Non Profit Follow Up
There are more articles in the Miami Herald today about the unfolding of the internet cafe scandal. I think the many headed monster this has become could be the poster child for things that have really run amuck.
1) Jennifer Carroll, former Florida Lt. Governor said she was duped by the scandalous behavior of Veterans of the World. You would think a Navy veteran might have checked out the charity more closely before advocating for an industry that really was operating in a grey area. She did paid PR work for the charity and tried to get legislation passed while a legislator that would legalize the Internet cafes.
2) The "charitable" part of Veterans of the World was a fraud. Less than 2% of profits were donated to needy vets, unless you consider Jennifer Carroll a needy vet. Financial disclosure forms she completed were probably not checked until this story broke. She had a conflict of interest but it was ignored. This is not a first, but what motivated her was probably in the public interest.
3) The issue might really could have escaped public notice because of campaign contributions to many in the Florida Legislature. Almost $1.4 was donate to Republicans and Democrats. Unfortunately a Dog Track owner kept complaining about unfair competition from these Internet cafes. Crocodile tears because he would have loved to have the machines installed at his venues but this is not allowed in Jacksonville because the voters never approved it and he was trying to skirt the issue administratively or get the competition put out of business.
This story will continue as it includes the most slimy nature of things.
1) Jennifer Carroll, former Florida Lt. Governor said she was duped by the scandalous behavior of Veterans of the World. You would think a Navy veteran might have checked out the charity more closely before advocating for an industry that really was operating in a grey area. She did paid PR work for the charity and tried to get legislation passed while a legislator that would legalize the Internet cafes.
2) The "charitable" part of Veterans of the World was a fraud. Less than 2% of profits were donated to needy vets, unless you consider Jennifer Carroll a needy vet. Financial disclosure forms she completed were probably not checked until this story broke. She had a conflict of interest but it was ignored. This is not a first, but what motivated her was probably in the public interest.
3) The issue might really could have escaped public notice because of campaign contributions to many in the Florida Legislature. Almost $1.4 was donate to Republicans and Democrats. Unfortunately a Dog Track owner kept complaining about unfair competition from these Internet cafes. Crocodile tears because he would have loved to have the machines installed at his venues but this is not allowed in Jacksonville because the voters never approved it and he was trying to skirt the issue administratively or get the competition put out of business.
This story will continue as it includes the most slimy nature of things.
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