AG probes Bridgeport youth club finances
Investigation reviews Orcutt Club management
BRIDGEPORT — The Connecticut Attorney General’s office said it has been probing the private nonprofit Orcutt Club for boys and girls on the East Side, run by former state Rep. Bob Keeley, for months.
“We have received complaints regarding governance and management of the Orcutt youth center and are investigating matters there,” Elizabeth Benton, spokeswoman for the Attorney General, told The Connecticut Post. “We appreciate the important opportunities the center provides to many Bridgeport youth. Beyond that, we cannot share details of our ongoing investigation.”
The case was opened sometime in 2018 under statutes allowing the state’s lawyer, Benton said, to “ensure that charitable gifts are used for the purposes for which they were given.”
The revelation about the probe comes as the city prepares to spend $655,000 on Orcutt — $615,000 for facility improvements and $40,000 for services. Those funds were earlier this summer approved by the City Council as part of an annual process when various non-profits compete for federal Community Development Block Grants distributed through municipalities.
Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration did not reply to a request for comment about the Attorney General’s investigation of Orcutt.
“I’m not scared of them. The Attorney General’s office is full of garbage. ... We have nothing out of line.” former state Rep. Bob Keeley
The CDB G funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Rhonda Siciliano, a spokeswoman for that agency, said it would be “premature” for HUD to weigh in.
“The city submits their plan (for the grants), HUD approves, but the funds don’t actually get released from HUD until the work is completed,” Siciliano said. “The city pays for the work up front and then submits to HUD for reimbursement. ... Then HUD reviews, approves or asks for more documentation. Once HUD approves, reimbursement is provided to the city.”
Keeley, who took over as director of Orcutt five years ago, said he has only had positive communications with the Attorney General’s office in the past and was unaware of any open case.
Keeley has publicly disparaged many local and state elected officials, often accusing them of either not doing enough to raise money for Orcutt or withholding dollars.
After learning about the probe, Keeley said, “I’m not scared of them. The Attorney General’s office is full of garbage. ... We have nothing out of line.”
Reginald Walker, who joined Orcutt’s board a year ago, said he was not surprised to learn there was a state investigation.
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Walker said, adding, “I think it (Orcutt) needs new leadership, without a doubt.”
Walker until recently was the board’s chairman and in a July 17 letter to Keeley asked him to step down as director. Walker has claimed that most other board members had resigned and in that same letter admitted that situation made it difficult for him alone to force Keeley out.
Walker also criticized Keeley for not being responsive to his requests for information about the youth organization’s finances and management structure and took issue with racial comments Keeley allegedly posted on social media.
On Facebook in late June Keeley, who is white, attacked “all you rich white politicians for your collective lack of empathy for poor kids” and Black and Latino “maggot politicians who will not stand up to these white decision-makers.”
Keeley's post also made derogatory references to Black people and Mexican people.
“Come over to Orcutt so I can spit in all your collective f aces,” Keeley continued. “Although I am just a youth worker, I am also Irish, who was taught by my f amily to go for the jugular when the odds were against me. Heed my warning, you f ’ing a-holes, I’m picking up my pace and none of you can outr un me. Tr y me. Save our kids!”
Walker, who is Black, in his July letter wrote, “I am deeply concerned about the future sustainability of the club after the insensitive comments you made in Facebook. ... Embarrassed is how I feel as a board member and boys club alumni.”
Keeley stands behind what he wrote online.
“If I’m keeping those doors open with my own money, I’ll say whatever the hell I want to say. You don’t like it, too bad. ... We do great work,” Keeley told The Post for this story. “I could walk away tomorrow but these kids are like my second family. ... These kids have problems. They have needs.”
Keeley also said Orcutt has new board members and Walker is out. Walker, however, said to his knowledge he is still on the board, although he is boycotting meetings until Keeley responds to his requests for information.
One of the new board additions, however, is former state legislator, former City Councilwoman and current Bridgeport City Clerk Lydia Martinez, who confirmed she now has a seat on the board. She said that many years ago, when she was a teacher, she helped out at Orcutt and also knew Keeley from the Connecticut General Assembly.
She said it was too soon for her to conclude whether Keeley was doing a good job running the youth organization.
“Let me be there one or two months and see what’s going on,” Martinez said. “I joined to support him. If I can guide him with something and he wants to listen to me, I’ll try that, too. We need a good place for our kids.”