More questions arise on Quinn's anti-violence grants

Young job seekers in Chicago’s south suburbs stood to benefit from almost half a million dollars awarded by Gov. Pat Quinn’s now-defunct anti-violence grant program that’s under investigation.

But some of that money went to a local government official with ties to Thornton Township Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli, who is a south suburban power broker known for turning out the vote and a political supporter of Quinn, the Better Government Association has found.

Thornton Township Youth Director Jerry Weems, a Zuccarelli underling and campaign contributor, got part of his salary paid with state grant money; got nearly $10,000 for his own nonprofit; and even more money — $3,600 — for a company owned by his sister-in-law.

Weems and Zuccarelli declined to comment. In response to questions, a township spokesman issued a statement saying that all the money awarded from the state grant has been accounted for, and all contracted work was done.

A Quinn spokesman says politics had no bearing on the anti-violence grant award. The Quinn administration has emphasized that if any grantee acted improperly, the person will be held accountable. Separately, prosecutors are trying to determine whether any grant money was improperly spent or distributed.

Launched by Quinn amid his 2010 election bid, the $54.5 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative was intended to fund anti-violence efforts in the Chicago area. Some of the money ended up with groups and individuals with clout — fueling accusations by critics that Quinn used the grant program to bolster his base during the campaign.

The Quinn administration initially identified about two-dozen “lead agencies” to divvy up the anti-violence grant money. In the Thornton Township area, that job fell to Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, a nonprofit based in Dolton.

Jaclin Davis, wife of state Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood), worked for the group. Her husband and Zuccarelli were on an advisory board that helped select grant recipients. Healthcare Consortium gave a grant of more than $466,0000 to the Thornton Youth Committee Program Inc., a nonprofit affiliated with Zuccarelli. At least $130,000 in unused funds was returned to Healthcare Consortium, records show.

Weems, in addition to serving as the township’s youth director, was executive director of the nonprofit Youth Committee Program, which provides counseling and other services for troubled youths.

With the grant money, the nonprofit paid teens $8.50 an hour to pass out anti-violence literature at events. It also paid Weems’ own nonprofit organization, Vision Management Services, $9,600 in 2012 for leading young adult workshops on stress management, anger resolution and basic social skills, according to interviews and records.

The Youth Committee Program also gave Weems a salary of more than $14,000 total in 2011 and 2012 with grant funds. The payments were in addition to Weems’ annual township pay, currently $127,722. Separately, the Youth Committee Program paid Enhanced Skillstreaming Professionals Inc. $3,600 with grant funds in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. State records show that private company is owned by Toinette Hill, Weems’ sister-in-law. Hill declined to comment.

Andrew Schroedter is with the Better Government Association.