click to enlarge

• Thanks to Billypalooza for the pic!

Before I begin my rant, let me tell you something personal: My mother worked as a state employee, in Alabama, for 25 years. I've heard her complaints about her fellow co-workers, I've seen their slackness for myself and, as most of you probably have, I've experienced the pains of needing the help of government employees who could give the first fuck about their jobs, you or anything else other than how many minutes are left 'til lunch.

Are all government employees slackers? Of course not. But the ones who are should be fired. Stat.

Now, the rant.

What the fuck is going on in our county that allows our mentally handicapped citizens to be so mistreated? (Remember this, Bible thumpers? "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" Matthew 25:45)

From the Associated Press and The Charlotte Observer:

Mecklenburg County mismanaged a housing program for people with mental illness, with officials failing to keep adequate records and some residents living in conditions that were not "decent, safe and sanitary," according to a new federal report.

HUD's Office of Inspector General said it that it would recommend that the county be required to show that about $441,000 in expenses was eligible for reimbursement - or to repay that amount from non-federal funds.

County General Manager Michelle Lancaster told commissioners in an e-mail Tuesday evening that county staff "does not anticipate being able to provide proper supporting documentation" for those costs.

The county also probably will have to pay more than $25,000 for other ineligible costs, including payments for housing units that did not meet HUD standards.

Read the rest of this article, by April Bethea and Ames Alexander, here.

Are you fucking kidding me? How did this happen? Where are the rolling heads?

Don't like your job, county employees? Quit. Go try to make it in the private sector with your lazy-ass habits. And, definitely don't make others suffer because you suck. In this market, someone will gladly take your position (and your benefits) and do a great job. So either step it up, or get out. And, for chrissake, stop making the members of our society who need our help the most suffer. Shame on you.

And, while I'm bitching about slack government employees. At yesterday's Waste Management Advisory Board meeting, an announcement was made that four members of the board will get the boot because they can't bother to show up for meetings. WTF? Don't sign up to be on boards if you don't have the time or interest. Our community doesn't need a bunch of resume fluffers making decisions for us; we need actively involved individuals who take their roles seriously.

In that same vein, from The Charlotte Business Journal:

N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue has asked the state’s General Assembly to review the 345 boards and commissions that fall under state legislative control. And she has asked lawmakers to provide her with a set of recommendations to get rid of and boards or commissions that are ineffective or redundant, and reauthorize those that are essential.

Do it, Gubnah. Cut the fat. Stop allowing these slackers to waste everyone's time and money.

Rhiannon "Rhi" Bowman is an independent journalist who contributes snarky commentary on Creative Loafing's CLog blog four days a week in addition to writing for several other local media organizations. To learn more, click the links or follow Rhi on Twitter.

Mecklenburg County mismanaged a housing program for people with mental illness, with officials failing to keep adequate records and some residents living in conditions that were not "decent, safe and sanitary," according to a new federal report.

HUD's Office of Inspector General said it that it would recommend that the county be required to show that about $441,000 in expenses was eligible for reimbursement - or to repay that amount from non-federal funds.

County General Manager Michelle Lancaster told commissioners in an e-mail Tuesday evening that county staff "does not anticipate being able to provide proper supporting documentation" for those costs.

The county also probably will have to pay more than $25,000 for other ineligible costs, including payments for housing units that did not meet HUD standards.

Read the rest of this article, by April Bethea and Ames Alexander, here.

Are you fucking kidding me? How did this happen? Where are the rolling heads?

Don't like your job, county employees? Quit. Go try to make it in the private sector with your lazy-ass habits. And, definitely don't make others suffer because you suck. In this market, someone will gladly take your position (and your benefits) and do a great job. So either step it up, or get out. And, for chrissake, stop making the members of our society who need our help the most suffer. Shame on you.

And, while I'm bitching about slack government employees. At yesterday's Waste Management Advisory Board meeting, an announcement was made that four members of the board will get the boot because they can't bother to show up for meetings. WTF? Don't sign up to be on boards if you don't have the time or interest. Our community doesn't need a bunch of resume fluffers making decisions for us; we need actively involved individuals who take their roles seriously.

In that same vein, from The Charlotte Business Journal:

N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue has asked the state’s General Assembly to review the 345 boards and commissions that fall under state legislative control. And she has asked lawmakers to provide her with a set of recommendations to get rid of and boards or commissions that are ineffective or redundant, and reauthorize those that are essential.

Do it, Gubnah. Cut the fat. Stop allowing these slackers to waste everyone's time and money.

Rhiannon "Rhi" Bowman is an independent journalist who contributes snarky commentary on Creative Loafing's CLog blog four days a week in addition to writing for several other local media organizations. To learn more, click the links or follow Rhi on Twitter.