Councilman DiCiccio: Arizona Republic Tells Half the Story in West Fillmore RFP Coverage

<div class="ExternalClassFCC3E36C508B4C6C8520D774440F9191"><table width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:100%;"><p>"The report just released on the West Fillmore Request for Proposals (RFP) shows that there was NO wrong doing by Councilman Nowakowski or the City of Phoenix. This is yet another case of sloppy reporting by Arizona Republic "reporter" Dustin Gardiner. It appears he burns his confidential source and then writes only one side of the story, the side from the losing bidder. <br> <br>Earlier today we had a chance to hear the other side of the story. <a href="https://youtu.be/UJJMMvT-xqg"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Watch the video </span></a>and decide for yourself.<br> <br>The City Manager ordered the independent investigation to look into two issues: </p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Whether any impropriety took place in the City's Request for Proposals (RFP) process.</li><li>Whether Councilman Nowakowski violated conflict of interest laws related to the RFP. </li></ol><p>Their report of findings was made public earlier today and completely clears the City of Phoenix and the Councilman of any wrongdoing. Here are excerpts from the report. You can <a href="/district7site/Documents/FINAL%20Fillmore%20Report%2010-28-15.pdf"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">review the full report online</span></a>:<br><br>"It is our conclusion based on the information available to us at this time that… the RFP process was uncompromised and there were no violations of conflict of interest laws."<br><br>"While the content of information the Councilman received from DECO during this April 6, 2015 meeting is the subject of dispute, the information we reviewed revealed no evidence that DECO provided specific or material details to the Councilman regarding Fifth & Fillmore's ultimate proposal, or that the panel was aware of any information allegedly provided by DECO to the Councilman. DECO does not allege any information was actually transmitted about DECO's plans to Phoenix Fillmore, and it has no direct evidence to support such an allegation. As discussed above, this accusation does not rise beyond the level of mere suspicion."<br><br>"…nothing we were able to obtain and review indicates that the process was tainted, or that the recommendation by the panel was in any way influenced by the Councilman's connection to CCF."</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p></div>

10/29/2015 11:00:00 PM

David Urbinato

602-495-5405