New York, NY —

City Comptroller Bill Thompson has halted the filing of a contract to expand a Brooklyn city jail, saying the contracting process was corrupted and he wants more information. Thompson, joined by elated elected officials and community groups, says the city's Department of Design and Construction changed the requirements at the last minute, resulting in an overpriced contract. Evan Thies represents an umbrella group of neighborhood associations that has ongoing questions about the bidding process.

THIES: So we don't really know how much this project is going to cost and if the winning bidder is going to do a good job.

A spokesman for the DDC says the contract was for planning and design services - not construction. He also says the $450 million cost is just an estimate, and will be fine-tuned after the jail expansion's design is complete.