The Restore Act: Where's the Accountability?

April 01, 2014

Dear Sirs:

After the Gulf Oil Spill in 2010, monies in grant form were distributed throughout the affected cities in Baldwin County. Governor Bob Riley and the Alabama Emergency Management Association were in charge of overseeing the disbursement of these funds to aid the disaffected.

The full accountability of these funds was assured by the promise of multiple audits to determine how the monies were actually spent. However, no audits related to the execution of these grants have been performed. No local or state agency has acted on this promise of accountability.

Amid abuse of funds and rampant corruption, the BP money did not exactly make people whole. However, our politicians and well-connected pals did get the feeling of “being made whole.”

The Money Trail

Senator Lee “Trip” Pittman got $639,000 from the City of Fairhope. Where is the audit related to this expenditure? It was promised. The terms of the boom grant were broken; violated. Mr. Pittman also got a sweetheart deal from the City of Perdido Key for $98,000. He now holds lucrative heavy equipment contracts with the county commission.

Best yet - what about Brett Robinson getting $36 million of BP disaster money for a project he still cannot finish as planned? Also, he now employs the former Governor Bob Riley as a consultant/lobbyist. Bob Riley brokered the deal to give between $36 and $40 million to his buddies, just a handful of people. You can be sure Bob Riley feels whole.

What about the boom and the pipe to nowhere in Perdido Pass that cost $20 million?

Where are the audits? Where is the accountability?

Criminal Investigations

One participating mayor of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, Mayor Stan Wright of Bayou La Batre, has been convicted of grant fraud and intimidating witnesses.

The Mayor of Fairhope has been subpoenaed to Federal Court in Mobile and was required to testify related to the BP Boom Grant with Senator Lee “Trip” Pittman. The alleged crimes: Grant fraud, intimidating witnesses, forgery and collusion.

The mayor of the City of Gulf Shores has many of his citizens wanting a clarification on where the money went for BP staging rentals.