Caltrans' $10M Bay Bridge Book and Video Deal Scrapped

Caltrans accidentally agreed to pay a San Francisco public relations firm, Word Pictures Ideas, $10 million for a commemorative book about the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge and now are scrambling to cancel the contract. "When we found out about it, we cancelled it," said Jim Evans, a spokesman for the state Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, which oversees Caltrans. "A commemorative book and a documentary about the Bay Bridge is not a wise use of tollpayer resources." The book deal included money for a documentary and tours of the new bridge. The contract was signed in August and approved by the Dept. of General Services in September, yet the Brown administration says they knew nothing about it. A spokesman for the state Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, which oversees Caltrans, said the deal "wasn't properly vetted" and would be canceled. - Victor Obeck
· $10 million Bay Bridge contract included book deal, video [Sac Bee]