ROGER MONROE
It’s interesting how financial scandals in Peoria seem to just go away without resolution for people who want to know. Those who want to know are taxpayers, donors and contributors. That means just about everyone.
In recent conversations with friends, not a single person knew if anyone was prosecuted for missing and/or misspent money at WTVP, public television. There were investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies, but no one was prosecuted. Former Channel 47 president and CEO Lesley Matuszak took her own life, otherwise she may have been charged with forgery and embezzlement, said Peoria police.
I don’t think anyone believes not a single person at the station was unaware of Matuszak’s alleged financial misdeeds.
Apparently, a financial “angel” decided to come forward with a $1.2 million donation to help stabilize the financial challenges WTVP was facing. Rumors say it was John Wieland, who became board chairman. A bunch of board members resigned and all is forgotten.
But not completely.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting issued an 83-page audit last year listing the violations committed by WTVP and recommending changes.
Channel 47 receives federal funds, so it has a fiduciary responsibility to reveal who, what and when, beyond new president and CEO Jenn Gordon, saying “We agree with all of the inspector general’s findings.”
To her credit, Gordon said last year the station would implement all of the recommendations of the CPB. Finally, have the Peoria Police Department, the Peoria County State’s Attorney, and the Illinois Attorney General completed their investigations? Is WTVP once again receiving federal funding?
Within a few short months, Peoria got another black eye when officials started pushing a Chicago-based program “Cure Violence” as an answer to reduce crime. It got off to a rough start when an elected official had a somewhat financial connection to the organization. Of course, many critics said, “If the program is so successful, why is Chicago still considered one of the most dangerous cities in the country?”
Peoria officials had so much money from the American Rescue Program that it was “burning holes in their pockets.” They couldn’t wait to spend it on fighting crime rather than fill potholes so they handed out cash like M&M’s candy on Halloween.
Among those “Trick and Treaters” was the City/County Health Department which had absolutely zero experience in fighting crime. It received an estimated $600,000 from the city and awarded the House of Hope $563,000. Shortly thereafter, the scandal broke. Money went missing. To this day no one has reported to the media or the City Council, how much disappeared. At one time there were reports more than $200,000. Later it was reduced to just $80,000 unaccountable.
It is now 2025 and all is quiet. The scandal has gone away as planned. No reports on the missing money. No charges. I remember years ago, when a local hospital administrator was allegedly caught “with his hands in the cookie jar” as stated to me by a hospital trustee. Instead of prosecuting the official, he was given a financial package and sent on his way. They didn’t want the disclosure to be an embarrassment to the medical facility.
WHAT IF? The new Peoria County Health and Human Services Center at 2116 North Sheridan Road is a community asset. Costing $21.3 million, the building helps consolidate a variety of county departments. Pardon me for saying this, but it seems out of place in an area that is largely residential. As a former County Board member, I know the county owns the land, and thus, that was one of the primary reasons to build the new structure where the health department was located. However, a better, though more expensive, location would’ve been Downtown. The city needs a Downtown development boost. Possible locations could’ve been the corner of Hamilton and Jefferson across from the County Courthouse or the old Mark Twain Hotel, once considered a site for the County Jail. Another possible location was Madison and Hamilton. That would include demolition of the old Madison Theater. Renovation of the theater is a “pipe dream” and not needed now that the Scottish Rite Cathedral is breathing new life.
Just a “What if?” thought and not intended to rain on the parade of praise of the new government center.
OUTSTANDING LOCAL COVERAGE: Hats off to WAZU’s morning radio show for the outstanding news coverage of the tragic crash of an American Eagle passenger jet airliner and a military helicopter near the Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C.
The program featured former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood hours before he appeared nationally on Fox News. He was followed by former Peorian Dick Crain, a pilot with Southwest Airlines who has flown in and out of the D.C. airport hundreds of times. Later, Col. Rusty Ballard, commanding officer of the 182nd Airlift Wing, and an experienced helicopter pilot, joined the conversation. Their thoughts were informative, insightful and locally exclusive. We thank them for joining us.
MORE ON BRADLEY ATTENDANCE: Last month we wrote about the declining attendance for Bradley basketball games. One reader didn’t think 5,000 fans was nothing to sneeze about and noted Bradley ranks second in attendance in the Missouri Valley.
I think most long-time Bradley fans can remember not too long ago when 9,000-plus fans packed the Civic Center as in the years when Jim Les was coach. As a student, I recall when close to 8,500 people were jammed together at Robertson Memorial Field House to see games with Creighton, Louisville, Cincinnati, and St. Louis instead of contests with Belmont, Valpo, and the University of Illinois-Chicago. The only way we’ll see those numbers again is when Bradley becomes a Top 25 team, and, it could happen under Coach Brian Wardle.
Let’s hope it does.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” — Benjamin Franklin