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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
"you
have come to see us dance for you,
and dance for you we shall,
but the dance that we will share with you,
is a part that we will choose.
our dance will be filled with our inner passion,
fulfilling our expectations alone.
and if this dance isn't pleasing to you,
then you must find a dance of your own
"One of the penalties for
refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your
inferiors."-Plato
HouSnitch is 3 years old this month.
Congratulations on staying alive for three years.
You have done a fine service to the Houston community by exposing the
corruption of city government. I don't think the average citizen knows
just how corrupt it is. I certainly wouldn't have been aware of a lot of
things if it hadn't been for Housnitch.
The Brown administration is so corrupt I can't
figure why the downtown bunch (whoever they are) continues to support him.
Lee Pee Brown is in search of a legacy and I think he knows he does not have
one; therefore, he intends to do as much harm to the city of Houston as
possible during his remaining months in office.
The forum presented by Housnitch should be
nonpartisan but there have been two instances that partisanship really showed
through. Housnitch cut of its nose to spite its face by coming out
against Orlando Sanchez in the runoff for mayor. You cried Sanchez was
corrupt and threw your support to a very corrput Lee Brown; the one
person you have been exposing since Housnitch was born. Would your
support have made a difference? I don't know but I was certainly willing
to give someone else a chance to lead this city because Lee Brown has not.
A message would have been sent to the new mayor that he didn't have three
terms wrapped up by winning the election.
I hope Housnitch is able to obtain enough
financial support to keep the website going. I'm sure you have
learned some valuable lessons in the past three years and can put the
experience to making your presentation to the public more effective.
Best of luck.
I told ya'll...i only represent many..other
people...in endorsing Lee Brown...they went for what they considered the lesser
of the known evils....UN ORGANIZED CRIME over ORGANIZED crime.
As to "FINANCIAL SUPPORT".....that
is almost non-existent except for the usual suspects...'THE PURSUIT OF GOOD
GOVERNMENT IS VASTLY UNDER FUNDED...WHILE "BAD" GOVERNMENT GOES ON
WELL FUNDED USING OUR TAX $$$$$'
The 'Snitch
showed us that one woman/man can make a difference and has been a
rallying point for many of us.
Thanks for being you, Brenda.
i
am NOTHING....but a mouth...for YOU ALL!
HA
HA...
Ok,
I get to write the headline......
HouSnitch's
HouSbitch celebrates 3rd anniversary!
What
a great "oops", you got a giggle out of me :)
All
kidding aside for a minute... you have done a great job of making city counsel
officials think twice before doing something they would regret, and I think
you should continue on this path. One stooge to go!!
Thought
you would like that ! thanks!
IF any of you readers love JAZZ as much as Housnitch
does....PLEASE.. Do your self a favor, and treat yourself to a great meal and a
night of JAZZ that you will want more of .
1415 California Street, between Waugh Drive and Commonwealth Avenue, one block north of
Westheimer.
(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.)
My initial reaction last Sunday
upon hearing of the "roundup" I felt that perhaps Mark Aguirre had
"gone round the bend" and needed to lie on Dr. Greg Reide's couch. As
the wheel turns and I hear and read more about the overall operation I see the
planning by the Command Staff all the way up to Chief Bradford. I've spoken to a
Sergeant in Major Offenders who told me of the weeks of preparation; the video
tapes of the drag races; the injuries and accidents; the overall problems in
West Houston.
Now it comes out that there
were two Captains involved, numerous Lieutenants, Sergeants and officers and
Aguirre is forced to fall on his sword. Captain Aguirre may have overreacted but
from the face of it one would surmise that he had the full blessings of the
chain of command. Especially now that it was reported that Brad had instructed
Traffic Enforcement "not to participate" just the day before.
I am disheartened that IAD sent
five - yes five officers to go to Aguirre's home on Saturday to suspend him and
have him execute a "gag order." In the meantime Robert Hurst, the PR
flack stands in front of TV cameras and the print media with no prior restraint.
This operation got way out of hand and I believe that Captain Aguirre is being
made the fall guy by his superiors. Neither the OIG nor IAD divisions are
appropriate investigative units to unravel this fiasco. The Citizens Advisory
Panel and perhaps, the District Attorney's office might be more appropriate to
look into the raid. They have no fear of retaliation if it is determined that
there were persons involved with the rank much above a Captain.
"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw
through the leather straps." - Emo Phillips
Aug. 26, 2002, 11:35PM
HPD suspends 12 more in mass-arrest scandal
Coercion alleged; city sued for $100 million
By RACHEL GRAVES
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
A scandal involving the Houston Police Department's handling of a
massive trespassing raid in West Houston on Aug. 18 ballooned Monday with the suspension of 12 more police supervisors, allegations of criminal
coercion against the captain who led the raid and a $100 million lawsuit
against the city.
The 12 supervisors suspended with pay Monday include a captain, two lieutenants and nine sergeants.
Police officials would not comment on the suspensions because of an
investigation by HPD's internal affairs division, but a city news release
says officers are typically suspended because of "allegations of criminal or serious administrative misconduct."
HPD officials confirmed Monday that criminal allegations led to
Saturday's suspension of Capt. Mark Aguirre, the man who ordered the
raid. Spokesmen for the department said Aguirre, a 23-year HPD
veteran, was suspended because of allegations that he tried to influence
other officers' statements to investigators about the incident.
Aguirre said through his attorney, Terry Yates, that Police Chief C.O. Bradford is
making Aguirre a scapegoat for the arrests
because of an outpouring of public anger. Aguirre, who says he has been barred by
the city's Office of Inspector General from
speaking about the case, asked a judge Monday to block the HPD investigation of
the raid because the department has "conspired to intentionally inflict ... emotional distress" on him.
State District Judge John Donovan denied the request.
Aguirre was in charge of two raids the weekend of Aug. 17-18 at a
Kmart and two fast-food restaurants. In the first incident, police arrested
25 people at the James Coney Island at 5745 Westheimer on
trespassing charges. The next day netted 278 arrests from the parking
lots of a Kmart and Sonic Drive-In on Westheimer.
Many of those arrested said they were customers swept up in the raids
and that police ignored evidence that they had done nothing wrong.
Aguirre and other officers said the raids were intended to cut down on
reports of illegal drag racing along Westheimer that threatened the safety
of residents and drivers in the area.
Although no arrests were made for drag racing that weekend, Yates
released videos Monday showing drag racing and parking lots overflowing with observers in the months
before the raids.
Police confiscated a portion of the video taped by a 9-year-old passenger in a car going 109 mph,
Yates said.
"They had to do what is called proactive police work," he said. "I don't think there were innocent people
arrested out there."
But some of those arrested disagreed, and one -- Justin Esparza -- filed a $100 million lawsuit in U.S.
district court on Monday alleging that Aguirre and the city of Houston falsely arrested him for "attempted
trespass."
Esparza's lawsuit says he suffered "physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, an arrest record, false
imprisonment (and) assault ... At the time of his arrest, (it) was obvious to anyone that Justin Esparza
had not committed a crime."
The lawsuit says Esparza's arrest was "wanton, malicious and done in conscious disregard of, and with
deliberate indifference" to his rights.
But Hans Marticiuc, the president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said Monday the officers
involved in the raids are the real victims.
"These guys are following what they believe to be lawful orders," Marticiuc said. "Now all of a sudden
the carpet's pulled out from underneath them because they were following departmental directives."
Marticiuc and Yates say that high-ranking police officials, including at least one assistant chief, had
promised to support the officers in what the department expected to be controversial arrests.
Marticiuc said he doesn't know whether department officials expected racing observers to be arrested in
addition to participants. An Aug. 13 memo from Aguirre to Executive Assistant Chief J.L. Breshears and
Assistant Chiefs C.A. McClelland and J.R. Jones anticipated "mass arrest" of "street racers and their
followers."
Yates said Monday that the arrests were made to prevent innocent people from being killed by
dangerous drag racers. He also said Aguirre is being targeted for punishment because of an earlier run-in
with the police chief.
Aguirre accused Bradford of perjury in May after Bradford's testimony in a disciplinary hearing over
whether Aguirre used profane and threatening language toward subordinates in 2001.
Yates said it is in Bradford's best interest to discredit Aguirre because of the perjury accusation.
"We would like a public hearing," Yates said. "Somebody needs to look at this aside from Chief
Bradford."
Chronicle reporters Mike Glenn, Rosanna Ruiz and Jo Ann Zuņiga contributed to this story.
b,
lee brown has given the city higher taxes, less services, and an enlarged
city work force. he's given us examples of how he chooses leaders,
jerry king, monique mcgilbra, the 3 stooges, etc, incompetents, just
like lee brown. he's now rigging the city pension to insure that all
of these incompetents get a life time city pension when they leave.
did you know that? 5 years of service with the city and you're vested
in the pension now. "executives" get 2 years of service
credit for every one year worked. That means that these if these jerks
make 5 years, they will receive at least 10 years of credit for
working for the city and that 10 years will "earn" them
a pension of no less than 25% (2.5% per year) of their salaries for
the rest of their lives! if they make 6 years this goes up to 30%
and so on. the move is on to increase this amount to 3% next year
and so that means 30% of their salaries for working 5 years. 6 years
will mean 36%! on and on, up and up. do the math.
all of these people make over $100,000 a year and that adds up
to $30,000 or MORE a year for the rest of their lives.
guaranteed! what a set up. with this type
of fringe benefits, the city of houston should be able to hire
the most competent people in the nation. NOT!
>
It's ironic that the chronicle
should run an article on the money shortfall in the pension on the same day
that I e mail you on the way the city pension is being rigged to benefit
"executives". You might be surprised to know that long term
executives, those with 25 years of service, will be eligible to receive
pensions of $80 or $90,000 a year or even more, based upon their pay, for
the rest of their lives. The pension is now paying retirement rates of
up to 90% of salary. The proposed increase will take that amount to
100%. It is no wonder that the pension is in trouble. It is
also a shame that retirees who left the city years ago barely receive
enough to pay their health insurance but current "executives"
who work five years will be getting $30,000 a year or more.
Something's wrong here.
The mayor, had a wreck yesterday. Im glad no
injuries! But will he go through same treatment that P.W.'s put you through(drug-test,
loss of driving privllage with city vehicle, hearing in front of city kangroo
court)? Well doing my job well over a yr. ago.
I had to work in lane of uncoming traffic. I wasnt moving and about 100'from
stop sign and got hit!! Anyways they sent out our stupid visors, I mean some of
them couldn't run a soup kitchen! they got there job either by realtion or good
buddy deal. Anyways one stupid visor tells the guy who ran into me, dont worry
city get ya a knew paint job!! I did win my cas in court but, city kangroo court
didnt go along with, which I told them it didnt matter!! I won in court!! Well
anyways jusy wondering about this case?
See-Ya!!!!!!!!111
Rev. such and such brings up a good point about your
term! Rev. such and such was right. But the kick was he did'nt say anything
about your part-time contibution to the City!! And im sur your working the hrs.
but it really stinks 4th. largest City Pt.X Council members compared to Cities
alot smaller with less to gain, who has fulltime council members! Anybody that
can explain this, we will listen!!
Isn't it
strange that Right of Way and Fleet Maintenance, with all if its production
problems and meeting goal(s) problems, has lost hundreds of worker
positions (budget cuts), but has enough money to promote one Deputy Assistant
Director to Senior Assistant Director, hire a new Senior Assistant Director
(where no such position had existed before) and bring in a new Deputy Director
at a higher salary than the one just fired (sorry- reassigned briefly to the
Mayor's Office); and, provide an AAII and AAIII for each. And they
got all new furniture too! But we don't have money to hire guys to
repair our street or fix potholes.
And they spent
a hundred thousand dollars on a new double wide modular building that has only
three people in it. They can't fill it because they moved 1/3 of their
staff out of the administrative building that now has empty offices
itself. True the fired (sorry - temporary reassigned) Deputy Director
had intended to fill it with inspectors, and the new Deputy Director wants
everyone out in the field; but what about our hundred thousand dollars for the
new modular building?Our tax money at work!
To all council members & citizens, I was
wondering can the citizens have an up-date on the main st. rail project, via
news paper. I'm and other are curious about the plan for cross over traffic and
the stops this rail will drop passengers off at onn main st. And we want to know
will there be certian cross overs for commerical vehicles and metro to cross
over main st? Where this cross over can protect public & they can get off
and walk to their destination or bus stop. If so will they provide over head
protection from the weather to walk under cover of tinted plexi-glass to the bus
stop.
i'm not talking about the over pass im talking underneath where passangers get
off and might need to walk to where the over pass start to get onn bus. Alot of
cities use them its very nice! And there's a few of us also wondering about
traffic lights will they be updated? What this will all come down to is speed in
speed out, and saving money to park. I would and others would like to see this
update in the news paper!
Ps. Who ever designed
beltway 8, I hope this person is not involved in main st.
project! I was in a city vehicle one time and gave directions to an elderly
couple in R.V. from west coast, this gentleman proceeded to tell me how screwed
up it was and the cost. I didnt tell him it was the county for reasons of his
screaming!! The normal toll roads are get a ticket on the ramp pay getting off
the ramp! I know the first time I took the beltway cost me $8.00 every-other
state you could travel a few hundred miles! And here 20 miles. Lets not forget
to mention the pollution, traffic-back up, accidents & the road rage that
came out of this good buddy deal. Well i'm done with that I dont take the
belt-way anymore!!
Thanks for hereing me !!! It is for the citizens!!!
I want to thank all council members who voted
against the resolution for reparations. Focusing on the issues at hand,
such as running the city of Houston, in a more efficient and economical manner
is more important than dredging up political issues of more than 137
years.
To those supporting the resolution I suggest that
maybe being a part of the City of Houston really isn't your primary
interest. Rather than dredging up issues more than 100 years old
perhaps your energies would be better utilized stamping out slavery that
currently exists today in other countries. Granted conditions that exist
in these countries are not what you are accustomed to in the United States of
America but I believe your would be much happier supporting your cause.
It is embarrassing that the fourth largest city in
the United States is limited to just one major newspaper; one which is myopic
in its thinking. It is editorials like the one today that feeds the
bitterness of slavery. Such editorials inflame the righteous indignation
of a few who have nothing better to do than to play the ultimate victim of
events that happened over 100 years ago.
Those descendants of slaves are considerably
better off in the United States today than they would be in their country of
origin. Those who feel differently should return to their roots.
The bottom line is that this issue isn't about an issue that is over a 100
years old but rather about people in power being able to confiscate the money
of hard working Americans and giving it to the welfare state and lining their
bank accounts in the process.
Again, I thank those of you who refused to be part
of this political boondoggle.
6 months or less into my job, I was
complimented by a citizen for a fine job done to here ditch in the front of her
home. Well I felt good and at the end of the day at the barn I got to telling
someone on the crew about compliment i received and someone else heard it in
front of other crew members, and this stupid-visor said she must have been white
& i said no black!!! And this idiot with power we will call Moe who is
retired, and gone since Dec. walk away he wasn't no sort of challenge just
dumb!! Oh ye4s there's another white guy who shared the same building who would
make Moe, look dumb we will call him Frank!! Oh Frank will go into battle too,
with these stupid-visors and we share a common belief and its dont go into
battle to lose!! Oh before i forget the women that gave me a compliment, was
black & this is 100% truth she said I did her ditch better then black!! I
couldnt bust Moe's bubble with this!! I let it alone I couldn't even repley to
the citizen!!! Councilwomen edwards is right less not skirt this problem anymore
and get it done with!!!
Dealing with rebel rousers heres a simple formula. It
works because im white who works with a majority african american!! Remember
this, theres alot I would stand by their side if they needed me!!! This solution
to rebel rousers, is slavery is as old as prostitition all people where slaves
unless born into a noble family. I come from part Scott background and I'm sure
i had family at one time that where slaves!! Like most!!
In other words all races made slaves out of eachother!! It just so happens
African race was best recorded!! And as far as being humane, does Mr.Bell or
Quananel X or any other rebel rouser support Affrica which the majority
can'nt have city services or did greed get to them?? I would support reparations
if it went to their descendants of their
people in Affrica! Mr. Bell people like you are the cause of problems &
Quannnel X
you reflect on younger people that end up hate. Dr. Martin Luther King, i
dont think would see-eye 2 eye with you!!! Mr.Bell statement was right African
in America has been brutal!!! "Since the late 1960's" thanks to his
kind!!! Oh here's some food for thought!! When Salmen Mass. burned witches are
there people trying to get reparations??? What about the countless people that
where white got a boat ride into the bogs, with a 50# ball & chain and did
not get a ride back??? See im from N.E. area the south has a differnt attitude,
but like council Edward said move onn!!!!
Before this Council members pass this project they
must know the gamble of this, is to high at this time!!! I have had extended
travel in major Cities and seen these plaza's
Ive worked inside them and found them to be not friendly for business!! Houston
downtown is not a family area or it would work!! And here is some problems that
will follow downtown Pedestrian Plaza. Here's what should be done first, start
with mock test block off these streets now and see what traffic comes out of it,
and parking and
business delivery problems that will occur!! Oh yes talk to the office workers
that go there each day and see what there opinion is and there will be a need
for police officers, foot patrol, bike patrol and mounted patrol. Im sure this
area at night will attracted undesirables. Ive been traveling downtown for 3
yrs. And they keep ripping it up!! When Houston was designed it plans where bad
it should have included wider streets, wider side-walks, alleys and less
intersections. I think your next project should be a above express-way east to
west from 45 to 59 through downtown!!
How is it that Houston Police Chief CO Bradford, while being investigated for
purgery, is being considered for a PROMOTION to be over both HPD and HFD?
WORLD CLASS POLITICS!...THIRD WORLD THAT IS!
The police just got standards put on them, what about
fire fighters??? Heres what I hope there standard is for a raise! Less life's
lost & property from year before!!! Because their chief should use open gate
policy like public works!!! I'm sure theres alot of up comming fire fighters
ready to camp out at the fire dept. Public Works an old manager who had
his wings clipped, his favorite saying was if you dont like it theres the
gates!!! You dont have to be white to be a Hitler!!! He now has ranks with an
enimey,
I think its designed by city to cut fat! Who will out last the other!!! We will
call him little man with big man complex or aka. Loui!! He showed how ignorant
he rally was, you can take all the people who have jobs in management who have
college degrees and put them in the city, and the best will allways be the one
who came up and witness what the city really needs first hand(dont let me for
get also the good buddy deals!!). Council I urge you to take care of old
business before soaking tax payers monies into your new studies!! Your
foundation needs repairs!! Here an old Sweedish proverb"dont through out
the old bucket until you know if the new one leaks"!
Thats all for todays food for thought!!!
This is about tax payers monies & employees
recent raise, which adds insult to injury!! Bosh replaces Rollen. Bosh
worked for city 20 yrs. ago and from 20yrs ago
people who knew him still feel the same way!! And there afraid to speak
out! What has he done for tax payers?? Ok he got a raise higher then
Rollen!(more then 3.5%)
lets not forget tons of paper work to have his name put on and locks changed!!!!
Houston Snitch is right he moved the same worthless people around even the ones
that can't stand him!! It is true what Houston snitch says he gave them more
power!
One such person who has more power directed my superior to hide the new volvo
dump trucks in which I talked earlier, this was a true person who seems to
forget where his pay check comes from!! Why would you want to hide something
from the news?? Well vaden Bosh moved this person!! I'm glad public works has
such stand up guys!!!
no
lie lasts forever.....Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Recently the police dept. lost 2 patrol cars. What I
hear is one of them was also a unmarked unit, which the news didnt portray, they
showed only marked units.
Anyway what about inventory for Public Works? Someone should go into city
program (infunsol) not sure if spelled right? And check inventory & maint
records! Do not use Rumba!! Start with April 2002 & present date, that will
help prior to April 02 it was a real mess!! Also check maint records, vehicles
& equip, lack it do to man power shortage!! The City needs to readvise
policy for salvage!!! There's a ton of expense and overhead!! it would not be a
surprise to drive into city districts and look at vehicle inpsections and see
expired ones that are still operated! Audit inventory & maint. records!!
Heres your desert the cherry onn top - The city leases new patch trucks for
several thousand a month not to long ago this started!!! Check inventory of
materials on hand for these trucks at time of first payment on lease!! Also you
should
check purchases on vehicles from the time there bought to actual time issued
out!!!
City policy light vehicles 7 yrs./100,000 miles and heavy vehicles
10/yrs./100,000 !
This policy needs change and adjustment!!!!
Ps. Thank God for the Tax Payers!!!
no questions or comments on my letter regarding the city's plan to sign a
contract with cushman wakefield for leasing?
Councilmember Keller has the details Darlin! He's asking the
questions.
Ok we give handdicap people a chance to make money
thats why we dont use inmates!!! Thats real big of you. Lets talk T.D.C. awarded
monies to install dump bodies $1,517,903.00 i bet this really saved the tax
payers??? Find out loan star trucking bid, where they bought trucks!!! well this
is another policy I'm not sure about, but those trucks transported & brought
back when job was complete, something tells me operators weren't T.D.C.
correction officers. Since there where 2 in a van following them!! Check this
out City policy for driving must be city employee, drug tested before! Now dont
forget when you city vehicle gets servive call 1800 Inmate, im sure your family
& friends wont mind??? Do you know it would take Houston police dept.
awhile to stop that dump truck if something went down bad!! One more comment on
this matter, a truck came in holding dump bodie down 2 month later because of
poor workmen ship, welds lose bolts I seen welds and look bad did not penetrate
correct!!
Where they certified welder's & drug test involved??? I know welds, did the
city have the rest of the work x-rayed or someday a large dump body will just
fall off??
That's all this time around guys...tell em what you
think darlins, we get tired of telling them by ourselves.......
click right there and e-mail them ALL
at one time!
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"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is
force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment
should it be left to irresponsible action."
-George Washington
