Were Halfway there!!!!!

click here if you do not wish to receive this publication > NO <

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.

We just had too many letters on this subject NOT to join in and do what we could....

A LESSON & EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY....

Dear Readers,

Every week we bring you the so called "inside" story about what happens to/with our tax dollars. We do this to try and wake up not only the citizens but our elected officials. Especially under this administration, we too often have had government FORCED on us. Whether we want a project or not, whether we think we need to spend our tax dollars in an area or not...this administration always seems to do an end run around not only the voters...but many times City Council itself.

Every once in a while...we get a chance to STOP that action. This week's edition is an exercise in just that. We have a chance to STOP the light rail project being shoved down our throats by Lee Pee & his "sorry I got caught in a lie" Shirley DeLibreo.

Ya'll know how we like reminding our elected officials that they actually work for us. Well some real good people out there have sent us a little point of law in our city charter. By utilizing that ordinance, we can actually make the city put the rail issue to a vote of the people.

Can you believe it Boys & Girls?...The city really is OURS, we just have to learn how to access & apply the laws. (and hold the rascals to them!)

Our City Charter says (basically) that IF the city lets, leases, grants the right to use the streets, public highways, thoroughfares or public property of the City of Houston, that notice as to the contents of said ordinance shall be given by publishing in some daily newspaper published in the City of Houston, once a week for three consecutive weeks,....we don't think that was done...in fact the Council declared an emergency on this one...(well, really ALL of them are declared emergencies...we really should look into that...) But be that as it may....The charter goes on to say "it is hereby made the duty of the city council to order an election if requested so to do by written petition signed by at least five hundred legally qualified voters of said city," click here to see the whole ordinance

So...to that end dear readers...we offer ya'll a chance to have yourself heard...let's remind those people at 500 Bagby just who they work for.....(and it ain't all those big contractor DUDES who give Lee Pee all that money either!!!!!)

Click here to bring up the Petition...... PRINT IT OUT .......SIGN IT IN FRONT OF A NOTARY ..... get it back to the address on the bottom of the petition in the mail no latter than December 18th, 2000.

REMEMBER IT MUST BE NOTARIZED!!!!

IF YOU CAN'T GET IT IN THE MAIL...CALL US, WE'LL COME PICK IT UP!!! 713-224-4144

We're sorry you guys out there in the county...ONLY CITY OF HOUSTON voter's can sign this petition. Don't know if you're inside the City Limits?

Well, did you vote for Mayor, Council member? Can't remember?....Here's a list of voting pcts inside the City.

CLICK ON THE MAGNIFYING GLASS TO SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN THE PETITION

If the word OUT is beside your pct # then NO you can't sign...if the word SPLIT is beside it...SIGN IT...we'll sort those out later...(some of you can...some can't)

Don't know your PCT #...your voter registration number?... Click here ~~~~> click on the VOTER REGISTRATION link on this site....your pct & your registration # will be on there.... WHY NOT JUST PRINT OUT A COPY OF IT FOR US & SEND IT ALONG WITH YOUR NOTARIZED PETITION???? SURE WOULD HELP US WITH SOME OF THE VERIFYING WORK...

METRO LEADERS ONCE PROMISED TO GIVE VOTERS A REFERENDUM ON ITS LIGHT RAIL PLAN, BUT CHANGED THEIR MINDS IN 1999. FORTUNATELY, THE RECENT DECISION BY THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE METRO PERMISSION TO PUT RAILS ON HOUSTON STREETS (THROUGH A "CONSENT DECREE") OPENS UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSTON VOTERS! THE CHARTER REQUIRES A REFERENDUM ON SUCH A DECISION IF 500 VOTERS SUBMIT A NOTARIZED PETITION WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE MAYOR SIGNS THE ORDINANCE, WHICH LEE PEE DID ON NOVEMBER 21, 2000.

PLEASE, IF YOU ARE A VOTER REGISTERED IN A HOUSTON PRECINCT, JOIN US IN SENDING A MESSAGE TO THIS ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE PRINT OUT THE PETITION, SIGN & HAVE IT NOTARIZED AND MAILED BACK TO US. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IF IT IS THE LAST/ONLY POLITICALLY ACTIVE THING YOU DO THIS YEAR .... PLEASE ..... JOIN US IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

Don't know a Notary?...Got a bank account? They have a notary inside the bank...free for its depositors. Notaries are on almost every street corner, if you have a notary in your office...make copies, get your co-workers to join you in this exercise. Take a Notary to your next club meeting....make plenty of copies....get those in the mail to us.. LET'S HAVE A SAY on this $300 million + (we're counting on you guys! And time is short)

IF YOU ARE A NOTARY & WISH TO VOLUNTEER...PLEASE CONTACT US..... CLICK HERE ~~> OR CALL US ....... 713-224-4144

"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it."

-Abraham Lincoln

"...Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."

-Abraham Lincoln Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

(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:	Goverment
Date:	12/5/00 11:47:14 AM Central Standard Time
From: To: housnitch1@aol.com (housnitch)

Thank God we don't get all the government we pay for! -- Will Rogers

Subj:	Crazy streets
Date:	12/3/00 12:04:08 PM Central Standard Time
From: Reply-to: To: HOUSNITCH1@aol.com (Brenda Flores)

Noted your mention of the crazy street in what used to be Helen Huey's district. Helen did a lot of damage to the neighborhoods she was suppose to represent. For the price of a postage stamp anyone in District A could get speed humps installed with no questions asked. The one making the request didn't even have to live on the street. Just try getting these damn things removed and it will take nothing short of an act of Congress. Speed humps put citizens and their property in danger because they slow response time of police cars, fire trucks and emergency vehicles. Someone's house could burn down or a person could die waiting for emergency response was delayed because of these speed humps.

The speed humps also contribute to increased air emissions caused by vehicles accelerating and braking between humps. The emissions are greater when vehicle engines are cold. Scientific studies to this effect have been cited to the TNRCC as a means of demonstating the pollution effect of speed humps. Apparently, scientific data are not part of the planning equation. I hope people who lose their jobs as a result of the current proposed plan appreciate the fact that it was necessary to maintain the privatization of a public street.

Subj:	bs
Date:	12/2/00 7:22:33 AM Central Standard Time
From: To: Housnitch1@aol.com

Suppose you've hear trinh pham fired her assistant director, Greg Stephens. The story behind the firing is known to only three people, and they aren't talking. The guess is that greg, who was know for having a bit of a temper, let loose on trinh one afternoon after another of her "do as I say even though you think it is wrong" dialogues. You see, trinh, like her master ms monique, is a total control freak, they can't stand anyone to tell them,things other than what they want to hear. Anyway greg thought trinh would really want to hear what he thought about a project but he was wrong. Basic managment courses tell you the first opportunity a new manager has to make a big mistake is in the people they hire. It should be well evident to anyone who is paying attention that the management in the bs department is totally incompetent. The chain of command, mistakes that is, started when the mayor chose monique, who fired craig mcdowell, promoted larry baker, who brought in her own set of lookalike stooges, who chose, trinh, who chose greg and ollie schiller and clark masterson, who in turn are choosing the wrong people. The bets are on, how long will it take before the bs department will be taken apart wheneven brown leaves office.

Subj:	Bldg Serv
Date:	11/29/00 1:33:22 PM Central Standard Time
From:
To:	Housnitch1

Greg Stevens of Design and Construction in Building Services was fired today. He was escorted out of the building by Security. What's happening?

APPARENTLY MONIQUE HAD A FRIEND WHO NEEDED A JOB.

Subj:	Bunches of Thanks
Date:	11/29/00 11:00:34 AM Central Standard Time
From: To: housnitch1@aol.com (housnitch)

Wow!

You paid more than enough attention to my complaints.
Hope it gets some positive results.

ONE CAN ONLY HOPE

From:

To: <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 2:15 PM

Subject: RE; Great Job

I'm an HPD officer and I just love hearing about the Central Tact unit, however if u think this is unique, IT IS NOT! There are incompetent supervisors all over the police department that are someone higher up's "good
friend." These people seem to always get away with crap and the dedicated, hardworking officers get the shaft! That, my friend, is why there are sooooo many officers with poor morale and bad attitudes!!! Thanks for listening and get a copy of Lakind's and Ready's letters!

WE CAN'T HELP IF YOU DON'T SEND US THE EVIDENCE DARLIN. AS FOR LAKIND'S & READY'S LETTERS...UNLESS SOMEONE LEAKS THEM...I DON'T THINK HOUSNITCH WILL EVER SEE THEM.

From:

To: <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 6:01 PM

Subject: MARTINEZ

If ANYONE is doing a story on Fred Martinez, be sure and ASK him about the mail-order PhD. It needs to be included in the story.

HOW DO YOU CHECK UP ON THOSE KIND OF THINGS?????

From:

To: <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 8:21 AM

Subject: intro

to Brenda Flores,
Please respond with some information about how I get information submitted you, how the confidentiality
works, and what you would like to know about the )(*&^%
department.

FAX IT, PUT IT IN OUR P O BOX....AND WE NEVER TELL

From:

To: <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 8:07 PM

Subject: LARD

ON 9-29-99 I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE LARD, BEFORE SISTER SHIRLEY. YOU ASKED FOR PROOF. I STAND BY WHAT I SAID. JUST BE PATIENT. THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE THERE (NON-CREDENTIALS WITH COLLEGE PAY POSITIONS, SPOIL SYSTEM, AND GOOD OLD BOY AND GIRL SYSTEMS). HAS ANYONE EVER REQUEST DOCUMENTATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION, DIRECTORS, AND MANAGERS? THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE DRIVERS WITH
COLLEGE DEGREES. I DO NOT CARE WHAT COLOR YOU ARE. "IF YOU COMMIT THE CRIME, YOU MUST DO THE
TIME." WILL THE OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVE KEEP HER POSITION? IS SHE SPECIAL, TOO? DRIVERS WERE PUBLICLY HUMILIATED. LIVES AND SPIRIT WERE BROKEN. WHO CAME TO THEIR DEFENSE? NO ONE.
THERE IS DEFINITE A NEED FOR CHANGE IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

WE AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY

From:

To: Housnitch <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 8:28 AM

Subject: Re: INFORMATION

I have a ton of stuff I can either discuss with you , e-mail to you, or send to your PO box regarding the BS department; specifically Trinh Pham, Queen Monique, the Houston Emergency Center (the 911 project) and questionable application of City policy. let me know what and how much you
want.

BRING IT ON DARLIN

From:

To: <brenda@housnitch.com>

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 11:36 AM

Subject: where to start?

Today, Friday December 1, Trinh Pham and Monique
McGilbra are on another boondoggle with Don
Hollingsworth and probably Andy Schatte from Keystone
on a trip out to Los Angeles to tour the LAPD Dispatch
center. Seems Doug Frankhouser from HFD was out there
recently on some real business and took the
opportunity to see the facility so Trinh and Don felt
they just had to go, too. First: why did the staff
actually managing the project not go? why just the
executives? Bill Gravenor from Keystone has been
assigned the actual management of the project and he
hasn't even been to see the much-discussed Chicago
center everyone is so infatuated with. Second: why
does Queen Monique need to go? it appears that a tour
that should take about two hours will become a
city-funded three-day weekend, or four days since MM
left on Thursday. Or did Keystone fund the travel?
either way it is either a poor use of department
travel funds or outright illegal.
There are at least three BSD employees who are
members of the American Institute of Architects who
are mandated to take continuing education courses to
maintain their licenses as architects. Trinh rejected
a request by these employees to attend the Texas
Society of Architects aanual meeting way over in San
Antonio because she "wasn't comfortable" spending
money on travel during a "budget crisis". Unless she
wants to travel on a three-day weekend to the coast, I
guess. This conference would have given these licensed
professionals (noted here because Trinh is not and
never will a licensed architect) an opportunity to
gain valuable continuing education units, but also
spend time with architects from other cities to learn
and exchange ideas. The team concept applies to only
to boss in the BS department. I think the Office of
the Inspector General for the city should investigate
the travel expenditures at BSD. It should also request
an audit of the books of Keystone Development to check
if any meals, gifts or other expenses have been paid
for by Keystone on behalf of city employees, like
travel.
Trinh has a weekly lunch meeting with Andy Schatte for
some reason that is unclear but those lunch expenses
should be disclosed regarding who paid.
We can discuss the merits of the 911 project in my
next installment. Plus Trinh's wedding and the use of
city resources for invitations, centerpieces and
set-up.
ciao for niao

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE UPSET ABOUT THE CONTINUING EDUCATION STUFF, AND I'M SURE THE OIG WILL LOVE THE OTHER....THANKS!

From:

To: snitch@housnitch.com

Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 3:06 AM

Subject: METRO AND THEIR POLICIES

THE POLICIES OF ZERO TOLERANCE IS TERMINATION FOR THE BUS OPERATORS BUT FOR MANAGEMENT IT IS A SLAP ON THE HAND. FALSIFYING AN APPLICATION IS TERMINATION, IF YOU ARE A BUS OPERATOR, MANAGEMENT 30 DAYS SUSPENSION.
WHY ARE THERE DOUBLE STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH THE SAME COMPANY?
WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE DOES THIS SENDS, DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO? THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT ARE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. HELP BRING BACK CONFIDENCE AND
PRIDE TO METRO. THE DRIVERS ARE OVER STRESSED AND UNDER PAID. THIS WAS ONCE A TOP BUS COMPANY, THE CUSTOMERS DESERVE THE BEST.

From:

To: <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 1:49 PM

Subject: You're doing a great job

Housnitch

You're doing a great service to the Houston community. Keep it up

WE TRY DARLIN

From:

To: <snitch@housnitch.com>

Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 12:28 PM

Subject: Houston Emergency Center

Today's installment will discuss the merits and faults
of the pet project of the BS department, the Houston
Emergency Center (HEC), known by the nickname the 911
project. On the surface this is just another
lease/option to purchase project common in the public
domain when a controversial and expensive project
would have difficulty gaining public support. First to
clarify: this method of development is not new, not
unique, not illegal, not unethical and not a good
deal.
The developer has all the advantages. This project was
secured through competative requests for proposals of
which from the dozen or so private developers sent
invitations only three responded because it was such a
weak program. Two responses were from relatively weak,
just-trying-to-get-a-foot-in-the-door commercial
companies and of course the best response came from
the politically well-connected Keystone Group. No
problem with Keystone, they are a good and financially
sound developer with a good record developing golf
courses and investor financed public projects.
Projects like this are common nationwide, but not very
much in Texas because we tend to hold our politicians
a little more accountable on how our money is spent.
The rub with this project is not how it was awarded,
but how it is structured. It is no big deal to develop
a new building to lease to the City with an option to
purchase it at the end of the term. Twenty-five year
terms are pretty uncommon especially when retiring
bond debt is usually twenty to thirty years. So let's
call this a mortgage with escape options. But let's be
realistic, once the City occupies, they won't ever
leave no matter how much of an albatros it may be. The
problem with the term is that the project financing
includes all the furnishings, computers, cubicles,
dispatch consoles, huge monitor screens, appliances,
communication equipment, and all the accessories to
set up and open for business. That is not smart
business. The City will be renting the total package
of equipment for twenty-five years even after the
equipment is replaced or obsolete. The budget for
construction is around $35,000,000, communication
equipment allowances are around $7,000,000,
contingencies are about $4,000,000 and the remaining
soft costs like financing expenses, developer fees,
professional services and construction management
bring the total package to around $53,000,000 and
change. The rent will be around $2,400,000 per year
for twenty-five years making to total expense around
$100,000,000. For a bonded debt, conventionally
financed project of the same price tag that compares
pretty much the same. The point to sell the program is
that the City does not encumber bond debt, the rent is
from operating expense books not assets, there are
termination options during the term not like a bond
debt, and the clincher: no voter approval necessary.
But the project would not cost as much because around
Keystone is pulling about $3,500,000 right off the top
as developer "management fees" on top of the fees paid
to PGAL and Gilbane for designing and managing the
project. The bad deal is to the city. The City will be
renting obsolete equipment for twenty-five years and
needing to pay for replacements from other sources.
The part that is funny is that all the "programming"
going on fails to remember that the city will not own
this project so it is not theirs to expand, revise, or
improve. All the consoles, the generators, the big
monitor screens, the security system, and all the
desks and chairs belong to the building which belongs
to the paper management company set up by Keystone to
manage the funds. Here is another funny one: Keystone
will not even manage the building! Even though the
city does not own it, the Building Services facilities
department will be responsible for operations and
maintenance on the building! If I were an investor
with my money tied up in such a big project, I'm not
sure I would let the customer take care of my asset.
And the city will carry the added expense of not only
paying rent, but paying for on-site management,
custodial expenses, maintenance and repairs, and staff
for a building the city doesn't own. The project even
will provide network connected computers to all the
other fire stations to connect to this geographic
network system. So this project will be paying rent on
computers all over town, from a building the City does
not own, for twenty-five years.
This project has built in buy out options that can
accelerate the purchase of the building at any time
during the course of the lease. The neat part (for the
investors) is that the City has agreed to pay a
pre-payment penalty (sold as a "buyer premium") if it
wishes to acquire the building. That means the
investors get their profit no matter. The only real
risk to the investors is if the city options to not
continue lease payments after occupancy and chooses to
leave the building. Then there is an attack proof
fortress, full of expensive communication equipment
(that may be obsolete), with cool monitoring screens,
full of furniture sitting up on the near north side
with huge price tag on it. That is a real option but
not very likely. This building will be a political
crown jewel but could potentially become a sacrificial
lamb to future administrations. So who is held
accountable for this questionable negotiation? The
framers of this project want it so badly that they
have overlooked all the bad conditions of the deal and
soft-sold it to Council. But there are certainly many
issues should be discussed openly before this thing is
too far gone.
WE TRIED SO HARD TO STOP THIS THING....THEY'RE JUST FASTER AT IT THAN WE ARE