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City Wasted $855K on Parking Enforcement Vehicles, Audit Finds
Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
City Controller Wendy Greuel is at it again and tomorrow plans to release an audit detailing how the city's Department of Transportation wasted $855,000 and exceeded a contract by nearly $2.5 million.
Basically, LADOT contracted with a company in 2001 to lease Automated Vehicle Locator Systems (AVLS) for the parking enforcement fleet. Although they could have bought them for $1 a piece in 2006, officials said they went through with a lease because of needed software upgrades over the years. But Greuel found that no upgrads have occurred since 2006. So instead of several hundred dollars, $577,584 has been spent over the last four years for leasing the equipment. Additionally, 178 AVLS units have sat in storage since 2008, costing $7,462 a month, or a total of $141,773.
Gruel became savvy to the nonsense via a tip to the Waste, Fraud and Abuse hotline. Full details about the audit will be released Tuesday morning.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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