Legislator Rachel Barnhart expresses strong support for today’s action by the New York State Attorney General to dissolve the Community Resource Collaborative and appoint a receiver to manage its assets. The assets would be used to reimburse creditors impacted by the organization’s alleged misconduct.
The Attorney General’s petition filed in State Supreme Court echoes concerns long raised by Legislator Barnhart, who has repeatedly warned that the Community Resource Collaborative defrauded Monroe County and nonprofit members of the Neighborhood Collaborative Project.
Importantly, the petition highlights potential self-dealing among for-profit entities associated with the Neighborhood Collaborative Project (paragraph 34). Legislator Barnhart, in a detailed analysis, raised similar concerns, identifying three LLCs—MC Collaborative, On the Ground Research, and C3 Consultancy—as having received no-bid contracts from an entity that they participated in controlling.
“I opposed continuing the Neighborhood Collaborative Project under a new fiscal sponsor largely due to my concerns over these for-profit vendors,” said Legislator Barnhart. “While County Executive Bello disregarded my warnings, I’m gratified that the State Attorney General has recognized the same issues I flagged.”
Barnhart added, “The petition clearly shows that the Community Resource Collaborative fraudulently obtained and spent American Rescue Plan Act funds. What remains unclear is why Monroe County awarded this contract to an unqualified vendor and failed to properly oversee the spending. This is just the beginning—I am confident we’ll hear more from authorities on this matter.”