HOUSNITCH
WE GET LETTERS.....9/4/99
Subj: How's this?
Date: 9/4/99 8:47:15 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
Reply-to:
To: housnitch@aol.com
It probably won't help but I want to let you know that I am trying :)
Dear Mayor,
Do you have children? When they were growing up, did you let them misbehave and run all over you, or did you take charge of your family and make your
children mind, and then they grew up to be productive citizens? By the sounds of it from Housnitch, we have lots of misbehaving city employee's and
I think it's time you take charge and make them behave. Besides the fact that they are costing me, a tax payer, millions of dollars a year in their
elaborate schemes of double and triple charging for jobs and giving their spouses companies several million dollar jobs, the fact is, it is dishonest.
Now, what if you take all of the small business's just in Houston alone and hey were all dishonest and didn't pay their taxes, you'd do something about
that wouldn't you? Well, I am not sure why you are not doing something about the people who are stealing tax dollars. Seems like it is just as bad
as not paying taxes. Please help the city of Houston. Just think about it, you could go down in history as being the first Mayor who stopped corruption
in it's tracks. Why, you'd be as famous as our President, but for a much better feat :)
This wonderful city needs someone who loves it and wants to take care of it. If all of the stealing and manipulation of tax dollars was stopped, why,
every street could look as good as the Galleria Area.
I challenge you to a dual. The dual is, you stop all of this corruption in our city and I guarantee you will be re-elected as one of the best mayor's
Houston has ever had. If you don't stop this corruption, I can bet we will be hearing about it on Housnitch and you won't be re-elected. You see, the
entire nation is tired of this, not just us Houstonian's and I have a
feeling we are about to go into the new millennium with a new attitude. I bet the IRS never thought it would not exist.
Sincerely,
L G
Subj: Re: How's this?
Date: 9/4/99
To:
Your letter is very good. It is sincere and well thought out. It is
unfortunate that no one has seen fit to challenge the Mayor...it appears he will
be re-elected with no opposition at all....and as he has raised $2.5 million in
his war chest...he would be hard to beat. Thank you for all that you are doing---be sure to pass us along to your
friends-- together we can make miracles happen...the broader our reach the
more affect we will have on the government we live under. Again, thank you very much.
HOUSNITCH
Subj: Re: Check out HOUSNITCH
Date: 9/4/99 8:43:07 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
You are doing so well it is unbelievable!!!
P K
Subj: Re: Check out HOUSNITCH
Date: 9/4/99
To:
We love your praise.....
Housnitch
Subj: info
Date: 9/4/99 8:08:49 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: housnitch@aol.com
Appointing someone to a public office as a political favor is a violation of the Hobbs Act.
You might want to make contact with someone at the US Attorneys office. I'm proud of you guys.....Please keep this
up.....You are serving a mighty cause. This needs to come out....
Date: 9/4/99
To:
Thank you very much for those very kind words of praise and the suggestion of
going to the Atty. General...(hey readers...anyone have an E-mail address for
the Attorney General's office?) We'll sure put him on the mailing list!!!
Housnitch
Subj: Re: Check out HOUSNITCH
Date: 9/3/99 9:29:59 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
I was really, really impressed with how professional this newsletter is. Beyond that, I was amazed
that the City doesn't hire you to co-opt you.
PCR
Subj: Re: Check out HOUSNITCH
Date: 9/3/99
To:
Co-Opt? Could you explain that?--- Your comments are valued...we appreciate your taking the time & looking at
our site...and we do care what you think of our work...With the exception of our
sponsor WE all do work for the city. And SHE doesn't bow to any system (thank
goodness or we would not be here)
Housnitch
Date: 9/3/99 5:43:25 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
Sender:
To: HOUSNITCH@aol.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Checked out your web site. Very Interesting...
JDH
Date: 9/3/99 1:46:06 PM Central Daylight Time
From: L
To: HOUSNITCH
Thanks Guys!
Hope you have a great holiday weekend.
::smiles:::
B
Subj: My future
Date: 9/3/99 1:53:55 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Thank you very much for seeing that someone is held responsible for this mess.....this is my future...-As a young person who becomes eligible to vote for the first time this election cycle,
I can honestly say that I am appalled that this is the type of government my elders are preparing for me. My parents taught my brothers & sisters & myself to have respect for our elders....this example does not generate respect. ...I will do all
I can to see that these officials are held responsible ... Thank you again....ROCK THE VOTE!!!!!
ATF
Date: 9/3/99 12:57:19 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
Reply-to:
To: HOUSNITCH@aol.com
thanks
Subj: (no subject)
Date: 9/3/99 1:08:11 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
All right, it's about time somebody held our elected officials responsible...Keep it up,
I will forward this to all my friends & write all on your site...Great going guys!!!
M
Thank all of you very much...YOU are what makes this worth it.---Housnitch
Date: 9/3/99 11:35:34 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
have you been sharing this site with the Houston area newspapers and other local media?
have you tried the suburban papers? the news depts. at the TV stations? AP? Reuters? journalism professors and depts. at local colleges? and/or: Common Cause - Citizens working to end special-interest politics and reform government ethics.
Subj: Re: Check out HOUSNITCH
Date: 9/3/99
To:
YES ----only one daily paper & they LIKE the Mayor----wanna help us out in Philly?
Housnitch
Subj: (no subject)
Date: 9/3/99 11:28:00 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
Keep it up!
vr
WE WILL!!!!!
Housnitch
Subj: (no subject)
Date: 9/3/99 11:02:33 AM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
GREAT STUFF!!!!! KEEP IT UP----ALL THESE OFFICIALS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED & HANGED IN CITY HALL PARK!!!!
JMF
LOL (laugh out loud)----well WE wouldn't say that!!!!
Housnitch
Subj: Thanks
Date: 9/1/99 8:31:22 PM Central Daylight Time
From:
To: HOUSNITCH
You are doing a wonderful job of exposing the corruption in Houston city government. I visit your website every day, and I have put a link to your website from mine.
(www.awardplace.com) Thanks
DA
Thank you!!! And keep passing the word along!!!!!
Housnitch
We will be back soon, as a matter of fact the long weekend will allow us to maybe send a lot more in the next issue----be well
WE have to get one thing cleared up right off the bat this issue. WE have been receiving tips that a Chief Engineer, (who has only recently come to us, from an appointment of the Mayor's office) is intimidating and warning our fellow workers here at 611 Walker not to speak with HOUSNITCH...that we are trying to entrap them & use our knowledge against them. WE know who you are....you can't stop us....WE are YOUR fellow workers...consider the source.
We are trying to bring the sham of a city government to the
attention of the public...to affect some changes within our own
departments....the administration changes...but WE are always here....don't be
pressured by someone who will be gone when a new administration takes over.....
And dear reader...if they are having to employ intimidation tactics on us
then we must have 'em on the run! So keep it up...and so will we.
(by the way...since WE are trying to bring a new standard of CLEAN government to P W & E...lets' get that break refrigerator cleaned out guys...some of those Kroger sacks have been in there since the Whitmire administration!!!!)
Keep making your copies of Housnitch...and passing it around---keep e-mailing your councilmembers...the OIG...the mayor...Together we can work miracles!
We are fed up with the waste & special privileges TAKEN by those above us. Point in case is the following: WE have 6 new Chief Engineers...2 on recommendation from an aide in the Mayor's office...2 on recommendation of Her LOYAL Highness (yes loyal....after all she is a loyal wife!) Deputy Director Hilda Garza Scott another from Deputy Director Gary Oradat...and one from Senior Asst. Director Showri Nandagiri. We here at 611 Walker call them the 3 STOOGES...but we haven't quite figured out who is which stooge...so help us name them dear readers....MOE, CURLY, LARRY or maybe ya'll like SHEMP & CURLY JOE, or JOE.. just let us know.
We told you last week about how promotions were being done against city policy......each of these new Chief Engineers are political payoffs. The interviewing process wasn't really intended for anyone but those 6....
To make a long story short...the following document shows how they have just given themselves another "salary adjustment"...the second in less than a year.
When Jerry King took over as Director...Chief Engineers were making $61,000 a year...he raised it to $71,000 and now he has asked for another raise of $4,400 a year. WELL...brothers & sisters....readers...voters...councilmembers...... those of us who REALLY do the city's work want to know how you can allow this?
Under former Mayor Lanier...we were given a 3% pay increase...under Mayor Lee Brown we have received 2%...and we mustn't forget to thank you for our $2.00 a year seniority pay....(even though after 20 years we can no longer collect that $2.....we are capped at $40 total for duration of our time with the city....)
Mayor Brown speaks of how he comes from an economically disadvantaged background....seems like he wants to give the majority of his city employees the same experience.
Clerks, secretaries, technicians, project managers, graduate engineers, engineers, and senior engineers...some of us with 15,13,10 years on the job aside from our 2%...3% across the board pay raise have never seen such less qualified people above us...and in less than a year they are receiving pay adjustments totally almost 20%.
One councilmember said that they couldn't be spending money without council approval.... DUH councilmember haven't you been paying attention to anything????? Director waits until a position is open ...either to retirement...or they just get fed up & leave---or due to a transfer...and the Director takes that money & uses it for his "chosen" few. No replacement is ever hired.....Seems like (to those of us who take home only $300.00 every 2 weeks) the city is moving more & more to privatization....giving away the store to consultant & management firms...IS ANYBODY listening out there?????!!!!!
WE reported earlier in the week about various consulting firms having offices along side us here at 611 Walker....news has come to us that one of the longer lasting residents has been given eviction papers....Mr. Gary Oradat (so our sources tell us) has given PGAL a ten day vacate notice.....Be careful Gary.....they do NOT have a security deposit coming back...but WE're sure they will find a way to get some monies from the city now that they have to come up with their own equipment, & pay their own utilities & phone bills!!! We'll watch for any new contracts calling for extending payments or adjustments to any ongoing projects they have under their control. We'll also watch the subs under their care to see if they apply for more monies on behave of their prime consultant....WE will keep you posted!
Another area we reported on this past week was the OIG and the inquisition many of us have been given when we try to report anything to them. Mr. Ken West was especially ugly when we said we were HOUSNITCH...seems we are not the only ones having trouble getting through...just read the following missive that arrived in our mail box via the net today... HEY MAYOR.....WHAT'S UP????!!!!! Do you not have any control at the city helm???
Everyone seems to be doing their own thing...regardless of rules, regulations & policies...You need to fix it Mayor!
Hey ....KEN WEST.....seems like you're more interested in who WE are than actually doing an investigation...does the Mayor know how you treat people?...WE have sent the OIG a copy of HOUSNITCH as a regular e-mail every time we publish....and many of us throughout the city have spoken with ya'll...since you do not seem to get enough...We're asking all our readers to forward this site to you each time they log on....help us guys----forward our site to them...seems like WE aren't getting thru!!!!
Last document for this issue...(really we could sit here day & night 24/7 as our kids say...and churn them out but it is almost midnight and some of us have miles to go before we can sleep.)
We told you about the Hammerly Rd. project last week...and how Herb Lum had dropped the ball on it...well dear readers he had to get it passed quick because Mr. King did not want to have to answer questions.... it came before council today & was passed---
Jumped from $800,000.00 to $858,766.00 in less than a week....but some other documents came to us this week also---seems that Herbert Lum & Jerry King knew way back on September 2, 198 (yep one year today) that this was a screw up...BUT they failed to collect these monies from the design consultant----WE the TAX PAYERS shouldn't be paying for this...the DESIGN CONSULTANT SHOULD!!!!
BUT, the design consultant will never pay for this job dear readers....VOTERS.....friends and you want to know why? Because Director of public works, Jerry King, is a former employee of the design consultant.....Walter P. Moore & Associates, INC. They helped to put him in his current seat----he'll never hold them accountable----so WE have to!......follow our site on down---e-mail the Mayor...the OIG...couniclmembers...both at large & your own...PLEASE...HELP US to stop this waste.....this rape of our city by this Mayor & his administration.
And help the OIG receive these documents----forward this site to him.
mailto:ispgen@myr.ci.houston.tx.us
This came from the OIG
And, it was sooooooo funny---WE just had to share!!!!
Subj: ig
Date: 9/1/99 7:57:04 AM Central Daylight Time
From: ispgen@myr.ci.houston.tx.us (Inspector General)
To: housnitch@aol.com
Keep up the good work. It would be nice if you forwarded copies of those documents to us. Your web site is very informative...
Voters.....readers....friends.....Over the spance of time that Lee Brown has been Mayor---(almost 2 years now).....about 4 dozen of us have been to the OIG with the documents we have published AND THEN SOME!!!!!!....do you guys smell "BAIT"? Or is it so the OIG can say "WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE"......can you say "COVER-UP", boys & girls?
One of our more faithful contributors has been to the OIG 4 times in the past 2 years.....so readers---you can understand our following response
Subj: Re: ig
Date: 9/1/99 9:03:58 AM Central Daylight Time
From: HOUSNITCH
To: ispgen@myr.ci.houston.tx.us
Many of them you already have in your possession.....I KNOW...because I am one of the informants who visited with you for about 3 hours----as for copies----just print the web site..
DUH!
Housnitch
(maybe we should be worrying about the OIG destroying documents!...???)
``The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views ... which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering. '' - Doctor Who, "Face of Evil"
Isn't the Mayor SERIOUS about cleaning up this mess?...What is the OIG for anyway????? Who are they to protect...OTHER CITY employees...or those of us who are brave enough to report the crime....
Just another area where we need some answers...perhaps you can help us get them!!!! mailto:ispgen@myr.ci.houston.tx.us
We must applaud council for taking SOME kind of action---they are considering an amendment to the city charter giving oversight of performance revues to our city controller's office WAY TO GO GUYS...of course the Mayor is opposing it....but hang in there guys---right is right....and this is SOOOOOOO right!!!!!!!
So tell us dear readers........Is this fair? We don't think so....tell the Mayor you don't either...hold him RESPONSIBLE...opponent or not, in the up-coming elections this is not acceptable behavior for our city officials
Hey---Ask the OIG too...(office of the inspector general...it's his job to investigate these kind of things) What's up Tim?-- You have had these documents for many months now....mailto:ispgen@myr.ci.houston.tx.us
And...while we're at it---let's ask our city councilmembers too! mailto:aparker@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:jroach@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,
mailto:osanchez@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:cbell@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,
mailto:crobinso@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:btatro@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,
mailto:myarbrou@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:jboney@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,
mailto:rtodd@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:rdriscol@cnl/ci/houston.tx.us,
mailto:jkelley@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:ffraga@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,
mailto:jcastill@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us,mailto:mwong@cnl.ci.houston.tx.us
Ask director Jerry King too, he won't answer....but ask him anyway.
mailto:wjohnson@pwe.ci.houston.tx.us
We'll get back to shelved projects during the week....until next time---be well...let us know how we're doing with your documents! mailto:housnitch@aol.com