BY MIKE CETERA
A week after Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed money for the crime-fighting initiative Project CeaseFire, the state's auditor general has released a scathing report on the program, which is based in Chicago, but has a troubled start-up in Aurora.
The audit, and media reports, focus largely on the problems in Chicago. But Aurora's CeaseFire, championed by State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, is referenced throughout the report.
And the findings aren't flattering.
The report makes it unclear what Aurora has accomplished with its program, at least early on (The report doesn't appear to address what has occurred locally since a reorganization last year.). Between June 2005 and June 2006 (when the local chapter was largely dormant), CeaseFire staff responded to four shootings, but made no home visits, mediated no conflicts and made no in-person contacts. Compare that to another program, Rockford, which responded to 30 shootings, made 944 home visits, mediated 15 conflicts and had 1,471 in-person contacts.
In addition, Aurora hosted one community activity with 60 people in attendance. Meanwhile, Rockford hosted 35 community activities with 2,329 attendees.
Rockford also had 78 active faith-based leaders compared to none in Aurora.
Other problems:
-- Aurora CeaseFire was "contractually obligated" to hire outreach workers, whose job is to be "the 'front-line' in the CeaseFire Campaign to Stop the Shooting. The job description included with every subcontract states that 'Skilled outreach workers are a key ingredient to the success of the initiative.'"
The report showed Aurora had failed to hire enough outreach workers during two time periods measured.
-- Aurora CeaseFire hasn't received the amount of money the General Assembly allocated for the local projgect.
In 2004, Aurora was supposed to receive $65,000; it received $28,133.
In 2005, Aurora was supposed to receive $70,201; it received no money.
In 2006, Aurora was supposed to receive $250,000; it received $115,432.69.
-- The report showed it took the University of Illinois at Chicago 248 days to execute an agreement with Aurora's program, meaning the local project was "allowed to initiate work without a written agreement in place."
Why does the auditor think this is a problem?
"Failure to execute a subcontract with the community partners, and allowing those partners to initiate work without an executed contract, does not bind the the community partner to comply with applicable laws, regulations and rules and may result in improper payments."
Chicago leaders acknowledge problems in "start-up" communities like Aurora, but urge patience.
From a letter written by Walter K. Knorr, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, addressing the findings:
"Program start-up requires specific training of the new community organization's staff, the recruitment and selection of program managers, outreach supervisors and outreach workers, followed by intensive off-site and on-site training on the CeaseFire model...."These required processes are not 'delays' in start-up but are essential steps in laying the foundation for a sound program...."
The important thing is that CeaseFire Aurora has passed out lots of stickers reminding us to "stop killing people."
To be fair, they have had virtually no resources until recently. But as far as I know, the organization has employed two outreach workers for the past 6 months. Those guys have both the experience and authorization to have credible discussions with gang members & their families.
It may be too soon to look for results, but I'd like to see some current numbers about home visits, post-shooting contacts, etc.
We have had several shootings in our area over the years, and I have never seen a Ceasefire person. There were too many politicians trying to get an "atta-boy" for their re-election to concentrate of having good people run this program. I don't think Aurora was the right place for this type of program.