COVID slush fund
/
A paragraph in an otherwise ho-hum article on a defalcating small town sports team treasurer — happens all the time — caught my eye: the money stolen came from a $200,000 grant from the state, and I wondered where the state got the money. Duh. It was leftover COVID relief program money, cash that the geniuses in Hartford, having run out of ideas on what to spend their federal windfall on, other than saving it, and what fun is that?, just tossed it out to any of their pals who asked for it.
Naugatuck Little League treasurer stole $165K for gambling on FanDuel before his death
NAUGATUCK — The treasurer of a local Little League embezzled more than $100,000 [$165,000 total] from the organization's bank account for gambling prior to his death in May, police say.
An investigation into transactions in Union City Little League's bank accounts found that Kenneth Grohs, who had sole access to the funds, withdrew $115,000 for bets on FanDuel and about $50,000 more in cash between 2023 and his death, according to a report from the Naugatuck Police Department obtained by CT Insider.
….
Here’s what grabbed my attention:
“Police said funds in the league's account included a $200,000 grant it received from the state of Connecticut on Oct. 31, 2024.”
As it turns out, tiny Naugatuck has two little league organizations, so they each got $200,000. Multiply Naugatuck by 100,000 other small towns across america and you get a better sense of the recklessness and folly of our politicians’ — from both parties — response t and participation in the Panicdemic fraud.
But wait, there’s more!
First, here’s Naugatuck’s representative crowing about grabbing a $500,000 share of that unspent money sitting idle in the state’s coffers:
State Senator Jorge Cabrera announced this week the state will provide three Naugatuck groups with $500,000.
NAUGATUCK, CT — State Senator Jorge Cabrera announced this week the state will provide three Naugatuck groups with $500,000.
In a news release provided Tuesday by the state senator, Cabrera (D-Hamden) also announced a Beacon Falls group will receive $100,000 and a Hamden group will receive $75,000 "after Democrats negotiated, wrote, and voted to use one-time, unexpended American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for Connecticut that President [Joe] Biden and congressional Democrats approved back in 2021."
Under the terms of the bill approved Tuesday by Democrats, according to Cabrera:
The Peter J. Foley Little League of Naugatuck, founded 75 years ago, will receive $200,000 in ARPA funds
The Union City Little League of Naugatuck, which offers instructional leagues for girls and boys to learn softball and baseball beginning with T-Ball leagues and progressing through major divisions, will receive $200,000 in ARPA funds
The United Way of Naugatuck will receive $100,000 in ARPA funds
The United Way of Beacon Falls will receive $100,000 in ARPA funds
Fixing Fathers One Day at a Time of Hamden, an organization that helps fathers strengthen their bond with their children and their families while educating fathers on the importance of their role as fathers, will receive $75,000 in ARPA funds.
According to Cabrera, House Bill 5523, "AN ACT CONCERNING ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT, HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION AND THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2025," passed the house and senate on mostly partisan lines and now heads to Governor Ned Lamont for his signature into law.
"I'm pleased to be able to bring some mid-year funds to some very deserving local groups who do so much good for our community," Cabrera said in a news release. "This is a one-shot infusion of capital that I'm sure will be put to good use."
And now that that money’s been thrown away and the candy store’s door locked, guess who’s wailing about the inhumanity of cutting $511,000 from Naugatuck’s school budget?
HARTFORD – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today applauded Attorney General William Tong for joining in a 25-state lawsuit against the Trump Administration for illegally cutting billions in American education aid – including cutting more than $50 million in Connecticut.
“The seven towns in my district are losing a combined $1.5 million. It’s mind-boggling,” Sen. Cabrera said. “We just went through a spring budget cycle of putting town and school budgets together, holding public hearings, and having folks vote on town budgets. We all did our part. To have one man come in at the last minute and cut before- and after- school programs, adult education, and other necessary programs is crazy. Now we’re looking at mid-year budget cuts or local tax hikes because of Donald Trump. I want to thank Attorney General Tong for this courage in taking on this flawed Republican government, and I wish him the best of luck.”
The Republican education cuts in Sen. Cabrera’s 17th Senate District include:
Naugatuck: -$511,351