The Herald reported on what I consider the bigger stories of the year - since the shrink-wrap war 0f 2013. PROCUREMENT, ICK. This is the County at its worst.
It is a war of lobbyists over a super big billion dollar water & sewer contract. The useless ethics committee is involved as well -- giving lackluster opinions that are puky in my opinion.
And there was some hanky-panky on the part of lobbyist 'favorites' on the 29th floor that we will never truly know about not will the ethics commission.
Anyway, according the Miami Herald the 1.6 billion dollar contract awarded by the first selection committee to CH2M Hill was thrown out by the mayor. Another selection committee was formed and the other bidder, AECOM prevailed. Don't think this is the end of it...it is only the beginning of Lobbyist Wars 2014... (I don't like lobbyists on either side, Miguel De Grandy OMG awful guyand he represents AECOM).
I previously wrote about this subject a few times...
1. War on competing ethics
2. Lynda Bell Protests too much --- 14 times in a couple of minutes worth watching video.
3. Lobbyist Gatekeepers
4. Moral Hazard what ethics doesn't understand.
12 comments:
Selection Committee included a Public Works Asst Dir who was hired and promoted through the ranks by Pete Hernandez, who was then PW Director. Hernandez is now head of AECOM. Surprise surprise, that Hernandez's firm was chosen by his friend on the selection committee.
Pete Hernandez is still under investigation by the SEC over the Manny Diaz scam to divert over $3 Billion to the Marlins. Architects, contractors and lobbyists all made millions over that scam. And of course, the Marlins keep 100% of all revenues while the taxpayers are stuck paying $3 Billion in debt and other expenses.
The selection for the inspector general was friends with a whole pile of people so I don't know about these selection committees. Cagel who was chosen, was best friends with Catherine Fernandez Rundle.
County public works employees should fix and maintain pipes. Another billion dollar bond disaster. Project too large to ever be bid properly.
Wouldn't hiring public works to do there own work, result in savings?
Lobbyists and promoters get rich and the taxpayers get screwed. Welcome to Miami-Dade County.
If public works employees do the job there is no money for all these freeloaders- companies, lobbyists, relatives and friends. . . And perhaps others. Maybe 50% of the money goes to the actual work, 50% for freeloaders.
It could be higher than that, perhaps 25% actual work and 75% freeloaders. It depends on the multiplier.
If you think this ends here you got another thing coming, remember we are and still a Banana Republic...remember "So Close to the United States"...well as they say, "It ain't over until the Fat Lady Sings"
The Saga continues, it is now the other sides turn to bellyache!
Complete waste of money hiring a "program manager."
An expensive, useless layer that adds no value except CYA for department heads and their underlings.
Dump both firms, and the whole "program manager" model.
I just can't believe this story isn't getting out there.
Anyone have more information on Water and Sewer department deputy director Joe Ruiz soliciting a job from, or being offered a job by, CH2M Hill? Wasn't he also trying to steer contracts their way? We call that future dividends.
Highly illegal.....please make room in a jail next to his North Carolina mountain home.
it's Cool... :)
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