As we blogged yesterday, the Golden Leaf Foundation — set up to receive and spend half of the state’s tobacco settlement money — approved a $262,000 grant for proponents of the proposed federal bioterror lab in Butner. Lab advocates say they need the money to correct misinformation that’s been spread about a lab. Today, the Herald-Sun reports that the organized opposition is claiming a “snow job” by advocates in order to get the grant. As the story points out, very little is now known about the Golden Leaf vote. I suspect opponents will be pursuing that information. I’ve always felt the fears about a lab are way overblown. However, there should be much more transparency surrounding the appropriation of $262,000 in public funds. From the story:
Golden Leaf Foundation President Valeria Lee said in an e-mail that the foundation’s board met via conference call and approved the funding.
Lee attached a copy of the board’s decision, which said $262,248 was approved for the N.C. Biotechnology Center “for the purpose of funding an impartial and factual community education program” relating to the NBAF.
The attachment said the grant is for seven months, but it did not list who made the motion for the grant, who seconded and which way individual board members voted.
Lee was asked in an e-mail if she was aware that the Granville County Commissioners had withdrawn support for the project, that the municipal board majorities in Stem and Creedmoor had declined to provide their support and that Butner’s municipal board is neutral.
The Raleigh City Council has unanimously refused to support having the lab in Granville County.
“Concerns about the project that are raised in your e-mail were discussed on the call,” Lee replied.
So who raised concerns?
