ACORN Announces Reforms, An Acknowledgment that Tapes Weren't Doctored

ACORN must have figured out that the prostitute, pimp videos shot by independent filmmakers James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles at four ACORN offices — Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Brooklyn, N.Y., and San Bernadino, Calif. which led to the firing of four employees and the launch of a criminal investigation by the Kings County District Attorney's Office.were not doctored.

The organization just issued the following press release:
 

For Immediate Release: September 16, 2009

Contact: Brian Kettenring, (727) 692-7215

ACORN Announces Major Steps to Address Issues Raised by Videos

In response to recently released videos of frontline ACORN staff, ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis made the following announcement Wednesday morning:

“As a result of the indefensible action of a handful of our employees, I am, in consultation with ACORN’s Executive Committee[1], immediately ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN’s service programs until completion of an independent review. I have also communicated with ACORN’s independent Advisory Council, and they will assist ACORN in naming an independent auditor and investigator to conduct a thorough review of all of the organizations relevant systems and processes. That reviewer, to be named within 48 hours, will make recommendations directly to me and to the full ACORN Board. We enter this process with a commitment that all recommendations will be implemented.”

Ms. Lewis is specifically ordering the following steps be taken effective noon eastern on September 16, 2009:

No new intakes will be accepted into ACORN’s offices for service programs, effective immediately;
 
An immediate in-service training for all frontline staff has been ordered within 48 hours;
ACORN’s independent Advisory Council will help select an independent auditor/reviewer no later than September 18th to review all of the systems and processes called into question by the videos.

In early 2009, ACORN set up an independent Advisory Council to help facilitate a transition to a new management team under the leadership of CEO Bertha Lewis. Lewis was appointed to the job in the fall of 2008 after disclosure of a set of improper management decisions by the founder of the organization, who had led ACORN for 38 years. ACORN’s Advisory Council includes:

John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Board Member, RFK Foundation, former MD Lt. Governor
Andrew Stern, International President, Service Employees International Union
Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, Cityview
John Banks, Vice President of Government Relations Con Ed
Eric Eve, Senior VP of Global Consumer Group, Community Relations, Citigroup
Harvey Hirschfeld, President, Lawcash
Dave Beckwith, Executive Director, Needmor Fund

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Advisory Council said: “ACORN has a long history of serving those who most need help, and giving voice to those who have been left behind. We will take the necessary steps to ensure that ACORN functions with the highest levels of ethical standards and competence.”

Since the fall of 2008, ACORN’s new management team has instituted a set of changes, including:

• The establishment of a new senior management team of the organization;

• Revamping of ACORN’s board structure, including the establishment of new oversight committees with new resourcing to those committees;

• Establishment of the independent Advisory Council

• Processes to hire a new auditor, CFO, and other key management positions.
  

Said Ms. Lewis: “We have all been deeply disturbed by what we’ve seen in some of these videos. I must say, on behalf of ACORN’s Board and our Advisory Council, that we will go to whatever lengths necessary to reestablish the public trust. For nearly forty years, ACORN has given voice to communities, and gotten results. Right now, our nearly 500,000 member are working their hearts out for quality, affordable healthcare for every American and to help stop the foreclosure crisis. We must get this process right, so the good work can go forward.”

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[1] The Executive Committee is a committee of ACORN’s full board.

WE CAN'T LET UP! Judging by the organization's the real reason for this press release is to create a lull so the group can figure out the next steps in their criminal enterprise.  Notice that there is no mention of the Voter Fraud the group has been convicted of, or is being investigated for, in 14 states.

Word is that there is one more Prostitution Scandal tape which will be released on the Sean Hannity show tonight. Stay Tuned.