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Supervisors press Public Works on contracting, staffing and grant practices; department promises reforms
Summary
In a lengthy GAO hearing, supervisors pressed the Department of Public Works on a high share of 'acting' leadership posts, the department’s use of exempt hires, grant‑vs‑contract practices and procurement methods. Acting director announced ethics training, tightened solicitation rules for homelessness procurements and agreed to return with more detail.
Supervisors used a March 4 Government Audit & Oversight Committee hearing to press the Department of Public Works on organizational stability, procurement practices and the department’s use of grants and exempt hires amid recent corruption revelations.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin said the revelations surrounding recent contracting raised concerns about the department’s "control environment," telling Public Works leaders that review should examine how contracts are procured, where checks failed and which rules should be changed. "This is one of the most sordid chapters of corruption that I've encountered," Peskin said as he introduced the hearing.
Acting Public Works leadership described organizational goals and the department’s large operational role. The acting director (self‑identified in the transcript as Alec Grama) described three department goals—being a better place to work, driving…
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