LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Wal-Mart sees run on video games and electronics the same day "back to school" welfare program starts. Coincidence? http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090814/NEWS01/908140341/Brooks+says+aid+program+flawed&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL A state program that put $200 cash into the hands of low-income parents of school-age children is opening the door for "rampant" fraud and should be suspended, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said Thursday. Advertisement The program has caused stores and ATMs to run out of cash and the county's Human Services Department to be overwhelmed with in-person client visits and calls to its phone system. Members of Gov. David Paterson's administration defended the program, saying tales of increased sales of video game equipment and televisions are just anecdotes. The program allows families who couldn't otherwise afford back-to-school supplies to equip their children for a new year. What's clear is that the actual amount of fraud will never be documented because state officials said there is no way for them to see how families are spending the $200-per-child benefit. The benefit was distributed on Tuesday to families who receive welfare benefits and food stamps, including working families who only receive a limited food stamp benefit. Families with children between the ages of 3 and 17 are eligible, though the children do not need to be enrolled in school. Wegmans and Tops report that ATMs in their stores ran out of cash on Tuesday, the day the money was deposited to food stamp accounts. The county reports that employees at the Wal-Mart store on Hudson Avenue called the Department of Human Services to say they thought welfare fraud was going on because there was a run on high-end electronics. The stores received no notice of the program and would have been prepared had they known, spokeswomen from Tops and Wegmans said. The ATMs first ran out in Syracuse, then the shortage spread to stores around the state, said Jo Natale, director of media relations at Wegmans. By then it was too late to get more cash to the machines, which are run by Wegmans, she said. Tops reported that people would go through the checkout to purchase a pack of gum in order to get cash back from their food stamp debit card and repeat the process, as only $40 is allowed at a time, said communications manager Katie McKenna. Registers ran out of money. (2 of 2) "It's definitely been a problem," she said. The county received about four working days notice. Had Monroe County been consulted, it would have recommended a voucher program for supplies, said Human Services Commissioner Kelly Reed. Advertisement Though all the grants may not be used for school supplies, getting cash into the hands of those who don't have it stimulates the economy faster because they spend the money sooner than wealthy people, said economist and social worker Irwin Garfinkel, a professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work. "In terms of the stimulus, you couldn't do better," Garfinkel said. The state said 68 percent of the cash went to families who receive food stamps but not other aid, indicating that someone in the home is working but doesn't earn enough to make ends meet. The program does not require a share from county property taxpayers or state income tax payers and is funded with $140 million in federal stimulus funds and a matching grant of $35 million from George Soros' Open Society Institute. The county reports that its phone system and waiting rooms have been pushed to capacity with people inquiring about the benefit and that someone in the waiting room at the social services office was charged with assault Thursday. "It's mayhem," Reed said. "We are without the means to support this." The state will not prosecute families for spending the money on items other than school supplies, said Kristin Proud, deputy director for state operations. "We have as many examples of people using the dollars for school clothes, school uniforms," Proud said. Brooks said children shouldn't be denied school supplies but said the program is flawed. "I don't think it's important what percentage of people are abusing the system," she said. "When you create a program that allows for abuse at any level ... taxpayer money is being wasted." "It's definitely been a problem," she said. The county received about four working days notice. Had Monroe County been consulted, it would have recommended a voucher program for supplies, said Human Services Commissioner Kelly Reed. Advertisement Though all the grants may not be used for school supplies, getting cash into the hands of those who don't have it stimulates the economy faster because they spend the money sooner than wealthy people, said economist and social worker Irwin Garfinkel, a professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work. "In terms of the stimulus, you couldn't do better," Garfinkel said. The state said 68 percent of the cash went to families who receive food stamps but not other aid, indicating that someone in the home is working but doesn't earn enough to make ends meet. The program does not require a share from county property taxpayers or state income tax payers and is funded with $140 million in federal stimulus funds and a matching grant of $35 million from George Soros' Open Society Institute. The county reports that its phone system and waiting rooms have been pushed to capacity with people inquiring about the benefit and that someone in the waiting room at the social services office was charged with assault Thursday. "It's mayhem," Reed said. "We are without the means to support this." The state will not prosecute families for spending the money on items other than school supplies, said Kristin Proud, deputy director for state operations. "We have as many examples of people using the dollars for school clothes, school uniforms," Proud said. Brooks said children shouldn't be denied school supplies but said the program is flawed. "I don't think it's important what percentage of people are abusing the system," she said. "When you create a program that allows for abuse at any level ... taxpayer money is being wasted." Guess what also came out today.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jugzer Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 1st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morton Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I got a wild idea, give the schools some school supplies. Every fucking year I have to buy all this shit for my kids class. Stuff that used to just be there like klenex and shit. Ends up costing over 50 bucks and usually I have to go to like 3 stores to just find all of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morton Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Oh, I think this is a poor thread title, trashy shit like this is not only for our black brothers and sisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 I agree. And I love black people. But black people also love some Madden. So to give out welfare the same weekend as a Madden release date is instalulz imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weapon X Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 when is nhl coming out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 Tuesday 15 September 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morton Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I do not know if it is related to the website or anything but when I clicked the link firefox crashed. I have never had this happen before, is my computer getting hi-jacked by some madden hungry welfare recipients? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weapon X Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Tuesday 15 September nice. i hear there is facewashing in it. kinda cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the graff giraffe Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 in other news: the crack market is up a hundred points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port-A-John Enthusiest Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 i hate all black people but trill, i find this article to be very credible. Black people shouldn't have children/ NoRacist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityonSMASH... Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Decent sentiment but wrong execution. You don't just "give" people in the hood cash. You set up vouchers to be used accordingly. Its not so much that there just supid and want video games over socks its the fact when you grow up like that, for the most part. Your comfortable like that, so anything else is bonus. Obviously its nice to have new socks, tees and whatnot. But if your used to living in a certain way, yer good. And also, poverty aint a black thing. Its a situational thing. Obviously in the states the majority of poverty is painted with a black face, but that's not the reason. The reason is the situation they were brought that snowballed into generations of subsequential failure. I'm from one of the shadiest areas of canada. Where blacks make up a demographic of probably less than 5%. And before you pass of the fact its "just" canada, give your head a shake. And no, I'm not gonna kindle another one of these stupid debates nor am I gonna drop the name of said city. Just remember, poverty is SITUATIONAL not racial. It just so happens that your country was built on opression to a certain minority. What the fuck you think was gonna happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocfxKboKXzU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Harris Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 i hate all black people but trill, i find this article to be very credible. Black people shouldn't have children/ NoRacist. Aren't you mexican? On here you laugh like bajajaja 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritably Clean Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*PROTOCOL* Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I agree. And I love black people. But black people also love some Madden. So to give out welfare the same weekend as a Madden release date is instalulz imo. HAHA, I was gonna say, I bet they ran outta madden. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the radiologist Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 i hate all black people but Bill Cosby, i find this article to be very credible. Black people shouldn't have children/ NoRacist. Fixed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*PROTOCOL* Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Yo thats why I couldn't find any colt 45 at the liq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoHuxtable.. Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 What I learned from the thread: White Americans hate American football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SystemFailure Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 LEMME AX YOU SUMFIN...WHAT'S YO POINT? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoHuxtable.. Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLU Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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