{"id":7298,"date":"2009-09-23T12:01:12","date_gmt":"2009-09-23T16:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=7298"},"modified":"2009-09-23T12:01:12","modified_gmt":"2009-09-23T16:01:12","slug":"paula-hughes-government-transparency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2009\/09\/23\/paula-hughes-government-transparency\/","title":{"rendered":"Paula Hughes: Government transparency"},"content":{"rendered":"ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n<p>Paula Hughes wrote an op-ed piece for the Journal Gazette which appeared in yesterday&#8217;s paper.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>She has consented to my providing it <em>in its entirety<\/em> here. \u00c2\u00a0Basically, the JG loped off the first paragraph.  As you may have heard, Paula has filed to run in the 2011 City of Fort Wayne&#8217;s Mayoral race.  A special thanks to Paula for allowing me to reprint her column.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Transparency<\/strong>, when used in a social context, implies openness, communication, and accountability. It is an extension of the meaning of a &#8220;transparent&#8221; object as one that can be seen through. Transparent procedures include open meetings, financial disclosure statements, the freedom of information legislation, budgetary review, audits, etc. (definition from Wikipedia)<\/p>\n<p>Why is it important that government actions and expenditures be transparent and why would you care? The issue of transparency in government has been getting more attention in Fort Wayne lately, and rightfully so. <\/p>\n<p>I believe that government is the work of the people, for the people, and that the people have every right to know what is being done on their behalf. Last week the County Council conducted budget hearings for all of the property tax funded entities in Allen County (except schools, but that&#8217;s another issue). During the budget hearings we asked the Township Trustees to answer a list of basic operational questions about their office. We asked things like whether or not employees or contractors were related to the trustee and whether or not their office was in their home &#8211; and if so, how much they were paying themselves for rent.  <\/p>\n<p>As we started our budget reviews, the trustees were understandably cautious; their offices have historically been under the radar but have been coming under greater scrutiny in the post-Kernan Shephard days. I shared with the trustees my personal perspective on the inquiry &#8211; if they refused to answer the questions it made it look like they had something to hide. I did not enter into the conversation thinking the trustees where doing something wrong; I just wanted to understand how their offices operated. I am proud of our Allen County Trustees for stepping forward in the way they did. All but one of the Trustees that appeared before us answered the questions openly. Many of them submitted their responses in writing to be made a part of our permanent record. <\/p>\n<p>For the most part, County Council found the Township Trustee offices to be well run by caring people. If a staff person was related it seemed that the salary was low enough that the Trustee may not have been able to hire someone who was not related to do the work. If their office was in their home it was because office space is scarce in many of the rural Townships. Renting from themselves was the most economical option for the taxpayers. The questions were put to rest in Allen County and we all went away understanding each other a little better.<\/p>\n<p>And so, back to my original question &#8211; Why is it critical that government actions and expenditures be transparent and why would you care? The money our local government uses is generated involuntarily from citizens through property and income taxes. It&#8217;s not their money &#8211; it&#8217;s yours. I care what happens to every dollar in my wallet and I suspect you do too.  I commend City Councilwoman Liz Brown in her pursuit of transparency for the City of Fort Wayne. Maybe someone needs to remind the City that if they don&#8217;t answer, it makes it look like they have something to hide.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Related Images:<\/h3><div class=\"ngg-related-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/118721.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes announced on October 28, 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the Allen County Council.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"4240\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/118721.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_118721.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\" data-description=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes announced on October 28, 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the Allen County Council.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4240\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_118721.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/118741.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes announced on October 28, 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the Allen County Council.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"4241\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/118741.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_118741.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\" data-description=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes announced on October 28, 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the Allen County Council.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4241\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_118741.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/118715.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes announced on October 28, 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the Allen County Council.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"4242\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/118715.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_118715.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\" data-description=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes announced on October 28, 2009, that she would not be seeking re-election to the Allen County Council.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/10\/28: Re-election notice\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4242\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_118715.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/in\/122842.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Property Tax Caps panel discussion at the Allen County Public Library&#039;s main branch. From left to right: Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes, IN Representative Jeff Espich, IN Senator David Long, IN Representatives Randy Borror and Phyllis Pond and IN Senator Dennis Kruse. Photo taken December 10, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"4864\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/in\/122842.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/in\/thumbs\/thumbs_122842.jpg\" data-title=\"Property Tax Caps panel discussion\" data-description=\"Property Tax Caps panel discussion at the Allen County Public Library&#039;s main branch. From left to right: Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes, IN Representative Jeff Espich, IN Senator David Long, IN Representatives Randy Borror and Phyllis Pond and IN Senator Dennis Kruse. Photo taken December 10, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Property Tax Caps panel discussion\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Property Tax Caps panel discussion\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4864\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/in\/thumbs\/thumbs_122842.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/allen-county-council\/120581.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Newly elected Allen County Council Vice-President Darren Vogt and President Paula Hughes. Photo taken January 7, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"4952\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/allen-county-council\/120581.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/allen-county-council\/thumbs\/thumbs_120581.jpg\" data-title=\"Darren Vogt and Paula Hughes\" data-description=\"Newly elected Allen County Council Vice-President Darren Vogt and President Paula Hughes. Photo taken January 7, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Darren Vogt and Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Darren Vogt and Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4952\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/allen-county-council\/thumbs\/thumbs_120581.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142418.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Bob Hughes talks about TFE.  Photo taken September 28, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5504\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142418.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142418.jpg\" data-title=\"Bob Hughes\" data-description=\"Bob Hughes talks about TFE.  Photo taken September 28, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Bob Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Bob Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5504\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142418.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142421.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries introduces Paula Hughes on September 28, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5505\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142421.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142421.jpg\" data-title=\"Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries\" data-description=\"Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries introduces Paula Hughes on September 28, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5505\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142421.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142422.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Paula Hughes and Ken Fries on September 28, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5506\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142422.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142422.jpg\" data-title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes and Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries\" data-description=\"Paula Hughes and Ken Fries on September 28, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes and Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes and Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5506\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142422.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142425.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Paula Hughes announces she will run for the Mayor of Fort Wayne in 2011 on September 28, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5507\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142425.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142425.jpg\" data-title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\" data-description=\"Paula Hughes announces she will run for the Mayor of Fort Wayne in 2011 on September 28, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5507\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142425.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142426.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Paula Hughes announces she will run for the Mayor of Fort Wayne in 2011 on September 28, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5508\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/142426.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142426.jpg\" data-title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\" data-description=\"Paula Hughes announces she will run for the Mayor of Fort Wayne in 2011 on September 28, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5508\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_142426.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/145125.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes files her 2010 Campaign Finance report with the Allen County Election Board on January 19, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5806\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/145125.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_145125.jpg\" data-title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\" data-description=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes files her 2010 Campaign Finance report with the Allen County Election Board on January 19, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5806\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_145125.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/147073.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt during a news conference called by Hughes to announce her plan to cut city debt with the use of the I&amp;amp;M \u201cLight Lease\u201d settlement money.  Photo taken March 16, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5988\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/147073.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_147073.jpg\" data-title=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt\" data-description=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt during a news conference called by Hughes to announce her plan to cut city debt with the use of the I&amp;amp;M \u201cLight Lease\u201d settlement money.  Photo taken March 16, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5988\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_147073.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/147079.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt during a news conference called by Hughes to announce her plan to cut city debt with the use of the I&amp;amp;M \u201cLight Lease\u201d settlement money. Photo taken March 16, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"5989\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/147079.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_147079.jpg\" data-title=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt\" data-description=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt during a news conference called by Hughes to announce her plan to cut city debt with the use of the I&amp;amp;M \u201cLight Lease\u201d settlement money. Photo taken March 16, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Paula Hughes and Darren Vogt\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5989\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_147079.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/147474.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne Mayoral Republican candidate Paula Hughes and Jim Sack after their interview on March 22, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"6003\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/147474.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_147474.jpg\" data-title=\"Paula Hughes and Jim Sack\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne Mayoral Republican candidate Paula Hughes and Jim Sack after their interview on March 22, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Paula Hughes and Jim Sack\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Paula Hughes and Jim Sack\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6003\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_147474.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/0hughesvotes.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Paula Hughes casting her Republican primary ballot at the Allen County Elections Board on April 5, 2011. Courtesy photo.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3951462677470ccbb063e753493895de' data-image-id=\"6015\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/0hughesvotes.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_0hughesvotes.jpg\" data-title=\"Paula Hughes\" data-description=\"Paula Hughes casting her Republican primary ballot at the Allen County Elections Board on April 5, 2011. Courtesy photo.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Paula Hughes\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6015\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_0hughesvotes.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paula Hughes wrote an op-ed piece for the Journal Gazette which appeared in yesterday&#8217;s paper. Related Images:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[384],"class_list":["post-7298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-miscellaneous","tag-allen-county-councilwoman-paula-hughes"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Paula Hughes: Government transparency - AroundFortWayne<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Paula Hughes wrote an op-ed piece for the Journal Gazette which appeared in yesterday&#039;s paper. 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