I was at a Forum on Term Limits hosted by Public Advocate Betsy Gottbaum, Counilpersons Letitia James and Bill DeBlasio. Also attending was State Senator Velmanetta Montgomery, Congressman Anthony Weiner, Councilmen David Welpin and John Liu and Controller Bill Thompson.

One of the speakers brought this up and another speaker spoke about the bribes and threats that are going around. Also brought up was items such as Atlantic Yards, Willets Point, Coney Island, etc. Lots of bribes seem to be going around and you have to wonder why so many wealty developers are backing the Mayor if there wasn't something in it for them.

I was planning to write something about the Doe Fund's good works helping reintroduce prisoners who have served their terms back into society, apparently with some success. Would be a real pity if the same people were also committing illegal activities themselves.

I hope that the Doe Fund, as such, doesn't get hurt by this, because they do good work. But George McDonald and Michael Bloomberg should be punished for subverting the purpose of this organization.

As an employee of The Doe Fund, I am disheartened to read accusations on the internet that I was paid or coerced to participate (neither of which was the case).

I waited almost 5 hours to testify on Thursday evening, because it was my RIGHT to express an opinion on a matter that has direct impact on my life as a resident of this great city. I sat in the back of the room the entire evening and the only signs I did see were against the Mayor.

Futhermore, I am proud to work for a Better Business Bureau Accredited charity that helps formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals become self-sufficient!

The BBB website makes it clear what this organization spends its money on: http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.aspx?action=search2&page=0&cid=114...

I too work for The Doe Fund, and I went to City Hall on my own accord to testify about an issue that I have felt strongly about for more than a decade. Why should my employment by a nonprofit stop me from expressing those views?

Unfortunately, since I arrived downtown after 7 pm, I didn't get the chance to hear George McDonald speak on the issue -- but from everything I have read, he shared his personal opinion on term limits: to change the legislation and give the voters the chance to put Mayor Bloomberg back in office if they so choose. Last time I checked, Mr. McDonald had the same First Amendment rights as everyone else.

Generally speaking, though, nonprofit organizations do in fact have the right to participate in the legislative process -- providing they don't endorse the election or defeat of a specific candidate.

It's obvious that you were not among the large group I'm referring to. Yes, of course, you (and Mr. McDonald) can come on your own time and testify to your own opinion. (By the way, the signs being held by those people in the front rows were about 8 1/2 x 11 inches, and revolved around the Mayor's "talking point" of "choice.")

The problem occurs when the organization is co-opted for political activities, which is what has apparently happened. Because I believe that the Doe Fund does great work, and must continue to receive support, I do not call for an investigation into the organization as a whole, but only into those specific people who may be corrupting the system, either from within or from oustide the organization.

Not to belabor the point, but I think it's important for people to know that an organization remains eligible for 501(c)(3) status if its advocacy of legislation is only an “insubstantial part” of its activities.

Neither the Internal Revenue Code nor IRS regulations provide a bright-line rule for what constitutes a “substantial part” of an organization's activities, but the courts have provided some guidance. For instance, in one case where 5% of an organization's budget was expended in attempts to influence legislation, no substantial lobbying activities were found.

All politicians have done backdoor dealings in their career. It's just a matter of not getting caught.