Aurora VA Facility 70 Percent Done At $1.5 Billion
Despite being 5 times over its initial $328 million budget, the Aurora VA facility is 70 percent done and expected to be finished in 2018.
VA deputy secretary Sloan Gibson said he is “blown away” by the progress at the facility. “It goes without saying, there was quite a bit we didn’t get right here.” He continued, “When I see the design elements here, I see dollar signs. I think we could have done this far more efficiently.”
AURORA VA TRUTHS?
Really? Like five more times efficiently perhaps? Where did the additional one billion go that was above the initial bid?
Despite Obama’s claim that his Administration would be more transparent, Gibson says the results of an investigation into the huge cost overruns would not be made public. Gibson, a former banker, says transparency into the enormous cost overruns would result in a “chilling to the whole investigative process” and would damage fixing problems.
So what the heck is going on in Colorado? Why is any facility linked to Denver VA above the law? What kind of money or results justify a $1.5 billion hospital other than one seeing patients on gold tables?
I voted for Obama back in the day, and I have a high level of disappointment with his failure to follow through with change. Transparency only became worse, and he never truly fixed VA despite the promises of Democrats.
Obama failed veterans and we never got the transparency promised. With the wait list, we only saw one cover up after another. America still has no clue about the extent of the cover up and the number of veteran deaths linked to VA fraud within its leadership ranks.
Maybe it is time to consider taking down the whole system. God knows Republicans and Democrats have both lacked the political will to protect our veterans from parasites over the past few decades at least.
It would be insane to believe either political party will ever take care of us.
Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/15/va-hospital-aurora-veterans-affairs/
Would it be safe to say that since the Aurora VA Facility is only 70% completed @ $1.5 Billion, that whatever 30% is left to finish will more than likely cost an additional 30% of the current tally?
I ask because am just wondering how they could remotely justifying another $acrifice to the VA Black Hole? However, am thinking they will try and soon.
>>It would be insane to believe either political party will ever take care of us.
absolutely correct @Ben & @others here and elsewhere. my self included and many others, keep trying and keep having a bit of faith in the system things will get better, BUT, we’re so far past that now. the VA & VBA will not be getting fixed.
insane indeed to keep any faith in either political party to fix the VA, they have the power to, but they won’t. reasons as to why are useless too at this time.
history shows almost without fail, what has taken place to “fix” the citizens’ concerns in multiple countries around the globe when points like this are reached.
This video is a fascinating overview of the psychology of motivating folks performing complex tasks and what does and does not work.
VA is THE poster child for motivating folks in the worst possible ways because it has become “unhinged from its original purpose” as articulated by the narrator.
Short and seriously worth watching.
RSA ANIMATE: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Hey Thomas West,
I have heard about your care at Fort Harrison VA in Montana. Very happy to know that you survived VA Health Care. I went through a somewhat similar experience the VA Health care system involving the Minneapolis VAMC and a satellite clinic attached to it in Superior Wi back in 1999 — 2000.
I would like to ask what the name doctors name was that was treating you there?
PCP
https://www.va.gov/providerinfo/montana/detail.asp?providerid=1563
Clinic Director
https://www.va.gov/providerinfo/montana/detail.asp?providerid=115
VA MT Director (retired days after I was hospitalized)
https://missoulian.com/tncms/auth/remember/?success=http%3A%2F%2Fmissoulian.com%2Fnews%2Fstate-and-regional%2Fdirector-of-va-montana-health-care-system-resigning%2Farticle_ef8296b0-e79c-11e3-9ca4-0019bb2963f4.html
Medical chief of staff (demoted for helping me)
https://www.va.gov/providerinfo/montana/detail.asp?providerid=184
https://helenair.com/news/local/updated-trena-bonde-replaces-john-ginnity-as-interim-director-of/article_5f2a1949-847a-5a7b-ab37-96501b736433.html
Tried to post but was moderated. Don’t think Ben likes to name and shame on forums. Find me on Facebook in a group called Citizens for VA Reform and I will fill you in from there.
Thanks!
Tom
Hey Thomas I don’t use Facebook.
Also if you put a link in your post it automatically goes to moderation. Try just saying something like “my doctor at Ft. Harrison VA was” and then list the name.
Seymore
PCP Kalispell CBOC – Dr. Jason Schmidt
Kalispell CBOC Medical Director – Dr. Jonathan Bechard
VA MT Ft Harrison Director – Christine Gregory – who retired immediately after my hospitalization and in the midst of OIG investigation into scheduling fraud
VA MT Ft Harrison Medical Cheif of Staff – Dr. Trena Bondi – who was pushed out of her position and quietly demoted to regular PCP in August of 14 for repeatedly helping me, amongst other sins of upholding ethics (she’s a vet).
VISN 19 Director Ralph Gigiliotti – Orchestrator of Waitlist fraud in VISN 19 and ordered these policies across the entire VISN. Cheyenne, Denver, MT, pretty much all of the major facilities were implicated. Ben covered Mr. Gigiliotti back in 2014 as having been singled pin for discipline 2 years ago in connection with Waitlist policies but nothing has happened.
An efficient project mgr. can describe an appropriate timeline for completion of each stage of this project. Missed deadlines should equal missed compensation. Enough missed timelines/deadlines should result in loss of contract.
Alternatively, bringing in a phase of the project ahead of timelines should pay a bonus.
What caused this mess in the first place the bonus money. !
Cut corners and lie to veterans to make themselves look good so they could get a few extra bucks off veterans backs.
Bonus. For screwing veterans and Retalation for employees who try and do the right thing !
with more than a billion dollars extra…it should cure every ailment known to man!!
How about throwing all of these BUMS into a lagoon somewhere – say Disney World Resort Orlando? I know BMcD likes Disney World a lot. Also, yea, honorable Gibson geek was a banker for a bit near the beginning of his working career for some shitty bank, but after that he was in charge of the USO in public relations (PR) for ten years and that’s what got him his job at the VA. That’s where he got his take on “everything wonderful” VA. He really wasn’t that high in the banking industry to learn fast-handed money shuffling — but he’s learning much from McD as he is shown the ropes from an ex – Fortune 100 CEO that lasted 3 years as the CEO (then had to leave). Dismantle the fucking VA !
“…the results of an investigation into the huge cost overruns would not be made public. Gibson, a former banker, says transparency into the enormous cost overruns would result in a “chilling to the whole investigative process” and would damage fixing problems.”
Since when is the public NOT allowed to see where the tax money went on any federally funded project except where national security is at risk?
That attitude is part of what keeps the VA dysfunction and lack of accountability in place. Secretary, McDonald, release that report!!!
Article just posted on McClatchy news…the head of the VBA, Danny Pummill is retiring next Thursday.
Another crook getting away.
THAT is a RAT jumping the VA Ship. Like lemmings, more should follow as November quickly approaches.
91Veteran
I wonder “where” he is going. Usually they have a very “lucrative position”, ($$$), waiting for them somewhere. Say, as a “lobbyist”!?!?
I dunno Elf. Pummill has been at the trough for some time according to the McClatchy article. He spent 32 years with the Army and some time warming a seat at that 5 sided Puzzle Palace in DC.
Maybe he stays retired and sees what shakes out in the next administration, or becomes a consultant.
Or he could go the Príncipi route and start a sham corporation, ahem QTC, with a business model that essentially amounts to colluding with the VA to defraud veterans of their benefits…
Pummill probably already on the board of several for profit colleges just like Leon Panetta or a few government contactors.
The schools basically rent the name so that the federal dollars keep coming in.
They pay them between $50,000 to $150,000 a year plus a lot of perks like travel and accommodations all kinds of stuff.
I think the technical term for what you are referring to here is “soft corruption” RE the assignment to lucrative (relative to Giv salary) board seats at universities and on corps. Or, like James Burch Jr, they can turn a blind eye to your blatant Ponzi scheme 501.c3, as long as you play the game.
If I remember right Pummill was the reason the DOJ would not prosecute Graves and Rubiens because the DOJ felt it was wrong to only go after Graves and Rubiens when Pummill was involved also but the VA didn’t want Pummill prosecuted.
Also they did recommend that he receive a 15 day suspension for that mess.
” Top VA benefits official suspended in relocation scandal”
”https://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2016/03/23/va-relocation-scandal-pummill-suspended/82156020/”
From the article
“Veterans Affairs officials on Tuesday suspended the department’s top benefits official and reprimanded three others for their role in an ongoing promotion scandal that has frustrated and enraged lawmakers.
Danny Pummill, the acting undersecretary for benefits, faces a proposed 15-day suspension for a “lack of oversight” for his role in the incident last year. That punishment can be appealed, a process that has been fraught with problems for the department in recent months.”
I wonder who was the “unfair” excuse for not prosecuting anyone in leadership for the Waitlist bonus fraud schemes.
Hey elf,
He is also the person that allowed all of the employees to start the work from home positions were they can get paid for a full day and claim an average of 27% of their days were spent traveling from home to their work from home positions.
I guess that way they would not be to over worked at the shredders when they were working on claims.
Seems like a very sudden departure with only a 1 week notice. Have to wonder what new dirt he is involved with.
I have a guess. Shutting down the OMI at height of Waitlist crisis to divert all Waitlist harm cases back to VISN for “investigation” so VACO and VAOIG could maintain plausible deniability about scope (system wide) and source (VACO direction) of Waitlist policies and esp associated harm/death.
Or, maybe he could start, or become the head of, an insurance company. Like the “guy” at U.S.S.A. Insurance!
I understand this “person”, can’t remember his name, worked high up at VA!
Sorry brothers, my brain ain’t running on all cylinders right now!
I pass this monstrosity of a campus every day. There is still plastic flying from the window wells (no windows yet). It looks like a big, deserted shelter and is nowhere near done. The shells are up; that’s about it. Traffic is diverted to work on the buildings and it’s right next to the famous Childrens Hospital campus in Aurora/Denver. It is far more than just a “disappointment” that these parasites can collect big paychecks, while Veterans widows and orphans (like myself) end up homeless, waiting for benefits.
The VA refuses disability to veterans automatically. !
Of veterans received their deserved disability They would have gotten part of this.
Billions have been kept out of the veterans hands. Deny Deny die.
They do this to pay employees and their yearly bonus.
Veterans to the department of Veterans Affairs are a burdon. That’s why so many are dying from lack of care.
How many veterans from the Vietnam war. Were told their military records were destroyed in the saint Louis ? And it Washington not true. !
Millions were deverted and the veterans lost out on disability payments and care.
Those with PTSD. Suffered and were refused care. Because they had to be service connected per VA.
How can someone become service connected When they lied to these veterans.
Any veteran that was told this and their record’s later found. Should be awarded their disability automatically and all back pay given to them. !
If I remember right Pummill was the reason the DOJ would not prosecute Graves and Rubiens because the DOJ felt it was wrong to only go after Graves and Rubiens when Pummill was involved also but the VA didn’t want Pummill prosecuted.
Also they did recommend that he receive a 15 day suspension for that mess.
” Top VA benefits official suspended in relocation scandal”
” https://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2016/03/23/va-relocation-scandal-pummill-suspended/82156020/”
From the article
“Veterans Affairs officials on Tuesday suspended the department’s top benefits official and reprimanded three others for their role in an ongoing promotion scandal that has frustrated and enraged lawmakers.
Danny Pummill, the acting undersecretary for benefits, faces a proposed 15-day suspension for a “lack of oversight” for his role in the incident last year. That punishment can be appealed, a process that has been fraught with problems for the department in recent months.”
Hey elf,
He is also the person that allowed all of the employees to start the work from home positions were they can get paid for a full day and claim an average of 27% of their days were spent traveling from home to their work from home positions.
I guess that way they would not be to over worked at the shredders when they were working on claims.
Hey elf,
He is also the person that allowed all of the employees to start the work from home positions were they can get paid for a full day and claim an average of 27% of their days were spent traveling from home to their work from home positions.
I guess that way they would not be to over worked at the shredders when they were working on claims.
Seems like a very sudden departure with only a 1 week notice. Have to wonder what new dirt he is involved with.
The VA could spend billions of dollars on new facilities and put in staye of the art equipment. Chandliers ect. !
It would not matter now nude the facility is. The facilities can not treat you !
Employee’s do and the new facilities would still be run by those bad employees. !
Ad they say you can put lipstick on a pig. But it’s still a ? !
New facilities should have new employees and the current employees told their services ate no longer needed.
A set of rules and regulations conforming with current law’s and someone new law’s made and s stipulation clause !
Any employee found not to be following these rules and regulations will be terminated hand any one found covering up the. Will also be fired !
If this were done other employees would morw than likely conform to the law. !
Hand not dare hurt another veteran. !
When employees do something wrong the VA should be required to have our justice department handle it. If it’s criminal in nature !
VA us unable. Incapable of policeing themselves. !
To many friends and relative’s involved !
Hand before the VA can do anything to a veteran. They must provide proof and the veteran given s ticket by city police. !
The way it is now. Any employee can falsely accuse veterans and the veterans are punished with out due process. !
Or just shut the VA down hand let all veterans seek treatment by the private sector. !
A point not made often enough. Equipment and dollars poured into an ethical sewer will still eventually contact the sewage.
06/16/2016
Dear Benjamin Krause,
This article brings back the sweet memories of Col. Forbes [do not forget the Contractors and the Subcontractors as Forbes was hanging out at the Drake Hotel] just before the President died, the First Lady and the Doctor who blew the whistle on him….amazing that Forbes lived to be an old man.
Did anyone do a cost analyst on the Project?
How about a comparison to the Mayo Clinic Hospital vs. VA Denver Hospital?
What are we paying for vs. what are we getting?
And we thought Al Capone was bad!
Sincerely,
Don Karg
Hey Don
At least with Al Capone one knew what was going on.
I agree with your assessment Ben that neither party will do what is right for veterans.
Unless we pointedly force them to.
I received a FOIA response from the VA yesterday. It is 422 pages of internal emails and patient contact reports on me from 2013 to the date of my request. I am not surprised at some of the information, and quite shocked at other information on the response.
The documents show a Privacy officer blatantly lying. They show a nurse practioner blatantly lying. They show an Associate Director responding to other VA employees flippantly, and as if any of the serious concerns I provided to her office in writing are not worth their time to investigate. Her email to others shows she is more concerned with how much effort another VA employee out into responding to me than patient safety, and blatantly lied about responses to me from their Patient advocates. But she assured others that one person is going way out of her way for me. Yeah, that’s why the problems continue.
They show a patient advocate lying and being vague to cover her own ass in not doing her job, which is not a surprise given the multiple emails from the head of the Patient advocates being just as flippant and dismissive bordering on being a smart ass. He also suggests seeking permission from the VISN to stop communication with me, and states it might garner negative media coverage if they do.
So much for being a patient advocate. His other emails clearly show he would rather provide cover for and excuse VA inaction rather than resolving a problem brought to them by a veteran.
It is interesting to note that a veterans letter to VA leadership is treated the as a congressional inquiry for tracking.
The most shocking to me is seeing a request for my Senator to inquire, then an email from the Senators aide talking about speaking with the head of the Patient Advocates, him providing some kind of history about me to the Senators office and a response saying it will certainly help with any future inquiries from me.
I don’t recall ever getting a response from the Senators office on that inquiry.
In addition, they have included emails I have sent to McDonald’s office trying to get this resolved…with no response from his office other than they are looking into it.
I suggest if you are having a problem getting proper care at your VA, send the Privacy Officer a FOIA request for any internal communication, fax, patient contact report or email containing your name. I bet you wI’ll be shocked.
91; The very moment you believe that the “Patient Advocate” is on your side you are setting yourself up for, at the very least, a big disappointment. Possibly a deadly situation. I have never been satisfied by any “VA Advocate. Remember who signs their checks. ALSO, I want to thank people like you, Elf & Nanibor for your information and opinions. You folks provide an important alternative source of information we Veterans can’t get elswhere. Thanks to you as well Ben.
Would make a ton of sense if someone in the senior ranks of VISN 19 went states witness… Or had something on VACO too incendiary to allow them to get into trouble.
“So what the heck is going on in Colorado? Why is any facility linked to Denver VA above the law? What kind of money or results justify a $1.5 billion hospital other than one seeing patients on gold tables?”
My bet is states witness, that Dems are holding senior VA exec prosecution cards to be used defuse any Republican attacks close to the election, via public execution, er… prosecution of some senior VA leaders/former leaders.
My guess is that the bus has been parked at the end of the street waiting for the Republicans to start claiming negligence while standing in the crosswalk.
My guess at this point is that the contractors are politically connected.
To members of both parties.
Which is why funding has continued to flow with little in the news explaining what answers Congress has gotten on why it is so over budget.
+1 – very good possibility
Ben. From top to bottom clean up.
They started from scratch 100 year’s ago. Shut it down and a massive investigation needs to be done and they need to arrest many unqualified manager’s. !
@James
There needs to be HUNDREDS arrested. If not a few thousand for violating the rules and regs! They KNOW FULL WELL they are violating many regs and laws! I suggest maybe 80% to 90% need to be behind bars!
The American taxpayers need to know just what in the hell is going on with their monies!
Sites like this are a great resource, for many! Yet these sites don’t reach the majority of Americans!
I wish Trump or Sanders, or both, would tell the people more about what’s really happening at VA.
The corruption permeating from the top down. The Abuse, Waste and Fraud being committed!
We know Hildabeast won’t say, or do, one damn thing. Even if she becomes the next president, I really believe it will be business as usual! Possibly even worse!
Maybe Ben can request a meeting with trump and Hilary and tell them about this site and the problems veteran’s are having !
It’s like the VA employees are in denial of everything.
TV. Had made everything as ordinary. People I think don’t have many feelings about what’s being reported or just say another one.
Yes. If they would do proper investigations FBI. Justice department ect.
They would have to let go of thousands that got caught ? a little mj.
That would free up s lot of cell’s for those employees to think about what they have done. To the thousands of Veterans.
Regional office personnel first. Medical facilities next and then Bob McDonald’s employee’s !
Then the OIG !
You all are missing the point. The VA is in the process of being dismantled since the 1980 election of the privatization Tsar. Cut everywhere beginning with the pen and ink changes without congressional approval.
I’m old enough to know when the VA was being done right before that election and the trend to put Wall Street’s sticky fingers deeper into the pockets of taxpayers. You get what you vote for. Want to get less for more, keep voting for incumbents that have those sticky fingered backers ponying up big bucks for their campaigns.
PENDEJO VETS VA DEATHCARE IS ONE BIG BIG FEDERAL RICO CRIME RACKET RUN BY @ FOR THE AFGE UNION CONTRACTS VETS YO ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SCREWED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes it’s time to dismantle the whole VA. In its time it was worth it. My grandfathers time. He died from mustard gas and received excellent care at the VA. My father after WW11 wouldn’t use the VA for anything. I can only state what has happened to my husband at the same VA my grandfather used. The diagnoses about life threatening diseases they never informed us my husband has to still waiting after 5 months to see specialist that are detremental to his health. Sending him bills for copays when he did the paperwork and fell into the category of poverty. From denieing him access to out side medical because they won’t pay the co pays. By not paying the copays for Er visits. When they told him to go to Er . Which ruined his credit…. Going to the doctors at the VA to be told you don’t have a doctor…. To have 4 different doctors in a matter of a year. Not one of these prior doctors really knows the medical history. My husband has over 28 diseases. It’s gross negligence and they need to give Veterans the card that allows them to get health care where ever they choose…. And close down the medical parts of the VA.
@Ben Krause
I agree wholehearted! It’s time to dismantle the whole VA system. Fire everyone and hit a reset button! Bring those responsible of criminal acts against AMERICANS before a judge. It’s time to get tuff. It’s time to vote 95% of everyone out of office!
I did not vote for Obama. Friends in Illinois knew what kind of person he was. Knew the people he followed in Chicago. Knew he was a slum lord. Knew about his oppressive views on people of his own ‘color’! Knew of his hatred toward America.
These “mental attributes” are not conducive to being a leader! He has demonstrated that quite clearly in the past 7 1/2 years!
Americans, who helped him get into office the first time, are now bitterly against him. Why is that?
Is it because every single statistic, ie: unemployment, etc., given out is a lie!
Could it be his “dismantling of our military” or ordering our National Security Agencies to “stand down” on investigating possible terrorists within our borders! How about the dismantling of our Constitution and Constitutional Republic!
I could go on and on. Yet, his “ability to be a dishonest and deceitful individual has been exposed!”
Especially since he just embarrassed and belittled every American and Veteran, (his “apology tour” and speech in Indiana recently)!
The majority of VA, (and its Union), employees, from McDuck on down, have shown their true colors! They are, in my opinion, nothing more than thugs, thieves, grifters, liars and murderers! They have, by their own conduct, shown the taxpayers, elderly and veterans just how dishonorable and disgusting they truely are!
I wonder how much of the taxpayers monies went into their pockets. And NOT what it was intended for ~ (veterans healthcare and compensations and other things!)
The problem I see is, until America, (ALL of America), sees the light, nothing will change.
John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress, said it best. “All the Colonies must vote ‘yea’ for Independence. If not, then we will be pitting brother against brother, father against son, Colony against Colony!”
There is a slow movement out there, just like in 1765 to June 1776! Just before the signing of our “Declaration of Independence!”
We can be an Honorable and Respected Country again.
Only we need leaders who are Honorable and Respected!
This is where the CHOICE PROGRAM FAILED AS THE VA DIVERTED MONEY TO THIS PROJECT AS THEY HURT THE NATION’S VETERANS AND MANY DIED BECAUSE OF IT
MSGT LEROY G FOSTER USAF.RET
Is the following Denver Post quote provided by Benjamin on this blog last year regarding the THUG engineers caught and State of Ohio prosecuting, now being kept from the light of day by the VA….because it would “impair the VA’s already bad image with tax payers”?
“[The Denver Post gave a rundown of the scandal:
“
Chris Kyrgos, the VA’s former national acquisition director, has been subpoenaed to testify in the trial of Mark Farmer, an architect accused by federal prosecutors of paying a former high-ranking VA official in Cleveland for the sensitive construction information.
Farmer, 55, of Arlington, Va., is on trial in Akron, Ohio, on charges of conspiracy, racketeering, embezzlement, theft of public money, mail fraud and wire fraud.
He is accused of conspiring with former VA official William Montague from 2010 through 2013. Montague was head of the Cleveland VA Medical Center from 1995 through 2010 and acting director of the Dayton VA Medical Center from March 2011 though December 2011.
Prosecutors say Montague had a side consulting business he named the “House of Montague.”]”
^^What ever happened with all this?^^ Did they all get performance bonuses and back to working on the VA’s Black Hole Project?
@namnibor
They are now in prison!
I am thinking those couple VA Thug Contractors that are now in prison are only but a *few* that *got caught* and there’s MUCH MORE fraud and scheming behind the scenes we may never ever know about regarding the Aurora VA Facility.
So much for this new VA OIG being transparent since Sloan Gibson is MORE concerned with the VA’s “bad image to American Tax Payers”… 🙁
Hey Namnibor,
Here is a repost of a comment I made just a few days ago about Montague He was sentenced on the 10th of June 2016. I would like to point out that the VA wasn’t responsible for starting the investigation. The investigation of Montague by the VA only started after the FBI had a great deal of evidence including taped phone recordings, falsified paper work and witness testimony against Montague. There was just to much evidence for the VA to cover-up.
It was the FBI investigation of Cuyahoga County Corruption and the wire taps of former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora that lead to the prosecutions including Montague.
Unfortunately the VA went into Whitewash mode instead of moving up the chain at the VA.
The repost:
”
Elf
You know that post about Montague the former director of the Cleveland VA Medical Center that was just sentenced yesterday. I don’t know if you caught my add on about how the only reason he was caught was because of the Cuyahoga County corruption investigation done by the FBI. The investigation started back in 2008 and there are still people being prosecuted.
Cuyahoga County is basically the City of Cleveland Ohio and it’s nearby suburbs. The Republican National Convention is going to be held there July 18–21, 2016.
A partial list of some of the more then 120 people who were arrested and convicted as a result of the Cuyahoga County corruption investigation includes politicians, Judges, officers of the law, attorneys and a host of other school officials and county employees.
Here is a partial list from the Wikipedia page for the investigation–
”
In July 2008, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents began raiding the offices of Cuyahoga County Commissioners and those of a wide range of cities, towns, and villages across Cuyahoga County. The investigation revealed extensive bribery and corruption across the area, affecting hundreds of millions of dollars in county contracts and business. The investigation led to the arrest of county commissioner Jimmy Dimora; county auditor Frank Russo; MetroHealth vice president John J. Carroll; former Strongsville councilman Patrick Coyne; former Ohio District Courts of Appeals judge Anthony O. Calabrese III; former Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge Bridget McCafferty; Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul; former Cleveland City Council member Sabra Pierce Scott; Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge Steven Terry; and a wide range of attorneys, building inspectors, consultants, contractors, school district employees, and mid and low level county workers.
”
I wonder if the people of Cuyahoga County are sick of corruption in their community?
Definitely no better place to hold the convention since Trump is running as a anti-corruption candidate. I wonder how they knew to hold the convention there?
“
It is worth noting Montague plead guilty to all charges in a 64 count indictment but was only sentenced to 57 months. To tell the truth it is very likely that Montague will spend 12 months or less in prison if that.
Oh and the 64 counts he plead guilty to were mostly felonies.
@Seymore Klearly- Thanks for that. I have lot going on with my recent huge fraudulent charges on my bank account, but I can tell you that living here in Columbus, OH, the couple local news stations that usually cover such things NEVER made this public…yet. Am thinking perhaps the couple horrific tragedies in Florida may have effectively helped the VA ‘Whitewash’ that and feed the truth to the gators.
However, I just sent a msg to stations asking for a follow-up so this can be public for accountability reasons.
Thanks again. My head is not in the sand but rather, just have to attend to this serious breach of my bank and I despise thieves of any kind. Investigation pending… meanwhile my planned travel for Father’s Day has to be entirely canceled until this is resolved, which could be next week…past Father’s Day. I’d love to be able to blame the VA but it’s thugs of another stripe. But thugs all the same in odor. 🙂
@Seymore Klearly & namnibor
Do y’all know of, or have seen, “Twin Lakes” up in Cuyahaga County? It might be called something else now.
That lake was built by the WPA back in the 30’s.
My mother’s family owned that property. All of it! I remember going there, back in the early 50’s, before the “devided highway” was completed. An Aunt still owned a small parcel on its bank!
180 or more acres were taken from my grandfather because of back taxes owed, ($32. and change), during the “Great Depression”!
I remember swimming in the lake. I also remember the “gravel berm” before the highway was completed! I fished that lake.
My grandfather was shot in his front doorway. Because he refused to leave. All of my grandparents possessions were still there. Everything they owned! He would not submit to the government what was legally his. My family owned that property going back almost five or six generations or more. Grandma said his family owned that property from before the American Civil War!
My grandma never trusted the government from that point on!
The property was called “The Hale Farm!”
I have indeed been to The Hale Farm on a few occasions when I lived up in Lakewood, OH. Very beautiful. I went to see the glass blowers and all the beautiful gardens. Too bad that land has your family’s blood, sweat, AND tears on it and lost that legacy.
As VA Sec. McDonald would say from the song dancing around in his Disneyficated head, “It’s a small, small world…” 🙂
“…it’s a small, small world…”(ad nausea) 🙂