Gun Safety and Environment Still Big Causes for Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg, the global philanthropist, is shaping up to be as much of a policy driver as Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, according to an article in a special philanthropy-themed issue of Capital magazine (July).

Six months after clearing out his desk at city hall, Mr. Bloomberg is wielding his considerable personal wealth and sizable bully pulpit to help tackle issues including gun violence and environmental degradation, the magazine says. He pledged $50-million to establish the group Everytown for Gun Safety, with an eye to countering the influence of the National Rifle Association. The former mayor also committed $53-million to boost fish populations in the Philippines, Chile, and Brazil.

His position on many policies has put Mr. Bloomberg, who left public office as an independent, squarely in the Democratic camp. He continues “raining opprobrium on both parties,” however.

Among the other topics in the issue:

• The role of nonprofit journalism projects, such as The Marshall Project, headed by Bill Keller, former editor at The New York Times, and InsideClimate News, which won a 2013 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.
• The growing amount of scientific research supported by foundations and individuals.

The issue is online at capitalnewyork.com.