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Ties to Vashon/JeffVanderLou Initiative, Inc.

November 8, 2011 Featured, Politics/Policy 14 Comments

Yesterday I posted about the bankruptcy last  year of Ald Marlene Davis. Today I take a look at a non-profit she co-founded that annually receives hundreds of thousands of dollars through city contracts.

The Vashon/JeffVanderLou Initiative was formed on April 14, 2000. The three founders were Columbus Edwards, Marlene Davis and Norman Seay. The original board of directors consisted of Mike McMillan, Marlene Davis and Norman Seay. (source) When founded the non-profit was located in the basement of the True Light Missionary Baptist Church at 2838 James “Cool Papa” Bell in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood. A source told me the organization paid no rent.

A 2005 fiscal review by the Comptroller’s office (PDF) concluded “The Vashon-JeffVanderLou Initiative, Inc. did not fully comply with federal, state and local CDBG requirements.” The Comptroller’s office reached the same conclusion in 2007 (PDF)

ABOVE: Mirrored entry door to the Vashon/JeffVanderLou Initiative office now at 3030 Locust

In July 2007 a change of address was filed with the secretary of state’s office, the new address: 3026 Locust in Midtown. The 2007 IRS Form 990 shows occupancy (rent) of nearly $36,000.  The owner? SAG Properties LLC. Who is SAG Properties? One SAG partner is Barry Adelstein, one of two former partners of Marlene Davis in the failed Gene Lynn’s club I mentioned yesterday. The 2008 & 2009 Form 990 show similar amounts.

License Collector Mike McMillan remains on the board serving as president.  Barry Adelstein is also McMillan’s landord at a building a couple of blocks east. The bulk of the revenue is from city contracts to provide services to several wards.  Most of the expenses are salaries. I plan to continue reviewing these documents to try to map out how all the parties are connected.

– Steve Patterson.

 

Currently there are "14 comments" on this Article:

  1. MMClubhouse says:

    Steve…Hard to believe that you are engaging in actual journalism.  Over the past 2-3 years Urban Review has become more about your personal gripes than about what is happening in the city that affects ALL of the citizens.  This is really good stuff.  Keep it up.  The city needs people willing to expose the endemic corruption at it’s core.

     
  2. MMClubhouse says:

    Steve…Hard to believe that you are engaging in actual journalism.  Over the past 2-3 years Urban Review has become more about your personal gripes than about what is happening in the city that affects ALL of the citizens.  This is really good stuff.  Keep it up.  The city needs people willing to expose the endemic corruption at it’s core.

     
    • Thank you, but I must tell you since day one my blog has been a place for me to gripe. When I can I like to offer more. I write for myself, what interests me at the time. I’d love to expose corruption, get officials to resign their office. I can only do so much. Keep reading and I might surprise you again.

       
  3. Kman says:

    I thought the same thing MM, I guess the Del Taco thing brought Ms Davis into his cross hairs. Keep it up Steve cause this is interesting stuff.

     
  4. Kman says:

    I thought the same thing MM, I guess the Del Taco thing brought Ms Davis into his cross hairs. Keep it up Steve cause this is interesting stuff.

     
  5. Thank you, but I must tell you since day one my blog has been a place for me to gripe. When I can I like to offer more. I write for myself, what interests me at the time. I’d love to expose corruption, get officials to resign their office. I can only do so much. Keep reading and I might surprise you again.

     
  6. Joy says:

    Oooohhh -so good to hear this info. Casts a stronger light on some of the schnanigans in the neighborhood.  And how ironic to see The Fountain on Locust in the “reflection” of 3030’s door! Keep up the great work, Steve!

     
  7. Joy says:

    Oooohhh -so good to hear this info. Casts a stronger light on some of the schnanigans in the neighborhood.  And how ironic to see The Fountain on Locust in the “reflection” of 3030’s door! Keep up the great work, Steve!

     
  8. northside says:

    A slush fund to buy votes and employ voters wrapped in “helping the kids”.  Look at what they REALLY spend
    money on, who it goes to and ultimately who it benefits.  All roads lead to Alderwoman Marlene Davis, it’s shameful and disgusting.

     
  9. northside says:

    A slush fund to buy votes and employ voters wrapped in “helping the kids”.  Look at what they REALLY spend
    money on, who it goes to and ultimately who it benefits.  All roads lead to Alderwoman Marlene Davis, it’s shameful and disgusting.

     
  10. I plan to do more digging and hopefully people with specific knowledge (and documents) will contact me.

     
  11. Joy says:

    What do they REALLY spend money on?  This is what we need to know!

     

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