National ACORN controversy hits home [NY]

Legislative gazette ^ | 9/22/09 | CHARLES B. SCIRBONA

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Last Thursday GOP Sen. Stephen M. Saland announced he would introduce a resolution in the state Senate to try to freeze any member items earmarked for ACORN and its affiliate, the New York Agency for Community Affairs.

Other Senate Republicans are calling for a state investigation of the group, and the Assembly has temporarily frozen ACORN member items until an investigation of the organization’s Brooklyn chapter by the Brooklyn district attorney’s office is complete.

Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, cited 43 member items in the 2009-2010 budget that amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, and its projects.

Also, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes began investigating ACORN last week after a controversial video was released in which ACORN employees, who were later fired, were seen apparently giving advice to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute on how to lie about their earnings and launder money. Similar videos implicating other ACORN offices across the country have appeared in recent weeks embarrassing the community organizing group, which has long been the target of attacks by conservatives.

“From a small acorn, a large scandal is growing, as every day brings new and troubling concerns about potential illegal activity at this controversial organization,” Saland said. “Until the attorney general and the Brooklyn district attorney complete their investigations into ACORN and its affiliates, the Senate should not allocate a dime in taxpayer-funded member item money to them.”

The U.S. Senate voted Sept. 14 to stop any funding going to ACORN, and the House followed suit last Thursday.

At the state level, Saland’s call for a resolution against ACORN comes after three other Republican senators criticized the community action group earlier in the week. Sen. Tom Libous, R-Binghamton, announced his intention to introduce a bill that would prevent any of the $112 million in state funding attached to a recently passed green jobs bill from being allocated to either ACORN or the New York Agency for Community Affairs.

Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, is calling for two of the senators who sponsored the green jobs bill to join him in blocking some of the funding. Also last Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, sent a letter to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli asking them to freeze all state funding earmarked for ACORN and its affiliates.

Saland’s resolution notes that Senate and Assembly Democrats sponsored all of the 43 member item grants for ACORN. Skelos’ letter also cited the fact that 10 Assembly Democrats and 10 Senate Democrats sponsored these grants including Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan. Saland was quoted in his press release saying “very serious legal questions are being raised about a group whose community activities and political activities are closely intertwined and so heavily funded by taxpayer dollars. … We have to turn off the spigot of member items and all public funds to ACORN and its sister groups until these questions are answered.”

Dan Weiller, spokesman for Silver, commented on this, saying, “While ACORN has provided vital support, especially in dealing with home foreclosures, the speaker is concerned and has asked ACORN for an explanation.” Weiller further explained that “any member item funds that are found misspent or misused under the terms of the grant would be rescinded.” He also made it clear the speaker has talked with Cuomo and together they are watching the Brooklyn district attorney’s investigation to make sure no grant money is being misspent.

The statements from the Republican senators have incited arguments among New York state legislators over the potential for ACORN and its affiliates to receive state funds through the green jobs bill. The bill, which was passed during a special Senate session by an overwhelming majority, would provide state money for energy efficient retrofits at no initial cost to residential property owners. However, DeFrancisco made the argument that there is already a program like this in place and asked during a phone interview last Wednesday, “Why create a program that duplicates services, has no safeguards … and creates a bureaucracy? It makes no sense.” He also asked Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, and Sen. David J. Valesky, D-Oneida, who were sponsor and co-sponsor of the bill, to join him in blocking it.

Aubertine Communications Director Drew Mangione disagrees with Defrancisco’s assertions. In a phone interview he said “that organization [ACORN] has not been involved with the weatherization programs in New York in the past.” Mangione explained further: “Sens. Skelos, Libous and DeFrancisco are using ACORN as a straw man … to cover for not voting for a bill which would provide jobs, support energy conservation and provide savings for middle income families. They are using current events to exaggerate a small provision in an excellent bill that received widespread support from lawmakers who saw a good piece of legislation regardless of political affiliation.”

Valesky Communications Director Jessica Decerce also reacted to the Republican senators statements, saying “in no way, shape or form would the senator support a fraudulent group.” Decerce was quick to add, however, that, “ACORN does not operate in central New York.” This area of New York would, according to Decerce, gain 14,000 new jobs from this piece of legislation. Decerce went on to say, “My suggestion is Sen. DeFrancisco change his vote and provide more jobs for central New York. It’s not too late.”

Decerce also responded to DeFrancisco’s claims that the green jobs bill has no safeguards. She pointed out that the bill requires a competitive grant process and that there are several groups that would provide oversight including the state’s Department of Public Service, Department of Energy Conservation and Division of Housing and Community Renewal. Mangione also commented on the oversight issue, mentioning that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority would provide oversight as well.

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pffft~~ 'crush the NUTS'

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BUT THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET BAM ELECTED.

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NY ping