It had once been the site of a copper smelter.
It took USPS years and years to get out of that situation, and the dollar values involved dwarf anything you mentioned.
That Ward guy you mention was involved in that particular deal as well as the others in various capacities. Mr. Porras left quickly. Ward hung around. Henderson, Ms. Willhite's buddy, just couldn't bear to see him go.
Sometimes mistakes are made, but in USPS what's going on is that almost 100% of the management team consists of Democrats. I don't think we've had a single Republican in one of the VP or SR.VP. positions in the last 25 years, and that includes when Mr. Casey (now on the Board of Governors) was PMG. In fact, he came in and set in motion a process that resulted in the removal or demotion of almost every management capable Republican in the USPS. Who recommended him for appointment to the USPS Board? That individual should be horsewhipped and sent packing!