Legislators Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons and Rachel Barnhart voted with a majority of Ways and Means Committee members against the $6 million contract with Starbridge to take over as fiscal sponsor of the Neighborhood Collaborative Project (NCP). This means the proposal has been killed in committee.
As Legislator Barnhart’s analysis of NCP shows, the initiative must undergo changes before we approve more funding.
“We recognize some of the members of the Neighborhood Collaborative Project did good work and are waiting for much-needed funding. But we have to do this in a legal and responsible manner,” said Vice-President Vazquez Simmons. “We have no issue with Starbridge. The issue is with the Neighborhood Collaborative Project.”
“Community Resource Collaborative’s mismanagement was a symptom, not the disease. The Neighborhood Collaborative Project treated ARPA dollars like a slush fund and ignored procurement laws. The only reason they want a fiscal sponsor is to avoid proper oversight. There is no way we should approve this contract without putting more controls in place,” said Legislator Barnhart.
Vouchers showed irregularities including the Executive Director of Father Tracy Advocacy Center, Beatriz Lebron, paying herself $3,900 as a vocational trainer in December and January. The other two anchor agencies hired qualified and experienced vocational trainers.
In addition, Lebron has waged a campaign filled with false accusations and intimidation against Legislators Vazquez-Simmons and Barnhart since the ARPA scandal broke, though many of her Facebook videos have since been removed. Lebron also made a physical threat to Vice-President Vazquez-Simmons at the April 9 Legislature meeting after asking the Legislature to support NCP funding. Vice-President Vazquez-Simmons says Lebron said in Spanish to her as she left the podium, “I will break your face. Asshole.”
“We will not be extorted into approving funding for Beatriz Lebron’s nonprofit, where it appears she received a personal benefit,” said Legislator Barnhart. “Her conduct – designed to prevent questions, undermine our credibility, and keep the money flowing – needs to be investigated.”
“We are asking the administration to bring us an improved proposal. This doesn’t have to be the end. We stand willing to work on a way to use these dollars for their intended purpose,” said Vice-President Vazquez-Simmons.