Won’t Someone Think of the Children?
Wilmington City Council has been a backwater of favoritism and incompetence for so long that most of us ignore it, so it was easy to think it would molder out of sight forever.
Apparently it won’t. Wilmington’s budget has been shrinking, making less money available for the minor, street-level, hire-my-relative corruption council specializes in. That has created a shark-tank effect in which the chiselers have to compete for dwindling resources, meaning some of the formerly camoflaged are flushed into the open.
Case in point: Theopalis K. Gregory. The erstwhile council president went before his former colleagues today and, as chronicled by News Journal reporter Christina Jedra, asked for $35,000 on top of the $40,000 he earmarked for himself before leaving office. And he did it with the lamest possible plea — it’s for the kids.
As you read the article, pay particular attention to the name Devon Hynson. He first contacted me on my radio show in 2010 to tell about a student who was apparently targeted by a gunman at a William Penn High School basketball game. The administration subsequently banned him from attending classes because, as a target, he posed a danger to everyone else on campus.
Devon was advocating for that child not for money but because the family had asked for his help. He advocated for many students in ensuing years, often calling the show to apply public pressure on foot-dragging administrators, long before Theo Gregory started funding his efforts through city council.
Yet today, when councilman Vash Turner said Hynson had a reputation as “the best” student advocate, Gregory responded, “I’m the best. Devon’s not the best.”
As best I can tell, he offered neither data nor anecdote to buttress that assertion.
Good work by Ms. Jedra and the News Journal in keeping the spotlight on this story.
Remember, the city even raised property taxes this past year…
Wilmington Council, Haniffa and Theo really making the city look corrupt. Its clear crony corruption!!
The thing that makes me shake my head is the sheer amateurishness of this alleged corruption. Does no one in those circles understand the concept of plausible deniability? The proper use of cutouts and middlemen? The meaning of the term “paper trail”? Come on. Wilmington deserves a higher level of chicanery!
Anyone on council who is either directly involved (Hanifa) or who has conveniently looked the other way (Bud Freel) should be given the boot. Theo should be in jail. Ridiculous.
SussexWatcher, LOL. thanks for that.
If Washington is The Swamp, City of Wilmington is a cesspool. Tiime to drain it.
Theo is like that great line from the National Security Advisor from Hunt for Red October-
when he’s not kissing babies, he’s stealing their lollipops!
Its all about the children…right Theo!!!!! LOL
Theo, Haniffa and Bud Freel have officially been exposed for the charlatans they all are. All sucking at the trough! And Theo has the nerve to go back for another grant. UNREAL!
Based on what Theo has said he has done ‘for the kids’ (where have i heard that before?) he has worked about 35 hours on their behalf. That sounds about right, he deserves $1000/hr
Bud Freel was by our place with who I assume we’re his grandkids last night. I didn’t have the heart to yell at him. Too much of a festive holiday atmosphere, distribution of candies, etc.
Also on the scale of corrupt scoundrels in the city he isn’t near the Theo/Potters end. He’s nearer the other.
@REV–
> on the scale of corrupt scoundrels in the city he isn’t near the Theo/Potters end. He’s nearer the other.
El Som recently made a comment that (basically) said some people get in to politics to accomplish something, and others do so to be somebody.
Bud is a shitheel who wanted to be somebody. He’s been feeding at Wilmington’s trough for decades. He’s never wanted to *accomplish* anything for the residents of Wilmington. He needs to be put out to pasture. Yesterday, if not sooner.
Re: BUD
Bud turns his head to all the corruption.. If you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Bud’s silence has shown hes part of the problem. Just because hes not actively corrupt at Velda or Haniffa doen’t mean he gets a pass. He endorsed both of those clowns, and wont call them out on anything,
He gave Velda a huge raise for her office budget and for the first time ever allowed her not to have a budget hearing (News journal reported)… that’s corruption and cronyism. Bud knows he is exposed and busted. You should call him out !!
Theo Gregory is a crook for taking taxpayer money after losing the mayoral race — he should lose his law license. Hanifa Shabazz is corrupt for helping Gregory steal this money. She should be impeached. Both Gregory and Shabazz have been sucking on the tit of the public taxpayer for way too long. They should get an honest job working at a McDonalds or a Burger King