The city insisted on a specific equipment manufacturer for a WiFi contract. The company had previous dealings with firms and city employees at the center of the smart cities investigation.
An attorney for the employee said he believed electronics were also seized from other employees as well, but couldn’t confirm.
Emails obtained by The Lens indicate the probes may involve conflict of interest allegations against the official in charge of the roadwork program.
Internal emails show Sen. Sharon Hewitt worked on a bill with a company that had financial ties to her spouse.
Hutson, who ran on a reform platform, defeated longtime incumbent Marlin Gusman in last year’s election.
The tax will create 1,000 new early childhood seats and a state match could double that to 2,000.
The City Council passed a resolution requesting an IG investigation into potential ethical violations in the procurement process.
The city official at the center of the contract-fixing allegations is set to answer questions under oath at a City Council meeting this week.
Council members also approved a resolution to halt a proposed short-term contract for the project, which could be adopted without their approval.
The documents include a draft contract and hundreds of emails showing frequent communications going back years between city officials, a ‘pro bono’ consultant and companies that would eventually win the city bid for the project.
