When it was first formed, its tax-exempt status was briefly revoked when it screwed up a tax return (known as a 990). The group is run by volunteers, some of whom are retired Gracedale workers. That revocation was lifted within a few months after the error was corrected, and all donations and gifts are tax exempt, including those made during the revocation.
You can see the IRS Determination here:
No harm, no foul, right?
Not according to NorCo County. Solicitor Missy Rudas has sent not one, but two certified letters to Friends of Gracedale demanding that it stop raising funds and "cease and desist" from using Gracedale as part of its name.
Here's her latest missive:
In this letter, Rudas contends that her determination is based on a review of the IRS website. Missy is not stupid, so I can only conclude that someone at Gracedale or in county administration misread the webpage and subsequently misinformed her.
In my own review of the IRS website, which took 5 minutes, the IRS determination that Friends of Gracedale (posted above) is clearly linked. So are the tax returns for years 2020-2024 (they are 990-N returns because the gross receipts are very small).
I was unaware that the NorCo Solicitor's office enforces the federal tax code. That would be news to the IRS. That office should have done its research a little better.
I suspect what really is going on here is a what amounts to a hostile takeover. Executive Tara Zriski has created a Continuum of Care department, and part of that department will be raising funds for what amounts to a massive Gracedale Village that will include housing, medical offices, assisted living, and a refurbished nursing home.
That's fine, but that's a county project. Friends of Gracedale exists for the residents, not for county development.
The irony is inescapable. "The County of Northampton does not want Gracedale to be associated with the Foundation being out of compliance with IRS regulations..." Aside from the inaccuracy of this statement, what about Gracedale itself NOT BEING IN COMPLIANCE with state regulations??? Is this lawyer intentionally acting like an idiot?
ReplyDeleteTZ using tRUMP's playbook 101 - deceive, backstab and sue.
ReplyDeleteThese people are ruthless! Zrinski is already turning out to be the disaster many predicted. I was cautiously optimistic, but now I’m convinced this isn’t going to end well.
ReplyDeleteThere was no reason for such an ugly and misinformed letter.
DeleteJust think, only 3 &1/2 years of mismanagement and pipe dreams to go.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. Bullying an organization doing great things for the elderly. Solicitor wants to know the amount in account which is none of the counties business. Directing them to stop coming into Gracedale is just sad. About the Gracedale Village, is she nuts? Thats like putting lipstick on a pig. Fix the problem of Gracedale. Is there a qualified, cerified head of Gracedale with nursing home administration degree of masters degree and years experience? They need to stop the nonsense, leave this group alone and get to route of problem.
ReplyDeleteJust as the ultra-woke socialist/communists are destroying Title IV and women's sports using their LGBTQIA2S++ ridiculousness, the ultra woke socialist/communist Zrinski is destroying Gracedale with her out of control authoritarian nonsense. It's akin to a dog chasing its tail until it bites it off. It's almost like they want Gracedale to crash and burn. She's an enigma wrapped in a disaster. She'd bankrupt a lemonade stand on a hot day, and she wants to make much larger that which she can't manage at its current size. Baffling.
ReplyDeletePlease take a sedative.
DeleteSorry, scooter. Can one obtain a sedative from a Gracedale "patient?"
DeleteThis really is right out of the Republican playbook. This took place in Hellertown / Lower Saucon, when Banonis and Carroci tried to hijack the Friends of the Hellertown library as well as the library itself (both non-profits) to capture their funds and the library endowment. What is the problem with politicians who want to suck up every bit of money from their constituents? It crosses party lines.
ReplyDeleteThis is Tara’s idea and the last time I checked, she’s a Democrat. The Gracedale city and the department she created to also raise funds to build that city changes the status of the Friends of Gracedale if she includes them to raise funds so they are no longer a 501.3c., right? Duh! Cutting that nose off again to spite the face.
DeleteThey want the money to pay for the new positions.
ReplyDeleteOk, so Tarable is using the Orange Man's playbook. This confuses me. Tarable won because people are upset with the Dorito Dictator so they punished local republicans by overwhelmingly voting for Tarable. But if she is using the Citrus Ceasar "101" approach then everyone actually voted for that which they were trying to vote against. Got it. Good job everyone. Terrible, I mean Tarable.
ReplyDeleteThe letter was the wrong way to handle what should have been a cordial informal inquiry. The factual mistake is not excusable. There was no cause to launch an adversarial position and demand under the circumstances. The solicitor and exec are presented with a test of leadership and character. Will they apologize or will they double down? Only the former would signal the character expected from those their positions.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is that my tax money is paying for this harassment. Leave my Friends alone!
ReplyDeleteGosh, any chance Asst Solicitor McClure had anything to do with this? A first year law student would have handled this more competently than Rudas. Hard to believe this was at the top of the “To Do” list for the Solicitor’s Office. I hope her necessary apology gets widespread publicity. Time for a competent local attorney to step up with an offer of pro bono assistance to help the non-profit respond to this outrageous letter.
ReplyDeleteThe Friends of Gracedale letter is to distract from the stupidity of the Gracedale Villiage proposal.
ReplyDeleteThe Gracedale Villiage proposal was made to distract from the failure to manage Gracedale properly.
Such is the way of incompetent leaders,
- deflect and distract.
It will continue as long as Zrinski has a pool of uninformed voters supporting her, or enough people demand that she solves the core problem of Gracedale first.
I actually think the Gracedale Village idea is a great long-range plan. It achieves quite a few goals, but the care crisis needs to be addressed first. It is quite clearly being managed poorly.
ReplyDeleteThe county can't manage its current size. A larger Gracedale managed by the same people is a disaster in the making. They had one job, and they screwed it up.
DeleteBernie, Thank you for your accurate and public reporting
ReplyDeleteregarding this recent attempt to stop and possibly take over the Friends of Gracedale Foundation.
For the record, Scott and I offered
the county the outlines for developing their own county controlled 501C3 which would have allowed tax free donations offered from supporters and patrons of Gracedale, to be controlled by the county.
Sadly, the proposal was tabled by the council, and left to die in limbo, never to be discussed again. After council refused to act, Scott and I put together a program which mirrored many successful local 501C3 programs and had the backing of former Gracedale personnel, concerned citizens, lawyers, and a congressman. The actions taken by the administration and council are disappointing knowing that
The executive and any council member could have easily reached out to Scott or myself for accurate, and factual information,
and chose not to. Thank you for bringing this to the public’s attention. Gracedale itself has done nothing except age with those it takes in, but the people who are charged with the home’s oversight will define its future.
Respectfully ,
Bob Werner
Former Northampton County Councilman