The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

08 October 2006

Gloria Wise, New York Post, The Bronx

OUTRAGE

As Sleazeballs Go Nearly Unpunished, Bronx Locals Angry






There's a growing sense of outrage this weekend in the Bronx and it's not just about the performance of the post- season Yankees. Instead, the anger and disbelief relates to the sorry outcome of the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls scandal.

Between the now- disgraced inner city nonprofit and the liberal radio network that took $875,000 of its taxpayer- funded money, why won't anybody face jail time?

How could simply repaying some of the loot, in addition to a small fine, possibly be enough for a swindle that hurt so many inner- city children and elderly people?

And given the overwhelming amount of evidence against so many, why were only two people actually charged? Something stinks to high heaven here.


For all of the criticism the New York Post takes for its style and presentation of the news, in this case it truly deserves kudos for asking important questions that other area publications have ignored (including even the Wall Street Journal, which has strangely turned a blind eye to this mess since day one).

With both a story and editorial in Saturday's editions, the Post has thankfully taken up this important cause:



OUTRAGE AT CHARITY'S CROOKED WISE GUYS

By PATRICK WHITE and DAVID SEIFMAN


News that two former executives who admitted plundering the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club won't be spending even one day in jail was greeted by outrage yesterday at the Bronx non-profit and by residents of the community.

"That's a sore spot for me," said Frederick Lewis, the group's new leader.

"People go to jail for much less than that," fumed Lewis. "These people took advantage of the city and state. We have to let them know you don't get away with this . . . It's a disgrace."

Parents with kids in Gloria Wise's Co-op City day care center were also up in arms.

"I work so hard and I can barely make tuition," said doorman Vernon Rainford, 41, who has a 3-year-old at Gloria Wise.

"To hear people stealing without punishment, that's just not right."

The Department of Investigation reported Thursday that two officials - executive director Charles Rosen and deputy director Jeffrey Aulenbach - and three employees swiped $1.2 million from the charity over a period of years.


Most of the money - $875,000 - went toward an illegal loan for the Air America radio network.

But the corrupt officials also splurged on everything from a $34,500 Volvo convertible to home renovations and even bills for tennis.

Under a plea deal announced by state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Rosen pleaded guilty to felony charges of grand larceny and forgery, and obstructing government administration, a misdemeanor.

Rosen's punishment: He has to repay $38,575 plus a $5,000 fine and is barred from working at a nonprofit for three years. He was accused of stealing $69,216.

Aulenbach pleaded guilty to the same charges, excluding the forgery count, and is repaying $32,363 plus a $5,000 fine. He was accused of pocketing $87,371.


The Post follows it up with this well- written editorial, excerpted here:


WISE GUYS GET A PASS


Six officials of the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club stole $1.2 million from the group, money meant for needy kids and seniors, a city probe has found. Investigations Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn calls it "disgusting" - the worst case of wrongdoing by a non-profit contractor she's seen since taking office.

Thank goodness the thieves will be going to jail for a very long time - and paying back every cent, and then some.

Well, actually, that's not quite true.

In fact, nobody is going to jail.

Not even for a single day.

And the crooks get to keep most of the cash they stole. Four weren't even charged, and after a few brief years, the two who were charged can return to nonprofit work - to loot again, perhaps.

For that wrist tap, thank Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, whose office prosecuted the case.

Something is wrong with this picture.

Hearn was right to label the shenanigans "disgusting." Her report said fraud "was an accepted way of doing business" for these execs. "Rather than reflecting actual events," the group's records "were made to say whatever suited the executives' purposes." Want details?

* Under their direction, the group improperly gave $875,000 to left-wing Air America radio (which features comedian Al Franken) while a Gloria Wise exec maintained a financial stake in it.

* Officials "improperly obtained more than $290,000 in income that was untaxed, on top of already generous salaries - and much of it stolen from government agencies."

* They used the money to buy themselves cars (two BMWs and a Volvo), fix up their homes and pay for tennis expenses, parking and personal insurance, among other things.

* Most alarming was their falsification of student medical records to fool the Health Department into thinking the kids had gotten vaccines and medical exams.


Meanwhile, the Air America team has the nerve to rail against the "Bush crime family". Why should they have any credibility?


FOR THE LATEST on key Massachusetts races, visit Bay State Showdown, our other site.

Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of what you ultimately purchase, greatly help to support this site's efforts. Thanks again!

Technorati tags:

Images: David A Lunde for the Radio Equalizer

12 Comments:

  • Well, you're forgetting one thing: because they're progressives, it's all about the children!

    By Blogger directorblue, at 08 October, 2006 10:23  

  • And here the disingenuousnous (did I just fabricate a word?) continues.

    This story has NOTHING to do with Franken, Springer, or Rhodes, and yet their's are the parodied photos splattered throughout (as has always been the case with Brian's "reporting").

    Keep pretending you don't want to smear those not responsible, Maloney. You're exposing your intentions admirably.

    By Blogger TJ, at 08 October, 2006 11:03  

  • TJ, you guys are playing games. That money funded the network's operations, which in turn paid the salaries of Franken, Rhodes, etc. For that these AAR hosts show no concern whatsoever, while a few of you play attack the messenger.

    By Blogger Brian Maloney, at 08 October, 2006 11:06  

  • "TJ, you guys are playing games. That money funded the network's operations, which in turn paid the salaries of Franken, Rhodes, etc. For that these AAR hosts show no concern whatsoever, while a few of you play attack the messenger."

    I'm not playing games. You are.

    The employees didn't create the circumstances. And of course, were I employed by someone who'd committed or been involved in fraud, I'd be damn concerned if I was getting my paycheck.

    They weren't responsible. They aren't responsible, and they have every right to be concerned about being paid for their work.

    It is you who is the one playing games.

    By Blogger TJ, at 08 October, 2006 11:55  

  • ***This story has NOTHING to do with Franken, Springer, or Rhodes, and yet their's are the parodied photos splattered throughout (as has always been the case with Brian's "reporting").

    Keep pretending you don't want to smear those not responsible, Maloney. You're exposing your intentions admirably.***

    I don't know about Rhodes' or Springer's involvement, but yes, this has EVERYTHING to do with Al Franken:

    http://michellemalkin.com/archives/003487.htm

    He may feign ignorance about all of this, but clearly, he knew a lot more than he pretends when he's on tv, catering to his audience.

    By Blogger Conservative Punk Canuck, at 08 October, 2006 12:24  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger none, at 08 October, 2006 14:01  

  • Owen,
    As a hick and child of incest from the midwest, we excuse you for being a moron.

    However, most people make buying decisions based on economics and not politics. Your petty little boycott will have as much traction as did renaming french fries to freedom fries.

    By Blogger none, at 08 October, 2006 14:25  

  • Why are you blaming progressives for this when you should be taking responsibility for Evan Cohen and what he did?

    Oh, I forgot.

    Neocons never take responsibility for their actions.

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 08 October, 2006 15:01  

  • Looks like some of the New York newspapers are starting to accept and print what Brian exposed months ago. It won't shut up the left wing political gadflies, but it will make their carping just a bit more enjoyable to read.

    By Blogger The Benson Report, at 08 October, 2006 22:33  

  • Maybe they will greet the child molestors as liberators, as you seem to have.

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 08 October, 2006 23:11  

  • it's not what Brian reported, it's what he wanted to be true, and still wants people to believe:

    Air America Radio, as a company, did not create the scandal.

    Evan Cohen and Gloria Wise folks were the perpetrators of the scam(s), and are wholly responsible.

    AAR was simply left holding the bag, so to speak - when told to put money in escrow, they did. Now, having been told to release the money, they are.

    Al Franken, to whatever level he may have been aware, was not responsible.

    And of course none of the personalities spoke of it, as they were employees/under contract with AAR.

    So - there's no real relevance to blaming AAR or any of its personalities, yet still brian is trying to lay the stank at their feet, in direct lack of relation to the facts,

    and you, benson and others, are championing him by once more ignoring the truth.

    Many of the intellectually honest among you jumped-ship when Brian deliberately misrepresented the Foley/Hastert/Limbaugh story - why still defend his obviously biased and unsupportable actions on this story, when everything he's laid out in the last few days has proven he's been on a snipe hunt, and yet still plasters AAR parodies all over his story?

    By Blogger TJ, at 09 October, 2006 01:28  

  • So, the whole Gloria Wise scandal is done now. No jail time for anybody, never mind anyone who worked or works for Air America.

    Are you going to shut your mouth now about this non-story? No? I didn't think so. Have fun, Brian.

    By Blogger Scott, at 09 October, 2006 07:22  

Post a Comment

<< Home



 
Page Rank Checker

Powered by Blogger