Care of sect could top $5 million (YFZ/fLDS Daily Thread - 4/26/08)

MySA.com ^ | 04/25/2008 11:37 PM CDT | Nancy Martinez and Janet Elliott

[MizSterious]

Care of sect could top $5 million

Web Posted: 04/25/2008 11:37 PM CDT

Nancy Martinez and Janet Elliott
Hearst

Bus convoys carrying 265 children bound for foster homes around the state pulled out of San Angelo at midday Friday, ending a three-week emergency shelter operation launched in the wake of a raid on a West Texas polygamist sect.

The cost of the massive effort, which cared for 462 children and, at one point, more than 100 mothers, could top $5 million, a source familiar with the operation there said. The governor's office said Friday it did not have final cost figures.

The job was unprecedented for Texas: 900 people from state agencies and contracting organizations created and staffed a community for the children and mothers.

"It was an unbelievable effort. To watch all the moving parts from the get-go was an amazing experience. There hasn't been a point when anyone could stop and take a breath," said Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for Texas Child Protective Services.

The costs for San Angelo alone were $60,000 a day for police and other personnel, said Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo. He said he could not guess what the state's cost was but said he "would not be shocked" if the figure was $5 million.

"There were very wide-ranging expenses," including hundreds of state workers who traveled to San Angelo, he said.

[MizSterious]

4/25 thread with aritcles on:

Courts allowing state to place children in foster homes, legal challenges to the raid, beliefs on polygamy, protests against the raid and removal of children, Warren Jeff's appeal, portions of the Texas Family Code

4/24 thread with articles on:

Seized polygamous sect kids face tough adjustment, articles on how and where the children were placed, Carolyn Jessup on Canadian children possibly at the ranch, legal aid group challenges judge, interview with Benjamin Bistline, 40 women choose to go to safe house instead of back to cult, 25 girls claimed to be adults, now found to be minors.

Currently collecting informative links to include with the daily threads--should appear this weekend.

As always, for the sake of orderliness (and to prevent the pulling of threads and/or messages), let's do try to stay on topic and polite. You can't have a flame war if you don't take the bait.

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[MizSterious]

Daily thread ping!

[org.whodat]

It is reported that this cult has a 10 million dollars land trust bank account, less what Jeff partied away, so go get the money and pay for these people.

[MizSterious]

Attorney: 2 sect kids are missing

State says all kids are accounted for

By Mike Baird (Contact), Dan Kelley
Originally published 04:28 a.m., April 26, 2008
Updated 04:29 a.m., April 26, 2008

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times

A Corpus Christi attorney representing two mothers from the West Texas polygamist retreat claims child welfare authorities cannot account for two boys, but the state says that's not true.

The boys, ages 16 months and 11 years, were part of a group of more than 400 removed from their parents' custody this week after the retreat, 40 miles south of San Angelo, was raided earlier this month amid allegations of sexual abuse.

The children have been bused to foster homes across the state. The last group left early Friday.

State child welfare authorities responded that no children have been lost, but family relationships are muddled, hence the need for genetic testing to determine them.

Excerpt. More at source: Corpus Christi Caller Times.

[MizSterious]

Polygamist clothing has roots in 19th century, 1950s

April 26, 2008

BY Hillary Rhodes The Associated Press

For a society accustomed to the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, the images of the women from the polygamist compound in Texas are almost shocking in their understatement: Ankle-length dresses, makeup-less faces, hauntingly uniform hair.

And while no one would accuse the women of making a fashion statement, the pioneer-style outfits are a rare of example of how in an age of overexposure, modesty, too, can give pause.

The puff-sleeved, pastel dresses worn by the women in the sect are a combination of original 19th-century wear and 1950s clothing that was adopted when the church took a conservative turn, according to Janet Bennion, an anthropologist who studies polygamist women.

The dresses are meant to show modesty and conformity: They go down to the ankles and wrists, and are often worn over garments or pants, making sure every possibly provocative inch of skin is covered.

John Llewellyn, a polygamy expert and retired Salt Lake County sheriff's lieutenant, says the women cover themselves "so that they're unattractive to the outside world or other men."

The appearance of unity through uniform dress, however, can belie the jealousy that often arises when the women - who might all look alike to an outsider - find themselves in competition with one another over the affections of the same man, Llewellyn says.

Excerpt. Read the rest at source: SouthtownStar.

[Just A Nobody]

My comment is in regard to the headline ONLY!

If the biggest complaint is the cost, then I suggest borrowing the money from the funds that are paying for the 20-30 million illegal alien invaders. I imagine the "sect" folks are at least US citizens.

[theFIRMbss]

>The puff-sleeved . . .

The puffy shirt cult! I blame Seinfeld. Can we all sue him, make him pay?!

[MizSterious]

The Flamboyance of Simplicity

With simple frocks and elaborate hairstyles reflecting femininity carried as a burden, fundamentalist Mormon women face the media earlier this month. (By Tony Gutierrez -- Associated Press)

It's hard to look at the women from the polygamist compound in Texas and not be stopped by their studiously constructed appearance. Like a lot of people, they have used attire to identify themselves as part of a tribe -- in this case, one that has apparently rejected the art of made-to-measure tailoring.

It takes a great deal of thought to create a look that wholly distinguishes oneself from mainstream society. Our culture has absorbed virtually everything that was once viewed as extreme stylistic flourishes -- from tattoos and body piercings to micro-mini skirts. Indeed, Elizabeth Kucinich, one of the women vying for that most mainstream of jobs -- first lady -- had a pierced tongue. The French designer Jean Paul Gaultier transformed the dress of Hasidic Jews into high fashion and designer Yeohlee Teng sent models down her runway in quilted bonnets inspired by Shakers. Western designers have even dabbled in burqas and chadors.

Excerpt. Read more at The Washington Post.

[TheDon]

That will pale in comparison to the legal costs involved in the civil suits against the gov’t and the payouts that will follow. Look for CPS and the judge engaging in massive CYA! The lawyers are the only ones who will benefit from this misuse of gov’t power.

[MizSterious]

Court rejects request to keep sect mothers with children

Associated Press - April 26, 2008 12:33 AM ET

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) - A court has rejected an effort by the mothers of a polygamous sect in west Texas to keep their children with them.

The state 3rd Court of Appeals on Friday denied the request by dozens of mothers with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They wanted to stop an order allowing the children to be sent to foster facilities.

Excerpt. Read more at NewsWest9.Com.

[kittymyrib]

The state of Texas should seize all their assets in Texas for payment of these expenses. That would also serve as a deterrent for other cults who might have second thoughts about setting up shop in Texas.

[greyfoxx39]

Ping to daily thread

[MizSterious]

At least 1 Canadian among residents of Texas polygamist ranch

Last Updated: Friday, April 25, 2008 | 4:58 PM ET

CBC News

At least one Canadian is among the residents of a polygamist ranch in western Texas that had 462 children removed and placed into state custody, the Foreign Affairs Department said Friday.

"Consular officials have confirmed the presence of one Canadian citizen," a statement by Foreign Affairs said. "Contact has been made with the lawyer representing the Canadian and assistance is being provided."

Foreign Affairs would not give details on whether the Canadian citizen is one of the children who has been taken into state custody.

The announcement came as state authorities said the last of the children seized from the compound were moved out of temporary shelter at a San Angelo coliseum Friday and bused to foster homes across the state.

Excerpt. Read the rest at source: CBC News.

[MizSterious]

April 26, 2008

Sect Children Face Another World, but Still No TV

By KIRK JOHNSON and DAN FROSCH

SAN ANTONIO — Workers at the Children’s Shelter on this city’s gritty west side began this week to remove anything and everything colored red from the walls, the floors, even from their clothes.

The shelter’s president, Jack Downey, said he was not sure, exactly, what was wrong with red, only that state officials had told him to get rid of it in preparing for the children of a fundamentalist polygamy sect who would be coming his way as their odyssey through the Texas child welfare system began.

But getting the red out is only the beginning. Forget bologna and white bread for lunch, too. Because the children, from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or F.L.D.S., have never eaten processed foods, the new shelter mantra is whole grains and fresh vegetables. Because they have never been to public school, the equivalent of home schooling will be established in shelters. Because they have never watched television, televisions will remain off.

Excerpt. Read the rest at source: The New York Times. (Might require registration?)

[Zakeet]

Care of sect could top $5 million

Simultaneous savings in reduced welfare payments could top $10 million ... and that's just in the short term.

Texas is still far better off financially by busting up that cult.

[Enosh]

Another thought would be to seize the property for welfare fraud.

[Godzilla]

[MizSterious]

Polygamist sect children present a cultural challenge for foster-care facilities Youngsters arrive at Harris, Brazoria County homes

By TERRI LANGFORD, RICHARD STEWART AND JANET ELLIOTT Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

As the last of 462 children from a polygamist ranch were arriving at foster homes in the Houston area and throughout the state Friday, their new caretakers were prepped on how to handle them.

No red clothing. No red shoes.

"No television, movies, Internet and radio especially at first," cautioned one of two primers sent to child care workers from Texas Department of Child Protective Services. The instructions were issued this week to those caring for the children from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ranch in West Texas.

The two guides were crafted this week to help foster care workers at 16 different residential facilities, including those in the Houston area, who will interact with children from the reclusive breakaway Mormon sect.

"Help them with self-esteem, guilty feelings, shame, confusion about mainstream culture, and learning basic decision making skills," stated the "Model for Care For Children From the Yearning For Zion Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints Sect," released to the Houston Chronicle by CPS.

The second guide, the "Cultural Awareness Guide for Children From Eldorado," offered child care staffers a laundry list of the children's dietary and clothing needs.

Excerpt. Read more at source: The Houston Chronicle. Note: Complete guidebooks available at this link.

[SouthTexas]

Another thought would be to seize the property for welfare fraud.

That has not even been alleged by the state, much less proven.

Question, it has also been stated that the children have no birth certificates. How does one get welfare payments if this is the case?

[MizSterious]

Illegal aliens often get welfare (don’t know if this is true in Texas though), and they don’t have valid US birth certificates...are they required?

[SouthTexas]

Those that I am aware of are "anchor" babies and they are quite proud of their "right" to citizenship.

That is a totally different issue and topic though.

[Zakeet]

Question, it has also been stated that the children have no birth certificates. How does one get welfare payments if this is the case?

Probably the same way illegals do.

[Enosh]

Good question; I don’t know.

[Zakeet]

[Anti-Bubba182]

The five million would be paid out in bogus welfare payments anyway.

[greyfoxx39]

[Balding_Eagle]

That will pale in comparison to the legal costs involved in the civil suits against the gov’t and the payouts that will follow. Look for CPS and the judge engaging in massive CYA! The lawyers are the only ones who will benefit from this misuse of gov’t power.

This case is WAY too important to worry about that.

OK< I'd better add 'sarcasm off'. Some freepers don't care about the Constitution, this case IS way too important for that.

[MizSterious]

Well, there went breakfast. ;)

[Sherman Logan]

The shelter’s president, Jack Downey, said he was not sure, exactly, what was wrong with red

According to another story I read, some of these groups consider red to be the color that Christ will wear when he returns. Some also think Satan wears red in mockery of Him.

Odd people.

But then every religion is by definition odd to unbelievers.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Marc Jacobs Spring 09 collection...For the first time on one of these threads I read something that made me laugh.

How sad the situation for these kids...it is going to take years to 'de-program' them. Knowing of how they 'discard' their teenage boys, and learning of how they 'raise' them up (to their teen years...believing the outside world is evil; fearful of red; being told to lie to outsiders; conforming to the control of their dress code;) to be banished. Dropped off somewhere and told not to come back, they are excommunicated at what, age 16? No edcuation; no skills; and mind so full of fear from the lifetime of bs they have been given. May there be a special place in Hell for Jeffs and his minions.

[greyfoxx39]

LOL...just thought I’d help out with a reminder of the total incongruity of the whole cult mind-set, and the defense thereof.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I guess everyones monitors read colors differently...but could those be (gasp) red prison duds Mr. Jeffs be wearing? Poetic justice? Karma?

[SouthTexas]

See above (#22).

[Politicalmom]

PING!!

FReepmail to be added to the FLDS Eldorado Legal Case Ping List

[MizSterious]

One explanation I've heard for the dislike of red is that it's "Satan's" color--fitting, don't you think? There's a complete guidebook of dos and don'ts for the social workers at The Houston Chronicle, and lots of info in those. They're downloadable pdfs.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I read the Chronical article...but my aging computer and pdfs don't mix well...so I'll wait for the guide to come out in paperback (or some other format).

It will be interesting to follow the progress of these kids...

[SouthTexas]

Orange is typically the color of choice, it makes a more “visible” target should someone run.

[greyfoxx39]

I guess everyones monitors read colors differently...but could those be (gasp) red prison duds Mr. Jeffs be wearing? Poetic justice? Karma?

Yeah, I believe it's a mug shot...read booking photo.

Bet he's enjoying the attention of the other prisoners.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Yes...but on my monitor it looks like a reddish orange (as opposed to a vivid ‘safety’ orange).

[SouthTexas]

Attached is a pdf of a motion for a hearing regarding the search warrant. Of course, this is inevitable in any case of any type, but in our search for the truth (that is what we're after here right?), some very pertinent information is listed in the attachments.

Second Renewed Request

The arrest warrant for Rozita Swinton begins on the pdf page 28, with supporting evidence from Colorado police and Texas Rangers beginning on page 30.

[SouthTexas]

I wonder if the prisoners view this as “safety orange”? LOL

[MizSterious]

I confess to finding this difficult to decipher. PDFs are not my favorite format (I join the ranks of many) and this particular one is grainy and hard to read—that said, I note that most of this document is commentary by a lawyer (I think from Aspen? I posted an article about his claims yesterday) who disputes the warrants. Now, if someone who has more knowledge of legalese might care to comment?

[CindyDawg]

Strange when so many are red headed.

[SouthTexas]

Sorry about everyone's problems with pdf's. I'm used to them because we use them at work and if I had the programs needed, I would "cut, copy, and paste" the relevant info.

As I said, the motions and eventual lawsuits are to be expected. What I was drawing attention to are the attachments regarding the caller. Connections have been made to the numbers and the frequency of calls, all bogus.

[MHGinTN]

"... from this misuse of gov’t power." Well, since you're a fellow Mormon to these people there could not possibly be an agenda accidentally disclosed in that wording don'tchaknow. /sarcasm
And before you try to disavow the sect, realize that the more than a year of whinning from Mormons at FR has revealed the huge 'victim' chip you all seem to carry and which correlates LDS, fLDS, RLDS, besides the foundations all having Joe SMithism at the roots.

[SouthTexas]

Morning, get any rain last night?

[MizSterious]

Yes, we know at least some of them were from Obama’s best fan, but I wonder if ALL of them were—and the attachment was not dated, or if it was, I couldn’t find the date. So did they find out this information after the fact, or did they know it before they went in? And was this an attachment of Goldstein’s, or was it an attachment to the state’s documents?

[MHGinTN]

TV off? No daily dosing of mainstream media liberalism? ... Well, we know the ACLU will get right on this!

[MHGinTN]

Skulking Sub envy ...!