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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 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.
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 ... WE NEED YOU ... This is your page ..... help us with it...P.O. Box 55423 Houston, Texas 77255 713-722-9258
April 19, 2000, 9:32PM
Public Works Department head quits
Sudden resignation requested by mayor
By MATT SCHWARTZ
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
Mayor Lee Brown on Wednesday asked for and received the resignation of Jerry King, director of the city's Department of Public Works and Engineering.
The sudden resignation seemed to surprise few around City Hall, with the exception of King, who reportedly told a councilman earlier in the day that rumors of his pending resignation were just that.........
The Public Works Department also has been suffering from, perhaps, the worst morale of any department in city government. Concerns over the way in which the department is operated and managed led, in large part, to the creation of an online government-watchdog group known as
Housnitch. Nearly every week, the group posts records and commentary to document its claims of waste and mismanagement, blaming much of it on upper-level management within Public Works.
We want our readers to know that Jerry King is a more than competent man. He would have been a great Director IF he had been given the autonomy to handle this department. But someone from the Mayor's administration was always coming over with so called "orders" saying to give out this contract...hire this person....and the Mayor NEVER once backed Jerry King...never established to people like Hilda Garza-Scott that Jerry was the boss. The next Director should be left alone to run P W&E with the taxpayers & the City's best interests in mind...not all the political favors that this administration is used to pushing. And Hilda Garza-Scott & Gary Oradat need to go. One down...four more left....we still have work to do guys....But we can make a difference. Housnitch will be calling a press conference soon concerning the filing of our complaint challenging Ms. Garza-Scott's license. We've also begun to compare contracts, we're going to challenge some of these so called companies that the Mayor & his staff have been so overly kind to.... Have a good week Houston. Listen to us on KPFT 90.1 FM...every Sunday evening, 7pm.
Housnitch
(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: China and the Brown Administration?
Date: 4/25/00 6:50:54 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Housnitch, you might like to publish this story.
Sunday April 23 6:31 AM ET
China Executes Deputy Mayor
BEIJING (AP) - Chinese authorities executed a deputy mayor Sunday for massive bribery, the
latest official punished in a campaign against rampant corruption......
In exchange for approving promotions, loans, land and construction contracts,
Li took $478,500 worth of bribes between 1991 and 1996, when he was Communist Party secretary of Yulin city, Xinhua said. Li also couldn't explain where he got
more than $685,000 worth of various currencies found in his home, along with jewelry, Xinhua said....Cheng, a deputy chairman of China's national legislature, was one of the most senior officials caught in the recently renewed
campaign against the graft that is undermining public support.....
Too bad we've become a so called civilized society...
Subj: questions? compliments!
Date: 4/25/00 2:41:35 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
Great site. The stories are a little hard to follow (as the guilty parties want them to be), but you explain it all, and show the evidence to back it
up.
Have you covered anything on the Library? I have a family member w/the library, & one w/the fire dept. I will send you anything
interesting that I come across.
We're always looking for new stories darlin...
Subj:
Date: 4/24/00 4:49:52 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
Dear housnitch
Please know that the Fire Chief is very angry. Someone printed letter to the mayor and left copies all over the headquarters building. He is reported to be walking around collecting them.
We have the worst City Department heads in the country. And they continue to make stupid mistakes.....they will be caught...Housnitch is like a water torture, or rather like a river flowing over a bedrock...eventually we'll wear 'em all down...just keep the information coming...
Subj: re HFD
Date: 4/24/00 5:24:11 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH@aol.com
Dear Housnitch
Things got hotter at The Houston Fired Department. It seems that Lester and his band have given up trying to convince professional fleet people they know what they are doing. They have tried with four Fleet Managers; however, Mike Grube and Gerald Greenwood where unable to convince anyone of their abilities. Now, Lester and his band of incompetents are stacking the deck for the new fleet manager. They have systematically discredited all but the chosen few.
The goal is to ensure all but themselves have bad disciplinary records so that when Dave Roberts becomes the chief’s new fleet manager he will get rid of the good people. The people who make his lackeys look bad by doing their job. Yes, I am talking about the ones that have turned the place around in spite of Mike Grubes attempted sick out and other attempts to sabotage the program. The good old boy network is alive and well at HFD.
I just got an interesting report on the E-One front. It seems that on arriving at fire scenes neither the jump man nor the plugman’s door will open. The firefighters are trapped in the rear of the
fire truck. Fireman must first rescue themselves from their own equipment. This will surely lead to loss of life (fighters if they are involved in an accident or citizens if they take to long rescuing themselves.) We are not allowed to talk badly about this fine equipment, because the Fired Chief, "has a close relationship with E-One." Oh, Before I forget, there are now 11 new E-One’s with cracked frames in service.
Last week we lost our right talk to people we do not supervise. This week George Morton reported that in the future we could only talk to Larry Hunter or members of his crew at fire station 75 if we go through Chief Shelton first. Yes, this is the same Chief Shelton who created the mess at HFD in the first place. You know the one Wayne
Dolcefino reported on three years ago. This is the same good old boy who was with Assistant Fire Chief Denise Holder when he died on a hunting lease provided by a firetruck manufacturer named Seagraves. I bet you thought it was a coincidence that for years HFD only bought Seagraves equipment. I think that they had a close relationship.
Morale is very low now
We do not know how long our jobs will last but we will stay in touch
Thank you for this forum
We will continue to send information as the depressed workers funnel it to us.
Subj: HFD and the Mayor - Act with Accountability, Integrity, and Professionalism
Date: 4/25/00 6:17:03 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
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 Mayor needs to define to the Citizens of Houston and to the City Employees who serve those citizens who his program does or doesn't apply to.
As for the Mayor's, City Councils, the Fire Chief's, the Houston Fire Department as a whole, and the Citizens of Houston problems with the E-Ones,
and in order to clear their GOOD names, along with the others that may be involved
with E-One, the State, which will be outside of the City's political structure needs to look into the E-One problem from the time
before they were bought to the current date. That is if the State can get the job done without the City's "Good-Old-Boy I'll Scratch Your Balls if you
Scratch Mine" influence.
This will also identify to the Citizens of Houston if the Mayor, City Council, the Fire Chief, the Department as a whole, and those others that
have been involved with E-One have Acted or Not Acted with Accountability, Integrity, and Professionalism which impacts on taking care of our Children
and Communities and Serving to make a difference TODAY.
In addition, the E-Ones due to their broken frames may now fall under the State of Texas "LEMON" Law in which the City and its Tax payers can recover
their investment. The trucks, if estimated with options and equipment probable cost the Tax payers $350,000.00 a piece. The City, if they can get
away from the scratching, can recover an estimated $3,850,000.00 from the manufacturer. If E-One doesn't wish to reciprocate the estimated
$3,850,000.00, the City needs to stop all future buys, deliveries, and business with the manufacturer and sue them for damages.
Question - What would you do if this were your car?
Answer - You don't have to buy an E-One to know the answer to this question!
cc: Mayor - Act with Accountability, Integrity, and Professionalism
City Council - Act with Accountability, Integrity, and
Professionalism & Take care of the Children and your Community. And to all those Tax Payers out there in La-La Land - Encourage &
Respond to Public Participation.
WE WANT A COUNCIL MEMBER....ANY OF YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS.....WE'RE ENDANGERING LIVES OUT THERE...OUR OWN PEOPLE & THE TAXPAYERS TOO!!!! NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT WE AREN'T FOLLOWING OUR OUR PRINCIPLES.
Subj: attagirl
Date: 4/20/00 11:19:54 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Love it....absolutely. Hope more heads to follow.
We think so too!
Subj: Who will be next!!
Date: 4/19/00 11:23:32 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Please remove my e-mail address before publishing..... Thanks...... More info to follow.
Well, I have enjoyed your publications for several months, and just had to reply with the following:
Well, MAYOR, Now that you are asking for letters: ask Monique to give you one!!!!It's a real joke!!! Monique once replied that Jerry King was her friend, I hope her friend has saved her a spot where he is going.
This women must be the next Hilda Garza-Scott. She has only been with the City 2 1/2 months and has taken her staff (Jacqueline Nisby and Carletta Dirden) on a vacation in Charlotte, NC at a mere $10,000 thanks to the citizens of Houston. They are supposing to be attending a National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) conference. I am sure she never heard on the organization until 2 weeks before the conference. She nor her staff had a membership into the organization. I though you have to be an active member in an organization for minimum one year before the City would pay for that type of conference.
This is the Department that is supposed to be on a "Shoe String Budget." I forgot this Department is the Mayor's Baby. I was told that Monique said "Mayor, If this is your baby then you baby needs a new pair of shoes, preferably Black Patent Leather."
Currently have not money in the FY00 or FY01 Budget to promote any of the current employees but she sure hires
from Hines. I wonder if Hines has any employees left!!! The Department has only 156 employees. The Design & Construction Division currently have 48 employees, Now let's
see just how top heavy they are: 1-Deputy Director, 5-Assistant Directors, and 2 - Chief Engineers and who knows how many Seniors they may have. These employees are part of the 48 employees in the entire Section. Boy, what are they building.......Nothing.
She is asking for a large increase in her FY01 Budget, for what? To hire some more of her friends. Anthony Hall has already hired her husband.
Monique isn't UNIQUE.....she's the Mayor's friend...or so one snitch would have us believe, seems her Daddy & the Mayor play golf....all we can do is raise the public's awareness darlin...
Subj: HFD
Date: 4/19/00 10:08:07 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
Question: What is the difference between the Houston Fire Department and the Girl Scouts?
Answer: The Girl Scouts have adult leadership.
Laugh Out Loud....Good one!
Subj: Wow
Date: 4/19/00 8:47:01 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Now I see why the line has been so quiet!
Jeeze, you're going great guns. I always remember you in the morning prayer.
Go, Lady!!!!!! God guard you.
Thank you darlin....God guard this City, from those that would rape her resources....
Subj: (no subject)
Date: 4/19/00 6:06:16 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Hey you probably already heard this, but Jerry King resigned today.
I hear that Hilda Garza-Scott is already calling some companies and telling them to lobby on her behalf to be PWE Director
We're gonna taker her license....she can't be Director of ANYTHING.....the Mayor's not that stupid!
Subj: Good Work
Date: 4/17/00 9:16:35 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
HOUSNITCH, I have been E-mailing Mr. Keller and he is very pleased "WE" are watching what is going on. Keep up the good work! You are great!!!
Bert Keller is a good guy, I do have concerns that the administration will
try to buy him off with this $46 million "flood relief" proposal.
Please Bert...pay attention to it just like any other project....PLEASE, we all
need this money not just District G, the more dollars you watch...the more
services THE WHOLE CITY GETS!!!!
Subj: Councilmember Bell
Date: 4/14/00 7:40:34 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
Reply-to:
To: housnitch@aol.com
Hi Housnitch,
I missed the first on-line council meeting with councilmember Bell, will this be a continuing thing, or was it just that once to see how it would go
over?
Have a great weekend,
Dates for 2000 CouncilmanBELL on AOL's Digital City Houston:
Last Monday of the month, except during holiday periods. 9:00 p.m. CST.
Schedule subject to change.
April 24
May 22
June 26
July 31
August 28
September 25
October 30
November 27
December 18
To Participate in CouncilmanBELL Live:
AOL Members, go to Keyword: Houston Chat and click on Houston Town Meeting Live!
If you use a different Web browser, type the following URL: www.home.digitalcity.com/houston/webchat. Click on Town Meeting with CouncilmanBELL. NOTE: You will have to download AOL's Instant Messenger. It is free, and we suggest you download it well before the town hall meeting so you can jump right in with your questions! (Also note that slower computers may have difficulty downloading
IM.)
It's FREE....go for it!click on the icon over there! Keep in touch...put
HOUSNITCH on your buddy list...any internet provider has access to this...and
uit's totally FREE, come up with some good screen names if you're afraid to be
found out...like Snitch 2...Snitch 3...etc., etc., etc....and we'll be looking
to add you to our Buddy list!
Speaking of the on line meeting, Chis held one last night, and it was well attended. He spoke of some technology advancements he is exploring with the Technology committee. Like paying bills & fines on-line, and keeping track of complaints. Chris also informed the room that they are drafting new rules & regulations concerning, gifts (LOL), revolving door policy...and a travel policy. The revolving door policy will make it illegal for some one to leave the employ of the city & immediately begin accepting contracts from us...(WE LOVE THAT) The travel policy will make it mandatory to devulge who pays for any trips that are taken by public officials....(GOTTA LOVE THAT ONE!). Chris also said that various companies, designated as MWDBE status would be weaned from the system...many of them have been there for many, many years...and the time has come for them to go, and the city is to begin weaning them soon. We asked about the large spread, rumor that some of these companies will begin to disband...dissolve & come back as new companies...just under a different name. Namely Ratnal & Bahl...We asked if there were any safeguards to prevent this...Council member said no...it was a loop hole that had not been foreseen....hmmm so many council members are attorneys...Housnitch doesn't quite believe this answer is plausible...but never the less....WE will keep an eye out for you guys.....We'll be watching affirmative action to make sure THEY catch these guys BEFORE they get any contracts.....Ratnala & Bahl may be history anyway after we are finished with our comparisons...we plan to challenge the licenses of SEVERAL favored companies...using their own rules. Also IF any of you architects can get us a copy of your rules & regulations concerning Licensing...we'd appreciate it...and....These investigations cost money guys...we sure could use some donations...
After a tremendous amount of research, I have now located the reason
that Hilda GARZA-Scott is a Deputy Director of PW & E......
(I think Mayor Brown co-authored this bill)
CONGRESS PASSES AMERICANS WITH NO ABILITIES ACT WASHINGTON, DC--
On Tuesday, Congress approved the Americans With No Abilities Act,
sweeping new legislation that provides benefits and protection for more than 135
million talentless Americans. The act, signed into law by President Clinton shortly after its passage, is being hailed as a major victory
for the millions upon millions of US citizens who lack any real skills or uses.
"Roughly 50 percent of Americans--through no fault of their own--do not possess the talent necessary to carve out a meaningful role for
themselves in society," said Clinton, a longtime ANA supporter. Their lives are futile hamster-wheel existences of unrewarding, dead-end
busywork: Xeroxing documents written by others, fulfilling mail-in rebates for Black & Decker toaster ovens, and processing bureaucratic
forms that nobody will ever see. Sadly, for these millions of non-abled Americans, the American dream of working hard and moving up through the
ranks is simply not a reality."
Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million important-sounding "middle man" positions will be created in the
white-collar sector for non-abled persons, providing them with an illusory sense of purpose and ability. Mandatory, non-performance- based
raises and promotions will also be offered to create a sense of upward mobility for even the most unremarkable, utterly replaceable employees.
The legislation also provides corporations with incentives to hire non-abled workers, including tax breaks for those who hire one
non-germane worker for every two talented new hires. Finally, the Americans With No Abilities Act also contains tough new measures to
prevent discrimination against the non-abled by banning prospective employers from asking such job-interview questions as, "What can you
bring to this organization?" and "Do you have any special skills that would make you an asset to this company?"
"As a non-abled person, I frequently find myself unable to keep up with co-workers who have something going for them," said
Hilda Garza-Scott, who lost her position as an unessential filing clerk at a Minneapolis tile
wholesaler before coming to work for the City of Houston , because of her lack of notable skills. "This new
law should really help people like me."
With the passage of the Americans With No Abilities Act, Garza-Scott and millions of other untalented, nonessential citizens can finally see a
light at the end of the tunnel. Said Clinton: "It is our duty, both as lawmakers and as human beings, to provide each and every American
citizen, regardless of his or her of value to society, some sort of space to take up in this great nation.
I love doing this page!
Brenda Flynn Flores
Housnitch
Listen to us on KPFT 90.1 FM...every Sunday evening, 7pm.
Have a good week darlins...Tell em what you think!.....
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