Phil. Inquirer embarrasses Corbett into investigating $7 billion Hershey Trust

[JPZenger]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20101008_Pa__attorney_general_probes_millions_in_land_deals_by_Hershey_School_s_trust.html

The $7 billion Hershey Trust is a secretive organization controlled by Republican powerbrokers that pays its boardmembers absurd amounts of money for part-time work. For many years, a group of alumni activists have begged Corbett to conduct an investigation. He has constantly ignored their requests.

The Trust was set up by Milton Hershey for a single and clearly stated purpose - to fund a boarding school for orphans and other needy kids (the Milton Hershey School). He donated almost his entire fortune to the Trust 30 years before he died, and then moved into a 2 room apartment.

Now a well-written set of investigative articles in the Phila. Inquirer has uncovered very questionable land deals - including the Trust paying twice the appraised value for a failing country club. The purchase bailed out many powerful people, including one of the Trust boardmembers.

The article also describes how the Trust spent $7.5 of charitable funds to buy a roadside stand named "Pumpkin World USA." Then they simply leased the property back to the operators.

The Trust spent $40 million on an ill-conceived program that experts told them was doomed to failure. They then shut in down after one year.

[wisteria]

1. Interesting stuff-Republicans helping Republicans by ignoring questionable deals. n/t

[old mark]

2. Wonder what ever happened to the boarding school for orphans.....

fucking republicans.

Corbett probably got money from them, even indirectly. He is a real crook, and wants to be our governor...


mark

[JPZenger]

3. Meanwhile school cutback on dental care, trips, expansion

The Milton Hershey School was supposed to be expanded in enrollment to meet severe needs. Much of those expansion plans have been frozen while the Board has wasted millions on their own compensation and other wasteful projects. The Board has also reduced spending on dental care for the students, ended most funding for trips by the houseparents with their students, and eliminated some of the agricultural programs, including selling off all of the cows. The dairy farm was an integral part of the school for 99 years - until last year.

[howaboutme]

4. Why isn't Onorato all over this with campaign ads?

Or better yet why wasn't Corbett all over this while serving as Attorney General and coincidentally running for Republican governor, which is something that should be made illegal?

Any politician or public official should be required to resign their existing position to run for a new office just as would anyone who works in the private sector - but that is another subject.

I agree that the Inquirer has done an excellent job on investigating and reporting this, which is what newspapers used to do regularly before they went corporate.

[JPZenger]

5. They spent $7.5 million on roadside stand named Pumpkin World USA

The Trust spent $7.5 million of Mr. Hershey's charitable funds to buy a roadside stand called "Pumpkin World USA." They then leased the stand back to the people they bought it from.

[Divernan]

6. Tom Ridge gets $200,000 per year for being board member

Former GOP state attorney general Leroy Zimmerman got $499,996 for 2 yrs. on Hershey boards.
Lynn Swann gets $100,000 per year (guess that was part of his payoff to be a sacrificial lamb in the governor's race).

The main regulatory agency for PA. charities is the state Attorney General's office. Obviously the present GOP Atty. General, Corbett, didn't want to investigate a former GOP Atty. General (Zimmerman), or a former GOP governor, Tom Ridge.

[JPZenger]

7. Zimmerman makes $499,999 Per Year for Part-time work

Just a clarification - Zimmerman makes $499K per year in compensation for serving part-time on 3 Hershey boards. The boards appoint the members of each other. An editorial in today's Patriot-News also ties Zimmerman's law firm to the near bankruptcy of the city of Harrisburg, which could also bring down Dauphin County.

[WinkyDink]

9. That's GOVERNOR Corbett, to you. OMG, PA is lost.

[WinkyDink]

8. Sounds like how the Mafia operates.