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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. Our hobbies include: Watching our backs---as we try to bring you the truth of what is happening in Houston, and getting the REAL information out to the public.
Let's take a look at this man who runs our city...
Nearly all men can stand
adversity, but if you want to test a man's character.... give him power.-- Abraham Lincoln
WHAT HE SAYS
From: Mayor Lee P. Brown's 2000 Inaugural Address:
To the people of Houston: Thank you for entrusting me with helping to lead our great city into the 21st century.
Two years ago, I was excited and humbled by this responsibility. Today, I remain enthusiastic about our city's future.
City Hall is your government. And I'm working every day to make it more responsive, accountable and accessible.
I'm proud of our progress in only two years.
I can say, with absolute confidence, that no city in the world is better prepared to meet the challenges of the new century.
Our economy is up….
Our population continues to grow and work together….
Our future is bright.
Houston City Hall remains committed to maintaining this job growth and economic development.
WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON
Mayor says "Our economy is up…."this is true...but revenues are down
FROM Today's Headlines:
June 1, 2000, 8:50PM
Houston Chronicle
copyright2000
DON'T BANK ON IT: City has cash flow problem but is increasing expenses
Houston financial officials report that the cash on hand in the city's general fund could be exhausted this month. That probability represents less a crisis (the city will juggle money in other accounts to pay its bills) than a clear warning of chronic financial difficulties that in all likelihood will get worse....
$2 billion, however, will go to build new libraries, police and fire stations, parks and other facilities. If the city doesn't have enough money to properly maintain and staff its current facilities, and projected revenues are falling short, where will the money come from to staff, operate and preserve the new facilities, not to mention retire whatever bonds are needed to finance them?
......Some members of City Council have begun to ask these and related questions. The mayor and his subordinates should have the answers ready.
OUR ECONOMY IS UP...BUT SO IS THE MAYOR'S WASTEFUL BUDDY PAYBACK DEALS...SO MUCH SO THAT WE ARE BROKE
Mayor says "Our population continues to grow and work together….
THE WAY IT REALLY IS
FROM Today's Headlines:
City budget lacks funds for pact with fire union
By MATT SCHWARTZ
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
The Brown administration's proposed budget for the Houston Fire Department includes funding for three cadet classes, but none for a new contract with the firefighters union.
The current contract with the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341 expires at the end of this month.
The union walked away from contract negotiations last month, saying the administration had offered nothing more than a one-year extension of the current agreement, without adequate funding for overtime.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE MAYOR IS WORKING TOGETHER WITH ANYONE
Mayor says "Our future is bright."
THE WAY IT REALLY IS
FROM Today's Headlines:
May 31, 2000, 10:11PM
City's cash flow turning into a trickle
Other accounts likely to be tapped so payments can be made in June
By MATT SCHWARTZ
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
The city's general fund cash flow is so low that the Brown administration will
likely have to dip into other accounts to make payroll and pay bills during
June, the last month of the fiscal year, officials said Wednesday.
The city controller's office said the tax-supported general fund had about $26
million in cash Wednesday morning.
This week's payroll for police and fire department employees -- paychecks are
issued Fridays -- is $23 million...... "The issue is, that in rosy economic times, we're living hand-to-mouth," Councilman Orlando Sanchez said. "That's inexplicable. How did we get into that position?"
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT?
Mayor says "City Hall is your government. And I'm working every day to make it more responsive, accountable and accessible." "I can say, with absolute confidence, that no city in the world is better prepared to meet the challenges of the new century."
THE WAY IT REALLY IS
FROM Today's Headlines:
May 31, 2000, 10:11PM
City's cash flow turning into a trickle
Other accounts likely to be tapped so payments can be made in June
By MATT SCHWARTZ
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
Culbreth said the general fund could end the fiscal year $20 million short on cash.
"The availability of cash through the year will be tied to revenues," she said. "If that falls, then, yes, our available cash will fall as well."
The administration is predicting the city will end the fiscal year with about $23 million less than it originally budgeted. The projected shortfall is due to the administration's admittedly overly optimistic estimate of sales taxes as well as unexpected drops in other revenue sources such as traffic ticket fines.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE OUR GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE & BETTER PREPARED?
Mayor says "We've upgraded 60 percent of the Fire Department's fleet by purchasing 55 new pumper trucks to replace equipment that was aging or worn out."
THE WAY IT REALLY IS
June 1, 2000, 9:15PM
Fire officials puzzled over work requests
Questions over repairs of trucks may never be answered, they say
By ERIC BERGER
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
A month ago, the Houston Fire Department mysteriously found a stack of more than 500 work requests, some dating back to last year, for repairs to its brand new $20 million fleet of pumper trucks.
Of those requests, more than 300 were submitted for work that did not need to be done and most of the legitimate ones were never completed......Further, the approximately 200 legitimate work requests fell under a warranty with the company that manufactured and delivered the
fire trucks about 18 months ago.
But the Fire Department has not filed a warranty claim for a single problem with any of the dozens of new pumpers since August. It was unclear Thursday how much, if any, money the city spent repairing the trucks.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A GOOD POLICY?
Mayor says "Houston City Hall remains committed to maintaining this job growth and economic development."
THE WAY IT REALLY IS
FROM Today's Headlines:
May 31, 2000, 10:00PM
City agrees to repay $80,000 to HUD
Federal auditors claim fund spent improperly
By MIKE SNYDER
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
Houston City Council agreed Wednesday to repay about $80,000 that federal auditors determined was spent improperly in the city's assistance program for low- and moderate-income home buyers......... The audit, conducted by HUD's Office of Inspector General, found that two senior city housing officials had conflicts of interest through their relationships with a contractor, that the city provided down payment assistance to home buyers with large cash savings, that some clients did not meet income eligibility requirements, that assistance was provided for homes outside the city, and that the city paid its contractors twice for certain expenses.
DOES THIS SOUND COMMITTED? (SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THEM OUGHT TO BE COMMITTED!)
Mayor says "Houston 2000 Strategic Transportation Plan"
press releaseThose goals include:
·
Maintaining and preserving existing infrastructure·
Reducing congestion·
Maximizing coordination to avoid duplication and minimize costs·
Improving the economic stability of the entire region·
Ensuring that international and inter-regional access is facilitated·
Continuing to provide access for the transit-dependent·
Addressing special and unique situations.
Maintaining and preserving existing infrastructure?
This street is LESS than one year old, and we'd say it wasn't laid right (who checked on the quality of materials, where were the so called inspectors before this job was signed off on? policies & procedures boys & girls...policies and procedures)...so how can it be maintained....and the only thing left to preserve is the cars that DO make it through here.
Reducing congestion?
Well, in all honesty there wasn't any.. AT ALL, not even one car passed us while we were there for a couple of hours. (would you travel on that road?)
Maximizing coordination to avoid duplication and minimize costs?
This project started out as a
design, project...97% into the project, Gary Oradat, (ya'll remember him, Curly
of our three STOOGES), and of course his boss Hilda Garza Scott (our female
sacred cow STOOGE), decided to end this contract at 97% done & paid....The
cost to the Taxpayers?
$664,359.86 into this $679,057.99 project, Oradat ... on Hilda's orders had the design project stopped. Road & maintenance came in, and at a cost of more than $200,000 .. overlaid this street, and less than a year later ... those pictures up there are what we spent $1 million dollars on.... WE DON'T THINK THAT IS CO-ORDINATION (THIS WAS A JOINT PROJECT WITH THE STATE) ....AND WE KNOW THERE WAS NO MINIMIZING OF COST HERE.
While we're on the subject of
STOOGES, maybe we should mention that Showri Nandagiri, (our 3rd STOOGE), was
seen climbing out of Lutfi Hassan's Lexus last week. Ya'll remember Lutfi, he's
the one that gave all those gifts to the Mayor & councilmembers.. apparently
from documents obtained off of Showri's computer at work, here in P W & E.
Daddy Lutfi Hassan is responsible for Showri's last raise, this time Showri
brought his lackey, Jajooo with him...Hmmmmm, better watch that budget Mayor....Showri
may just be in line for another raise & promotion.. (ain't it great how a
private citizen, and major contract holder with the city, major contributor to
Mayor Lee Brown's campaign, can have such an impact on the decisions being made
at the city?)
Back to the what our less that lack-luster leader has to say:
Mayor says "My ultimate goal is to make our neighborhoods better places for our families and children."----that comes from his May 10, 2000 Neighborhood Oriented Government at Work! Press release
Here's your city government involved
in your neighborhood through the use of speed humps.....these photos come from
Council Dist A....on Sherwood Forest Lane...run riht in front if the school (one
hump directly in front of the school was taken out), and the posted speed limit
signs say 30 miles an hour through here
WE don't know about ya'll, but we don't want another level of bureaucracy, between us & what we need in our community. The product they are giving us is costly, adds to lack of air quality, and tears up our streets & our cars and doesn't really protect our children. (it's just another way for the Mayor to hand out DEALS to his buddies)
Throughout the City and in City-owned buildings, there are literally
hundreds, if not thousands of posters emphasizing the Mayor's program for a better government. The mayor's program for ALL City Employees to:
Act with Accountability, Integrity, and Professionalism
Care for Children and Communities
Cultivate Economic & Social Diversity
Encourage & Respond to Public Participation
Strengthen Leadership through Partnerships
Serve to make a difference today
The way it really is here at P W & E:
THE CITY ADMINISTRATION SYSTEMATICALLY DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DIVISION
Within the Department of Public Works & Engineering, unfair & unethical promotions of engineers in the Capitol Projects Division (there's our sacred cow female STOOGE again), are being practiced. Which disallows any chance for highly qualified & competent engineers in the Public Utilities Division, to be promoted or to advance. (We work under Oradat, and he'd never challenge Hilda). This unfair practice results in wasting taxpayer money in capitol improvements projects, low morale within the department, wastes the talents in Public Utilities Division, raises customer complaints & dissatisfaction, and is really a potential time bomb for major service disruptions.
1. The City, (well really Hilda Garza Scott) gave blanket promotions to all of her engineers in CIP based on personal connection & favoritism. Some of the engineers who received several step promotions have very limited professional engineering experience, or bad job performance review.
2. Professional Engineers in Public Utilities Division who have much better qualifications, much more professional engineering experience, and better job performance review received nothing but an appreciation letter from the Mayor & Councilmembers, at an annual recognition and award free breakfast..(pieces of paper)
3. Job postings for higher positions, senior engineers & chief engineers were restricted to CIP Division ONLY.
4. The City has been treating unfairly the professional engineers in the PUD causing low morale, and rising customer complaints & customer satisfaction (of course it would help if our boss knew what he was doing, Oradat, the "Curly Stooge")
5. City should change this unfair practice, and stick to established city policies & procedures, for treating all engineers fairly, and weed out bad management. (HILDA GARZA SCOTT gave her husband a fricking $2million dollar contract for fricking sakes! )
WE REITERATE...A POTENTIAL TIME BOMB FOR MAJOR SERVICE DISRUPTIONS, AND POTENTIAL MAJOR UTILITIES SYSTEM FAILURE IS TICKING.....
Do any of you think this administration has acted with... Accountability, Integrity, and Professionalism? (WE COULD GO ON HERE FOR DAYS, OUR MAYOR IS A RATHER LONG WINDED MAN WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT ... HE'S JUST BAD ON THE FOLLOW THROUGH)
(All
letters and e-mail correspondence become the property of HOUSNITCH and
housnitch.com. Unless otherwise expressly requested, we are entitled to
publish all such correspondence. We reserve the
right to edit letters for length and clarity, and for content that might get us
sued, or to withhold their publication. Views expressed do not necessarily
reflect those of our editors or sponsors.)
Subj: Local Gov't
Date: 5/17/00 11:14:42 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
I know I've eluded previously to 'Who Runs Local Government,' and I'm not sure whether you know how it works or not. The Houston Contractor's Assn., along with a half doz. well heeled River Oaks folks are the ones who control everything that happens in Houston and Harris County. There are some lower level elected positions that are filled with electees who don't realize how they got elected. They've been had, (put in place), and they think they were elected on their own merits and never realize the difference. Once they do find out how they got there, if they ever do, either they comply with the powers that be or their political career is very short. This includes certain city Council Positions. The Contractor's Assn. supports some of these positions and the electee never knows. Contributions from the Contractors Assn. comes in many different forms and flavors and can never be tied to the HCA.
I'm a firm believer that an Engineer should never occupy an Administrative Position. When this happens, you lose all checks and balances, regardless of how stringent they may be. When an Engineer is in charge you're putting the Fox in charge of the hen house. Engineers make poor Administrators. Brown and Root tried this approach in the mid 70's, and it brought the largest Construction Co. in the world to its knees. B & R brought some of its brightest Engineers in and tried to make Administrators out of them and they failed miserably. I watched a Co. that was No 1 in its field go to dead last, with a total employment of over 80,000 in 1978, go to less than 27,000 in 1983. In 1984, B & R couldn't even get a contract building sidewalks. When they put Administrators back to Administrat'in and Eng.'s back to Engineering, they started to recover. So, for the theory, that you need an Engineer to run an Engineering dept., it'll never work. TRANSCO, now Williams Co.'s, had the same problem in the early 70's. Even if Hilda had a PE, she'd still fail.
Now then to address the Mayor prob. Anyone can fill this position, ( as demonstrated by the current occupant), because they take their orders from higher up, and from a River Oaks address. Houston's City Gov'mt was designed to function in this manner many years ago and there's not a whole lot we can do about it. When we point out the rules infractions, they're just rewritten to accommodate the situation at the time. By the way there is a 'Think Tank' who writes the rules and regulations, and they are written to suffice the powers that be to their liking/interpretation. I would almost venture to say that there is not (one) rule or regulation on the books, at the City, that can be enforced that would meet the ordinary citizens expectations.
Its really depressing to wake up each day and see what our representatives in City and County Government are doing to us. I've gotten to the point I never vote for an incumbent. A sad commentary I must admit.
You have been a breath of fresh air and I appreciate you for standing up and saying enough is enough. I wish you a ton of luck and keep up the pressure.
Name and address withheld;
Thanks for all that you do
Subj: Fire's Buget Brief
Date: 6/5/00 11:06:18 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: hOUSNITCH@AOL.COM
Last week the Fire Department on the City's Muni-station briefed the FY2001 budget. During the brief, once again the
fallen Firefighters who gave there
life in the line of duty was risen in the hearts and minds of everyone, to include City Council, by their picture being included in Fire's
justification for the budget.
It appeared to me that the Chief's brief display of these two great people was merely
an attempt by him to soften City Council and use them to have the department profit by and from
everyone's loss .
For The Fire Chief. The City needs to always remember them in our hearts and mind. Not in a budget brief! This was tacky!!!!!!
I'm not advocating that the Fire Department doesn't need money because they do. Firefighters and Paramedics pay needs to be above the national average
and they need the best equipment to get them to the citizen, and once they get there, they need the best equipment to do the job right the first time.
This is what the Chief needs to be fighting for as well as looking at the budget to be given to him in the future and learning from his apparent lack
of budget management in the past. Buying and accepting equipment that
doesn't meet specifications once it get to the City, broken frames, stuck doors on the trucks not allowing firefighters to get out of the trucks once
they get to the scene, etc... is not a good thing once you know that the
other guy's truck may have met specification too and would have save the taxpayers approximately $1,500,000.00 which could of given the Fire
Department the additional money to buy more fire trucks and ambulances to support this great City with.
Remember, the buck starts and stops at the Fire Chief. He is the leadership in the department and is responsible for his
administrations budget management, what the department buys, and how they accept it!
To all firefighters on duty, may God and luck be with you when your riding one of the new pumper trucks because that mounting nut which was found not
tight at the time the truck came in may still be free and may fall off due
an apparent forced acceptance policy by somebody of great authority and very high in the Fire Department.
WE UNDERSTAND CHIEF TYRA IS BLAMING EVERYTHING ON PAST
CHIEFS....AND WE HAVE A LETTER FROM A PAST CHIEF CONCERNING JUST
THAT...(actually the fax was sent to the Mayor....someone just sent it to us)
we're gonna tell ya what the message says....
MAYOR, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, I DON'T APPRECIATE BEING BLAMED FOR THE SHORTAGE OF STAFF----TEN YEARS LATER. THERE WAS NO LACK OF PLANNING ON MY PART...AS A MATTER OF FACT I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH STAFFING AND I HAD A BUDGET THAT WAS $80 MILLION LESS THAN THE CURRENT BUDGET ...... (UNREADABLE TO US) ... THEN WHEN A FIRE CHIEF STARTS MAKING EXCUSES .... IT'S TIME TO GET ANOTHER FIRE CHIEF. AND IT IS SIGNED , Robert L. Clayton, former HFD Fire Chief.
(we hear Clayton isn't the only one who is tired of being
blamed for today's mess. Mayor Bob has about had it himself with this
administration blaming him!) LOT'S OF
THAT ACCOUNTABILITY STUFF THERE THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT HUH?
Subj: Houston Fire Department and A Possible Mayor Lee P. Brown Bureaucratic Snafu
Date: 6/2/00 11:08:57 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: hOUSNITCH@AOL.COM
Houston Chronicle dated June 1, 2000, "Fire officials puzzled over work requests" which were found a month ago.
It should read "Fire officials busy scratching their ass and pointing their fingers blaming the little guys and like the alleged discrimination
statement from the Fire Chief " I didn't say that" he'll probable now say, "Lee, I was never told and I never knew about the E-One problem!"
HOUSNITCH dated 4/12/00 SUBJ HFD an individual reports that the Fire Chief Lester Tyra threw a fit that a two-year old would be proud of because a
group meeting was being held to discuss the E-One problems.
It goes on to state that the Chief stated that in no way was anybody going to stop the delivery of this
equipment.
Sounds to me he was aware of the problem well before the meeting. How long did he know is a question to be asked by the City's IG.
Houston Chronicle dated June 1, 2000, "Was it a bureaucratic Snafu? Answer: Yes and it will always be until Fire officials accept responsibility for
their actions instead of scratching their asses and pointing their fingers blaming it on those that where doing there job as identified in the
HOUSNITCH back on 4/12/00.
The HOUSNITCH dated 4/12/2000, " At best he appears to have placed his relationship with E-One, above his duties as an employee of the City of
Houston.
It should of read, " At best Fire officials have placed their relationship with E-One, above the Mayor, City Council, the members of the Fire
Department, and the community in which they serve."
The Chronicle states that due to the bizarre array of facts, Mayor Lee P. Brown this week told the city's inspector general to investigate. The Mayor
issued a statement saying that the discrepancies in the warranty claims "merit a full review."
Mr. Mayor, it's about time. But we still have questions? Will you let the "citizens of Houston" know, or will you protect them from the truth, or are
you protecting your good image by not allowing the truth to be known?
Will this be a bureaucratic snafu cover-up by your office and City Council?
Mayor Lee P. Brown, not only the warranty problems need be investigated but also the Fire Department's method of selecting E-One over the other guys,
whom may have met the City's specifications, need to be investigated as well. All investigations on E-One needs to be released in order for full
disclosure to the people so they can know who is responsible and what is really going on under your administration regardless of how it looks.
How about letting HOUSNITCH have first news release?
You were once the leader in the Police Department and you're now the leader over the City. You of all people know that a true leader accepts
responsibility for both the good and the bad. Unlike the Fire officials, a true leader does not pass failure onto those under him or her. If they do,
they have failed and have forever lost the admiration of those under him or her and the beliefs that they saw. This they can never recover!!!!!!!
Unlike the Fire officials, lead and set the example by doing what is needed to bring full closure on the E-One problem. If not, it will continue to
bring negative light to your administration until full closure is made in the future by your replacement. Do not let the next Mayor candidate, who's
probably sitting next to you in Council, use this as a true example of miss-management and lack of leadership over the departments for it will then
be to late. Let the citizens know full closure now so it can rest in the past as something that you did take control of and did correct.
WE COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER
Subj: Building Services/Budget Review Before Council....We are a shame and mad!
Date: 6/1/00 11:04:12 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Dear Housnitch!
Firefighters..You think you've got problems?????
Question 1: How would you like to be the laughing stock of the city's departments with a leader who doesn't know jack about the department she is the Director of?
Question 2: Did you watch the Budget Review of Directors today? Sad wasn't it..
we mean for us. When asked simple questions Mrs. McGilbra was not able to address them. The entire department was watching, hoping for good representation...Didn't get it! It is a sad thing when asked a simple question as what percentage of workforce would be needed by the Building Services Department to man the Galleria area, using that area it for an example, Council was unable to get a sensible answer our of her. She rattled other statements instead of answering the questions directly address to this department. Al Haines, after minutes of watching her stumble and ad-lib wrong answers stated that she would supply the answers to Council in writing.
Question 3: Was it not said that Mrs. McGilbra's expertise from Hines was managing the Galleria area in this field or did we get it wrong? She fumbled through papers, fumbled words, making statements that did not answer the question asked her. Do you think that it was possible she just didn't know the answer to the questions Council asked her? Perhaps yes?
Question 4: Why would this department, constructed of long time employees with expertise from other departments need 25 temps for employment?
Question 5: Could that be one of the prime reasons why the present employees, excluding the ones she brought with her from Hines and the many she has recruited from other departments, are unable to get pay raises?
Question 6: Is it possible that out of the many new hires for PRIME POSITIONS, with the exceptions of one employee, no one else in the Building Services Department was qualified for these type of positions?
Question 7: Or could it just be possible that Mrs. McGilbra could be listening to others and taking their opinions to hire these employees from other departments for these prime positions rather than taking a closer look at the present employees that are already there doing the work that are making the department function?
Question 8: So what happens next Mrs. McGilbra?.. Will you be faced with a review or presentation only to make an ass out of yourself and to embarrass your department again? The employees are very concerned about their leader.
You.. Mrs. McGilbra are in question!
Question 9: Perhaps.. Mrs. McMcGilbra, you are not the person for this job. Perhaps you need to vacate the position and allow a qualified individual who is really QUALIFIED to step up and man/woman this department!
You have employees within your department that could make a difference if you allowed them to, but we don't expect you
to. But you know????we were here when Jimmy Schindewolf came and went, came and went again.....and the many before him. We were here to see Jerry King come and leave. (poor gentleman, this may save him from those "wolves" in Public Works from contributing to him either having a heart attack or stroke). It is probably in his best interest that he leaves. He will live longer.
You can bet your bottom dollar, you have no support from the people that actually make this department work. Your highly paid people, present brought on from other departments will be of no asset to you either. You are "nothing" without us. Remember that!
Mayor Brown..........................
Yes, this department CAN function, but the present employees making it function MUST be recognized or you nor Monique will get nowhere! UNDERSTAND?
The employees of this department DO NOT appreciate being mistreated, disrespected, overlooked, embarrassed. made to look stupid and what ever you can add to this sentence! They want to be considered for KEY positions also, not just the DOG BONE positions. We are sure you know what we mean.
Mrs. McGilbra....................
Stop calling for information from other departments when you have key personnel to answer your questions. Stop listening to those who do not nor desire to work for you Monique for advise. Would it not make sense to think that the present employees would be more concerned about this department than others, except ones who seek the key positions just for the dollar. They did not wish to come over when it was on the ground level. Noooooo they waited for the highly paid positions and came running and boy did they come! And YOU MONIQUE paid off like a slot machine! The present employees are still sweeping the floors and setting out the trash! The end is close.
O well..you will not listen. You will continue to do the same things you have done in the past, but your ride will not be as cushy as in the past. You can bet your bottom dollar on that! This is OUR department also. We MADE this department work. You just hopped on the bus and took a good ride. Your stop is near. This is no brag, just fact and if you don't take this as heed we will soon be rocking in our swings when we see your backside exiting out of the door.
This is war Monique. You are snotty to us. Your nose is high into the air. We are nothing to you. We recognize that. But don't forget, we were here first and we will be here when you leave. So keep on gong YOUR route Monique, but you can rest a sure we will be going about ours to see you gone.
See you in the morning Ma'am..............
WE ARE STAYING AWAY FROM THAT ONE WITH A TEN FOOT POLE...THOSE PEOPLE ARE MAD!
Subj: NEW SOUTH PARKING
Date: 6/1/00 8:29:34 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: hOUSNITCH@AOL.COM
Housnitch
Did you know that city employees are being required to do maintenance work in the Hobby Airport parking garage, six months after New South Parking took
control of the facility. This is being done under orders from Bill Hanby,(Hobby 2)He calls it a good neighbor policy,city employees doing work
that contractors are paid to do. What did New South give Mr. Hanby for being a good
neighbor?
We also understand that Limousine fees haven't been collected out there since last December 1999. And here we thought we were in a budget crunch and needed all we could get our hands on....sheeeeesh
Subj: airport parking!!!
Date: 6/1/00 10:34:41 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
I have been in contact with Orlando Sanchez by E-mail about the airport parking contract and some irregularities out at Hobby airport. He has filed a complaint with Rich Vacar and has requested a full audit from Sylvia Garcia on the parking contract.
PS: Good work at Housnitch!!!
WE thought Sylvia was going in on the 30th....but they have been shredding documents like crazy over there...This is a Mayoral buddy, payoff deal, and the Mayor ain't about to allow a full audit
Subj: And they continue spending money for traffic calming devices
Date: 5/31/00 8:45:44 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: hOUSNITCH@AOL.COM
As long as the city of Houston continues the speed hump, circle, gate program they are not only wasting money they don't have, they are jeopardizing the safety of Houstonians. Millions of dollars have been spent on the impediments and Chief Tyra who claims he is concerned about "safety" backs down the minute the Traffic "Calming" Department speaks. Why haven't emergency routes been cleared of humps, circles, and gates? It takes only a little common sense to know that anything that will slow a car will slow emergency vehicles even more. Will we have to wait until someone dies while an emergency vehicle is loitering over humps or trying to find the key to a gate? If any of the people who are clamoring for the useless devices have every held a child in their arms who needed instant care or seen an adult with sudden cardiac arrest who couldn't breath they may have second thoughts. There were over 300,000 emergency and fire responses in Houston in 1998. The millions being spent on the traffic "calming" (what a joke) program would be much better used to hire more firemen.
If Mayor Brown and Chief Tyra are interested in SAFETY they med to put the money where their voices are!!!!!
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD...WE OUT OF MONEY!
Subj: Response To Firefighters Woe
Date: 5/31/00 8:01:21 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: hOUSNITCH@AOL.COM ('hOUSNITCH@AOL.COM')
Dear Fellow Houstonians,
I am a staunch believer that there are three major occupations that are grossly underpaid and overworked in our society . . . school teachers,
policemen and FIREFIGHTERS! Out of sight, out of mind but when you need one of them, you're praying as you pick up that phone!
It takes a big man to ever admit he is wrong. Certainly, Mayor Brown isn't big enough, neither is Chief Tyra. Chief Tyra is just a "puppet."
Definition of Puppet: A basically spineless figure head manipulated by other unseen individuals. Neither are they the type of people to ask for help from
anyone. The Mayor doesn't work for us. He works for himself . . . looking out for number #1. He's not worried about pay for sick time or retirement
costs either, he will be out of office then and could care less personally about your families and their ongoing welfare. Remember, when you hold a
mirror up to these guys, they shirk away. They hate seeing their own gross inadequacies.
Believe what they put to paper? They don't and you know it. Those phrases are just borrowed, flowery, corporate double-speak.
Since they can't figure the problems out on their own Brown and Tyra's next course of action will probably be to appoint another committee or
commission of some type to "study" the situation and problem and suck more money out of the budget coffers for about a year. At the end of the year,
they'll write a lovely report for a horrendous amount of money announcing their findings.
I find it ironic that most Management rarely listens to the rank and file for solutions. Even in the most obvious situations. I'd bet bottom
dollar that Chief Tyra hasn't ever gone and randomly met with 10 or 20 fire stations to see what their views and suggestions are on things.
When poor management sounds retreat they usually isolate themselves behind layers of managers and assistants and hide in their offices behind a
secretary, voice mail or email and are totally inaccessible. Such will continue to be Brown's and Tyra's practices.
Closing a fire station is nothing but panic politics. That's when
residents go into action and probably not before. Brown appointed Tyra, correct? The firefighters union should mobilize en-masse 60 days before
election to corroborate and make sure we get a new leader.
God Bless Our Firefighters.
One closing note on other City Hall shenanigans: Light Rail = "I need a way to line my own pockets a bit more." Excuse me Houston, didn't we
already vote rail down TWICE? Why should we even spend the several million dollars that it costs to hold a special election on the issue? Houstonians
have already spoken.
SUDDEN IDEA: Why don't we take that several hundred million Mayor Brown wants for light rail and pay our firefighters!!!
Sign Me,
"I See Through You" in Houston
Boy we have some some real smart readers & letter
contributors!
Subj: administration
Date: 5/26/00 10:16:16 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
Aha! Science may have discovered why the city is the way it is!! for your enjoyment......
THE HEAVIEST ELEMENT:
Investigators at a major research institution have recently discovered the heaviest element known to science. This startling new discovery has been
tentatively named
Administratium (Ad).
This new element has no protons or electrons, thus having an atomic number of 0. It does, however, have 1 neutron, 125 assistant neutrons,
75 vice neutrons, and 111 assistant vice neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by a force called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
According to the discoverers, a minute amount of Administratium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete when it would normally
take less than a second. Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three years; it
does not decay but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons, vice neutrons, and assistant vice neutrons
exchange places.
In fact, an Administratium sample's mass will actually increase over time, since with each reorganization some of the morons inevitably
become neutrons, forming new isodopes.
This characteristic of moronpromotion leads some scientists to speculate that
Administratium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity
in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as the ......... "Critical Morass".
You will know it when you see it.
SOMEONE who finally can understand our problems here at the City!!!!
Subj: 911 Give away
Date: 5/25/00 10:36:15 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
we understand council wanted written information on the keystone deal and a
book of some sort was put together by building services department people.
is anyone looking beyond the rfp process. we still don t think this is a good deal for the city. we hope this
doesn't get pushed ahead because of politics. do you have any questions. is there anything you can tell us.
you got the pot stirred up good and we don t want it to settle again.
OH WE ARE CONTINUING TO STIR THIS POT...IT WILL BOIL ANY DAY NOW!
But in the mean time...here's the questions WE & Councilmembers want answers to:
911 Building Questions to get answers to
When was the RFP issued?
What was the deadline for RFP submittals?
How many were received?
From who?
When was the contract awarded or the winning bid selected?
Was there a scoring matrix?
When did Don Hollingsworth and or Monique McGilbra make any trips to see other buildings?
How many trips were made?
What private sector people/developers accompanied them on each trip?
What private sector people/developer bidder did they have contact with during each trip?
Who was invited on each trip?
How were they invited?
HAVE A LISTEN THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 11TH, 2000, STEVE WILLIAMS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL 341 FIREFIGHTERS UNION WILL BE OUR ONLY GUEST ONTHIS WEEK'S "THRESHOLDS".... KPFT, 90.1 AT 7 PM. THIS WILL BE A CALL IN SHOW .... SNITCHES & READERS ... LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!!!!
CALL IN # IS 713-523-KPFT....TELL US WHAT YOU THINK HOUSTON
(and to the lady from the city who requested copies of our program "THRESHOLDS"... from our program manager, you'll just have to tape your own...we don't keep copies!)
We are empowered, and empowering you the reader, the little guy like us to say NO! No more! IF each and everyone of one of you out there, send us just $10 we can beat them at their own much better funded game ... please take the time & do so now. The stories that are coming in are well worth the effort. You will see the results right here, please , send us a donation. Nothing is too small. $1 dollar will buy 10 pages worth of a document from the City, $5 will buy a ream of paper for printing out our website for those occasions we have speaking engagements, $30 will buy a tank of gas for traveling to and from council meetings and meetings with snitches ...parking costs... WE NEED YOU ... This is your page ..... help us with it...P.O. Box 55423 Houston, Texas 77255 713-722-9258
WE are ending this week with the quote we opened with...Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character.... give him power.-- Abraham Lincoln WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER DO YOU THINK OUR MAYOR HAS?/IS?
tell em what you think darlins.......