Postal Service's 'Conflict of Interest' is Democrat Cronyism & Corruption

An article at TheHIll on a possible 'conflict of interest' at the  United States Post Office fails to mention key facts. Omitting key details is another form of bias in the media and another way the media protects the Democrat party and its leadership.  What are the details that have been overlooked ?  What about cronyism and corruption ?  Take a look at the first half of the article excerpted below or follow the link to TheHIll for the complete article.

Postal Service urged to end deal with real estate broker

The Postal Service needs to end its relationship with a major commercial real estate broker, a federal watchdog said this week. 

USPS’s inspector general said the agency’s set-up with CBRE, in which the real estate broker sometimes represents both sides of a lease or sale, sparks “conflicts of interest.” 

Both the Postal Service and CBRE have defended their current arrangement. But the inspector general said it’s concerned that “CBRE may not negotiate property sales and lease transactions in the Postal Service’s best interest.” 

Before the Postal Service and CBRE teamed up, the inspector general said, potential landlords used to negotiate directly with the agency.

But now, the watchdog says it has heard complaints from building owners about CBRE demanding commission payments. In all, CBRE collected roughly $20.6 million in commissions on roughly 3,400 leases.

On top of that, the inspector general said that it believes the Postal Service – which lost some $5 billion in the most recent fiscal year – could be overpaying by about $9.5 million a year on rent due to leases negotiated by CBRE. Those overpayments, the inspector general said, went toward commissions for CBRE. 

For those reasons and more, the inspector general said the Postal Service should get rid of CBRE and allow other companies to bid to be the agency’s broker.

The article does state the case for a possible 'conflict of interest' at the USPS, but is looking for cronyism and  corruption a conspiracy theory?  Should the reader have been informed that CBRE is connected to Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein's husband Richard C. Blum.  Consider the following :

'The US Postal Service intends to sell 56 buildings, so it can lease space more expensively. The real estate company that has been charged to handle the sale should pocket approximately $1 billion in commissions. The company designated to handle the transactions is none other than that of the California senator’s husband, Richard Blum. '

'In March 2011, Blum’s company, CBRE, was selected as the sole real estate agent on sales expected to reach $19 billion. It went unnoticed by most voters that Blum is a member of CBRE’s board and served as chairman from 2001 to 2014. Already questions about appraisals and transaction prices, and whether or not the post office has received fair value for its properties or if CBRE select clients have received special deals on preferred properties.

The media ignored this not uncommon feat of federal spousal support after Feinstein’s office stated the senator had nothing to do with the USPS decisions to award the brokerage of the sales to CBRE '

Not only was Donald Blum chairman of the board at CBRE, he is still  listed as a director.

Another 'conflict of interest' is when the liberal media reports on anything connected to the Democrats. This isn't the first or last time the media will cover for the Democrat party, but Senator Dianne Feinstein seems to get very special treatment, even for a Democrat.   My previous blogs followed the money trail that started at death and destruction and lead right to the Senator and her husband's door. 

Democrat Dianne Feinstein: A Bridge Too Far

Politicians Suppress Report on 2nd Failed URS Bridge Project 

The Martin Olaf Sabo Bridge-The Fix is In

LaPierre- Two Reasons For A Federal List of Gun Owners

TWO reasons for a Federal List on Gun Owners. To Either TAX them or TAKE them. 

 Wayne LaPierre Of the NRA Responds to Obama's Inaugural Comments

How much does it cost to apply for a handgun license in New York?

The application fee for a handgun license is $340.00. Effective March 9, 2012, the fee for fingerprints is $91.50. These fees may be paid by credit card or with money orders when you submit your application. Money orders should be made payable to the “New York City Police Department.”

 How much for a long gun in New York?

The application fee is $140.00.  The fingerprint fee is $91.50.  You may pay the fees with a credit card or two POSTAL MONEY ORDERS, BANK TELLER’S CHECKS OR CERTIFIED CHECKS. Cash is not accepted. Please make your money orders or checks payable to the “New York City Police Department.” No personal checks will be accepted.

What do I have to do to sell a handgun?

Before selling a handgun listed on your license, you must notify the License Division at (646) 610-5154. When you contact the License Division you will be advised on the proper procedures to follow to complete the sale. Failure to notify the License Division that you are selling a handgun is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

NYPD Page NYC Gov

Cuomotose - Democrat New York Gov. Pushes Progressive Platitudes on Gun Control

Barack Obama, The Great Divider, Exploits the Newtown Shooting

Summary of 2013 legislation

Following is a summary of the 2013 legislation:

• Bans the sale, transfer, importation, or manufacturing of:
• 120 specifically-named firearms;
• Certain other semiautomatic rifles, handguns, shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine and have one or more military characteristics; and
• Semiautomatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds.
• Strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by:
• Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test;
• Eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test; and
• Banning firearms with “thumbhole stocks” and “bullet buttons” to address attempts to “work around” prior bans.
• Bans large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of accepting more than 10 rounds. 
• Protects legitimate hunters and the rights of existing gun owners by:
• Grandfathering weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment;
• Exempting over 900 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes; and
• Exempting antique, manually-operated, and permanently disabled weapons.
• Requires that grandfathered weapons be registered under the National Firearms Act, to include:
• Background check of owner and any transferee;
• Type and serial number of the firearm;
• Positive identification, including photograph and fingerprint;
• Certification from local law enforcement of identity and that possession would not violate State or local law; and
• Dedicated funding for ATF to implement registration.

Another Democrat Anti-Gun Argument Gets Hammered

Gun Safety-Finger on trigger and pointed in an unsafe direction

Never letting a crisis go to waste, the democrats push their gun control/ban legislation at the first opportunity. The Joyce Foundation's own Barack Obama has long pretended to 'respect' the second amendment rights, if not champion them for 'hunters'. The media even plays along with Barry's charade. Obama AVOIDED any mention of gun-restrictions to get elected. Now, on the first day of the new Congress, The democrat party propaganda apparatus will spout 'militia' and 'hunting' as my collective right under the 2nd amendment, when clearly it is an individual right, no different than speech or religion.   Even the leftists at Cornel have to accept this FACT


Head of Obama's Gun Ban Task Force- 2011 Plans Needed Opportunity

According to the FBI annual crime statistics, the number of murders committed annually with hammers and clubs far outnumbers the number of murders committed with a rifle.

 by AWR Hawkins 3 Jan 2013, 6:13 AM PDT @breitbart

 
This is an interesting fact, particularly amid the Democrats' feverish push to ban many different rifles, ostensibly to keep us safe of course.
However, it appears the zeal of Sens. like Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) is misdirected. For in looking at the FBI numbers from 2005 to 2011, the number of murders by hammers and clubs consistently exceeds the number of murders committed with a rifle.
Think about it: In 2005, the number of murders committed with a rifle was 445, while the number of murders committed with hammers and clubs was 605. In 2006, the number of murders committed with a rifle was 438, while the number of murders committed with hammers and clubs was 618.
And so the list goes, with the actual numbers changing somewhat from year to year, yet the fact that more people are killed with blunt objects each year remains constant.
For example, in 2011, there was 323 murders committed with a rifle but 496 murders committed with hammers and clubs.
While the FBI makes is clear that some of the "murder by rifle" numbers could be adjusted up slightly, when you take into account murders with non-categorized types of guns, it does not change the fact that their annual reports consistently show more lives are taken each year with these blunt objects than are taken with Feinstein's dreaded rifle.
Another interesting fact: According to the FBI, nearly twice as many people are killed by hands and fists each year than are killed by murderers who use rifles.
The bottom line: A rifle ban is as illogical as it is unconstitutional. We face far greater danger from individuals armed with carpenters' tools and a caveman's stick.
And it seems fairly obvious that if more people had a gun, less people would be inclined to try to hit them in the head with a hammer.

Politicians Suppress Report on 2nd Failed URS Bridge Project

Minneapolis Politicians Suppress Report on 2nd Failed URS Bridge Project

The Martin Olaf Sabo Bridge After Cable Failure-Constructed 2007

Despite Pledge, Sabo Bridge Report Not Released Thursday
Despite the full report into the failure of the Sabo pedestrian bridge being delivered by its consultants on Thursday, the city of Minneapolis will not immediately release it to the public as it initially promised....

 In addition, the document noted that winds as light as five to 10 miles per hour were enough to cause cable vibrations that induced damaging stress on the bridge's cables. URS, the firm that designed the bridge, did not include wind calculations in the original design calculations package, the summary said.

That does not mean such calculations were not made, Kotke cautioned at the time....

Failure of the URS Corp's Sabo Bridge

So far, the costs of shoring up the bridge, detouring traffic for several weeks, and determining the cause of the cable failures has reached approximately $1 million.
Staff at the Met Council, which put on hold a decision about whether to hire URS for a $94 million contract to engineer the new Southwest Light Rail line, has now met with representatives from URS about the problems with the Sabo bridge, a spokesperson confirmed.

Despite Pledge, Sabo Bridge Report Not Released Thursday 

 UPDATE- No Bid Contracts and Connections The Martin Olaf Sabo Bridge-The Fix is In






Background: Democrat Dianne Feinstein: A Bridge Too Far  

35w Fatal Bridge Collapse 2007 - Another URS Project

Democrat Dianne Feinstein: A Bridge Too Far

35w Bridge Collpse Mpls MN

Company that Consulted in MN Bridge Failures Seeks New Project

"The engineering firm that consulted on the collapsed 35W bridge and the Sabo Pedestrian Bridge that had a broken cable may get another large project in Minnesota.
URS corporation is hoping to get a seven year, $94 million contract for the Southwest Light Rail transit line.
A Met Council Committee was set to vote Monday afternoon but decided to table the issue.

35W Bridge Collapse Mpls MN

They first want to learn more about the problems with the Sabo Bridge."  By: Leslie Rolander

2 Cable Anchors Failed on Martin Olaf Sabo Bridge

Sabo Bridge- Support Cable Failure

Martin Olaf Sabo Bridge Failure

====
Local Media Coverage @kstp

URS in deal to acquire Washington Group


"URS has a history of anticipating change in the industry, and this transaction is the next logical step in building for future growth," URS Chief Executive Martin Koffel said, noting the firms' strength in power production and infrastructure and environmental management.
The combined company, to be called URS, would have an order backlog of more than $11 billion in more than 50 countries. The two companies currently have 54,500 employees worldwide.
The deal is designed to give the companies additional heft in a competitive global arena. In April, URS led the Engineering News-Record's annual ranking of top 500 design firms.
Federal contracting would be key for the new company, whose combined 2006 revenue is $7.6 billion, the fourth-highest among . publicly-traded engineering and construction companies.
The new company would be one of the top five providers of defense technical services. This month, URS was one of two companies that won a contract to help manage post-disaster housing inspection services for the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This year, activists attacked Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) for having an alleged conflict of interest because she held key positions on the Senate's military construction appropriations subcommittee while her husband, Richard Blum, had financial interests in URS. Feinstein's office denied any ethical problems."
 


The media fails to explore the connection. Why is that important. Check the date of the contract and completion of the of the project for the Sabo Bridge in the following image. Martin Olav Sabo Bridge

Sabo Bridge Specs

Now we look at video of the 35 W bridge collapse, the date of Aug 1, 2007.  A variety of government projects for URS that were great for them, but not so great for the citizens and taxpayers.

  In 2003 the state department of transportation contracted with URS Corporation to inspect the bridge and recommend repairs.  In 2007 the department awarded a contract to a construction firm to repair the bridge.  Repairs began in June 2007 with the intent to be completed in September 2007.  While the repair work was still in progress, however, the bridge collapsed and thirteen people were killed and more than 100 were injured.  Statute of Repose Bars Indemnification Claim against Engineer that Designed Bridge that Collapsed


Aug 1, 2007 Bridge Work turns fatal.  A URS project


It is amazing what the leftist media is willing to overlook to keep the Democrat Party in power and the campaign contributions flowing. Imagine the power and influence of a senior Senator on powerful committees during the Democrat party's majority reign. With the media's complicit silence, the corrupt democrats and the party machine feeds off the treasury. 

#urscorporation #diannefeinstein #richardblum #35wbridgecollapse #martinolafsabobridet #democrats #cronycapitalism #campaign cash.