Chappie James Monument group tried to prove David Bear lied

The Board of Directors of the General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Memorial Foundation asked David Bear, Lewis Bear Company CEO and chairman of the Escambia County Tourist Development, to prove that he contributed to its Foundation.

In a letter, the foundation treasurer, Butch Hansen, wrote:

“I was recently asked to confirm the amount of a donation that you previously made to our Foundation’s effort to build a memorial museum plaza to General James near the bridge recently named in his honor. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a record of a donation nor a copy of the receipt for a donation.

“This is very concerning to me because I work hard to ensure all our donors are properly recognized, and all required receipts are provided to our donors in a timely manner. Perhaps your donation went to another nonprofit associated with General James, could you please provide the details of your donation’s time and amount so that I can assure our and your records are complete in this regard?”

FOUNDATION’S PETTINESS

The letter is remarkable because the Bear Family Foundation has contributed millions to local charities. The UWF College of Business, downtown YMCA and the Health Center at Baptist Hospital have been named in the family’s honor.

But David Bear has questioned the legality of using tourist development tax revenue to construct the statue and plaza. The rancor and personal attacks directed toward Bear by foundation board members have been unprecedented, even for Escambia County politics.

WHAT BEAR SAID: At the February 20 meeting of the Escambia County Commission, Bear stated:

“I think General Chappie James is a war hero that needs to be celebrated. I, too, think this is a wonderful project. I have personally put funds and donated to this project…I just don’t believe tourist development tax dollars maybe spent under the statute for this type of project.”

THE CANCELLED CHECK

David Bear had the canceled check, dated March 25, 2023. He also provided the Board of Directors of the General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Memorial Foundation with the particulars of how he gave them the check:

“I gave this check to the Foundation the night of the event at Artel Gallery when you all announced the Florida Power and Light $50,000 contribution. I attended the event with my mother and my wife.”

Hansen replied, “David, thank you for this, and I apologize for the inconvenience of this because I can’t explain how this check was not in the package from that fundraiser including the receipts sent. I will send you a receipt and appreciate your support.”

CASE CLOSED?

Maybe for the Board of Directors of the General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Memorial Foundation, but Mayor D.C. Reeves, Pensacola City Council, Board of County Commissioners and County Clerk Pam Childers should be concerned and asking for an audit of the Foundation’s records.

Can the directors prove that Bear’s check went into the Foundation’s checking account? The treasurer said, “I work hard to ensure all our donors are properly recognized and all required receipts are provided to our donors in a timely manner.” How did he miss accounting for a $200 check? What other checks are unaccounted for?

DODGING ANSWERS: Foundation President Cris Dosev has touted that they raised $1.3 million but has dodged answering publicly how much they have raised in private donations. The county commissioners tried to pin him down at its February 20 meeting. Most of the money has come from state and local governments. The largest private donation was from FPL – $50,000.

Commissioner Lumon May: “I think public-private partnership is essential. Is the commitment still there from the private dollars?

Dosev: “We raised $1.3 million.”

Commissioner May: “You’ve raised 1.3 private dollars?”

Dosev: “Let me ask you this. When somebody comes here from the country of Singapore, does anybody ask them about private dollars and we’ve given them $220 million. Okay, so we don’t have a problem giving people money, even people that are foreign to this country.”

OTHER WARNING SIGNS: The Foundation failed to file its annual corporate report with the Florida Secretary of State in 2020 and 2021, forcing the board to seek reinstatement in June 2021 – Reinstatement Notice.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The Foundation must maintain the park after the monument and plaza are built. Does it have the funds to do it, or will the burden fall on city taxpayers?

POLITICS?

Why isn’t the county clerk asking more questions about the Foundation? She has questioned numerous county invoices since Janice Gilley was fired as county administrator in 2021.

Is it because Dosev joined the protesters fighting to get her husband, Bruce, on the ballot in the election supervisor’s race?

Or is it to pay off a favor to Commissioner Steve Stroberger, maybe the Foundation’s biggest supporter on the county commission, who appointed Bruce as his representative on the Santa Rosa Island Authority?

3 thoughts on “Daily Outtakes: Chappie James Monument group tried to prove David Bear lied. It didn’t go well”

Sounds loke someone is just trying to start controversy to me!

Just wondering, how will private donations be recognized at the memorial plaza? Not clear looking at the Foundation’s website. Also, what is meant by this sentence, “Your generous donations will be put to good use and benefit our projects in our local community.” The phrase “our projects” infers multiple projects. Will money be used for other projects?
https://generalchappiejamesmemorial.org/donate/
Eventually, the BCC will come to its senses, admit that the primary purpose of the project is “not” tourism development, and use General Fund/LOST revenues to close the funding gap. However, the “long pole in the tent” remains not just future maintenance costs but future capital improvement costs too. When the concrete needs to be repaired, if the city has to pay the LOST revenues will be diverted from city parks, etc. Couldn’t the Foundation own it all and maintain it? I’d also like to see a list of all private donations to include how much skin in the game the Foundation members have. Also, the Foundation is not rated by Charity Navigator. https://www.charitynavigator.org/search?q=chappie+james Does sound like an independent audit is needed.

And there’s the other reason they haven’t gotten a check from us.

There are so many things about the blatant hypocrisy that can and should be said. But honestly, the reality is that Hansen and Dosev need to step down from their leadership roles and allow those positions to be filled by people who can handle them.

As if Dosev’s fabrications about the 1.3M all being private donations aren’t enough, if the funds from a cashed check disappearing doesn’t warrant a complete audit at this point (with this kind of check mess, often tax stuff isn’t too far behind), then nothing will.

Hold the desk audits, please.

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Daily Outtakes: Chappie James Monument group tried to prove David Bear lied. It didn’t go well

FOUNDATION’S PETTINESS

THE CANCELLED CHECK

CASE CLOSED?

POLITICS?

3 thoughts on “Daily Outtakes: Chappie James Monument group tried to prove David Bear lied. It didn’t go well”

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