Reiner's First 5 Funds San Francisco Yuppies
You may remember that Rob "Meathead" Reiner was the big proponent behind the "First 5" ballot measure which placed a big tax on tobacco in order to raise money for "early childhood education." Like most liberal plans gone wrong (aren't they all?) the First 5 program is turning out to be a big fraud.I am sure most people who voted for the measure thought the money would go to low income children. But according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "Whether rich or poor, applicants can get up to $11,000 over three years for all kinds of activities from First 5 San Francisco, a local agency charged with distributing tobacco tax revenue to promote early childhood development."
The Chronicle reported a few of the items that were part of a $200,000 grant of the taxpayer money:
-- "Multi-Family First Time Camping Experience" included a camping lesson and overnight trip to Big Sur for six families.
-- "Couples Travel and Learn Together" included an overnight stay at the Four Points Sheraton in Pleasanton, where couples from Chinatown took marriage workshops. It also included $250 in Target gift cards.
-- "Families of La Piccola Scuola Italiana" included holiday party space rental and the purchase of a Babbo Natale (Italian version of Santa Claus) costume.
Even a liberal Berkley professor, Bruce Fuller finds issue with this, telling the paper that "Rob Reiner sold this as a way to help kids from low-income (families) - zero to 5 - have better futures," said Fuller.
Labels: big government, first 5 programs, rob reiner, shady government corruption
Posted by Michael Higby @ 4/23/2008 10:00:00 AM
4 Comments:
Former Mayor Sam blogger MICHAEL MEAT TRUJILLO now working on the Hillary campaign worked with MEATHEAD on these things as well as the 80 FAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES.
well hell an overnighter in Big Sur for six families even sleeping on the ground, and with proper permits to eat bacon inside the Park for their breakfast HAS to go for close to 11 Grand..
If this fucking jerk Rob Reiner had any dignity or class he would apologize to Californians for wasting our time and money. Then he would pack his bags and go far away never to be heard from again. Fuck you, Meathead.
It's not Rob Reiner at fault here totally. He proposed funds for a program with a good goal. He did not personally approve of all the grants.
Some well meaning people propose bills or grants for programs with good goals. They get the bill passed and have money. That money must be spent so much per year. A board of directors oversees grant approvals if not just one person. The problem is that some don't advertise the grants to the right people. People don't know about it. A few people find out about it and want to make money off of it. They propose programs that don't really help poor people but themselves. These programs are pitched in such a way that they seem like they are indeed helping poor people. This is where professional grant writers come in.
Case in point. I heard of a great grant when I went to a symposium. I got the package to apply to offer a program to help 1,000 children. I would not have made a dime, would have probably lost $1,000 even with the grant. I met someone else who seemed to be helping children. He said he could help 12,000 children with that grant. I gave him my grant application then handed it to the guy who approves the grants. I told him that this person could help 12,000 children whereas I could only help 1,000 so they should give the guy my grant, and they did.
A month later I find out the guy who got the grant was a total fraud. He didn't help one child but spent the money on rent, food and his car. This grant fraud then sent a report to the program saying he helped 12,000 kids. He sent photos of him in a classroom with kids from ten years earlier. These programs need better oversight. That is the problem here. It's not Rob Reiner trying to do the right thing.He didn't get the money.
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