Detroit health department chief fired in corruption probe

[Zacha341]

Interesting details. When Detroit goes under an EFM [[which seems to be where we're quickly headed) much of this is going to be sorted thru: the bosses and the subordinates et al. The city's largest union is going to be forced to submit to some of the same applied to the DPS union: more layoffs, pay cuts, severe contract revisions or worse...

Perhaps even the joyful check for 'ghost employees' and the discovery of fraudulent paper trails [[most which are probably poorly disguised - due to the long-held systemic 'nonchalant' approach to fraud).

As this has been going on so long: fraud related to payrolls, doctored time sheets etc, 'friends and family' hook-ups etc., it will require only minimal investigation to uncover.

And it's tough to try to damage-control broad-spectrum fraud once investigations start. The parties would have to try to recall/ unravel a matrix of stealing...

Those who've looked the other way may have to account for a great deal too. It's not going to be pretty.

Yes, there's always been corruption, but there have been leaders who make it a priority to root it out. When you have someone that has a proactive strategy which includes a strong human resources department, you may not eliminate it, but you can definitely keep it in check. That's what Bing is not doing. He has never taken control of the City as the Mayor should, and most of the corruption is not coming from appointees he has fired. It's coming from union/contract employees who were there before Bing came in and will be there when he's gone unless he does something about labor contracts. These people think they are invincible and that's why they behave so recklessly [[aside from the fact they they also have character flaws). The crazy thing is that Bing has fired a LOT of good people and he has kept some very questionable characters who only worry about saving their own hides. They could care less about the citizens of Detroit.

Case in Point: Yvonne Anthony should have been fired in March of 2010 when she ignored the Chief Medical Director, CDC, and State regarding the treatment of children with lead poisoning, but Bing wouldn't listen to anyone and she was allowed to keep doing her thing. He fired the people that were warning him, and he kept her! Why hasn't anyone thought to ask who was responsible for authorizing her daughter's time sheets every week? Yvonne Anthony got her daughter hired, but her daughter didn't report directly to her. Whoever was the daughter's manager has to sign time sheets that are submitted weekly [[or at least every two weeks) by every employee. So the big question is who was forging time sheets for the ghost daughter/employee and who was signing off on them? At minimum two or three other people had a direct hand in pulling this off. The media ought to be knocking on the doors of Bill Ridella & Audrey Smith. If they did not know, they should be fired for habitual negligence. If they did know, they should be fired for conspiracy to commit fraud. Yvonne Anthony was NOT alone on this...

[Zacha341]

I am not advocating any 'window tossing' but it is not unheard of for people to be walked off of an job site with or without security when dismissed or when they resign. And for far less. Not nice, but it happens, especially when finances are involved. It's not pretty, but neither is broad-spectrum fraud.

Where is the outrage re. the all of the cumulative, systemic fraud and misappropriation of city services and resources that has BROUGHT us to the place of a possible EFM and further cuts in police and fire and other basic services? All of which are reducing the quality of life for the same folks outraged by the woman's dismissal. What's up with that??

What about when you need an EMS? Broken down trucks. While we look the other way while employees steal for their own personal gain. Yeah, where's that outrage!???

Does anyone know why Mildred Gaddis and her guests were so upset the other day that this woman was walked out of her office? I only tuned in for a minute but I heard callers complaining that that was disrespectful and he should have just accepted her resignation and let her leave with dignity - and Mildred was agreeing with them. I was really appalled at their position, and the more I read about this Anthony woman's story, the more I think Bing should have had her tossed out the window instead of walked out the front door!

[Corn.Bot]

^^ "Disrespectful?" "Undignified?" to be escorted out in disgrace? Excuse me? One must own the qualities of respect and dignity in order to have them reflected back.

I swear, so many people in power in Detroit are like 4-year-olds who cover their eyes and proclaim "you can't see me" and are genuinely bewildered when caught in blatant wrongdoing.

[Redleg81]

Corruption is everywhere-- A friend of mine years ago building a home in rural Lenewee, ran into an inspector with ties to several local contractors-- Use someone else: Fail your inspections. Hire the "right" guys, no problems even though their redo work [[for my friend) was more sloppy, shoddier.

But Detroit? It truly seems a culture of blatant corruption from department to department, if one merely goes by the news stories, seemingly week to week. A big wide sweeping broom is needed, and someone with the cajones to use it...

[mam2009]

I was gonna ask if anybody knew why she was even fired in the first place? What did she allegedly do? I'll take a look at the link posted by LeadCzar, but I doubt any lead policy related decisions would lead to allegations of misappropriation of funds or fraud. Did he talk to her first? It doesnt sound like it from the way its been reported thus far.

[Roq]

I am not advocating any 'window tossing' but it is not unheard of for people to be walked off of an job site with or without security when dismissed or when they resign.

Seriously, do these people not know that this fairly standard operating procedure when someone is dismissed? In my company, we do it because we don't want to give an upset/disgruntled employee any opportunity to damage the company network in retaliation for the firing.

[LeadCzar]

....the crazy thing is that Bing has fired a LOT of good people and he has kept some very questionable characters who only worry about saving their own hides. They could care less about the citizens of Detroit.

Case in Point: Yvonne Anthony should have been fired in March of 2010 when she ignored the Chief Medical Director, CDC, and State regarding the treatment of children with lead poisoning, but Bing wouldn't listen to anyone and she was allowed to keep doing her thing. He fired the people that were warning him, and he kept her! Why hasn't anyone thought to ask who was responsible for authorizing her daughter's time sheets every week? Yvonne Anthony got her daughter hired, but her daughter didn't report directly to her. Whoever was the daughter's manager has to sign time sheets that are submitted weekly [[or at least every two weeks) by every employee. So the big question is who was forging time sheets for the ghost daughter/employee and who was signing off on them? At minimum two or three other people had a direct hand in pulling this off. The media ought to be knocking on the doors of Bill Ridella & Audrey Smith. If they did not know, they should be fired for habitual negligence. If they did know, they should be fired for conspiracy to commit fraud. Yvonne Anthony was NOT alone on this.

The Detroit News picks up the story today with the Mayor's announcement of the firing of Audrey Smith [[I told you this would happen eventually). Bill Ridella was also released quietly in recent weeks. Next question: "What did Kirk Lewis know and when did he know it?"

[agirlintheD]

How do ANY of these people sleep at night?

[Detroitej72]

How do ANY of these people sleep at night?

Unfortunately most of these kind of people have a sense of entitlement and think its their right to get these perks.