Mayor Duggan delivering his victory speech on Aug. 8, 2017. (DD photo)

Mayor Duggan delivering his victory speech on Aug. 8, 2017. (DD photo)

John Roach, author of this response, is director of media relations for the city of Detroit and a spokesman for Mayor Mike Duggan. His letter to "Johnny Ethics" respond to a commentary here today by Charlie LeDuff headlined: "Hey Johnny Lawman, Guess What I Unearthed Looking into the Mayor's Dirt?"

Featured_use_24921
Mayor Mike Duggan

Dear Johnny Ethics,

I'm afraid I must call on your services, yet again, regarding a certain Mr. Charlie LeDuff.  Another one of his stories is gonna need an apology. 

Seems Mr. LeDuff doesn't just misrepresent the facts, he outright ignores them. Case in point: Today, he wrote a piece for Deadline Detroit saying that he uncovered a group of demolition projects that only received one qualified bid and that he -- alone! -- stopped the Detroit Land Bank from approving the contract.

But here's the thing, Johnny. The Land Bank already had rejected all bids (the qualifying and unqualifying ones) five days before your friend ever even asked about them. The Land Bank even provided him with the date stamped email declaring the rejection of the bids so new ones could be requested. I've attached all of these emails, because I know you like to fact check.

But somehow, Johnny, Mr. LeDuff didn't see fit to include that fact or the email in his report.

So, Johnny, you see my quandry. Deadline Detroit is a fine outfit, run by professional journalists. Stories like this aren't up to their standards.

This is where you come in.

Do you think I can call on you - I'm hoping for the last time? You, know, for old time's sake?

These guys at Deadline like Johnny Ethics. They'll listen to you.  If you present them with this new information, I expect they'll do as others have had to and update their story to include the facts Mr. LeDuff did not. Maybe they'll even share with their dear readers the date stamped email chain so they can see for themselves.

Whaddaya think? 

I believe in you, Johnny.

Sincerely,
John Roach

Emails provided by mayor's office:

From: Charlie LeDuff 
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 3:53 PM
To: Rod Liggons 

Subject: contracts

Rod,

Can you confirm the award winners of the 6.26.18 hhf contracts and beyond have been rescinded?

They're are no longer listed on the website as they were yesterday.

Can you explain why, and is so, when they'll be rebid?

Thank You,

Charlie LeDuff

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>>> Rod Liggons  8/22/2018 12:29 PM >>>
Charlie;
 
Here are the responses to your questions from our Demolitions Director, Tammy Daniels. I have also attached the email that was sent Aug. 16, 2018 instructing the bids be pulled. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
 
Rod Liggons
Director, Community Affairs
Detroit Land Bank Authority
500 Griswold, Suite 1200
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 974-6869 Main
(313) 261-9947 Direct
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
 
Response:
  • The 6.26.18 HHF RFP bid groups (B, C, G, and H) were awarded on August 17, 2018.  The 6.26.18 (A, D, E, and F) HHF RFP bid groups werenever awarded.  As part of the current process for reviewing responses to HHF RFP bids, the DBA evaluated and tabulated the proposals, identifying the vendor whose prices would be evaluated for cost reasonableness.   The DLBA was unable to conduct the cost reasonableness analysis on these groups due to a lack of eligible bidders and made the decision to withdraw the RFPs in question on August 16, 2018.  The DBA issued an Addendum which will be posted today (8/22) which officially withdraws/cancels those RFPs. These properties will be re-bid at a later date.
  • The 7.10.18 HHF RFP bid groups are currently being reviewed and tabulated by the DBA.  The review and tabulation of the 7.24.18 bid groups will begin once the 7.10.18s have been awarded; likewise all subsequent bids groups (8.7.18, and 8.21.18)  will be reviewed and tabulated once the results of the preceding group has been determined.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tammy Daniels 
To: Timothy Palazzolo <
Cc: Saskia Thompson , Robert Brown, Paige Kaliski, Lorna Macfarlane, Tania Sekardit, Tyrone Clifton, Bcc: 
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2018 19:55:14 -0400
Subject: Re: 6.26.18 A, D, E & F - Withdraw RFPs
Confirmed.  Please re-bundle as soon as possible.

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 16, 2018, at 7:52 PM, Timothy Palazzolo wrote:
Tammy,
 
Pursuant to our conversation, please confirm that the DBA should withdraw the following RFP Groups due to a lack of comparable bids from eligible proposals which inhibited the completion of the Executive Director review:
  • 6.26.18A
  • 6.26.18D
  • 6.26.18E
  • 6.26.18F
If you confirm the withdrawal of these RFP Groups, the DBA will re-bundle those properties for demolition RFP as soon as possible. 
 
Thank you,
 
Tim
Timothy M. Palazzolo
Detroit Building Authority