Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Anonymous Explanation of the Paradise Center Scandal

I have been asked many times to explain the Paradise Center Scandal.

This is not easy to do.

Not easy, because the Paradise Center Scandal has many facets. It took me awhile to understand how bad this scandal is, and how despicable the behavior was of those who perpetrated the scandal.


That despicable behavior has been scandalously on display, on this blog, in the form of comments coming from MHMR proponents.

Yesterday a very good blog comment came in that does a good job of explaining many aspects of the Paradise Center Scandal.

I thought this particular blog comment warranted being turned into a Paradise Center Scandal blog post........

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Most Recent 25 Paradise Center Scandal Comments...":

These could simply be coincidences, but MHMRTC signed the formal business contract with Bravo Health around September 2010--when MHMRTC execs started to intrude into the internal operations of the consumer operated nonprofit organization (Paradise Center) that MHMRTC had an ongoing contractual relationship with for several straight years.

In October, Bravo started buying ads around town, giving large donations to advocacy groups, like NAMI, and began hyping their company as the better choice for Medicaid Star+.

Jim McDermott was pressured into writing the letter to the Paradise Center Board leader using the pretext of Paradise being "over budget the last fiscal year" (by $20K+) to begin supervising their employee, Ms. Davis, who had intellectually knocked out several MHMRTC executives in several meetings intended to force her to join the scheme.

With many MHMRTC clients and NAMI family members already enrolled with Bravo at enrollment parties, but still unable to get Ms. Davis to cave in to the obvious wrongdoing, the Deputy CEO tried to force Ms. Davis into another meeting with this Deputy CEO and other execs on December 27, less than two days after Christmas. Apparently, the Paradise Center Board had outsmarted the MHMRTC team and the meeting was delayed until after the new year.

The very next day, December 28, the State Department of Health & Human Services issued the very surprising public statement that Bravo Health had been placed on a five month suspension.

February 1, 2011, Amerigroup hit the jackpot by landing all the Medicaid STAR+ people by being the default HMO provider. On February 4, 2011, McDermott, attorney, and execs met with Trustees in special "executive session to discuss Paradise Center".

Three days later McDermott sent his invitation to the Paradise Board president Linda Groom to meet on February 17 to "discuss Paradise Center" and to "bring Teresa Davis along". Apparently smelling a trap, the Paradise Board sent a strongly worded letter on February 17 defending its sovereignty, so to speak.

In an act of desperation, McDermott, the MHMRTC attorney, and his executive team decided to take the risk of terminating Ms. Davis that afternoon.

A few days later the State Department of Health & Human Services sent out letters notifying people that Bravo could start enrollment on March 17 -- exactly one month after the termination and coup.

The public protests by the Paradise group, and the start of this blog, caused MHMRTC to bleed public money -- in trying to replicate the work of Ms. Davis and Paradise Center AND to decimate their existence -- and to lose public trust, both of which are well chronicled on this blog and elsewhere.

The robbery of the disabled group's properties was spotlighted by the POD's presence for several weeks, right next to the group's former home, essentially destroying the grand scheme that MHMRTC had planned for and with Bravo.

Many questions have now come to the front regarding the conduct of the McDermott regime over the years.
_______________________________________________

As the Paradise Center Scandal moves into the justice system method of righting wrongs and punishing wrongdoers. I don't think I'd be sleeping all that well, if I were Jim McDermott.

38 comments:

Mary M. said...

It's striking to me how MHMRTC is always in reactive mode, usually reacting to whatever their victims are doing. It seems the Paradise group has some good help with strategic plans and PR. Then again, these behaviors are consistent with wrongdoers sneaking around with their dirty schemes and after being caught and exposed, they take desperate and dumb actions to try and escape the consequences.

It's been rather amusing to observe incompetence in action.

Anonymous said...

A few of your followers may agree with you, but, the truth won out ! You are no longer in the MHMRTC building, nor do you have two vans to drive, nor do you have commercial equipment to sell food, etc. You know have a web site with a Wish List ! Even Lisa commented that your building is not very good, you have the old tv and old pool table and there is not much to do but sit around, You created your mess and now you get to attempt to sue. I still say you have your priorities wrong. Poor Elizabeth is the loser with parents will not use the same energy to get her heart surgery. You are a poor excuse for parents.

Ben E. said...

Tarrant county, Texas has some major problems. Not only are the media/journalists and elected officials choosing to turn a blind eye to this abuse perpetrated on a group of disabled people, but the sham advocacy groups, we've been told by veteran activists, still have chosen money and political patronage from little Jimmy McDermott rather than try to be true to their state mission and principles. Friends report that these servants of two masters....money and McDermott ...have refused to even make direct contact with the consumer-run organization. That's like the NAACP refusing to contact an African-American group after finding out the group were victims of abuse and harm. This McDermott guy , it appears, has
systematically neutered all the advocacy, moral/spiritual, and political pillars of the local community. What a crying shame.

Anonymous said...

Teresa Davis has brought this on herself! She finds that she no longer has commercial equipment to have a snack bar, needs awning for shade, needs a van, and toilet paper, etc for day to day operations.

She now knows what it's like to "really" been on her own. She really was MHMRTC and they let her go for being insubordinate.

The truth is the new "Community Center" is a calmer place without the old Paradise Center being around. Dr. Jim McDermott, did us a favor by having you all "move out!". Enjoy your independence while we enjoy ours under MHMRTC.

Regarding being Anonymous as long as it's on the "choose an identity" that is what I choose. What's important is the blogging not the name.

Anonymous said...

Regarding your list of people who donate..........the biggest part of the lists is clients. I bet if Social Security new they were doing this they would have a fit!!

Anonymous said...

Let's address the issue of Elizabeth. No comments from her parents and they have not addressed this issue. Looks like they put Paradise Center over their own daughters health. They need to "grow up" and be parents. Since Elizabeth brought this to peoples attention that she has a hole in her heart then something needs to be done about it. Wonder if this is something "Child Protective Services" would want to check out?????

CatsPaw said...

"Anonymous" said: " ... What's important is the blogging not the name."

Your "blogging" is only important insofar as to continue showing what a creepy, petty, mean little s**t-stirrer you are.

However, I must compliment you - you have done a superb job of exposing some of dark underbelly of MHMRTC's leadership in your comments. The fact that McDermott & Co. have not shut you up is extremely instructive. I can only hope that the Paradise lawyers will agree.

That little girl is no business of yours and stop trying to act as if you care about her welfare. You do not. You're only making yourself look worse, if that's possible. See aformentioned "s**t-stirrer."

Guelma said...

Low-life MHMR thugs just somehow has a need to let the world know how dark-hearted they really are. I agree that all these despicable comments either come from the higher ups in the agency or are approved heartily by these gutless bullycrats.

The nasty personal attacks on that little family is just confirmation to me that MHMR did in fact lose a legal battle recently and are now scampering around in panick mode, expecting the truth and some overdue justice soon.

That CPS comment is beneath contempt and could be pretty costly for the threat maker and the agency that is behind this defamatory campaign.

These idiots are too dumb or just too lazy to even come up with a commenter name. Try "dumb a**"...or CatsPaw's label for you. Smell.

Anonymous said...

Sorry cats paws.....I just scrolled over yours..... I don't need to read what you wrote. What's important is I continue to make the comments that Teresa Davis made a Big Mistake ! Now she is truly on her own and she now finds herself without a commercial Kitchen, two vans, awning, picnic tables, basket hoop, and toilet paper and the list goes on? Who's fault is this.......Teresa Davis and Linda Grooms. And now the only way they can get money is Sue ! Not grants...that would be too hard..... just have an attorney sue ! At least it is nice, cool, and calm at the Community center. They even put in a double wide commercial refrigerator! Paradise Center are losers !!!!

Guelma said...

Low-life MHMR thugs just somehow has a need to let the world know how dark-hearted they really are. I agree that all these despicable comments either come from the higher ups in the agency or are approved heartily by these gutless bullycrats.

The nasty personal attacks on that little family is just confirmation to me that MHMR did in fact lose a legal battle recently and are now scampering around in panick mode, expecting the truth and some overdue justice soon.

That CPS comment is beneath contempt and could be pretty costly for the threat maker and the agency that is behind this defamatory campaign.

These idiots are too dumb or just too lazy to even come up with a commenter name. Try "dumb a**"...or CatsPaw's label for you. Smell.

Anonymous said...

Use of Anonymous....... I find this amusing and even funny....... Its ok to use the name CatsPaw.....Well Lets see the name Dog Woof or Cow Hoof would be similar right? What about the person who used the name Pretty in Pink? Shall someone use the name Awesome in Blue or SunshineYellow? I prefer Anonymous ! It may sound unknown but so is CatsPaw........etc......

CowHoof said...

You "scrolled over me." Wah.

I use the same name - an identifiable pseudonym - every time so people know I claim what I write. You, being one of many Anonymouses ... well, you still leave a "footprint" with your odd punctuation, repetitive phrases, mean spirit and addlepatedness.

You're sounding more and more addled, agitated and desperate, poor ol' Anonymous. I'm concerned. Couldn't sleep last night? What's the matter? Conscience tickling you just a bit?

Suzette said...

So sad to see such desperation and mental instability--repeatedly, within a 24-hour period, parroting the same lines given by the sissy and his gals in Hulen Tower to cover their scared a***.

We doubt it's a conscience at work here--they don't have one it seems. We think its basic human reactions when perps are caught, cornered, and about to be captured and face justice. Such incompetence is amusing, but mostly S-A-D.

Fed up maintenance dudes said...

Say lame duck MHMR executives & lame brain "peer leaders" saying stupid and false stuff. We maintenance people are getting so tired of yo desparat & waistfull ways. That old raggedy building on Jennings should be used for storage or torn down but not for people, even if they are so sick they're the wiser and know about how you stole their Tarrant county residents bond-funded community center at 300 Pennsylvania Ave.

We sure hope you ain't talking about the commercial grade kitchen, a dang full sized one with almost $100k worth of equipments, that was stripped out last summer to make offices for Bravo. That building is designed as a multi-use "community center" for the clients. It was so nice that those clients voted to call it Paradise Center because compared to the crappy facilities MHMR had stuck them in, it was truly like being in Paradise for those poor people.

But Jimmy boy had to steal it from them. We wish a real journalist would investigate and write about this dirty deed that is starting to making them arrogant Jack asses real nervous right about now. These MHMR execs have wasted so much money also on fixing up broken down quadplex called Jennings Place and on environmentlpally contaminated 507 S. Jennings for fake reasons.

The 4-5 dummies getting paid to just keep 505 S. Jennings doors open weekdays are really hard to be around. And the two new vans have not moved since the Paradise and Miss Theresa moved away. Just wasting good tax money by dummies who can't even drive a little 8 passenger van to help clients get out into community like Miss Theresa did, like grocery shopping and regular outings.

So much tax money but doing so little good for the disabled clients and the community they belong to. The Paradise group do A LOT OF GOOD with so little money and equipment. We talked to a couple clients this week who were so thankful that their organization and friends were helping them move to better living place. One was gonna everything if the Paradise people didn't help them move by the 1st of the month. That's probably why Paradise don't have much time or energy to waste like these puppets and there masters, wasting our tax money on stupid stuff to make them look good & be comtable BUT SCREW THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH BASIC BUT IMPORTANT LIFE &DEATH THINGS.

We sick of these lazy thieves and there lies, from the gay bar district to the upscale Hulen Tower where they all look down on people and waste tax money.

MHMRTC Sucks said...

I sure hope the parents of that child reads this DIRECT THREAT by the MHMR-TC Lowlife thugs. If that was my child and family I would make these a-holes pay...by ripping them new ones and ripping into whatever asset they possess, just for the principle of it. You don't threaten my child and family and expect me to take it lying down....CPS is equivalent to the IRS in terms of the terroristic-threat spirit of the law.

These incompetent bullycrats just keep digging a deeper hole for themselves by willfully engaging in such classless and crappy behavior.

If you read this Teresa and Steve, these MHMR-TC lowlifes JUST THREATENED TO GET THE STATE TO TEAR YOUR FAMILY APART. Kick their scummy asses and teach them a lesson they won't ever forget.

Anonymous said...

Well, this is not a threat on CPS. One reason is to bring it to the parents attention since Elizabeth blogged on it herself. She said one of the guys were playing lottery hoping to win to pay for surgery. She said her dad was crying as she wrote. Some should of handed Steve a hanky and let him know its gonna take some work on the parents part to get her surgery.

Red Rebels said...

So this is where the famous band parent nutcases has landed?? And the boasting about having been a successful executive and major fundraiser, to boot. We hope this agency gives her much needed psychiatric treatment along with the salary her tightwad hubby crave so much. Thanks to MHMR and its competence+judgment challenged leadership for keeping her away from our kids and their successful band and its booster organization. Out regrets and prayers for that little girl and her family. And the many vulnerable people with mental illness who are forced to rely on MHMR and this mean female canine.

Red Rebels said...

"Enjoy your freedom WHILE WE ENJOY OURD UNDER MHMRTC"....ever heard of concepts called irony and oxymoron, MHMR MORONS??

Is the name of the victims' lawyer "Sue"?? We're new to this site so help us out. Is "Sue" one of the attorneys filing the lawsuits against you wrongdoers??

Thanks for letting the public know about what the Paradise Center organization need to help it do its good work. ---I.R.O.N.Y. again.

We know families who have kids with the heart issue, and your dumb slanderous attack against that family is nowhere close to how parents and their physicians PLAN AHEAD to take care of such an issue. Keep on slandering and threatening this family and your dumb a**** will help pay for the fairly expensive but safe surgical procedure. Remember the old saying about not "writing a check" that your a*** can't "cash" ??

J.D. said...

"One reason is to bring it to the parents attention "---do you honestly think that the child's parents aren't aware of this fact?? SO, NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN YOUR WEENY EXCUSE OUT OF THE WAY: what exactly is your real reason/s for making this threat?? Because it's crystal clear to any person with an average IQ and middle school literacy skills that you neither care one iota about that innocent child nor do you have anything but malice toward her parents...just plain old malicious intentions.

Consider this a practice run before you
were to get asked similar questions by not
so nice attorneys under not so casual circumstances.

Is this the way MHMR under Jim McDermott operates, using vicious personal attacks through slanderous or libelous statements ?? Is this the explanation for the sense of fear of retaliation that have been expressed by MHMR employees and even members of NAMI? ? Something is very SERIOUSLY WRONG with this taxpayer funded agency if this kind of un-American behavior is accepted as standard practice.

J.D. said...

"One reason is to bring it to the parents attention "---do you honestly think that the child's parents aren't aware of this fact?? SO, NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN YOUR WEENY EXCUSE OUT OF THE WAY: what exactly is your real reason/s for making this threat?? Because it's crystal clear to any person with an average IQ and middle school literacy skills that you neither care one iota about that innocent child nor do you have anything but malice toward her parents...just plain old malicious intentions.

Consider this a practice run before you
were to get asked similar questions by not
so nice attorneys under not so casual circumstances.

Is this the way MHMR under Jim McDermott operates, using vicious personal attacks through slanderous or libelous statements ?? Is this the explanation for the sense of fear of retaliation that have been expressed by MHMR employees and even members of NAMI? ? Something is very SERIOUSLY WRONG with this taxpayer funded agency if this kind of un-American behavior is accepted as standard practice.

CowHoof said...

Oh, Anonymous ... you inspire me. Perhaps we've gotten this all wrong.

Your repeated concern for an unfortunate [well-loved and socialized] little girl, your insomniac worry that her [not oblivious] parents haven't noticed that her welfare is at stake, your [un]healthy contempt for not only her parents but so many of the mental health consumers who have remained loyal to Ms Davis and Paradise Center, your [a**kissing] praise for Jim & Co. ... well, you've sold me!

It's all such a load. So, I promise to deliver in your honor some of that much-mentioned toilet paper to the new Paradise Center. It is my greatest hope that you, Anonymous, will be remembered fondly and thanked repeatedly as it is enjoyed by consumers. Keep up the good work!

Bob Smith said...

These MHMRTC folks seem awefully INTERESTED in everything about the little nonprofit group, even scrutinizing their typical needs list and donors who most likely gave their permission to have their support noted on the website.

What became of your boastings about how great and perfect things are for you under the mighty bullycrats?

BTW, why don't you add my name to the list of your "donors" since my hard earned tax dollars are used to pay for all the things you gloated about and, lord help us, PAY YOUR DANG SALARIES....to do good, not this idiotic b.s.

Psych Prof said...

Hey bloggerman, is the second comment on this posting by the obvious MHMR shill (June 01) addressed to "YOU"? Because from normal literacy practices, the second person pronoun without any reference to someone else is taken as directed at the writer, which in this case is you the blogger...or the first commenter Suzette, but it wouldn't make sense to conclude that.

If these MHMRTC shills are indeed directing that comment at you, congratulations because you have "followers", Durango. Pretty soon you'll be like Jimbo McD. who has supplicants and subservient employees and an other pillars of the community in his pocket.

Seriously, this "new" (but not really) attack angle of "Teresa Davis has brought this on herself" and having "only herself to blame", yada-yada, makes no sense at all because she is not in any kind of legal, professional, political, or financial hotwater as far as the facts bear out. To the contrary, it is a fact that Jimbo and his gang "had brought this on himself/themselves" because they are in some serious trouble: legally, professionally, politically, etc.

The sociopathic trait of blaming the victim for the "crime" (criminal or civil) is apparently on full display here. You know, like a perp claiming "that old lady asked for it because she had a lot of money and was weak and vulnerable" or the school bully saying "the kid asked for it because he's scrawny and doesn't have many friends to help him". Or the classics: the property owner brought it on themselves for displaying their possessions AND the woman asked for it by the way she dresses.

That criminal mindset would only be normal and somewhat acceptible within criminal gangs, the mafia, or the hardcore prisons. NOT in regular American society, MHMRTC.

Psych prof said...

Correction: the first commenter was Mary and not Suzette.

This is so fascinating, watching how twisted thought process and moral values affect people's behavior. I'd love to give these MHMRTC "professionals" a few neuropsych tests for free, just to see how the scores compare to their behavior.

"The TRUTH WON OUT" --huh? How?
"Teresa Davis made the BIG Mistake"--huh? How's that?

I could go on but most people can already see the obvious mental and factual flaws. Surely MHMRTC can afford to hire better people to do their PR work, especially an important one like this scandal.

BTW, no one has said your threat was "on CPS". It was made to or "on" those parents of the little child. And I'll bet you almost anything that those people have done whatever they needed for their only child (?), if not even more-- like seeking additional opinions and options. These are obviously well educated and prudent people, with Teresa being a professional who knows how to navigate the medical system (as seen in report about her helping a client recently).

Oh yes, maybe what the shill is saying is that "Sue" is the person giving the nonprofit a "grant"..or they hope she does so the group won't sue the hell out of MHMRTC?

When do you want to take the tests? Just takes around 45 minutes...if you can read at a sixth grade level.

Skeptic said...

What the heck is "Teresa is finally on her own" supposed to mean? It's a good thing to be in for her if it means she's gotten away from the incompetence and abuse/exploitation at the hands of the bullycrats.

What does it say for people who seem to relish being "under MHMRTC"?? I, for one, will choose freedom and dignity over being "under" anybody or anything EVERY TIME. Obviously, I am not now nor will I soon be affiliated with Jim McDermott, his so called gals, NAMI-TC, MHA, or any of the so called Christian people who acted no differently from amoral and immoral people involved in this ungodly scandal. Know what I mean, Broadway Baptist Church leaders?? and those who claim to carry on the work of MLK?? Rotten "fruits" you've produced my "brothers".

clinic eyes said...

Wow, the MHMR attack dogs sure are off their leashes and urged to "sic" Teresa's family, the consumer-run nonprofit, commenters who show intelligence and intellectual honesty, and even people suffering from severe and persistent mental illness --lashing out at those from Pathways Housing because they pointed out misrepresentations and threatening those who supported their organization with the government (SSI). Are we living in a Nazi ruled community? ?

Anonymous said...

CowHoof.....very funny but still needing to do scrolling........ I think there has been maybe 50 different Pro bloggers and guessing less than that on the Cons side. Still not a whole lot being accomplished on either side!! Well, The Insider should be going off shortly !

MHMR professional said...

OMG ...how much longer is this embarrassing MHMR leadership going to continue to drag down the whole agency??

This most recent loopy commenter is not a good reflection of the 1,000+ employees. Neither are the Trustees and so called executive team.

Saying you scrolled over the one commenter's remarks BUT acknowledging you read it in the same breath. Come on. What are you on?? Or off
of?

What's "The Insider"? And why and where "should"
s/he be about to "go inside...shortly"? ?

Is this Jim McDermott writing his farewell words? Please Lord, let be so.

BTW, at least you get paid or receive other benefits while you and your crew do the blogging. I and other employees do it on our own time and equipment. You lucky dogs!! If it is really you, Jumbo, have a nice life...far away from here. And take your gals and the drop-out fruitloops with you. Y'all deserve each other. Really.

Anonymous said...

To all of you who know Kevin Cates, keep him in your prayers. He stated this morning he is having problems again with brain tumors. He has a positive attitude, and he says he is at peace with it. So let's all hold Kevin and his wife, Nicole in our prayers.

Suzette said...

Who is Kevin Cares? And why is Anonymous allowed to share what appears to be private and even confidential information?

This is one messed up MHMR "center".

p.p. said...

Hey dumb OCB peer leaders and crooked hulen tower thugs, at least paradise has a nice new headquarters and they respect their members when we go there ...you said sitting around with nothing to do..they don't bother them with "volunteering" to do work for free or ordering them around like a bunch of brainless mental patients. And they don't try to make obscene money of them with jacked up s****like in your copycat snack bar or your creepy Bravo people. You're not too smart to think paradise need awning for shade from the sun like your abusive burning b-ball area...there's plenty of natural shade. These caring people are just planning ahead for rain and snow. You dummies can't even plan ahead for a dinky outdoor grilling of some hotdogs. So we don't expect you to understand such a thing. Even when they used your OCB to do their contract with mhmr, paradise didn't try to make money of poor consumers by gauching the snack bar stuff, they made sure people can afford to have something to eat or drink, especially because of their concern for effects of meds and medical problems like diabetes. THEY DONT USE AND ABUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU dumbos.

Pac-10 NAMI said...

Hello, McFly. "Teresa was MHMRTC". After following this blogsite from the beginning, it's nice to see you give that professional woman the credit she rightfully deserves. Too bad she no longer "is MHMRTC" because it is a smorgasbord of incompetence, vindictiveness, and abuse just to name a few of this publicly funded entity under the aptly named McDermott Gang.

BTW, if history is a guide, this recent comment is a cleverly phrased racist one. Assuming that "Norma" isn't a typo and therefore directly addressed to one of the Paradise Inc. leaders named Norma. This racist comment also appears to be a jab at the comment by "a brother" objecting to the way this Lawrence person was treated. It seems that this gang of bullycrats have no regard for common decency. Forget possessing common sense.

Wayne Y. said...

Say Mr. Durango. I believe someone has a great point about the mhmr cons' comment directed at you. Not only do you have a "few followers who might agree with you" but YOU "have a donor list".

Are you not telling us something, bloggerman? Are you a west coast version of Jim McDermott who has a few followers and maybe a 501(1)c nonprofit charity that has been taking donations?

Don't be a McDermott. Tell us the truth and whole truth.

On second thought, maybe the mhmr commenter(s) really believe that you and Ms. Davis are one and the same person. Are you? Be a humanitarian and clarify this perception for the McDermott gang since they are apparently showing signs of paranoia and delusion. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th of July to Everyone !

Anonymous said...

Remember that both groups are Loved !!

Anonymous said...

Remember that both groups are Loved !!

Janet said...

We hope you enjoy your l-o-o-ng 4th of July weekend too, McDermott gang and minions. Maybe you'll learn about the purpose of this national holiday, which might help you understand why people like members of Paradise Center and their leader chose to fight for freedom and liberty over financial and political gains...like NAMI, MHA, and other local groups and persons with moral authority and mission.

Thanks Paradise Center for keeping that unique American Spirit alive.

Rebel Red said...

Remember :God loves even a certain group that lacks professional and moral standards. God bless "the least among you" who are susceptible to abuse and exploitation by those with worldly powers.