© 2003, Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
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Story Links: Galveston City Council Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show Houston Independent School District Galveston Police Department Blood Drive Galveston ISD Physical Education Show
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A community relations representative of the United States Department of Justice, who has been in town meeting with persons who are accusing police of racial bigotry, attacked the news media during an appearance before Galveston City Council on Thursday. Several speakers, who met with Senior Conciliation Specialist Richard Sambrano at the Old Central Cultural Center Wednesday night, complained to the city council about the way police handled the arrest of several young boys accused of killing a cat. One officer was accused of choking one of the boys, cursing and using racial slurs. At the end of the four hour, meeting Sambrano chastised the city council for enforcing time limits on speakers. "Rules are rules, but rules can be changed," Sambrano said. "I say that as a suggestion because I think what is important here is for the community to heal, and I think you want input from them. That's what we provide. And I usually don't say, especially in front of the media, because they can always go out there and distort what I said." Tarris Woods, who has run for city council against Cornelia Harris Banks, was furious that neither Banks nor Council Member Booker Price had reacted to the racial allegations. "You need to ask me what I have done," Banks said, explaining that she did meet personally with the detectives who investigated the complaint and the attorney representing the children. "Those of you who want to ask me anything, from this day forward, please call me on the phone and say 'Cornelia, what's up?' but don't ever accuse me of nothing unless you ask me first." "My church members have never approached me and talked to me about this," Price said, pointing to one of the protestors in the audience. "I would like to think that in a situation like this, and with the experience that I have had in law enforcement for the last 32 years, we could have been much further down the line on solving this problem. But I never was approached." Judy Edwards, who was recently fired from her job as city cashier, appeared before the city council to complain about the way her case was handled. She was supported by members of the PACE union. The city council approved an agreement with John Bertolino and the Galveston Municipal Police Association to resolve a lawsuit. City Manager Steve LeBlanc detailed changes in the employee insurance plan that he said he worked out with Bertolino. Listen However Bertolino balked when he read the agreement. "This is not what we agreed to." Listen The city council approved a $47,000 contract with Junction Consulting to perform a management/efficiency study of the Galveston Police Department. The city council approved an agreement with Greer Herz and Adams for work in connection with "Operation 54," a new program to deal with dangerous buildings. City Attorney Susie Green announced an initial success; she reported that the Plantowsky Building will be demolished soon. The city council voted to upgrade the mayor's Seawall Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee to a formal city council committee. Several people addressed the city council in support of paid parking on the Seawall, and some residents expressed concern for neighborhoods near the Seawall. The city council voted to dissolve its finance committee to create a new Finance and Fiscal Affairs Committee requiring members to have at least five years of "sophisticated experience in the budget process of governmental entities or other substantial organizations." Ann Maisel, Richard Moore, Ed Clack, Steve Greenberg, Shrub Kempner and Fred Micks, who served on the previous committee were named to the new entity, and on a motion by Lyda Ann Thomas, Greg Roof was appointed to the committee. The city council voted to renew its contract with Clay Pope for lobbyist services at the State Capitol. The city council approved an enhanced mutual aid agreement with the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department. The city council approved a $74,000 contract with AMTRAK to provide passenger service between League City and Galveston for the Mardi Gras celebration. The city council voted to defer action on proposed changes in speed limits on FM 3005. All other agenda items were approved. In workshop, the city council met with Galveston Historical Foundation Executive Director Marsh Davis and agreed to review the Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Board's "death sentence" for a late annual report, with the intention of restoring funding. "We are all human beings," said Mayor Roger Quiroga, asking Council Member Joe Jaworski, who serves on the board to reconsider the action. "We messed this thing up by being too strict." However, Quiroga agreed that penalties assessed other organizations must also be addressed. The city council met with the city's code enforcement officers who complained that the municipal court is too lax in dealing with violators. Finance
Director Rick Glassett reported to the city council that
sales tax revenues were down 12 percent in December and are
down six percent overall since the fiscal year began.
He also reported that revenues are down also in several
other areas. Santa
Fe City Council Santa Fe City Council cancelled a scheduled public hearing on the proposed annexation Thursday night. Mayor Robert Cheek said the annexation, which has been planned since 1999, must be postponed until 2008. "The city has been advised by legal council that certain procedures had not been followed," Cheek reported. "The city cannot complete the proposed annexation within thirty-one days after the third anniversary of adopting the annexation plan, and therefore, must cancel annexation proceedings at this time." The city council voted to reappoint Ronnie Schultz and Daisy Willoughby to the Park Board and appointed Anthony Hansen to the board. The
city council officially called the May 3 municipal election.
The mayor's seat and city council positions currently held
by Rosie Morales, and Ralph Stenzel will be on the ballot. Port Arthur City Council made several appointments to the Port Arthur Youth Council at this week's meeting. Mayor Oscar Ortiz named Alexis Washington, Elyssa Washington and Melea Linden to the council. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Henderson appointed Matt Kimball, T.J. Henderson and Kaley Spell. Council Member Craig Hannah appointed Nigel Porter, Ellington Ambroise and John Kelly. Council Member Felix A. Barker appointed Una Gilbert, Angelica Gutierrez and Vanny Espinoza. Council Member Tom Gillam appointed Kalena Lawrence, Daniel Vincent and Charles B.W. Prince. Council Member Ronnie Linden appointed Jeffery Joseph, Anthony (Spanky) OcKimey and Alicia McClain. Council Member Robert Bowers appointed Jacori Narcisse and Jalessa McClain. Council Member Rose Chaisson appointed Evan Gauthia, Breona King and Ashton Moses. Council
Member Michael Sinegal
appointed Charles Wiltz,
Tom Gillam, IV and Lorena
Sanchez. Houston
Independent School District The Houston Independent School District Board of Education discussed graduation rates on Thursday. Much of the discussion centered around the way the rates are calculated. Listen Roberto Gonzalez, who is heading a peer committee on the issue, said the dropout rate is now thirteen percent, but others, including trustees Jeff Shadwick and Lawrence Marshall, criticized that report. “We have 800 freshman, 200 graduate, and the dropout rate is thirteen percent?" asked Shadwick. "We all know it’s about forty percent.” “It is inconceivable how anyone can report a dropout rate of under twenty-five percent when we look at the number of students we have in the first grade and the number of students we have in twelfth grade," agreed Marshall. It’s indefensible that the dropout rate is under 25 percent if 50 percent of first-graders don’t finish twelfth grade.” Gonzalez agreed the data is flawed, but said HISD is bound by state and federal law to use certain standards in evaluating graduation rates. He said that increased mobility has caused unprecedented numbers of students to switch school districts during their high school careers, and that there are not adequate methods to track those transfers. Gonzalez also said that census studies have skewed the data by tracking immigrants who never attended school. “How can they drop out if they never drop in?” HISD Superintendent Kaye Stripling said a program is being developed to track students who leave HISD but graduate from other schools within Region IV. She said the HISD goal is an 85 percent graduation rate by 2006. Gonzales said that his committee will develop a clear definition of "dropout" and also will identify programs that are working. The board voted 7-1, with Shadwick opposed, to table two proposed rule changes that might prohibit teachers from distributing information critical of the school board, including newspaper articles given to other teachers. Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston chapter of the American Federation of Teachers spoke in opposition to the proposals. “When you try to restrict our ability to communicate with our members, we consider it an act of war, second only to payroll deductions,” said Fallon. Contractors representing W.C.W. International and the Trevino Group complained to the school board about the HISD bidding process, which recently awarded over $600 million in contracts to build sixteen new schools in Houston. “What did the other teams offer you in a performance guarantee? What did the other companies offer you in Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise guarantees?” asked Dale Trevino. He said his team offered definite performance dates and M/WBE considerations which were not taken into account in the bidding process. “We charged the superintendent with setting up a fair bid process and that is what she did," said Trustee Karla Cisneros. "I was told by a contractor 'When we win a job it's because of our egos, when we lose, it’s politics'.” All other agenda items were passed. Trustee Laurie Bricker was absent. The City of Galveston is organizing a blood drive on behalf of Sergeant Jerry Roberts, who was shot in the line of duty on February 12. The bloodmobile, provided by UTMB, will be located at the vacant parking lot on the corner of 26th Street and Sealy behind City Hall on February 20 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The 50 Club of Galveston County has established a fund for Roberts' family at Moody National Bank. Citizens
wishing to send cards to the officer and his family may send
them to the Galveston Police Department, P.O. Box 568,
Galveston, TX 77553. Galveston Public Works Department The City of Galveston Public Works Department will be repairing the west side of the intersection at 61st Street and Heards Lane next week. Weather permitting, this project will begin on February 19. For
questions concerning the project call (409) 797-3630. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Thursday urged the House of Representatives to approve a welfare reform plan that empowers families and promotes independence through work.
"We believe that for people in need, it's the job of the federal government to empower people mired in dependency to determine their own destiny," DeLay said. "We understand that people who need a hand-up still aspire to pursue their American dream."
Delay said critics of the plan don't trust people to make the "vital transition to independence" themselves.
"They just don't get the downside to dependency," Delay said. The
Ninth Annual Galveston County Health Fair 5k Fun Run/Walk
will be held on Saturday, March 8, on the Galveston
Seawall. The event is organized by University of Texas
Medical Branch students. After the race, participants are invited to attend the Ninth Annual Galveston County Health Fair in the parking lot. The
health fair will include a variety of children's activities,
health information booths, live entertainment and door
prizes. Galveston Independent School District PE Show Galveston
Independent School District will host its annual elementary
physical education show on Monday, February 17 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Ball High Gym, 41st Street between Avenue O and
Avenue P. During the show, students from grades K-8,
will display the skills learned through their PE classes. Scheduled
Meetings Today,
February 14
Saturday, February 15 Sunday,
February 16 Monday,
February 17 |
Story Links, on the left side of this page, is composed of "bookmarks" to the stories in the newsletter. Click on the link to go directly to the article. Print individual articles by first clicking on the "Print Version" link, then using your regular print program. On The Online News Station, if you click on an audio cut and the photos stop loading, click on Refresh or Reload and they will resume. Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties.
This electronic newsletter replaces, and expands on, the mission
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Galveston Island in Galveston County reporters, covering the city council meetings of all 13 municipal governments plus several school boards and special utility districts, include Jinelle Boyd, Drew Gilbert, Shannon Hall, Kristina Weaver, Tom Foster, Jo Ann Gowing and Dedra Kratts. Weaver, Foster, Gowing and Kratts also cover the Harris County entities surrounding Clear Lake. Scott Nowell covers Harris County Commissioners Court, Houston City Council, and meetings of organizations in downtown Houston. Carl Guidry, representing Guidry News Service in Jefferson County, covers Jefferson County Commissioners Court, Beaumont City Council and Port Arthur City Council. We are seeking additional reporters to expand our coverage in Jefferson County. Gulf Coast E-news also will continue coverage of regional organizations in the Gulf Coast area. Gulf Coast E-news is interactive with The Guidry News Service Online News Station, providing coverage of special events and public meetings with photos and audio. Terry Arnold and Barbara Ward are marketing representatives for The Online News Station. Marketing representatives are being recruited in Harris and Jefferson counties. Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax. A fax-only version of the newsletter is available for $350 per year or $87.50 per quarter, plus tax. Current subscribers to Galveston Fax or Clear Lake Area E-news will automatically receive Gulf Coast E-news.
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