jamBOOZIE time again: same old, same old

The WBCA event that put the "booze" in Jamboozie is, once again, offereing no surprises this year. With their featured artist being La Mafia. It might as well still be the 1980s. It is apparent that those in charge of booking the musical talent for the alcohol-fueled festival chose to not expend even an ounce of effort in making a creative selection. 

Perhaps their reasoning goes somehting like this: Why should anyone care anyway, just about everyone will be smashed by then and those with families will make sure they leave well before the real debauchery ensues.

I'll drink to that!

VIDA's back, meeting today at Los Jacales

High Noon is when today's (November 17th) scheduled VIDA meeting is slated to take place. The "new" location for the Voices In Democratic Action gathering will be Los Jacales Restaurant.

It's been a few weeks since the local watchdog group has met and updates on several issues will probably be provided at today's meeting.

What:  VIDA meeting

When: Today, Saturday November 17th at 12:00pm

Where: Los Jacales Restaurant
             620 Guadalupe Street
             Laredo, Texas

Houston gets top billing on Saudi trip

From the Saudi Embassy's (Washington DC) website

Houston Mayor leads trade mission to Saudi Arabia

November 10, 2012

Dammam Mayor Dhaifallah Al-Otaibi received at his office today Houston Mayor Annise Danette Parker and her accompanying delegation. Mayor Parker was briefed on developments in Dammam.
Mayor Parker is leading a 38-member trade mission to the Gulf, which also includes stops in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and aimes at expanding business cooperation between Houston and the Gulf states. “This trade mission will not only enhance our existing foreign business relationships, but also provide opportunities for new partnerships with public and private organizations in each country,” said Mayor Parker said in a statement issued prior to her trip. “Houston’s strength as an energy capital will help businesses looking for new ventures or strategic links in this part of the world and, inversely, place Houston at the forefront when Middle Eastern businesses contemplate future international business models.”

“The U.A.E., Qatar and Saudi Arabia have defied and reconfigured expectations for petro-economies by investing heavily in major infrastructure projects, scientific and cultural undertakings, and providing an array of business incentives which have brought some of the world’s largest corporations to their business community. One of the goals of this trip will be to facilitate new business partnerships and express the importance of maintaining existing ones. Mayor Parker in particular will strengthen international relations and advance Houston’s business, economic, political and commercial objectives in the Middle East, which include increasing trade between the two regions.”

LMT endorsements: No Surprises, status quo

Yawn!

From Laredo Morning Times, No Suprises.


For District 4, Juan Narvaez. The city stands to benefit from the continued presence of Narvaez in City Council.

His business experience has contributed to the myriad of permanent improvements undertaken by the city.

We urge the voters of District 4 to support Narvaez’s re-election to another term as a member of the City Council.

For District 5, Pat Campos. We believe Campos would be a positive addition to replace the retiring incumbent.

She brings a wealth of experience and commitment to public service and would make an excellent preventative for her district.

We strongly support her election to represent District 5.

For District 7, Jorge A. Vera. Rounding a relatively brief stint as city alderman for a growing District 7, Vera buckled down on short notice to become an effective representative for a part of town that has seen some improvements of recent times.

He has the smarts to appreciate and understand the pressing demands in his district, particularly in infrastructure, in connection with the Mines Road developments.

He’s involved with community and is the best choice among candidates to be returned to the District 7 council seat.

For District 8, Cindy Liendo Espinoza. Liendo Espinoza has represented her constituents well with matters of the city-wide concerns as well as projects of specific importance to her district.

She has been an effective councilwoman and has earned re-election for another four-year term.


Oh well, LMT needs to come up for some fresh air once in a while.  Speaking of:

City water sales !

Quote of the day: "All the flushing of toilets"

Our friendly daily today includes what has got to be at least a candidate for the quote of the day.

Blasita Lopez, director of the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau, said UISD officials met with various city departments and the Texas Department of Transportation to make sure things ran smoothly.

She said the aim of the city was to make sure people visiting Laredo would feel welcome.

Traffic signage and coordination was only part of the plan.

“One department we almost overlooked was the city utilities department, but director Tomas Rodriguez stepped forward and said they would make sure there would be enough water pressure for all the flushing of toilets,” Lopez said.
 

Ordinance meant to crack down on little guy, not Oil & Gas

City of Laredo Utilities Director Tomas "Tommy the Tank" Rodriguez told the Laredo Morning Times that the real reason for the city's ordinance prohibiting the re-selling of water obtained from the city is to essentially crack down on the little guy, not so much on the fracking companies.

An article appearing today on the Laredo Morning Times is full of reasons why an investigation should have been launched into possible violations of this ordinance by area fracking and fracking-related companies and begs the question:  What is the city waiting for?

Another strange revelation about one particular company has a contract to buy water from the city, but instead claims to be using its trucks to simply transport water to the oil and gas industry. The question(s) here : Then why do they have a contract to purchase water IF they are only transporting it?  Who then is buying the water their transporting? Is it the oil and gass companies these guys are delivering the water to?  Do those companies have contracts to purchase water? If not, then is anybody paying for this water??

As always, city of laredo officials love to point out failed comparisons. The article mentions that while the city of Laredo sells its water for $3.50 per thousand gallons, it states that Brownsville and McAllen sell their water for $1.92 and $1.30 per thousand gallons. This implies that the city is being smart and raking in big bucks for their higher-priced water.  However, the comparison fails because neither McAllen nor Brownsville are in the Eagle Ford Shale.  The comparison should therefore be made between Laredo and cities like Cotulla or Carrizo Springs which are in the EFS and therefore, sell their water to the frackers at rates substantially higher than Laredo. 

Anyway, here's another exceprt from the LMT:

Tomas Rodriguez, the city’s utilities director, said in October the city hasn’t launched a formal inquiry.

“The investigation was supposed to be one to determine if somebody was selling to the oil fields,” Rodriguez said.

“It’s hard for us to determine ‘XYZ’ company is actually selling to the drilling companies.”

Rodriguez said any complaints of possible water resale are examined on a case-by-case basis.

The issue may come down to one of semantics. One company, G&F Oilfield Services, which holds a contract to buy water from the city, said it bills oil and gas companies for freight.

“We don’t charge the water, we just provide the haul,” company owner Filberto Lopez said.
Lopez said freight costs range from between $95 to $110 an hour.

 

Charging for freight of water “is not exactly what the ordinance is against,” Rodriguez said.

He said the ordinance is in place to prevent citizens from charging neighbors, family and friends for drinkable water.
Any commercial entity requesting a meter from the city must provide a reason for use of water in its application.
Companies contracted with the city use phrases such as “filling truck of the field” and “oilfield for the rigs” in their contracts.

Mo-Vac, a vacuum company that lists “gas well” as a reason for use of potable water, declined comment.

Jesus Olivares, assistant city manager, said the city has not contacted law enforcement to investigate possible city code violations.

“If (city management) do(es) find somebody that has been misusing privileges when they sign a contract and if they are doing anything that is criminal, the proper authorities will be notified,” Olivares said.

The City of Laredo charges $3.50 per 1,000 gallons of water, or 0.35 cents per gallon, as determined by traveling water meters.

The cities of Brownsville and McAllen charge $1.92 and $1.30, respectively, per 1,000 gallons.
City Manager Carlos Villarreal has indicated he is aware of possible misuse of city contracts.