The Texas company under fire in the District for allegedly failing to maintain traffic-enforcement cameras and parking meters contributed thousands of dollars last year to political campaigns and travel by D.C. leaders, at the same time negotiating new deals with the city, an Examiner investigation found.
Affiliated Computer Services laid out more than $20,000 in 2006, including a $10,600 contribution to last summer’s privately underwritten trade mission to Africa organized by then-Mayor Anthony Williams.
City officials deny they were influenced by the money. But government watchdogs aren’t convinced.
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“What you do when you open up government to private donations by corporations is double the influence that corporations get when they make contributions to campaigns,” said Gary Imhoff, co-founder of D.C. Watch. “You also double the power that politicians have to demand money from corporations.”
The ACS contract to manage the city’s 16,500 parking meters expired last August. On Oct. 3, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a new five-year, $20 million deal. The resolution, proposed by Williams, claimed the “critical parking meter services can only be obtained through an award of the multiyear contract with ACS.”
ACS is taking flak for allegedly neglecting maintenance of the District’s red-light and radar-speed cameras. Rival firm American Traffic Solutions, which took over the lucrative camera contract this week, reported finding that 27 of 50 red-light cameras were inoperable or defective, two of 10 stationary radar units had not been inspected, camera sites were stripped of equipment and network cabling was cut.
Meanwhile, a recent inspection by the D.C. auditor found that more than half of the city’s parking meters were missing, broken or defaced, and that ACS was slow to make repairs.
The company did not return repeated calls for comment.
ACS donated $8,500 to six council members’ campaign committees, including the current mayor and council chairman. Donella Brockington, an ACS vice president who traveled to Africa with Williams, contributed $3,000 as an individual to eight campaign committees.
Council Member Phil Mendelson, who received $1,300 in contributions, denied any improper influence by ACS.
“ACS has always had a very good government relations effort,” he said. “And regardless of whether they gave contributions or not, they make a point of communicating with members on issues.”
