First 5 funding funneled to top programs linked to top advisors

San Diego's First 5, a social service program focused on early childhood development, is under scrutiny for the disproportionate allocation of grant money to organizations linked to its advisers. "The county's First 5 Commission has awarded at least $67 million in the past three years to nonprofits and other groups that employ people who serve on its top advisory committee, according to an analysis by The San Diego Union-Tribune. The share of early childhood grants given to groups with ties to insiders has grown over the years, from 37.1 percent three years ago to 59.6 percent last year, the newspaper found." Charlene Tressler, former commissioner of First 5, resigned last week amid questions surrounding $8.3 million in grants the agency gave to a charity and preschool run by her.