BREAKING NEWS: SIGTARP ALERTED TREASURY THAT THE TARP’S Hardest Hit Fund IS BEING ABUSED IN INDIANA

1. Surprising investigative reporting by the CCO and big scoop over the Courier and Press. Is Democratic Council President Mosby aware of this Federal Investigation audit and the Special Investigator Recommendation’s on page 69?

   “Treasury should claw back all Hardest Hit Fund monies used for lived-in residences that
   were selected for the blight elimination program, including TARP payments of $246,490
   for 18 lived-in residences in the neighborhood of Area 55, in Evansville, Indiana, and
   recycle those funds to demolish abandoned zombie properties.”

   • It is great reporting, but are you kidding about the Courier? They probably have the same stuff but they would never print anything their best pals Winnecke and Coures doesn’t OK.

     • Yeah, but the C&P did report we are getting a new barbecue joint. Now that is hard hitting journalism.

       • Yes, I saw that. They reported that Mission BBQ and two new hotels are opening on the east side. I’m surprised that the Mayor allows them to report on businesses that open on the east, west, or north sides. He will probably limit them to writing about openings Downtown, on Haynie’s Corner, or North Main.

         • The Courier & Press did report on this on December 19, 2015:
           “Feds Assert Evansville Misused Funds”:
           Here is the link:
           http://www.courierpress.com/news/local/feds-assert-evansville-misused-funds-27367d74-8864-69af-e053-0100007ff2a7-363037201.html

           An excerpt:
           “In a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) (PDF) said Evansville’s actions pose a “serious risk (of) manipulation, abuse or criminal conduct.” The letter goes on to describe the inspector’s investigation and findings.”

           And here is a link to the actual Fed’s letter:
           http://media.jrn.com/documents/SIGTARP+Secretary+of+the+Treasury+letter.pdf

         • Here is a link to the actual letter from the Feds:
           http://media.jrn.com/documents/SIGTARP+Secretary+of+the+Treasury+letter.pdf

         • AND….the Courier & Press did report this….on December 15, 2015:
           Here is that link:
           http://www.courierpress.com/news/local/feds-assert-evansville-misused-funds-27367d74-8864-69af-e053-0100007ff2a7-363037201.html

           And an excerpt from that article:
           “In a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) (PDF) said Evansville’s actions pose a “serious risk (of) manipulation, abuse or criminal conduct.” The letter goes on to describe the inspector’s investigation and findings.:

         • FYI…these are Coures’ comments about this:
           If the U.S. Treasury Department, which funded the grant, does decide to reclaim the money, Coures said it’s unlikely Evansville will be held responsible.

           “IHCDA would have a very difficult time clawing that money (the money used by Evansville to demolish the tenant occupied homes for the car dealer) back from the city since we followed all of their rules and they approved every structure we submitted,” Coures said. “Of course, I can’t say for sure.” It’s unclear when the Treasury Department will make a decision on the case. “I can see the point that they’re using, but the reality is that many times people are occupying dwellings as their residences when they shouldn’t be,” Coures said. “There are political people out there who are comfortable allowing people to live in places they shouldn’t be. And I’m not.”

           You know….these are pretty flippant comments regarding Federal, not to mention US Treasury Department, jurisdiction. The kind that make people in Federal Law enforcement wince. Get’s reactions like, “He said what? To the local paper?”

         • ‘The new Cross-Eyed Cricket will be a great addition to Main Street’, said Department of Metropolitian Development Director Kelley Coures.

           ‘We’re all real excited about it’, Coures said. ‘It’s a great way to prepare for the med school’.

         • (sorry for the duplications. The first “reply-click” did not post. The second one did…and the first followed after it.)

   • If they do a “claw-back” will the taxpayers be the ones paying it back? If so, I have a better idea: send a bill for $264,490.00 to Michael O’Daniel, President, 200 N Green River Road PO BOX 5186, Evansville , IN 47716.

     _

2. Is Area 55 similar to Area 51?

   • They’re both stories spread by liars. The difference is that area 55 did hurt people.

3. I had heard bits and pieces about an investigation, but this is a real jaw-dropper. Good job, Ron!

4. 197
   Treasury should immediately direct state housing finance agencies that they should
   not allow the Hardest Hit Fund to be used strategically to select lived-in residences for
   demolition, and should instead be used solely to select zombie properties for demolition.
   X
   Although Treasury has not formally responded to SIGTARP’s recommendation,
   Treasury told SIGTARP that it told state HFAs that properties should not be legally
   occupied at the time of review or approval for blight elimination activity for any
   requests submitted on or after January 15, 2016, and to reflect that guidance in
   program guidelines. See further discussion in Section 2.

   • Does Mesker Amphitheater qualify as a “Troubled Asset”?

     • TARP was created by the George W. Bush White House. Cruz has been saying Obama created it. But he’s lying.

       • Cruz does a lot of that. He won the Iowa caucuses with some really unethical tactics.

5. Some local SIGTARP history:

   https://www.sigtarp.gov/Survey/Old%20National%20Bancorp.pdf

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