Missing the Mission | Mayor Moneybags Needs an Ego Boost
Poor Michael Bloomberg.
With less than two years left in his final term and billions of dollars in his bank account, New York’s mayor would seem poised to execute “his oft-stated plan to pursue a full-time career in philanthropy,” as the New York Times put it Sunday. “… If he were to pour much of his wealth into the Bloomberg Family Foundation, it would rank among the biggest in the country.”
There’s just one problem:
Six years of wielding the power of government office and reveling in the ego boost of broad support from ordinary New Yorkers have fueled Mr. Bloomberg’s desire to run the country, … associates say… .
Some of those close to him say that Mr. Bloomberg gets a charge out of being able to change things and was itching to take advantage of the elaborate operation created by his political aide, Kevin Sheekey, to support an independent presidential campaign. …
Howard J. Rubenstein, the public relations executive and a friend of Mr. Bloomberg’s who has also represented the mayor’s company, said that although his expressed goal of giving away the bulk of his fortune would give him tremendous clout, it would not be enough to satisfy him.
“He’s not about to give up something that he fell in love with,” Mr. Rubenstein said. “He’ll do something that will have political impact. He’s not going to just hide in the back room and dole out the money with a shade over his head.”
Could somebody please stroke the mayor’s ego? And then smack him upside the head and tell him that his presidential pipe dreams are best left at Gracie Mansion? If it’s influence Bloomberg craves, he could do worse — much worse — than funding worthy nonprofits with his personal fortune. While philanthropists don’t give nationally televised addresses or have the world’s best-equipped military at their beck and call, they also are guaranteed a seat at the table, unlike the politicos who aspire to the White House, only one of whom will get the nod.
People answer to money. Michael Bloomberg has lots of it. As a donor, his voice would be heard. More importantly, his impact would be felt.
“Missing the Mission,” a weekly commentary about nonprofits that have taken their eye off the ball, appears Tuesdays at the 501(c) Files. | 501(c)
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POSTED IN: Celebrity, Foundations, Politics
2 opinions for Missing the Mission | Mayor Moneybags Needs an Ego Boost
areaves
Feb 28, 2008 at 5:53 am
I’m curious…as far as philanthropy goes (and setting the stage for his full time career in it), what has he done as mayor in terms of driving policy, forming legislation, etc, for the third sector in NYC?
Tom Durso
Feb 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Well, Allyson, that’s a great question. I’m not a New Yorker, so there are other more qualified than I to answer that. Anyone else wanna chime in?
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