More Corruption at the BRA

The Globe today has another story about a BRA employee who feels they are above the law and has engaged in pension abuse.

The BRA (the Mayor) plays all sorts of games with money. At the City Council hearing on their budget they didn't even bring their budget, bringing a one page sheet with last year's budget. They are talking about "potentially" having to lay people off or "maybe" having a wage freeze but it hasn't happened and I predict it won't.

John Palmeiri, the BRA director, is not paid by the BRA either he is paid by the same EDIC that this woman was paid from. I wonder why? Why would someone be the head of an agency and not receive pay from that agency?

When the Paul McCann issue was exposed by the Globe I wrote on my blog about how the Mayor fired McCann and brought up the point that this clearly shows the BRA is under direct control of the Mayor. I got an unsolicited email from Jessica Shumacher the BRA spokesperson:

Kevin,

A point of clarification:

The Mayor and the City’s corporation counsel advised the BRA that they were in violation of the pension laws. On Friday, the BRA suspended its contract with Paul McCann and today, terminated the contract.

But, I have Menino on video saying that he terminated McCann's contract. I wrote back to Shumacher on April 29 asking:

Jessica,

just to be clear, can you let me know if any former BRA or EDIC officials have contracts with either the BRA or EDIC.

Also, is it available online anywhere where a citizen could examine all the contracts the BRA has with outside sources?

Thanks,
kevin

NO RESPONSE. I wrote again on May 10:

Jessica,

I haven't heard back from you, would you mind answering the question about whether any former BRA or EDIC officials have contracts with either the BRA or EDIC?


Also, is it available online anywhere where a citizen could examine all the contracts the BRA has with outside sources?


thanks,
kevin

Still no response. The BRA is a giant slush fund and campaign contributer repayment center run by the Mayor off the books with no fiscal oversight. It must be done away with and citizen oversight through the City Council of planning and development needs to occur.