​An embattled nonprofit with close ties to top state lawmakers, the NYS Association of Black & Puerto Rican Legislators, in 2017 hired a prominent Albany lobbyist to boost its fundraising capabilities, according to newly released tax records.
The hiring of Patrick B. Jenkins and Associates paid off, as the nonprofit, which is the focus of an investigation by the state attorney general’s office, raised substantially more revenue and gave out almost as much scholarship money to needy youth as it had for the three previous years combined.
Even before Jenkins’ hiring, questions had been raised about the lawmakers’ charity receiving significant funding from interests with business before the state Legislature. Jenkins, meanwhile, in the past has raised significant campaign dollars for lawmakers by soliciting donations from its own roster of influential clients, then lobbying some of those same state lawmakers for the clients.

​The filings also reveal several inconsistencies in the charity’s previous filings submitted to Attorney General Letitia James’ office, and raises more questions about the charity’s spending for that year and those prior, including how much money it was giving to students in need.
The group’s new filing, which covers the 2017-18 tax year, is a focus of the state attorney general’s probe, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. The tax documents apparently were posted to the attorney general’s website within the last two days.
A spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office declined to comment, citing its ongoing investigation. Assemblywoman Latrice Walker and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, the nonprofit’s chairwoman and treasurer, respectively, did not return calls for comment.
A spokesman for the association, Hank Sheinkopf, said Walker restructured the organization when she took over as chair in 2017.
“A new accounting and auditing team has been hired and the attempt is to ensure that everything is being complied with and all filings are being brought up to date,” he said.

Click here for more info.

Hernando County, Florida is the latest to declare itself a Second Amendment sanctuary and did so at the urging of county Commissioner Steve Champion, owner of American Gun and Pawn shop in Brooksville. Two weeks ago, Citrus County, Florida adopted the same designation.
Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution on Tuesday. Champion acknowledged it had “no teeth” and was mostly “ceremonial.” Hernando joins other communities in Florida and around the nation that want to highlight their support for the right to bear arms, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
"Of course,'' Champion said, "all of the Bill of Rights are important.''

​Commissioners quibbled over the resolution’s wording. Commissioner John Mitten voiced concern about the term “sanctuary,” as it has referred to communities that didn’t enforce certain rules regarding undocumented residents. Champion wanted to mimic the wording used by other communities.
Champion has taken heat for efforts to demonstrate his support for gun ownership, which some see as promoting his business. Some criticized his recent suggestion to seek federal funding for a long-distance gun range on public lands in the county. The idea has not gone further than the investigation stage.