Fenty Under Fire Over Parks Contracts

D.C.'s Mayor Adrian Fenty is under attack. This time, it's because tens of millions in taxpayer dollars were awarded to a company owned by one of his fraternity brothers.

Banneker Ventures is supposed to use the money to build and renovate parks, recreation centers and ball fields around town. Some council members are demanding answers.

FOX 5 had trouble getting details about the number of contracts and the amounts. The D.C. Housing Authority says only one contract was awarded for $55 million to Banneker Ventures and Regan Associates out of Herndon. But council members say there were more contracts, totaling $82 million.

One of the mayor's frat brothers, Omar Karim-- who owns Banneker Ventures-- apparently got the biggest award to be project manager.

Council members, including Mary Cheh of Ward 3, say it appears Mayor Fenty rewarded his friends and skirted the law by sending public money through a semi-private agency to avoid council oversight.

At a ribbon-cutting for an affordable housing project in Southeast Washington, Mayor Fenty didn't want to answer questions about the matter, referring reporters to a statement his office had issued Thursday. The statement says DCHA is an independent agency that has its own procurement rules. Even when asked about the appearance of a conflict of interest, Fenty said he had nothing to add.

The interim director of that agency says the contracts were competitively bid.