In August, we told you about allegations of corruption against Tyrone Freeman, then head the largest Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate in California. Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times published new allegations against Freeman and his union.
In 2004, Freeman's local launched what they called a "charity" to develop affordable housing for its members. The charity's board is mostly comprised of union officials, and the charity shares office space with the union.
The problem? In at least two years of operation, the "charity" failed to spend a single cent on its charitable mission.
The charity, launched by a scandal-ridden Los Angeles chapter of the Service Employees International Union, had total expenses of about $165,000 for 2005 and 2006, and all of the money went to consulting fees, insurance costs and other overhead, according to its Internal Revenue Service filings.
Charity watchdogs say that nonprofits should never have zero program expenses in two successive years and that well-performing charities direct at least 70% of their annual spending to their charitable purpose.
"Of the 5,000-plus charities we've looked at, I don't think we've ever seen one that didn't spend anything on its charitable programs," said Sandra Miniutti, vice president of Charity Navigator, an online rating service.
Running a union-affiliated charity that doesn't actually do any charity -- sounds a bit like the kind of job Rob Blagojevich was asking the SEIU to set up for him.
Comments
RE your uncharitable remarks
The fund was for an EARTHQUAKE. So CA hasn't seen a devasting one since this charity was set up. The only rights you care about are for employers to pick worker's pockets. How 'bout that banking bail out, eh?
Union Charity stilling from Union Members
The Los Angeles Times, Not know as having much sympathy for conservative causes and generally recognized as being PRO-UNION, Cracked the story.
So when a Liberal bias News source comes out with a negative story about Union related activities and corruption, it is sure to be true and collaborated with lots of irrefutable evidence.
According to the Times Article, the charity fund was not for Earthquake relief but for general housing for members. So one would expect to see Yearly activity.
Also, Note the Federal Investigations going on Tyrone Freeman.
So “Accuracy Lover” your acidic comments seam to be very out of place.
If you truly want Accuracy, then Demand Full Transparency and Accountability in the Union.
Demand Right to Work, It is only when one can choose to sever there relationship with the Union at will that the Unions will be held accountable to its Members. Till them, the Largest Thief in the county is the Union Bosses stilling from the working people.