I’ve made no secret of my opinion that Mike Barbieri was one of the most effective legislators in Dover during his time there. A serious legislator with the willingness to build coalitions to pass progressive legislation that helps some of our most vulnerable citizens.
Having said that, the relationships between Barbieri, his company (Crossroads of Delaware), the state, and his recent hiring by the state raise all sorts of questions that require answers.
During Barbieri’s time in the General Assembly, he also was the Chief Executive Officer for Crossroads of Delaware, a youth treatment center in Wilmington. He served as Chair of the House Health & Human Development Committee, which considers matters that would likely be germane to the services offered by Crossroads. In this July 13 News-Journal article, Barbieri announces that he’s leaving the House of Representatives to take a job as the Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services. DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf makes that hiring decision. In the article, Barbieri states that he will relinquish ownership of Crossroads to avoid any ‘perceived conflict of interest’. His new salary?: $144,213.
To be fair, I had no problem with this, as I viewed Barbieri as very well-qualified for this position. It’s his profession, plus he pushed through some forward-thinking legislation in this policy area. We’re not talking Tiny Tony DeLuca here.
However, subsequent events raise questions about Crossroads’ operations and Barbieri’s dubious ethical involvement at the state level.
First, a rape allegation against a Crossroads counselor.
…Crowley had been in negotiations to purchase the business from Barbieri, but has delayed settlement amid worries that her daughter’s arrest will jeopardize Crossroads’ lucrative state contract, she said. Crossroads’ contract was worth about $1.07 million last year, according to public records.
In an interview, she said Delaware officials were attempting to smear Crossroads’ reputation by stopping referrals amid longstanding disagreements between Crossroads and officials at the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families over how to treat adolescent patients.
Uh, maybe it’s just me, but it seems like these wounds have been self-inflicted. My advice to Alberta Crowley: “Stop digging.”
Finally, here’s the kicker. Despite Crossroads performing in general at a lower level than other state contractors:
“… Barbieri, an influential lawmaker who chaired the Health Committee of the Delaware House of Representatives while working as a state contractor, increased Crossroads’ state business 57 percent from 2011 to 2015 – from about $680,000 to $1.07 million this year.
At least one other service provider with a higher rating saw its state contracts reduced during the same period, according to the Jonathan Starkey News-Journal article. Which is why I have real problems with this quote from Barbieri:
“Our market drove our revenue, not the state,” Barbieri said. “I don’t think they have given me anything, to tell the truth. I think we have had to argue, fight and push to get what we get. That’s not wrong. If we agree all the time, I think something’s not right. I hope our providers in the adult system fight with me.”
Pardon my skepticism, but to think that Barbieri had no involvement whatsoever in Crossroads’ battle for more state funds doesn’t pass the smell test. And, Barbieri was ethically-bound to remove himself completely from this due to the clear conflict-of-interest between a legislator and business owner who gets contracts from the state. As to his statement that Crossroads has had to fight the state for everything it gets, well, show me a contractor who doesn’t complain that the state is giving them short shrift.
I also (stop the presses) agree with some Republican legislators here:
Last Tuesday, six Republicans who served under Barbieri on the House Health Committee sent a letter to Gov. Jack Markell, saying they did not know he had a health-related contracting business with the state, and the Republicans questioned that arrangement.
No, Barbieri isn’t the only legislator who has curried contracts from the state for their business while serving in the General Assembly. Former State Rep. Roger Roy, for example, got even wealthier by garnering funding for his so-called Transportation Management Association through the Bond Bill. A blatant conflict-of-interest. Del-Tech always has a legislator/Del Tech employee or two on the Joint Finance Committee. Trust me, I can go on. Which only reinforces the point: It is unethical in each of those circumstances, and many others like them.
I think that this situation clearly calls into question whether Barbieri should continue to serve in his new capacity. What once appeared to be an inspired choice now looks to me like a greasing of the skids for a legislator who played ball with his new employer while in the General Assembly. Which makes him no different than Tiny Tony.