The D.C. Council spent a good deal of time Tuesday morning haggling over a Washington Post editorial that raised questions about how the city’s administration “conducts its business.” The editorial board insinuated that a city grass cutting contract for two wards awarded to Community Bridge Inc. — despite higher prices — was a political favor from Mayor Vincent Gray.
Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, chairwoman of the transportation and public works committee, announed plans to hold a hearing on the allegations. Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser jumped in, saying her government operations committee should also have jurisdiction and the two agreed to hold a joint hearing Friday at 11 a.m.
During Tuesday’s breakfast discussion, Chairman Kwame Brown questioned several times whether CBI, a minority business, is a “shell company” because it lists its address as a townhouse in the District but apparently stores its equipment in Prince George’s County.
“We need to figure out whether it’s legit, not legit or if it’s a shell,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham wondered how many city residents were actually employed under the contracts. Lorenz, which has cut grass in the other six wards, costs less than CBI but is based in Maryland. Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans said he wanted to know why the city was “giving one company millions of dollars extra when there’s another company willing to perform the same services for less.”
He added he wanted to see all of the city’s paperwork on the contract, referring to emails sent within the mayor’s office about CBI and Lorenz. The Post’s editorial board obtained redacted versions of the paperwork.
