Check out this story of ongoing racial and economic disparity in the metro on this so-called "historic" day . . . Look for even more coverage from local TV stations in the coming months . . . Still, I'm offering TKC readers a first look at this story that differs from The Star's pro-developer, pro-corporate-TIF angle.
Thanks to a very awesome TKC TIPSTER . . . This blog offers just a bit of evidence which directly contradicts J.E. Dunn Construction and their questionable claims that they were "duped" by a minority subcontractor whose work failed to meet affirmative action standards during construction of the H&R Block headquarters . . . As usual, when a big company gets in trouble, the blame is cast upon people of color.
Check out a few memos in direct contradiction to J.E. Dunn's presentation at the TIF Commission last week, they reveal that Dunn was indeed aware of the minority contractor's role on the project and that Dunn conspired with R.F. Fisher to claim 100% MBE credit.
An affidavit shows that a party in the case admitted to being taken advantage of and was used as "a pass thru" for TIF MBE claims and also it shows how he was paid.
Furthermore, there are checks out there from the J.E. Dunn which illustrate how the company was allocating the payments for the arrangement . . . Coming soon.
Expect to see more of this on local TV and upon the decision by the TIF commission in March which will determine if there will be financial penalties against J.E. Dunn and H&R Block related to whether or not they really tried to meet the affirmative action goals set for the $138 million headquarters.
meh
ReplyDeleteBeth will get to the bottom of this.
ReplyDeleteThis is about as exciting as doing the dishes.
ReplyDeleteThe rumor is this is just the way Dunn has alway done biz. The minority contractor goes to some meetings, and they get the MBE status the project requires. Dunn gets the work done, and just pay off the minority contractor.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a majority firm taking advantage of a minority firm -- it's a scam, and both sides are dirty.
Dammmmmn, yo cracker crooks be stealing mo than de po niggers in KC!
ReplyDeleteThe Steve Dunn memo is incriminating. Steve insists that RF Fisher the "real contractor" guarantee the Rodriguez "fake minority contractor" contract.
ReplyDeleteWhy because he didnt want the minority contractor to take payments and blow town. Utter hubris of Dunn.
Now the rest of the story is starting to surface. I have always believed that it was the ethnic firms that were getting paid for no work or shoddy work. At least that's what the media has led you to believe. Now I see the hypocrisy. Shame on you J.E. Dunn and shame on you H&R Block. Both of these companies are rich enough to have constructed this building without getting a government handout. Any way we can get it back?
ReplyDeleteWhy did Dunn have to lie? He could have just used another but qualified company or just not claimed the credit. Instead he was greedy. Then he has the nerve to blame the minorities. Stupid!
ReplyDeleteWhat cheating bastards they are! Today, on Martin Luther King day and the day we honor our first black president, we find out just how contemptable Dunn and Block are. I was going to H&R Block to do my taxes for me, but not anymore. I advise all to do the same. This is the only way they will get the message.
ReplyDeleteThis illustrates why the next step for all of us minorities or people of color is to move to the level where we are the main contractors or the subs and not just the MBE on the job. Yes it will be tough but what you have to do is start bidding on the smaller jobs you can handle without being an MBE and work up. Also if you are a true (or even a scam) MBE on a project, take that money, expand your biz and compete with the bigger boys next time yourself.
ReplyDeleteThis "pass thru" arrangement is the norm.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many examples of "minority" firms in KC being used as tokens for contract compliance that it makes all affirmative action programs seem like a farce.
Send Terry Dunn to jail and take his ill-got treasure.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Dunn have to lie? He could have just used another but qualified company or just not claimed the credit.
ReplyDelete---------------------
That's the 7 million dollar question.
How will Dunn claim illegally obtained public funds on his tax return? It's a good thing he's "got people".
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for an honorable explanation. I have found the Dunn Family to be equitable in their dealings with Latino contractors, but the paper work shown with the court documents give me great pause. I hope that there is a damn good explanation.
ReplyDeleteRodriguez should not have participated in the scam if that is what it is. The scam puts money in his pocket, does not spread the love to his workers. There has got to be a far better way to do ME/WBE in this town. And just what the hell was EDC-TIF doing to make sure that the bodies on site correlated with reports given back to council?
Dunn is not the only big contractor in town and H&R Block is not the only tax preparer in town. Boycott both of these thieving bums!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Dunn's new headquarters building? Isn't it getting tax credits too? Is there no end to this? Whose watching out for the public's interest? The Mayor? The City Manager? The City Council? The TIF Board? Who?
ReplyDeleteTo anon 2:44, they are all in on this. Those gutless wonders have known about this issue for years but they refuse to speak out about it.
ReplyDeleteOk folks, let me put in my two cents worth. A tiny contactor, Rodriguez, outsmarted two gigantic mega corporations by trying to do work which was refused thereby rendering J.E. Dunn and H&R Block helpless victims?....................................RALPH for PRESIDENT!
ReplyDeleteHey Tony, the Star article mentioned a letter whose authenticity was questioned, but in true dead tree media fashion, they did not print it. It seems to be a key to this situation. Any chance you can get a copy of it and post it so we can see it for ourselves?
ReplyDelete2:57
ReplyDeleteOn the money.
Also.. TIF reporting also requires general contractors to report hours of individual workers. So every workers hours are logged in. So Dunn knew that Rodriguez was not doing the work. Does anyone think for a second Dunn would let a crew in and start working on a cabling system. Dunn's project manager knew it and Steve Dunn knew it, they lied and they were caught.... Again.
ReplyDeleteYou know. Facts. Not innuendo.
ReplyDeleteLet's refer to
The Tony Botello School of Journalism
Linking to other sources = reporting
"Sources tell me" = I made stuff up
"I don't claim to know the details" = I am lazy
"I called McClatchy" = I made stuff up
"Mary Sanchez is..." = I wish I could have ten percent of the class of Mary Sanchez
"AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS" = a black hole of made-up stupidity that sucks all the stupid in
"Here's what I've heard" = I made stuff up
"Sushi...is kind of like a signal to brown people that their business isn't wanted." = I am either brain-damaged or retarded, your choice
"According to close watchers" = I made stuff up
ALL CAPS IN RED = phony hyperbole
NO HOMO = I pitch and catch
"Mike Hendricks is..." = I wish I had some money too
"Parties close to the case..." = no one would talk to me even if I had tried, which I didn't
"I'm not going to quote anybody on this one but people familiar with..." = I made stuff up
"The Star is dying" - I am still bitter over being rejected as an intern in '04
"Word is that..." = yup - I made stuff up
The Tony Botello School of Journalism Part Two:
Constantly bitch about a. The Mayor and his wife. b. The Cosentinos Market downtown. c. The KC Star, which actually pimps his dumb ass on their website. and d. Anything that doesnt satisfy his beaner perspective on the world. Even though he has never been to Northeast KC, where the Hispanics have made it into a real neighborhood. Beg Rita for some bus money and go there. Oops, you are too busy jerking off to fantasies of sucking Gloria's toes and getting hard when Darla Jaye gets hard up for some news and looks for a fucktard perspective, so she calls you. And whips your pathetic ass. Tits and ass ain't gonna save your ghey ass. The corner is turning. People are finding you out. Which is good for the internet. One less asswhipe. Go away Tony.
Oh yes. Truth is a bitch, even when it comes from the Prostitution Rag called The Pitch.
http://www.pitch.com/2007-01-18/news/the-truth-about-tony/
rodrigez is a latino whore looking out for hisself and nobody else. why do you think he wins all the hispanic awards? he be a puto.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we see posts about Wayne Cauthen's continual corrupt dealings with Consulting firms in Denver. Why wouldn't wayne contract with local consulting firms? Why does he send millions of dollars to firms in Denver? How about reporting on that Tony you COCK-a-roach!?!?
ReplyDeleteYes, Cauthen is part of the problem but let's stay focussed on the current topic. Many think he has protected H&R Block and J.E. Dunn because the Human Relations Department that was supposed to be watching the TIF projects is under his direct control. Cauthen has sheeplishly not stepped forward on this issue because he will have a lot of explaining to do. Let's encourage KCHACE to continue putting on the pressure and root out all the players in this scam. Against all odds, that small group of Hispanic Contractors has backed the corrupt general contractor up against the wall.
ReplyDeleteI work in the new Block headquaters. I'm embarrassed. Management has not said anything about this. I think I'll pee in the coffee pot tomorrow.
ReplyDelete