Lawmakers call for investigation into SafeQuest Solano as Fairfield seeks to cut ties

FAIRFIELD – Federal, state and local officials have called for an investigation into the conduct of SafeQuest Solano, a nonprofit that provides services for domestic violence and rape victims, following a Vallejo Sun investigation published last month.

Meanwhile, the city of Fairfield is seeking a new operator for a domestic violence safe house it’s been renting to the organization for $1 a year after the Sun’s June 28 article reported that former staff members said the organization’s business officer had lived in the home instead of it being used for its intended purpose.

“The allegations outlined in the Vallejo Sun’s recent article about SafeQuest Solano raise serious concerns about the organization’s financial practices and ethics,” U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Vallejo, said in a statement to the Vallejo Sun. “I believe the strength of the allegations rise to the level of necessitating thorough state and federal investigations.”

“This is yet another example of why investigative journalism and a free and independent press are so important to our society,” Garamendi added.

Garamendi and state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, gave a certificate of recognition to SafeQuest Solano executive director Mary Anne Branch during a fashion show fundraiser on June 24. But since the Vallejo Sun’s article has been published, both have said that the allegations should be investigated.

“Nonprofits provide important services for domestic violence victims and I am always happy to recognize their work,” Dodd said. “However, I wasn’t aware of these allegations, which I find troubling, and I think the situation merits a closer look.”

The Sun’s investigation found that SafeQuest's business officer, attorney Richard Bruce Paschal Jr., allegedly lived in a closed safe house rented for $1 a year from the city of Fairfield for several months in 2020 and 2021. The agreement with the city required the house to be used for emergency housing for domestic violence and rape survivors, but it was not available for their use during that time.

Two employees who worked at SafeQuest's other safe house in Vallejo said that house was largely empty at the same time. They complained that they were left alone in the home with nothing to do. One former employee documented that SafeQuest turned 10 women away during the month she worked there, telling at least seven of them that the house was full.

Records and interviews with former staff also showed that the organization receives substantial financing from the state and federal government but didn't have funds to pay staff in late 2019. It receives hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, including an award of $287,500 in late 2018 specifically to operate the Fairfield safe house.

But it remains unclear whether any responsible agency is investigating the allegations.

Emails obtained by the Sun show that Cal OES was alerted to many of the allegations — including that Paschal had lived the Fairfield safe house — in an email on May 2, 2022, and Cal OES monitoring chief Toni Curtis acknowledged receiving the complaint. But it is unclear what action, if any, Cal OES took.

Cal OES spokesperson Brian Ferguson declined to say whether the agency had ever investigated the issues brought to its attention last year and declined to say whether it would continue to provide substantial financial support for the organization.

Meanwhile, the city of Fairfield has moved forward with finding a new provider for the safe house. Following publication of the Vallejo Sun’s article, Fairfield issued a new request for proposals to operate the house.

Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy said in an interview that if SafeQuest submits a proposal to continue using the house, she would not support it. No other members of the Fairfield City Council responded to a request for comment.

“I am very, very opposed to anyone misusing a gift to nonprofits,” Moy said. “It angers me.”

Emails obtained through a public records request showed that city of Fairfield officials were aware that the house it rented to SafeQuest was seldom used but proceeded with a lease renewal last year. But after a councilmember raised concerns that the house may not have been used appropriately, city staff then decided to seek a new operator. The effort stalled after the employee handling it left the city. SafeQuest has remained in the property on a month-to-month lease.

Fairfield City Manager David Gassaway told the Vallejo Sun prior to the article’s publication that finding a new operator was not a priority. The city posted the request for proposals in the weeks since.

Moy said that she believes the organization should potentially pay back rent to the city, but that would necessitate an investigation the city may not have the capacity for. She said that she expects the city council may choose a new operator in September.

But there may be difficulties in finding another operator for the house as few other nonprofits offer the same kinds of services that SafeQuest does. SafeQuest was previously removed from the home in 2009 and it was turned over to nonprofit LIFT3. But after LIFT3 Executive Director Claudia Humphry was indicted for theft of public funds in 2016, Fairfield gave the house back to SafeQuest.

“I know that there are other nonprofits that are interested in the house for different things. For instance, I've talked to folks that are interested in [using it for] people who are being trafficked,” Moy said. “We have to do a better job vetting who is there.”