Corruption At The Los Angeles City Housing Authority
A Los Angeles Times investigation reveals a highly-paid manager for the Los Angeles City Housing Authority rigging bids worth nearly $1 million over four years.
"A high-level manager for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles directed nearly $800,000 in contracts to his brothers and three politically connected firms without competitive bidding or after rigged contests, a Times review has found.
...The authority is responsible for providing housing to about 60,000 of the city's poorest families. Though governed by a commission appointed by the mayor, the authority is a free-standing agency primarily funded by the federal government.
...For instance, the authority paid nearly $2,500 each to install 20 toilets for disabled people in projects around the city. By comparison, the Los Angeles County Housing Authority would pay about $620, said Geoffrey Siebens, a construction manager there.
Taracena, who was recently fired from his $104,000-a-year job after a housing authority investigation, declined to comment, but his attorney, Marshall Rubin, said his client denies any wrongdoing. He would not elaborate."
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Toilet "Seats"
The contracts involved design and construction of facilities to accommodate disabled people: wheelchair ramps, toilets and grab bars in city housing projects.
Without commenting on the merits I have to call into perspective the pricing. As described above $2500 is a bargain. The idea that the above could be done for $640 is laughable.
We see this all the time. In the past it has been 5 digit "toilet seats" in C-5 aircraft and thousand dollar military pliers. Government is expensive and inefficient because that is the way it is designed and most would blanche at the alternatives.
Anyone with doubts is welcome to solicit bids for "wheelchair ramps, toilets and grab bars" and tell the bidder that you have a $2000 budget and you expect full compliance with city bidding qualifications and proof of every form of insurance, compliance, etc.