Just when you think that the Government is finally using taxpayers' money for something fun and useful, they start having second thoughts. For some strange reason, D.C. Attorney General wants back $330,000 of government funds cleverly invested in opening a strip club.
I happen to think that "five-star dining and premier gentlemen's club experience" is one of the better choices on what to waste government money. It's definitely much better than wasting half a million of federal funds on "
shrimp on a treadmill" research!
Those $300,000 were given to non-profit group Miracle Hands by the District's HIV/AIDS administration for the renovation of the warehouse at 2127 Queens Chapel Road NE. Miracle Hands Inc. shares address with the Stadium Club that offers the finest in entertainment in the northeast side of the nation's capitol.
Apparently, entire mess was created by convicted drug dealer Cornell Jones, who managed to convince authorities to give him funds to build a job-training center for residents with HIV and AIDS. Now, how did he manage to obtain a liquor license, open the building as the Stadium Club in 2010 is really a question here. Jones never did open that training center, but he did sell Stadium Club to its current owner for nearly $3 million.
One thing could maybe shed a more light on entire situation. District's HIV/AIDS agency former director, Debra Rowe, went to work for Miracle Hands as its executive director after being fired by the agency. Now, D.C. Attorney General asks for at least $988,959 in damages.
I still think it was a great investment...