Election Circus

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

I had signed up to speak at this public hearing, but battling cancer has it's ups and downs and this particular morning was a "down" day...I cancelled the morning of the hearing, but sitting at home, listening to ENGINEERS and BIG BUSINESS advocate for this fee, while exempting themselves, made me so mad that I got in my car ALONE and for the first time since coming out of an 11 week coma, drove myself to city hall and asked that my name be added back on the list to speak. (this is a big accomplishment for someone in a wheel chair, just beginning to walk short distances, but anger can give us rushes of adrenalin that we didn't know we had.)

Housnitch says the things that everybody whispers about, but doesn't want to say aloud.

Here's your money's worth on this issue...and basically what I said on the above date.

OF COURSE Jim Thompson is going to stand before council and advocate for this fee...with a $14.1 million management contract already in his pocket it is in HIS best interest to advocate for this work...he's betting on getting a lot more of our money for HIS pocket.

This administration has partied on our tax dollars since Lee Brown came into power. We have funded more "buddy" buddy" deals, more padded contracts, more "special projects" than any other administration.

Let Housnitch enlighten you all as to how this works. Under our "Strong Mayoral" form of government, it is the Mayor who sets what projects come before council for approval/disapproval.

IF the Mayor doesn't think he has the necessary 8 votes to get a project approved...then in come the lobbyists.

Dave Walden, an Administrative Aide...who ever the Mayor chooses....then that person, has lunch ... drinks ...whatever, with a councilmember that they have not gotten on the Mayor's side.

The "advocate" has fore hand knowledge of a "special pet project" that the councilmember would like approved in their district. (several councilmembers routinely hold out to be that 8th vote)

After a discussion of the "pet" project with the councilmember the "advocate" then promises the Mayor's support for the project. In effect councilmembers are "bought off" at the expense of the taxpayers as a whole.

Point in FACT.....the day before the vote to approve "Sim Desk" $9.5 million proposal submitted by a now convicted felon, to a company who's CEO was already under SEC investigation for running 2 companies into the ground, and another officer already found guilty of violating SEC trading laws, the Mayor did not have his eight votes.

Council member Annise Parker....at 12:35 am the morning of the vote, SOLD her vote for an agreement that Lee Brown would not only support her in her race for controller, but also raise her money to run. (see who her contributors are this time around)

This "farce" of a contract was NOT a NEEDED project...it was a WANTED one. It has ultimately benefited 26,000 people in a city of 2 million. Council member Parker now wants your vote to turn over the city's checkbook to her....running on a platform as a "fiscal conservative".

$10 million dollars to benefit 26,000 people (if that) WE CAN'T AFFORD HER AS CONTROLLER.

Tuesday’s Council display confirmed that the elections are less than sixty days away. The folks seemed to forget that the Mayor has the right to hire and fire his department heads and pay them what he feels is due. It was politically inept for Dr. Brown to give Clarence Bradford the raise he did, but one must remember that Dr. Brown isn’t running for anything. It’s only those at the meeting yesterday who are running and hoping that the voters will look upon them as fiscally prudent. They are secretly hoping that the voters will overlook the fact that in the past few years they have: (a) Bought $11 million worth of worthless computer software; (b) Built a combined Police/Fire Dispatch building that was supposed to cut costs but will cause the City to spend an additional $5 million a year to operate; and (c) Currently contemplating the purchase of a $47 million telephone system. What’s a paltry $9,000 a year in the scheme of things?

There’s an old Arabic adage about “...Swatting at gnats and swallowing camels…” Voters, take heed. This your City Government at work!

(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/opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of our editors or sponsors.)

I can't believe what I just heard on the radio! Lee Brown has given our infamous police chief C O Bradford a 10% raise, for his last month on the job, and an increase in his pension. I've never hear of such a thing. I understand that the mayor has the authority to increase a department heads salary but I've never, ever heard of giving someone an increase in pension. By what authority does the mayor take such action? Bradford has left the city with a huge, undefined liability for the K Mart raid and the crime lab fiascos. His incompetence is without comparison in my memory of the city of houston. Then, after making the announcement, Lee Brown leaves the city for another trip to Africa. Out of town Brown rides again. This sickens me. What we have here is a great example of one grossly incompetent leader recognizing another incompetent leader for incompetent work. Something isn't right here and the citizens of houston are too blind or lazy or something to admit what's going on. Thank goodness this worthless charade of city leadership is soon to be gone.

Attached is the speech I read yesterday to city council today re the "drainage fee," now renamed a Drainage Utility Fee.

Several speakers had criticisms of the mayor's plan, and four councilmembers (Tatro, Berry, Wiseman, Robinson) spoke critically of it.

The best part of the hearing was the appearance of Brenda Flores, of housnitch.com fame. Brenda watched the hearing on the Municipal Channel from her home and became so angry at the councilmembers who were arguing (in round about fashion) for the new tax that she left her home to come down to make a speech against the proposal.

In spite of being weak from an exhausting battle with cancer, and having to use a cane, she managed to drive to city hall, get into the council chamber and up to the mike.

Once in position Brenda bluntly criticized the councilmembers for posturing that the city does not have enough money to maintain its stormwater system. She blasted them all for past votes for wasteful projects, even singling out Annise Parker for "selling" her vote on some project desired by a councilmember for support on some program she was supporting. (actually Annise sold out to the Mayor....ALL of them at one time or another have sold their vote....)

Brenda and I left after the hearing to have lunch so I do not know if any vote was taken. It had become clear that the mayor's new plan is still half baked and unready for adoption. There will be more committee work before a schedule of charges is ready for adoption, Stay tuned

That's all this time around guys...tell em what you think darlins, we get tired of telling them by ourselves.......

HOUSNITCH

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