FEMA's money trail: "Transparent as mud"
Newhouse News reporter Sean Reilly has stayed on the case of post-Katrina contracts in the Gulf, and has unearthed more dubious dealings, this time with a company called PBS&J. First there's the questionable revolving door of a FEMA-employee-turned-contractor-exec:
Eric Tolbert spent almost three decades on emergency response teams, starting as a paramedic in his native North Carolina and rising to a top job at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Then there's the fact that PBS&J didn't list themselves as the contract beneficiary, but instead said the money was going to a small company in Alabama:
Early this year, Tolbert left government service for an executive post at PBS&J, a prominent Miami-based engineering firm. Since then, PBS&J has become a behind-the-scenes player in a contracting team that has garnered more than $145 million in government work related to the Hurricane Katrina and Rita recovery efforts, according to interviews and government records.
In an e-mail exchange this week, Tolbert said he played no role in winning that business and has "meticulously" abided by rules limiting contacts between former federal employees and their old agencies for at least a year. But the episode typifies the murky methods FEMA has used in shoveling billions of rebuilding dollars to private contractors.
"About as transparent as mud," is how Bill Allison of the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity described the process.
But PBS&J's name appears nowhere on the agency's list of contract recipients.Is it time to revive calls for an independent oversight commission of contractors in the Gulf?
Instead, the lone contractor named is a small south Alabama water treatment and purification company, Clearbrook LLC, that had previously handled only one federal contract, according to a government database. Clearbrook has about 35 full-time employees, said Chief Executive Bruce Wagner, who confirmed PBS&J's involvement.
Government records suggest that putting Clearbrook out front may also have helped the consortium win preferential treatment as a small business.
1 Comments:
Letter to all Louisiana Legislators,
Please consider rescinding all, or part of the $45 million approved for foolish pork barrel projects at Bond Commission meeting on Oct 20, 2005.
Due to budget problems, Louisiana will be unable for many years to fund additional money to continue these foolish projects, and money spent will be wasted.
Should budget cuts for Education, Children, and old and poor help pay for wasteful projects like Reservoirs, goat shows, and lawnmower races?
In Louisiana, a state drowning in water and political corruption, money continues to flow like water to build Reservoirs.
While citizens statewide are fighting building 14 new Reservoirs, Hurricane Katrina breached a levee, and a reservoir flooded and destroyed New Orleans.
The October 20, 2005 Bond Commission meeting lists $ 3.2 Million for Reservoirs while money was rescinded for many worthwhile projects.
Will Reservoirs continue to be one of our top priorities, and a foolish waste of our tax money? With the budget problems Louisiana faces this money is badly needed elsewhere.
Should the old and poor suffer, and taxpayers spend $40 to $50 million a lake to make developers wealthy? Will Louisiana change it’s foolish ways, and Politics as usual?
The D.O.T.D. tax money intended for infrastructure is wasted on unproductive pork barrel Reservoirs.
With Louisiana’s budget problems it is foolish to fund projects requiring continued funding year after year that we can’t afford.
The proposed Washington parish Reservoir will desecrate cemeteries, and take the homes of the old and poor. It is not too late to stop the waste of money on this foolish project before construction begins.
Please, stop the waste of money for unneeded foolish pork barrel projects.
Sincerely,
James Moore
Community Preservation Alliance http://www.angelfire.com/gundam/reservoir/
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In Louisiana, a state drowning in water and political corruption, money continues to flow like water to build 14 new Reservoirs.
Self-serving Politicians using Eminent Domain and tax money to build reservoirs are realizing personal gain by selling Lakefront lots.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco supports waste of a Billion dollars to build Reservoirs with over 150 Natural and 30 Man-made existing lakes.
Economic Development is used as a means of Political Wrongdoing.
A traveling Reservoir Salesman is going from parish to parish promoting
Economic Development Lakes for $100,000 a year per lake consulting fee.
The Salesman is Rep. Francis C. Thompson’s brother Michael L. Thompson,
in real estate, former Mayor of Delhi, Gov. Kathleen Blanco's transition team member, and former business partner of Parish Engineer Terry D. Denmon.
Mike Thompson is so-called Reservoir governmental consultant for Allen,
Washington, Morehouse, Caldwell, and LaSalle parishes, and proposed
Reservoir projects in western Ouachita, Jackson, and Lincoln parishes.
Rep. Francis Thompson seems to be helping his brother and Lake building friend
Denmon of Denmon Engineering by creating Reservoirs in Richland, Ouachita,
Allen, Caldwell, Morehouse, promoting them in Washington, and other Parishes.
There was $41,975,000 approved for 12 new reservoirs in 2004.
Poverty Point Reservoir created 1992 by Rep. Francis Thompson, built by
Denmon with Michael Thompson as Director, and now director of Golf Course.
The keyed gate entry project began by Legislator Developers as private enterprise
has cost taxpayers $40 Million Dollars with $3.5 Million approved for 2005.
A 2002 Audit, shows Taxpayers paid 1.2 million to develop the island lots at
Poverty Point Reservoir sold for $621,200 dollars to Thompson's neighbor.
Audit also shows Taxpayers paid 2.2 Million for keyed gate entry private
road to the lots, and .3 million for an office protection system or burgler alarm.
Legislator Developer Thompson’s CYPRESS COVE AT POVERTY POINT-LLC,
and his next-door neighbor are realizing personal gain selling Lakefront lots.
Rep. Thompson passed House Bill 1136 in 2001 allowing sale of land taken by
Eminent Domain to Third Party without first offering to sell back to original owner.
Self-serving Legislation allowing personal gain by sale of property taken.
Are these lots the 26 pieces of property taken by Eminent Domain?
Misuse of Eminent Domain, taking homes for Lakefront lots, recreation and
Golf Courses is placing undue hardship on some for pleasure and gain of others.
Reservoirs will take churches, homes of old and poor, desecrate cemeteries,
destroy wildlife and endangered species, and collect mercury polluted water.
Brant L. Thompson, Francis Thompson son is on Poverty Point Commission.
Mike Thompson’s Commerce Industry Board position is also questionable.
Nepotism, Cronyism, conflicts of interest, and ethics violations seem to exist.
Is Denmon Engineering, always selected contractor, a possible violation
of open bidding law due to HCR60 by Francis Thompson in 2003?
Denmon, and Thompson both serve on Aquaculture Advisory Council.
Is Denmon Vice Chairman of Wildlife and Fisheries a conflict of interest
since they control the Scenic Streams, and Wildlife-Endangered Species?
Denmon’s Lake site selections are destroying wildlife he is supposed to protect.
Other Thompson Legislation, developers may set up Political subdivisions,
Economic Development Retirement Communities with Eminent Domain power
to take property, taxing exempt, use taxpayers money, and make a profit.
State owned Hotels & Condominiums are proposed for Poverty Point Lake.
Poverty Point is promoted as model lake producing 100 million gallons water a
month, and costing 26 Million Dollars. Did Denmon miscalculate the watershed?
The 2002 Audit shows .9 million for Pumping station, Wells, and Water intake.
DOTD well files show Poverty Point still uses 4 large-bore16-inch Groundwater
Wells of 17 Mississippi Alluvial aquifer Wells for water supply to the lake.
Does 2 pumps import water 60 miles from Lake Chicot, Lake Village Arkansas?
The 8 Million income comment by Mike Thompson in 2001 is questionable,
not finished or opened until 2002. Audit states lake has 2 employees.
Lakes may create some temporary construction, and a few minimum wage jobs.
No studies done, and Lake Providence Poorest Place In America is an
example that Lakes provide no Economic Development, or lasting jobs.
Some officials seem to be interested in their own Economic Development.
By any means necessary, Lake is built, or not, Michael Thompson receives
money for project duration. Denmon receives $800,000 for site selection report.
It seems Denmon, Thompson, and Legislator Developers are continuing year
after year to create more Reservoirs to receive and waste taxpayer’s money.
Rep. Francis Thompson is in real estate as MACON RIDGE DEVELOPMENT,LLC.
Article Phantom Riches about Thompson's businees partner Lev Dawson: says,
"They're crooks and swindlers." Dawson also owns Dawson Farms.
Moon Griffon of KMLB talk radio boldly speaks on Political Wrong Doing.
Moon was threatened to stop talking about Lakes and Reservoirs, but
Moon is digging in, and continues talking about Reservoir Rage & Nasty Threats.
Chad Rogers of thedeadpelican.com La News And Politics is writing articles
on his website, and also talking about Reservoir wrong doing on WJBO Radio.
Is Rep. Francis C.Thompson in violation of Louisiana State Constitution?
Legislative office is a public trust, and every effort to realize personal gain
through official conduct is a violation of that trust.
Unchristian taking of homes, churches, and desecration of cemeteries is a travesty.
Should old and poor suffer to build wealthy Lakefront retirement communities?
Should taxpayers spend $40 to $50 million a lake to make developers wealthy?
These great Real Estate deals are currently being brought to you by our
Economic Development Policy, and the use of our Taxpayer's money.
Come and live in Louisiana, where your Property Rights are not respected?
This may seem to be Politics as usual in the State of Louisiana.
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