Philly pays off last of defunct program's bills

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - March 16, 2009 The city cut checks last week totaling more than $942,000 to social service organizations that provided services for the program, which closed down in June following a budget cut.

The nonprofit served as an intermediary. It allocated taxpayer dollars to about 200 social-services providers for anti-truancy and teen violence-prevention programs.

Safe and Sound was a pet project of former mayor John Street, who substantially expanded its budget during his administration. Street's wife, Naomi Post, ran the program for a time.

The program drew criticism for its weak financial controls and administrative spending.

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