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Roland Williams Trying to hustle Rochester, NY Taxpayers. |
Rochester, NY is ranked as the third poorest city in the U.S.
The child poverty rate in Rochester is 46 percent, more than double the 20 percent U.S. national average.
Every day in Rochester, NY, thousands of low-income families, with young children, a strong concentration of which are African-American and Latinos, and many of them single parent homes, struggle to put food on the table.
For many young children in Rochester, NY, dinner consists of a pack of high sodium, Ramen noodle soup.
Despite these disturbing numbers, not to mention Rochester's growing homeless population, Rochester, NY Mayor Lovely Warren, the city's first woman mayor, and second African-American mayor, refuses to address the crisis in her city.
Instead, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, seems more interested lining her own pockets.
And those of her friends.
And those of her friends.
Enter Roland Williams, a Rochester, NY native, and former NFL star.
Williams, who played tight end for Syracuse University, was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the 1998 NFL Draft.
In 2000, Roland Williams, and his Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV, beating the Tennessee Titans.
After his NFL career, which was cut short due to a knee injury, Roland Williams has enjoyed success, which has included several gigs as a sports analyst for the past 10 years, as well as a self touted "motivational speaker."
Roland Williams' many many gigs have included CBS Sports, NBC Sports, ABC Sports, ESPN, MTV, Nickelodeon, NFL Network, CNBC, Fox, Fox Sports Net, CBS, and many more TV, radio, online and more.
Yep.
Roland Williams has been busy hustlin'.
But is Roland Williams trying to hustle the City of Rochester, NY?
In early June, several Rochester, NY City Council members, including Carolee Conklin took issue with Rochester, NY Mayor Lovely Warren wanting to hire Roland Williams to hold a 10-day football camp for inner city youth.
The price to Rochester taxpayers?
$250,000.
Rochester councilwoman Conklee questioned why there was no Request for Proposals issued.
"It is to protect the integrity of city taxpayers dollars to assure there's no favoritism involved and that everyone has an equal chance to submit a proposal to do something," councilwoman Conklin.
Hmmm...
"Favoritism."
Interesting.
So what did Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren have to say?
Well, her Lovely Warren's reply was also interesting.
Warren said Roland Williams didn't need to submit a Request for Proposals (RFP) because of his "unique qualifications."
"When you're looking for a specialty service and you have someone that has the professionalism and also the expertise he has to provide not only the leadership around football but also around mentoring and other things," Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said.
"He's done it here before and we're so very proud he's coming here to do it again."
Lovely Warren was referring to the last time Roland Williams was awarded a contract from the City of Rochester.
Which was in 2001.
That contact was for $10,000.
Rochester, NY City councilwoman Conklin also questioned Roland Williams' "administrative costs."
The contract proposal called for $76,000 to be spent on "administrative fees."
Councilwoman Conklin said she was also concerned that Roland Williams' $250,000 football camp, which would recruit only 100 male youths, didn't address the needs of girls.
Excellent point.
I mean what about at risk girls?
Many of whom even engage in unprotected sex, only to become pregnant.
What about them?
Paying a quarter of a million dollars to some washed up, ex NFL football player for what?
After the mounting criticism over his proposed football camp, including the fact that Rochester, NY Mayor Lovely Warren, who is friends with Williams, showed favoritism in order to secure $250,000 in taxpayer dollars, Roland Williams all of a sudden said he could hold the camp for $34,000.
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BFF's Rochester, NY Mayor Lovely Warren with Roland Williams |
From $250,000 to $34,000?
Friends with the Mayor?
No proposal requests?
Ok.
Here's my take on all this.
Williams, who lives in Los Angeles, is trying to hustle Rochester taxpayers.
While he pays put his hustle, Roland Williams is staying at the ritzy Strathallan Hotel, on East Avenue in Rochester.
He's trying to make money off Rochester's poor, inner city youth.
Mr. Williams, I don't trust you.
Neither do Rochester taxpayers.
At risk, inner city black youth don't need football to make it of the hood.
They need strong black fathers.
They need real men.
Football may have been your ticket out of the 'hood Mr. Williams, but any inner city youth has more chances of hitting the lottery than ever being drafted by the NFL.
You know that Mr. Williams.
You're selling a dream.
And you're selling it to the most vulnerable, impressionable young minds.
I gotta hand it to you, that was a slick move on your part, trying to have your friend Mayor Lovely Warren get you a quarter of a million dollars.
Even 'padding' the costs, by adding $76,000 in non-specific, "administrative fees."
Even 'padding' the costs, by adding $76,000 in non-specific, "administrative fees."
Roland Williams we're on to your hustle.
By the way, who's paying for your luxury suite at The Strathallan?
And how much cash were you gonna hit your girl Lovely Warren off with from that $250 grand?
And how much cash were you gonna hit your girl Lovely Warren off with from that $250 grand?
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