Posted on 01/29/2003 7:22:53 AM PST by spintreebob
A janitorial firm headed by a former national president of Operation PUSH could lose public school business based on charges it joined a scheme to falsify minority subcontractor work on more than $4.6 million in fencing contracts won by a once-prominent Democratic fund-raiser, officials said Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
If we have "education choice" how do we know the right people will be chosen to provide fencing?
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.
January 29, 2003
BY ROSALIND ROSSI AND ART GOLAB STAFF REPORTERS
|
|
A janitorial firm headed by a former national president of Operation PUSH could lose public school business based on charges it joined a scheme to falsify minority subcontractor work on more than $4.6 million in fencing contracts won by a once-prominent Democratic fund-raiser, officials said Tuesday.
The Rev. Jimmie Daniels; his wife, Delores; and their company, Total Facility Maintenance in Wood Dale, were scheduled to receive the largest chunk of subcontractor work--worth nearly $992,000--under two school fencing contracts awarded to James Levin and his two companies in 1998 and 2000, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Daniels' firm is among four subcontractors now under scrutiny for allegedly helping Levin's companies--Tru-Link Fences & Products and Tru-Link Commercial--meet requirements for work by minority- and women-owned businesses, officials said.
Total Facility was the only subcontractor in the group to be listed on both contracts, they said.
Board attorneys and Interim Schools Inspector General James Sullivan have contended that Levin's two firms did the work and pocketed more than $1 million due to subcontractors. Four subcontractors allegedly submitted false paperwork as part of the scheme.
Levin once pledged to give or raise $1 million for former President Bill Clinton's presidential library. He contributed $8,500 to the Democratic National Committee in 1998 and gave $5,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton's New York Senate campaign, but has since filed for bankruptcy.
Asked last week if he knew Levin, Daniels said, "Not really. I've heard of him.''
Daniels, currently pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Summit and a resident of Hoffman Estates, said he was unaware that Levin was under investigation, adding, "I'm a Republican. I believe everybody on that side of town are Democrats. ... I'm a suburbanite.''
Daniels said he "recalled something'' about his firm being listed as receiving more than $611,000 on one fencing contract, but then cut off the conversation: "If you want to ask me questions about it, I have no comments. You'd have to talk to my attorney.''
In 1995, Daniels' meeting with a prominent Republican put him at odds with other PUSH leaders. Daniels told the Sun-Times editorial board that PUSH officials demanded his resignation after he met with then-U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). However, the next day, he read a statement saying PUSH had not demanded he quit.
Board of Education officials confirmed Tuesday that Daniels, his wife and their company are among six firms and 12 people they are seeking to ban from work for three years because of the alleged fraud scheme.
If successful, the effort would bar Daniels' firm from any city or Park District contracts, and could give the Board of Education the ability to cancel his current contracts.
Board documents indicate Daniels' firm holds a $12 million janitorial contract to clean the city's public schools.
Daniels' firm is accused of submitting a bogus invoice for $3,500 on the first contract, which allegedly would have netted it more than $611,000, officials said. It also is under investigation for a second Levin contract that allegedly would have netted it $380,000, sources said.
Contributing: Curtis Lawrence and Fran Spielman
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Calling your attention to the full-text post, if you feel the need to remove it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.