The Genesee Justice Foundation can now accept your donations.
The foundation was formed in the wake of the County Legislature nearly shuttering the pioneering restorative justice program when writing the 2010-11 county budget.
Only after then-director Ed Minardo resigned and staff agreed to cut back its hours was the program saved, but with the intent of creating a nonprofit fundraising arm.
The cuts saved $100,000, and that's how much the foundation must raise in 2011 to keep Genesee Justice going and restore staffing levels.
Some of that revenue may come from a grant the county's Job Development Bureau is applying for this week.
Both the Genesee Justice Foundation and the Child Advocacy Foundation have 501(c)3 (nonprofit) status pending, but until granted, the American Baptist Churches of Genesee County have agreed to accept donations on the behalf of the Genesee Justice Foundation.
Tiffany Szymanek, assistant director of Genesee Justice, delivered a report on the status of Genesee Justice on Monday afternoon to the legislature's Public Service Committee.
Szymanek said the agency is managing to do more with less, however.
Genesee Justice's case load is up significantly over a year ago.
Currently, Genesee Justice has 183 people in its offender programs, compared to 127 at this time last year, and 91 people, compared to 54 a year ago, are doing community service.
"It's harder than it was last year, but we're keeping up," Szymanek said.
In effort to save money, GJ renegotiated its lease, knocking down its rent on the former Sheriff's Office on West Main Street from $1,500 per month to $1,200 per month. (See clarification below)
Most of that savings came because GJ agreed to take over its own lawn maintenance and snow removal.
The Batavia Kiwanis have adopted Genesee Justice as its annual project, and besides raising funds for GJ, the club has volunteered to help with lawn service and snow removal.
"We also have community service workers," Szymanek said.
The new foundation is being headed by Jane Schmider, president, and Mike Mohun, vice president.
As for the job development grant, that money would be used to fund a program to provide job training to young offenders (18-24). While the grant would come through the county's Job Development Bureau, GJ would administer the program. The grant could restore most of the staff's hours.
After Minardo resigned, a part-time position with Genesee Justice became vacant and Minardo took on the DWI conditional release tasks.
Szymanek said the foundation is eager for donations either from individuals or corporations. She said she will also be working on additional grant applications.
If the foundation is successful in fundraising, the annual revenue would be allocated to the county to cover Genesee Justice expenses and the legislature would decide how to budget the department.
Legislator Bob Radley asked Szymanek to provide a document showing revenue benchmarks and information on fundraising efforts.
Mary Pat Hancock, chair of the legislature, wondered how far along the fundraising effort was going.
"On paper, I understand the intent is to raise $100,000, but that's not the same as raising $100,000," Hancock said.
Szymanek said she will start providing a progress report on fundraising.
There will be a fundraiser for the Child Advocacy Foundation March 24 at Tully's.
CLARIFICATIONS: The lease issue and snow removal/lawn refers only to the Child Advocacy Center at 108 Bank St. Also, both Kiwansis and American Baptist boards still need to vote to approve their organizations' participation in supporting Genesee Justice.
Isn't this a tad disingenuous
Isn't this a tad disingenuous on the Legislature's part? The Kiwanis club is stepping up, fund raisers are in place. This organization is stepping to the plate. For goodness sakes -- they're doing their own lawn maintenance.
Why aren't these same benchmarks of accountability being asked of the GCEDC?
Ever hear the story of the
Ever hear the story of the red headed step child?
Genesee Co. has several that will never get the attention that the favored few get.
May I suggest to the folks at
May I suggest to the folks at Genesee Justice that they form a public authority along the lines of the RGRTA or an IDA. That way they will never need to worry about substantiating any claims or really answering to anyone.
A side benefit is that the Legislature will fall over each other to sing your praises no matter how well you actually perform.
Lorie i have to agree..No
Lorie i have to agree..No accountability being asked of the GCEDC ..But make sure that we do for the county nursing home and Genesee Justice ...Maybe we just quit giving to GCEDC and we could then fund this ..Where are the priorities of the county legislators...They have no problem keeping GCEDC's income stream going so that they can all keep giving them selfs big fat bonuses but, Genesee Justice you all need to go cut your own grass and beg for money...People wake up..Mary Pat Hancock show some leadership...
I call it tone deaf, Mark.
I call it tone deaf, Mark. Elected officials making an arrogant effort to completely ignore constituents calls for reform and accountability for one bloated entity, while they strong arm two other departments that actually are making the effort to cut costs and implement shared sacrifice.
The problem with their set of double standards is all of their hypocrisy slips are showing.
Lorie and Mark, I agree with
Lorie and Mark, I agree with you. The legislators' answer will be that they were voted in because of their stand to eliminate programs that helped those in need (elderly, children, etc). The voters saw that as the solution to higher taxes.
So, while it may look as if they are turning a deaf ear, they see it as doing exactly what their constituents want.
If you read back, how many are for corporate welfare? How many looked upon heaping tax money on those perceived as creating wealth (ie., GCEDC)since those entities bring jobs to the area?
Genesee Justice and the nursing home are easy targets for the legislators.
What have we seen so far?
* Scoff at the efforts of GJ to find a way to finance their programs.
* Hold the nursing home's feet to the fire to prove that they are cutting and slashing their operating costs.
* Continued praise heaped on GCEDC while they continue to line their pockets.
It isn't a deaf ear. It is calculated and fool proof.
Do you really think that any of them are that worried about upcoming elections? If they were, they certainly would be singing a different tune.
Bea pretty much nailed
Bea pretty much nailed it.
The problem with this legislature isn't that they're always doing the wrong thing, it's that they don't understand WHY people don't like what they're doing. They can't fathom a world in which they're wrong and people are pissed about it. They believe we'll all come around to their way of thinking eventually, so why bother listening to constituents?
Bea, Chris, Will know in
Bea, Chris,
Will know in November, right?
Maybe yes, maybe no. As you
Maybe yes, maybe no. As you know, it's very difficult to find people to run for office, any office. Things are starting to line up though.
As always, anyone interested in running for office in Genesee County can contact me at charvellac(at)rochester.rr.com
Chris you hit the nail on the
Chris you hit the nail on the head..John I don't think we will know in November...If their is no one to run against any of them , for one..Plus most people in this county don't have the slightest idea of what is going on..Look at City Council,they don't listen either.People want no more tax increases..What do they do raise taxes and add jobs..............................A little off topic but i see the city is in a uproar about that property on Bank St.next to Dwyer..And how we have to spend money to try to get it clean up..Where was the city all the years is was in operation..They should of been all over the owners back then about keeping it all cleaned up..Never proactive just reactive.
Mark. Like any operation
Mark.
Like any operation "back then", nobody watched what that yard was doing. Not the Feral, State, County or City governments. In fact, the City was the least able to monitor it since they never had an environmental department. Everyone was just happy that they employed people and paid taxes.