Posted on 08/08/2007 7:52:55 AM PDT by SmithL
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland found themselves in the unwelcome spotlight this week over the letters of support they wrote on behalf of the notorious Your Black Muslim Bakery, but they aren't the only politicos who have supported the group over the years.
At the height of its power back in 1996, the splinter Muslim group - whose members were implicated in last week's slaying of newspaper editor Chauncey Bailey - got the city to approve an advance on a $1.2 million federal redevelopment loan to launch training program for health care jobs.
Within three months, the group had burned through $275,000 without turning out a single graduate.
They did, however, spend $650 a month to lease a Cadillac.
Another $44,000 supposedly went to consulting fees, $10,500 went for security and $7,500 for advertising on a local cable station, where then-leader Yusuf Bey had a weekly TV show.
When asked to explain what was going on, the Black Muslim Bakery cadre - in one of their typical tactics - marched in unison from the bakery to City Hall, then entered the council chambers like a precision drill team, lining up along the room's back walls.
They then asked for another $70,000 to keep the project going.
And they got it, with the council voting 6-2 to grant the funds - minus the money for the Cadillac.
"The message was very clear - we are watching you," said City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, who cast one of the votes against the group's request.
The school never opened.
And the loan - one of several the council made that year to help disadvantaged businesses - was never repaid.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
No kidding. My old great-aunts would make them for family gatherings. Yuck.
PS - we were decidedly middle class, but soul food was everywhere and when you went downtown, you ran into the black muslims in their suits and bow ties, selling bean pie and newspapers. They were always clean and very polite.
Years later, my son and some of his friends were hired for the summer by a firm for which I was doing some contract work. One of his buddies was a dark-skinned, clean cut guy who always wore a dress shirt and tie. The supervisor asked me if he was a black muslim, he was so sharp and clean!
A few years back I had business that took me into the area of Farakhans 'temple' on the south side of Chicago. Before I realized where the money was actually going I'd buy those bean pies for a snack. Not too bad.
L
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.