Why is a Houston-based contractor under investigation in Iraq now tearing down New Orleans schools? [View All]

[babylonsister]

Why is a Houston-based contractor under investigation in Iraq now tearing down New Orleans schools?
Submitted by davidswanson on Fri, 2008-05-23 17:43.


Parsons Engineering, a Houston-based contracting firm, is proposing to close/demolish about half of our public schools in New Orleans:
http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=30008

Not all schools threatened are heavily damaged! Many are historic
buildings rumored to be targeted for private development. Some are
renovated and open now, threatening students with relocation to
trailer campuses instead of stable, sturdy buildings. This represents
a massive loss of public assets for the City of New Orleans, and harms
families' abilities to return home.

The contractors involved are directly related to the privitization
forces who are smothering our recovery.

Who is Parsons?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16909438/

"Did Iraq contractor fleece American taxpayers?
Government report says flagship project was turned into a hall of horrors
WASHINGTON - New revelations have emerged about how tens of millions
of taxpayer dollars have been wasted in Iraq. A new report by
government watchdogs singles out a big American contractor — Parsons —
for shoddy work. Investigators charge that Parsons managed to turn a
flagship project to help train Iraqi police into a hall of horrors
using taxpayer money.

The Baghdad Police Academy was supposed to be a showcase to train
Iraqi police — key to the U.S. strategy.

Instead, Wednesday's report says the American construction company
turned it into a disaster from the start: incomplete and substandard
designs, shoddy construction and no real quality control.
"This is the worst project that my inspectors have visited," says
Stuart Bowen, inspector general for Iraq.

Bowen says the Iraqis recently refused to take over the complex,
calling the work disgusting.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33607