Tonight we aired a story about the proposed contractor for the new Florida Marlins stadium. This Thursday... well as I write this.. later today the City of Miami Commissioners will vote to allow Moss & Associates to build the stadium. The commissioners will be voting, at the request of the Florida Marlins, to award the contract without a bid contest. Meaning no other contractors will be allowed to compete for the job.
The reason the Marlins want this done is because they want one company overlooking everything from plumbing to power. They say there is also a cost savings in avoiding a drawn out bidding process.
I have to wonder though if it really is in the best interest in the taxpayer. Don't we want to know how much the true cost of the stadium should be, not what one company will do it for? It's like shopping one car dealership for a car! The dealer tells you "This is a great deal"... and you just sign the papers?
Developer Harry Weitzer came out of the woodwork Wednesday voicing his disapproval of Moss. Moss built four projects for Weitzer including Tao which ended up going back to the bank last year. Weitzer believes if Moss had delivered on time he could have closed with his buyers, prior to the credit markets freezing up. Weitzer obviously has an agenda against Moss but he also has some valid points.
Moss had 29 insurance incidents at the Tao property during construction. Much of that could be tied to a flood that occurred in the building. Something like 20 floors were washed out. The seven million in claims is highly unusual. An insurance agent with Wells Fargo handling the claim said she had never seen anything like it in her 30 year career. She wrote Weitzer that most projects of Tao's size average about two incidents. I hope the County/City/Marlins have good insurance. I'd hate to see those premiums!
It was also brought to my attention the Federal Elections Commission levied fines on Moss and his former company he led (Centex). The fines were a result of a procedure the company had in place for political contributions. Company employees were encouraged to make political contributions to candidates of their choice. The company then took those contributions into account when handing out bonuses at the end of the year. This obviously is illegal. Moss has said he had no intent to break the law. He thought what they did was fine... honoring the fact people sacrificed their own money to build relationships with lawmakers. Whether it was accidental or not... Moss paid a fine and it's my understanding Centex cut him loose.
In December Moss came in dead last when bidding for a public safety building in Sunrise. I don’t know the particulars of why they were the last choice but it just seems odd a city would turn down the developer who is in line to build a South Florida Landmark.
I asked Sunrise Mayor Roger Wishner if he would go for a non-bid contract for a half billion dollars stadium in Sunrise. The answer… no way. Sunrise Commissioner Sheila Alu’s response: “Absolutely not!”
In a struggling economy where practically no homes or commercial projects are going through I would think the bidding process for a new stadium would be quite fruitful. I could see a bidding war going on for the taxpayers’ dollars. And I don’t believe it would be Acme Construction but some of the best in the country. I just can’t get my arms around the cost savings in skipping the whole process. I wish someone would explain it to me. Maybe they will later on today.
I left messages for Moss to go on record with us but unfortunately he never called us back. I wish he would. I would love to hear from him directly why he shouldn't have to compete for my taxdollar. Maybe there is a good reason.
Here is Wednesday night's story.
