By Darrell Smith
Suspended Greater Sacramento NAACP president Betty Williams and an executive officer appear to have used their own businesses to manage a multi-million dollar county-sponsored pandemic-era food delivery program, according to financial filings obtained by The Sacramento Bee.
Williams, the California civil rights stalwart and longest serving president in the Sacramento chapter’s history, and branch education chair Salena Pryor, were among six executive officers suspended in October by the national civil rights organization for alleged financial improprieties, including the use of their positions for financial gain.
County documents show Williams’ Sacramento outreach and staffing firm, 1Solution LLC, and Pryor’s Pryor Consulting were paid as independent contractors as part of a $2.5 million contract to administer Sacramento County’s food insecurity pilot program, which ran from March 2022 through June 2023.
The program, known as Dine-In 2, teamed local restaurants affiliated with the nonprofit Family Meals Sacramento and the NAACP to deliver meals to local residents during the pandemic. The NAACP held administrative and community outreach responsibilities.
In all, $225,600 in salaries for independent contractors were charged to the contract, the county’s documents show. Pryor, whose consultancy was listed as a business compliance officer would be paid $8,000 a month or $120,000.
Williams’ 1Solution LLC, listed as both executive director and administrative assistant, would receive $21,600 and $48,000, respectively, in total salary. An accountant and chef adviser to the participating restaurants were also paid from the salary pool.
Source: Sacramento Bee
