On Saturday, Governor Elect Bev Perdue published her "First Day Of Change" list.
It starts with a silly nostrum to Establish the North Carolina Endowment for Positive Gubernatorial Campaigns,a proposal the sooner forgotten the better.
Number 3 on the list: On-Site Accountability – Alert all state agencies that I will make regular unannounced inspections of state-related facilities throughout the state with an accountability team. Direct state agency heads to immediately develop proposed inventories of performance and other work measures that we will be able to review at the inspections of specific sites. Also direct state agency heads to prepare for us to meet line staff confidentially without their managers.
My first inspections will include state mental health hospitals and probation offices.
I am confused – she is announcing "unannounced" inspections?
What's really concerning is what isn't listed and the order. While putting in a throwaway line about a proposed "Endowment" as her top priority, there is no mention of the huge budget deficit North Carolina is facing.
It is also troubling that Mental Health is only mentioned, sort of, at the very end of #3. I guess a system waisting hundreds of millions of dollars and people dying is not really in need of change on the first day!
We’re doomed!