No lights. No gas. No water. Heated by the oven. (Welcome to Mark & Yolanda’s “successful” daycare center.)
I usually find myself rolling my eyes in response to the work of Ned Barnett over at The N&O’s op-ed page. But, I do have to give him props for doing yeoman’s work — actual investigative news reporting that his paper’s own newsroom apparently won’t do.
Barnett did a deep dive into DHHS’s records on the “successful” Greensboro daycare center Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and his wife, Yolanda Hill, ran from 2002-2007. Robinson discusses the center at length in his memoir and it gets cited in his bio on the lieutenant governor’s official website.
We decided to take advantage of the door Barnett cracked open and take a gander at some of the reports filed by state inspectors regarding Mark & Yolanda’s daycare center. Here’s one of the more interesting inspection reports (see page 6 on linked file) from April 2007:
If what this inspector documented is true, that sounded like the perfect time to CLOSE THE CENTER DOWN. (At least until stuff can be fixed and / or turned back on.)
Here are some notes [pages 14-16 in linked file] from a November 2006 visit to the daycare center by a DHHS inspector. (The best we can tell — “owner” refers to Yolanda Hill, while “co-owner” is Mark Robinson.) :
The attached file documents DHHS sanitation inspections of Mark & Yolanda’s daycare center. The forms detail inspections from 2002 to 2007. The center incurred anywhere from 8 to 13 demerits per visit but still managed to earn a “superior” rating.
Page 3 of this linked file documents a 6/21/2007 visit to the daycare center by a DHHS official:
[Again, “owner” appears to be Hill, while “husband” or “co-owner” appears to be Mark.]
Investigator documentation from the very next day [page 1 of linked file] indicates Mark &Yolanda will be selling the daycare center and forever leaving the childcare business:
Here’s documentation [page 4 of linked document] of a November 2006 on-site meeting with a DHHS inspector and Mark Robinson:
The price of childcare is skyrocketing, and you’ve shown us a big part of the reason.
I hope Governor Robinson cuts some of this ridiculous bureaucratic BS to help working parents!
Really Stan, heating a childcare facility with an oven because the gas was turned off? Get in line for your kids or grandkids to attend that facility. Man is not qualified to run a day care, then not qualified to run our dear state.
Mark Robinson only cares about himself.
What the AF? This story gets worse and worse. NC couldn’t have chosen a worse candidate. Unfortunately, Josh will be using all of this info.
#folwellforgovernor
The truth hurts. Sad but true to all that thought Mark was a rock star. I do not think I will be voting for Gov.. Sad but true.
HOW MANY times have I said just that as I pulled levers for McCain, Romney, Tillis, Burr…..
Tillis, Romney, etc. were bad on policy. Robinson is weak and cowardly, but generally not bad on policy. He would be a disappointment as governor, more from refusing to get involved at all than actively pushing a liberal agenda like Tillis, Berger, and Moore. In spite of the bluster in Robinson’s speaking style, he runs for cover on tough issues. Even on his signature issue of gun rights, Robinson was nowhere to be found when liberal Senate boss Phil Berger killed Constitutional Carry in North Carolina. The same was true on the NC Green New Deal, Obamacare Medicaid expansion, casinos and other issues.
I would not vote for Tillis, Berger, or Moore for dog catcher, but a weak coward is somewhat more acceptable than an outright liberal backstabber like they are. I am still deciding on Robinson. I would not give him a dime but I might vote for him. The big concern I have is how much influence liberal Sen. Phil sleaze-Berger has on him.