City Councilwoman Desley Brooks got a teen center open, operating in her district.
Posted on 02/18/2012 10:58:28 AM PST by SmithL
The FBI has joined Oakland officials in examining a city-funded teen center, asking two construction firms why city Redevelopment Agency officials sought bids from them for a 2010 renovation of the center that had already been completed, representatives of the companies said Friday.
The Digital Arts and Culinary Academy, offering free classes in cooking, agriculture and multimedia production, has been run by aides to Councilwoman Desley Brooks since it opened in her East Oakland district last summer. It was renovated in spring 2010 without a contract or City Council approval.
Brooks has been trying to get Oakland to pay prime contractor Pulte Homes ever since, but has run into a series of delays linked to contracting law. The city, records show, did not put the work up for competitive bidding or take other steps required for public works projects.
City Administrator Deanna Santana's office issued a brief report Friday recommending that the city pay $152,000 to Pulte Homes. Santana has concerns about the center, however - including that it is run by a council member rather than a city agency - and promised to issue a more thorough report next Friday.
The FBI inquiry centers on the renovation of the center, according to people who have been interviewed.
City records and e-mails show that Oakland's Redevelopment Agency, which set aside money for the renovation, went to lengths to pay $121,000 to Pulte Homes before seeking City Council approval for the expenditure in December 2010.
After the work was completed in April 2010, the agency collected bids from Dryden Construction of Livermore, which had been a subcontractor on the original project, and DC Construction of Oakland, which had not, records show.
Pulte also turned in a cost estimate after the job was done, records show.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
City Councilwoman Desley Brooks got a teen center open, operating in her district.
How else is dem dey Desley going to get money for the Lexus?
This story reminded me of Gerald Walpin.
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