William Bender reports for the Philadelphia Inquirer
Philly developer Shawn Bullard purchased vacant public lots in North Philadelphia in 2016. The lots on Cecil B. Moore Avenue were bought at a mysterious discount — triggering a review of the sale by the city’s Inspector General.
Now, hundreds of pages of emails and other records obtained by The Inquirer show city officials scrambling unsuccessfully to determine why the price was lowered. The records shed light on the type of backroom deal-making Mayor Jim Kenney and others have been trying to eliminate when it comes to public land sales.
The emails reveal the influence Council members can exert over such sales. Bullard ultimately got the lots with the help of City Council President Darrell Clarke.
