Steakhouse deal: How Port allegedly broke laws, hid costs from public

The work was split into two contracts, both awarded to TTI, "The Three Italians," a partnership of local construction firms Gary Merlino Construction, Scarsella Brothers and Tri-State Construction.

This is a very amusing story. The tone of innocent wonderment is what I love.

A deal was cut in a restaurant between public officials and the head of a construction company that would hide millions of dollars in a public construction project - millions that all parties knew would eventually be paid to the "Italian" construction company.

And Seattle is appalled.

Welcome to New Jersey, boys.