ReportWire

Tag: contribution

  • Rob Reiner used his fame to advocate for progressive causes. ‘Just a really special man. A terrible day’

    Rob Reiner was known to millions as a TV actor and film director.

    But the Brentwood resident, known for the classic films “Stand by Me” and “When Harry Met Sally,” was also a political force, an outspoken supporter of progressive causes and a Democratic Party activist who went beyond the typical role of celebrities who host glitzy fundraisers.

    Reiner was deeply involved in issues that he cared about, such as early childhood education and the legalization of gay marriage.

    Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, were found dead inside his home Sunday, sparking an outpouring of grief from those who worked with him on a variety of causes.

    Ace Smith — a veteran Democratic strategist to former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Gov. Jerry Brown and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton — had known Reiner for decades. Reiner, he said, approached politics differently than most celebrities.

    “Here’s this unique human being who really did make the leap between entertainment and politics,” Smith said. “And he really spent the time to understand policy, really, in its true depth, and to make a huge impact in California.”

    Reiner was a co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the organization that successfully led the fight to overturn Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage. He was active in children’s issues through the years, having led the campaign to pass Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Initiative, which created an ambitious program of early childhood development services.

    Proposition 10 was considered landmark policy. Reiner enlisted help in that effort from Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, and his own father, comedy legend Carl Reiner.

    “He wanted to make a difference. And he did, and he did profoundly,” Smith said.

    After Proposition 10 passed, Reiner was named the chair of the California Children and Families Commission, also known as First 5 California. He resigned from the post in early 2006 after the commission ran $23 million in ads touting the importance of preschool as Reiner was gathering support for Proposition 82.

    The measure, which was unsuccessful, would have taxed the wealthy to create universal preschool in California.

    The filmmaker and his wife spent more than $6 million on the failed proposition. They also donated significant sums to support national Democratic Party groups and candidates including Jerry Brown, Gray Davis, Ed Rendell and Andrew Cuomo.

    Bruce Fuller, a UC Berkeley professor of education and public policy, called Reiner “a caring and vigilant advocate for children. He added cachet and cash to California’s movement to open preschools for tens of thousands of young families over the past quarter-century.”

    Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who had known Reiner since he was a state lawmaker in the 1990s, worked with him on Proposition 10 and was impressed with how Reiner embraced the cause.

    “He was a man with a good answer. It wasn’t politics as much as he was always focused on the humanity among us,” Villaraigosa said. ‘When he got behind an issue, he knew everything about it.”

    “Just a really special man. A terrible day,” the former mayor said.

    Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” by the day’s events, saying Reiner “always used his gifts in service of others.”

    “Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” the mayor said.

    “I’m holding all who loved Rob and Michele in my heart,” Bass said.

    Newsom added, “Rob was a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights — from taking on Big Tobacco, fighting for marriage equality, to serving as a powerful voice in early education. He made California a better place through his good works.”

    “Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity,” the governor said.

    Seema Mehta, David Zahniser

    Source link

  • Supreme Court poised to strike down Watergate-era campaign finance limits

    WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court’s conservatives signaled Tuesday they are likely to rule for Republicans and President Trump by throwing out a Watergate-era limit on campaign funding by political parties.

    The court has repeatedly said campaign money is protected as free speech, and the new ruling could allow parties to support their candidate’s campaigns with help from wealthy donors.

    For the second day in a row, Trump administration lawyers urged the justices to strike down a law passed by Congress. And they appeared to have the support of most of the conservatives.

    The only doubt arose over the question of whether the case was flawed because no current candidate was challenging the limits.

    “The parties are very much weakened,” said Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. “This court’s decisions over the years have together reduced the power of political parties, as compared to outside groups, with negative effects on our constitutional democracy.”

    He was referring to rulings that upheld unlimited campaign spending by wealthy donors and so-called super PACs.

    In the Citizens United case of 2010, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and four other conservatives struck down the long-standing limits on campaign spending, including by corporations and unions. They did so on the theory that such spending was “independent” of candidates and was protected as free speech under the 1st Amendment.

    They said the limits on contributions to candidates were not affected. Those limits could be justified because the danger of corruption where money bought political favors. This triggered a new era of ever-larger political spending but most of it was separate from the candidates and the parties.

    Last year, billionaire Elon Musk spent more than $250 million to support Donald Trump’s campaign for reelection. He did so with money spent through political action committees, not directly to Trump or his campaign.

    Meanwhile the campaign funding laws limit contributions to candidates to $3,500.

    Lawyers for the National Republican Senatorial Committee pointed out this trend and told the Supreme Court its decisions had “eroded” the basis for some of the remaining the 1970s limits on campaign funding.

    At issue Tuesday were the limits on “coordinated party spending.” In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Congress added limits on campaign money that could be given to parties and used to fund their candidates. The current donation limit is $44,000, the lawyers said.

    Washington attorney Noel Francisco, Trump’s solicitor general during his first term, urged the court strike down these limits on grounds they are outdated and violate the freedom of speech.

    “The theory is that they’re needed to prevent an individual donor from laundering a $44,000 donation through the party to a particular candidate in exchange for official action,” he said.

    If a big-money donor hopes to win a favor from a congressional candidate, the “would-be briber would be better off just giving a massive donation to the candidate’s favorite super PAC,” Francisco said.

    The suit heard Tuesday was launched by then-Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and other Republican candidates, and it has continued in his role as vice president and possibly a presidential candidate in 2028.

    Usually, the Justice Department defends federal laws, but in this instance, the Trump administration switched sides and joined the Republicans calling for the party spending limits to be struck down.

    Precedents might have stood in the way.

    In 2001, the Supreme Court had narrowly upheld these limits on the grounds that the party’s direct support was like a contribution, not independent spending. But the deputy solicitor general, Sarah Harris, told the justices Tuesday that the court’s recent decisions have “demolished” that precedent.

    “Parties can’t corrupt candidates, and no evidence suggests donors launder bribes by co-opting parties’ coordinated spending with candidates,” she said.

    Marc Elias, a Democratic attorney, joined the case in the support of the court limits. He said the outcome would have little to do with speech or campaign messages.

    “I think we’re underselling the actual corruption” that could arise, he said. If an individual were to give $1 million to political party while that person has business matter before the House or Senate, he said, it’s plausible that could influence “a deciding or swing vote.”

    The only apparent difficulty for the conservative justices arose over questions of procedure.

    Washington attorney Roman Martinez was asked to defend the law, and he argued that neither Vance nor any other Republicans had legal standing to challenge the limits. Vance was not a current candidate, and he said the case should be dismissed for that reason.

    Some legal observers noted that the limits on parties arose in response to evidence that huge campaign contributions to President Nixon’s reelection came from industry donors seeking government favors.

    “Coordinated spending limits are one of the few remaining checks to curb the influence of wealthy special interests in our elections,” said Omar Noureldin, senior vice president for litigation at Common Cause. “If the Supreme Court dismantles them, party leaders and wealthy donors will be free to pour nearly unlimited money directly into federal campaigns, exactly the kind of corruption these rules were created to stop.”

    Daniel I. Weiner, an elections law expert at the Brennan Center, said the justices were well aware of how striking down these limits could set the stage for further challenges.

    “I was struck by how both sides had to acknowledge that this case has to be weighed not in isolation but as part of a decades-long push to strike down campaign finance rules,” he said. “Those other decisions have had many consequences the court itself failed to anticipate.”

    David G. Savage

    Source link

  • ‘Joy of making artwork’: Alison Zapata honors Latino heritage through displays

    HERITAGE VERY CLOSE TO HEART. WITH EVERY BRUSHSTROKE, ALISON ZAPATA POURS EVERYTHING IN HER PIECES JUST LIKE THIS. BUT ONE THING HAS REMAINED CLEAR THAT SHE HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN HER ROOTS. THROUGH EVERY PIECE, ALISON ZAPATA HAS CREATED THE MEANING BEHIND THEM MAY CHANGE, BUT AT THE CORE, THE MISSION IS THE SAME. JOY, BEAUTY, MAYBE SOME STILLNESS. SOME CALM, BUT ALSO REALLY WRAPPING PEOPLE AROUND WITH LOVE. HER GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN SAN LUIS POTOSI BEFORE COMING TO PITTSBURGH. A BORN AND RAISED PITTSBURGH. ZAPATA IS A YINZER THROUGH AND THROUGH. BUT GROWING UP, SHE SAYS SHE’S ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD HER HERITAGE. YOU KNOW, HE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DON’T FORGET YOUR ROOTS. MAKE SURE YOU SAY YOUR LAST NAME. ALWAYS SAY YOUR LAST NAME THE RIGHT WAY. MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU HONOR YOUR HERITAGE. AND IT IT SUNK IN. ZAPATA’S WORK CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER THE PITTSBURGH AREA IN RESTAURANTS, IN PARKS, OR BESIDES BUILDINGS. YOU PASS BY EVERY DAY. FOR HER, IT’S ABOUT CARRYING THE TORCH OF ART FORWARD. IT IMPACTED ME IN A WAY THAT WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ARTWORK. SO IF I’M ABLE TO. YEAH. IMPACT OTHERS. I THINK THAT’S THAT’S THE BIGGEST THANKS THAT I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE FOR MY FAMILY. AND YOU KNOW, THE LONG LINEAGE OF ARTISTS THAT HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE ME. AND AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CONTINUES, ZAPATA SAYS SHE WILL CELEBRATE THOSE WHO HAVE PAVED THE PATH FORWARD. SHE WILL ALSO PLAY HER PART IN HER OWN JOURNEY. IT’S A VERY SPECIAL TIME FOR CELEBRATION, FOR HONORING TRADITIONS, FOR HONORING THE COMMUNITY THAT’S HERE NOW. AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE BEAUTY IN THE GIFTS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINOS HERE IN PITTSBURGH. ZAPATA HOPES TO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO BECOME ARTISTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SET THE EXAMPLE EVERY DAY. BUT FOR NOW. COVERI

    ‘Joy of making artwork’: Alison Zapata honors Latino heritage through displays

    Updated: 4:49 PM EDT Oct 11, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Alison Zapata, an artist, creates pieces that reflect her heritage and mission of joy, beauty, and love, with her work displayed throughout her hometown. Her grandfather was born in San Luis Potosí before coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She said growing up, her parents emphasized the importance of remembering her roots. “He would always talk about , you know, don’t forget your roots. Make sure you say your last name. Always say your last name the right way. Make sure that you honor your heritage, and it’s sunk in,” Zapata said.Zapata’s artwork can be seen all over Pittsburgh, in restaurants, parks, and beside buildings. For her, it’s about carrying the torch of art forward.”It’s part of, you know, the joy of making artwork. If I’m able to, yeah. And impact others, I think that’s the biggest thing that I could possibly have for my family. And, you know, the long lineage of artists that have done this before me,” Zapata said.As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, Zapata celebrates those who have paved a path forward and wants to play her part through her own journey.”It’s a very special time for celebration, for honoring traditions, for honoring the community that’s here now, and to highlight the beauty in the gifts and the contributions of Latinos here in Pittsburgh,” Zapata said.Zapata hopes to continue to inspire the next generation to become artists and will continue to set the example every day.

    Alison Zapata, an artist, creates pieces that reflect her heritage and mission of joy, beauty, and love, with her work displayed throughout her hometown.

    Her grandfather was born in San Luis Potosí before coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

    She said growing up, her parents emphasized the importance of remembering her roots.

    “He would always talk about [and say], you know, don’t forget your roots. Make sure you say your last name. Always say your last name the right way. Make sure that you honor your heritage, and it’s sunk in,” Zapata said.

    Zapata’s artwork can be seen all over Pittsburgh, in restaurants, parks, and beside buildings. For her, it’s about carrying the torch of art forward.

    “It’s part of, you know, the joy of making artwork. If I’m able to, yeah. And impact others, I think that’s the biggest thing that I could possibly have for my family. And, you know, the long lineage of artists that have done this before me,” Zapata said.

    As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, Zapata celebrates those who have paved a path forward and wants to play her part through her own journey.

    “It’s a very special time for celebration, for honoring traditions, for honoring the community that’s here now, and to highlight the beauty in the gifts and the contributions of Latinos here in Pittsburgh,” Zapata said.

    Zapata hopes to continue to inspire the next generation to become artists and will continue to set the example every day.

    Source link

  • Churches, stores spearheading sock, underwear drive

    Imagine not having enough money to buy socks and underwear, or a hat and mittens to guard against the cold

    Three churches and two local businesses are working to ease this hardship for numerous Cape Ann residents, young and old. 


    This page requires Javascript.

    Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

    By Times Staff

    Source link

  • Contributions for Decatur mayoral candidates total almost $122K in final week before election

    Aug. 21—With less than a week left before Decatur’s 2025 municipal elections, contributions for two of the four mayoral candidates are officially up to $121,838.

    According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office’s website Wednesday, Kent Lawrence leads in these final days with $82,784 in contributions. Billy Jackson reported $39,054 in contributions through Monday.

    The election is Tuesday.

    A candidate does not have to report contributions or expenses to the state if he or she doesn’t cross the $1,000 threshold.

    Butch Matthews said Wednesday that he reported a single $100 contribution to the Secretary of State. Matthews, who is making his fourth attempt at becoming mayor, said he doesn’t have as many signs as in the past.

    “I’m talking to people and waving at people,” Matthews said. “I’m paying for the campaign myself.”

    Wiley had not passed the $1,000 threshold as of Wednesday, according to an official in the Secretary of State’s Office. However, Wiley said she received $1,800 in contributions and spent $1,600 of it on her campaign.

    “I don’t owe anybody anything,” Wiley said. “I don’t have a consultant, an image maker or an entourage. I’m a self-confident woman who can go into a room and talk to anyone. I’m talking to a boatload of people, one coffee cake at a time, three or four people at a time. That’s how I am.”

    Jess Brown, a retired political science professor, said it’s important to look at financial disclosures. He said often candidates get support from friends and close business associates, many of whom would already have access to the candidates if elected even if they didn’t give money.

    “The questions become who gave money and how much did they give,” Brown said. “If they don’t know the candidate well, they could be looking for access and influence.”

    Brown said there are some with vested interests in municipal elections, particularly developers, contractors and real estate investors.

    “Those people know that city government always impacts their business,” Brown said.

    Brown said he was surprised that $82,000 was the most any mayoral candidate had received so far in Decatur. He said $500 or $1,000 is a small contribution in most municipal elections.

    Jackson said Tuesday that he is pleased with where his campaign sits financially at this point in the race.

    “Our goal initially was to be somewhere between $45,000 and $50,000,” Jackson said. “We thought that this would allow us to run a viable and productive campaign.”

    According to the state, Lawrence reported 175 contributions averaging $597. In contrast, Jackson’s 122 contributions averaged $433.

    Lawrence’s largest contributions came from three groups. He got $3,500 from the Alabama Builders Political Action Committee, $2,294 from the Alabama Realtors Association and $2,000 from Gobble Fite.

    His largest individual contributors were $2,500 each from Brandon Price and Jack Fite, both builders, and Michael Ceci of Madison.

    Jackson’s biggest contribution was $5,000 from E&F Group Homes, whose chief executive officer is listed as Tommy Cook. Henry Jackson and attorney Carl Cole each gave $2,000 to Jackson, who loaned his campaign $3,000 at the start of the race.

    Jackson said it means a lot to him that he’s getting a large number of smaller contributions.

    “People are giving what they can,” Jackson said. “And we’re very grateful for every contribution. You know it’s harder on some people who are stretching their budgets to give to our campaign. They believe in our campaign and what we’re doing.”

    Lawrence has spent more than all of his competitors combined, with $59,316 in reported expenditures to the state.

    He reported that he has paid $38,100 to Strategy Management, a Montgomery public relations firm that specializes in running political campaigns. The firm’s website says it ran the campaigns of Gov. Kay Ivey, Huntsville Congressman Dale Strong and local state Rep. Parker Moore.

    Jackson reported spending $21,303 so far on his campaign. Most of his expenses were on signs, billboards and T-shirts. His highest expense is $3,621 to Red Clay Strategies Political Consulting Firm, a Huntsville company founded by April Hodges.

    Jackson said the campaign has been “very conservative in our spending,” using the campaign funds on the basic necessities.

    “We’re approaching this campaign with a lot of door-knocking, canvassing, phone banking and leg work,” Jackson said. “Our campaign is a grassroots effort focused on meeting and seeing people. I’ve wore out a pair of shoes just trying to get out there.”

    In response to an interview request, Lawrence sent The Decatur Daily an email through his political consultant. Here is a portion of that response:

    “When I got into this race I had one mission in mind: bring people together to move our city forward, restore trust in local government, and work with every citizen to ensure every voice is heard and our needs are met. I am incredibly thankful for all of the support I’ve received from people who have volunteered their time to help knock on doors, make phone calls, contribute to the campaign, host events, and more.”

    The candidates were asked what they think the biggest focus of their campaign will in the final week.

    Wiley said safety, roads and “a lack of unity. We’re always split 50-50” over certain issues.

    Jackson said his campaign’s focus will be talking to as many people as possible who have not decided how they will cast their vote and explaining that he has the best qualifications, experience, education and training to be mayor.

    “When people say they want to move Decatur forward and still they’re not necessarily picking the most qualified candidate, then it comes across as being insincere,” Jackson said. “I want a Decatur where there’s accountability and transparency, and I want a Decatur where everybody’s voice is heard. I want people to be able to trust city government again.”

    Lawrence said he thinks the biggest issue in the final stretch of the campaign is making sure everyone goes to vote.

    “It shouldn’t matter who you support, you should vote. We are fortunate to have control of who our elected leaders are, and I would encourage everyone to make your voice heard by voting. Of course, I want to earn as many votes as I possibly can, so that is what I will be doing: talking to folks, meeting citizens, and working to earn their support,” he said in the email.

    —

    Council races

    The contributions in the City Council races and the single school board race are lower than the mayoral race.

    District 1’s Nick Perkins leads all council candidates with $15,065 in contributions. This haul features the single largest contribution of all of Decatur’s races, $11,000 from Roy Priest, of Huntsville.

    In District 3, incumbent Carlton McMasters has the most contributions with $10,700. Opponent Mike Faruqui reported $5,331. This includes $815 in contributions from supporters while personally putting $4,519 into his campaign.

    Two of the four District 4 candidates reported contributions. Pam Werstler received $5,350, including $1,500 from North Alabama Forward PAC. Sarah French got $2,500 in contributions, including $1,500 from supporter Tommy Cook.

    In the two-man race in District 5, Barry Bullard received $7,949 in contributions while Harold Gilmore reported $1,250.

    — bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2432

    Source link