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policyevidence.bsky.social
@policyevidence.bsky.social
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policyevidence.bsky.social
policyevidence.bsky.social @policyevidence.bsky.social · 9d
A sobering look at how local government corruption actually operates. From city contracts in NYC to rezoning deals in N. Charleston, these cases show the direct link between bribes and the misuse of public resources. (2 of 2)

Source: www.cato.org/blog/local-g...

#CorruptionWatch #LocalGov
policyevidence.bsky.social
Disgraced former Senator B. Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for selling his political influence for cash, gold bars, & a luxury car, acting as a go-between for businessmen seeking favors. $480K in $, $150K in gold, & a convertible were found home.

#Corruption
Former Sen. Bob Menendez's wife sentenced to 4½ years in prison for role in bribery scheme
Former Sen. Bob Menendez is serving an 11-year sentence after his conviction last year on charges of taking bribes, extortion, and acting as an agent of the Egyptian government.
www.pbs.org
January 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Walgreens' future is uncertain under PE ownership, CPA firms face cost-cutting and loss of trust, and PE landlords now own 20–25% of rental housing in cities like Atlanta and Austin, using fees and algorithms to inflate rents (2/3)

#HousingCrisis #VultureCapitalism

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6MS...
How Private Equity is Destroying the American Dream
YouTube video by Noel Lorenzana, CPA
www.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:27 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Private equity buys companies using borrowed money, shifts the debt onto the company, strips assets, & cuts staff to maximize profits. ToysRUs & Sears were loaded with debt and gutted, leading to bankruptcy & tens of thousands of job losses (1/3)

#VultureCapitalism

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6MS...
How Private Equity is Destroying the American Dream
YouTube video by Noel Lorenzana, CPA
www.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Disgraced former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do reported to prison for 5 year term for bribery, diverting $10M in pandemic relief funds meant to feed seniors to enrich himself.

He was ordered to pay $878K in restitution. Investigations into co-conspirators continue.

laist.com/news/crimina...
Former OC Supervisor Andrew Do turns himself in, begins 5-year federal prison term
The U.S. attorney handling the case called Do a "Robin Hood in reverse" for stealing money from the poor to enrich himself.
laist.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:03 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Former Compton council member Isaac Galvan pleaded guilty to bribery and tax evasion for paying $70K to Baldwin Park’s councilman to secure marijuana permits, and evading $560K in taxes and conspired with of his opponents.

#Bribery #Corruption #LosAngeles

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Former Compton councilman pleads guilty in scheme involving secret bribes and corrupt officials
Isaac Galvan pleaded guilty to one count of bribery and one count of tax evasion for failing to report more than half a million dollars in income.
www.latimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:53 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Unlike Venture Capitalism, Private Equity buys full control of companies using debt the company must repay. Profits come from asset sales, fees, and rent extraction even if the business collapses. Toys "R" Us is the case study. Workers lose; PE still wins.

#PE #VC

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUyZ...
Private Equity Is A Wall Street Scam
YouTube video by The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder
www.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:16 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
A private-equity takeover at Gizmodo shows how cost-cutting, clickbait, and clueless management hollowed out real journalism and destroyed Deadspin. Drawing on Bad Company, it shows PE profits by stripping companies than saving them.

#PrivateEquity #Scams #Fraud

newrepublic.com/article/1983...
Inside the Private Equity Scam—and the Livelihoods It Has Destroyed
Financiers have bamboozled the public for years about their expertise in “fixing” companies. Yet they often—and sometimes deliberately—run them into the ground.
newrepublic.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:08 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Former senior SF city official was sentenced to 3 years in state prison for long-running corruption scheme that stole $627K+ from the city's workers' comp system using a sham auditing company, fake claims, and money laundering.

#SanFrancisco #Corruption #PublicTrust

www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
SF official's 'great betrayal' ends in prison for $600K theft of city funds
"He is being held accountable for violating the public trust," prosecutors said.
www.sfgate.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:33 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Former clerk-treasurer & fire chief was charged for theft & possession of stolen property, misappropriating $72K in town funds spending on personal purchases, keeping equipment. Potts resigned but continued to access town accounts making additional unauthorized payments.

sao.wa.gov/the-audit-co...
Small city employees exploit lack of financial controls for personal gain | Office of the Washington State Auditor
A pair of small towns in Eastern Washington lost tens of thousands of tax dollars to employees who spent the money shopping online and on other unallowable purposes, the Office of the Washington State...
sao.wa.gov
January 11, 2026 at 2:06 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes-Anderson was released after serving less than a month in prison following guilty plea to federal corruption charges tied to a kickback scheme involving city funds. Her seat has since been filled.

#Corruption #Boston

www.boston25news.com/news/local/e...
Ex City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson released from prison
Disgraced former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes-Anderson who pleaded guilty to federal charges has been released from prison after serving less than a month of her sentence.
www.boston25news.com
January 11, 2026 at 12:56 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber resigned after a tenure marked by sweeping corruption probes that led to the historic indictment of Mayor Eric Adams. The search for a successor begins with Strauber citing the need for DOI’s independence.

#NYC #Anti-Corruption #DOI

www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/08/j...
City Anti-Corruption Chief Jocelyn Strauber Tenders Her Resignation
Strauber, appointed by Eric Adams to head the Department of Investigation, helmed the joint probe with the FBI and state and federal prosecutors that resulted in his indictment and charges against top...
www.thecity.nyc
January 11, 2026 at 12:22 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
An investigation found 81 fake online trading platforms were a scam operation, run from Europe. The sites used fake Swiss addresses, endorsements, and "expert" advisors to lure victims, then funneled money through shell companies.

#InvestigativeJournalism #Scam #Fraud

www.occrp.org/en/project/s...
These 81 Investment Platforms Were Part of a Scam Network. Here’s What We Learned About Them.
They looked like different brokers competing for your investment. Underneath, they shared the same staff, the same spreadsheets, and the same goal: whisking your money away.
www.occrp.org
January 11, 2026 at 12:17 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Multiple investigations underway into the Town of Cary’s finances amid public concern over spending & oversight. Residents voiced distrust at a town meeting, questioning various payments & land deals totaling over $1M. State Auditor probe & internal review ongoing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9r_...
Investigations underway into town of Cary’s finances
YouTube video by CBS 17
www.youtube.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:13 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Former official in SF Workers’ Compensation Division sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding the city of over $627,000, using a fake company to bill for work never done and charging personal items as city expenses.

#SanFrancisco

www.californiacitynews.org/2026/01/ex-s...
Ex-SF City Employee Gets Prison Time for Workers’ Comp Scheme | California City News
It was a rough start to the new year for Stanley Ellicott—the former assistant director of finance and technology for San Francisco’s Department of Human Resources’ Workers’ Compensation
www.californiacitynews.org
January 6, 2026 at 7:54 PM
policyevidence.bsky.social
Corruption in big cities often flows from discretion over permits and contracts.

NYCHA is a recent example: after the largest one day federal bribery bust in DOJ history, employees were convicted. Yet the city still contracts with vendors who admitted paying bribes.

www.cato.org/blog/new-yor...
New York City Corruption
Why do the sophisticated residents of the nation’s largest city tolerate such crappy government? The city is jammed full of lawyers, accountants, and finance experts. It should have the best public ma...
www.cato.org
January 6, 2026 at 3:18 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
A sobering look at how local government corruption actually operates. From city contracts in NYC to rezoning deals in N. Charleston, these cases show the direct link between bribes and the misuse of public resources. (2 of 2)

www.cato.org/blog/local-g...

#LocalGov #Corruption
A table titled "Local Government Corruption: 15 Cases" listing seven specific examples of corruption. The columns include City, Corrupt Official, Benefits to Corrupt Official, Corruption Partner, and Government Aid Provided. For example: in New York City, 70 housing authority employees received cash bribes from contractors in exchange for city contracts; in Lexington, a Commonwealth's attorney received sexual favors from an inmate in exchange for a reduction in charges. Other cities listed include Scranton, N. Charleston, Dallas, Boston, and Los Angeles.
January 3, 2026 at 6:31 AM
Reposted
nbcnews.com
Drake has been accused in a federal class-action RICO lawsuit of using the online sweepstakes casino to boost the play counts of his music across the major streaming platforms.
Drake accused of using an online gambling platform to inflate play counts of his music
The Canadian rapper and two others are also accused in a RICO lawsuit of using the Stake gambling platform to transfer money between themselves.
nbcnews.to
January 2, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Reposted
justinbaragona.bsky.social
NEW from me:

Currently on tap for Tony Dokoupil on his first day as CBS Evening News anchor -- taking a private plane to Miami to so he can go jet skiing with DJ Khaled and play soccer with David Beckham.

Take that, elites!

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Private jets and ‘Bari pitches’: Inside Weiss’ chaotic CBS Evening News reboot
EXCLUSIVE: The new CBS News editor-in-chief has chartered private flights for her armed security detail, made last-minute logistical changes and fired off ‘Bari Pitches.’ Weiss is once again accused o...
www.independent.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Reposted
wakeupangry.bsky.social
Nancy Drew’s earliest books will be entering the public domain.

I could watch a new Nancy Drew with a social media following using a drone & phone to undercover local corruption, environmental crimes, viral hoaxes, and digital blackmail.

She uses a magnifying glass app in the trailer.
December 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
policyevidence.bsky.social
A sobering look at how local government corruption actually operates. From city contracts in NYC to rezoning deals in N. Charleston, these cases show the direct link between bribes and the misuse of public resources. (2 of 2)

Source: www.cato.org/blog/local-g...

#CorruptionWatch #LocalGov
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 AM