Things are moving too fast, and I can’t spend hours on this. The Dayton Daily news could- and claims they’ve been on this story since February- but, where is it?
For a recap, see the last post [1] (the one that got me in hot water by some folks).
If you’re wondering how I got this story, and scooped everyone, it’s because there’s only 1.2 degrees of separation in Dayton between people.
Montgomery County ADAMHS apparently called my client, Gem City Cleaning [2] to do the clean out of this facility, no-bid, for $60K. Kaye Taylor, the CEO, who’ve I known for years was flabbergasted at what they wanted thrown away. She supplied the photos (and I only posted some of them) of the brand new stuff that was supposed to go in the dumpster. Kaye, couldn’t understand how this was happening, how stuff that would be welcome by non-profits, homeless shelters etc was about to be thrown out. She called me. I wrote my piece, asking folks for some background info- and not naming my sources. I had a few screw ups- that I fixed. The quote and focus on Shannon Isom may have been misguided- as the story developed. The high ranking county official who said she should be in prison, may or may not know more than I know. I shouldn’t have published it without a name. The real focus should have been on MCADAMHS and their leader, Helen Jones Kelley. And again, I’ve not had the time to tackle that angle fully.
Today, David Holbrook came out and instructed the people cleaning out all the brand new things that the Y bought with tax dollars- and abandoned, to stop. The building was going to be torn down. That demolition will start on Friday. Later on, he claimed that Huber Heights was taking the property.
The people I talked to in Huber Heights who should know about this, knew nothing. People who WOULD HAVE TO KNOW about this.
Who is David Holbrook? Well, he’s the Director of Administrative Services for MCADAMHS.
The property was deeded to MCADAMHS back on 27 June 20219, it’s appraised value is $5.5M and no one knows who’s going to take it over.
At one point, a non-profit called Caterpillars to Butterflies [3] which provides daycare for kids on the spectrum was interested, but was said to back out, because they can’t afford the upkeep (sound familiar?).
The City of Huber Heights has an interest in turning the site into a small business incubator/chamber of commerce site, but hasn’t moved forward yet. (remember, the YWCA just went poof in mid-July.
Attempts to reach the CFO of the YWCA today were unsuccessful. You’d think if nothing else, they’d be interested in trying to either sell or at least donate their tax donation bought property? But, no. Don’t respond.
This has been a recurring theme in Dayton. Public real estate sold for next to nothing, without a public auction- or a public request for proposals. Look no further than the deal CareSource got on the prime real estate that formerly belonged to Dayton Public Schools where the Patterson Career Tech School was [4]. I called it “Dirty Deals Done Dirt Cheap.”
Today in the Dayton Daily news there was an article about Bruce Feldman selling a smaller collection of parcels at 635 N. Main to a charter school, On Purpose Academy and Mentoring Center. One that wasn’t a clean green field prime for construction. He got 1.2 M, Caresource only paid $1M for the Patterson site. But, wait, how does this charter have that kind of start up cash? They got the money the same way the YWCA did- through a PDAC from the Dayton Development Coalition [5]. So- your tax dollars at work again.
In case you don’t know who Bruce Feldman is, he’s the wife of Debby Feldman who used to be the Montgomery County Administrator, and now runs Children’s Medical Center. When she was working for the County, her husband, father in law, Sandy Mendelson, Jason Liff, Alan Rinzler and maybe one other extorted the taxpayers for over $8M to buy the old Sears property to put the Riverscape fountains on a tiny corner of it. They’d invested $250K, and had a $1.5K note coming due. [6] Bruce also got some nice tax breaks for moving his primary business, Economy Linen over to Germantown street into a brand new facility- leaving his old building (ripe for development by Sinclair College). Oh, and did I mention he’s the head of Sinclair’s Board of Trustees?
“Economic Development” in Dayton is code for what can we tear down today, to put money in the pockets of demolition companies, landfill operators and construction companies that seem to own our political class. This is yet another example.
I’m waiting for more calls and info, but, right now, someone should have Helen Jones-Kelley on a hot seat, and asking what the hell she thinks she’s doing? The real estate is not hers to dispose of. She wasn’t elected to any position. The real estate should either revert to the County or the State. Not her quasi-governmental slush fund.
And just today, the State is handing Helen and her posse another $2M according to the Dayton Daily:
A $2 million federal grant was given to Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) to launch an assisted outpatient treatment program.
The purpose of this program is to support adults with serious mental illness who meet state-specific criteria or involuntary outpatient commitment, according to ADAMHS.
So, when this goes bad, is someone going to come back for the money? Where’s the accountability. And, who is granting a permit to demolish a piece of property that was owned by the people? Inquiring minds want to know.
Sorry, no song for this post either. I’m working on a post that’s a big story and has a long history on this blog. Hopefully soon.
UPDATE
30 minutes later. MCADAMHS claims to have signed the property over to HH today, demolition starts Friday, and they canceled security for the facility. There’s also brand new playground equipment out there.
How this happens without members of the City Council knowing about it is a mystery.
Who awarded a demolition contract already? And to whom? Who will intervene?
The YW not only had capital funds for the campus that they did not spend, but operational funds to support the campus – that they denied. Terra Williams took a functioning campus with services and offices, and abandoned an unsecured campus to ADAMHS.
It’s a shame to point hthe finger at Helen Jones-Kelley for the closing of the Huber Heights property. She inherited a mess from the YW. She closed, secured, and cleaned the property in less than 2.5 months. Imagine the tax dollars wasted if that had stayed on the county’s paycheck longer.
What a mess!
Look at the staff. There’s your answer to why it’s a mess. Isn’t diversity a wonderful thing?
It’s easy to get behind the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The same for ADAMHS. Montgomery County ADAMHS supports accessible, equitable behavioral health care and supportive resources for people in need to elevate individual and community well-being.
Journalism on David’s blog and in the local community newspaper are all on it and will reveal what is going on in short order. The more coverage and eyes on taxpayer dollars the better. I sure hope no personal, medical, academic, or other protected records stored on site have been left behind and unsecured!
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/future-life-of-abandoned-former-ywca-huber-heights-campus-unclear/X6J25NSAENENZL7MH5C43BA274/
A diverse community enriches all, doesn’t it, Bill? Kudos to you for having an AAPI wife and educating your child in a private international school – that’s the spirit! I’m California dreamin….gangnam style. ;-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU6uUEwZ8FM
DEI Hires ?
Let’s make sure that accurate information is well defined before writing. Journalists are trained to check facts to avoid creating explosive headlines that are followed by gossip filled copy.
And, to Bill and Tim Hart – how did DEI get involved in the stories? I didn’t realize or recognize David or his reporter mentioning anything about that. Perhaps I overlooked it.
Marsha, Bill and Tim like to pop in and sprinkle right-wing crap posts purely to agitate. DEI was not mentioned in any of the stories I saw on this topic.
I agree all journalism – frankly, the creation of any news content – should strive for accuracy. As you know, It is sometimes difficult to get it all on a developing story.
Fortunately, digital updates can be much quicker than print corrections, which are often days old. Unfortunately, clickbait headlines attract eyeballs as attention spans get shorter and shorter.
Hello my name is Marcel Coaston and I live at the YWCA in downtown Dayton this building is under federal investigation for miss appropriate of stealing donations they let a crooked landlord from Columbus Ohio. Called Sawmill property management they are under federal investigation also for the same thing they won’t give us our mail there are 3 tubs of mail under the front desk right now!themailman had to ask for one and they had to empty one to give to him or herits bad here we have roach’s no maintenance the secure doors are wide open anybody can walk in and access the elevator to get upstairs to any body that there afteror want to harm. I have a lot to say it’s a lot more can someone please ??? HELP ??????