at the time already a conservative described by an american historian as a "responsible young man" with whom president fernando henrique cardoso "could work" as governor, garotinho nevertheless targeted the poor by providing subsidized meals for r$1.00 (at the time equivalent to us$0.30) at "people's restaurants" (soup kitchens kept by private contractors), building 35,000 affordable homes and giving, - since 1999 - badly-off families a monthly "citizen's check" (actually, a r$100.00 coupon that could be used to purchase food and personal hygiene items at stores) - eligibility to whom was decided by a network of 807 religious organizations, mostly (82%) of them evangelical, specially from the assembleias de deus movement. at the same time, he balanced the state budget and renegotiated rio's public debts. he won high approval ratings, but his time in office was also marked by serious corruption allegations.