Posted on 09/22/2009 6:18:07 AM PDT by Ebenezer
Two contracts are fully executed and a third is in the approval and signing stage between the city of New Orleans and ACORN. While Congress voted and Governor Jindal issued an executive order cutting ACORN off from future funding, Anthony Faciane says the city had "discussions" about ACORN contracts, but will honor them. Faciane, Deputy for Neighborhood Stabilization for the city says, "I would like to assure everyone that the Affordable Housing staff, the In-take staff and the Construction staff of the Office of Community Development will monitor all aspects of these programs before any payments are made to the organization."
The city has 3 contracts with ACORN:
1. First Time Home Buyer program = $375,000 "to develop 150 or more new homes to be owned or occupied by residents of the ninth ward" focusing initially on developing a cluster of 18 lots.
2. Owner Occupied Minor Rehabilitation = $250,000 using federal CDBG funds for home improvements like "installing drywall, finish carpentry and plumbing" targeting 25 homes.
3. Home Buyer Training and Foreclosure Counseling = $75,000 of CDBG dollars targeting 300 clients -- this contract is not yet final.
This the first time the city is contracting with ACORN for these types of services. Because the organization does not have a proven track record with the city, it is only getting half the dollar amount requested for each of the contracts. Faciane adds, "Because this is their first time, the city is really going to monitor ACORN closely and be available to provide technical assistance." Assistance to an agency feeling the heat elsewhere.
State should withhold funds from the city until ACORN is out.
What is there to ‘get’? ACORN owns N.O. Their beliefs are those of the majority of the population- have been for a long time.
You’re expecting pirates to clean up the Barbary Coast. It took a long time to get it just right- why would they?
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