Fake Nonprofits, SCAP and the Modesto City Council
By Emerson Drake
Here we go again. The first time a Modesto City Council member asked City Manager Greg Nyhoff to investigate the Stanislaus Community Assistance Project better known as (SCAP), he spent six weeks “investigating” and finally the concerned Councilman, Dave Lopez, was forced to go to the Modesto Bee to shed some light on the seamy side of SCAP’s actions. And when we made a public records request regarding the investigation, only one page was produced. It being an email from Parks and Rec Julie Hannon’s office warning SCAP the Bee would come calling and the article was apt to be negative.
Now former member of the SCAP Board of Directors Frank Ploof is going to be appointed to the Modesto Citizens Housing and Community Development Committee. We expressed our concerns at the last council meeting as did Councilman Lopez. I pointed out how Daryl Fair, former SCAP Board Chairman, had recruited Ploof to the SCAP Board and had brought Ploof to his fake nonprofit, which had been stripped of its nonprofit status by the government for failing to file the necessary documentation. Frank Ploof apparently volunteered for approx. 10 months. If all of this wasn’t in the housing arena where Ploof might be persuaded to “help” his buddy Daryl Fair again, it wouldn’t be of so much concern.
Also troubling is the email exchange between Hannon and Ploof and then Hannon and the council. Despite having the false nonprofit exposed, Hannon failed to question Ploof on the subject. The following is both emails between Hannon and Ploof and Hannon and the council.
First Julie Hannon to Frank Ploof:
Frank- Here is what we discussed last week. Can you please proof my write-up and return it to me. I would like to send it out to the Council members sometime on Thursday. Also, if you are still interested in this position, I think you should be at the Council meeting on 1/22 so you can address the Council and any new questions, in person.
Here is a response from Frank Ploof on the questions raised at the last Council meeting regarding his appointment to CH&CDC:
What was your involvement with SCAP as a Board Member?
I was a board member for approximately 3 weeks. I never attended a Board Meeting, as I was in New York much of this time, but did participate in several phone conference calls. Once I heard what the organization was going through and dealing with, I resigned my position on the Board. I was, at that time, recently retired and not interested in spending my time with that organization.
What was your involvement with Daryl Fair, the Renaissance Center and Home of the Brave?
I volunteer and help with Case Management through the Renaissance Center. For a time, when this organization was without a building to call home we meet for 5-6 months at the Home of the Brave. That is no longer the case and we haven’t met there since XXXXXX.
Frank—Do you have anything else you want the Council to know about you or your interest in this Committee…..if so, please add it here:
Even though we requested ALL of the correspondence the only thing we received was July Hannon’s email to the council:
Councilmembers-
I spoke to Frank Ploof on the phone and via e-mail. Here are the responses from Mr. Ploof on the questions raised at the last Council meeting regarding his appointment to CH&CDC:
What was your involvement with SCAP as a Board Member?
I was a board member for approximately 3 weeks, June 1 – June 25, 2011. I never attended a Board Meeting, as I was in New York much of this time, but did participate in several phone conference calls. Once I learned what the organization was potentially dealing with, I resigned my position on the Board. I was, at that time, recently retired and not willing to spend my time with an organization involved in turmoil for which I had no prior knowledge of when joining the board.
What was your involvement with Daryl Fair, the Renaissance Center and Home of the Brave?
I began volunteering as a Case Manager for the Renaissance Center in 2/11 when it was located on H street. When the owning organization of the H Street building required it back for one of its programs, the Renaissance Center began serving its clients from the community building at the location now known as Home of the Brave. The use of that facility was only temporary while the housing units were being repaired and ended around 11/11. My role as Case Manager also ended at that time since the Renaissance Center was without a facility to service clients.
I believe Mr. Ploof will be at the Council meeting on Tuesday.
Please feel free to contact me regarding any further questions.
Julie
No questions were asked regarding what the SCAP Board of Directors voted on between his accepting the Board position and his letter of resignation (which we have yet to see), SCAP arranging for the rental of the home or the FAKE nonprofit called the Renaissance Center and Ploof’s involvement in fund-raising efforts if any. And since he was made aware of the Renaissance Center’s having its papers pulled as a nonprofit several months before he left why is it he stayed so long?
If J. David Wright wasn’t going from councilperson to councilperson trying to drum up support for Ploof’s former colleague, Daryl Fair, to be involved in a project between the council and the homeless, and Ploof being potentially appointed(actually very likely) to the Committee, we wouldn’t be so concerned. But with the Modesto City Council’s propensity for one page “investigations” we wouldn’t be surprised if we could see another debacle using public funds.
Can anyone say NSP2?
Eye On Modesto 