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** 1. Upper Darby concealed misspending information from resident; HUD handed it over ([link removed])
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By Brad Vasoli

When Upper Darby resident John DeMasi sought information in late May on a federal probe of township misspending, the township demurred. This month, when he turned to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency let him see the documents.

The contrasting responses from the state and federal governments underscore issues Upper Darby has contended with in light of the HUD revelations. Among those issues is transparency — or lack thereof.

The information the township withheld from DeMasi included the May 14 HUD report that Broad + Liberty obtained via its own federal Freedom of Information Act request. That letter detailed Upper Darby’s misspending of $40,000 in federal funds. On July 8, this outletreported ([link removed]) on the improper expenditures of money from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

Why It Matters. CDBG funds typically go toward such activities as public-facility improvements and housing assistance. Last year, the use of the grants for holiday toy giveaways caught the attention of Councilwoman Laura Wentz, a former Democrat who is now an independent. She felt that providing holiday gifts, food and other items to poor families was a worthy cause but she raised objections over how the township and Men of Action Brothers of Faith (MOABOF), a nonprofit then run by Brown, administered the giveaways.

Wentz questioned the municipality spending about $6,000 on toys for the 2021 holiday event, complaining that the purchases were improperly documented. She also took issue with a Target receipt for a $153 hoverboard, a much larger expenditure than most of the other toys, most of which cost between $10 and $20 each. The councilwoman also said she found it irregular that the township bought the items and sought reimbursement on behalf of a nonprofit rather than CBDG reimbursing the organization.

In her opinion, township officials exploited the holiday charity efforts for “political purposes.”

Quotable. “It does appear that the new mayor was getting all these benefits and all the Township Council members that signed on were using this giveaway in their political propaganda saying, ‘Look at what we’re doing; we’re all supporting this,’” DeMasi said. “So, yeah, that’s absolutely political.”

Continue Reading ([link removed])


** 2. Deception, hypocrisy, and failure ([link removed])
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By Guy Ciarrocchi

Biden lied about his health. Harris defended his lies, told her own lies, and attacked anyone who challenged the lies.

When they could no longer effectively lie to us — Americans had seen and heard too much — when Democrat donors and left-wing activists realized that Biden was no longer useful to them because he couldn’t win, and when the oligarchy feared he would cause them to lose the Senate and the House, they worked feverishly through leaks, pressure and tweets to get rid of him.

Finally, he was left alone with his family and a handful of loyalists. Like the final hours of a banana republic dictator awaiting word that it’s time to leave the palace ahead of the coup.

Why It Matters. Kamala Harris is as blameworthy as him and his team — even more so.

Biden’s statement is filled with deception after deception — including hiding the reason he’s not running for re-election. Biden tragically built his career and ran his campaigns misleading us — with a false biography, misleading economic data, and a “mistaken” family history, including anecdotes he stole from British candidates. He couldn’t even be honest as he steps aside from running.

Kamala Harris not only told the same lies and created the same failed record, but she defended his deception. Moreover, she attacked anyone who challenged their false narrative.

Continue Reading ([link removed])


** 3. Podcasts
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* Top Election Predictor Weighs in on 2024 Winner ([link removed]) | Voices of Reason – A Podcast by PoliticsPA


** 4. Lightning Round
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* Ben Mannes: Secret Service hearing showcases a national decline in law enforcement quality ([link removed])
* Robertson + D’Orsie: Generation Z needs school choice ([link removed])
* George Hofmann: Jefferson’s mistake ([link removed])
* Andy Bloom: Another fine mess ([link removed])


** 5. What we're reading
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The stock markets aren’t great this week (don’t look at your 401k!) but the oldest investment is doing fine: gold! Suzy Weiss at the Free Press looks at the new-old trend ([link removed]) . They’ve even got gold at Costco now! How much are people buying? Hard to say. “The first rule of gold is never to tell anyone how much gold you have,” Ephraim Rinsky tells Weis. “The second rule is never tell anyone where your gold is.”

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With gratitude,

— The Editors at Broad + Liberty
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