"STRANGE" ENGINEERING

This publication is dedicated to & maintained by those of us who really care about this city. We are many --- (and growing stronger with more people joining our ranks everyday). We are the nameless , faceless city, county, state, federal, and corporate taxpaying citizens & workers who are sick of the "good ole boy system" here in Houston, Texas --We were born on 7-30-1999. We are --- married & single-male & female, maintenance worker to Deputy Directors. We are the faceless civil servants who year after year do our job. We are the one's who see the hard earned tax $$s of the citizens in this area used & abused and given away to enrich a few greedy people with each new administration.

WE NEED YOUR HELP ... this page costs money to keep on-line PLEASE help us keep it going WE NEED SOME DONATIONS!!!!!!!! ....

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."-Plato

Folks,
Now this is enough reason to show a little road courtesy, even if you better self is not so inclined.

Subject: Ponder This!

I was riding to work yesterday when I observed a female driver cut right in front of a pickup truck causing him to have to drive on to the shoulder to avoid hitting her. This evidently angered the driver enough that he hung his arm out his window and flipped the woman off.

"Man, that guy is stupid" I thought to myself. I ALWAYS smile nicely and wave in a sheepish manner whenever a female does anything to me in traffic and here's why:

I drive 48 miles each way every day to work, that's 96 miles each day. Of these, 16 miles each way is bumper-to-bumper. Most of the bumper-to-bumper is on an 8 lane highway so if you just look at the 7 lanes I am not in, that means I pass something like a new car every 40 feet per lane.

That's 7 cars every 40 feet for 32 miles. That works out to be 982 cars every mile, or 31,424 cars. Even though the rest of the 32 miles is not bumper to bumper, I figure I pass at least another 4000 cars.

That brings the number to something like 36,000 cars I pass every day. Statistically, half of these are driven by females, that's 18,000. In any given group of females 1 in 28 are having the worst day of their period. That's 642. According to Cosmopolitan, 70% describe their love life as dissatisfying or unrewarding. That's 449. According to the National Institute of Health, 22% of all females have seriously considered suicide or homicide. That's 98. And 34% describe men as their biggest problem. That's 33. According to the National Rifle Association, 5% of all females carry weapons and this number is increasing.

That means that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I drive past at least one female that has a lousy love life, thinks men are her biggest problem, has seriously considered suicide or homicide, is having the worst day of her period, and is armed.

Flip one off?...........I think not.

LOAO!!!!!!

Remember how your Mama used to say that you can tell a person by the friends that he keeps?

The following is one of Mayor Lee Pee Brown's best buddies and fund raiser..... & Commissioner Jerry Eversole's biggest contributor, regularly is recommended for work at the City of Houston by PWE Deputy Director Showri Nandagiri & Herbert Lum. (of course on the Mayor's orders)

TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

June 13, 2001 Board Meeting Disciplinary Actions

* Mr. Jon Norton Strange, P.E., Houston, Texas – File D-1254 – It was alleged that Mr. Strange accepted an assignment to design three athletic tracks and 32 tennis courts for a school district and apparently copied engineering designs and specifications for this project that had been prepared by another Texas licensed professional engineer for a similar project at another location. Mr. Strange signed and affixed his Texas engineer seal to the copied documents. It was also alleged that Mr. Strange was not qualified by education or experience to perform this engineering design assignment in a adequate or competent manner. The Board accepted a Consent Order signed by Mr. Strange for a one year probated suspension of his Texas engineer license contingent upon his payment of a $2,000.00 administrative penalty.

...and ole Jon Boy also sits on the Houston Planning Commission...appointed by none other than his BEST BUD, Leepy Lee... Mama always knew best....BIRDS OF A FEATHER, FLOCK TOGETHER...and we taxpayers get Sh*t on as they fly over!

I am writing this from the viewpoint of a dedicated, veteran +*&^%$#@ in the Houston Fire Department.

Being on the inside looking out, it is hard to explain the importance of morale in the Houston Fire Department (HFD); it is what keeps us going during times of stress and fatigue. On the outside looking in, one cannot explain why firefighters continue to do the job, day in and day out, even though the city council and the mayor is oblivious to those who are the "real" emergency responders. We are.

The news media is atrocious when it comes to the merits of firefighters, maybe because we have brought a lot of it upon ourselves. The thought of the 1950s firemen playing dominos until the bell went off is part of our distant past. These perceptions need to be changed immediately. The morale is so low right now that even the most dedicated are having second thoughts about staying with the department. The new police contract, the mayors attitude, and fire department’s command staff are all convincing factors that they view firefighters and firefighting as a second rate profession... except when there are fires, floods, hurricanes, motor vehicle accidents, cardiac arrests/heart attacks, hazmat incidents, aircraft emergencies, overturned 18-wheelers, cuttings/shootings, obstetrical (OB) problems, high-rise rescues, swift water rescues and etc… (Oh, and HPD has a dive team for body recovery but HFD is typically who is called out).

The time is now to pool all the resources available and get the Houston Fire Department back to the top position in the state and the nation where we belong, especially in the arson and prevention divisions. HFD requires an increase in manpower (new hires, not just overtime) for the future of Houston and an increase in pay to compete with other major cities in Texas and the nation to keep our rookies from getting their fire certification here and moving elsewhere.

The lives of citizens hang in the balance and the controversy between HFD, the union, and the city needs to be concluded. It is my contention that the citizens need to be kept out of the "line of fire" between HFD and the city officials. The safety of Houstonians are on the minds of all firefighters but citizens can contribute by casting their votes wisely. In the meantime, "Ex-cop" Mayor Brown, who never has been in favor of parity (equal pay along ranks), is breaking parity through the new HPD agreement pitting Houston Police against Houston Fire, which will only create animosity.

A good question for all the leaders of Houston would be: How would Lincoln, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King handle this minor problem we have in Houston? They had much grander problems in their day. The problems we have today are directly attributable to the clueless, the arrogant and the puppet officials and/or appointees. If you are offended by any of these remarks, then you know who you are and you must change. If you do not see a need to change, then you are one of the clueless.

WAKE UP MAYOR....CITIZENS.....189 brother firefighters saw fit to "exit the drop" as of last week..... They would rather be "taxed to death" than lose their life riding a man short on a Houston Firetruck.

The people, in delegating authority, Do not give their public servants the Right to decide what is good for the people to know, and what is not good for the people to know.

AGENDA - COUNCIL MEETING -WEDNESDAY - JUNE 27, 2001 - 9:00 A. M. COUNCIL CHAMBER - SECOND FLOOR - CITY HALL
901 BAGBY - HOUSTON, TEXAS

5. RECOMMENDATION from Director Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department for approval to begin negotiations with LAKEWOOD CHURCH to redevelop Compaq Center - DISTRICT C - GOLDBERG

In order to claim home church status, you have to attend more than just once a year. When you do attend you need to worship and praise the Lord and not go only to make political speeches. Lakewood Church is not Lee P. Brown's home church nor is he a Christian.

Lee claims honorary membership at Lakewood, honorary membership is just that, it does not make you a real member or a real Christian. You have to participate to become both.

59. ORDINANCE consenting to award by the Houston Area Water Corporation of the Design-Build-Operate contract for the Northeast Water Purification Plant to MONTGOMERY WATSON CONSTRUCTORS, INC - DISTRICT E - TODD

WHY IS IT THAT AZURIX IS GOOD ENOUGH TO COME TO COUNCIL TO HANDLE THE SOUTHEAST WATER PLANT

AGENDA - COUNCIL MEETING - TUESDAY - JULY 3, 2001 - 9:00 A. M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER - SECOND FLOOR - CITY HALL
901 BAGBY - HOUSTON, TEXAS

35. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing contract between the City of Houston and AZURIX NORTH AMERICA OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, INC for Operation and Maintenance of the Southeast Water Treatment Plant; providing a maximum contract amount.

...BUT NOT HERE...JUST TO PROTECT THE "SELECTION PROCESS" ( A POORLY APPOINTED SET OF BOARD MEMBERS) ...WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW MONTGOMERY WATSON TO RAPE US AS THE DID ON THE GREATER HOUSTON WASTE WATER PROGRAM??? .... You council members should get a copy of "PUBLIC WORKS & ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT GREATER HOUSTON WASTE WATER PROGRAM INTERIM AUDIT REPORT" written by George Greanias.I & II The RAPE was so bad he didn't wait until the audit was finished to report it to The Mayor & Councilmembers.

From:

To: SNITCH@housnitch.com

Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 10:58 PM

Subject: Bldg Inspectors warned Med Ctr of danger to emergency power

I recall that back in 1994 (or so) an electrical inspector told me that he had recently finished inspecting the emergency power generators that had been elevated above expected flood levels. He told me that the move of the generators was pointless as the switches were left in the basement, below flood level. Can't remember the name of the inspector, but all inspections in the medical center were done by inspectors familiar with the special requirements of medical facilities to meet code.

The inspector told me that he had advised someone (builder/mgr/owner?) that the location of the switches wasn't going to help. He said that he was dismissed with the remark that "it wasn't in the code"

SOME PEOPLE WON'T DO ANYTHING EVEN WITH A CODE!

From:

To: <SNITCH@HOUSNITCH.COM>

Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 8:02 AM

Subject: HPD's Notification and Emergency Management

Hi, this is the first time that I have emailed your site. I have enjoyed reading many of your articles and emails.

I would like to contribute some information about Clarence Bradford and his inability to manage the police department.

The Houston Police Department has General Orders which are some of the rules and regulations that govern them department. These General Orders apply to all employees of the Houston Police Department. [except to the chief of police]

A particular General Order that the Chief of Police did not follow during the recent Flood.

General Order 200-10, Notification and Emergency Management.

Alert Status- A precursor to mobilization; a heightened awareness throughout the department that each division's emergency action plan may be put into effect. [chief has no heightened awareness, obviously]

Disaster- A Catastrophe which threatens extraordinary loss of life or property (e.g.; severe weather, hazardous-material accidents, large fires, explosions, terrorist incidents). [Clarence, 33 inches of rain is severe weather, duh]

Clarence, never put the department on alert status, guess he did not think the flood was a disaster.

More from the G.O.:
"The Chief of Police may place the entire department in an alert status when an emergency is anticipated or has already occurred. The location and type of emergency will determine what impact an alert status has on any particular division. During an alert, personnel should anticipate any of the following:

1. Working extended hours and different shift hours.
2. Cancellation of days off and leaves of absence.
3. Reassignment to different duties and responsibilities, supervisors, and divisions and commands.

4. Reporting to work with complete uniform and authorized and issued equipment. "

The General Order that Clarence signed on August 7, 2000, is very detailed and complete.

I am a Houston Police Officer. I have been for going on 11 years. I am in shock that the Clarence did not utilize thousands of officers to assist the citizens of Houston during this time of crisis.

When I returned to work on Monday, June 11th, my co-workers and I discussed how shocked we were that the Clarence failed to place the department on alert status, and failed to mobilize the department for the emergency.

Clarence should pack his bags and go back to Louisiana where he came from and apologize to the city for his inability to make a decision.

If you would like to see the the complete copy of General Order 200-10, Notification and Emergency Management, please email me and I will send you a copy.

Sincerely,
PLEASE SEND US A COPY

From:

To: SNITCH@HOUSNITCH.COM

Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 10:59 AM

Subject: John Castillo

Heard that Dr. Fred Martinez is helping John Castillo in his run for Harris County Commissioner Preceinct 2.

Whaddayaknow, one crook helping another. Oh well maybe Vidal Martinez can keep them on the straight and narrow.

(LOL two crooks and a moron)

WE'RE STAYING AWAY FROM THAT ONE

From:

To: <SNITCH@HOUSNITCH.COM>

Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 6:18 AM

Subject: Meet & Confer

HOUSNITCH HAS A QUESTION:
WE ARE GREAT SUPPORTERS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THEM GET A MUCH NEEDED WELL DESERVED RAISE, AND MORE BENEFITS. BUT IF WE GIVE THEM ALL THESE BENEFITS .... DO WE HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO TAKE TO THE BARGAINING TABLE FOR OUR FIREMEN? THEY ARE JUST AS DESERVING, AND YET HAVE NO BENEFIT PARITY? "declaring an emergency" ? OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS IN CRISIS .... WE BELIEVE WE HAVE AN "EMERGENCY" HERE TOO.

Dear Brenda, the Police stayed at the bargaining table while the Firemen continued to walk away. As a bargaining strategy, walking away from the table has it's place in labor negotiations. It shouldn't be the FIRST strategy employed by your negotiating team. Especially since public safety employee's have no legal right to strike.

To obtain these "extra" benefits, the police officers gave up an awful lot to the city. If the firemen would be willing to give up paid overtime for their grade 5 employee's (over half their force), I'm sure the city could put 4 men per truck as the firemen ask. If the firemen would be willing to let the city appoint a list of arbitrators, train on their own time, and all the other things the police will now be doing-they could get a raise in benefits too.

I just wonder how the firemen, with parity in place, will be eligible for getting paid OT when the HPD Sgt's won't. I suspect this will come up in the near future.

Parity has always been a tricky business for HPD/HFD. HFD had Meet & Confer first and always used it to get better benefits knowing full well that HPD wouldn't get them. I'm sorry if parity has come back to haunt them but that's a concept known as "what goes around, comes around".

HPD is a lot worse paid than all the major city's in Texas in part due to parity. This contract will address much of that. Keep in mind that officers don't get much of the pay until 2004. By then, other city's may pay their police even more (HPD is still not the highest paid in Texas under this contract).

There will be enough money for good benefit increases for HFD only if their members are willing to sacrifice like HPD did. I expect to see a lot of posturing over this topic by HFD Union officials but the bottom line is that they are paid, on an hour by hour basis, a lot better than HPD compared to other dept's in the area.

Take care,

THANK YOU DARLIN FOR YOUR INPUT, YOUR OPINIONS ARE ALWAYS INFORMATIVE.

THIS EDITOR IS EXPERIENCING SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS .... THEY TEND TO SLOW ME DOWN SOME WHAT. I AM GETTING THEM TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THEY WERE A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, AND NOT SO EASILY REMEDIED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO POST NEW PAGES, AND ARTICLES. PLEASE BEAR WITH US .... THERE ARE NO SO CALLED "BENEFITS" WITH THIS JOB. IN FACT WE ARE CONSTANTLY PAYING BILLS JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME USUALLY WHEN THE RED SHUT OFF NOTICE COMES DUE, SO A HEALTH PROBLEM IS AN ADDED STRESS/EXPENSE.

WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO BRINGING ABOUT A CHANGE IN HOW OUR CITY IS RUN, AND FOR INTEGRITY & ACCOUNTABILITY IN THOSE WE HAVE ELECTED / APPOINTED TO OFFICE AND WHO SPEND OUR MONEY.

THOSE OF YOU WHO SUPPORT US, PLEASE REMEMBER US IN YOUR PRAYERS ... THOSE WHO DON'T SUPPORT US ... WELL I'M TOO ORNERY TO GO WITHOUT A HELL OF A FIGHT.

tell em what you think darlins, we get tired of telling them by ourselves.......