An STRS Panda Presentation Flashback - March 2021

From John Curry

April 27, 2021

STRS Ohio Earns Auditor of State’s Top Rating for Transparency in 2021!

The following paragraph was written in the April 16, 2021 STRS newsletter:

"In conjunction with Sunshine Week, Ohio Auditor Keith Faber shared the results of more than 2,800 reviews of Sunshine Law compliance. The auditor’s office launched its StaRS (Star Rating System) program in 2019 in an effort to promote government transparency. In the first year of the StaRS program, STRS Ohio received the Highest Achievement in Open and Transparent Government Award, the highest possible rating from the auditor’s office. This rating was awarded to only 14% of audited entities. STRS Ohio was recognized for “Best Practices” in six areas."

How could an Ohio Retirement System be awarded an "open and transparent government award" after concealing a $525 Million loss (Panda Power) for over three and a half years? How could a State Treasurer 1. not know about this and/or 2. still present the transparency award???

The guy on the left, with a smile on his face, looks like the Executive Director of STRS, Bill Neville. The guy on the right, you ask? Looks quite a bit like our State Auditor!

Secrecy is the linchpin of abuse of power, . . . its enabling force. Transparency is the only real antidote.

~ Glenn Greenwald