Nonprofit Calls for End to “Dirty Politics”

The executive director of a nonprofit that finished first in an open bidding process for an affordable housing project in San Bernardino was joined Oct. 13 at City Hall by supporters demanding an end to what they called “dirty politics” and “cheating” in business. Kim Carter, founder and executive director of the Time for Change Foundation (TFCF), which helps homeless women with children, cried out for a “HIT” within city leadership – asking for honesty, integrity and transparency – after the council voted 4-2 during the Oct. 6 city council meeting to table awarding almost $700,000 of the $2 million in HOME funds available through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department to the nonprofit for the project, Phoenix Village. “I entered an open, fair competition the city requested,” said Carter. “I ran a race and I finished first. You can’t say you’re not going to deal with the winner of the race.” A release issued by the Time for Change Foundation alleged, “No one within the city government will publicly state why this development project is not moving forward in the normal course of business.” A statement attributed to San Bernardino City Manager Allen J. Parker said, “It is unfortunate that the potential awardee has come forward casting unfounded aspersions to the City of San Bernardino concerning a process that has been transparent, met open procurement requirements and has not yet reached conclusion,” alluding to the Oct. 6 council meeting where the council voted 4-2 to table the project – a meeting Carter said she did not attend because she “was under the impression that the item would be passed under the consent calendar.” Items passed on the consent calendar are generally considered routine and are passed with a Yes or No vote without further council discussion. If an item is tabled, it can no longer be discussed. It was the tabling of the project Oct. 6 that alarmed her, Carter explained—she attended the Sept. 15 council meeting where the item first appeared on the agenda but was moved to the Oct. 6 meeting. Carter said TFCF risks losing funding from other organizations if the city fails to award the $695,756 in HOME monies. “It would halt (the project),” Carter said. “We want to say get ready 1st ward, because this is a project for the 1st ward and they need to support this project.” Councilman Fred Shorett made the motion to table the item. “We have a lot of different funding; there are Emergency Shelter Grants, HOME grants and Community Development Block Grants coming in at various times. I suggested we have a good, clean overview and understanding of where the nonprofits fit with this funding.” “I’m very supportive of the Time for Change Foundation and what they do,” Shorett said. “I’m just saying we may want to take a look at (the project and the funding). That’s it.” Councilwoman Virginia Marquez, who represents the 1st Ward, voted against tabling the project Oct. 6. “I’m very supportive of the project and I will continue to support it because I support what (Carter) is doing,” said Marquez. “The council needs to have a workshop to look at the ins and outs of (Community Development Block Grant) funding and where nonprofits fit in. It has nothing to do with the project. For now, we’re looking at the entire (Housing and Urban Development) process…We’re policy makers, we’re expected to do that.” Carter estimated the project would create at least 50 local jobs and felt tabling the item was no better than rejecting it. “Voting to table something is not voting for a project… If you want to vote to table it, you might as well not even put the (request for proposal) out. You’re asking for the community to give you an application, to give you money, to spend their time entering something. The least you can do is vote on what you asked people to do for you,” Carter said. The item was not on the Oct. 20 agenda as protesters demanded, but Marquez said she hopes to see it before the council next month. “Hopefully (the council) can (workshop) soon because I would like to see it on the agenda packet in November,” said Marquez. “We can support (Carter), but we just needed to table it.” The council will meet for a workshop to discuss various funding: emergency shelter grants, HOME monies and CBDG funds, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m., said Shorett.