Tensions rise as Seattle City Hall seeks alternatives to police
With $30M at stake, the mayor and the city council struggle to see eye to eye on where public safety dollars should go.
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Updated 7:20 a.m., May 10, 2021
Protesters face off with Seattle police in Seattle s Capitol Hill neighborhood, July 25, 2020. (Matt M. McKnight/Crosscut)
The path toward overhauling policing and public safety in Seattle is moving more slowly than some had hoped, in part because of a continuing lack of trust between the mayor and some members of the city council.
Councilmember Tammy Morales, whose committee is tasked with freeing up $30 million for community members to steer toward police alternatives, said she is “extraordinarily frustrated” by what she views as an executive unwilling to take the demands of communities of color seriously.
   The Rio Grande SUN reported on the much-improved audit of the Espanola School District for Fiscal Year 2020 (âDistrict Much Improved,â April 23, page A1).
   Though I was unavailable for comment on the Espanola School Districtâs audit by the press deadline, I felt it important to express my sentiments regarding this topic and specifically to commend the District for its effort and dedication in resolving a number of concerning issues.
   The Office of the State Auditor is intentional about pushing for strong accountability and transparency while also taking opportunities to celebrate excellence in government. I am pleased to see, and recognize, the Districtâs responsiveness, commitment to financial accountability, and proper prioritization of financial remedies.
Hospital’s audit raises accountability questions Written by Geoffrey Plant on May 4, 2021
The results of a fiscal audit requested by the Gila Regional Medical Center Governing Board shortly after it took over governance of the county-owned hospital around this time last year surfaced at the group’s regular meeting last Thursday.
The document, prepared by Dingus, Zarecor and Associates Certified Public Accountants in February, raises accountability questions with regard to the financial straits the nonprofit hospital finds itself in, and documents several systemic management and oversight issues that contributed to the situation.
The Governing Board voted unanimously Thursday to accept and approve the audit. Governing Board Chair Alicia Edwards told the Daily Press that “this was the first step in the accountability exploration but we don’t know yet how it will work.”
About the Bureau of Special Investigations
Operating as a division within the Office of the State Auditor, the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) is charged with investigating allegations of public assistance fraud throughout the Commonwealth. The work of BSI fraud examiners ensures taxpayer dollars used to fund Massachusetts’ public benefits programs are managed effectively so that programs are available to residents who truly need them.
Under state law, BSI’s investigative authority extends to any assistance program administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Division of Medical Assistance, which administers MassHealth (the state’s Medicaid program). Although the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is not included in the BSI statute, BSI also works with EEC through a Memorandum of Understanding. As a result of BSI’s investigations, public assistance fraud cases are referred to agen
John Browne
ADRIAN O HANLON III | Staff photoÂ
The State Auditor and Inspector s Office released a petition Thursday requested by a Lindsay man seeking a special audit of the city of McAlester.
Joel Skip Mitchell requested the petition asking the State Auditor and Inspector s Office to conduct a special audit of the city in several areas, ranging from finances to records compliance.
Trey Davis, spokesman for State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd s Office, said the Auditor s Office provided the petition Thursday.
Petition supporter have 30 days to collect a minimum of 958 valid signatures of registered voters living within the McAlester city limits.