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The offices and residence of Portland, Oregon city parking manager Ellis K. McCoy were raided this week by FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents, in what the Portland Oregonian newspaper calls "an intensifying public corruption investigation."
According to the Oregonian:
"The joint investigation by the two federal agencies appears to be focused on McCoy's relationship with Tampa businessman George Levey, now president and chief executive officer of Cale Parking Systems USA Inc., the contractor supplying Portland's multi-space parking meters called SmartMeters."
"The inquiry is looking at bribes or kickbacks Levey allegedly gave to McCoy in exchange for city contracts with Cale -- accusations that were repeatedly raised by McCoy's subordinates and led to an internal city investigation three years ago.
"It's not clear what the city inquiry found. McCoy has remained as Portland's parking operations manager since 2001."
McCoy has denied any wrongdoing, the paper reported.
In September of last year, the San Diego city council approved a contract with Cale valued at almost $1 million for a total of 131 of the solar powered, credit-card accepting devices.
"Cale will provide the new meters at $7,150 per meter plus $300 for a custom paint color," according to council minutes. "They will also provide a 20% discount on the purchase price of the 51 pilot meters (now $6,020), and renew, at no cost to the City, the warranty for an additional 12 months, commencing with the completion of an inspection and refurbishment by Cale.
"With proper maintenance the meters are anticipated to last a minimum of 10 years. Delivery and installation of new meters will take 8 to 10 weeks once ordered from Cale."
The offices and residence of Portland, Oregon city parking manager Ellis K. McCoy were raided this week by FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents, in what the Portland Oregonian newspaper calls "an intensifying public corruption investigation."
According to the Oregonian:
"The joint investigation by the two federal agencies appears to be focused on McCoy's relationship with Tampa businessman George Levey, now president and chief executive officer of Cale Parking Systems USA Inc., the contractor supplying Portland's multi-space parking meters called SmartMeters."
"The inquiry is looking at bribes or kickbacks Levey allegedly gave to McCoy in exchange for city contracts with Cale -- accusations that were repeatedly raised by McCoy's subordinates and led to an internal city investigation three years ago.
"It's not clear what the city inquiry found. McCoy has remained as Portland's parking operations manager since 2001."
McCoy has denied any wrongdoing, the paper reported.
In September of last year, the San Diego city council approved a contract with Cale valued at almost $1 million for a total of 131 of the solar powered, credit-card accepting devices.
"Cale will provide the new meters at $7,150 per meter plus $300 for a custom paint color," according to council minutes. "They will also provide a 20% discount on the purchase price of the 51 pilot meters (now $6,020), and renew, at no cost to the City, the warranty for an additional 12 months, commencing with the completion of an inspection and refurbishment by Cale.
"With proper maintenance the meters are anticipated to last a minimum of 10 years. Delivery and installation of new meters will take 8 to 10 weeks once ordered from Cale."