Audit finds controversial nonprofit overbilled city

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/7/7 | Vanessa Hua

[SmithL]

SAN FRANCISCO -- A city audit has found that a controversial nonprofit group founded by political fundraiser Julie Lee overbilled the city for personnel costs, had questionable radio advertising costs and poorly documented its expenses and services.

Released this morning, the report recommends that Lee, who is heading to trial on state and federal indictments related other financial dealings of the San Francisco Neighbors Resource Center, return $6,666 to the city.

If she cannot document her organization's expenses, the city's Department of Children Youth and their Families should demand an additional $155,493 of nearly $170,000 in grants it gave her, the audit says.

The department paid Lee's group at a rate of $50,000 annually from 2000 through 2003 to provide multilingual services, mainly a telephone hot line, before the Board of Supervisors suspended the funding. The city paid the center a total of $167,998.23.

Mayor Gavin Newsom called for the audit after The Chronicle reported in August 2004 that the nonprofit's office was rarely open and provided few services.

The state and federal indictments against Lee allege she funneled part of a state grant meant to fund startup costs for a new resource center to be built on city property in the Sunset district into the campaign coffers of Kevin Shelley when he ran for Secretary of State.

[SmithL]

ShmelleyGate Ping

[BenLurkin]

"The Chronicle reported in August 2004 that the nonprofit's office was rarely open and provided few services"

"Pass the Poverty Please"

[Ben Mugged]

Doesn't mention that Kevin Shelley is a democrat.

[kinoxi]

return $6,666 to the city.

That's an odd number to come up with.

[Islander7]

Yeah! I have searched Google for his party affiliation. No results. Amazing how the (D) is always absent in articles reporting Dem corruption, but the (R) is screamed when a Repub is caught.

Frankly, I think both parties stink to high heavens.

[Ben Mugged]

Use this place:

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?sm1=S2V2aW4gU2hlbGxleSA=&fw=-1&fc=-1&ss=0&es=0&gwp=11&ver=1.0.8.207&method=1

[NormsRevenge]

Schmelly BumP.. Thanks!

[Islander7]

Much thanks!