A recent editorial at the Chico News and Review titled “Plan lacks transparency: We have more questions than answers about the Jesus Center’s efforts to centralize homeless services” criticizes the Jesus Center for it’s lack in transparency both in it’s planning and decision-making procedures surrounding the proposed moving of the Center away from the downtown and in revealing the cost of hiring homeless-consultant/hater Robert Marbut. The editorial asks
“How much was Marbut paid by the Jesus Center? We don’t know, because [Jesus Center executive Director Laura] Cootsona refuses to tell the CN&R. We do know that he was paid more than $100,000 for his work in Sarasota County, Fla., where, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the region ‘ended up with very little direct benefit.’ We should note that this isn’t the only instance in which the Jesus Center has been secretive about its budget. This newspaper’s attempts to simply report on the success of its annual Run for Food event has been met with a refusal to share that information as well.”
The editorial concludes that “[b]efore the city agrees to a lease of the taxpayer-owned property, there needs to be a much more thorough vetting of this potential project.” Kudos to the CNR for shining a light on one of many suspect aspects of this proposed Jesus Center move.