Has Anybody Else Come Across Something Like This?

I wonder if the fine lawyers over at the ACLJ would be willing to step in on that? They are usually amenable to going after bad actors and actions in the government.

I could check and see, thank you for another option.

https://aclj.org/

Thank you again.

Very welcome. Evil always needs to be called out.

I agree, and the more things like this are shown, the more people become aware of it, even sometimes finding other examples like the ones shown themselves. Thank you again.

Tonight I'd like to share some points from the Human Services Grant Program. From the
February 20, 2024, Audit Subcommittee Meeting, item 3C.

Let's start with organizations from your financial year 2023-27 Human Services Grant Funding Recommendations. Which could not locate support for samples taken by Moss Adams in the audit for financial year 2020-2021.

Such as Family Services of Santa Monica, including five of the ten timesheets, and in another case couldn't locate 2of ten samples of payment.

The Clare Foundation was unable to provide any documentation support for expenditures.

The Hospitality Training Acadamy did not have approval of the expenditures prior to payment disbursement for 4 of the 15 samples selected.

St. Joseph's Center has a few sections where documentation or support was not provided in 20 of 42 samples.

Then I also wonder If you're getting your money's worth through the Development Agreement with Providence St. John's Health Center, where the two samples selected included a past employee, yet PSJ said that their timesheet had been purged. I find this interesting considering aren't you supposed to hold on to records for seven years for tax purposes?

Finally The People Concern, which between the Cloverfield Services, the Interim Housing and Wellness Program, the Sojourn Services Program, and the Access Services Program, there was
1.4 million dollars that couldn't be reconciled between the budget, general ledger, and expenditures. Aren't those Federal funds? And what is the City's liability?

And all of this is the result of the Human Services city staff not doing their job and following up on grant funding.

Showing again the City Manager and City Council are not good stewards of public funds. Just something to keep in mind for the budget item this evening.

Audit Subcommittee Packet:

https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Council/Audit_Comm/Audit%20Subcommittee%20Agenda%20Packet%20022024.pdf

Do I understand correctly that 1.4 million dollars of federal grant money awarded to tbe city of Santa Monica has vanished without any documentation as to where it went?

Pretty much, and considering it has to do with homeless services, including interim housing,
I'd put my money on those being Federal funds.

That does not happen without embezzlement having taken place.

I know. But the real problem is that no matter how many people speak out about the People Concern for a multitude of reasons, the City Council just keeps throwing money at them. And I'm sure there are many other years like this with this organization. if they get away with it once they'll do it again. A New RFP needs to be put out for a new agency to take over homeless services, but I don't have a lot of hope for that.

And the Audit Subcommittee seems to just receive and file the reports away, making it look like the City is trying to bury the fraud, waste, and abuse,

If it is federal money contact your congressmen.

If state money contact your state representative.

Elections are coming up. Busting an embezzlement scheme gets votes.

Yes, I will do that. Unfortunately the state representative comes from here.