Here's another question too -- why are tax dollars being spent for anyone to take in a Broadway musical? We don't want to pay health care but entertainment's okay? I'm surprised at you, Amy, for not picking up on that.

For the events, it seems less like a "why are as many employees as children or mentors attending" question and more like a "why is the county paying $87.50 a head for anyone to attend" question.

If they want to have a "mixer" where kids and mentors meet the employees, they could do it in far better and cheaper settings.

Great question, Say What. And jenl, good point. Absolutely right, in the case of the theater tickets. I believe the gift cards, however, were just a means of giving the children funds for food and clothing without giving them cash.

Hello! (Don't you just love that expression?)Hello!
Economics?
Anytime there is a basket of goodies left on the counter, people are going to help themselves. They might be sneaky about it, they might rationalize that it's no big deal and they might spread the goodies around to create lots of accomplices. There are a handful of people on the planet who don't do this and the rest of us laugh at them behind their backs. Until we don't get invited along, then we scream for vengeance. Anyone not stealing a little is stealing a lot.

Put a profit motive in place and suddenly even half-cents are accounted for.

This reporter did just what his editor sent him to do: go find a poor bastard/heartless scumbag situation that will get people's juices flowing and here we are. Rest assured, all the wrong people will be fired and the rats who run the thing will continue to get fat on our dime.

Amy, you are not too persistent to be a reporter, the word he was afraid to use was agressive. But even that's like saying you are too good-looking to be a fish-gutter, no love lost. If you were a reporter, each source would be good for exactly one story. You'd shut your "beat" down in a matter of months because potential sources would be afraid to be seen talking to you. Aim higher kid.

Thanks, Martin...and actually, I am a reporter in what I do. I do tremendous research and digging, and write only one column a week because I don't want to present anything but the best, data-based advice I can possibly give. Part of my work goes on in my own head -- stripping away status quo ideas and fighting out what the solutions are. I just think it's wrong to have a job as a reporter or opinionator and be lazy about it.

The musical events don't bother me. They were purchased from a budget specifically for musical events. Roughly two-thirds of the tickets went to kids and their chaperones/mentors. I have no problem turning the rest into a small perk to incentivize those volunteers and/or underpaid employees who work in what is likely one of the most thankless professions around.

Using gift cards to fund banquets bothers me a lot more - as described, its out and out stealing.

I don't like this story either. Most of the missing cards I believe were $100.00 Target cards. The kids are supposed to be able to buy clothes or personals what ever. Better than giving cash. I don't think a little culture for these kids is a terrible thing either. The ones that stole should be fired. The one that said they were all gone (she had not done her Christmas shopping yet)Really should be fired. It is a thankless job, does not mean "Thank yourself"!

Here's a woman with the kind of commitment to the actual job that you're supposed to see (although she works in child custody):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7cEi61W24