Saturday, December 24, 2022

Holden demands homeless services conflict of interest investigation of Comptroller Lander and Wife

 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FkvMRzBXkAE1eKd?format=jpg&name=small

 

NY Daily News

A New York City Councilman is demanding the Department of Investigation probe possible conflicts of interest between Comptroller Brad Lander and his wife’s role as a consultant for nonprofits his office is supposed to oversee.

Councilman Bob Holden (D-Queens) made the request last month to DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber and Carolyn Miller, executive director of the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board, in a letter the Daily News obtained Friday.

As The News first reported in July, Lander’s office, which serves as the city’s fiscal watchdog, approved about $550 million in contracts with nonprofits that are members of an umbrella group that his wife, Meg Barnette, oversees.

Lander has noted repeatedly that he received a seal of approval from the Conflicts of Interest Board for his office’s review of contracts with nonprofits tied to Nonprofit New York, where Barnette serves as CEO and president.

But Holden does not view that as sufficient.

In his letter dated Nov. 29, the councilman notes that as president and CEO of Nonprofit New York, Barnette “has an interest in the success of over 4,000 nonprofit organizations.”

Some of those have contracts with the city that Lander’s office signs off on.

“There must be transparency so that New Yorkers know that there is no conflict of interest between what is best for New York City taxpayers and the financial interests of Brad Lander and his family,” Holden wrote.

“Media reports routinely feature nonprofit social-service providers that are not fulfilling their contractual obligations and in many cases committing criminal acts,” he continued. “Unfortunately, the Comptroller’s office never publicly audits these providers. The public should know if the Comptroller’s wife is consulting for the same nonprofits the Comptroller is supposed to oversee to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.”

Naomi Dann, a spokeswoman for Lander, accused Holden and The News of a “willful misunderstanding of basic facts.”

“The Conflicts of Interest Board has repeatedly affirmed present no conflict,” she said

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Listen to Me said...
I'm still working on my eleventh grade English report and I just turned 50.
But I'm smart enough to know that Holden will be unable to do or achieve anything against the DeM0rats. They "Party Hacks" will turn this into a nothing burger.

Anonymous said...

They all need to be held accountable.

Anonymous said...

Omg! This is disgusting and shocking!!!!!

Anonymous said...

When did we start issuing these get-out-of-jail free cards to America?

Anonymous said...

What will Batman Adams do ?
His "fight" on crime in NYC is going well all the libturds say.

Anonymous said...

Jeez, these democrats are getting as bad as Republicans.

Anonymous said...

Dems make money off homeless shelters. Republicans make money off private prisons. Soon we’ll all be in one or the other.
Ain’t capitalism wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Divide 2 billions $ DHS budget by 65 000 homeless = 30769 $ annual per person...There is not ANY Corruption ???

Anonymous said...

Holden finally decides to do something useful, or at least pretend to do something useful.

Anonymous said...

Middle Class & Poor Americans are being screwed.
Now put on a jacket in the cold and enjoy a bug burger.

Anonymous said...

Who appoints the Conflict of Interest Board?

Anonymous said...

The Homeless Industrial Complex ... not accidental. As stated already above ...follow the money ...

https://invisiblepeople.tv/homeless-industrial-complex-homelessness-is-not-accidental/

Anonymous said...

We need to roll back the state.

Anonymous said...

@"Middle Class & Poor Americans are being screwed"
Precisely the ideology of the left and it’s authoritarianism !

Anonymous said...

Always follow the money !

Anonymous said...

We were operating on what we were told because that’s all we had.

Anonymous said...

Ah Come on Man.... always kranky, always komplaining.

Anonymous said...

What we need are more honest politicians like Holden and George Santos who will stand up for real Mericans.

Anonymous said...

While homeowners slave under oppressive heating and water utility bills, apartment dwellers don't pay, hence leave the hot shower water, heat, stove and windows open all day. This sadistic vandalism is called "Projects Mentality" and persists into the homeless shelters, where showers run all day to conceal drug smoke but also bring legionella mildew and structural defects, especially into the ventilation system. Shelters have cameras everywhere but bathrooms, allowing them to become drug use and dealing dens. Stores have cameras in their dressing rooms, and while some states ban bathcams, exceptions are possible. https://www.cepro.com/business-support/when-is-it-ok-to-install-surveillance-cameras-in-bathrooms/ And finally, cold showers are the best emergency mental health treatment, as mental hospitals mandate cold showers, why not shelters.

Anonymous said...

That's Merkins to you!
Leave my boy Santos alone,
He ain't done nothing Biden ain't done.

Anonymous said...

Holden needs to disclose a bit more about his shady donors too.