PERSPECTIVE-The Queen’s Gambit is an opening chess move initiated by the player of the white pieces. The black player can accept or decline the gambit, affecting the subsequent strategy of the game.
IBEW Local 18 boss Brian D’Arcy is attempting to cool the pressure on his union to allow access to financial information of two controversial trusts by providing existing internal audit reports instead.
Right.
That would be the same as allowing a litigant to cherry-pick the evidence for a trial.
Enron and other corrupt organizations had internal audits, too. For that matter, the external auditors (who are routinely chosen by the boards of organizations), were also in on the shenanigans.
D’Arcy’s move is nothing but a gambit, one which should be declined by Ron Galperin and Mike Feuer.
Sure, take the internal reports for what they are worth, but do not relinquish the pressure on the union chief as he attempts to illude transparency.
You see, internal audit reports have limited value. If you were an investor, you would place little reliance on them in making buy/sell decisions. Internal audits are more focused on policies and procedures within an organization, even more so for one that is not traded.
In the case of the two institutes, if the underlying policies and procedures support objectives that are not in the best interests of the city’s residents, a clean report will not necessarily disclose problems.
Nothing short of an independent audit, with auditors selected by the City Controller, will pierce D’Arcy’s stone wall and provide an unbiased look at the Joint Institutes for Safety and Training.
Ron Galperin must set the audit objectives and devise the approach with an outside CPA firm not connected with the city or its related entities.
It appears that this chess game will go on for a long time.
Nothing short of checkmating D’Arcy will get to the truth.
(Paul Hatfield is a CPA and former NC Valley Village board member and treasurer . He blogs at Village to Village and contributes to CityWatch. He can be reached at: [email protected]) –cw
