Bank of America retains copies of all District checks.

A quick-thinking reader reminded me that according to the District's lawyer, they no longer retain copies of checks. [Read this entry] The question I am being asked now is, where did these recent copies of the Seattle Piano Gallery checks come from? Well, I don't have an answer for you, but I have a response that would likely come from the District - if we could wait 30 days for a response.

One of the checks - the one that was actually deposited - was apparently provided by the Bank of America after a district manager made a request. It was faxed to the District on November 14, 2007 at 11:54 am. This would support the premise that copies of checks are not retained by the District, but of course they are just a telephone call away.

The second check - the one that was not deposited - may not actually be a "retained" copy, but rather a copy made after my request for such. I suspect the original check is still laying around the ESC somewhere. Perhaps it is waiting for a legal conclusion through the courts or the passage of time.

Clearly, the whole picture is not evident here. The next request should be for "All communication between the District (or any of its agents, representatives or designees) and the Seattle Piano Gallery (or any of its agents, representatives or designees) since August 4, 2004". That might reveal a tiny bit more about how public funds are expended.

Editorial Note: Hey! Arnie's not responding to an email sent yesterday. Did somebody tamper with my witness?