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Posted on 12/09/2004 5:27:52 PM PST by kiki04
Racism Questions Surround Pittsburgh Schools' Milk Bid
POSTED: 4:37 pm EST December 9, 2004
PITTSBURGH -- Criticism of a black-owned firm that submitted the low bid to provide milk to Pittsburgh Public Schools is raising questions of racism and favoritism.
Those who favor Edward Gandy's company say a white-owned firm wouldn't be subjected to such questions.
Others who want the bid awarded to Carl Colteryahn Dairy, a white-owned business that has supplied the schools for 35 years, say a white firm with Gandy's liabilities wouldn't even be considered.
The school district must vote Dec. 21 on awarding the milk contract to a company that must begin delivering Jan. 12.
Gandy, a 68-year-old tavern owner from Penn Hills, formed Pittsburgh's Bakers Dozen in November 2003 as a baked goods distributor. It buys from bakeries, then resells and delivers the food to customers, including UPMC and the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Gandy wants to do the same thing in the milk business. He's already licensed by the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board to buy and resell packaged dairy goods.
"I do handle a couple dollars, if that's what they're concerned about," Gandy said. "I guess black people aren't supposed to. If it was a white company that won this (bid), would they be going through all this? The answer's 'No.'"
But school board member Jean Fink, who lives in Carrick, where Colteryahn is based, says the city is better off with a tried-and-true company.
Gandy owes $6,852 in unpaid taxes on 13 of 14 properties he owns in Allegheny County, including a building he's trying to convert into a warehouse, bakery and restaurant, Fink said.
"If he were white, nobody would be talking about giving him a contract," said Fink. "I'm going to try to keep it from happening."
This is the first year the district took bids for the milk business. Bidders are asked to document that at least 15 percent of their contract would go to women- or minority-owned subcontractors.
Because Gandy is black, he automatically met the set-aside goal, and his bid of $1.364 million was the lowest of four received. Colteryahn's was $1.373 million, including a $480,000 subcontract with a black-owned frozen juice and packaging supplier.
School Superintendent Dr. John Thompson said he doesn't understand the scrutiny of Gandy's bid.
Richard Fellers, head of operations for the city school district, said Gandy's tax liabilities aren't relevant.
Nick Nichols Jr., executive director of the Pittsburgh Minority Purchasing Council, suggested otherwise.
"My only opinion is, if you're doing business with any kind of public agency like the Pittsburgh Public Schools, it's been my experience that you need to have your taxes paid," Nichols said.
Well, in theory, that should be that.
Yes I'm sure everyone who does business with the local government has their taxes paid first! LOL
Pittsburgh ping
I'm trying to figure out what his liability is.
His out standing taxes are his liabilities. He should not be allowed to collect any monies from the school district while having an outstanding tax bill. About 70 to 80% of property tax goes to the school districts.
Why can't they deduct the taxes from the contract offer? If he's going to get the contract, I'd have the money subtracted.
A bankrupt city that once was great......Now just a has been.....But.....
When exploading out of the tubes from the airport, there is no other sight so inspiring...but falsely so
Sad
That would probably work, but how does the taxing authority know that he won't slip back into his bad little habit in the future. IMO a good business is only as good as they keep their books and manage their responsibilities. And yes, taxes, are our responsibility. I work in the business office of a school district and will be going converting to a full time teacher this next school year. I'm sure that I will be getting a raft of sh!t for that but that is what I quit my real job to do. Shocking a conservative teacher, hmmmm, miracles never cease.
Need more conservative no nonsense teachers in schools good for you... The last thing a young student needs is a terrible teacher.
It was pretty cool when I applied for a sub teacher postion they were very excited about getting a business education/accounting teacher with my experience. I look forward to the task and hope that I make a difference somewhere here.
LOL, now that's funny I don't care you are.....
My sister is a substitute teacher. The worst enemy of students are bureaucrats IMHO.
No kidding. If the tax liabilities were really such a serious issue (and $6,852 over thirteen properties is hardly an enormous amount), the county government could just foreclose on the properties and have them sold at auction for the taxes. It's a petty issue to hold up a $1.3 million contract over.
The real story here, it sounds like, is "Defeated Bidder Has Held Contract for 35 Years, Lots of Friends on School Board".
Agreed because I've seen it happen here. Race is just a distraction IMHO when favoritism is the real issue.
The school took us on a field trip to the Colteryahn milk production facility. I thought it was a big deal, back then.
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It's a 'Burgh
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| Send FReepmail if yunz want on/off BPT list, 'n'at | |
| Learn Pittsburghese! | |
Let me see if I have this straight. The White guy owns a dairy and he has supplied their milk for 35 years. The Black guy doesnt own anything having to do with milk , but he will buy it from dairy's and deliver it to the schools.
In other words he will create a business after he gets the contract.
Does he have to be Bonded to be sure he can provide what he says he can?What happens if after he gets the contract he cant deliver, or the price goes up? What does getting the contract have to do with buying 15% of the contract from blacks, How many blacks own dairy's out there?This is just another affirmative action batch of bull. If the guy isnt delivering any milk to anyoine now why should he even get a chance to bid?
So, a 68-year-old tavern owner wants to get into the milk distributor business by taking a $1.364 million contract with all the city schools?
My confidence in his success is low.
OTOH, Colteryahn, having done this for 35 years, probably has it down to a science.
Gandy's deal will probably have him interposed as a middleman between the schools and Colteryahn's cows. What's the point?
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