Posted on 11/07/2007 8:50:34 AM PST by DogByte6RER
L.A. workers use gift cards meant for foster children
Audit shows that child welfare employees spent thousands on meals and tickets to musical events.
By Jack Leonard
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 7, 2007
Los Angeles County's child welfare workers spent thousands of dollars in gift cards and entertainment tickets earmarked for foster children to buy themselves meals and attend musical events, according to an audit released Tuesday.
Among the most serious problems cited by auditors, county workers bought 160 tickets in July to see the hit musical "Wicked." County officials said the purchase was part of a gala event for foster children and their mentors, yet only 53 children and roughly the same number of mentors were given tickets.
The remaining seats went to employees of the Department of Children and Family Services and their relatives and guests, along with unidentified potential mentors and a number of not-for-profit organization employees, auditors wrote. The event cost $14,000.
The audit of the department also faulted employees for using gift cards -- bought with county money to supply food and clothing to foster children -- to pay for staff luncheons.
"It is appalling that children who have nothing are having even this very limited amount stolen from them," said Carole Shauffer, executive director of the Youth Law Center in San Francisco. "This is a stunning lack of accountability."
Auditors said one worker attempted to hide extra gift cards the department received by asking the business that supplied the cards for false invoices. Another told auditors he or she no longer had any gift cards but actually had $23,000 worth of gift cards or certificates, the audit said.
In an excursion to the House of Blues in June, employees spent $5,700 on tickets for the Gospel Sunday Brunch performance.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I wonder just how many of these L.A. county child welfare workers also contribute to or vote for Democrat Party candidates?
I'm sure that these corrupt child welfare workers have convinced themselves that by stealing these gift cards, meal vouchers and concert tickets, they were really just doing this all "for the children."
Among the most serious problems cited by auditors, county workers bought 160 tickets in July to see the hit musical “Wicked.” County officials said the purchase was part of a gala event for foster children and their mentors, yet only 53 children and roughly the same number of mentors were given tickets.
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But it’s such a good show! Didn’t you see the advertisement for it/episode of Ugly Betty last week?
I'll bet that not one single indictment comes out of this. NOT ONE!...............
I think “Wicked” best describes these greedy and corrupt child welfare workers.
Maybe they justified watching the play so they could get some pointers from the wicked witch and apply these principles to their daily work ethic?
Look: Doing this kind of work is, I mean, like Toadally dePRESsing! And you just can't do a good job when you're depressed, can you?
So when these workers spent the money on themselves, it WAS for the children, because now the children will have cheerful, happy, and well-fed childcare workers looking after them.
InDICtment? That is just SEW unfair! You all are just mean-spirited.
You gotta understand how these people think. A zillion years ago I was a chaplain at a home for severely handicapped children. The healthiest of these kids were in motorized wheelchairs.
So the handyman, groundskeeper guy was lifting money and goods from the home. When I confronted him he said it was just unfair that these children got tickets to movies and things just GIVEN to them, and he had to work to give things to his children.
I wish I were making that up, but I'm not. Rob from the poor and keep it yourself. It's the Democrat way.
I seem to remember something like this a few years back where the radio station Air America “borrowed” some money from some child welfare group.
How many were surprised it was a musical beacuse they were expecting a Hillary campaign rally.
ya think............
Why would you ever think that?
Just a wild hunch. I fully expect a complete and thorough examination of all the facts before this is swept under the rug.............
I will bet a dinner that you are over 45 years old. Experience counts when making predictions.
I wish I were 45.........again...........
Oh Boy, me too!
How do these people sleep at night. Absolutely disgusting.
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