Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
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.
Webb County Elections Office at fault for ballot mistakes
Our local officials have become experts at putting the blame elsewhere instead of assuming responsibility. A few months ago, when it was reported that Laredo Community College was facing accrediation problems, the fault was placed on a change in the reportng system the college was using. Phrases such as "there was a glitch" or "the process was put into place in a hurry" and thus resulted in erros. No one took responsiblity for monitoring for such "glitches" or for NOT implementing any process in such a hurry that it turned out to be error-filled.
Now, it's the Webb County Elections administrator's turn. Instead of taking reponsibilty for the recent ballot mistakes, elections administrator has sought to blame some "invisible man". Notice the explanation he gave to the Laredo Morning Times.
Excerpted from the famous Laredo Morning Times
"the particular block's precinct mistakenly did not reflect.....changes". Aha, so it was the block precinct's fault for "not reflecting those changes".
Nice job Mr. Villarreal, a better, more accurate way would have been to say: " We failed to show the summer redistricting changes for that particular precinct block".
But rest assured, all ballot irregularities have now been corrected. Why? Because the Webb County Elections department says so. Whew!
In
Now, it's the Webb County Elections administrator's turn. Instead of taking reponsibilty for the recent ballot mistakes, elections administrator has sought to blame some "invisible man". Notice the explanation he gave to the Laredo Morning Times.
Excerpted from the famous Laredo Morning Times
“We found out one particular block that was supposed to be in District 7 we had in District 5,” Villarreal said Saturday.In the first sentence, Villarreal does come close to admitting fault when he says "We had", however by the following line, the active voice "we had" quickly becomes the passive, (no fault)
He said the particular block’s precinct mistakenly did not reflect summer redistricting changes.
Villarreal could not confirm, specifically, which addresses were affected.
A District 7 resident called the elections office Friday after she received what she believed was the wrong ballot. Officials confirmed the mistake.
"the particular block's precinct mistakenly did not reflect.....changes". Aha, so it was the block precinct's fault for "not reflecting those changes".
Nice job Mr. Villarreal, a better, more accurate way would have been to say: " We failed to show the summer redistricting changes for that particular precinct block".
But rest assured, all ballot irregularities have now been corrected. Why? Because the Webb County Elections department says so. Whew!
In
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Elections Mishaps: If it weren't so bad, it'd be funny
The Webb County Elections office is once again making the news for all the wrong reasons. The integrity of this elecion is already in doubt. It would be a good thing if we could get the Texas Secreatry of State come down here and straighten out the whole mess.
This is part of what makes Laredo look bad: dubious ethics and shenanigans abound throughout our local governments. Be it the school districts, the city or the county, there's a thread of incompetence that's only getting worse. Oh well, que esperas ?
Some voters received and cast ballots for races outside their districts, Webb County Elections Administrator Oscar Villarreal told media in an email Friday afternoon.
It is unclear which races, districts or polling places were affected.
Villarreal did not return phone calls as of late Friday.
He wrote in the email that the elections office had received “many calls from voters stating that they belonged in a different school district or council member district than what appeared on their ballot.
“On most of these, there were no issues,” he wrote in the email.
“The voter was just unaware that their school or council member district had changed after redistricting.
“But on others, there were issues that were discovered that had to be corrected and unfortunately, it was also discovered that some of these voters had, in fact, received and voted a ballot with the wrong district.”
Silverado Martinez, local attorney and Webb County Democratic Party chair, said although he was not privy to the legal ramifications of the issues, it is likely voters could not cast their ballots again.
This is part of what makes Laredo look bad: dubious ethics and shenanigans abound throughout our local governments. Be it the school districts, the city or the county, there's a thread of incompetence that's only getting worse. Oh well, que esperas ?
From today's LMT
Some voters received and cast ballots for races outside their districts, Webb County Elections Administrator Oscar Villarreal told media in an email Friday afternoon.
It is unclear which races, districts or polling places were affected.
Villarreal did not return phone calls as of late Friday.
He wrote in the email that the elections office had received “many calls from voters stating that they belonged in a different school district or council member district than what appeared on their ballot.
“On most of these, there were no issues,” he wrote in the email.
“The voter was just unaware that their school or council member district had changed after redistricting.
“But on others, there were issues that were discovered that had to be corrected and unfortunately, it was also discovered that some of these voters had, in fact, received and voted a ballot with the wrong district.”
Silverado Martinez, local attorney and Webb County Democratic Party chair, said although he was not privy to the legal ramifications of the issues, it is likely voters could not cast their ballots again.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Going, going GONE! Sold to the highest bidder!
Among the top contributors mentioned in today's Laredo Morning Times article on campaign financing of our local elections are: local construction companies, engineering firms, property management groups and engergy companies.
What are the odds that these donors will be fully expecting something in return?
So, what else is new? Cha-ching!
From Today's LMT
City Council incumbents have a serious edge fund-wise against their opponents in the upcoming November election.
At $27,150, District 4 incumbent Juan Narvaez received the most contributions by a considerable margin as compared to other candidates.
Many of his donors are local construction, property management and energy companies.
Narvaez previously served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and operated a housing manufacturing company prior to his involvement with the city.
“I’m a man that’s been in business long enough have known a lot of people that believe in me,” Narvaez said.
“There’s no hidden agenda behind my contributions.”
His opponent, retired educator Armando Cisneros, was waived from filing expense reports on the condition he would not spend more than $500 on his campaign, City Secretary Gustavo Guevara Jr. said.
“I’m not big on spending my time putting up signs and raising funds,” Cisneros said.
“It’s more like grassroots. I’d say not even grassroots, more like seed roots.”
Meanwhile, the two other City Council incumbents, Cindy Liendo Espinoza and Jorge Vera, have received $10,850 and $16,250, respectively, in campaign contributions.
Jose Luis Maldonado, who had reported no political expenditures, said he reused old signs from his run last year for City Council District 7.
Maldonado said he only recently began spending campaign donations after the Oct. 9 filing deadline.
He said the $1,500 he’s received will go toward payment for an upcoming radio ad.
Meanwhile, Pat Campos and Roque Vela, vying for the upcoming vacancy for District 5, have received $17,750 and $21,280, respectively.
At $35,213, Vela has far exceeded any of the other City Council candidates in political expenditures and has outspent Campos by almost $20,000.
You can read the entire article at : http://lmtonline.com/articles/2012/10/21/news/doc5083993e9da5b430100507.txt
Friday, October 19, 2012
Highest compliment: "It's doesn't seem like you're in Laredo"
It's a pretty common compliment nowadays. If you happen upon a very attractive spot secluded somewhere in or around the Gateway City, people usually express their amazement by stating simply "It's like you're not in Laredo" or something to that effect.
Just this morning, that exact sentiment was conveyed this morning on KLNT 1490's morning news show with Richard Noriega. During a clip featured on the show, we hear some golfer who just played the new Max A. Mandel course expressed the "You don't think you're in Laredo" line.
The fact that statements like these are used as compliments draws on the assumption that the prevailing opinion is that Laredo is not that nice of a place at all. Therefore, by saying that something
is not "like Laredo" (bad/negative) means that it's therefore, something good/ positive.
As far as the golf course goes, what doy you expect for $6.6 Million?
Monday, October 15, 2012
Tx. Dept of Health Services confirms flu outbreak in Laredo
LAREDO,
TX . . . AUSTIN, TX (PRWeb)
Oct.
13, 2012 (PRWEB) October 13, 2012 -- The Texas State Dept. of Health Services
(TSDHS) in Austin confirmed this week two Laredo school districts are reporting
influenza cases this season, which are running at levels six times higher than
in 2011.
The
state’s acknowledgement is in sharp contrast to a recent report of sparse flu
activity in the United States by the national Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The CDC is now conducting further confirmatory
testing, which was spurred by a new in-the-field surveillance system.
“This
surprising early influenza outbreak – at levels usually seen only in the winter
months – has been present almost from the onset in late August of the fall 2012
semester for both the Laredo Independent (LISD) and United Independent (UISD)
school districts,” said Dr. Vincent Friedewald, Chief Medical Officer for Argus1
Systems, Austin.
The
TSDHS this week identified samples obtained from children in the Laredo outbreak
to be Type B influenza virus, and not the swine flu variety being sporadically
reported across the USA during the past summer.
The
testing of samples was spurred by the Laredo school districts’ use of a highly
advanced, Internet-based, instant reporting system developed by Argus1 Systems
Corp. of Austin, TX.
Read more at:
Friday, October 12, 2012
LMT reporting on lawsuit from Unitrade's Garza
In a new development, The Laredo Morning Times is reporting this morning that Unitrade's Eduardo Garza is filing a lawsuit against VIDA's Dr. Hector Farias and Jose Valez, a former Laredo City councilman. Following is part of the article appearing in today's paper.
From The Laredo Morning Times
Due to VIDA’s disparaging words against Uni-Trade, the petition says, Farias is liable for pecuniary damages approximating $1.8 million, resulting from Garza’s loss of benefit from naming rights for the Laredo baseball stadium.
The lawsuit states Garza pays $15,000 a month on a 10-year contract for the rights.
“We’re not going to be intimidated by an influence peddler, and all the comments that I and VIDA have made have been truthful and we stand on them,” Farias said.
Although Farias has not reviewed the petition, he said he and his lawyers are prepared to take on Garza and his claims.
“If Garza is saying we tainted his reputation, maybe he ought to sue himself, because he’s the one who tainted it,” he said.
City-Lisd pending sale: Taxpayers selling to themselves?
OK so the civic center currently belongs to the "city" and might be sold to LISD. As you know the "city" is actually the public, aka taxpayers. So the taxpayers are thinking of selling the civic center to "LISD"- isn't that the same taxpayers (unless you live in UISD)?
Well anyway too early for this type of brainbuster. Here's an excerpt from Laredo Morning Times.
LISD trustees approved appropriating $16 million in funds Thursday to the potential Laredo Civic Center purchase as negotiations between the district and the city remain ongoing.
The funds will be taken out of the Laredo Independent School District’s unassigned fund balance.
The district is considering the facilities to house a performing arts center and centralized administrative offices.
“We are very excited to continue the conversation about purchasing the civic center,” said A. Marcus Nelson, LISD superintendent.
“Our board has clearly shown a definite interest in the purchase.
Now, we are just at a point where we need to make sure we do things the right way in checking all the specifics of this type of purchase.
There are lots of things that need be ironed out.”
The appropriation of funds for the potential purchase does not indicate, however, that the price has been finalized, district officials said.
LISD must come to terms first with the city.
The board would then be able to take action to approve the purchase.
Well anyway too early for this type of brainbuster. Here's an excerpt from Laredo Morning Times.
LISD trustees approved appropriating $16 million in funds Thursday to the potential Laredo Civic Center purchase as negotiations between the district and the city remain ongoing.
The funds will be taken out of the Laredo Independent School District’s unassigned fund balance.
The district is considering the facilities to house a performing arts center and centralized administrative offices.
“We are very excited to continue the conversation about purchasing the civic center,” said A. Marcus Nelson, LISD superintendent.
“Our board has clearly shown a definite interest in the purchase.
Now, we are just at a point where we need to make sure we do things the right way in checking all the specifics of this type of purchase.
There are lots of things that need be ironed out.”
The appropriation of funds for the potential purchase does not indicate, however, that the price has been finalized, district officials said.
LISD must come to terms first with the city.
The board would then be able to take action to approve the purchase.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Letter to editor from La Sanbe's Keyrose
Apparently, La Sanbe's editor-in-chief, Keyrose, wrote the following letter to the Laredo Morning Times. Perhaps they were confused a bit when they received this "letter to the editor" from another "editor". Whatever the reason, LMT apparently has not acknowledged receipt of the letter so far. So, the editors at LaredoTejas, after obtaining clearance from BOLAS is taking the liberty of publishing Mr. Keyrose's letter.
Yes, it is already on La Sanbe itself, but anyway, here it goes:
As the issue of nepotism plays out for the City of Laredo, commissioners over at Webb County are acting, I hope, on the matter of Gilberto Garza providing false information on his application for the position of Facilities and Maintenance Director. Supposedly Mr. Garza met the minimum requirements for the job, but the issue at hand is the information he provided to two local governmental entities.
In 2009 Mr. Garza applied to the city and listed on his resume one set of employers that went back to the early 2000s. As references he gave the names of local business people, including his uncle, celebrated City of Laredo backer Eduardo Garza. Surely that name jumped out for people at City Hall.
When Gilberto Garza applied to the county recently, he gave hiring officials a different list of employers for the previous decade. I don't doubt that he's a hard-working individual who might have held two jobs at different stages within the last ten years, while also attending college full-time. But why give contradicting proof of employment when seeking different jobs within the span of over two years?
For his county application he had his City of Laredo supervisor write him a letter of recommendation. On top of that, Sheriff Martin Cuellar and Councilman Charlie San Miguel vouched in writing for Mr. Garza. Que mas quieres? The Charlie San Miguel nod is questionable, however, since San Miguel is still waiting for compensation from the county in regards to work he performed for the Community Action Agency.
Mr. Garza must now oversee 50 employees and a $1.9 million budget. Let's hope his abilities are better than his selective memory, and let's hope Commissioners Court addresses his tactics and not so much the people he knows.
Yes, it is already on La Sanbe itself, but anyway, here it goes:
Letter to the LMT editor from La Sanbe's Keyrose
As the issue of nepotism plays out for the City of Laredo, commissioners over at Webb County are acting, I hope, on the matter of Gilberto Garza providing false information on his application for the position of Facilities and Maintenance Director. Supposedly Mr. Garza met the minimum requirements for the job, but the issue at hand is the information he provided to two local governmental entities.
In 2009 Mr. Garza applied to the city and listed on his resume one set of employers that went back to the early 2000s. As references he gave the names of local business people, including his uncle, celebrated City of Laredo backer Eduardo Garza. Surely that name jumped out for people at City Hall.
When Gilberto Garza applied to the county recently, he gave hiring officials a different list of employers for the previous decade. I don't doubt that he's a hard-working individual who might have held two jobs at different stages within the last ten years, while also attending college full-time. But why give contradicting proof of employment when seeking different jobs within the span of over two years?
For his county application he had his City of Laredo supervisor write him a letter of recommendation. On top of that, Sheriff Martin Cuellar and Councilman Charlie San Miguel vouched in writing for Mr. Garza. Que mas quieres? The Charlie San Miguel nod is questionable, however, since San Miguel is still waiting for compensation from the county in regards to work he performed for the Community Action Agency.
Mr. Garza must now oversee 50 employees and a $1.9 million budget. Let's hope his abilities are better than his selective memory, and let's hope Commissioners Court addresses his tactics and not so much the people he knows.
Will "new" ethics ordinance change fund-raising practices?
Time for a brief look back at the begining of this election season. Here's an excerpt of what the Laredo Morning Times reported for several of the current city council candidates. The article, by Andrew Krieghbaum originally appeared on July 18th, of this year.
The article details some donations directly from parties doing business with the city of Laredo. It remains to be seen how much of this practice, if any, will continue with the new ethics ordinance taking effect.
From The Laredo Morning Times
Three Laredo City Council members face re-election contests in November, but none of them were among the biggest fundraisers over the last six months.
Narvaez and Liendo Espinoza both reported $1,500 in contributions, while Vera reported only $500. Perez reported $3,850 in contributions; San Miguel and Garza each raised more than $7,000 in campaign funds.
Vera said he expects to have only one fundraiser in August to fund his campaign and would otherwise reach out directly to voters.
Both Vera and Liendo Espinoza received $500 contributions from the law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson or partner Paul Chapa.
The firm, which handles the city’s contract for collection of municipal court fees, gave $500 to Garza as well.
Daniel Markson, senior vice president of NRP Group, also gave $125 to Garza. NRP is working with the city to finance construction of La Terraza at Lomas Del Sur Apartments, a 128-unit affordable housing complex in South Laredo.
Garza received $495 total in contributions this year from NRP employees.
Perez received contributions from a number of local businesses, including $100 from Sherfey Engineering Co.
The engineering firm is providing consulting services for the second phase of the Chacon Creek Hike and Bike Trail.
Several council members spend money through their campaign in support of nonprofits or other charitable donations.
Garza, who spent more than $7,900 in campaign funds, said almost all of it went toward scholarships for United Independent School District graduating students.
He holds a bowling tournament each year that provided $500 to five students each from three South Laredo high schools.
He said 2012 would be an “awkward year” for candidates looking to raise campaign funds.
“It’s difficult to raise money when another election is going on,” he said.
“It’s going to be a short window between the runoff and city elections.”
The article details some donations directly from parties doing business with the city of Laredo. It remains to be seen how much of this practice, if any, will continue with the new ethics ordinance taking effect.
From The Laredo Morning Times
Three Laredo City Council members face re-election contests in November, but none of them were among the biggest fundraisers over the last six months.
Narvaez and Liendo Espinoza both reported $1,500 in contributions, while Vera reported only $500. Perez reported $3,850 in contributions; San Miguel and Garza each raised more than $7,000 in campaign funds.
Vera said he expects to have only one fundraiser in August to fund his campaign and would otherwise reach out directly to voters.
Both Vera and Liendo Espinoza received $500 contributions from the law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson or partner Paul Chapa.
The firm, which handles the city’s contract for collection of municipal court fees, gave $500 to Garza as well.
Daniel Markson, senior vice president of NRP Group, also gave $125 to Garza. NRP is working with the city to finance construction of La Terraza at Lomas Del Sur Apartments, a 128-unit affordable housing complex in South Laredo.
Garza received $495 total in contributions this year from NRP employees.
Perez received contributions from a number of local businesses, including $100 from Sherfey Engineering Co.
The engineering firm is providing consulting services for the second phase of the Chacon Creek Hike and Bike Trail.
Several council members spend money through their campaign in support of nonprofits or other charitable donations.
Garza, who spent more than $7,900 in campaign funds, said almost all of it went toward scholarships for United Independent School District graduating students.
He holds a bowling tournament each year that provided $500 to five students each from three South Laredo high schools.
He said 2012 would be an “awkward year” for candidates looking to raise campaign funds.
“It’s difficult to raise money when another election is going on,” he said.
“It’s going to be a short window between the runoff and city elections.”
Sunday, October 7, 2012
"No Mis-appropriations" but plenty of Shenanigans
The Laredo Morning Times headline was misleading to say the least. The front page of Sunday's LMT read "No Misappropriation". It went on to report that, in the final analysis, all the money from the recent fisaco-filled mud race was "there". However, the headline fails to convey the many detours and contortions the money took before all of it was magically accounted for.
Consider the following excerpt for instance:
In a van, by the (Mud) river! If all of this smacks of incompetence, read how the LMT reports the money was handled at the event.
Consider the following excerpt for instance:
Bernie Chapa, of Ciclomania, the pre-registration site, arrived at City Hall on Sept. 19 to submit the remaining balance.Muddying the truth further was this conflicting report involving Parks and Leisure Director Osbaldo Guzman, San Miguel himself and Maria Perez, who works as a clerk for the city.
He provided $650 from credit card transactions and $2,300 in wads of cash that he pulled from his pockets.
At that time, the city called LPD.
Chapa initially told the city that only $650 in credit card transactions was pending.
Rosario Camarillo Cabello, the city’s finance director, then told San Miguel that about $2,000 was still missing.
The next day, Chapa turned in the $650 as well as $2,300 in cash.
Chapa told LPD that he did not turn in the additional money the day before because he was told by Clarissa Rangel, the city’s assistant parks and leisure services director, to not give it to San Miguel.
Parks and leisure services department employees, meanwhile, believed that the director, Guzman, was “fully aware” that San Miguel took custody of the money, the report states.
Maria Perez, a city clerk who assisted in setting up the event, told city staff that Guzman directed her to give San Miguel the money collected.
But she said she told him that she had just bought the collections box and did not want to give it to the councilman.
She also told staff that she remembered San Miguel saying that he needed to go deposit the collections received.
She added that this was the first time collections had been given to a council member. In the past, it was always deposited through the city, she said.
Guzman dismissed the claims, saying that he did not direct anyone to give the collections to San Miguel.
And he told investigators that he did not know that San Miguel took the money.
“Conflicting statements were obtained from the … personnel as to whether (Guzman) gave orders to turn over monies to (San Miguel),” the LPD report states.
In a van, by the (Mud) river! If all of this smacks of incompetence, read how the LMT reports the money was handled at the event.
The money was placed in a van that was parked on site.And for the icing of the cake :
The money was left unsecured in the van for several hours, the report states.
At the end of the event, San Miguel took the money home.
He told LPD investigators that he didn’t think it was a problem and said he was not aware of a money handling policy.
After conducting its investigation, LPD presented the case to District Attorney Isidro Alaniz and Assistant District Attorney Marisela Jacaman.
The report, obtained by Laredo Morning Times on Saturday, states that the district attorney’s office would not prosecute the case due to a lack of evidence.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Precedent for Laredo nepotism case
The city continues to either be or play ignorant in regards to the nepotism charges being levied against it. LT has recently posted a copy of the lawsuit filed by Laredo Gerry Garcia against the city of Laredo and some of its officials.
Keyrose of La Sanbe even went to the lengths of trying to make some sense of the whole fiasco and spoke to an assistant city attorney.
As VIDA has mentioned before, there is already a precedent for a home-rule city such as Laredo to impose nepotism prohibitions as it pertains to the hiring of firefighters and police officers.
For your consideration, VIDA has previously asserted the following:
The Texas Supreme Court has held that a municipality can further legislate in areas of Civil Service Law which are not already comprehensively covered by the Act. This is necessary because without further restriction to the chapter 143 qualification, cities and municipalities could not disqualify applicants who may have been convicted of numerous misdemeanors, who had unsatisfactory employment records, a history of mental illness, or a background of moral or fiscal irresponsibility which would make them unfit to serve in either the fire or police departments.
Keyrose of La Sanbe even went to the lengths of trying to make some sense of the whole fiasco and spoke to an assistant city attorney.
As VIDA has mentioned before, there is already a precedent for a home-rule city such as Laredo to impose nepotism prohibitions as it pertains to the hiring of firefighters and police officers.
For your consideration, VIDA has previously asserted the following:
The Texas Supreme Court has held that a municipality can further legislate in areas of Civil Service Law which are not already comprehensively covered by the Act. This is necessary because without further restriction to the chapter 143 qualification, cities and municipalities could not disqualify applicants who may have been convicted of numerous misdemeanors, who had unsatisfactory employment records, a history of mental illness, or a background of moral or fiscal irresponsibility which would make them unfit to serve in either the fire or police departments.
Chapter 143
will not limit a home rule city's, authority to impose additional
entrance requirements on police and fire fighter applicants unless the
legislative intent to do so is clear.
There are a number of cases that have
upheld city ordinances in the face of Chapter 143 challenges. In Collier
v. Firemen's and Policemen's Civil Service Commission of Wichita Falls, the
court held that the Commission could adopt, and Chapter 143 did not preclude
use of, anti- nepotism rule for hiring into the city's fire department.
Furthermore, the Texas Attorney General has ruled that
“[t]he governing body of a home-rule city may not, by ordinance, override a
provision of the city charter...."
LMT finally reports of city nepotism lawsuit
From Friday's Laredo Morning Times
A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Laredo and Councilman Charlie San Miguel, claiming alleged violation of the City Charter’s nepotism clause.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, cites San Miguel’s two sons, Carlos and Roberto San Miguel, and their admittance to the fire academy.
The plaintiff, Gerry Garcia, states that Mayor Raul Salinas, City Manager Carlos Villarreal, City Attorney Raul Casso and Fire Chief Steve Landin were aware of the fire cadets’ close relation to the councilman.
The charter states that no member of the council, city board or commission shall appoint someone within three degrees of direct relation to a city position.
The lawsuit adds that city official’s behavior “is typical of the patron system that has continued to be pervasive of the City of Laredo, political and governing system.”
City Attorney Raul Casso, in a letter last month, wrote that San Miguel’s sons are not subject to the nepotism clause because Laredo firefighters’ collective bargaining agreement with the city does not address nepotism.
The City Charter does not, by name, address the fire and police departments.
The plaintiff is requesting San Miguel’s sons be dismissed from the academy and that San Miguel and the city officials be removed from office for alleged violation of the City Charter.
Garcia’s attorney, Sergio “Keko” Martinez, could not be reached for comment.
On Monday, City Council voted unanimously to formally request a City Council nepotism prohibition from the police and fire civil service commission in its civil service rules.
San Miguel withheld his vote.
See the lawsuit documents at :
http://laredovida.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/5/1/13515808/gerry_garcia_v_city_of_laredo__charlie_sanmiguel_-_2012cvt001448d2.pdf
A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Laredo and Councilman Charlie San Miguel, claiming alleged violation of the City Charter’s nepotism clause.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, cites San Miguel’s two sons, Carlos and Roberto San Miguel, and their admittance to the fire academy.
The plaintiff, Gerry Garcia, states that Mayor Raul Salinas, City Manager Carlos Villarreal, City Attorney Raul Casso and Fire Chief Steve Landin were aware of the fire cadets’ close relation to the councilman.
The charter states that no member of the council, city board or commission shall appoint someone within three degrees of direct relation to a city position.
The lawsuit adds that city official’s behavior “is typical of the patron system that has continued to be pervasive of the City of Laredo, political and governing system.”
City Attorney Raul Casso, in a letter last month, wrote that San Miguel’s sons are not subject to the nepotism clause because Laredo firefighters’ collective bargaining agreement with the city does not address nepotism.
The City Charter does not, by name, address the fire and police departments.
The plaintiff is requesting San Miguel’s sons be dismissed from the academy and that San Miguel and the city officials be removed from office for alleged violation of the City Charter.
Garcia’s attorney, Sergio “Keko” Martinez, could not be reached for comment.
On Monday, City Council voted unanimously to formally request a City Council nepotism prohibition from the police and fire civil service commission in its civil service rules.
San Miguel withheld his vote.
See the lawsuit documents at :
http://laredovida.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/5/1/13515808/gerry_garcia_v_city_of_laredo__charlie_sanmiguel_-_2012cvt001448d2.pdf
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
LISD Class size: Board member Hector Garcia - "I personally don't have a problem with 25 to 1.
Excerpted from today's Laredo Morning Times
More than half of LISD classrooms in grades kindergarten through fourth may exceed class-size limits if the board of trustees approves a district recommendation later this month.
Laredo Independent School District trustees and staff met Tuesday morning in a curriculum and instruction committee meeting in which administration suggested a teacher-student ratio of 25:1 in grades kindergarten through first and 26:1 in second grade through fourth.
That would require the district to apply for a waiver from the Texas Education Agency, which regulates public primary and secondary education.
The state-mandated class-size limit in grades kindergarten through fourth is 22:1.
Last year, 46 percent of the district’s classrooms in those grades exceeded the state cap.
The state has increasingly granted school districts class size waivers in light of $5.4 billion in cuts made to public education in the 2011 Legislature.
Meeting state standards for classroom size would necessitate hiring additional teachers, which the district says would be too costly.
“Oftentimes, when you go to that 23rd student, that triggers an additional (staff member),” said Linda Theret, LISD assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Bringing all classrooms grades kindergarten through four to a 22:1 ratio, it would mean adding seven teachers, said David Garza, LISD human resources executive director.
It would also require administration to transfer students to other campuses so as to achieve a balance in the teacher-student ratio.
LISD hopes to avoid doing that.
With two board members present, including Jesus Martinez and Hector “Tito” Garcia, board opinion was not apparent during the meeting, but Garcia said he is on board with the recommendation.“I personally don’t have a problem with 25:1,” he said.
However, A. Marcus Nelson, LISD superintendent, said he has heard “different concerns” on class sizes in visits with other board members.
The exemption would apply to 19 of the district’s 20 elementary school, the exception being D.D. Hachar.
The highest student-teacher ratio, in the district’s recommendation, is in kindergarten at Gallego Elementary, with a 27.5:1 ratio.
LaredoTejas editor's note:
Mr. Garcia, of course you don't have a problem with that. You don't have to teach 25 4-5 year olds in one room and you probably don't live in the district so chances are you don't have any kids releated to you at these schools either!
More than half of LISD classrooms in grades kindergarten through fourth may exceed class-size limits if the board of trustees approves a district recommendation later this month.
Laredo Independent School District trustees and staff met Tuesday morning in a curriculum and instruction committee meeting in which administration suggested a teacher-student ratio of 25:1 in grades kindergarten through first and 26:1 in second grade through fourth.
That would require the district to apply for a waiver from the Texas Education Agency, which regulates public primary and secondary education.
The state-mandated class-size limit in grades kindergarten through fourth is 22:1.
Last year, 46 percent of the district’s classrooms in those grades exceeded the state cap.
The state has increasingly granted school districts class size waivers in light of $5.4 billion in cuts made to public education in the 2011 Legislature.
Meeting state standards for classroom size would necessitate hiring additional teachers, which the district says would be too costly.
“Oftentimes, when you go to that 23rd student, that triggers an additional (staff member),” said Linda Theret, LISD assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Bringing all classrooms grades kindergarten through four to a 22:1 ratio, it would mean adding seven teachers, said David Garza, LISD human resources executive director.
It would also require administration to transfer students to other campuses so as to achieve a balance in the teacher-student ratio.
LISD hopes to avoid doing that.
With two board members present, including Jesus Martinez and Hector “Tito” Garcia, board opinion was not apparent during the meeting, but Garcia said he is on board with the recommendation.“I personally don’t have a problem with 25:1,” he said.
However, A. Marcus Nelson, LISD superintendent, said he has heard “different concerns” on class sizes in visits with other board members.
The exemption would apply to 19 of the district’s 20 elementary school, the exception being D.D. Hachar.
The highest student-teacher ratio, in the district’s recommendation, is in kindergarten at Gallego Elementary, with a 27.5:1 ratio.
LaredoTejas editor's note:
Mr. Garcia, of course you don't have a problem with that. You don't have to teach 25 4-5 year olds in one room and you probably don't live in the district so chances are you don't have any kids releated to you at these schools either!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
VIDA's website: The city's selling of our water
The latest article on Vida's website continues to expose the City of Laredo's apparently unabated practice of selling our precious water to fracking and other industrial companies at rates lower than those of our citizens.
Please take some time to read the article for yourself at:
http://laredovida.weebly.com/why-is-the-city-of-laredo-failing-to-protect-our-potable-water.html
Please take some time to read the article for yourself at:
http://laredovida.weebly.com/why-is-the-city-of-laredo-failing-to-protect-our-potable-water.html
It's official: You can be a reckless public official and nothing will be done
The fellow-council members of embattled city councilman Charlie San Miguel lamented that there was nothing they could to do because, according to them, San Miguel had not done anything that would merit him being removed.
For starters, they could have each publicly called for his resignation-which they did not do. Sure, they chastised him in public but obviously condone his behavior. Instead of following the lead of VIDA in asking for his resignation, they simply scolded him and did not even give him a slap on the hand.
Let it be known, that on the current city council, it is therefore OK to be reckless and nothing will happen to you as a result.
The newly-adopted City of Laredo's Code of Ethics ( which at present is but a joke along with the city charter) defines "recklessly" as follows.
| Acting with reckless abandon at city council |
(bb) Recklessly. A person acts recklessly, or
IS reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur.
The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the actor's standpoint.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)