Ackerman steers work again:Inquirer

[Cya]

I caught a glimpse of tomorrow's Inquirer newspaper at Wawa today. There was a headline about the original contractor agreeing to subcontract 67% of the work to minority contractors. This story isn't on the Philly.com website yet.
I should have picked it up, but usually wait until the actual Sunday paper comes out.
This should be interesting.

[Jay from Philly]

Minority Contractors only need help because they don't work the same because they know you need them to get the contract.

And good contractors is hired on their history. It's not really complicated. You hire who does the best work for the least amount of money.

Racism tends to stop when your speaking about losing money. You'll always hire the best.

Since they know, they tend to no show, screw off, and basically are your cost overruns.

It's blackmail by the blacks specifically because god forbid if the work was in a black councilperson's district, you're expected to hire more "blacks" than any other type of minority contractor.


This is a bunch of black people fighting to steer work towards their own kind, even over other minorities or disadvantaged business.

Alderman has repeatability used race in her logic and defense of here actions..

Pot calling the kettle black.

There was an issue a few years back where some public housing was being built in West Philly (Mantua, maybe?) and some locals were protesting the construction site because the contractor hadn't hired enough "people from the community". During a heated exchange one construction worker told the protestors to back off because "we know the Pagans and the Mafia". It caused a flurry the next few days in the news about the contractor being mobbed up.

[Cya]

It sounds like the original contractor did everything they were supposed to do to include minority contractors. But still that wasn't enough.
I'm wondering how much $$ it's gonna cost us to settle this lawsuit that will likely be filed soon against the School District.

Firm lost district job despite vow of diversity | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/11/2010

But the company that had begun preliminary planning before Ackerman pushed it aside - Security & Data Technologies Inc. - had guaranteed to provide 33 percent of the work to a minority contractor and 34 percent to a firm owned by a woman, according to e-mails reviewed by The Inquirer.

The SDT guarantee is documented in a series of e-mails to the school district and in internal district e-mails, including one sent to Leroy B. Nunery II, the deputy superintendent, six days before Ackerman took action Sept. 23.
In meticulous detail, they describe SDT's plan to include minority- and women-owned firms in a project to install surveillance systems and command control centers at 19 schools classified as persistently dangerous.
The e-mail traffic makes it clear that companies run by minorities and women would have received the bulk of the work on the surveillance job.

In a draft of a resolution to the School Reform Commission sent to Nunery on Sept. 17, Myron Patterson, chief of school safety, spelled out the specific percentages allotted under the SBT plan:

"MBE participation for all installation . . . will be 33%," Patterson wrote. "WBE participation . . . will be 34%." (MBE signifies minority-owned enterprise, and WBE stands for businesses owned by women.)

Shana Kemp, a district spokeswoman, questioned whether SDT and the district staff were serious about the proposal to include minorities and women because they had failed to complete a minority-participation form and attach it to the draft SRC resolution. That requirement, she said, dated to 2003 and was implemented because several firms owned by white businessmen had failed to fulfill their commitments.

[Glenn Quagmire]

I voted for Nutter because he promised transparency. Now with him acting like there is no problem, or failing to make a statement, I will vote for who ever runs against him. This is criminal behavior

[enyo]

There was a headline about the original contractor agreeing to subcontract 67% of the work to minority contractors.

That doesn't seem fair. Especially in this economy. If you do all the work securing the contract and attending the pre-lim meetings, 50% seems more than generous. I can't believe Ackerman has so many supporters. I am a bit puzzled that an all black company gets the job per the minority business enterprise requirements.

Blacks make up the largest slice of demographics in this city at 44%, Whites 39% the rest are 5% or less.

[Glenn Quagmire]

Pa. lawmaker: Ackerman suspends five whistle-blowers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/14/2010

I'm glad to see someone is stepping in to do something about this women

[Litter Box]

This woman is a distraction and should be gone. All this bad publicity gets in the way of educating the kids and makes the city look bad. Greene part 2.

[wislad]

Yes, and props to Rep. McGeehan for getting involved!

[Cya]

Why suspend 5 workers-- with pay? If they did blow the whistle, and speak to the press, does Ackerman think that by suspending them (with pay) that all of a sudden these employees will shut their mouths?
Hell no!! They're going to go straight to the press! She's an idiot!

So, she's handing out spankings, sending these people home, their work isn't getting done, and we're still paying for it.

[five apples]

This is another glaring issue of Nutter failing to lead. He promised a more transparent and less corrupt way of doing business in the city. But with Greene, and now Ackerman, we see that Nutter has little interest in ending the abuses that have plagued this city for centuries and lead so many of us to vote for him. I have gone from giving him money and actively campaigning for him to waiting patiently to sign a check to whomever runs against him, in both the primary and the general. His lack of leadership is glaring. He is in fact what many said he was, a chinless, unqualified mayor.

[Hospitalitygirl]

This is another glaring issue of Nutter failing to lead. He promised a more transparent and less corrupt way of doing business in the city. But with Greene, and now Ackerman, we see that Nutter has little interest in ending the abuses that have plagued this city for centuries and lead so many of us to vote for him. I have gone from giving him money and actively campaigning for him to waiting patiently to sign a check to whomever runs against him, in both the primary and the general. His lack of leadership is glaring. He is in fact what many said he was, a chinless, unqualified mayor.

Wow!!! concise. And damning.

[five apples]

Wow!!! concise. And damning.

My frustration with him has reached a new and probably irreversible high. His silence on these matters is pathetic.

[Cya]

So, these 6 employees were suspended for allegedly speaking about "confidential" records--or School District contracts?

Since when is spending our tax money on school projects confidential? What's the big secret, Ackerman?

I like this republican state rep from Bucks County, Clymer. Let's see how pissed off he really is.



Head of Pa. House panel lambastes Ackerman for suspensions and contracts | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/15/2010

Three of the six employees suspended are high-ranking district staff members: John L. Byars, senior vice president of procurement services; Francis Dougherty, a key aide to Deputy Superintendent Leroy D. Nunery II; and Patrick Henwood, senior vice president for capital programs. Two are top information technology staff members - Robert Westall, deputy chief information officer, and Melanie Harris, the department head. The identity of the sixth staffer was uncertain.


"What has happened," Clymer said, "is pushing education and the image of the Philadelphia School District downward. It's just horrendous. For a school system that comes in here year in and year out wanting more funding, this is really so wrong. It's outrageous."

[palvar]

My frustration with him has reached a new and probably irreversible high. His silence on these matters is pathetic.

But what control does he have over the school district?

[Sandra Stewart]

I will call Mr. McGeehan to the carpet here for what is going to be the first of MANY by me as we start to enter FULL ON campaigning in the next year.
MAKE NO MISTAKE - The ONLY reason Mr. McGeehan is getting involved with the Ackerman issue is: 1.)To present himself as a "caring" State Rep. who will go after this type of abuse of power. Meanwhile - IN REALITY - Come 2011, Mr. McGeehan will have served 20 years as our State Rep. with crickets coming from his office. I emplore you - DO NOT BE BAMBOOZLED HERE! 2.)Mr. McGeehan is the 'Golden Child' to the unions (who were supposed to get the proposed work) to the tune of a REPORTED $133K annually. Therefore, Mr. McGeehan MUST come out against Ackerman to further solidify their support in our upcoming race for City Council District 6. 3.)I find it *interesting* that Mr. McGeehan spoke out against Ackerman in terms of her stripping the Union of their contract -YET- Mr. McGeehan said NOTHING about her unethical behavior or called for her removal. THAT was done by Mr. Clymer of Bucks Cty. Thus, once again, demonstrating that our CURRENT politicians that lay claim to Philadelphia lack REAL LEADERSHIP. Where was Mr. McGeehan when Ackerman's salary was increased to $350K with a $60+K bonus? Where is the committee to audit and account for the budget of a School District that still has YET to turn anything around? OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL FAILING!!!!! It is CLEAR that Mr. McGeehan is using the malfeasance of Ms. Ackerman to *appear* against her conduct, when in REALITY, he simply wants to continue his Gravy Train with the Unions. DO NOT BE FOOLED!!!!!

[enyo]

The ONLY reason Mr. McGeehan is getting involved with the Ackerman issue is: 1.)To present himself as a "caring" State Rep. who will go after this type of abuse of power. Meanwhile - IN REALITY - Come 2011, Mr. McGeehan will have served 20 years as our State Rep. with crickets coming from his office. I emplore you - DO NOT BE BAMBOOZLED HERE!

This is why I will never support any politician. They don't really care its just grandstanding for power. I find it hard to vote for anything but third party. Same with Corbett. Most of them are just self absorbed ladder climbers. I wish both parties got voted out of office.

[kbjc72]

I will call Mr. McGeehan to the carpet here for what is going to be the first of MANY by me as we start to enter FULL ON campaigning in the next year.
MAKE NO MISTAKE - The ONLY reason Mr. McGeehan is getting involved with the Ackerman issue is: 1.)To present himself as a "caring" State Rep. who will go after this type of abuse of power. Meanwhile - IN REALITY - Come 2011, Mr. McGeehan will have served 20 years as our State Rep. with crickets coming from his office. I emplore you - DO NOT BE BAMBOOZLED HERE! 2.)Mr. McGeehan is the 'Golden Child' to the unions (who were supposed to get the proposed work) to the tune of a REPORTED $133K annually. Therefore, Mr. McGeehan MUST come out against Ackerman to further solidify their support in our upcoming race for City Council District 6. 3.)I find it *interesting* that Mr. McGeehan spoke out against Ackerman in terms of her stripping the Union of their contract -YET- Mr. McGeehan said NOTHING about her unethical behavior or called for her removal. THAT was done by Mr. Clymer of Bucks Cty. Thus, once again, demonstrating that our CURRENT politicians that lay claim to Philadelphia lack REAL LEADERSHIP. Where was Mr. McGeehan when Ackerman's salary was increased to $350K with a $60+K bonus? Where is the committee to audit and account for the budget of a School District that still has YET to turn anything around? OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL FAILING!!!!! It is CLEAR that Mr. McGeehan is using the malfeasance of Ms. Ackerman to *appear* against her conduct, when in REALITY, he simply wants to continue his Gravy Train with the Unions. DO NOT BE FOOLED!!!!!

So Sandra, you have decided to jump on the bandwagon to trump your own horn about your campaign? I believe that the State Representative was correct in calling attention to this matter, period. You didn't mention that State Rep. Mcgeehan also had concerns with the employees suspended in this matter.
Sandra if you want to prattle on about your campaign for the 6th Councilmanic District please use a thread that applies. The topic of this thread concerns Ackerman's actions as superintendent of the school district.

[macdaire]

....and perhaps, she should learn to spell.

[Sandra Stewart]

Let me first say that I was responding to this thread because there is the misconception that Rep. McGeehan is simply trying to "do the right thing" in exposing Sup. Ackerman's abuse of "power." There is nothing noble or truthful in most things that Mr. McGeehan has his hands in. And as our race heats up over these next few months more and more will be exposed about Mr. McGeehan. If you want to get started now, simply look at his voting record over the past 20 years. Also-I am simply drawing attention to the man's motives. I beg to differ-I believe they are VERY relevant to this thread. Over the past few months since entering the political spectrum here in Philadelphia, I have had a crash course in how things operate and I am merely suggesting that things are not always what they seem.
In my opinion, since one can not legally take the contract back, Mr. McGeehan would have better stated his intent if he exposed the "back door deal" and then followed it up with calling for the resignation and/or replacement of Ms. Ackerman. That's what REAL leaders who aren't AFRAID do! Again, since this a blog site and we all are entitled to posting our opinion, there you have mine and I believe it is keeping with the title of this thread. As far as spelling goes - ??Wasn't aware that I misspelled anything but if so, sorry about that. I'm sick as a dog and little out of sorts....

[OldMama]

The mayor's power over schools has been eroded by the state takeover. I don't blame Nutter for this fiasco. I do blame the SRC and state officials. That's why I have some hope that these state reps will have an effect. The district is run by the STATE not the city.