The magic of a Magic Marker
How Pless Jones’ son asserts his “independence” as a minority subcontractor.
Above: The “new-look” emblem of Rodney Jones’ demolition company.
With the help of paint remover and a Magic Marker, Rodney B. Jones has apparently erased, at least physically, his connection to his dad, Demolition King Pless B. Jones, and declared his “independence” as a minority business (MBE) contractor.
Two weeks ago The Brew published a photo of an excavator used by the younger Jones working on a contract awarded to his dad to tear down rowhouses on Durham Street.
The problem was that the excavator listed Rodney’s company, RBJ Contracting, at the same corporate address (3010 Ridgewood Ave.) as his dad’s company, P&J Contracting Co.
Baltimore law prohibits a contractor from using an MBE to meet minority inclusion goals if the contractor is “significantly involved in the operation of the MBE,” has “a financial interest in the MBE” or has “an interest in the ownership or control of the MBE.”
We wrote about a number of connections that appeared to exist between the father-and-son companies in addition to the shared address.
Two weeks ago, the RBJ Contracting Co. excavator sported the same address as Pless Jones' company. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
Yesterday the same excavator sported a new address. The address was evidently written by hand over the rubbed-out former lettering. There’s also a new phone number, which replaced a non-working number.
Not Far from the Family Tree
The new address puts Rodney’s company in sync with the address found in records at the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office (MWBOO), which administers the city’s minority participation program.
MWBOO chief Shirley A. Williams told The Brew that she was aware that Pless Jones hired his son’s company on city contracts, but said that there was no violation of the law because MWBOO found no financial or operating relationship between the two firms.
“The law does not prohibit him from doing business with his son,” Williams said. “His son owns a certified minority business.”
RBJ Contracting was last MBE-certified in April, which allows Pless Jones to use his son’s company to meet MBE goals.
This he did last week, winning a $428,300 contract from the Board of Estimates to demolish a Super Pride grocery store on Liberty Heights Ave., with RBJ acting as the MBE.
RBJ was the MBE in another contract, awarded last month by the Board of Estimates, where the Pless Jones (P&J Contracting) bid was 74% higher than a competing bid – but the lower bid was rejected because it didn’t meet the minority inclusion goals.
The new address on the RBJ excavator, 2423 Maryland Ave., removes Rodney directly from his dad’s orbit.
But it doesn’t put him far away from the family tree – the property is owned by his stepmother, Lisa Harris Jones, according to state tax records.
A city crew opened a fire hydrant at Wolfe and Federal streets yesterday to supply water for Rodney Jones' demolition work on Durham Street. Below, the demolition is done, but the hydrant is still spewing out water. (Photos by Mark Reutter)
