When auditors come to the City of Richmond, look out because
the results probably won’t be pleasant, at least not the in the case of
Richmond’s social services. And wouldn’t you know it, a Richmond
City auditor’s report released on Thursday by the Richmond Inspector
General’s office concluded that the Richmond Department of Social Services is
endangering the health and safety of children in order to decrease their
numbers in foster care.
Although Mayor Dwight C. Jones called the report “painful to
read,” there didn’t appear to be any immediate and substantive moves to correct
these gross circumstances other than announcing the retirement of the Director
for the Richmond Department of Social Services (Doris D. Moseley) and the
resignation of a former deputy director who had been reassigned (Gayle L.
Turner).
Jones commented, “When we initiated the reviews of the
Department of Social Services, I said that would take immediate corrective
actions as we became aware of problems…I fully expect the Department of Social
Services to address each and every concern raised by this audit report and the
two reports to follow.” Otherwise known in bureaucratic speak as “We’ll see
what we can do, but don’t hold your breath.”
For one reason or another, the City of Richmond seems
incapable of living up to its true potential. Whether it’s corruption, incompetence,
negligence, abuse, and everything outside or in-between, the City of Richmond
cannot walk the straight and narrow path towards a more just and
socioeconomically viable city.
Of course, some folks will beg to differ, claiming that
Richmond “isn’t all that bad” or that I’m being unfair, myself. And maybe I am
being a tad bit critical of Richmond. But if I am, it’s only because Richmond
can be another Charlotte, a Raleigh-Durham, and the like, if it focuses on the
future and not short-term gain.
The audit report really isn’t surprising and it is doubtless
only the tip of the iceberg in regards to the how ineffective, inefficient, and
inhumane the city is run on a day-to-day basis. I hope this report will serve
as a real wake-up call to city officials and its residents.
Sadly, the report was ONLY about children in foster care. And
who, after all, really cares about this group of INDIVIDUALS, right?
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