Intel official fired for NOT lying to Congress: says Feinstein doesn't know what's happening

[JDPriestly]

33. Dianne's husband has the contract to sell the post offices that are being closed.

Corruption in my humble opinion.


Follow the money. This is a bit complicated.

In 2011, the Postal Service identified about 3,700 post offices — some leased, some owned, some historic and some not — that it said may have to close in coming years to save money. When that plan met with opposition, the service announced it would instead try to lower expenses by reducing operating hours.

But even as postal officials agreed not to eliminate outlets in some towns and cities, they did leave open the option to sell valuable properties and relocate services. “Periodic sales of post offices will be ongoing,” Ms. Brennan said.

The agency acknowledges that in recent years the sale of post office buildings has accelerated, and in 2011 it hired CBRE, a commercial real estate services firm, to handle the transactions.

“Our biggest concern is the way they’re going about it isn’t transparent,” said Chris Morris, a senior field officer for the National Trust and project manager for post office buildings. “A lot of us are very confused about the process.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/arts/design/preservationists-fight-postal-service-over-sales.html?_r=3&

Note -- Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

Now. Snopes:

Facing a deficit of billions of dollars, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has floated a number of number of proposals to reduce that deficit, including selling off hundreds of post office properties in order to gain cash flow and reduce expenses. According to the Postal Service's 2012 report to Congress, more than 600 buildings nationwide have been "earmarked for disposal," and the "USPS Properties for Sale" web site currently lists 41 buildings for sale across the U.S. in addition to 11 land parcels.

In 2011, the CB Richard Ellis Group (now CBRE Group, Inc.), the world's largest commercial real estate
services firm, was awarded an exclusive contract to market USPS facilities, which CBRE touted by announcing: "Historically, USPS has worked with multiple real estate service providers. The new contract enables USPS to consolidate these activities with one service provider."

This award has been the subject of some controversy, as CBRE's Chairman of the Board is Richard C. Blum, the husband of Senator Dianne Feinstein, who represents the state of California in the U.S. Senate.

Although it is true that Blum is both CBRE's chairman and the spouse of a U.S. senator, it is not accurate to say that he is "solely in charge" of CBRE, nor that he "owns" the company. CBRE is headed by President and Chief Executive Officer Robert E. Sulentic, and CBRE is a public company whose shares are owned by many different individuals and institutional stockholders. (It is true, however, that Blum Capital, a private equity firm founded by Richard Blum, is one of CBRE's larger institutional stockholders.)

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/blum.asp

I'm not claiming it isn't legal. I'm just saying that it stinks.