© 

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.

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

(well, ALMOST)

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

GOTCHA!!!!!

Carol Alvarado

Senior Executive Assistant to the Mayor

Ms. Alvarado is responsible for all issues relating to: METRO, Port Authority, Sports Authority, Census 2000, Labor/Unions, Immigration, AFL-CIO, Women's Issues, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Committee, Mayor's Women's Advisory Committee, Neighborhood Oriented Government, Workforce Development.

Ms. Alvarado oversees the following departments on behalf of Mayor Brown: Library, Parks and Recreation, Solid Waste and the Citizen's Assistance Office.

But you see, dear readers, the Mayor NEEDS Carol to run for City Council in District I, because he NEEDS the Hispanic vote to win this last term. Ms. Alvarado, has been telling the Mayor she can deliver, in fact HAS delivered that vote to him since he first ran back in 1997. (SHE really didn't, but NOW she has to back up her talk, and that $80,000 + a year job that she's been in since 1998). Already running for that seat is W.R. Morris, long time activist in the area, and member of Mayor's Citizen Assistance office. Morris is also an OUTSPOKEN critic of the Mayor and his waste of tax dollars, and lack of attention to the predominately Hispanic North & East end areas. 

To that end, Ms. Alvarado is being forced to run for the seat, which she really doesn't want, and so far she's already broken campaign election laws...

Ya see, a couple of things here ... that phone number she gives to call if you want more information ...... well that's the number for Campos Communications ... Political consultants.

The address is her parents home address, and everyone knows she's been shacking up with Don Hollingsworth over at the Rice Lofts. Carol even told HouSnitch, that we "should be glad she's finally getting some on a regular basis". Ok we'll allow her to say she lives with Mama & Daddy, since they aren't gonna say otherwise, but ya see, Ms. Alvarado has sent out a letter to pct chairs, and political friends, exploring a run for Council...and she hasn't named a campaign treasurer... STATE ELECTION LAWS/ETHICS says she can't even spend her own money UNTIL she has complied with the law & done the necessary paperwork, and filed a campaign treasurer.

http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/statutes/t15.htm#chap251A

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 251.001. Definitions
In this title:
(1) "Candidate" means a person who knowingly and willingly takes affirmative action for the purpose of gaining nomination or election to public office or for the purpose of satisfying financial obligations incurred by the person in connection with the campaign for nomination or election. Examples of affirmative action include:
(A) the filing of a campaign treasurer appointment, except that the filing does not constitute candidacy or an announcement of candidacy for purposes of the automatic resignation provisions of Article XVI, Section 65, or Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution;
(B) the filing of an application for a place on the ballot;
(C) the filing of an application for nomination by convention;
(D) the filing of a declaration of intent to become an independent candidate or a declaration of write-in candidacy;
(E) the making of a public announcement of a definite intent to run for public office in a particular election, regardless of whether the specific office is mentioned in the announcement;
(F) before a public announcement of intent, the making of a statement of definite intent to run for public office and the soliciting of support by letter or other mode of communication;
(G) the soliciting or accepting of a campaign contribution or the making of a campaign expenditure; and
(H) the seeking of the nomination of an executive committee of a political party to fill a vacancy.
(2) "Contribution" means a direct or indirect transfer of money, goods, services, or any other thing of value and includes an agreement made or other obligation incurred, whether legally enforceable or not, to make a transfer. The term includes a loan or extension of credit, other than those expressly excluded by this subdivision, and a guarantee of a loan or extension of credit, including a loan described by this subdivision. The term does not include:
(A) a loan made in the due course of business by a corporation that is legally engaged in the business of lending money and that has conducted the business continuously for more than one year before the loan is made; or
(B) an expenditure required to be reported under Section 305.006(b), Government Code.
(3) "Campaign contribution" means a contribution to a candidate or political committee that is offered or given with the intent that it be used in connection with a campaign for elective office or on a measure. Whether a contribution is made before, during, or after an election does not affect its status as a campaign contribution.
(4) "Officeholder contribution" means a contribution to an officeholder or political committee that is offered or given with the intent that it be used to defray expenses that:
(A) are incurred by the officeholder in performing a duty or engaging in an activity in connection with the office; and
(B) are not reimbursable with public money.
(5) "Political contribution" means a campaign contribution or an officeholder contribution.
(6) "Expenditure" means a payment of money or any other thing of value and includes an agreement made or other obligation incurred, whether legally enforceable or not, to make a payment.
(7) "Campaign expenditure" means an expenditure made by any person in connection with a campaign for an elective office or on a measure. Whether an expenditure is made before, during, or after an election does not affect its status as a campaign expenditure.
(8) "Direct campaign expenditure" means a campaign expenditure that does not constitute a campaign contribution by the person making the expenditure.
(9) "Officeholder expenditure" means an expenditure made by any person to defray expenses that:
(A) are incurred by an officeholder in performing a duty or engaging in an activity in connection with the office; and
(B) are not reimbursable with public money.
(10) "Political expenditure" means a campaign expenditure or an officeholder expenditure.
(11) "Reportable activity" means a political contribution, political expenditure, or other activity required to be reported under this title.
(12) "Political committee" means a group of persons that has as a principal purpose accepting political contributions or making political expenditures.
(13) "Specific-purpose committee" means a political committee that does not have among its principal purposes those of a general-purpose committee but does have among its principal purposes:
(A) supporting or opposing one or more:
(i) candidates, all of whom are identified and are seeking offices that are known; or
(ii) measures, all of which are identified;
(B) assisting one or more officeholders, all of whom are identified; or
(C) supporting or opposing only one candidate who is unidentified or who is seeking an office that is unknown.
(14) "General-purpose committee" means a political committee that has among its principal purposes:
(A) supporting or opposing:
(i) two or more candidates who are unidentified or are seeking offices that are unknown; or
(ii) one or more measures that are unidentified; or
(B) assisting two or more officeholders who are unidentified.
(15) "Out-of-state political committee" means a political committee that:
(A) makes political expenditures outside this state; and
(B) in the 12 months immediately preceding the making of a political expenditure by the committee inside this state (other than an expenditure made in connection with a campaign for a federal office or made for a federal officeholder), makes 80 percent or more of the committee's total political expenditures in any combination of elections outside this state and federal offices not voted on in this state.
(16) "Political advertising" means a communication supporting or opposing a candidate for nomination or election to a public office or office of a political party, a political party, a public officer, or a measure that:
(A) in return for consideration, is published in a -newspaper, magazine, or other periodical or is broadcast by radio or television; or
(B) appears in a pamphlet, circular, flier, billboard or other sign, bumper sticker, or similar form of written communication.
(17) "Campaign communication" means a written or oral communication relating to a campaign for nomination or election to public office or office of a political party or to a campaign on a measure.
(18) "Labor organization" means an agency, committee, or any other organization in which employees participate that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work.
(19) "Measure" means a question or proposal submitted in an election for an expression of the voters' will and includes the circulation and submission of a petition to determine whether a question or proposal is required to be submitted in an election for an expression of the voters' will.
(20) "Commission" means the Texas Ethics Commission.

SO...Ms Alvarado, even with your "Bachelor of Arts" in political science, and all of your so called experience, YOU would still violate the State Election laws by spending money (those letters cost money to run off, and mail), without doing the necessary LEGAL paperwork that is required to do so.

We here at HouSnitch tend to believe that the people in this Administration actually had a lot of "biology", instead of any other type of science, because we sure are being SCREWED by all of you. NONE of you have respect for the law, or exhibit that you even have knowledge of it.

HouSnitch is filing a complaint with the State Ethics committee... Ms. Alvarado is obviously lacking in them.

Mayor not giving council budget requests

Two members are taking legal steps to get city department information

Two Houston City Council members are resorting to drastic measures to try to get information from Mayor Lee Brown about the city's budget process.

Although council members vote on the budget, the mayor's staff has taken the position that members are entitled only to the information the mayor chooses to share.

Councilmen Bruce Tatro and Orlando Sanchez want to see budget requests from city department heads. Both have filed requests under the state's Open Records Act.......

And MORE than one City Council member has asked HouSnitch for the Freedom of Information Act FORM....There is not so called FORM...But here Dear Darlins is the Texas Freedom of Information standard request letter....JUST in Case Ya'll might need it:

Texas Public Information Act Sample Request Letter

Administration officials contend that it would be chaotic to give all departmental budget requests to each council member, and they point out that Houston's "strong mayor" form of government assigns many powers to the mayor.

"A budget is always the domain, in terms of submission, of the CEO," said Al Haines, the city's chief administrative officer. "In this case, the CEO is the mayor of this city."..................

"Although council members vote on the budget, the mayor's staff has taken the position that members are entitled only to the information the mayor chooses to share."....................

THAT AIN'T WHAT THE LEGISLATURE SAYS MAYOR!!!!!!

Call the FOI Hotline
24 hours a day
1-800-580-6651

The PEOPLE Mayor......(that means US....BUDDY!)  THE PEOPLE...so give em up Mayor....and let those Dept. Heads have their 1st Amendment Rights to speak out!

(isn't controlling information what DICTATORS do?)

(And Jordy...Darlin, NOT EVEN A LANIER APPOINTED SNITCH in the Mayor's office can circumvent the law ...well not for long anyway!)

"The people of Houston elect me to authorize, appropriate and vote," Sanchez said. "Clearly (the mayor) is afraid to ... allow a transparent process of the budget in an election year."

We are laughing our asses off at that quote...UNTIL Housnitch pointed out that Sanchez had NEVER been to a budget committee meeting, Orlando Sanchez had never attended one ... IN ALL HIS ALMOST 6 YEARS on Council. The last budget meeting held on Monday past, Orlando came an hour late, stayed exactly one hour, never opened his mouth, never asked a question, nor added input in any way shape form or fashion, after exactly one hour, he left...with an hour or more still to go...WHATTA HYPOCRITE!!!! 

For those of you with cable...you really oughta check out Municipal Channel 16 .... We make popcorn, and throw it at the screen when some of those idiots open their mouths...GREAT RELEASE and fun for the whole family!

Mayoral Candidate Chris Bell has vowed that WHEN elected Mayor he would bring an ordinance to the council table granting the extension of the First Amendment to ALL City of Houston Employees....When ever a City Employee was asked a question , by ANYONE, be it a council member, or a citizen, that employee would be expected to tell the truth. With no repercussions. (of course he added that it would put HouSnitch outta business, but hey...this business doesn't make a living for anyone, we just pursue good government!)

(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.)

Dear Councilmembers, greetings.
I am writing you today because of a concern I have regarding the City's air quality, and impending state and federal regulations.  The TNRCC has held hearings throughout the state over the past couple of years regarding proposed regulations to be imposed on areas within the state which have been identified as non-complying with federal guidelines for air quality.  Some of these regulations are quite oppressive for businesses, and intrusive for individuals.  I have yet to hear any indications that Houston officials intend to stand in opposition to any of these proposals.  Is that because the CIty does not believe that it will be necessary for the City to follow these regulations?
This morning the Solid Waste automated collection trucks were doing their weekly assault on my neighborhood when I noticed that one of them was blasting a huge volume of nasty black smoke as it would lunge from trash can to trash can.  The driver stopped in front of my home to squash the contents of the truck, giving me time to run out and speak with him.  I asked the he please report the exhaust problem when he returned to the barn so that I would not have to watch this
kind of violation in the future.  What he told me really upset me.
Your driver said he really wished that someone would call in a complaint on the truck so that he would not have to deal with it any more.  He told me that he wrote up the exhaust problem EVERY DAY on his report.  The truck - #31561 - appears to be fairly new.  Joining it in today's rounds were trucks 31560 and 31611, neither of which exhibited similar problems.  A continuing problem like this is
unacceptable.
The fact that private automobiles are being held to tighter emissions standards, that construction equipment may be stilled until noon, and that lawn care equipment may be subject to emission regulations is a serious enough intrusion into our lives.  But to find that our City government is part of the problem and not the solution is absolutely inexcusable. 
In case you have not understood by now, I am tired of government living by one set of rules while imposing a different set rules on its citizens.  Although, this incident was the proverbial "straw," it is neither isolated, nor is it confined to CoH.  I see Metro buses and USPS vehicles belching emissions for which other vehicle operators would be cited.  Metro drivers are the most flagrant violators in Houston of traffic laws and etiquette.  And the City has demonstrated the most unconscionable fiscal irresponsibility, while extracting constantly escalating fees from its "customers." 
You have my assurances that I will use every available resource to effect some positive changes, beginning with Truck 31561.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Dennis Keim
Houston (District E)

Turkeys become 'bump' in the road
John Kennedy
Tallahassee Bureau Chief
May 3, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- Sen. Jim Horne said Wednesday he’s tired of having his
Mustang convertible rattled by speed bumps when he drives on a Tallahassee
street leading to the airport.
So the Senate’s powerful budget chairman has done something about it. He
tucked into Florida’s $48.3 billion budget a provision that orders Leon
County to remove the bumps, or lose $458 million in state highway money.
"Sure, it’s micro-management," conceded Horne, R-Orange Park. "But if you
put it up for a vote, I think everybody in the Legislature would vote to get
rid of those speed bumps.".....

John Kennedy can be reached at jkennedy@orlandosentinel.com or 850-222-5564.
Copyright © 2001, Orlando Sentinel
 TOO BAD HOUSTON , HARRIS COUNTY , TEXAS DOESN'T HAVE LEADERS LIKE THIS.....

1. City employees forced to live in the city:  Since when does employment infer on the employer to control the private lives of it's employees off duty and off premises?

2.  Elevated trolleys ok but street not:  This sounds like rank heresy amongst the anti  trolley crowd (funded by arch conservatives from out of town).    The original metro design shot down by Lanier was an elevated system (???) .  

OBTW:  It makes no sense to build long range commuter rail if the end stations dumps you ten blocks from where you work.    Before commuter rail comes,  there has to be a dense network of public transport to get you the last four or five blocks to work ... including light rail.

 WE ONLY PRINT THE LETTERS DARLIN!!!!!!!

Do you have any investigations into a Deputy Director of Design at HAS?  He will take any chance to degrade the women in management positions there.  He has made remarks that one of the managers "couldn't make good decisions because she was pregnant and the hormones controlled".  He also informed the group about another woman's breast reconstruction surgery and after going into details about the new type of implant (some type of Grit material) he said "Brings a whole new meaning to Kiss My Grits". 

If he doesn't get his way or doesn't feel like he is in control he will scream, yell and bang his fist on the table.  He throws what we call "Chuckie fits". 

He also uses makes raciest remarks about the black women in the office and how he has to "play the game" now that "one of those" is in control (meaning Mr. Potts).

He has been suspended for his remarks and action, but nothing stops him.  But since he has been allowed to do this for years, why wouldn't he continue.

I hate to tell you this, but Richard Vacar etal...don't really care about the employees, and their rights...( or the taxpayers either)....TAPE RECORD THE MAN...I'D BE GLAD TO PLAY IT AT COUNCIL

Subj:     Now THAT makes sense!    
Date:     5/1/01 10:30:57 AM Central Daylight Time   
To:    Housnitch1@aol.com
Mayor McCheese! ROFL!
Yeah, the timing on repairing that hydrant is pretty darn ironic, huh? Especially since recently my apt complex mgr was so tired of calling the city over and over for several weeks trying to get them to fix a busted water pipe which was flooding our parking lot, that he was considering calling Akins Army or the Defenders for help. It took nearly two months of complaining to get that thing fixed. Sorry Lee... I've seen PW&E in action (err, make that INaction) and you'll NEVER convince me that hydrant fix was a coincidence.

It never ceases to amaze me that he thinks that he can continue to lie and cover-up, and that Houstonians are stupid enough to believe him. It's insulting.

Subj:     
Date:     5/1/01 12:34:37 AM Central Daylight Time   
To:    Housnitch1@aol.com
Went to this meeting on Saturday, and was pretty encouraged by most of what I heard.
Chris Bell (candidate for mayor) was there and spoke about a few different issues. Overall I like his plans to do a major "overhaul" on city hall and try to restore integrity, accountability, and ethics to Houston's administration. Two things that particularly intrigued me: 

1) Customer Driven Government http://www.chrisbellformayor.com/issues_basicservices.htm, and
2) Goal Based/Zero Based Budgeting http://www.chrisbellformayor.com/issues_money.htm.
Housnitch says she's done her homework and has yet to dig up any "dirt" on Bell... And I KNOW this lady can DIG! http://www.housnitch.com I find this very encouraging!
Although I don't think he and I see eye-to-eye on every point (for example, I personally don't believe the taxpayers should be forced into the stadium building or hotel building business), it sounds like he genuinely wants to clean up city hall and create a bipartisan environment, instead of the "us against them" attitude which currently exists. Hey, we gotta start somewhere, and this is my first and foremost priority when selecting our new mayor.
If Bell is elected, I sure hope he follows through with what he says and isn't doing what so many other politicians do and just blowing smoke up our - er, well you get the picture. IMHO he seems like the best candidate so far… I'd be interested to hear what y'all think.

Subj:     Please fill the pothole in Lee P.'s head
Date:     5/1/01 1:44:18 AM Central Daylight Time   
To:    Housnitch1@aol.com
Grrr..
>>>Brown said an outside audit would be a waste of taxpayers' money<<<
Yeah, like he cares. Does Lee Pee think that paying city employees to NOT do their jobs correctly (not fixing potholes and then claiming they did is just one example) ISN'T a waste of taxpayer's money? And don't forget, our dear mayor is the one who spent $3 million of our money fighting to keep us from being able to vote on light rail, which itself will waste $300 mil - see msg #177.
>>>"To waste taxpayers' money for political purposes makes no sense," the mayor said<<<
What a friggin' hypocrite. Tell us, Mayor Brown, why were you so anxiously pushing for Azurix (owned by Enron, whose political action committee contributed $10,000 to Brown in 1999 – see msgs 190 & 192) to be awarded a $150 million water contract with the Houston Area Water Corp., despite the fact their bid was considerably higher than California-based Montgomery Watson (who eventually did win the job)? Again, just one example of many...

Subj:     YEAH! Now THAT makes sense!
Date:     5/1/01 2:07:28 AM Central Daylight Time   
To:    Housnitch1@aol.com
Lets see, Lee period can't balance the budget even though the city is receiving record revenues. They spent 11 million more than budgeted and are still over 7 million short. They are charging water customers more than necessary so that they can keep the "any lawful purpose" fund fat and take money from it to help balance the budget. Then on a SUNDAY a maintenance crew just HAPPENS to fix a leaking hydrant before a mayoral candidate holds a press conference?? Do they usually fix non emergency leaks on Sundays? Don't Sunday's involve OVERTIME pay? Can't balance the budget?? Overtime??? hmmm. Brown claims it was just a coincidence?? Either he must think that we are TOTAL IDIOTS or he's a TOTAL IDIOT! No, it's both. This guy is the worst mayor ever. Mayor McCheese could do a better job!! Remember, ANYONE BUT BROWN!!

Did you know there is an organization called CACA?

Subj:     C. Alvarado   
Date:     4/30/01 12:09:29 AM Central Daylight Time   
From:    caca2001@themail.com
Reply-to:    caca2001@themail.com
To:    Housnitch1@aol.com
Did you know that Carol Alvarado is running for city council? (YES YOU HEARD IT FIRST, HERE ON HOUSNITCH)
Did you know Carol Alvarado was to take a drug test as Darcy and got out of it? (REALLY? I DON'T THINK THAT CAN BE DONE)
Did you know the Mayor?s director of Drug Policy and Public Safety placed the fix? ( HE'S BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY, HOW COULD THAT BE?)
Did you know this director and Carol Alvarado live together? (DUH! AGAIN YOU READ IT HERE FIRST ON HOUSNITCH)
Did you know Carol Alvarado?s old cocaine dealer visits at city hall? (AS OPPOSED TO HER NEW ONE? YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T SAY THESE THINGS WITHOUT PROOF, SHE COULD SUE YOU)
Did you know this director uses his old law enforcement contacts to do political background check on city hall wannabes? (HE COULD'VE ASKED US, WE DO THAT STUFF TOO!)
Did you know there is an organization called CACA (citizens against carol alvarado)? (YES, HAS BEEN AROUND ABOUT 2-3 YEARS NOW)

So, now you know! (YES WE DO!)

And HouSnitch thinks we'll do one of those FOIs to see just who has been RE-Scheduled for a drug test and yet hasn't taken one...

ARCHIVES

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

CITY HALL

HOUSNITCH