In way of background material, I have included snippets of an April 11th Editorial by the Miami Herald below. Hit on image on left to enlarge it.The County has been stonewalling on Wackenhut over-charging them for years. The attorney for the whistle-blower, who also represents the county, is trying to get to the bottom of the over billing, he subpoenaed County Mayor Alvarez and County Manager Burgess. The county legal dept. is trying to block their depositions! I have one big: WHY?
The reason, they say:
That "the Mayor and Manager Burgess cannot uniquely provide relevant information which cannot be obtained from other sources." Maybe the Mayor can get off the hook. But Burgess? Come on, as you can see below, his staff member, Cathy Jackson, ain’t talking (against the advice of a county attorney). Who would know what is going on if not Burgess if, his underling, Jackson, won’t talk. This is bullshit pure and simple. MY GOD MAYOR! GET BURGESS TO TALK!! And, release the damn audit!
In an April 11th editorial the Miami Herald said, Answers needed on overbilling claims:
“Ms. Jackson compounded the mystery last month when, despite the advice of a county attorney, she refused to answer questions about the audit during a deposition for that lawsuit. Ms. Jackson says she doesn't want to comment on an audit that is still in draft form. The audit involved sifting through reams of paperwork from Wackenhut, which may explain why it's taking so long. Still, Miami-Dade residents are owed some answers, soon.
This isn't just about the money in question or Wackenhut's reputation, it's about the level and quality of security at Metrorail stations. Former Wackenhut employees have said that they faked time sheets, agreed to work longer shifts but then left early after rush hour and indulged in other falsehoods.”
and:
“The audit arose out of charges in 2005 that Wackenhut overbilled the county. The company claims that it has not overbilled and that the charges are coming from disgruntled former employees. Former Wackenhut employees have responded by filing a lawsuit that seeks to reclaim millions of dollars in overbillings under the county's False Claims Ordinance. It allows residents and whistle-blowers who expose fraud to collect damages. If the plaintiffs prevail, the outcome could be tens of millions of dollars because the law provides for triple damages. The county would receive some of that.”
P.S. The Herald Editorial could be wrong about this:
"In 2005 the county at the last minute pulled a $4.8 million contract it was about to award to Wackenhut because of the allegations."
However, according to a New Times article published March 29, 2007 it was a MULTI 7 YEAR contract:
"In January County Manager George Burgess miraculously recommended that the security firm Wackenhut receive a general service contract worth $4.9 million a year, for the next seven years, to guard several government sites.”
8 comments:
for the record:
Wackenhut did not give to the Mayor's campaign account.
When is "Teflon" George going to finally get stained?? I heard he tried to kill the affordable housing surplus, against the will of the Commission as the policy making body of the County, because there is going to be new language requiring periodic audits. I heard that Sosa went ballistic when she found out while she was in Tallahassee for Dade-Days.
The county administrators rarely have to sit for deposition. Several years ago county attorneys got both Penelas and Steve Shiver out of depositions when they were involved up to their necks. More recently, last year, county attorneys argued that commissioners should not have to sit for depositions but I don't know how that turned out. There is a warped perception that elected officials, unless charged, somehow should have immunity from testamony-B.S. That's why it is so hard to unravel these cases of wrongdoing. Furthermore, certain judges seem to play into "protection of the officials" and dismiss the depositions. Uggh
Same county argument was given to get Seijas out of deposition. The problem was she had mouthed off that everything in her office went through her, she knew stuff her staff did not, blah blah blah. So, if this is true, why should she be excused?
crap, you just can't nail these people down. our county government is in shambles.
Do away with the county. What good does it do?
There is a lot here that does not pass the smell test. . . particularly when you look at the other contracts that have been awarded this company after all of this was revealed. Not only are there questions about the new contracts, but also how the new contracts were awarded. . .
Just barred G4s Wackenhut from getting into any government contract.They have a proven record of being an unreliable and deshonest company. Why are you still hiring it?
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