going small

How to find stories in overlooked corners
of local and state government

Michael LaForgia
Tampa Bay Times

mlaforgia@tampabay.com
@laforgia_

where to look



Relatively small, local government offices - or smaller arms of larger state government agencies - in charge of serving
large, vulnerable populations.


example one:

Hillsborough County's Division of Social Services

"The Social Services Department provides comprehensive case management programs as well as stabilization services to low-income residents of Hillsborough County."



AVAILABLE SERVICES:
Utilities / Energy Assistance 
Adult Education and Training (GED, Technical Training)   
Homeless Prevention / Rental Assistance
Youth Development (Scholarships, College Prep, Year Round Youth Engagement   
Free Tax Preparation
Aftermath of a local disaster
Other programs and services may be available 

example two

Your school district's Title I office

"Supplemental Educational Services (SES) is additional academic instruction designed to increase students’ academic achievement in reading, mathematics and/or science.  This tutoring takes place outside of the regular school day by state-approved SES providers.  Tutoring will start by Mid-October."

example three

Palm Beach County's Division of Human and Veteran Services

"The Summer Camp Scholarship Program provides full-tuition and fees for summer camp for children residing in families with incomes at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. It allows parents to work with the knowledge that their children are safe. It gives children educational and recreational opportunities for growth. Parents may choose from participating camps in Palm Beach County."

common threads

  • Relatively small budgets*
  • Rely on a large pool of private providers
  • Hand out money either annually or on a revolving basis, 
    in the form of contracts or payment vouchers







         *Title I money can be a huge pot depending on the size and makeup of your district.

CHOOSING YOUR STORY

Homicide detectives don't try to solve murders
unless they're sure somebody got killed.

We shouldn't either.

FIND A BODY

Always be on the lookout.
Read widely and take every tip seriously.

Examples: 

  • A caller says the port authority chairman is a slumlord
  • A news story says an after-school tutor abused a student
  • An emailer says kids are at risk at unregulated camps



Find a body



  • If the slumlord is earning tax dollars
    to house the homeless ...
  • If the tutor is hired by the school district ...
  • If the camps are paid for by the county ...

It is happening again.

step one: get a list of providers


  • Ask for provider directories.
    Try to get them in spreadsheet form.

  • Ask for a breakdown of all payments
    to providers in a given time period.


Then it's decision time.

how many are there?

  • One or two hundred?

    Check them all out.

  • Significantly more?

    Use payment data to home in
    on the top earners.*

*Don't automatically abandon the story if the dollar amounts seem low.

homeless recovery vendors

tutoring vendors

summer camp scholarships

step two: find out who's getting paid


Many providers will be private companies.
Find out who runs them. You want to make a list
of all companies' officers and directors.

  • By searching corporate records on file with the state.*
  • By checking with regulators for ownership info
  • By requesting provider applications.
  • By requesting contract documents.
    Who's signing for the companies?

*Don't screw this up.

bay gardens


twister tutors

nu-attitude development center



step three: check out the providers

The big question is: What's the government buying here? Quality housing? Quality tutoring? Quality child care?

Test your provider pool.

You don't have to have every public record memorized.
Just think through the problem and see what you
can get your hands on.

 

For places

  • Police calls for service
  • Code enforcement/building inspection reports
  • Health department records
  • Civil suits
  • State/local regulator reports


And don't just rely on the paperwork. Visit the places.


For people

  • Police reports (listed in any capacity)
  • State and federal criminal history
  • State and federal civil courts
  • Sex offender registries
  • State and local licensing bureaus and regulators
  • Employee directories/personnel data
    for the contracting agency*




*To look for conflicts of interest.

unlicensed

the principal



the preacher






other places to look


  • Lists of vendors who are barred
    from doing business with the agency.
  • Complaints against vendors.
  • Contract terminations, with letters.
  • Inspector general reports and audits.

step four: dig into the program

Try to find out what went wrong and whether
anybody was warned of problems.
  • Clip searches
  • Audits and inspector general reports
  • Personnel files of key staff
  • Emails

Side note: If you get anyone fired, seek them out
and talk to them.






http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/hillsborough-county-sent-the-sick-and-dying-to-squalid-unlicensed-home/2153941

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/educators-running-government-funded-tutoring-companies-create-concern-over/2135719

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/sex-offender-other-felons-ran-palm-beach-county-ca/nLmmM/