ZAP! #65: The Real Free Lunch

ZAP! #65...August 30, 2011

Congratulations Irving ISD!

Five members of the Irving ISD board of trustees have been named winners of the Alfred E. Newman “Free Lunch” Award. This annual award is given to elected officials who manage to spend tax payer bucks that are later converted into free eats, banquets or other culinary extravaganzas to ease their hunger pangs.

The award will be presented to the Entrenched-5 of the school board at an upcoming chamber of commerce banquet. If you recall, the Entrenched-5 represents the “Rubber Stamp Brigade” remaining on the board after the last election. Proudly accepting their awards will be: Valerie Jones, Heather Ashley, Ronda Huffstetler, Jerry Christian and Gwen Craig.

To nail down this award, the above board members approved a $50,000 payment -- which will have to be renewed annually -- to the Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce. Of course, the free eats necessary to capture this accolade were disguised in the board’s resolution as an Economic Development issue. (Did staff of the CCR miss the memo where expanding one’s waist line was considered economic development?)

Also of note was that this $50,000 payment was made on the heels of necessary teacher, staff and program cuts to achieve the 2011-12 proposed budget without raising the effective tax rate.

Since this board item did not reflect details or the amount being voted on in the printed agenda, staff of the CCR had to actually watch and listen to the board meeting to glean the following regarding the $50,000 expenditure. (And this was done without charging the CCR readership list one penny for all the mental anguish!)

Here’s a small portion of the $50,000 “economic development” munching, meeting and eating functions for board consumption: Supporting Sponsor of the Annual Chamber Meeting ($1,250); Gold Sponsor - State of the City Address ($5,000); Silver Sponsor Annual Awards Banquet ($2,500); Supporting Sponsor State of Dallas County ($1,250). (That's $10,000 of chowing down! Someone, please pass the Tums.)

The questions that keep bouncing around in our cranial cavity are: should a governmental entity (IISD) directly/indirectly be supporting operations of a non-profit organization (chamber of commerce)? What will be the actual or tangible product/benefit received for this overly generous “economic development” expenditure? Will only board members or administrative personnel be participants in the culinary “economic development” mix, mingle and nosh festivities? How will this expenditure actually translate into improving recognition rankings from the state for the schools of the district?

Perhaps, the answers to all these questions will be resolved if the Entrenched-5 passes a new district partnership resolution with Jenny Craig.

………………..Mark Holbrook

A reader sez: Fantastic. Anonymous

We Say: Actually, we were trying for revolting. Mark Holbrook

A reader sez: This is incredible. Anonymous

We Say: While true, informing uninformed tax payers would be even more credible. Mark Holbrook

IISD #2

IISD Admin Lunchroom Chatter #2

Nosher #1: Boy, the Super is steaming.

Nosher #2: What seems to be the problem?

Nosher #1: The $100,000+ “skin-study” that purports there is a race war brewing in the middle schools between Hispanics and Blacks was leaked to the press. Not only are the findings of the “study” apparently lacking statistical methodology, but the conclusions seem to be based more on individual perceptions than demonstrable facts.

Nosher #2: Well, you know something must be wrong with the final report of the “study” when even Anthony Bond finds the conclusions suspect and inflammatory!

A note from counsel: These “candid” lunchroom conversations have been injected with fabricated nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, modifiers and maybe a few dangling participles. Mark Holbrook

ER #3

City Hall Elevator Rumblings #3

Rider #1: I think we are about to set a record.

Rider #2: What record is that?

Rider #1: You know. The most consecutive tax rate hikes for Water and Sewer rates in the history of the city. Just watch. The proposed 3% rate hike will slide through this budget while the “muppets” debate what color to paint city water towers.

Rider #2: You’re right! I guess our new Strategic Plan - Goal #11 is starting to pay off. Strategy #13 of the Goal states: "If you put enough words and figures on a sheet of paper, a politico is confused into acceptance."

A note from counsel: These “candid” elevator conversations have been injected with fabricated nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, modifiers and maybe a few dangling participles.

IISD - #1

IISD Admin Lunchroom Chatter #1

Nosher #1: Have you heard the latest?

Nosher #2: No, what?

Nosher #1: Church Lady and Music Lady don’t plan to run for re-election. And since they don’t think voters have IQ’s greater than their shoe size, they may want to resign and appoint the two election-losers from the last election to fill their board seats until the next election.

Nosher #2: Are you serious?

Nosher #1: Let’s hope they try this. If they thought there was a “rubber stamp” sentiment in the community before, this will only bounce back and force them to take a remedial course in cognitive thinking.

A note from counsel: These “candid” lunchroom conversations have been injected with fabricated nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, modifiers and maybe a few dangling participles. Mark Holbrook

ER #1

City Hall Elevator Rumblings #1

Rider #1: Did you go to the CM’s 5^th anniversary, self-congratulatory shindig at the NYLO hotel?

Rider #2: Are you kidding? Free food and booze. And all I had to do was smile like I was enjoying it! Maybe his next freebie-bash will be an "early" retirement one for him.

A note from counsel: These “candid” elevator conversations have been injected with fabricated nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, modifiers and maybe a few dangling participles. Mark Holbrook

ER #2

City Hall Elevator Rumblings #2

Rider #1: These budget hearings and sessions are starting to get me down.

Rider #2: Don’t tell me! It looks like the mayor is being texted her questions and comments from Daddy Deep Pockets. Then, you have “The Mouth” droning five minutes asking just one question. And don’t forget all the firemen in the audience lighting a blaze under the seat of the Newbie to have him fill their shopping list.

Rider #1: Do you think they will figure out where the "squirrel" hid all the bucks?

Rider #2: No way. Don’t forget all the 6-Sigma smoke screens in place. Also, faking removal of the salary step increases will help slide a tax increase through like butter on an August sidewalk. After all, what politico wants to face a mob of angry city employees at election time? We’re almost home free.

A note from counsel: These “candid” elevator conversations have been injected with fabricated nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, modifiers and maybe a few dangling participles. Mark Holbrook

CCR 08-21-11: The Mushrooms Speak

the Controversial Committee Report

“We don’t raise sacred cows...we just butcher them.”

First, thanks to all the readers who took the time to complete the recent CCR survey. The number of respondents greatly exceeded our expectations. It was also surprising to see how many folks had a firm grasp on what is actually happening in the community. And the comments shared reinforced the notion that Irving has issues that need resolving.

The following reflects the responses to the survey. We would have completed this summary sooner, but the staff of the CCR had to do all the tabulating and calculating ourselves. (We couldn’t afford to pay Anthony Bond to handle this task, since he was too busy working on an Entertainment Center project.) We can assure you that the results are accurate and we would consent to a “forensic” audit if paid $150,000. However, all e-mail responses have been deleted and no hard copies maintained in an effort to further protect reader identity. If you need to refer to the survey document, CCR 08-17-11, click on the following link:

http://controversialcommittee.blogspot.com/

Happy reading. And remember, the next step is up to you. Become involved...it might help resolve an issue.

1. On issues that affect the entire community, the city council is more apt to consider input from the following when making their decisions. For those who believe they elect representatives to serve their interest and needs, this may come as a rude awakening. 56% of the survey respondents feel that the Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce has more influence on council decisions than the voting public. And if the chamber isn’t influencing the council enough, then the city staff -- via the city manager (35%) -- has a heavier influence than residents. Only 9% (you read that correctly...9%.) believe that Residents have an impact on council decisions. So much for the notion of representative government!

2. Considering the upcoming city budget development sessions for 2012, should the council consider any increases to fees, rates or taxes? Hands down, respondents feel that NO increase should be proposed for fees, rates or property taxes. With 79% of the responders registering this concern, council spin and flimsy rationale from the city manager to do otherwise will fall on deaf ears with residents. Early indications from the city’s budget development meeting reflect that the city manager seems to be playing the budget “shell game” to crank up additional revenues.

3. With your understanding and knowledge, what is your impression of McDougal’s development of the Heritage District. Residents believe that this project is so far off the track that only the caboose is left in Heritage Park. A whopping 95% believe that McDougal has sold the council a bill of goods that is not being delivered...regardless of the current economy. Staff of the CCR wonders: Could Billy Bob Barnett and Delbert McDougal actually be twins separated at birth?

4. With your understanding and knowledge, what is your impression of the city’s proposed $250 million Entertainment Center? This survey question had more comments than any other question. 39% believe that the original scope and financing for the center was flawed with 48% thinking a more realistic and financially sound development should now be considered. Only 13% believe that the original plan should be implemented. Once again, residents appear to be ahead of the council on the “smart” curve when it comes to recognizing a problem and identifying what should be done to correct it.

5. When you have a problem and contact city hall, the response and resolution you receive from city staff is: 42% have Good results from city staffers, while 44% believe they are Fairly assisted with their concerns. Overall, city staffers -- on the levels where residents are seeking assistance -- seem to work properly to resolve issues of concern for residents.

6. When you have a problem and contact a city council member, the response and resolution you receive is: The response to this question could tag along with question #1 above. If citizens do not feel that their input is being taken seriously, then they might believe their council representative is not doing a very good job of representing them. Only 37% believe that council members respond to their concerns in a Good manner, while 40% believe they Fairly respond. 23% feel that their representative handles their concerns Poorly.

7. Considering results of the last mayoral election, do you feel that the city council has now “moved on” and is prepared to address the issues critical to Irving’s improvement? It is perfectly clear 31% consider that the council has not “moved on” while 12% believe they have since the last mayoral election. Sadly, 57% believe that some individual council members definitely have not “moved on” and their demeanor in meetings seems to be reflective of this attitude. To those council members still pining or whining for the “good old days,” staff of the CCR would remind you: Fine wine cannot be made from sour grapes.

8. Regarding the salary and benefit package of the current city manager, do you consider this justifiable for a city the size of Irving? No surprise here! 85% firmly believe that the city manager is over compensated and maybe even overrated. Sadly, 5% did not know that the city manager was currently paid more than the president of the United States. One has to wonder: If the pay for Irving’s city manager was more in line with what other cities were paying their city managers, would the council really need to increase fees, rates or property taxes?

9. Recently, the city council -- with pressure from the Irving ISD board -- denied the Kroger store’s zoning on MacArthur Blvd. to sell beer and wine...even though the city’s revised Heritage District ordinance allowed for distance variances. Was this a: 84% believe that this was a bad decision (vote) by the council to deny the zoning. Of course, council members offered lame excuses that they were “protecting” the school kids, being a good partner with the IISD or just “doing what was right.” Sometimes, it seems amazing that what a council member thinks is the right thing to do aligns more with political correctness than with what the voting public believes to be the proper thing to do. Adding to the unwarranted vote of the council, Irving ISD board president V. Jones had refused to meet with Kroger officials to review their revised zoning request before the council considered the matter.

COMMENTS:

Many of the comments submitted reinforced the responses that individuals marked on their survey form. Other comments were too profane profound to document in a concise manner in this summary.

Perhaps, a theme running through the comments section was that some council members believe that they are endowed with divine inspiration and decision making skills while Residents are like mushrooms growing in a closet. And the closet door for Residents is only opened to shovel-in another load, or at election time when council members need their vote to stay entrenched.

Maybe, just maybe, the time is about ripe for the Portabellas to unite and escape the confines of the closet.

....................Mark Holbrook

A reader sez:

“The cat fighting between the females on the council is a riot!” Anonymous

We Say:

Hopefully, when all the fur settles the group can start doing what the citizens expect of them. Or, at least act like grown-ups.

CCR 08-17-11: In-Touch or Tetchy

the Controversial Committee Report

“We don’t raise sacred cows...we just butcher them.”

Staff of the CCR receives e-mails almost on a daily basis. Many of these scribblings offer a “right on” regarding a recent posting. Others lament…”you turkey-brained git.” And all of this got us thinking. (A rare occurrence.) Why not conduct a survey of the readership to gauge, as best as possible, the actual pulse of those who follow these ramblings. Doing this might just provide staff of the CCR with some insight for future opines.

So, when you receive this e-mail: (1) hit your Reply button (DO NOT hit Reply All); (2) Record your response by typing an ”X” in the appropriate box; (3) hit Send.

Granted, this is not a scientific survey, but the questions are presented in as unbiased as possible wording. Remember, your responses are Confidential to the CCR. We do not divulge readership names or identify sources of information used in the reports. Since 1984, we are proud of this relationship with our readers. And the number of readers is also protected via the use of bcc: when routing.

Staff of the CCR will accumulate your responses to the survey and send out an “executive” summary of the results in a later edition. If individuals on your mailing list want to complete the survey, we will tally their results and add them to the CCR mailing list.

1. On issues that affect the entire community, the city council is more apt to consider input from the following when making their decisions.

[ ] Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce

[ ] City manager and staff

[ ] Residents

2. Considering the upcoming city budget development sessions for 2012, should the council consider any increases to fees, rates or taxes?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

3. With your understanding and knowledge, what is your impression of McDougal’s development of the Heritage District?

[ ] The plan is working and on track.

[ ] The plan is not working and off track.

[ ] Not familiar with the project.

4. With your understanding and knowledge, what is your impression of the city’s proposed $250 million Entertainment Center?

[ ] Too much time and money has been expended with highly questionable results.

[ ] The project should be completed as originally proposed.

[ ] A new and affordable plan, that does not burden tax payers, should be considered.

5. When you have a problem and contact city hall, the response and resolution you receive from city staff is:

[ ] Good

[ ] Fair

[ ] Poor

6. When you have a problem and contact a city council member, the response and resolution you receive is:

[ ] Good

[ ] Fair

[ ] Poor

7. Considering results of the last mayoral election, do you feel that the city council has now “moved on” and is prepared to address the issues critical to Irving’s improvement?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Not all have “moved on”

8. Regarding the salary and benefit package of the current city manager, do you consider this justifiable for a city the size of Irving?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Don’t know what he makes

9. Recently, the city council -- with pressure from the Irving ISD board -- denied the Kroger store’s zoning on MacArthur Blvd. to sell beer and wine...even though the city’s revised Heritage District ordinance allowed for distance variances. Was this a:

[ ] Good decision

[ ] Bad decision

In this area, type any comments you might have regarding the survey, your responses or other issues in general.

COMMENTS:

ZAP! #64: Celebrate?!

ZAP! #64...August 14, 2011

The staff of the CCR cordially invites you to…wait, this isn’t our party to sneak folks in. We may be just paying for it.

If you haven’t seen the latest edition of The Irving Rambler, then you missed the colored ad inviting the Northern String Pullers to the 5^th anniversary of Capo Tommy Gonzalez as Irving’s city manager. This shindig is being sponsored by Irving’s Lubbock Mafia Chamber of Commerce. Business attire requested...ring kissing optional.

The first thought that comes to mind is...what? If the invitation ad, hotel booking (NYLO Hotel) and nosh items are being paid for by the chamber, is the funding for this party part of the $2+ million* that Irving tax payers fork over to subsidize this institution? When will the chamber sponsor a hot dog feast in south Irving Senter Park for Fred in the Water Department recognizing his 35-years of service fixing broken water mains in the middle of the night and on weekends?

Somehow, this 5^th anniversary bash seems a little egotistical and self-congratulatory. Forget that tax payers could be paying for this soirée, it seems absurd that the Northern String Pullers always overlook the grief and aggravation residents endure daily with the city bureaucracy led by the city manager.

Maybe, the staff of the CCR is just out of touch. Perhaps, we should really be glad that we have the opportunity to celebrate and salute the city manager’s five years of achievements that have included: increased taxes, rates and fees; restrictive small business ordinances; low morale of city employees; compensation greater than the president of the U.S.; silent as a Sphinx when financial advisors and bond underwriters informed officials in 2010 that the city could not meet bond revenue requirements for their $200 million portion of the $250 million Entertainment Center; the killing of a rain forest by all the 6-Sigma documents, reports and other materials that gather dust on shelves; inability to often respond to reporters on topical issues where he has critical knowledge of the item; the $2 million sidewalk in the urban center; the ugly, inefficient and dim new street lights all along Irving Boulevard; inordinate number of “business” meetings and lunches on the city’s tab; the continued turmoil festering in the fire department ranks; residential ordinances and enforcers who give new meaning to the term our “brown shirts” are here to help you; bond re-financing savings going to prop up the ICVB due to slack revenue projections for the convention center project; turning the 4^th floor of city hall into a bunker making it easier to visit the Pope than to see the city manager; the utter folly, cost and lack of construction for “McDougalville” in the Heritage District; collapsing positions and departments in order to provide him an invisible shield of accountability/protection from the general public; and all the unnecessary expenses associated with the creation of a new city logo that surely pleased all the Northern String Pullers.

After all, five years could be a record for the Capo. It has taken Irving residents this long to realize that their interest are secondary to those of the Northern String Pullers. And the city council appears to be as slow witted as the citizenry in this regard.

………..Mark Holbrook

* Note: $450,000 of the $2+ million that the city channels to the chamber is advertising revenues collected on the old Texas Stadium sign. There are those on the council that might not even be aware of the existence of this sweetheart deal between the chamber and the city.

BS #43: Perils of Blogging

BlogSpasm #43...August 5, 2011

Let’s get something straight...what you read on these blog postings or any comments posted on the DMN blog happen to be OPINIONS of the CCR. When facts are necessary, they are interspersed within the postings. What some folks seem to be having trouble with is reading an item by the CCR and then injecting their own interpretation into what they have just read. More often than not...their interpretation is incorrect.

The last sentence of a recent posting to an article on the Dallas Morning News blog (see link below) does not -- repeat, does not -- state, infer or accuse Mr. Martinez of accepting, collecting or receiving any monies for his work with the Irving chamber while representing their interest in the city’s legal efforts regarding the $250 million Entertainment Center law suits.

DMN Posting:

Chuckle of the day: "A person making decisions on questions that will affect how much he or she is paid holds an irreconcilable bias, Martinez said in a letter to council members." Don't lawyers enter into contingency agreements with clients? Maybe, not those representing the city's interest in the Entertainment Center law suits, since it is easier to tap into the city's wallet for a sure pay check. Isn't Mr. Martinez part of the gaggle of lawyers involved in this court action?”

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/irving/headlines/20110802-irving-mayor-pressing-for-audit-but-knows-she-could-come-up-short.ece

The posting was sure clear to us. But then, we have read the “Blogging for Dummies” manual six times. We hope to have all the pictures colored by our seventh reading.

What the above blog comment does reflect is that Mr. Martinez IS part and parcel of a gaggle of lawyers who have been involved in this court action. Whether his work was pro bono or paid wasn’t the issue. That issue was not broached in the context of his being a party to the legal actions. He is part and parcel of a group of lawyers aligned with the city in their law suit efforts.

This is what was written. This is what was meant. And this couldn’t have been any clearer.

The next time that Mr. Martinez discovers Ms. Martinez responding to one of our blog postings (DMN or here), perhaps, he should review her response first and delete any false outrage penned. This would also eliminate his appearing before the Irving council and espousing an inaccurate claim of being “personally attacked” and “accused” of being paid for services rendered.

Who knew a lawyer could be so sensitive?

…………..Mark Holbrook

Note: If you would like your own personal copy of ""What a Gaggle of Lawyers Looks Like," send us an e-mail. It's free! Offer valid only for those on the official CCR reader's list.

A reader sez: Hey Mark. We read Mrs. Martinez’s nonsense on the Dallas Morning News blog. You shouldn’t have even responded. Her comments to you were almost rational compared to many of the other rantings she sends to folks in the community. Please send me a copy of What A Gaggle Of Lawyers Looks Like! Thanks. Anonymous

We Say: We had not planned to respond. However, when Mr. Martinez appeared before the city council and played his “sympathy” card for all the Rah-Rah-Kool-Aid sippers battling the mean folks who do not like voodoo financing of the Entertainment Center, we couldn’t resist. Mark Holbrook

BS #42: Flotsam and Jetsam

BlogSpasm #42...August 4, 2011

City Departments or PACs?

We may be a little confused and just don’t understand the new politic. It seems that somewhere along the line some current city departments may have transitioned from being city operations to open political supporters. Case in point: The ICVB has and continues to launch e-mails, phone calls and maybe even Tweets to muster up folks to help spread the fluff and puff of the Las Colinas Group. Tonight’s city council meeting is just another example of a city department attempting to lobby support and overt council consideration for the $250 million Entertainment Center.

What happened to the good old days when city departments ran their operations and left the politics to voters and the council for action? Are we going to see the Street Department sending thirsty supporters to the council to lobby for more bags of ice on their trucks? How far away are we from Irving’s Lubbock Mafia sending goons to households and telling folks to support higher property taxes? Didn’t voters recently witness the calamitous role the Irving firemen’s union PAC had on an election?

OZ’s Curtain

You heard it here first. Pulling the “curtain and exposing Oz” on the Irving ISD work sessions is a good idea! Even though this item was promoted by a board member (Huffstetler) and not directed by the administration for consideration, the public will benefit by seeing just how strong or weak board members are in their work session discussions. The televising of work sessions has been suggested many times over the years, but apparently previous boards and superintendents were not keen to decisional oversight of this magnitude.

Staff of the CCR hopes that this new TV exposure of Irving ISD board members does not become preening or political sessions, but rather factual and informative deliberations for tax payers benefit.

Believe in Reincarnation?

Staff of the CCR just converted to being believers in reincarnation. While we thought the “election was over,” it appears that the message either didn’t reach Councilman Santoscoy or he is the former mayor reincarnated. Yesterday, a work session agenda item related to another financial review -- which we do not support -- of Entertainment Center expenditures. This should have been a cut and dry item. The item was on the agenda...either vote for or against it. (Actually, it could even die for lack of a second.) End of discussion.

Instead, folks were treated to yet another council “cat fight” led again by Councilman Santoscoy. Not only does his agenda item-bashing of the mayor channel the former mayor, but he seems to have added the loquacious-gabbing of Councilman Philipp and the water toting job for the Las Colinas Group’s Charles Cotton and Billy Bob. Wow! A three persona reincarnation. Of course, Santoscoy is the “point” person for probably three or more other members of the council...which is another sad reminder that even these folks don’t realize that the election is over. Did the cat get their tongues?

Message to Councilman Santoscoy: Let the CCR kick the cats, since we are not reincarnated or reconstituted by those who have a specific agenda or stand to gain from council decisions.

………..Mark Holbrook