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| Tallahassee's Community Redevelopment Agency is under investigation. Photo: Tallahassee skyline by Shutterstock |
Kendall Coffey, former US attorney for the Southern District of Florida, noted that the subpoenas focus on staff evaluations and recommendations regarding projects.
“So what they appear to be exploring is disconnects between staff recommendations and decision making,” Coffey said. “That’s a significant road map because they are curious to know if staff recommendations have been ignored.”
According to an unnamed source, the investigation has already used at least three undercover FBI agents based outside of Tallahassee.
The subpoenas demand numerous documents from the CRA covering its activities back to 2012. They focus on communications between city commissions and staff, eight high profile businesspeople, and more than a dozen corporate entities. The CRA projects under investigation include work on the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, the Gateway Center, and the Edison Restaurant, which together received millions of tax dollars to help with construction and improved sidewalks.
Investigators are also asking for copies of checks or wire transfers by the city, the CRA, and any related entities.
City Commissioner Nancy Miller has not revealed further details, though she did say the investigation seems to be focused more on individuals working with the CRA rather than the city officials themselves.
“I welcome the scrutiny,” she said. “If there is any wrongdoing, we need to uncover it.”
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is taking a similar stance. In his prepared statement, he said he has offered his full cooperation, and the FBI assured him he is not personally under investigation.
“If corruption has taken place in our city, those parties must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Gillum said.
The lack of details, while not surprising, does remain puzzling even to the people who are closely involved. “Clearly, anytime a grand jury is requesting information from the city, that concerns me,” said City Commissioner Gil Ziffer. However, he added, “after reading the document, I’m not quite sure what they’re interested in.”
Nevertheless, the city is already complying with the subpoenas and gathering the requested information.
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