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Message
I have a question about reporting corruption at the local government level
Posted on 8/18/22 at 10:27 pm
Posted on 8/18/22 at 10:27 pm
Gonna try to make a long story short here:
I live in plaquemines parish. They are building a new bridge and getting rid of the old draw bridge. There is going to be tolls to cross both ways, for a set amount of time, which is fine and expected, but after a local group crunched some numbers, they realized that our already broke parish would be paying over 800 million for a 180 million dollar bridge (don’t quote me on the exact numbers) over 30 years
When the citizens of the parish caught wind of this they fought and fought. The council here had a chance to vote on renegotiation or finding new bids, yet a select few on the council led by one of the senior members, voted NO or abstained, leading to our parish getting stuck with the shitty deal. On top of that, the normally vocal council NEVER offered up a reason as to why they voted the way they did
Fast forward a few months, a week or so ago.. Shawn Wilson, who works for the DOTD, and was a main player in the deal that went down, announced publicly that one of the members of the council just received a highly coveted, high paying job as a legislative liaison… hmmmm, makes you wonder huh? LINK
I guess my question is, if foul play is suspected, what can average joe citizens like myself do about it? Something needs to be done, this was BEYOND shady and our already broke parish may not recover from this. Is there anyone that would investigate? Is there precedence for handling stuff like this?
I live in plaquemines parish. They are building a new bridge and getting rid of the old draw bridge. There is going to be tolls to cross both ways, for a set amount of time, which is fine and expected, but after a local group crunched some numbers, they realized that our already broke parish would be paying over 800 million for a 180 million dollar bridge (don’t quote me on the exact numbers) over 30 years
When the citizens of the parish caught wind of this they fought and fought. The council here had a chance to vote on renegotiation or finding new bids, yet a select few on the council led by one of the senior members, voted NO or abstained, leading to our parish getting stuck with the shitty deal. On top of that, the normally vocal council NEVER offered up a reason as to why they voted the way they did
Fast forward a few months, a week or so ago.. Shawn Wilson, who works for the DOTD, and was a main player in the deal that went down, announced publicly that one of the members of the council just received a highly coveted, high paying job as a legislative liaison… hmmmm, makes you wonder huh? LINK
I guess my question is, if foul play is suspected, what can average joe citizens like myself do about it? Something needs to be done, this was BEYOND shady and our already broke parish may not recover from this. Is there anyone that would investigate? Is there precedence for handling stuff like this?
This post was edited on 8/18/22 at 10:30 pm
17
Posted on 8/18/22 at 10:33 pm to TheRouxGuru
Y’all produced Billy, corruption in your parish politics is nothing new baw
Posted on 8/18/22 at 10:34 pm to bee Rye
No, billy produced himself 
That dude has always been filthy rich
I’m not a nungesser fan by any stretch of the imagination FWIW
That dude has always been filthy rich
I’m not a nungesser fan by any stretch of the imagination FWIW
This post was edited on 8/18/22 at 10:35 pm
Posted on 8/18/22 at 11:19 pm to TheRouxGuru
quote:
if foul play is suspected, what can average joe citizens like myself do
Assuming average joe is able to expose corruption. The powers that be will destroy you.
I actually admire you and hope you are successful.
But be aware of how evil some of these people may be. And how deep the corruption may go.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 11:26 pm to Guntoter1
quote:or what corruption can cause people to do in protection of that corruption. $800 million minus $180 million leaves about $620 million of "don't stick your nose into it" corruption. Yeah, that's plenty enough corruption that I would understand why someone might be reluctant to stir the pot.
Assuming average joe is able to expose corruption. The powers that be will destroy you.
I actually admire you and hope you are successful.
But be aware of how evil some of these people may be. And how deep the corruption may go.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 11:27 pm to TheRouxGuru
quote:
they realized that our already broke parish would be paying over 800 million for a 180 million dollar bridge (don’t quote me on the exact numbers) over 30 years
I’d get your numbers straight first.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 11:52 pm to TheRouxGuru
Get use to it…..we America First patriots need to pay our fair share and we’re expected to make up the shortfalls of the Marxist leeches.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 12:10 am to TheRouxGuru
The political elite in Louisiana have been fleecing this state dry for over a century now. It’s pathetic what we’ve allowed them to get away with. Can’t be bothered to actually stand up for ourselves cause we’re too busy getting drunk.
laissez le bon temps rouler
laissez le bon temps rouler
Posted on 8/19/22 at 1:27 am to TheRouxGuru
quote:
I guess my question is, if foul play is suspected, what can average joe citizens like myself do about it?
Nothing, unless you have proof of a crime. They ripped you off, but you can’t prove it. All you have is circumstantial evidence.
What you can do is run for office and support your friends and neighbors who you know to be honest. In our affluence, we have gotten lazy and allowed ourselves to be governed by the venal.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 2:10 am to Penrod
The member of council you are speaking of initials BB? If so he has been taking a few nice vacations. Question him.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 2:19 am to TheRouxGuru
quote:
but after a local group crunched some numbers, they realized that our already broke parish would be paying over 800 million for a 180 million dollar bridge (don’t quote me on the exact numbers) over 30 years
$10 says this local group is incorrect on their info.
quote:
Fast forward a few months, a week or so ago.. Shawn Wilson, who works for the DOTD, and was a main player in the deal that went down, announced publicly that one of the members of the council just received a highly coveted, high paying job as a legislative liaison… hmmmm, makes you wonder huh?
Shawn Wilson is in charge of DOTD. He is the Secretary so yeah he would have been involved in a big project.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 2:20 am to 197603apf
quote:
The member of council you are speaking of initials BB?
It’s W. Beau Black
Posted on 8/19/22 at 4:49 am to TheRouxGuru
I also live in Plaquemines. You couldn’t be more right. This stinks of corruption. Beau knows he’d get voted out locally due to his support (or lack of support against) the toll bridge. Now he has a high power job in the state? BS! I left Orleans to get away from this shite. Can’t wait to retire and leave this state. But guess it’ll be the same anywhere I go to. Sad
Posted on 8/19/22 at 5:05 am to TheRouxGuru
1) Rural state lawmaker rises to DOT chair
2) Local paving outfit from that lawmaker’s hometown starts submitting low bids on every project and receiving the bids
3) During the construction projects, the pavers then receive the DOT committee’s permission to override the bids, thus being paid way more than the original highest bid
4) Paving firm owners - and assumedly the lawmaker - become exorbitantly wealthy
That’s what I saw transpire years ago in front of my very eyes. That may be child’s play compared to some other stories posters have, but that’s the first time I saw how relatively easy it is to get rich through corruption if you know the right people.
2) Local paving outfit from that lawmaker’s hometown starts submitting low bids on every project and receiving the bids
3) During the construction projects, the pavers then receive the DOT committee’s permission to override the bids, thus being paid way more than the original highest bid
4) Paving firm owners - and assumedly the lawmaker - become exorbitantly wealthy
That’s what I saw transpire years ago in front of my very eyes. That may be child’s play compared to some other stories posters have, but that’s the first time I saw how relatively easy it is to get rich through corruption if you know the right people.
This post was edited on 8/19/22 at 5:50 am
Posted on 8/19/22 at 5:15 am to TheRouxGuru
Man I wish I had good advice. Proud you are doing something.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 5:20 am to HubbaBubba
quote:
or what corruption can cause people to do in protection of that corruption. $800 million minus $180 million leaves about $620 million of "don't stick your nose into it" corruption. Yeah, that's plenty enough corruption that I would understand why someone might be reluctant to stir the pot.
This type of attitude is why they keep doing it and getting away with it.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 6:24 am to boosiebadazz
quote:
I’d get your numbers straight first.
Wehave all that information, I just didn’t bother looking it up in the middle of making that post
Posted on 8/19/22 at 6:26 am to Penrod
quote:
Nothing, unless you have proof of a crime. They ripped you off, but you can’t prove it. All you have is circumstantial evidence. What you can do is run for office and support your friends and neighbors who you know to be honest. In our affluence, we have gotten lazy and allowed ourselves to be governed by the venal.
There’s been a huge pushback in our parish. A lot of new people are running for council as a result of this shite
Posted on 8/19/22 at 6:26 am to 197603apf
quote:
The member of council you are speaking of initials BB? If so he has been taking a few nice vacations. Question him.
100%
Posted on 8/19/22 at 6:50 am to TheRouxGuru
Good luck…
I was involved in a bid for a local government a few years back…. My side was the low bidder on the project…. The county’s “review” took 3 times as long as normal, then they decided to rebid without changing anything from the original bid (illegal)…. Still low bidder, then they met with their current contractor behind closed doors, no public (illegal)…. After that meeting they offered to let their current contractor meet the price that I had submitted (not illegal but highly suspect)…. Current contractor refused and in an open meeting they awarded the contract to the current contractor for $2.9 million more per year than my contract price…. Their reasoning? My 25 years in the business / industry at hand was not sufficient for their contract…
They violated their State’s sunshine law, bid law, general contracting laws (on my disqualification), and three of the commissioners took obvious bribes (pool, boat, and condo on the beach)…. I had copies of the checks on the pool and boat from the awarded contractor…
Nothing was ever done and I was stonewalled at every turn…
I was involved in a bid for a local government a few years back…. My side was the low bidder on the project…. The county’s “review” took 3 times as long as normal, then they decided to rebid without changing anything from the original bid (illegal)…. Still low bidder, then they met with their current contractor behind closed doors, no public (illegal)…. After that meeting they offered to let their current contractor meet the price that I had submitted (not illegal but highly suspect)…. Current contractor refused and in an open meeting they awarded the contract to the current contractor for $2.9 million more per year than my contract price…. Their reasoning? My 25 years in the business / industry at hand was not sufficient for their contract…
They violated their State’s sunshine law, bid law, general contracting laws (on my disqualification), and three of the commissioners took obvious bribes (pool, boat, and condo on the beach)…. I had copies of the checks on the pool and boat from the awarded contractor…
Nothing was ever done and I was stonewalled at every turn…
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