The Bridge

August 19, 2013

The publisher of El Paso Inc on Sunday opined about the “Bridge” series being seen on the  FX Channel.  It seems he feels it does not depict this City of El Paso in a good light.

The leading lady, Diane Kruger portrays an ELP Detective who has Aspergers syndrome, a particular form of the Autism spectrum which would make her unfit to serve on the El Paso PD.

So she can’t pass the physical and can’t survive the rigors of training?  I don’t see that.  Can’t pass the written exam about law enforcement, doesn’t seem right either.  She appears exceptionally bright.  What about the Americans for Disablities Act (ADA)?  Personally I like her character.  She does a great job depicting the Syndrome.  There are plenty like her in very responsible places, physicians, lawyers etc. probably even newspaper publishers.

The leading man, played by Damian Bilchir, is an honest Mexican policeman.  Hurrah!  He has a problem with fidelity to his wife.

Then there is the bad face put on the City.  Murder, crime, Infidelity, etc.  We can do better as Brutus often says.

I suggest a new series next season called the “The Real Face of El Paso”.  A Weekly drama about our fair (safe) City.

Let see,

Week One:”The School superintendent’s Mistresses ”  (talk about fidelity?)

Two: “What kind of Bribe is this?”

Three” The County Judge and his Cell mates”

Four:”Next time cash the checks Betty! damn it”

Five: “Dolores, why spend a half a million dollars on disabled kids”?

Six; “Let’s surprise them and level City Hall”

This series could last for years as the process continues.  We will make Albuquerque and “Breaking Bad” look like a Saturday kid’s show.

Sadly this is not far from the truth.  It’s hard for me to fathom that this has happened in plain view and probably will continue as pointed out in this and other blogs, the pols just don’t care what we think.

Well, for now, it  keeps Judge Frank busy.

2 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Inc., El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by M.T. Cicero

Unsettling

August 19, 2013

This week’s city council agenda has two items on it that continue the saga.

What’s to settle?

The lawsuit against the Texas Attorney General will be discussed in executive session.  Word is that the parties are in settlement discussions.

I don’t see what there is to settle.  The law says the documents must be turned over.  The Texas Attorney General says the documents must be turned over.  The state legislature passed a new law this year furthering the requirement that the documents must be turned over.

The original request was made September 5, 2012, almost one year ago.  The law requires them to turn the documents over within ten days of the request.

The Texas Local Government Records Act should be looked at here also but evidently our local prosecutor feels that he should spend his time prosecuting  private citizens and leave other government officials alone.  I guess that might be like honor among thieves.

Change it later

The ordinance I wrote about in Another faulty ordinance is on the agenda.  They still have not fixed the language and we still have not seen the proposed budget resolution that it is based on.

Oh well, they will change  it later.  Illegally in my opinion.  Read Cover up if you are interested in how.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | City government, Open Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Not acting like a sheep

August 18, 2013

One of the visitors to the round table the other day told us how he took some extra time and solved a problem.

It seems that a person from his dentist’s office called to cancel his appointment.  The next time the dentist could see this person was six weeks out.

Our patient explained that since the appointment was cancelled for the convenience of the office, it would be appropriate to have an appointment scheduled earlier.  The clerk refused.

The patient asked that the dentist be put on the phone.  That actually happened.  When the dentist learned what the situation was a more timely appointment was made.

There was a retired physician at the table.  He remarked that he used to call his office posing as a patient.  Much to his surprise he found out that he did not see patients after 3PM on Wednesdays.  He also learned that according to his office he would be out of town on days where he knew he would be in town.

The point here is that sometimes staff manipulates the bosses even in private business, just like what happens at the city.

In the case of a private business a timely call to the boss might straighten out an unacceptable situation.  I can’t make any promises with our local governments.

Eternal vigilance is the cost of liberty.

Cato

1 Comment | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Cato

Public hearing but not seeing

August 18, 2013

Item 11A on this week’s city council agenda proposes a public hearing and discussion and action to approve the city manager’s proposed budget resolution for 2014.

The backup material does not include the budget resolution.

How can the purposes of a public hearing be fulfilled if the document to be considered is not made available to the public?

I also note that the form used to submit the item for the agenda is not signed.  Neither is the form used to submit the ratification of the property tax increase, nor the form associated with the tax increase ordinance.

Bad sign

Have things gotten so bad down at city hall that the department heads will not sign documents?  Is this a way for them to claim that they were not involved?

We deserve better

Brutus.

Leave a Comment » | City government, Open Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Don’t call me

August 17, 2013

If you take a look at the city web site you can eventually find a phone number for city council and city management staff.

There are also links that take you to pages that let you send your anonymous comments.  This blog has a “Contact the city” button at the top of the page that will give you a list of links.

You might find it interesting that the most junior member of the team, the chief financial officer, does not provide a phone number.  Evidently she does not want to talk to us citizens.

This is the same chief financial officer who has made those horrible financial presentations about the ball park and the move of city hall in front of city council.  She said that the move of city hall would cost $33 million.  We are now over $70 million just using numbers that the city has made public.  When this open records mess is resolved we will undoubtedly see the number rise.  Remember the $50 million dollar ball park.  The public number is now over $62 million.  I plan to post an article soon that will show how even that number is in fact low.  Then as the project progresses we will learn about the money that the city is spending from other funds to build things around the ball park.

Maybe this makes clear why she does not list a phone number.

We deserve better

Brutus

3 Comments | Ball park, City government, Open Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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