Pssst. Media....Start Here
This might very well be what the old media guys used to call, "a tip:"
- 005firefighter said...
SCC, I just looked at our monthly house supplies order, and found something interesting. The city pays $17.64 for a gallon of bleach. That's one gallon. If only I had that contract.
Gee. We went to a big-box type store the other day and got a 3-pack of one gallon containers of bleach. Our cost? $8 and some change. That means we could have gotten 6 gallons of bleach for what the city pays for one for a single firehouse.
Anyone see a problem here?
We've explained it more than once - all purchases have to go through "approved vendors." Those vendors usually have a storefront in some downtrodden area so it looks like a minority owned company. Inside is a phone forwarded to somewhere else. The answering service takes the call, places the order and shops at the big-box store just like you and us, but they add in a sizable markup - in this single case, over $15 dollars per gallon of bleach. For how many gallons? For how many firehouses?
We pointed out years ago a storefront address on Madison Street that supplied a largish number of city contracts for all sorts of stuff - paper, bike chains/locks, printer parts, K9 Unit dog food, dozens of things we might label as "incidentals." And everything was at a markup of hundreds-of-percent. Seriously. Like maybe a $3 gallon of bleach supplied to the city by the approved vendor at a 600% markup. You think that doesn't add up?
Anyone see a problem here?
We've explained it more than once - all purchases have to go through "approved vendors." Those vendors usually have a storefront in some downtrodden area so it looks like a minority owned company. Inside is a phone forwarded to somewhere else. The answering service takes the call, places the order and shops at the big-box store just like you and us, but they add in a sizable markup - in this single case, over $15 dollars per gallon of bleach. For how many gallons? For how many firehouses?
We pointed out years ago a storefront address on Madison Street that supplied a largish number of city contracts for all sorts of stuff - paper, bike chains/locks, printer parts, K9 Unit dog food, dozens of things we might label as "incidentals." And everything was at a markup of hundreds-of-percent. Seriously. Like maybe a $3 gallon of bleach supplied to the city by the approved vendor at a 600% markup. You think that doesn't add up?
Labels: from the comments, money questions
posted by SCC at 12:06 AM
44 Comments:
I'll do you one better!!! We in BOC had a meeting with the Chief who said we r buying 20 new cars. Which is NOTHING!!! At a total of 700,000!!!!!! For only 20 cars!!!! He said he had to go through a city vendor who makes up the price 100%! Wtf!!!!
Why keep begging the media SCC? Fuck it, I think all of the city unions should get together, pitch in some money and hire public relations people, writers, etc. and we should publicize all of the waste and insider dealings the city engages in. The politicians and the mainstream media work in tandem. They state that the reason why the city is in such a mess is because we city employees are the problem. We are paid too much, our pensions cost too much, etc. Fuck begging the media to expose the lies. They will never do it. So we will have to.
Can you imagine the untold waste of money like this that no one even knows about? This is nothing, but is part of the bigger picture of why Chicago is such a mess. This is what Daley left us. 22 years of mismanagement. Hey Rahm can you fix the Daley mess or will you still honor the Daley crime family. How sick!
"...paper, bike chains/locks, printer parts, K9 Unit dog food, dozens of things we might label as "incidentals..."
They're probably just ordering it all from Amazon, don't even have to get out of your chair. Maybe discounts/free shipping on big orders?
No way city purchasing could do this...a kid could go on there and order himself a diesel locomotive or something, but we have to go the long way around for pencils so everyone gets hit off.
Even three is high. The dollar tree sells a gallon for 1 dollar.
You can buy a one gallon bottle of bleach for $1.00 per bottle at Aldi's, and you can also order in bulk directly from them, no middle man involved.
There was a gp at the Academy that had a really sweet deal with the owner of an Ace Hardware on Archer and Austin. Don't know if any deals are still being made there but one has to wonder what the deal was?
Let me present the facts
This bleach has special additives not available to the general public. Fire fighters are in some truly nasty places and bring the crud back to the fire house where they eat and sleep. A powerful cleaning agent is required
Thank you
R M Daly
Attorney
The Vaneko Bleach Co
The greedy politicians have been doing this for years.
Wow, I was just informed by an electrician that works at OEMC, they pay $20.00 a piece for phone jacks that cost .08 cents The guy that got That contract was from the 19th Ward and has two summer homes. And that
Fiscal responsibility versus payback. Payback wins every time.
That was the city's response to 'minority contracts.'
They got some 'connected' alleged minority contractors who, when the city needs a widget for example, acquires it at wholesale or even retail, then adds on as much as 500%+ then sells it to the city.
The $17.00 gallon of bleach is only the tip of the iceberg.
It won't come to an end as the aldercreeps are the sponsors of these connected vendors and get votes and campaign contributions back in return.
BGAAAAA, where are you?
You have to wonder in a typical chicago democrat voter's mind if this information ever bounces around in their mush brains. It has to make sense, it has to. But if they were to believe all the lies and corruption that us "conservatives" have been pouting out over the years on this blog in particular, where would the questioning stop in their fragile lives?. Well, it would go all the way up to the White House, chicago style. All you people have been fleeced.
Years back under the Harold Washington era, there was a minority owned bullshit little tireshop on the southside that was given an emergency 250.000 (Thousand) dollar contract to supply motor maintainance with tires for police cars. This step and fetch it guy didn't even have a legit business but did OK. Next, years back they awarded another contract to a company that was selling the cheapest paper towels MARCAL BRAND which sold for 59 censts per roll at Walmart to the city at $1.78. this is possible because minority businesses can charge more according to the law, so bottom line is if you are a female, or minority you can charge more.!!!!! PS. females can be white, black, Hispanic etc. What a joke!!!!. meanwhile hold on to your wallets while the city steals from you.
The media is useless. What politician can call for an investigation into this?
This is all part of what we pay in the CORRUPTIN TAX.
This will never be investigated on any level because this is how politicians make their money through campaign contributions and out and out bribes.
This will never be investigated on any level because I am sure the same system exists in the county, state and federal governments.
Isn't this sort of thing what we have an INPECTOR GENERAL for?
I can just imagine this "Prefered Vendor" getting indicted for charging 600% markup on ordinary items. The defense: Of course I charged 600%, because I could, they could have fired me at any time but they didn't. So I laughed all the way to the bank.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Let me present the facts
This bleach has special additives not available to the general public. Fire fighters are in some truly nasty places and bring the crud back to the fire house where they eat and sleep. A powerful cleaning agent is required
Thank you
R M Daly
Attorney
The Vaneko Bleach Co
Love it!
I would agree. The unions are getting blasted in the media at every opportunity and the unions appear to be just taking it. Unions need a more public voice.
Quote:
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Why keep begging the media SCC? Fuck it, I think all of the city unions should get together, pitch in some money and hire public relations people, writers, etc. and we should publicize all of the waste and insider dealings the city engages in. The politicians and the mainstream media work in tandem. They state that the reason why the city is in such a mess is because we city employees are the problem. We are paid too much, our pensions cost too much, etc. Fuck begging the media to expose the lies. They will never do it. So we will have to.
9/25/2015 12:41:00 AM
well the city can save $$$ once rahm closes 40 firehouses!
If the media should ever get bored and decide to take a look at a company that appears to be a little odd, take a look at Silk Screen Express in Tinley Park. Virtually everything ordered for this department has to go through them, they add on their percentage and then ship. Why is the city doing business with a company in Tinley Park and not one in Chicago, and who owns Silk Screen Express. For that matter why do we have a middle man to begin with, one procurement office staffed with supply personnel could take care of every department in the city, just like the military does.
Anyone the status of the FBI's investigation of the concession owners having to kick back at Midway?
A few years back the city purchased some anti freeze that was ruining car engines and payed 3 times the cost of Prestone.
"Pssst. Media.... Start Here"
They're not hearing you, SCC...
The actual undoing of Fuckery
will result in local media not
being able to live in the fashion
they've become accustomed.
All of the watchdogs, minders,
guardians of the public trust
and others such like local media,
the BGA, the Civic Federation,
the Chicago Commerce Commission
and the entire alphabet soup of
others such are only interested in
casting Police pay and pension as
the root of all financial problems in
this town.
Of course they get to ignore the fact that
we've been walked backwards with a wrist-
crank for the last three or four contracts while
incurring increased out-of-pocket outlay like
deductibles and the like.
Yay... The "greedy Cops" finally "lost something," right?
Or is the thinking that they haven't lost enough in the eyes of some?
Keep papering over the fact that Chicago has an endemic spending
problem because of the politics of clout, crony capitalism, racial and
ethnic pandering, venal if not criminal elected and appointed officials
whose collective goal is NOT public service and stewardship but
fanatical (to the point of willing self-immolation) protection of
and loyalty to the party apparatus that has them screwed into whatever
position they occupy for the moment.
Until they are no longer deemed useful, compliant or they somehow
managed to turn rogue or have become a liability.
Musings of a "dumb, old,
angry because it isn't 1960 anymore"
Cop.
I'll do you one better!!! We in BOC had a meeting with the Chief who said we r buying 20 new cars. Which is NOTHING!!! At a total of 700,000!!!!!! For only 20 cars!!!! He said he had to go through a city vendor who makes up the price 100%! Wtf!!!!
Ok genius, that's 35k per car, for cars that have a base price of over 31k as per Ford. Where is the 100% mark up that you speak of. As usual someone speaks before having the facts.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I'll do you one better!!! We in BOC had a meeting with the Chief who said we r buying 20 new cars. Which is NOTHING!!! At a total of 700,000!!!!!! For only 20 cars!!!! He said he had to go through a city vendor who makes up the price 100%! Wtf!!!!
9/25/2015 12:28:00 AM
Ahh math wizard cars are $40,000 each fully equipped times 20 would be $800,000 now you know the secret enjoy new rides wizard!
Before the City Awarded minority Contracts there were a couple dozen Minority owned Construction Company's,Soon after the City started Minority Contracts 100s of Companys sprang up,Yea Im using my Wife to start a Phony Company.
Look at the recent history of awarding contracts for bathroom fixtures and plumbing construction supplies at O'Hare. The gallon of bleach looks like a bargain.
This is the same type of gross mismanagement and waste of $$$ that destroyed the pension. It's the Chicago way.
CPS ordered schools to accept contracts for science supplies. Supermarket distilled water gallon jugs $15! Outdated balances. Paper cups, flawed equipment all for the bargain price of $60,000. A bloody joke. The City that steals!
FYI. There are a 100 warehouse's full of wht the city bought from even 50-60 years ago. New carriage typewriters by the skin load still in boxes with mode all over it. Same with tires, shotguns, etc. Tons of shit the city or any employee have open the doors for decades for all this shit. Millions of dollars of now antiques. Hear that there are hundreds of the old ass teletype machine that went out in the early 1980' before fax machines. IBM new typewriters, tons of them too.
The city has forgotten about these warehouses. I would not be amazed if there are warehouses full of new 1960 Plymouth Squads around.
Everyone that had knowledge of all these sites are all long dead. Heard the same thing with the NYPD but 10 times more stuff. Amazing.
The best City government that money can buy. When anyone runs for public office in this City/County, that person has publicly announced his intention of becoming a thief, a liar and a cheat. The joke is on the poor saps paying for marked up supplies or inflated contracts or multi million dollar settlements or other such nonsense. The same party has run this town since 1930. It is not a record to be proud of.
Has anyone filed a complaint with the city's Inspector General about this?
If this ever got investigated by the Inspector General, or the States Attorney they might uncover a phony minority front owned firm. But never the actual graft.
All that money saved could be diverted into our pensions.
Why Rahm would be absolutely SHOCKED to find out that this sort of thing is going on.
The entire city Purchasing Department has got to be in on this but no one there wants to blow the whistle and rock the boat. But there are no investigative reporters any more.
It would take a major scandal to expose this and even if it did it would be business as usual before long. Think of all the cops they could hire without all that corruption tax money going down the drain.
"...Anonymous said...
Years back under the Harold Washington era, there was a minority owned bullshit little tireshop on the southside that was given an emergency 250.000 (Thousand) dollar contract to supply motor maintainance with tires for police cars. This step and fetch it guy didn't even have a legit business but did OK. ..."
There was also a Minority Owned firm that provided us with rebuilt car alternators and starter motors. They were so bad that they would explode in the engine compartments. The machinists started to write the dates installed on them with markers. I had one car that went through three alternators in a month. Business was good for that Minority Owned Firm.
OK, let's see if someone can find out the price we pay for this stuff.
Yellow barrier tape, "POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS" 3 inches by 1000 foot roll.
Galls Barrier Tape Item# HS098 | Mfg# 177790 Galls Price $14.29 single roll
I mean, we use so much of this stuff.
I'll do you one better!!! We in BOC had a meeting with the Chief who said we r buying 20 new cars. Which is NOTHING!!! At a total of 700,000!!!!!! For only 20 cars!!!! He said he had to go through a city vendor who makes up the price 100%! Wtf!!!!
Ok genius, that's 35k per car, for cars that have a base price of over 31k as per Ford. Where is the 100% mark up that you speak of. As usual someone speaks before having the facts.
9/25/2015 06:10:00 PM
I assumed the writer was talking about the profit margin being doubled.
Perhaps the Federal Government might want to look at the price of cars bought with Federal money costing more than the cars bought with City money. Ooops!
Well, not in this Administration. Maybe the next one.
Does $17 for bleach surprise you?
CPS is down 2% in enrollment (6000 students) from last year, yet, there are still CPS employees making $80,000-$90,000 to be high school business managers, $80,000 to be attendance clerks, and $50,000-$60,000 to be a clerk with the only qualification to be a clerk is high school diploma or GED.
These jobs are for only 208-day. Think about it...at $80,000, that's $385/day with paid sick days and 4 weeks of paid holidays/winter break/spring break plus medical and pension benefits.
kick backs inspector general where are you
that's something chuy would have ended
geez ramie didn't know city had 3 man light bulb changers
yes they still do
how about the defibulator company that got a big contract for O'Hare to supply AEDs. Chief officers are a former city airport official.
There is no crime in charging whatever you can get for any commercial product.
You could take that gallon of bleach and put it in the window of Tiffany's and put a price tag on it of $1746.00 and it would be perfectly legal.
The only law that might have been broken is if that "Minority Vendor" was a M/2 using female or other minority as a front.
I should get my daughter signed up to supply cleaning supplies. Get her a business license and I will run the stuff over in my van at a cot fr less that Daley/Vaneko phony front enterprises.
This reminds me, Superintendent Timothy O'Connor used to be very $tingy with the police budget and return unspent money to the city. Cops had to beg borrow or steal stuff from the Board of Ed to make do. That was long before minority set asides but deep into the graft of Old Man Daley.
This is like the Carol Burnett Comedy Skit of the lady bum selling apples on the street.
A passerby asks, "How much?"
She says, "$5,000.00."
He says, "$5,000.00!! Your not going to sell many apples at that price.."
She says, "All I have to sell is one."
But this shit ain't funny. It is costing us our pension and manpower.
http://www.silkscreenx.com/about.php
This is nothing new, I remember when they charged $300. or so for one screw. So, that was a case of someone really getting screwed. And thanks to the firefighter for reading his bill and remember all bills and purchase orders should be read, always, to avoid situations such as this.
MY question is why does Alderman Ed Burke have a fully equipped light, siren, more lights, etc. Chevrolet Tahoe that the police dept. spent over 70 ,000 dollars on. I was in Area 1 garage when it came in and when talking with the guys wiring it up commented on how big of a Prick Burke is. He even gets free gas. From what I'm told he gets a car because he is the city finance chairman. His call sign is CAR 2.
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