Thursday, August 29, 2013

Sneaky, Sneaky

Don't worry, we'll just overcharge you for the water and we'll call it even.

Within the last couple of hours, the ever-informative LMT online posted a very brief article stating that Webb county will have an "emergency" meeting on Friday (tomorrow) to discuss the continuing and embarassing dirty water problem down in Rio Bravo and El Cenizo.  However, there is nothing on the County's agenda as to such a meeting and 311 doesn't have anything on it either.

LMT says

Webb County officials said earlier this week that the boil water alert in El Cenizo and Rio Bravo could be lifted today.

However, they said this afternoon that the alert will remain in effect for at least another day.

Webb County Judge Danny Valdez said county officials will hold an emergency meeting Friday to discuss lifting the boil water alert, which was issued Aug. 8 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

TCEQ issued the alert after receiving water quality complaints and water sample testing positive for E. coli.

Trash p/u rates, water rates going up? What to do? Play Golf !

OK, so you have to pay $3 more for your garbage pick up and yes it's only going to be once a week now. Of course, next year it will be $3 more. And yes, our water rates going to skyrocket and are scheduled to keep on doing so. But don't fret, just look at the high-price clubhouse at your disposal.

How will this affect UISD and LISD "cops" ?

The Texas Tribune is reporting on a change in the way Texas school districts will be allowed to handle certain undesireable behavior at your public schools.  How, if at all, will this substantial change in our state laws affect the policing of our local school districts?

From The Texas Tribune

Public school students in Texas who have chewed gum in class, talked back to teachers or disrupted class have often received citations from school police officers. Beginning in September, students who engage in such levels of misbehavior will face discipline in a different manner.

While school administrators and teachers have traditionally handled student discipline, some school districts in Texas over the years have allowed school police officers to deal with certain types of misbehavior by charging students with Class C misdemeanors, a practice commonly referred to as student ticketing. Students charged must appear before a county or municipal judge and can face fines of up to $500 if found guilty by a judge.
Students who do not pay their fines could be arrested as soon as they turn 17 years old. Even if students pay the fines, the offenses could still appear on their criminal records.

The Legislature took steps this year toward decriminalizing such misbehavior at school with Senate Bill 393 by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas. The measure prevents school police officers from issuing citations for misbehavior at school, excluding traffic violations. Officers can still submit complaints about students, but it will be up to a local prosecutor whether to charge the student with a Class C misdemeanor.