Here are questions sent to me by a reporter, I wanted to ensure all of this was

printed so I am posting myself.

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Hi Desiree,

Here are our questions regarding the credit card statements:

- In general, what did you use the American Express and Wells Fargo credit
cards for?

A - The credit cards were used for work purposes related to the
Mayors Fund or the Office of the City Representative (OCR),
because much of the OCR budget is within the Mayors Fund with
the exception of salaries, so many of the OCR expenses were paid
for with Mayors Fund resources because OCR had an account
managed by the Mayors Fund. This is how the system was
established before I became City Representative. There were a
number of OCR staff, and other staff in other offices, who also had
credit cards connected to the Mayors Fund/OCR account. I cannot
provide any information about how other city staff used those cards
or for what purposes.

- Were your purchases on those cards for activities related to the Mayors
Fund or to the Office of City Representative?

A. Please see explanation above to previous question. Expenditures

that I made with a credit card were for expenses related to either
the Mayors Fund or the OCR.

- Did you get approval for purchases before you made them? Or only
purchases of a certain threshold? If so, what was that amount?

A. Prior to my arrival in this position I found that there was not a lot
of quality control. Working with Maari Porter, then Director of the
Mayors Office of Grants and then Executive Director of the Mayors
Fund, Ashley Del Biancos predecessor; we developed a clear
process which included weekly meetings to go through all finances,
this even continued with Ashley Del Bianco.
 Clear guidelines were established for the appropriate use of the
credit cards related to expenditures for either the Mayors Fund or
the OCR as the City Representative or in the capacity as Chair of the
Mayors Fund.

- There are several restaurant charges here in Philadelphia and in other cities.
In general if you went out to eat, how do you determine when to use the Mayors
Fund credit card?

A. As the City Representative and Chair of the Mayors Fund, tasked

with the job to promote Philadelphia by producing and highlighting
events; and serving as an ambassador for the Mayor and the City,
often there were meetings. For example some of those meetings
included but werent limited to meetings with community members,
leaders and stakeholders, elected officials or faith leaders. Some of
those meetings may have been a breakfast, lunch or dinner at
different establishments in Philadelphia or another city. If a meeting
was primarily related to either the Mayors Fund events or
activities, or the operations or activities of OCR or the City of
Philadelphia, then in that circumstance, I would use the Mayors
Fund credit card. In other instances, if a meeting or discussion was
more wide ranging and covered other topics, I would use my own
personal credit card. I did not use the Mayors Fund credit card for
every meeting that I had in the course of my work. Most of the time
I used my own card which is a Platinum Amex that I had prior to
arriving in Philadelphia.

- Why was it necessary to take 458 Uber trips during 2015? That is averaging
more than one a day. Were you taking Uber to and from work?

A. As mentioned above, a number of my former staff members and

others (Margaret Hughes, Elka Battle Murillo, Patricia Frosch in the
OCR, Kathy Lonie in the Chief of Staffs Office and Denise Dixon in
the Mayors Office) had access and use of the credit cards related to
the Mayors Fund and the OCR. For example Kathleen Lonie booked
the rooms for the Papal visit and she also used the card for a
number of other expenses related to the Fund, its Public Safety
account and Mayors Office Reception account.

Some staff members also had use of and access to the Uber account
for their use in getting around the City of Philadelphia to do their
jobs. We also used Uber for the transportation of individuals who
may be doing work on behalf of OCR events/activities. I was not
using the Fund or OCR account to pay for my travel to work, but I
did use Uber in the course of the work day to move around the City
in the course of doing my job. For example, I would take one with
my former First Deputy Margaret Hughes who wasnt authorized to
drive because of personal legal infraction.

Use of such a service was much more efficient than using the City
pool car which would then require finding a parking space or
garage, which takes time and is more expensive than Uber service.

- How was paying for Uber fulfilling one of the mayors five goals?

A. Goals 1,3,4 and 5. Additionally, there is a transportation line

item in the budget for the Mayors Fund for the Office of the City
Representative. The Uber charges were taken from that budget line
item in the OCR budget. Ubers were taken by the OCR specifically
because we needed to be able to efficiently and quickly
move/transport staff or individuals who are doing work or projects
related to the Mayors Five Goals.

- On March 2, 2015, you had a charge on the Wells Fargo card at the National
Press Club for $392. There are other charges at the club, including a $27.61 on
Sep. 31. What were those charges for? Why would you use your Mayors Fund
credit card for the National Press Club?

A. As explained above and previously to you many times, part of the

OCR budget is within the Mayors Fund. There is a line item for
groups, associations and memberships, the card also paid for staff
members to attend the 2015 NABJ national conference of which I did
not attend attend. Those staff members were Margaret Hughes,
Lauren Cox and Amanda Kaster. The card was also used to purchase
and maintain memberships for PPRA for various staff members as
well and a number of other organizations for staff members.
Promoting, marketing and elevating the profile of the City of
Philadelphia is a local, regional and national responsibility. The
National Press Club provided a level of access to premier journalists
and opinion makers for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia. The
City of Philadelphia had access to these journalists through the
National Press Club and with this membership. Mayor Nutter made a
major national speech at NPC along with Mayor Mitch Landrieu on
the death of Black men in this country. The larger charge was for
membership fees, and I assume the smaller charge was related to a
meeting on behalf of the OCR.

- There is also a $26.40 charge the next day on March 3, 2015 at Juniper
Commons, which was a restaurant in the lobby of your apartment building. What
was that for?

A. First, I never lived in the building that housed Juniper Commons.

Second, as the date in question is 2 years ago, I dont know.

- On Sep. 13, 2015 there is a $101.25 charge on the Wells Fargo account for
PG&E, a gas company based in California. The very next month, there are two
charges on Aug. 6, 2015 for $144 and $225 for Comcast California. Why were
you paying gas and cable bills in California?

A. I was notified on two separate occasions in the course of my time

as City Representative and Chair of the Mayors Fund that
fraudulent charges and security breaches had occurred related to
the credit cards of those offices. Clearly, those are fraudulent
charges that I have nothing to do with whatsoever. I am unfamiliar
with this information and was not aware of it until you sent this
information was presented. You can ask the Fund for receipts of new
cards disseminated, there were two instances of this.

- On Nov. 25, 2015 you charged $500 on the Wells Fargo card at the Walnut
Club. Was that membership or an event fee? If it was for an event, what was the
event for?

A. This was a membership fee. This is an important organization in

the City of Philadelphia, which OCR supported as an organization
that supports women and one that was run by women. Since the
leadership of the OCR were women, the membership covered and
included Margaret Hughes, Elka Muriello, Lauren Cox and Amanda
Caster.

- On Dec. 1, 2015, you charged $28.62 at J Crew. What was that for?

A. Please see response above, as a variety of people had access to

the credit cards of the Mayors Fund and OCR, as well as in the
Mayors Chief of Staff Office. I have no idea what that purchase is
for.

- You have several purchases at Macys on your AmEx. We already spoke

about the $79.50 purchase on Sep. 26, 2015 which you said was for a model
participating in the Philadelphia Collection. But I looked back and that fashion show went
from Oct. 7-14. The pope was in town on the 26th. Were you thinking of another purchase or
what were the shoes for?

A. Obviously this is incorrect I was not in Macys on Sept 26th. By

6am I was stationed at the airport with Secret Service, PPD and
media waiting for the arrival of Pope Francis. I took selfies. That day
there were 3 Papal events that I was required to work in and attend.
Either way I can say definitively that the shoes were NOT for me or
my personal use. I dont buy my shoes at Macys. The purchase could
have been related to promotional activities for the Philadelphia
Collection PRIOR to the actual event, but recollection on that one
item is that it was connected to the Philadelphia Collection event. I
was not in any store during Papal visit, I was busy with that event.

Also, there was a $150 Macys purchase on your Amex for an Ivanka Trump item on Nov.
11, 2015, a $39.42 Macys purchase for a necklace on Oct. 14, 2015 and a $119 at Macys
for Better Dress Brands on May 27, 2015. What were all those purchases for?

A. See above. These items were not for me. I can state definitively
that I have not purchased ANY Ivanka Trump items ever. I have no
idea about the necklace from Macys and I do not even recognize the
name or brand Better Dress Brands , I dont shop from Better
Dress Brands.

- There were two charges on your Amex at the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton on Feb. 6
($85.72) and March 17 ($87.50). Given the price, those werent overnight stays. Assuming
it was food and/or drinks, what was the purpose of those charges?

A. Please refer to above question about the food/restaurant charges.

So you are aware, we did request credit card statements going back several
years, including when Melanie Johnson was in charge. I should ask you also
about what you knew when you became city rep and head of the fund. When
Mayor Nutter informed you that you were going to replace Melanie as City Rep,
did he, Everett or other members of the administration tell you about the
Inspector Generals investigation into Melanie?

A. I was made aware that some concerns had previously been raised
and communicated with the Inspector General and that Mayor Nutter
would address those issues with regard to the protocols, processes
and procedures in terms of the operations of the Mayors Fund and
the OCR. Mayor Nutter asked me directly to take over the
responsibilities and appointed me as the City Representative and
Chair of the Mayors Fund. I served two appointed positions, as the
Director of Communications and Strategy and the City
Representative.

I worked with Administration officials to put proper systems and

controls in place. Working with Finance Director Rob Dubow and his
team, we decided to ensure additional quality controls to merge the
Office of Grants with the Mayors Fund. Working with then Director
of the Office of Grants and Executive Director Maari Porter, I 1)
revamped the board 2) instituted new policies for grants coming
from the Fund with the Deputy Mayors and Finance Director 3)
retained auditors and conducted an audit and the Funds finances 4)
Relied on Counsel services of Sekou Lewis from Schander Harrison
Segal & Lewis LLP and informed board and staff of procedures and
protocols.

Was there any discussion about the fact that as the chair of the Fund, Melanie
had made improper purchases, or any discussions about expectations for how
credit cards and checks linked to the Fund should be managed or used going
forward?

A. See above. I did not have access to checks.