Reader Wants To Know If There is Enough Evidence For a Legal Inquiry

Dear Reader:

 

Thank you for your inquiry. The problem with Baker Places is the lack of oversight of how it has spent the taxpayers’ money over the past 10 years. I have documented that according to IRS 990s, Baker Places has lost $3.4 million over the past 10 years: See Financial Documents and Information Prepared for Tom Mesa, a Representative of the Department of Public Health  post on May 7, 2016 for additional information.

 

The last time Baker Places was audited by the City and County of San Francisco was 2008. Because Baker Places is the largest recipient of taxpayers’ money as a nonprofit ($12 million annually), it should be audited every year. Please note that the 2008 audit found many problems with Baker Places adhering to commonly accepted accounting principles; See San Francisco Board of Supervisors: Defund Baker Places—Now!  for additional information.

 

Areas of concern:

 

* Property which is donated to Baker Places via grants, such as the Mayor's Office of Housing appear to be deeded in Baker Places name. This is why Baker Places is able to sell property which has been donated as occurred on 54-56 Francis Street on February 12, 2015.

 

* The funds which Baker Places is allotted by the taxpayers is comingled with Jonathan Vernick's private corporation. See : Jonathan Vernick Et Al v. Mynette Boykin :: Superior Court of ...for background info on Jonathan Vernick's private holding corporation.

 

* Baker Places lost $825,000 according to the IRS 990, 2014 form. Please see www.citizenaudit.org and type in Baker Places, Inc. to retrieve copies of the originals. In addition, I have used www.guidestar.org as a resource.  Note that these sites may now be for pay and thus may have limited access.

 

Some possible questions: Is the financial mismanagement at Baker Places part of a larger pattern? Is there intent to mismanage the public’s money or is it just incompetence? In addition to Jonathan Vernick, who else is part of the mismanagement of the taxpayer’s money? Have any of the members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors been influenced to allow the present situation to continue to exist?

Thank you for sharing your insights. I hope the above points are helpful in answering your questions. Feel free to write back if I can provide any additional information.

Sincerely Yours,

 

Harry Petersen