TEAMSTERS (IBT)
Federal Probe of Boston Boss Expands
Federal investigators probing alleged racketeering by Int'l Bhd. of
Teamster Local 25 boss George W. Cashman have reportedly subpoenaed his
expense records from Boston's Massport, where he sits on the board of directors,
and are eyeing connections the agency has with two of his associates. Investigators
are allegedly looking into public relations contracts Massport has had
with the Rendon Group, which is run by Cashman ally Rick Rendon, as well
as records regarding Mark E. Robinson, the chairman of the board of directors.
Robinson's Boston law firm, Bingham, Dana, represents the real estate division
of the New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension Fund and has
received more than $2.5 million in fees since 1997.
Reportedly, investigators will also seek records regarding the hiring of temporary workers on dockside jobs governed by the Teamsters at the Black Falcon Terminal in South Boston. Allegedly, Local 25 officials allegedly offered part-time Massport jobs to members of several area police departments as a quid pro quo for the rank and file to agree to Teamster representation.
Rendon helped push through an ill-fated plan for a $13 million Teamster-run soundstage on the campus of Bunker Hill Community College with the support of ex-Gov. Paul Cellucci (R). Rendon and Cashman also formed Mass. Organizations Vying for the Industry of Entertainment (MOVIE) to lobby for filmmaking in Mass. Rendon has received several no-bid contracts from Massport since Cashman, whose term expires in 2007, was appointed to the board by ex-Gov. William Weld (R). Among Rendon's contracts were a $119,000 award to film a promotional video on the Head of the Charles Regatta and a $25,000 grant for the Rendon-organized Boston Sports Award Dinner. [Boston Her. 5/22/01]
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