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Please read something a bit more timely and relevant
Published on August 14, 2005 By dabe In Politics
Response to AAR-funding scandal bull garbage

Please read something a bit more timely and relevant to the issue you're trying to blow out of proportion. In fact, this "scandal" ended up being all about a slimeball named Cohen and about the Boys and Girls Club bookkeeping improprieties, and had nothing to do with Air America Radio. Per the Cybercast News Service Link:

On June 24, the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) announced that it was terminating all contracts with GWBGC and its subsidiaries.

"[These] determinations were based on an on-going investigation by the New York City Department of Investigation concerning allegations that, among other things, officials of Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club approved significant inappropriate transactions and falsified documents that were submitted to various City agencies," the announcement stated.


And, even though there was no wrong-doing on behalf of AAR, they have agreed to pay back the $800.000 that they thought they received in good faith for fear of having a tarnished record. And, in fact, the original lender, Mr. Cohen, is long gone from the scene and the present owners of AAR never even knew the guy.

Also, per the Columbia Journal Review Daily Link, dated August 10, 2005:

Piquant [owner of AAR] -- which is not being investigated in the scandal -- released a statement last week that emphasized that Progress, which has been defunct for over a year, was the owner at the time the Gloria Wise loans were made. Nonetheless, Piquant has committed to repaying the loans in their entirety.

Sure, you'll find tons of links from righty blogsites that are bashing AAR, and trying to prove that it's evil incarnate, but they are smearing without anything other than their hatred of anything left wing, liberal or progressive. So, you see, the original article here by greywar is nothing but more of that same smear campaign, devoid of any real facts or updates. Rather shameful reporting here at JU, me thinks.

Comments
on Aug 14, 2005

BUT!

They have not  as yet given the money back, so it makes it topical and relevant.  And them Sleezy.

on Aug 14, 2005
How would accepting a loan from a publicly funded Boys & Girls Club be "in good faith?" Was the loan disguised as coming from somewhere else? Had the recipient been the EIB network, would you be as sanguine?

Cheers,
Daiwa
on Aug 14, 2005
Question: is the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club a designated financial institution capable of generating loans under the government financial laws?
Answer: Nope.

Evaluation - There should have been further due diligence on the part of AAR and Piquant regarding the source of these funds.

Or is it a case that they receive so many different "loans" and "gifts" that they don't bother to question the source, as long as the check clears?

Given the area I live in, this is the first that I've heard of this impropriety. If Rush Limbaugh's EIB or the NPR had done this, the media would have been all over it and we would STILL be hearing about it.
on Aug 14, 2005

NPR had done this

NPR?  Yea right!  IN the next life maybe.

on Aug 15, 2005
Everybody receives loans and gifts. Isn't Tom Delay's buddy going down for inappropriate "loans", that he actually made? Yeah. everyone gets and gives loans. If you actually read the article, you'd see that the present owners of AAR were not involved, that the Boys and Girls Club was not involved, but only this scumsucker, Cohen, who has flown out in the night. But, what makes this accusation most disgusting is the allegation that AAR stole money from poverty-stricken boys and girls, which is stupid, specious, and well, disgusting, as well as a complete lie..
on Aug 15, 2005

Everybody receives loans and gifts. Isn't Tom Delay's buddy going down for inappropriate "loans", that he actually made? Yeah. everyone gets and gives loans. If you actually read the article, you'd see that the present owners of AAR were not involved, that the Boys and Girls Club was not involved, but only this scumsucker, Cohen, who has flown out in the night. But, what makes this accusation most disgusting is the allegation that AAR stole money from poverty-stricken boys and girls, which is stupid, specious, and well, disgusting, as well as a complete lie..

Somehow I missed where Tom Delay's buddy was Cohen.  Must have missed that one.

And as for the stealing?  I dont recall anyone accusing them of that.  Sleezy?  Yes. Criminal?  Not that I read.

 

on Aug 15, 2005
as well as a complete lie


Did I miss something? The Boys and Girls club (the person controlling the finances and legal rep) did loan money to the AAR. How is that a lie?

Some one over at AAR did cash the check and sign the loan agreement. At the very least they need to be canned. To say nobody at AAR had anything to do with the loan is just ridicules and a cover up.
on Aug 16, 2005
However you want to characterize it, I'd have more sympathy for AAR if they had accepted a personal check from Mr. Cohen & found out later he'd embezzled the money from the club. AAR could at least plausibly deny knowing the actual source in that case. As it is, hard for me to believe AAR didn't know who their creditor was. And the change of ownership is irrelevant (except that the new owner's due diligence in the acquisition may have fallen short of the mark) - AAR got the loan.

Cheers,
Daiwa