State audit concludes Quinn anti-violence program 'poorly managed'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- More criticism surrounding the controversial anti-violence program established by Gov. Pat Quinn has come from Former State GOP Chairman Pat Brady.

Brady says a federal grand jury issuing subpoenas for emails from the governor's office shows the governor's office was involved in determining where money invested in the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative was spent.

A state audit concluded the $54 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative was poorly managed.

"It's not about politics," said Brady. "It's about how you can take $50 million with no accountability, no oversight, no financial controls and dump it into areas that aren't even the worst crime-ridden areas of the city, call it a crime prevention program and all the money's gone?"

In March, federal investigators requested information on the now-defunct Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.

The $54 million program was set up while Quinn was running for re-election. The State Auditor General found the program was mismanaged and taxpayer money was wasted.

Governor Quinn's office has said it has taken the program's mismanagement very seriously and that it has zero tolerance for fraud or abuse.