ACORN halts all advising of housing seekers

[Little-Acorn]

ACORN appears to have noticed something at last: The sound of the Federal gravy train screeching to a halt.

Suppose a bank robber was videotaped robbing banks in Baltimore, Washington DC, and San Bernardino. If the videotapes were made public, and the robber announced he would no longer rob banks in those three cities, should the government let him go, and announce it was letting bygones be bygones?

And, would seven United States Senators vote to provide him millions in Federal funds?

--------------------------------------

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22584&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12387&cHash=913db2b19b

ACORN Announces Major Steps to Address Issues Raised by Videos
September 16, 2009

In response to recently released videos of frontline ACORN staff, ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis made the following announcement Wednesday morning:

"As a result of the indefensible action of a handful of our employees, I am, in consultation with ACORN's Executive Committee1, immediately ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN's service programs until completion of an independent review.

"I have also communicated with ACORN's independent Advisory Council, and they will assist ACORN in naming an independent auditor and investigator to conduct a thorough review of all of the organizations relevant systems and processes. That reviewer, to be named within 48 hours, will make recommendations directly to me and to the full ACORN Board. We enter this process with a commitment that all recommendations will be implemented."

Ms. Lewis is specifically ordering the following steps be taken effective noon eastern on September 16, 2009:

No new intakes will be accepted into ACORN's offices for service programs, effective immediately;
An immediate in-service training for all frontline staff has been ordered within 48 hours;
ACORN's independent Advisory Council will help select an independent auditor/reviewer no later than September 18th to review all of the systems and processes called into question by the videos.

In early 2009, ACORN set up an independent Advisory Council to help facilitate a transition to a new management team under the leadership of CEO Bertha Lewis. Lewis was appointed to the job in the fall of 2008 after disclosure of a set of improper management decisions by the founder of the organization, who had led ACORN for 38 years. ACORN's Advisory Council includes:

John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Board Member, RFK Foundation, former MD Lt. Governor
Andrew Stern, International President, Service Employees International Union
Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, Cityview
John Banks, Vice President of Government Relations Con Ed
Eric Eve, Senior VP of Global Consumer Group, Community Relations, Citigroup
Harvey Hirschfeld, President, Lawcash
Dave Beckwith, Executive Director, Needmor Fund

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Advisory Council said: "ACORN has a long history of serving those who most need help, and giving voice to those who have been left behind. We will take the necessary steps to ensure that ACORN functions with the highest levels of ethical standards and competence."

[emmett]

Ah......they were going to make these changes anyway.....LOL

Caught is caught.

[Kathianne]

And planning name changes:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/ACORN-drops-tarnished-name-and-moves-to-silence-critics-48730537.html

Note the date:


ACORN drops tarnished name and moves to silence critics

By: Kevin Mooney
Commentary Staff Writer
06/21/09 5:07 PM EDT

Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) leaders are using the threat of a law suit to silence and intimidate critics, according to current and former members of the liberal activist group.

In a letter dated June 11 an attorney for ACORN advised top whistleblowers that their unauthorized use of the organization’s name could make them liable for monetary damages and injunctive relief.

ACORN executives have also changed their organization’s name, which was tarnished by investigations in at least 14 states of allegations of voter registration fraud during the 2008 presidential campaign, and charges by current and former members of financial mismanagement and misrepresentation.

The new name will let ACORN leaders continue their operations without worrying about prior bad publicity, according to Marcel Reid of ACORN 8, a group of present and former members.

“We’ve known for many months now that the name ACORN is going to be retired,” Reid said. “The name has been so damaged to the point where the leadership knows it simply can’t go on as it has with the ACORN label out front and center, especially after all of the reporting.”

In fact, the process has already begun, she noted. Wade Rathke, who founded the organization, announced on his blog that ACORN International has officially changed its name to “Community Organizations International.”...