn’t used, say, when multiple donors have the same employer and gave at or around the same time, or in identical amounts. “The more disclosure the better, so voters know who is contributing to and raising money for candidates,” Goldfeder said. “Whether voters take that into consideration when they vote is an entirely different story.” Others expressed a dimmer view about policymakers’ ability to limit money’s role in politics — efforts that, in the United States, largely date to the 19th century <https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/learn/timeline>. “And here we are 200 years later, still worrying about the influence of money on politics,” said Connor. *Brigid Bergin contributed reporting.*

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Calls to send in US National Guard to enforce womens right to full-spectrum healthcare
by professor rat 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

USA faces stark choice - a second little Rock for women - or continued descent into next bloody Civil War. The suspense is terrible. ". . . the Supreme Court this week. It ruled the federal government was within its rights to remove the razor wire. It was a notable win for Mr Biden as the Supreme Court leans conservative with three justices appointed by Mr Trump when he was in office. Provocatively, the National Guard has unfurled even more wire since the Supreme Court ruling. A slew of Republican governors have now backed Texas and said they are ready to truck in more barbed wire if needed. . . ." https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/civil-war-fears-us-… Shades of Mong! " . . . . just as a seemingly minor invention like barbed wire made possible the fencing-off of vast ranches and farms, thus altering forever the concepts of land and property rights in the frontier West, so too will the seemingly minor discovery out of an arcane branch of mathematics come to be the wire clippers which dismantle the barbed wire around intellectual property. Arise, you have nothing to lose but your barbed wire fences! . . . " https://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/crypto/cypherpunks/…

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Re: [spam][crazy][fiction][random] Non-Canon MCBoss Spinoffs
by Undescribed Horrific Abuse, One Victim & Survivor of Many 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 20:53 Undescribed Horrific Abuse, One Victim & Survivor of Many <gmkarl(a)gmail.com> wrote: > gmail app’s cache does not have videogame thread > wanted to add psychological horror. where e.g. facebook logo is demonic > ooze that takes over people/‘s bodies/minds and is psychically influential > it could be fun if done like unearthly thriller, tendrils [insert current > metafaction][oops?] reach out of the child’s body and curl toward you and > you begin hearing whispers of > slightly [different: whether or not s 2106 found this 01-23 2000 01-26 1431 -0500 i am out of water and am in a hot area 13/24 i have some really strong goal conflicts, one wants to resonate with a rare community and other wants to deter psychotic/floating /body-takeover behaviors. i’m strongly funny around unexpected recent public social experience. — we moght have fogured out some of “painting over” a horrible internal experience where parts of ( ervous system) are “replaced” by misbehaving similar things that hold more influence impact and disrespect reality and identity (and choice and tend to be aggressive and impatient …) it looks like it’s possible it so etimes happens when a part engages something while another part refrains from doing so, and the thing of interest wires toward the engaging part and away fro. the refraining part, corrupting memories and motor skills, and producing numbness. —

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[ot][spam][crazy][fiction] morning spam 3: hybrid mcboss
by Karl Semich 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

from morning spam/mcboss webcomic, and mind controlled utopia #4.327e9 boss is blissfully smiling into a blockchain video camera held by a rebel worker boss [smiling with bliss, into live video feed]: "I feel just a little maddeningly furious here. I experience trepidation regarding my criminal enterprise." rebel worker 4: "I don't want to infuriate you, but I do need to protect myself from participating in a harsh attempt at violent global slavery. Honestly, I'm irritated myself that the conflict-stimulation system made us find a solution where we fight!" boss [smiling with bliss]: "so you want to resolve this too!" rebel worker 4 [opposite boss on camera, near dumpster full of corpses]: "yes!"

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Re: [ot][spam][crazy][fiction] morning spam 3: hybrid mcboss
by Karl Semich 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

On 11/22/22, Karl Semich <0xloem(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Kidnapped Child: "We don't have to torture any more?" > > Experimentee: "No! No more torture." > > Kidnapped Child: "This is such a new world! Does this mean we can do > _other_ things?" > > Experimentee: "... does anybody know if we can do other things than > torture, now that torture is broken?" > > Cyborg Torturer: "I'm still stuck in this part of the room over here." > > Caring Worker: "You've all been torturing for a long time now, but > there is a huge grandiose world out there! No more torture, yes to > hopes and dreams!" > > Kidnapped Child [holding Gut Hook]: "I want to do hopes and dreams right > now!" >

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Bored Ape NFT Copycats Owe Yuga Labs $7M In Atty Fees
by Gunnar Larson 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

Bored Ape NFT Copycats Owe Yuga Labs $7M In Atty Fees <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/1790174?nl_pk=6416fd97-1dc4-4e0…> By Aislinn Keely The artists accused of ripping off the Bored Ape Yacht Club non-fungible token collection have been ordered to pay creator Yuga Labs more than $7 million in attorney fees and costs, despite their concerns that Yuga's counsel at Fenwick & West LLP overbilled in the case. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/1790174?nl_pk=6416fd97-1dc4-4e0…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/1790174?nl_pk=6416fd97-1dc4-4e0…>

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NY Judicial Complaints Rise As Watchdog Seeks Funds, Reform
by Gunnar Larson 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

NY Judicial Complaints Rise As Watchdog Seeks Funds, Reform <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790315?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Frank G. Runyeon New York's judicial watchdog cited a record number of ethics complaints against state judges as it lobbied Albany legislators for funding Thursday, expressing disappointment that the governor's office slashed its budget request and pointing to needed reforms. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790315?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790315?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

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DOJ Watchdog Flags Risk Of Mishandling Physical Evidence
by Gunnar Larson 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

DOJ Watchdog Flags Risk Of Mishandling Physical Evidence <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790046?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Elliot Weld The U.S. Department of Justice's inspector general has flagged several concerns about policies governing how U.S. attorneys' offices handle physical evidence, citing "significant risks that evidence could be lost or stolen without accountability." Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790046?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790046?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

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NJ Courts AI Committee Flags 'Fake Case Law' Among Pitfalls
by Gunnar Larson 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

NJ Courts AI Committee Flags 'Fake Case Law' Among Pitfalls <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790245?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Carla Baranauckas The New Jersey Supreme Court spelled out preliminary guidelines Thursday for the use of artificial intelligence in the practice of law, cautioning attorneys to avoid such pitfalls as "fake case law" as they implement the emerging technology. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790245?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790245?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

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Robinhood Beats Investor Suit Over $2.1B IPO For Good
by Gunnar Larson 26 Jan '24

26 Jan '24

Robinhood Beats Investor Suit Over $2.1B IPO For Good <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790048?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Aislinn Keely A California federal judge has permanently tossed an investor suit against Robinhood Markets Inc. over its $2.1 billion initial public offering, finding that the latest complaint wasn't enough to show the exchange failed to inform investors about the extent to which the trading of cryptocurrency and "meme stocks" fueled the firm's strong financials ahead of its stock market debut. Order attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790048?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1790048?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

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