Posted on 02/25/2006 6:33:19 AM PST by mcg2000
A top city leader admits the FBI has been looking through records and asking lots of questions.
City Finance and Housing Director, Robert Lipscomb, confirmed that the FBI is looking into the HARP program. The program helps low income families repair or replace their homes.
Lipscomb says the FBI's investigation also involves a conflict of interest.
This past summer, Eyewitness News did its own investigation into a possible conflict of interest at the HARP program. Reporter Jeni DiPrizio had some questions about Councilman Rickey Peete's grandmother getting a new house on your dime.
Peete’s grandmother, Lizzie Jones, was one of 17 people who got a new home thanks to the city’s Housing Assistance Replacement Program. But Eyewitness News uncovered Jones probably shouldn’t have been eligible for the new house because HARP fixed her home two years before. To get a new home, your old home is supposed to be in really bad condition.
When we talked to him back in July, Peete insisted his grandmother didn’t get special treatment.
We spoke with someone from the FBI on Tuesday about the agency’s investigation into the HARP program. We were told no one could make a comment right now, but it doesn’t stop there.
Eyewitness News has uncovered another federal investigation into the HARP program. This one has to do with how contracts and money were handed out.
Wednesday night on Eyewitness at 9 and 10 p.m. we will bring you that part of the story.
By Thaddeus Matthews
It Seems that the FBI may want to know how great of a grandson City Councilman Rickey Peete is. It appears that peete's grandmother Lizzie Jones is having a home built at 500 Leath Street,under the H.A.R.P. program.This Program comes under the supervision of Robert Lipscomb And Housing and Community Development.
Ms. Jones who formerly lived at 268 Bethel also had that home repaired under the H.A.R.P. program which would disqualify her from any other assistance from the program. So how did she move to the front of the line to get a home built that is valued at over $70,000. What role did Peete play? Did he use his influence as a councilman to get a home built for his grandmother at taxpayers expense? What will his fellow council person have to say? What will the mayor have to say?
Its shown on Peete's financial disclosures that his Mother is paid thousands as a campaign worker in his campaigns. Some have said that this was a way that peete used to funnel money back to himself. I have those disclosures around my office somewhere I will find and post them. How do you feel about Peete's grandmother getting a new home at your expense?
http://www.thaddeusmatthews.com/blog.html
Corruption in Memphis ? Who knew ?
If they ever cleaned up the Memphis political corruption, they'd have to build a special wing or three in the state prison to house the crooks. How about "The Ford Family Facilities"? That's got a catchy alliterative ring to it and it suggest that other "F" word about what they've been doing to their constituents.
http://commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4495314,00.html
Joe Ford Jr. filed Friday to run for Harold Ford Jr.'s U.S. House seat
By Oliver Staley and Sherri Drake
Contact
February 25, 2006
A member of the Ford family has joined the race for Tennessee's Ninth District congressional seat, running, of all things, as an outsider.
A Los Angeles resident who left Memphis for college, Ford is moving back to the Ninth District to "give back to the community," he said. Ford, 32, who practices entertainment and contract law, said he brings real-world experience and is not a career politician.
"I think a lot of things wrong with politics in Memphis and the state of Tennessee and the nation in general is that people just run for one seat and if they don't win it, they run for another one," he said.
While critics might apply that description to members of his family, a political dynasty if there ever was one, he said, "I'm not specifically calling anyone out."
The seat, which has been held by members of the Ford family since the early '70s, is being vacated as Harold Ford Jr. (Joe Ford Jr.'s first cousin) runs for the U.S. Senate. That departure has opened the flood gates of prospective candidates, with 25 filing as of Friday.
A number of them have strong ties to the Ford family, including Harold Ford Jr.'s former campaign manager, Nikki Tinker, and County Commissioner Julian Bolton.
Bolton said Friday that he expects many others will file to run for the seat and that the community will see a vigorous race. Joe Ford Jr.'s decision to file Friday, Bolton said, does not affect his close ties to the family.
"I was surprised about Joe Ford Jr., with him not really having a presence in the community, but you can't control people's ambition and their right to run," Bolton said. "(Voters) will have a chance to select the very best of the best in the community."
Joe Ford Jr. said he has not sought Harold Ford Jr.'s endorsement or counsel. Nor does he feel entitled to the seat because of his family.
"I do not feel like it is a Ford seat," he said. "If people are going to vote for me because my last name is Ford, don't vote for me."
Rhodes College political science professor Marcus Pohlmann said Ford's name in the race furthers the chance of a close outcome.
"This obviously adds an already familiar name to an already crowded field, which will further splinter the vote," Pohlmann said.
County Commissioner Joe Ford said his son, who made the decision to run on his own, would carry on the same representation that's filled the seat for more than three decades.
"I think it's wonderful," Ford Sr. said. "What can I say? I'm a proud dad."
It has long been a known fact that the various "Housing Authorities" in every large city has been a cash cow for its politicians.
No Housing Authority could stand the heat of an investigation. But this is just another case where the politicians will not dig too deep because of the self-protection circle of wagons. "Don't upset my applecart and I won't upset yours."
All the corrupt politicians could be sent to New Orleans. They would end up devoring each other over time. There is some advantage to having them all in one place.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.