{"id":9611,"date":"2017-06-09T03:14:10","date_gmt":"2017-06-09T03:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=9611"},"modified":"2017-07-02T12:48:42","modified_gmt":"2017-07-02T12:48:42","slug":"how-is-city-business-and-breaking-up-with-a-sociopath-boyfriend-is-kind-of-the-same","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=9611","title":{"rendered":"How is City Business and Breaking Up with a Sociopath Boyfriend Kind of the SAME?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our fine city is undergoing a new and refreshing wave of transparent and ethical accountability. Kudos to our new city manager, T.C. Broadnax, for stirring things up and for raising the bar. As the last few assistant city managers cling to their lifeboats, we\u2019re concerned about a potentially unethical move the city is about to make. The city is currently drafting a Memo Of Understanding (MOU) between Dallas\u2019 Animal Care Services and their \u201cFriends Of\u201d organization, DCAP, while DCAP is still under investigation for potential ethics violations including potential financial malfeasance.<\/p>\n

It is also our understanding that per the city charter, friends of 501c-3 organizations are not allowed to act in a manner that is political in nature, make political statements, or make statements that erode that trust of the citizens towards the city and its leaders. The groups are formed in support of the main organization\u2019s goals and missions. It has been long documented going back to the 2009\/2010 Humane Society of the United States audit of DAS that DCAP is not aligned with DAS, the council, or the taxpayers. DCAP’s political overreach is well documented in the email below from a citizen to the city.<\/p>\n

What we don\u2019t understand is why after all the of years of misalignment, maligning, and potential misappropriations of funds, why won\u2019t the city break up with DCAP? \u00a0It\u2019s like they\u2019re in an abusive relationship and they can\u2019t break up with their mean, controlling, bullying boyfriend. Snap out of it, listen to your friends and break up already!<\/p>\n

Is it really worth 1,200 spay and neuters a year while organizations like the SPCA of Texas are on track to do 35,000 spay and neuters this year? Why can\u2019t the city see what the public, and the funders, see? \u00a0It\u2019s time to consciously uncouple and move on to more supportive relationships that benefit and elevate the shelter, the citizens, the council, the commission, and most of all, the animals. DCAP is not the vehicle to the future. Let\u2019s ask the city to give the new Animal Care Director a leg up on success by cutting the ties with DCAP. If nothing else, at least wait until the investigation is over to provide an MOU.<\/p>\n

We have knowledge of several letters that have gone to city management regarding this matter. Here is one email, with supporting fact based documentation, that explains the situations very thoroughly.<\/p>\n

—-begin letter<\/p>\n

Dear Mr. Broadnax,<\/p>\n

I have just learned that the city is in the process of drafting and approving an MOU with DCAP that will allow them to resume their status as the “friends of” organization of ACS (DAS).\u00a0 I am extremely concerned about this so I thought I should message you giving some background information in the hopes that you will reconsider finalizing the MOU at this time.<\/p>\n

First, DCAP and Jody Jones are currently being investigated by the city on how grants where handled between DAS and DCAP.\u00a0 As far as I can determine the investigation is ongoing so I am baffled at why the city would even consider drafting an MOU until at least that investigation is completed.\u00a0 It simply doesn’t make sense.\u00a0 Also, it would be a major embarrassment for the city to give access to DCAP before the investigation is complete, only to have it come out later that there IS proof of criminal activity, and it would raise significant ethical questions about exactly who pushed through and authorized the MOU.<\/div>\n

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In addition to the ongoing investigation, I have two compelling reasons why the city should carefully reconsider granting DCAP the MOU.\u00a0 In order to fully explain this, I will start by simply stating these reasons and then detailing the supporting documentation afterwards.<\/div>\n
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Reason #1 – Incestuous relationships between DCAP board members and the Animal Advisory Commission create a conflict of interest situation where DCAP board members are able to personally profit from the DCAP’s “friends of” status being reinstated.<\/b><\/div>\n

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Summary:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
* As a charitable organization DCAP does very little independent fundraising.\u00a0 Historically a staggering 97+% of their funding has come from leveraging their “friends of” status to obtain grants from foundations.(A)<\/div>\n
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* Interestingly, shortly after the news came out in February that DCAP and Jody Jones were under investigation by the city, we also also learned that DCAP had been excluded as a partner from the spay\/neuter surge that was ultimately awarded $13.5 million in grants.<\/div>\n

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* I assert that DCAP is unable to obtain the funding required to continue their operations *unless* they are reinstated in their “friends of” status with ACS.<\/div>\n

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* Meanwhile, on the declarations page of DCAP’s 2015 tax return there is a statement detailing an update to their bylaws that allows board members to receive “reasonable compensation” for their efforts.(B)<\/div>\n

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* Out of the three members currently listed on the DCAP board, two of them also currently serve on the Animal Advisory Commission: \u00a0Maeleska Fletes, President, is the commissioner for D9 and Judi Burnett, Treasurer, is the commissioner for D12.(C)<\/div>\n

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Since two of the members of the DCAP board are also Animal Advisory Commissioners, they have privileged access to members of the city council that a person from the general public does not have.\u00a0 So my question is, since their “friends of” status being reinstated is critical for DCAP to be able to obtain 97+% of their funding, *and that grant funding also would allow them to compensate their board members*, what is in place to stop the DCAP board members from using their access to the city council by virtue of their position on the advisory board to manipulate the city into granting DCAP the MOU they desperately need?\u00a0 I can’t tell you if this is this actually happening but I can say that it made me sit up and pay close attention when in a recent Quality of Life Committee briefing, Sandy Greyson (D12) very pointedly asked Major Hobbs when DCAP would be allowed to resume their activities at ACS.\u00a0 I do not have the information or the expertise to definitively state this is illegal, but I am raising the challenge that this is at best unethical and reflects poorly on the city’s brand.<\/div>\n
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Reason #2 – Through questionable and unprofessional behavior over at minimum a two year period the DCAP board has demonstrated that as an organization they are vehemently opposed to one of ACS’ core missions, which is public safety and to pick up loose dogs.\u00a0 That lack of alignment on the core mission of ACS is so extreme, DCAP has taken active steps to undermine the current (DPD) management and has become an active barrier to progress in ACS’ efforts to improve their relationship with the community.\u00a0 Moreover, if the city hires an ACS director that continues to prioritize public safety (and as part of that picking up loose dogs), and DCAP does not approve of the city’s hiring decision, we can reasonably expect DCAP’s pattern of undermining and toxic behavior to continue.<\/b><\/div>\n
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Documentation Summary<\/strong> (in chronological order):<\/h3>\n
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* The “Catch and Kill” language<\/strong> used to characterize efforts to pick up loose dogs began in summer 2015, when Rebecca Poling put together a presentation of the DAS proposed budget for FY 2015-2016.(D) \u00a0This occurred at a time when there was generally more awareness with both the general public and at City Hall that loose dog numbers were increasing and more pressure was being put on Jody Jones and DAS to address the issue.(E)<\/div>\n

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* Rebecca Poling<\/strong> has a long history with DCAP, DAS, and the city, and it is questionable at this point if she can be separated from DCAP’s mission and efforts going forward.(F-I)<\/div>\n

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* The “Heart DAS” Facebook page<\/strong>, which in their “About” section lists DCAP President Maeleska Fletes and DCAP Treasurer Judi Burnett as two of their admins, picked up the ‘Catch and Kill” language and have repeatedly posted about it since summer 2015(J)<\/div>\n

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* After Antoinette Brown<\/strong> was killed in May 2016, the incendiary posts increased, with the intent to deflect responsibility for Ms. Brown’s death from DAS and Jody Jones, and also to continue the inflammatory “Catch and Kill” language to undermine the city wide conversation we were having about the dangers of loose dogs.(K)<\/div>\n

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* DCAP e-mailed a call to action<\/strong> to their volunteer and donor base demanding support of Jody Jones and “sustainable solutions” to address the loose dog issues (which emphatically does not involve picking them up).\u00a0 This message was represented as being sanctioned by the Animal Advisory Commission when it was not.(L)<\/div>\n

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* Once Rebecca Poling left her position<\/strong> as DAS social media coordinator (when it was converted to a city position and she did not get the job) she made a number of statements on social media indicating she was not supportive of DPD’s interim management of ACS.(M)<\/div>\n

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* When the city suspended DCAP from ACS due to lack of an MOU<\/strong>, DCAP’s immediate reaction was to post on social media criticizing DAS management and the city for that decision.\u00a0 The post was worded in a way to deliberately manufacture outrage in the community over what happened and to motivate people to put pressure on the city to reinstate DCAP.\u00a0 That post was boosted to reach more people and then ultimately deleted.(N)<\/div>\n

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* Even though Rebecca Poling is no longer listed in an active role with DCAP<\/strong> and has taken a new job in Arizona, interestingly in February she wrote the article on the DCAP website detailing their suspension of operations from DAS.(O) \u00a0The question is, what is her current role with DCAP?\u00a0 That is unclear.<\/div>\n

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* Even after it was clear that ACS under DPD management would prioritize public safety<\/strong>, and that Jody Jones would not be reinstated as shelter manager, DCAP has continued their toxic and inflammatory “Catch and Kill” dialogue on social media.(P)<\/div>\n

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The supporting documentation is fragmented because it comes from many different sources but taken together it shows a clear picture that the founders and current members of the DCAP board have very close ties to former DAS management, who prioritized the Live Release Rate to the detriment of public safety.(Q) \u00a0It is plausible that those close ties were not exclusively due to altruistic reasons and there was personal gain involved, as indicated by the current investigation into DCAP and Jody Jones.\u00a0 As part of this, DCAP has been very vocal in their support of former shelter management and prioritizing the Live Release Rate as the sole measure of shelter success, to the degree where DCAP members have stated in public meetings there is no loose dog problem in Dallas and also in perpetuating a vitriolic campaign on social media to manufacture outrage in the community toward DPD interim management over ACS’ efforts to address loose dogs.\u00a0 This is occurring while under DPD management, ACS is working very hard to create a better relationship with the community. DCAP’s continued inflammatory dialogue undermines those efforts and creates an active barrier to progress.\u00a0 Awarding DCAP with an MOU at this time makes an embarrassing precedent of the city rewarding toxic and unprofessional behavior, only strengthens DCAP’s position in perpetuating their campaign, which is to undermine DPD’s efforts in prioritizing public safety, and provides a legitimacy to their statements that gives them more power.\u00a0 Quite simply, how is reinstating DCAP as the “friends of” organization taking a step that is going to benefit ACS and the city at this time?<\/div>\n

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Finally, this is something that I personally ask you to specifically consider.\u00a0 DCAP is dependent on ACS to provide the location\/facility for their spay days, which are targeted to provide services to the community instead of pets that are up for adoption at ACS.\u00a0 The fact that DCAP has not hosted any spay days elsewhere since their suspension makes that clear.\u00a0 On the DCAP website it states they have facilitated 10,000 spay\/neuter surgeries in a five year period.\u00a0 On the surface that seems impressive but when you break it down it averages out to only 116 spay\/neuter surgeries a month over a 60 month period.\u00a0 In order to accomplish this, DCAP was using ACS facilities two Saturdays a month, which means the ACS vet staff did not have access to using those facilities to alter pets that had been adopted from ACS on those days.\u00a0 Once ACS is up to full vet staffing, they will be performing surgeries on Saturdays, in which case if DCAP wants to continue their spay days, they are going to have to find another location anyway.\u00a0 With the spay\/neuter surge currently aggressively in play and ACS having such high intake rates where they literally cannot alter pets being adopted fast enough, is 116 spay\/neuter surgeries for the community a month worth the potential collateral damage to ACS and the city’s brand worth it to reinstate DCAP as the “friends of” organization of ACS?\u00a0 Would it not make more sense to hire the new ACS director, give them time to get their bearings, let them determine what ACS truly needs from a “friends of” organization, and go from there?<\/div>\n

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I tried to keep this as succinct as possible but it is a lot to cover.\u00a0 If you have any questions, need clarifications, or would like to discuss this further I am happy to help in any way I can.\u00a0 Thank you so much for your time.<\/div>\n
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Sincerely,<\/div>\n
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[Name Redacted]<\/div>\n
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(A) – In 2014 DCAP directly fund-raised less than 2% (or $7,578) out of $628,634 in total revenue.\u00a0 In 2015 DCAP directly fund-raised less than 3% (or $15,025) out of $618,070 in total revenue.<\/div>\n
Link to 2014 tax return here: \u00a0http:\/\/www.dallasanimals.org\/ wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ 752907302_201412_990.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n
Link to 2015 tax return here: \u00a0https:\/\/www.guidestar.org\/ FinDocuments\/2015\/752\/907\/ 2015-752907302-0c9e8592-9.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n
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(B) – Refer to page 26 for the DCAP 2015 tax return here: \u00a0https:\/\/www.guidestar.org\/ FinDocuments\/2015\/752\/907\/ 2015-752907302-0c9e8592-9.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n
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(C) – Link to “About” section of DCAP website listing the board members: \u00a0http:\/\/www.dallasanimals.org\/ board-of-directors\/<\/a><\/div>\n
Link to city document listing members of the Animal Advisory Commission on pages 3-4: \u00a0http:\/\/citysecretary. dallascityhall.com\/pdf\/ boardmembers.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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(D) – Link to 2015 budget presentation drafted by Rebecca Poling: \u00a0https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/ document\/272834316\/DAS-budget- summary<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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(E) – Link to D1 CM Scott Griggs’ memo requesting a city council briefing by DAS on the loose dog issue: \u00a0https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ photo.php?fbid= 847554918655262&set=a. 150906101653484.37136. 100002022860966&type=3&theater<\/a><\/div>\n
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(F) – Rebecca Poling is a founding member of DCAP.\u00a0 Link to that information on the DCAP website here: \u00a0http:\/\/www.dallasanimals.org\/ about-us\/<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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(G) – Rebecca Poling served as Treasurer on the DCAP board.<\/div>\n
Link to 2013 DCAP tax return, which lists Rebecca Poling as Treasurer on page 7: \u00a0http:\/\/www.dallasanimals.org\/ wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ 752907302_201312_990.pdf’<\/a><\/div>\n
Link to 2014 DCAP tax return, which lists Rebecca Poling as Treasurer on page 7 and 17: \u00a0http:\/\/www.dallasanimals.org\/ wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ 752907302_201412_990.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n
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(H) – Rebecca Poling worked as DAS social media coordinator from April 2013 – to October 2016.\u00a0 Beginning September\/October 2014 her position was funded by a Rees-Jones grant paid to DCAP.\u00a0 See attachment for Rebecca Poling’s resume. [Redacted]<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Link to 2015 DCAP tax return giving the details of the Rees-Jones grant used to fund Rebecca Poling’s position as DAS social media coordinator on page 25: \u00a0https:\/\/www.guidestar.org\/ FinDocuments\/2015\/752\/907\/ 2015-752907302-0c9e8592-9.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n
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(I) – Rebecca Poling served as Animal Advisory Commissioner for four terms from 2007 until September 2015.\u00a0 See attachment for Rebecca Poling’s resume.\u00a0 It is important to note that in 2014 Rebecca Poling was working as DAS social media coordinator, acting as Treasurer on the board of DCAP, and serving on the Animal Advisory Commission simultaneously.<\/div>\n
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(J) – Links to Heart DAS “Catch and Kill” posts:<\/div>\n
August 9, 2015: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
August 10, 2015: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
September 17, 2015: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
September 19, 2015: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
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(K) – Links to “Catch and Kill”\/deliberately inflammatory posts after Antoinette Brown’s death:<\/div>\n
May 14, 2016, post and comments on Maeleska Fletes’ timeline: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
May 14, 2016, post and comments on Maeleska Fletes’ timeline: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n
May 16, 2016, comments on this post: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
May 17, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
May 17, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
May 17, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
May 30, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 9, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 9, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 9, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 10, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 11, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 13, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 14, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 15, 2016, DCAP: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 23, 2016, post on Maeleska Fletes’ timeline: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 24, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
June 26, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
August 9, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
August 10, 2016, post and comments on Maeleska Fletes’ timeline: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
August 30, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
October 24, 2016, Heart DAS: \u00a0[see pdf below]<\/a><\/div>\n
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(L) – See attachment for DCAP’s e-mail.\u00a0 Note the date on the message, which is May 26, 2016.<\/div>\n
Link to DMN editorial referenced in the e-mail here: \u00a0https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/ opinion\/commentary\/2016\/05\/18\/ trimble-hanophy-spencer-how- dallas-animal-services-helps- dog-owners-take-responsibility<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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(M) – Link to post from November 2016 where Rebecca Poling’s comments indicate a general dissatisfaction of DPD’s interim management of DAS: \u00a0https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ petropolitan\/posts\/ 10211197991215817<\/a><\/div>\n
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(N) – See the attachments for the the post DCAP made on Facebook when they were suspended from their operations at DAS.\u00a0 This post was boosted and then later deleted.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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(O) – Link to the February article on the DCAP website written by Rebecca Poling: \u00a0http:\/\/www.dallasanimals.org\/ das-halts-spay-day-dcaps-free- spayneuter-program\/<\/a><\/div>\n
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(P) – Link to recent DCAP “Catch and Kill” post: \u00a0https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ DallasAnimals\/photos\/a. 150144928420237.22832. 130281733739890\/ 985542748213780\/?type=3& theater<\/a><\/div>\n
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(Q) – Pictures attached showing the personal friendships between members of the DCAP board and previous DAS management. [redacted]<\/div>\n
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—-End Email<\/div>\n

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Due to some concerns that some of the linked content will be deleted, the citizen sent the email along with a PDF with screen shots of all of those references compiled into a single document. \u00a0Scrolling through this document, it very quickly shows how contentious and unsupportive this \u00a0\u201cfriends of\u201d group is of current management at Animal Care Services and how vitriolic their speech is toward certain southern members of the City Council and the public.<\/div>\n
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