St. Bernard deals involve debris, overtime, trailers
Thursday, March 30, 2006
By Karen Turni Bazile
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The FBI has launched a multifaceted investigation into post-Hurricane Katrina spending in St. Bernard Parish, examining several public contracts including a $370 million debris pickup deal that parish officials granted without bids five days after the storm and gave again to the same firm later last year despite receiving lower offers, according to interviews with competitors and a parish official who have been questioned by federal agents.
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Parish President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez, who signed that original contract as an emergency measure Sept. 3, said the FBI has not interviewed him and that he was unaware of the investigation.
"I don't give a f - - - if the FBI is investigating," Rodriguez said. "If an FBI investigation would clear up everything and get the progress started in St. Bernard, I would welcome it. The feds need to do their job, but please hurry it up so we can get moving."