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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Three US Mayors are being indicted on bribery and corruption charges. Flint residents have been waiting a long time for the corruption in Flint and the county to be addressed. Will the crackdown on politicians finally extend to flint? |
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:27 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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FBI arrests 2 Fla. mayors on extortion charges
FBI arrests 2 Fla. mayors on extortion charges: Manuel "Manny" Marono and Michael Pizzi
AP 8 hr ago | By Associated Press
t
The FBI arrested Michael Pizzi, mayor of Miami Lakes, Fla., and Manuel "Manny" Marono, mayor of Sweetwater, Fla., on bribery-related charges.
MIAMI, Fla. — The FBI arrested two South Florida mayors Tuesday morning on bribery-related charges.
Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and Sweetwater Mayor Manuel "Manny" Marono were taken into custody at their offices, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami reported. Both made their first appearances in federal court Tuesday afternoon.
Pizzi, elected in 2008 and in his second term, is an attorney who once worked for a high-profile criminal defense firm in Miami. According to federal prosecutors, Pizzi — who is also Medley's town attorney — and Richard F. Candia, an attorney and lobbyist, were involved in a kickback and bribery scheme in connection with federal grants for both Miami Lakes and Medley.
Marono, a member of the Sweetwater City Commission since 1995, became mayor in 2003. He serves as president of the Florida League of Cities and played a role in Gov. Rick Scott's transition team in 2011. ]An indictment claims that Marono and lobbyist Jorge L. Forte — the former manager of North Bay Village — were involved in a separate kickback and bribery scheme in connection with federal grants for Sweetwater.
Both complaints charge the defendants with conspiracy to commit extortion.
"Our democracy suffers when, as in these cases, elected officials use their power and political influence for personal gain instead of for the public good," U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said in a news release. "Public corruption, at any level of government, corrodes and undermines the public's confidence in our system of government."
It wasn't immediately clear if the mayors or lobbyists had attorneys.
Gov. Scott issued an order suspending both mayors from office.
"This is disappointing," Scott said in a statement after the arrests. "While we wait to see the evidence, the fact remains that elected officials must be held to the highest standard."
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:35 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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FBI arrests two Florida mayors on extortion charges
MSN.com · 20 hours ago
Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and Sweetwater Mayor Manuel 'Manny' Marono allegedly were involved in a kickback and bribery scheme.
See also: Political corruption.
More news about Fbi Arrests Mayors
bing.com/news
FBI Arrests 2 Fla. Mayors on Extortion Charges
ABC News · 8 hours ago
FBI arrests 2 Florida mayors on corruption charges
FOX News · 21 hours ago
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FBI Arrests Trenton Mayor, Others in Corruption Probe | NBC …
www.nbcnewyork.com › news › local
FBI Arrests Trenton Mayor, Others in Corruption Probe The arrests are the latest development in a federal investigation that began in 2010 into alleged corruption ...
FBI arrests Trenton, N.J., mayor, others in corruption probe - U.S ...
usnews.nbcnews.com/.../13778785-fbi-arrests-trenton-nj-mayor-others...
Updated at 3:10 p.m. ET: Federal authorities arrested Trenton, N.J., Mayor Tony Mack and more than half a dozen other people early Monday in |
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:38 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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FBI Arrests Trenton Mayor, Others in Corruption Probe
The arrests are the latest development in a federal investigation that began in 2010 into alleged corruption within Tony Mack's administration
By Jonathan Dienst, Shimon Prokupecz and Joe Valiquette
| Tuesday, Sep 11, 2012 | Updated 6:55 PM EDT
NBC 4 New York
The mayor's brother and several associates were also taken into custody. Chief Investigative Reporter Jonathan Dienst reports.
Federal authorities arrested Trenton Mayor Tony Mack and more than half a dozen other people early Monday in connection with an ongoing corruption probe, NBC 4 New York first reported Monday.
Mack faces federal charges including conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion. Joseph "JoJo" Giorgianni, a top campaign contributor, and six others were also taken into custody. Information on their attorneys wasn't immediately available.
Mack, a Democrat, faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on extortion charges, prosecutors said.
In recorded conversations, Giorgianni said, "I can be bought," "We want this," "I like to do it the Boss Tweed way, you know, Boss Tweed ran Tammany Hall," and "Tony knows when I'm in for a penny I'm in for a pound," according to a criminal complaint.
During the conversations, Giorgianni referred to Mack using the code name "Napoleon," the complaint said.
Mack and the others arrested Monday were brought to the FBI office in Hamilton for processing and were scheduled to appear in federal court.
The arrests are the latest development in a federal investigation that began in 2010 into alleged corruption within Mack's administration, which has been marked by accusations of nepotism and reckless spending. In July, FBI agents searched offices in Trenton City Hall a day after raiding the mayor's home. They also searched the home of his brother, Ralphiel Mack, and that of Giorgianni.
In the first of two criminal complaints, Tony and Ralphiel Mack and Giorgianni were charged with conspiracy in connection with a parking garage project. The complaint alleges that cash payments intended for Mayor Mack were made by a cooperating witness to Giorgianni inside his restaurant.
In the second complaint Giorgianni and eight others, not including the Macks, were charged with conspiracy to obtain and fill prescriptions for oxycodone-based pain medications, and to distribute the pain medications.
Federal prosecutors said Mack and his conconspirators "were willing to let city property go for a fraction of its worth."
"Neither selling one's oath of office or illegally selling prescription medication is acceptable on the streets of Trenton or anywhere else in New Jersey," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement.
Mack's administration has been in turmoil from Day 1, staggering from one crisis to another. A housecleaning of staff at City Hall opened the door for Mack's own appointees, who quickly turned it into a revolving door. Some left over questions about their credentials, others to face criminal charges
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In Mack's first year in office in Trenton, a city of 85,000, he ran through a string of business administrators. The first resigned after a month, saying the mayor didn't believe in "good government." Another resigned just ahead of pleading guilty to embezzlement at another job.
Mack's housing director quit after it emerged that he had a theft conviction. His chief of staff was arrested trying to buy heroin. His half-brother, whose authority he elevated at the city water plant, was arrested on charges of stealing.
Questions have also been raised about how he financed his campaign for mayor.
A former longtime city employee sued the mayor late last year. The parks department employee said she was let go after refusing to dole out jobs for the mayor's friends, refusing to give federal grant money to people who didn't apply and for inquiring about city funds she said were missing.
The ex-employee also said she was replaced by a Mack supporter who never showed up for his $40,000-a-year job.
A former campaign aide told NBC 4 New York he disassociated with Mack when he "saw the way he was going."
"This is not a surprise," Jerell Blakley said of the probe into Mack's activities. "A lot of people in Trenton were of the opinion -- not of if, but when."
Get the latest from NBC 4 New York anywhere, anytime: iPhone/iPad App | SMS Alerts | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | RS |
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:46 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The video on the Trenton Mayor shows land being offered for one/third of it's value for kickbacks.
The Land bank now calls itself the Land Bank Development Corporation. They control what land is sold and at what price it is sold. Will there be more sweetheart deals? Will it continue to be "institutions over individuals"" as Omar Sims stated at a Land bank meeting?
Will the government investigate:
* Operation Unification and Charles Young;
* Greg Eason and Dayne Walling in the initial contracts for Smith Village;
* How the Genesee Towers was sold for a dollar;
* How the Department of Energy grant for the city was manipulated
* How Kate Fields got involved in the Flint Housing Department of Energy grant
* How Walling seemingly used 401(C) 4 organizations in his campaign ads
And much more!
When will flint see indictments and why do government officials always blame the neglect of corruption on higher ups in Washington? |
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:07 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Removing the Risk of Corruption in Michigan - State Integrity ...
www.stateintegrity.org/michigan
Michigan gets a grade of F for corruption risk and ranks 43rd out of 50 states in the State Integrity Investigation. Find out why and e-mail Michigan's report card to ...
Report: Michigan Fails In Fending Off Public Corruption « CBS …
detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/19/report-michigan-fails-in...corruption
LANSING (WWJ) – When it comes to helping citizens fight public corruption — Michigan gets a failing grade. According to a report from Better Government ...
Michigan's Corruptibility Rated An 'F' In New Report -- And It Isn ...
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/michigan-corruption_n_1358238.html
Mar 19, 2012 · Michigan's Corruptibility Rated An 'F' In New Report -- And It Isn't Just A Detroit Problem |
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:26 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Report: Michigan Fails In Fending Off Public Corruption
July 19, 2013 2:40 PM
chrystal
Reporting Chrystal Knight
LANSING (WWJ) – When it comes to helping citizens fight public corruption — Michigan gets a failing grade.
According to a report from Better Government Association, a watchdog group out of Chicago, Michigan ranked 48 out of 50 states in four key areas: holding open meetings for the public, freedom of information for citizens, protecting whistle-blowers, and conflict of interest laws for elected officials.
Better Government’s Emily Miller says Michigan is the worst in the area of conflict of interest.
“Conflict of interest laws are there really to prevent elected officials from working for their own private interests as opposed to the public interest,” Miller told WWJ Newsradio 950′s Chrystal Knight. “You guys don’t have any of that.”
Michigan ranked 35th out of the 50 states when it comes to whistle-blower protection.
“Our overview is that there was a decent process for protection, but the law doesn’t cover all state employees and has a week appeals process,” said BGA Director of Programs and Operations, Bob Reed.
Reed said, clearly, some changes need to be made. ”We’d love to hear what they[Michigan lawmakers] have to say about it. We think that it;s important that we have this dialogue and that we talk about it, and then start doing things to make things better,” he said.
This report comes as a federal corruption investigation continues into Wayne County government, where several high-ranking staffers have already been indicted.
Meantime, Detroit has filed for bankruptcy following years of mismanagement by elected leaders. The city’s former mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, remains behind bars as he awaits sentencing for racketeering conspiracy and other crimes. |
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Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:29 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Why can't Michigan Governor Snyder be investigated for a "Pay to Play" Campaign Fundraising fiasco. it appears the federal contracts only go to those that were contributors to him during the election.
Democrats or Republicans- Corruption is Corruption and should not be tolerated.
Culture of Corruption: Former Missouri Democrat Governor Indicted for Illegal Donations
Posted by Jim Hoft on Thursday, April 12, 2012, 7:42 PM
Former Democrat Governor Roger Wilson was indicted today. (HuffPo)
Culture of Corruption Update:
Former Missouri Democrat Governor Roger Wilson was indicted today for illegal donations. Wilson faces faces up to one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000.
St. Louis Today reported:
Former Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson has pleaded guilty this afternoon in connection with indictments late Wednesday on allegations of laundering campaign contributions to the Missouri Democratic Party through a St. Louis law firm.
Herzog Crebs partner Ed Griesedieck, indicted along with Wilson, also plans to plead guilty, said his attorney Matt Schelp.
The $8,000 in contributions originated with a state-created workers’ compensation company, Columbia-based Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Co., and Wilson.
“I made a mistake. I have taken public responsibility for the mistake. I apologize to everyone. I will bear the consequences of my mistake and will have no comment other than that,” Wilson said outside the courtroom, reading from a prepared statement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release that Wilson faces up to one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000. Wilson’s lawyer, Robert Haar, said his client faces probation to six months in prison and the possibility of a fine. |
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Thu Aug 08, 2013 7:23 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Star CEO cooperates with feds on corruption probe of Va. governor (Video)
Scandal-plagued Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's (R) approval rating has dropped 12 percentage points in the past two months, according to a survey released Monday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling. (on.aol.com)
Karen Graham|Community Issues
Examiner
August 4, 2013
News sources are reporting on Sunday that Star Scientific CEO, Jonnie Williams, Sr., has been cooperating with federal investigators for the last several months in their probe into the corruption investigation of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.
Three people familiar with the probe, and speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Williams had turned over personal financial records and sat for interviews in which he provided firsthand accounts of luxury gifts and more than $120,000 given to McDonnell and his family members since 2011.
It was learned that Star Scientific has given prosecutors access to corporate records and offered information from other company officials. It appears that Williams, as well as company officials have been fully cooperating in the investigation. Last month, Williams also met with a state prosecutor in Richmond, into whether the governor followed Virginia’s gift disclosure laws.
The cooperation of the Star CEO appears to be an ominous sign to many, suggesting there is more to the story than the public has been led to believe. While McDonnell has not been charged with any wrongdoing, it will be up to prosecutors to determine if there is enough evidence to go forward with any charges against him.
The key issue in the investigation is the testimony of Williams, and his insight into whether McDonnell and the first lady agreed to take official actions that could help Williams’ company in exchange for his gifts.
McDonnell, a Republican and one-time rising star in the GOP, has repeatedly said he has broken no laws, and has done nothing to assist Star Scientific that he would not have done for any state-based enterprise.
The governor has said he was not required by state law to disclose gifts given to his family members or a corporate loan that he said Williams provided. He also said he properly disclosed $50,000 given by Williams to his wife as a loan.
The probe is ongoing, and it is in the hands of prosecutors as to whether McDonnell will be formally charged. According to Justin Shur, a lawyer who is the former deputy chief of the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section, "The key issue is to prove that an elected official agreed to take some kind of official action in exchange for gifts or loans. There needs to be a direct connection between the two.”
Suggested by the author
Virginia governor returns more gifts as taxpayers get bill for legal fees
Gov. McDonnell brings in high-profile attorney as popularity drops
McDonnell gift scandal will leave mark on Virginia |
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Thu Aug 08, 2013 7:35 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Wayne County official warned of jail waste 3 years ago ...
www.wxyz.com › News › Local News › Investigations1 hour ago
It's one of the biggest government debacles in Michigan history, ... But a 2010 memo from Wayne County Commission Chief Fiscal Advisor Dwayne Seals said otherwise ..
Wayne County official warned of jail waste 3 years ago; commissioners approved deal anyway
Posted: 5:44 PM
Last Updated: 1 hour and 1 minute ago
•By: Ross Jones By: Ross Jones
DETROIT (WXYZ) - You’ve heard of the bridge to nowhere. In Wayne County, you'll find the jail for no one.
It's one of the biggest government debacles in Michigan history, and it's in our own backyard.
Wayne County CEO Bob Ficano said this jail deal made all the sense in the world. but if he’d listened to one of the county’s top money men, he would have heard a very different story.
As Ficano’s office asked commissioners to approve a $300 million bond for the jail, a top county official took a look at Ficano’s math. Remember, the CEO said the deal was a no-brainer. Consolidating the three jails into one, he said, would save the county money.
But a 2010 memo from Wayne County Commission Chief Fiscal Advisor Dwayne Seals said otherwise.
“…we see NO identifiable plan or schedule for cost savings to support this bond," Seals wrote. The memo was presented to commissioners in November 2010.
It came long before the jail was awash in $91 million of projected overruns. Still, 10 of 15 commissioners voted to green light the deal.
"So from day one this thing didn’t make sense, but they still went forward with it," said Brendan Dunleavy, Wayne County's former auditor general.
The nearly memo from Seals, he says, is a sign that commissioners chose to look the other way.
"If the Wayne County Commission would have listened to their own advisors, they would have voted this down, he said.
"But if it wasn’t for the cozy relationship that they had with the county executive at this time, the county would not be in this position."
Contact Investigator Ross Jones at rjones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466. |
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Fri Aug 16, 2013 6:44 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Channel 7's Ross Jones is a thorough investigator and I enjoy his stories. Local news is so bad with all of the meaningless BS, that I often ignore the news and watch Detroit news. Sometimes I watch the promos and may watch the first few minutes before I switch too something interesting.
It is about time that Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy started an investigation into Ficano. Hopefully his deceit has caught up with him. |
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Fri Aug 16, 2013 6:53 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Michigan got an F for 2 years in a row.
Michigan's Corruptibility Rated An 'F' In New Report -- And It Isn't ... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/michigan-corruption_n_1358238.html - 187k - Cached -
New Report -- And It Isn't Just A Detroit Problem
Posted: 03/19/2012 12:01 am Updated: 03/19/2012 1:24 pm
From the cases of Kwame Kilpatrick to those of Monica Conyers and Robert Ficano, metro Detroit has not wanted for blockbuster political scandals over the past few years. But now a new ranking from the Center for Public Integrity claims that Michigan as a whole is one of the worst states when it comes to "corruptibility."
Michigan got an F and ranked 43rd in the nation in the State Integrity Investigation, which aimed to figure out how loopholes or laxness in state laws make it easier to unduly influence legislators and leaders and subvert the political process.
For national political junkies accustomed to cracking jokes about the mob-like political culture of Illinois, New Jersey or Rhode Island, the news that Michigan is one of the most corruptible states might come as something of a surprise. But for clean government advocates who have had their eye on the Wolverine State as they watched corporate money pour into state and local elections in the last few years, the report is just one more sign that Michigan needs to change to avoid even more scandals.
The problem, those advocates say -- and the State Integrity Investigation bears them out -- is that activities that might put you in jail in other states are perfectly legal in Michigan.
"It absolutely extends beyond Detroit," said Jocelyn Benson, a former candidate for secretary of state who is now the associate director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University Law School. Statewide, "we have some of the weakest disclosure and lobbying laws in the country," she said.
"Corporate-funded ads and commercials funded by shadowy organization have been on the rise in Michigan and been a significant problem in Michigan years before Citizens United," Benson said. Through super PACs and other campaign practices legalized by the Supreme Court's ruling in its 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the rest of the country is now getting a taste of Michigan-style politics, she added.
In 2007, the Meijer supermarket chain ran afoul of Michigan's disclosure laws by not revealing its spending to sway the outcome of a recall election for Michigan's Acme Township Board after the company's management didn't like the board's zoning decisions. Michigan's secretary of state later fined the supermarket company $190,000 for this and its activities related to a 2005 referendum. But such enforcement actions are rare in Michigan; much more often, corporations can change public and legislative opinion in ways that may not violate any laws. In 2008, undisclosed donors plunged millions of dollars into a fiercely fought and ostensibly nonpartisan battle over electing a Michigan Supreme Court justice.
More recently, the owners of the Ambassador Bridge and their allies sought to influence legislators to vote against a proposal to build a new, government-owned bridge to Canada. Colleagues of state Rep. Rashida Tlaib in Lansing, Mich., have pointedly told her they would rather remain silent on the bridge issue rather than risk the ire of the Detroit International Bridge Co., which owns the Ambassador Bridge, Tlaib said.
"Sometimes my colleagues will say, well, I don't want to upset the bridge company because I don't want them to upset my election," said Tlaib, whose district includes the Ambassador Bridge and who has long tangled with its owner. "That's the scary part of having corporations bully our public servants through the threat of recall or funneling money to various opponents."
Tlaib said Gov. Rick Synder told her he was shocked by the ability of the Ambassador's owners to unite state legislators, the Koch brothers and the New Black Panther Nation to stand against a competing bridge proposal by spreading money around.
None of it comes as a surprise to Rich Robinson, who tracks spending on undisclosed financing of "issue ads" for the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. Since 2000 he has watched the posting of about $70 million in TV advertisements that skirt the state campaign finance disclosure system. Other states put stricter limits on such ads, he said, but in Michigan the secretary of state has effectively "given itself a lobotomy at interpreting stuff."
And it's not just advertisements; lobbyists in the state capital of Lansing can get away with quite a lot without registering any of their transactions with state regulators.
"There's really no meaningful disclosure of what lobbyists are spending courting officeholders and administration officials," Robinson said. "Semi-controlled bribery is, I think, an apt description."
Gov. Snyder and Democrats in the state capitol have proposed ethics packages in the form of new legislation. For her part, Benson is proposing the passage of a "Corporate Accountability Amendment" to the Michigan Constitution to impose limits on some of that behind-the-scenes undisclosed financing. But all of those efforts face an uphill battle, and Benson's amendment, if passed, would not go into effect until at least 2014.
Until then, Michigan's leaders have plenty of cleaning up to do. In separate rankings, Michigan received an F in each of the following categories: executive accountability, judicial accountability, state civil service management, state pension fund management, state insurance commissions, political financing, legislative accountability, lobbying disclosure, ethics enforcement agencies and redistricting. |
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:06 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Michigan gets a grade of F for corruption risk and ranks 43rd out of 50 states in Report: Michigan Fails In Fending Off Public Corruption « CBS Detroit http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/19/report-michigan-fails-in-fending-off-public-corruption/ - 87k - Cached -
Report: Michigan Fails In Fending Off Public Corruption
July 19, 2013 2:40 PM
LANSING (WWJ) – When it comes to helping citizens fight public corruption — Michigan gets a failing grade.
According to a report from Better Government Association, a watchdog group out of Chicago, Michigan ranked 48 out of 50 states in four key areas: holding open meetings for the public, freedom of information for citizens, protecting whistle-blowers, and conflict of interest laws for elected officials.
Better Government’s Emily Miller says Michigan is the worst in the area of conflict of interest.
“Conflict of interest laws are there really to prevent elected officials from working for their own private interests as opposed to the public interest,” Miller told WWJ Newsradio 950′s Chrystal Knight. “You guys don’t have any of that.”
Michigan ranked 35th out of the 50 states when it comes to whistle-blower protection.
“Our overview is that there was a decent process for protection, but the law doesn’t cover all state employees and has a week appeals process,” said BGA Director of Programs and Operations, Bob Reed.
Reed said, clearly, some changes need to be made. ”We’d love to hear what they[Michigan lawmakers] have to say about it. We think that it;s important that we have this dialogue and that we talk about it, and then start doing things to make things better,” he said.
This report comes as a federal corruption investigation continues into Wayne County government, where several high-ranking staffers have already been indicted.
Meantime, Detroit has filed for bankruptcy following years of mismanagement by elected leaders. The city’s former mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, remains behind bars as he awaits sentencing for racketeering conspiracy and other crimes.
To get a detailed look at the BGA report, visit this link. |
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:14 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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All of these articles mention conflicts-of interest, but that has never bothered Flint politicians. All City of Flint candidates and elected officials must file annual forms showing sources of income and companies owned or invested in. But there is no penalty for failing to disclose conflicts.
Many of my friends are impressed with Senator Jim Ananich. During his tenure in the City Council he had two conflicts and the Ombudsman office gave him a pass. He and Steve Montle had a campaign consulting business that worked for Dayne Walling's Mayor's race. No disclosure. When challenged, he said it was mainly Montle that was doing the work, so he saw no reason to disclose. He claimed he would probably lose money on his taxes. But Montle saw employment with the city and may still be under contract.
Ananich was a longtime Board member of Greater Eastside Community Association (GECA) and for several years served as President. No disclosure. Actually disclosure was probably more important here as he signed documents for a $100,000 loan as Board President of GECA on the old bank building on Franklin near Davison Road. The building was only appraised at $40,000.
When GECA was unable to pay the taxes on the bank and the adjoining lots, Ananich facilitated a tax abatement with the Assessors office. With his personal guaranty on the loan I believe the conflict was in place beyond his presidency. He lucked out and a new mortgage was taken out on the building. When that loan tanked, Kate Fields was held responsible for the shortage.
Ananich played a key role in the switching of the Energy grant to the new company owned by Kate Fields. |
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:40 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Josh Freeman was the President o GECA after Ananich. I don't believe he ever voted on a proposal involving GECA or Fields. However he was placed in a difficult position of having to sign off on the former GECA offices when GECA and Fields defaulted on the Land Contract with the Land Bank. Fields had used the offices for her Energy company Advanced Solutions for a time. When Flint sued GECA for a breach of contract, Freeman and the board gave Fields her car and the office equipment in lieu of a salary, overtime and vacation time owing.
The agency owed money to the IRS and had taxes on their properties owing. I remember reviewing some records on GECA and wondered about the high values assigned to two parcels on New York near franklin that was supposed to be a park. Like the bank these land values were a fraud. The two lots were overgrown and had mattresses and other trash dumped near the back. No park. |
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Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:46 pm |
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