At the Sacramento Boys and Girls Club today, I had the chance to set the record straight on the politically-motivated allegations made by the Inspector General of the Corporation for National Service, and made it clear I will fight them tooth and nail. Please take a minute to read my prepared remarks at the end of this message.
In addition, here’s what Sacramento City Attorney Eileen Teichert told the Sacramento Bee today: "’We do not see anything that would preclude (the city) from having the ability to receive federal funds’ with Johnson as mayor.”
I began my campaign to become Mayor because I believe in the people of Sacramento and the greatest of our city.
From the calls coming into our headquarters today, there’s little doubt that they will see what these allegations for what they are: titillating but untrue.
I have vowed to run a positive campaign and stick to the issues. I will continue to do that, and I am thankful for your support.
Text of Prepared Remarks:
Let me make a few things clear from the start:
I have cooperated with the federal government on this review from day one.
I have said all along that there may have been administrative errors.
As a small nonprofit working with a federal bureaucracy for the first time, we may have not dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s – just like the hundreds of other nonprofits that have been investigated by the Inspector General of the Corporation for National Service.
That’s why I remain confident that the U.S. Attorney will decide not to proceed when it conducts a non-political review of the allegations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not have a website with “NEWSFLASH” across the top that’s more fitting for the National Enquirer website than that of a federal government agency.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office respects the law and only proceeds when it is purposely violated, not just to get headlines.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not have a political agenda, and has a policy, in fact, of not making announcements on the eve of an election.
So rest assured: I will fight this suspension tooth and nail.
Today I’ve instructed attorneys to formally fight these crazy, meritless allegations.
And I am optimistic about the outcome. Very optimistic.
Let me also say this: Despite some media reports and the opinions of some, I have been advised by experts in government contracting law that this will have no bearing on my role as Mayor.
None.
Under our system of city government, it’s the city manager, not the Mayor, that engages with the federal government on contracts.
So you can rest assured that I will shake every tree in Washington for federal grants to help our city, and this will have no impact whatsoever.
I am no longer the CEO of St. HOPE.
Nonetheless, let me make it clear that St. HOPE Academy does not currently rely on any federal funding for any of its programs and has not sought or applied for federal funding for any of its programs in 2008.
Whatever the conclusion of the federal inquiry is, it should not impact St. HOPE Academy programs nor its ability to fundraise.
St. HOPE Academy and St. HOPE Public Schools are two separate and distinct legal entities with different boards of directors and different employees, with minimal overlap. Any findings found against St. HOPE Academy will not affect St. HOPE Public Schools.
To clarify, Sacramento High School and PS7 Elementary School will be not affected by any finding made against St. HOPE Academy or any of its former representatives. Therefore, the schools' federal funding will continue as it always has.
St. HOPE Academy will continue to revitalize inner city neighborhoods and impact the lives of young people by promoting public education, economic development, leadership training and arts enrichment.
And you know, that’s the unfortunate thing here.
We’ve had several front page stories about allegations that have not been proven true – but none about the true stories about the lives of young people that have benefited from the AmeriCorps grants.
Young people like our St. HOPE graduate now at West Point, preparing to serve her nation.
And those at Stanford, UCLA, and UC Berkeley.
I came back to this city to do good, to give something back. That’s why I started St. HOPE. And that’s why I’m running for Mayor.