Yost Launches Investigation Into Columbus Zoo By Lydia Taylor Ohio
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COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio Attorney Dave Yost announced Thursday his office is investigating the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium after two executives allegedly used the zoo s assets for personal reasons.
According to an investigation by the Columbus Dispatch, former CEO Tom Stalf and former chief financial officer Greg Bell who both resigned Monday had allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo. They also gave tickets to their families for zoo events.
“Charity may begin at home for an individual, but it’s trouble when an executive for a charitable organization uses company resources for friends and family,” Yost wrote in a news release. “I’m troubled by both the allegations and the lack of transparency here, and this office will get to the bottom of it.”
COVID-19 Restrictions Add to Budget Secrecy PUBLISHED 5:15 AM ET Apr. 01, 2021 PUBLISHED 5:15 AM EDT Apr. 01, 2021
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Budget negotiations in Albany are always shrouded in secrecy.
The Senate majority leader and Assembly speaker would usually be meeting behind closed doors with the governor, only to pop out briefly to conference with members on new developments.
This process coined the term “three men in a room” and until Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins became the first woman to lead the State Senate, this was mostly true. It was behind these closed doors that three of the the most powerful leaders in the state would meet to hash out spending and policy details that would steer New York’s future.
By John Camera Middletown
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“It’s quite clear that Governor Cuomo enacted this legislation to shut us up and get us off the streets without intending to have a true and honest dialogue,” said Luisa Fuentes, a local attorney.
She, along with fellow attorney Michael Sussman, authored a letter to Cuomo. They, along with 311 others who signed it, are calling for the April 1 deadline for Executive Order 203 to be extended.
“I wrote this letter with Luisa Fuentes because many of us around the region felt that communities were not doing justice to the intent of this, nor to it’s spirit, and that in fact, in the end, this would boomerang and create more anger, Sussman said.