Molly Janczyk comments on today's events

From Molly Janczyk, September 19,2006

Mr. Freel, Ms. Baker, CORE Attendees, Thank you for reporting this day's events. We are so grateful for your attendance.

Mr. Freel and Ms. Baker, You are responsible for letting this state know that it doesn't matter the amount of misuse. It does not matter the level of breaking laws. When lines blur, err on the side of following the laws and ethics pledged on behalf of membership. Some felt little bits here and there were ok as they worked hard and deserved perks. Some felt that small indiscretions were didn't hurt anyone as Judith Fisher said to Lazares about working with vendors with ethics charges.

Thank you,

Molly Janczyk

PAGE DOWN FOR THE COURT PROCEEDINGS BY M.E. ANGELETTI TODAY:

Lazares summed it up well: "It's the law, Judith and if you don't understand that, I don't have anything else to say." Leone stands as a beacon for his research on misuse of our funds. They both provide ongoing oversight at times, it seems, the only oversight refusing to rubber stamp approvals so rampant in the past.

Why? As they both say undyingly. 'What do we tell the needy retirees who cannot pay for their RX's if we approve this amount. Let's try harder' on issues such as the Headhunters and approving paying staff legal fees and votes which approved unknown expenses because documents were not viewed by Board Members.

Keeping the Board truly informed and as partners along the way regarding Headhunter fee is an example. How hard did STRS try? If indeed, they exhausted all avenues and if indeed the top were not to be found though seems research would let us know who they are but anyway, if the Board truly decided that spending $315,000 to gain staff earning multimillions or so with numbers crunched in full view, then an informed decision could be made. I'm all for earning multimillions and understand how it helps retirees IF the Board is convinced it IS the only way. The lack of exchange and depth of attempts is an issue pitifully overlooked and the Board should not just take Damon's word for it.