Amazing.
When government has to put out something totally embarrassing, the best time to release it is late on Friday when the media’s distracted by a sex scandal involving a local basketball coach. Always happens.
Internal auditor Mike Norman finished his report on the audit of the spending of the $950,000 on the 4th Street bowling alley. He filed a three-page report, but it has no details on how the money was spent. Why?
Because before Cordish opened its books, it required members of the Louisville contingent to sign a confidentiality agreement. That way, no one but those five — Norman, David Tandy, Bruce Traughber, David Morris, Ellie Shipley – really know, maybe, where the money was spent.
Why the hell did they even go, and how did David Tandy think it was OK to go along with this? This is totally embarrassing for him.
All Norman’s report included was this statement:
The document appeared to indicate the entire $950,000 was used to fund Tenant Assistance, which includes the cost of tenant improvements and other fit out work, including reconstruction and reconfiguration of space as well as tenant allowances related to The Sports and Social Club…
Are you kidding me?
Kelly Downard’s not laughing. The Metro Council member may be the most opposed to the Cordish giveaway, and is now the most pissed about what occurred last week.
“I was very disappointed. It’s not an audit. No verification was done. For somebody looking for openness in government, this is far from it. He says there was an appearance that it was correct. No one knows. It was a non-audit.
“It looks to me like something we just did for show and didn’t seem to care whether there was any transparency.”
29 responses so far ↓
1 keatssycamore // Aug 14, 2009 at 5:43 pm
This post is like Renault being “shocked” to learn there is gambling going on at Rick’s. Seriously, did any one actually believe those guys were going to come back with an honest accounting and tell the people of Louisville that their mayor used their tax dollars to bring Paris Hilton to town for a night?
It is terrible, but it is not a surprise.
2 Steve Coomes // Aug 14, 2009 at 5:57 pm
This is total horse hockey. Is there ANYONE in government AT ANY LEVEL who can be trusted? How can these clowns not be fully accountable to the people whose money they’re spending?
Mayor Jer dodged full accountability, and now several councilmembers are doing the same? How stupid are they?
No, the real question is: How stupid do they think Louisvillians are?
Do they really think no one’s going to ask more questions? Do they really think a million bucks of the people’s money can be tossed around like so much pocket change.
I’m no restaurant buildout genius, but I’ve written enough stories about the subject to know a modest refurb of a facility like that doesn’t–CANNOT–cost $950k.
3 Derby CityEspresso // Aug 14, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Tandy is a chump. Why even waste more tax dollars to fly to Baltimore to bring this steaming pile of shit back home? Ah, yes did they bring their wives? Did they eat some crab cakes? All the corruption in this city resides at the top.
The more I learn about Mayor Jerry, David Tandy & their cronies the less i like Louisville government.
4 EdenSprings // Aug 14, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I’m even more delighted that I took the time today to stop by the GOP at 232 W. Muhammad Ali and picked up a couple dozen “NO JERRY” bumper stickers for Dem. self & all my friends.
Remember: it was our legal-beagle MFL who GAVE that money to Cordish in the first place, telling them they didn’t need to be accountable for a single penny they spent on the project.
Personally, I think the citizens of Jefferson County ought to get together and file a class action lawsuit against the JerrMeister for that and a whole buncha other stupid $h*t he’s done.
5 Willy // Aug 14, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I like Edensprings idea about a lawsuit. I would contribute to a decent lawyer that has the balls to take these city crooks on.
How about our pretty boy Attorney General looking into this. Oh wait, he is a fellow Democrat and is running for the Senate and jacking off while Marathon/Speedway screws Louisville customers with inflated gas prices everyday.
I am going to contact Crit Luallan’s office next week. Maybe she has some balls and has the authority to look into this bullshit.
What a wasted trip to Baltimore
6 AreYouKiddingMe // Aug 14, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Signing the confidentiality clause tells the whole story. Something to hide. Something the Mayor doesn’t want made public. We have voting powers people. We need to vote this whole bunch out. Hopefully when Jer runs with Beshear we can all remember this and Jefferson County should go Republican. EdenSprings you are right on. I got my bumper sticker too.
7 Voter // Aug 14, 2009 at 10:12 pm
OK …..Listen up Everybody….the Idea of a TAXPAYERS lawsuit is the way to GO!
There is already a a movement and a group in place to raise funding for such an action. Those crooks know damn well that the resistance level is the financial challenge for any one person.
If there is anyone who is interested in joining together to contribute to such an action, I suggest we send our contact info to Rick redding along with what amount we’d be willing to pledge. Maybe the VV could do a poll to see haow many people would contribute to see justice done. I’m sure that The VV would keep the info confidential.
There is an Atty. here in Town that’s as Strong as they come waiting to take this action on. The cost for such is going to take somewhere in the $200k range, maybe more…..maybe our contributions we take as a TAX deduction….Lets hear From Rick on this?….What do you say Rick…..can you put it out there and lets see how many are Mad as Hell and want to do something about it?
Would the VV agree to gather the stats?
8 David Harpe // Aug 14, 2009 at 11:37 pm
..oh it’s more than Possible. It’s Possibility City.
Louisville. It’s possible here.
9 Cor Dissed // Aug 15, 2009 at 1:47 am
Mike “Nomind” signed his name to this?? Wow, this guy is either clueless, spineless, or both. Nomind..you’re a !#$ing auditor. WE PAY YOU TO AUDIT. Not rubber stamp some bullshit document using vague CYA words like “appears”…and seriously bro, you can’t pick up the phone and talk to a couple of the vendors to verify? You can’t walk through the fucking Sports and Social Disease Club to validate the work…….I bet most of the invoices you saw were simply internal billings from one Cordish entity to another to make it “appear” that they spent money. (Aren’t they both landlord and tenant here)
You know, there isn’t a contractor in town that won’t tell you that the slick smooth Cordish guys plucked you dupes like an old worn fiddle…how is it that EVERYONE that sees this project sees it the same way (a scam and waste of our taxpayer dollars)…except you buffoons that work for us???
One last vent…we jetted FIVE people to Baltimore to get these results! Five people?!! Another waste of our taxpayer dollars. Time to get rid of these schmucks…
10 Ashley // Aug 15, 2009 at 7:22 am
David Tandy is a self serving. He testified that we did not need tranasparency in Louisville. (SB 80) filled by Sen. Seum and HB 517 by Rep Jonnie Jenkins. He went to Frankfort to testify. The only memeber of a body wanting to empower Jerry with more ways to lie cheat and steal. It is assenine (sp) to think this guy would want to be mayor. He family does the bons for the city which would include Cordish. He is lap dog for them and always supports. Who paid for the flight to Baltimore. Where did they eat. I wonder if the council would ask the Federal Folks to impanel a Federal Grand Jury. MMMMMM David Scared are we. And JIm King is there with them we dod not need another Jerry Term No more Democrats
11 radioman // Aug 15, 2009 at 7:44 am
What a waste of time. Please Call Steve Pence and get hime to run for mayor. David Tandy @#$%*!
Thats what I think!!!
12 Dan B. // Aug 15, 2009 at 8:40 am
Just think, in a year or so, Mare Jer will be Lt. Guv and he will have the whole state to pilfer. Talk about an “unbridled spirit”!
13 AB // Aug 15, 2009 at 8:58 am
This audit process was of course a non-audit. Norman knows this and that’s why he gave a qualifying opinion. I suspect he knew he was on a political suicide mission.
Also, to introduce some reason into this, $950K is NOT an unreasonable amount to spend on a commercial remodeling project. That said, everyone is of course correct that Cordish’s secrecy and the city’s acceptance of such is totally unacceptable and a complete insult to the taxpayers of this county. There must be a broad investigation of the Abramson administration when he is finally gone. It is hard to imagine that his last months in office will not be full of political paybacks to add to the current problems.
14 AB // Aug 15, 2009 at 9:49 am
By the way, any commercial developer (with any business sense, that is) will have a project management system. Although it can be done manually, it is usually a computerized system that combines project scheduling and accounts payable functions that the developer uses to control the project. If Cordish did not provide the completed project report, but rather just a group of invoices, then this trip was all the more a farce.
15 Bruce Traughber // Aug 15, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I really can’t believe everyone is getting so upset over a measly $950,000! I guess all the voters have forgotten about the other tens of millions we have given to the Cordish family long before we decided to rescue the failed Bowlarama . Geez… this is just a pittance in comparison. And you think WE are stupid?
16 chief // Aug 15, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I’ve never in my life seen anything as crazy as this?….How has the National news wires & some investigative journalist or news show not picked up on this….this is 60 Minutes quality stuff!….and these smug SOB’s think they are immune from scrunity…..where is the support to fund a Taxpayers lawsuit like “Voter” is suggesting?…..Hell you can coung me in , being a local business citizen ,I’m tired of the crooks just screwing us!….I’m in for $500….I suggest this might be the best money ever spent, better then a campaign contribution!
17 chris thieneman // Aug 15, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I have a team ready to file the lawsuit and the lawyer to file the papers.
The more names on the lawsuit the better so please email me your name and a short note allowing me to file your name on the suit.
Please email me at chris@thieneman.com The attorney I have in mind has already beaten Jerri on a lawsuit I filed against him on Southfields Police Training Facility.
Lets do it.
18 betsey // Aug 15, 2009 at 6:41 pm
So are you telling me that I (a tax paying citizen) paid for these clowns to investigate this matter by sending them to Baltimore to investigate this matter but yet I’m not entitled to know the result of the investigation. If so, I’m prepared to sue metro government as well.I want to know who authorized this transaction with my taxpaying dollars and who do I contact with my compaint?
19 fleur-de-gris // Aug 15, 2009 at 10:01 pm
it may not have been a good investment, maybe more of a way of fending off 4th st live from becoming the next galleria, but it’s not criminal. let’s not let rough times make us hysterical.
i’m certain that our metro gov’t spends more of our tax dollars defending itself against frivolous, misinformed, and politically-motivated lawsuits than they tossed to cordish to keep 4th st live active.
20 chief // Aug 15, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Fleur-de-gris…..Are you suggesting we all just Blow it off like some “bed wetting liberal” that you sound like…..That’s exactly the reaction that lets these crooks get away with this stuff!….Bullshit it’s not Criminal!….If you don’t think colusion and conspiracy to commit FRAUD aren’t crimminal….Then go back to sleep.
21 EdenSprings // Aug 16, 2009 at 12:05 am
chris thieneman: The lawsuit needs to be about more than just this Cordish issue. Jerry has used the County Atty’s office to jam up taxpayers into lawsuits being filed over the smoking ban, that asshole Meloche (who, BTW, has been illegally paid $100K/yr of our money in violation of Metro’s own policies & state law), the firefighter’s overtime, that BS idea about making the cops pay to take their cruisers home and on and on an on!
All that needs to be covered in a lawsuit. And THEN you’ll get Dateline in here to do a story! Ain’t no local media gonna risk saying S*#T against Jerry, even when they gotta mouthful. Now that he’s raised the stakes, its time we did, too. Let that bastard try and run for a state position when his own town is suing him!
Let’s see what Nancy Pelosi thinks of this Nazi idea…
22 Terry Sullivan // Aug 16, 2009 at 12:16 am
We’re the client. There should be no confidentiality clause.
23 fleur-de-gris // Aug 16, 2009 at 7:39 am
wow, name-calling starts fast.
i wouldn’t suggest blowing it off. local media is on the case, now, because too many questions have been asked and unsatisfactorily answered. the mayor’s office will have to figure out a way to make more information available because they know that the issue has been blown open.
my issue is with a lawsuit. freedom of info requests are one thing: there are channels already in place to make information available and it can be requested and gov’t must comply or you keep pushing. a lawsuit means attorneys getting paid the taxpayer $$$ you’re so worried about to dredge up all they can (on either side) and making it last as long as they can.
it doesn’t take a ‘bed-wetting liberal’ to be wary of getting trial lawyers involved in such a public tar-and-feathering.
i’d rather see our money go to something else, like libraries, parks, sidewalks, helping people with flood damage….
24 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Aug 16, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Believe me, there are plenty of progressives in Louisville who are hot, steaming MAD at Abramson over this matter.
If any official effort to sue metro government begins, I will be happy to use whatever channels I have, including my discussion board, to promote it.
The citizens of Louisville deserve to have a lot more answers.
25 chief // Aug 16, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Enough said then!…..Lets support the Lawsuit and put our money where our mouth is!…..who cares if it cost a bit to stop the madness!….It’ll be well spent if it stops such blantant corruption, and send a message that if you are an elected official, you better know who you work for!…Lets see some commitmits on $$$ to fund the action.
I’d say that everyone is PUSHING Fleur-de-gris, it won’t do any good till they have to produce the info by court order, It’s obvious they will cover it up or destroy what will bury them.They are doing it NOW. These guys are all in chaoots with each other . They are working for the Cordish Co. and what they reap from it!…..They demonstrate a compleate lack of respect to the Community which the serve to not answer these request in a definative acceptable manner. Enough is Enough! The problem continuse to exist and there is no real media to hold their feet to the fire.
Let the Mayor and his running mate deal with the BS when Jerry gets sued by on TAxpayers!….that will resonate as a great Vote of Confidence thru the State!
As for Tandy?….he must have hit his head on something thinking that he has any shot after throwing the taxpayers under the buss signing that document, & he’s an atty. for Gods sake. Surely he’s controlled by Jerry & Bruce….They obviously have an adgenda together. Sue the Crooks , all of them!
26 Jim // Aug 16, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Even better would be to start asking the FBI why they won’t conduct and investigation of the Louisville Metro Government especially people like Abramson and some of the others. They all need to be investigated because Jack “Tough Son of A Beech” Conway doesn’t have the morals and ethics to do the job he is supposed to do. Even Crit Luallen needs to get involved because there is more than meets the eye in this city. Too many people know where the bodies are buried.
27 Rod Tidwell // Aug 17, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Jerry, SHOW ME THE MONEY!
28 EdenSprings // Aug 19, 2009 at 10:11 am
Jim: Your wish is granted! Crit has already started her audit of Metro on a dept. by dept. basis. Results are due out in Feb/Mar of 2010. Just going out on a limb here, but I’m gonna guess that Mike Norman may be in some deep doodie along with his puppet master, the MFL.
29 EdenSprings // Aug 19, 2009 at 10:11 am
Jim: Your wish is granted! Crit has already started her audit of Metro on a dept. by dept. basis. Results are due out in Feb/Mar of 2010. Just going out on a limb here, but I’m gonna guess that Mike Norman may be in some deep doodie along with his puppet master, the MFL.
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