[Foundation-l] Wikia leasing office space to WMF

[David Levy]

I wrote:

> > To clarify, did Wikia match the lowest bid?

Geoffrey Plourde replied:

> Mr. Levy;
>
> I respectfully believe that you are asking the wrong question.
> Rent is only a small part of cost. The whole cost should have
> been the arbiter in this matter, and I suspect it was from
> the posts by personnel.

I'm certainly not implying that rent was the only valid consideration.
 I asked the question because there was confusion regarding this
specific point (with many people under the incorrect impression that
Wikia's bid tied the lowest).

I personally agree with the decision to rent office space from Wikia,
but I also agree that it's likely to come across as suspicious to many
(and therefore warrants intense scrutiny).  As others have noted, the
mere appearance of impropriety (even where none exists) can be
injurious to an organization's reputation.  Thus far, I'm pleased with
the forthright response from those involved in the decision.