Blog columnist Jonathan Pelto continues his series of enterprise pieces into the Bridgeport Board of Education, the latest centers on school board chief Ken Moales’ financial holdings Pelto claims are on the verge of collapse. Pelto also examines Moales’ operation of two daycare facilities receiving state assistance. Pelto’s piece follows:
… when it comes to Bridgeport politics, Moales is certainly recognized as an important political player.
What is less known is that his financial empire appears to be on the verge of collapse.
According to foreclosure documents filed with Connecticut’s Judicial Branch, less than 72 hours before Moales took the helm as the chairman of the Bridgeport Board of Education, his church was scheduled for Public Auction.
Just hours before the auction was to take place, a deal was reached pushing off the pending foreclosure until the fall, giving Moales a chance to start paying back millions in unpaid principal, interest and penalties that have accrued to the property.
The Church, located at 1231- 1243 Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport is just one of ten properties Moales lists as part of Prayer Tabernacle of Love, Inc. and the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit operation.
Read entire story here.
Not surprising. Is there anyone associated with Bridgeport politics who is not tainted in one way or another? Mr. Moales seems to have a ton of financial problems. I think he should get off the BOE and get his financial house in order. We do not need people with these problems making decisions for our kids nor do we need people with these problems telling us how to spend BOE money.
Mr. Moales gets away with his bullying because he can intimidate the weaker members on the BOE. Try that shit in a different area and see how far he will get.
He needs the state and local funds for the daycare center and other slush funds … catch up!
You couldn’t write better fiction if you tried. Is this the best Bridgeport has to offer to lead our school system? Is he really capable of making budget decisions?
Come on people, get a clue. We deserve better than this.
Here we go again. As people keep saying, “you just can’t make this shit up.”
Gasp! Will he stoop so low and enroll his children in the Bridgeport schools now that he can’t afford an expensive private school? Imagine, he doesn’t even send his kids to the schools he presides over. Time to pass the basket around a few more times.
“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.”
‘My other piece of advice, Copperfield,’ said Mr. Micawber, ‘you know. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery. The blossom is blighted, the leaf is withered, the god of day goes down upon the dreary scene, and–and in short you are for ever floored. As I am!’
As Charles Dickens wrote many years ago, the lack of revenues to cover current expenses or longer term obligations, can floor a person. It can focus one’s attention. What will you do about the problem? Who are your friends in times of trouble? Alternatively, as others have pointed out, it may be “family time” or “financial time” of things are spinning out of control.
Having looked at properties that are exempt from the Net Grand List (and that would include City, State and Federal, universities, hospitals and church properties) it would seem to me anyone getting “public funds,” provided by taxpayers, should have their financial affairs in impeccable order, not to say occasionally someone who has been delegated as responsible makes a human error or the US Postal Service seems to let us down.
And financial affairs include responsible borrowing for capital purchases that have a value exceeding the total debt; having a planned and balanced operating budget and living according to it; and keeping strict accountability when operating multiple entities or supporting multiple properties you operate in open, accountable and transparent process (if not for the public) for the benefit of those who are financing you and expect repayment of their loans, mortgages, lines of credit and payments for services.
Juggling family, church, business, community and responsible political or elected activities is a mighty agenda of tasks. Might it be better to take one step back (put one’s house in order, catch your breath, and re-set your vision) to go two steps forward later? Time will tell.
Geez …
*** TAX MAN COMETH! ***