Las month we reported that Irvin Mayfield’s New Orleans Jazz Orchestra finally agreed to return over $1 million in public library donations. The money in question was originally given to NOJO by the New Orleans Public Library Foundation when Mayfield and his longtime friend and business partner, Ronald Markham, served on the boards for both organizations.
Following a substantial public outcry, the two groups reached their agreement, which allows NOJO to pay the funds back over a five-year period. NOJO considered the matter closed after that, but it looks like the Library Foundation doesn’t quite agree.
According to WWL-TV reporter David Hammer, who has been investigating the issue for over a year, the Library Foundation is now demanding payback of an additional $150,000. Hammer reports that at least some of these funds were routed through a third nonprofit organization, which received the money from the Library Foundation before passing them on to NOJO.
The third organization–the Youth Rescue Initiative (YRI)–is helmed by Jim Bernazzani, the former head of the FBI field office in New Orleans. The group develops “Illumination Centers” that provide “safe havens for at-risk youth to learn and develop computer skills.” Mayfield also sits on the organization’s board.
The Library Foundation’s new president Bob Brown told WWL-TV that the foundation sent letters to both Mayfield and Bernazzani demanding the return of $150,000 that it gave to the YRI. Evidently, the letters were returned unopened.
“Now that we have confected and executed a (documented agreement) with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra for repayment of the entire amount donated to NOJO, we can focus on the $150,000 donated to YRI and our attempt to confect a similar (agreement) with YRI, James Bernazzani and Irvin Mayfield for repayment of the $150,000,” Brown explained to WWL-TV.
The full WWL-TV report provides a more thorough explanation of the situation, including information on the Metropolitan Crime Commission’s investigation into the payments and details on the alleged misuse of Library Foundation funds by the YRI. You can give it a read here.
