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Behind the Scenes in Garland, Tx.                                                                    

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May 31, 2008     The Demise  of the White American Male

Three months ago the Dallas Morning News ran a story about a family  who relocated  to Garland after Hurricane Katrina.   Supposedly their  house had been   burglarized and the "N" word spray painted on the walls of their home.  This prompted a former black Plan Commissioner to write an email to Councilman Jeffus expressing outrage.   

We should all feel outrage when innocent people are victimized.  But why did this former Plan Commissioner consider  this  incident   a city wide problem of "regional bias and bigotry"  that Councilman Jeffus was  somehow responsible to change? 

The  question the writer  posed  to Jeffus was,  "how  do you propose we address what appears to be a recurring cancer (racist behavior) that has surfaced in our city over the last few months?" This is an unfair question  because it  implies that Jeffus  was   closing his eyes to racist behavior by not doing more about this alleged  "recurring cancer"  even  though the  incident was being investigated by the police.  To the writer of the email   it did not seem Council, and Jeffus in particular,   was  doing enough.     

It's  unfortunate that this incident happened  but in my opinion racism,  whether these acts  be directed against whites, blacks or browns,   may  never be entirely eradicated until Jesus comes back.     There will always  be people who hate and discriminate.  Nobody in our society condones it.     We have passed laws that punish the guilty,     but  that does not mean the problem will ever completely disappear.     


Whatever Happened to Equal Opportunity?

It was  Martin Luther King who called for a colorblind,  less race-and-gender conscious society. Unfortunately his "I have a dream"  vision  has   evolved into a government-mandated group spoils system.   Over the last 50 years laws have been passed  making it a criminal offense to engage in the kind of behavior described in the Dallas Morning News article.   Yet, the problem still exists because  what society needs is a change of heart, something only God can bring about.

What is very freightening these days is that  hate-filled and incindiary sermons are coming from some  black  pulpits    fanning the flames of hatred against   people who are not considered minority.   

Laws  are on the books prohibiting    discrimination in employment, in housing, in education, and other areas of life.  Is it  any wonder that white folks are asking why, all things being equal,    a minority with a lower score on a  police sergeant's test is hired over a white man who scored higher?  

These days if one is a  white male trying to get into college,  character and a high grade point average  do not count for much except getting bumped to the bottom of the list in order to accommodate  someone  whose skin color carries priviledge.     With inclusive victimhood, everyone on campus can be entitled to special compassion and programs  except white males who are acutely aware that their institutions have demonstrated little interest in them as a group. 


It was the  1964 Civil Rights Act that created the EEOC   and   Section 703(j) of that act states: "Nothing contained in this title shall be interpreted to require any employer . . . to grant preferential treatment to any individual or to any group . . . on account of an imbalance." Section 703(a) forbids employers to "limit, segregate, or classify" employees based on their "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin."   

If this is the law, how did the Clinton Administration get away with making a statement that  "a white male will not be considered for attorney general?"   Hello, Janet Reno!

And how about the statement made by Clinton appointee Mary Francis Berry,  that   "civil rights laws were not passed to give civil rights to all Americans"—only to "disfavored groups," such as "blacks, Hispanics, and women."    Is it fair that  white males in our society today are  being disenfranchised and discriminated against?       Are white men only needed to toil and pay increasingly higher   taxes in order to pay for  more entitlement programs? 


I applaud the work of MLK, but look what's  happened over the years to his  dream of a level playing field for everyone regardless of  race or gender.  We've come a long way since the 60's, yet today   the white person  is  constantly being challenged to  prove he   is not racist.    Our Council could not  vote to raze Eastgate without a black  man speaking before the Council and   pulling out the race card.     The  white man cringes  at the thought of such an accusation and is constantly turning himself   inside out trying to prove something he may never have been  in the first place ... a racist.       


When I think of where our society is going I feel frustrated and angry.     What started out as a demand for equal opportunity in the 60's has evolved into  ongoing affirmative action, quotos,  entitlements, and reverse discrimination and a mentality that says,  "let's blame the white man for all our problems."   When will this end?    Whatever happened to individual responsibility and accountability? 

The way I see it,  over the last 50 years  politicians  have  created a monster that frequently rears it's ugly head in the form of    "race baiting."      MLK's  vision of society was one in which every person would  be judged on the content of their character and not the color of their skin. MLK's vision has morphed into something he never intended.       

Over the last 50 years our "guilt ridden"  and/or  self serving   politicians and educators   have pushed  hiring quotas, affirmative action programs, dumbed down education, bussed kids out of neighborhood schoools, increased entitlements to astronomical proportions,  and offered incentives in every area of life to help minorities improve their standard of living.   And with all this,  the white man is still being blamed ... blamed for deliberately spreading AIDS into the black community, blamed for WW2,   blamed for not supporting the PLO, blamed for the drug epidemic among minorities,   blamed for the high drop out rate among black high school students,   blamed for  9-1-1, blamed for incarcerating too many black criminals, and despite  all the entitlement programs there is  always the underlying accusations that white folks  are not doing enough.   It's never enough .............. never enough .............. never enough.  


DART Board Appointment

Is it understandable that  today some of us are wondering   why  the Mayor is pushing  Council to appoint  his friend and campaign supporter to the DART Board before a search has been made seeking the most qualified individual?     Doesn't this smack of cronyism?  

I can only hope that the Council does the right thing and  appoints the most qualified person to the DART Board.  This was the dream MLK expressed many years ago when he publicly opposed preferential treatment for  anyone.  In keeping with MLK's dream,  let   this Council insist on a  level playing field where everyone has an equal chance based on qualifications.   That will take guts on the part of this Council -- a refusal to  be pressured into making appointments based on anything other than objective criteria.    

THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Singer  Rene Marie,  subs 'black anthem' for 'Star Spangled Banner'
'Can you imagine what it would be like if we had a white national anthem?'
Posted: July 02, 2008
1:46 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily


A singer who was to perform the "Star Spangled Banner" at the presentation of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address yesterday substituted the "Black National Anthem" without notifying anyone, because she says as a black, she just doesn't feel American.

"I pulled a switcheroonie on them," Rene Marie said in a report in the Denver Post.

In a video of the event, Marie had been introduced by city council president Michael Hancock, who said she would sing the national anthem. Instead, she sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the "Black National Anthem," to the tune of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

Audience members were bewildered, council members outraged and the mayor expressed his disappointment.

"We were as surprised as anyone that jazz singer Rene Marie did not sing our national anthem at today's State of the City ceremony, as our staff had requested. As I listened to her sing, I assumed she would eventually move into the traditional Star Spangled Banner," Hickenlooper said in a statement.

Council member Charlie Brown said, "There is no substitute for the national anthem. Period. This is the State of the City address. It's not an NAACP convention."

Some of the strongest reaction, however, came from Denver area residents who were participating in the forum page on the controversy at the Rocky Mountain News.

"Can you imagine what it would be like for whites if we had a 'white national anthem'?" speculated "Jan8." "I heard someone saying this had nothing to do with race? What?"

"Was she asked to sing the Black National Anthem? Obviously her color is more important to her than this country. Is it a 'black pride thing'? Is she trying to tell us she wished the U.S. were a black country?"

The newspaper reports said the singer explained she had decided months ago not to sing the "Star Spangled Banner" anymore.

The Post reported she was being interviewed by a Russian broadcaster who asked her what it was like to be American.

"And I realized I didn't feel like an American, and that bothered me a great deal," the singer said.



The singer told the Post she deliberately didn't tell anyone her plans, "because I don't think it is necessary for an artist to ask permission to express themselves artistically."

Hancock said the stunt was "inappropriate, and he's been getting hate-filled e-mails over her actions.

"As if I made the decision to do this – I'm receiving a lot of hate mail," he told the paper. "I've received quite a few e-mails that are quite nasty."

Also on the Rocky Mountain News forum page, "Dinty," concluded, "A total lack of respect for the occasion."

Among the hundreds of comments, "scotterjag" added, "all i can say about her, and anyone who supports her, is CLASSLESS! when given the chance to sing The National Anthem, it should be considered an honor, and not one's personal platform to express their views. if you want to express your views like that, I'll buy you a one way ticket to any other country you want to live in, and you can get the hell out of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!"


MORE ON UNITY .. ARE WE DIVIDING OVER THE BASICS? 
Granny, Sarah Hussein Obama
Candidate for President of the USA
         Barak Hussein  Obama
Mrs. Barak Hussein Obama

http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html 
URGENT MESSAGE .... MUST SEE VIDEO
Sign InView Entries
The Obama Tidal Wave

We are witnessing a political phenomenon with Barack Obama of rare
magnitude. His speeches have inspired millions and yet most of his followers
have no idea of what he stands for except platitudes of 'Change' or that he
says he will be a 'Uniter'.

The power of speech from a charismatic person truly can be a powerful thing.
Certainly Billy Graham had charisma. Both his manner of speech and
particularly the content changed millions.

On the extreme other hand, the charisma of Adolph Hitler, too, inspired
millions and the results were catastrophic.

Barack Obama certainly is no Hitler or a Billy Graham, but for many
Americans riding on the Obama Tidal Wave it is just like a surfer who might
be ecstatic and euphoric while riding a tidal wave, but the reality of the
ride is what happens when it hits shore.

Just Some of What Defines Barack Obama:

* He voted for partial birth abortion.
* He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
* Supports affirmative action in Colleges and Government (quotas)..
* In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing as being too
severe.
* Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as minimum wage affair.
* Admitted his use of marijuana and cocaine in high school and in college.
* His religious convictions are very murky.
He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
* Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have
a conference with all Muslim nations.    Why?
* Opposed the Patriot Act.
First bill he signed that was ever passed was campaign finance reform.
Voted to allow law suits against gun manufacturers.
* Supports universal health-care.
* Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
Supports granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
* Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
* Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
* Wants to make the minimum wage a 'living wage'.
* Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes. (241 votes Demo, 10
votes Republican)
* Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
* Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports
increasing the amount of tax paid into Soc. Sec. Tax Increase.
*He voted No on repealing the alternative Minimum Tax which now hits middle
income brackets. Tax Increase.
* He voted No on repealing the 'Death' Tax. Tax Increase.
* He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax. Tax Increase.
* Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded...which is not true.
* He is ranked as the most liberal Senator in the Senate today and that
takes some doing.

If your political choices are consistent with Barack Obama's and you think
that his positions will bring America together or make it a better place,
then you will probably enjoy the ride and not forward this Email.

If you are like most Americans that after examining what he stands for, are
truly not in line with his record, it would be prudent to get off the wave
or better yet, never get on, before it comes on shore and undermines the
very foundations of this great Country. We have limited time to save America
or the Supreme Court as we know it.

Inaction is action.

If you agree this is important, pass it on. The mainstream media will not do
it for you!

Bill Brown


September 19, 2008    HOW MUCH IS YOUR PROPERTY WORTH?

Garland homeowners  may well be  paying property taxes based on appraisals done twelve months or more ago.    If  this is the case  you may be  paying too much property tax.      Homeowners should  challenge their appraisal  if   property tax  for 2008 is not  calculated on current   market  values.

In the last  twelve months there has been a  22.87% overall decline  in the value of existing residential housing in Garland.      These estimates are based on Fidelity National's automated valuation model. 

Want to know what your home would  currently sell for? Click onto  http://www.cyberhomes.com

Enter the address you are looking for.   The value that appears is based on  what your house was worth 12 months ago.     With the housing market  in free fall,  deduct at least 15% from the price shown.    Check the Dallas Central Appraisal District website below  and compare the numbers.     

                      http://www.dallascad.org/SearchAddr.aspx
History has proven that a democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.  A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.  From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) usually followed by a dictatorship.  The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations have progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith
From spiritual faith to great courage
From great courage to liberty
From liberty to abundance
From abundance to complacency
From complacency to apathy
From apathy to governmental dependency
From governmental dependency back into bondage

Thanks to these duped voters, we will now progress rather quickly from the “complacency to apathy” stage to the “apathy to governmental dependency” stage.  And, then we will awake some morning and find ourselves in the “governmental dependency back into bondage” stage!

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. . . . . Ronald Reagan



View the video, "FITNA"   ..... THEN SPEAK OUT TO END THE VIOLENCE

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=216_1207467783
           RISD has an ROTC Program --  GISD does not.  Why?  

That's the question  parents and teachers should be asking the Garland School Board.  Listed below are email addresses   for all GISD Board members.  Just click on the email address and send your comments.   There are many advantages for students who become part of an ROTC Program.    For information, please contact              Chief Warrant Oficer, Edward Govan  at  Chiefpoly@yahoo.com.   
"To Motivate Young People to Be Better Citizens"

Why Join Army Junior ROTC:

To appreciate the ethical values and principles that underlie good citizenship.

To develop leadership potential, while living and working cooperatively with others.

To be able to think logically and to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing.

To appreciate the importance of physical fitness in maintaining good health.

To understand the importance of high school graduation for a successful future, and learn about college and other advanced educational and employment opportunities.

To develop mental management abilities.

To become familiar with military history as it relates to America's culture, and understand the history, purpose, and structure of military services.

To develop the skills necessary to work effectively as a member of a team.
Contact the following GISD Board Members regarding an  ROTC Program for our students

Place 2Robert Harris, Presidentrharris@shannongracey.com
Place 1Larry Glick, V.P. larry.glick@txc.rr.com
Place 6Keith Montgomery, Secykmontgomery@compassinsurance.com
Place 3        Linda Griffinllgriffi@garlandisd.net
Place 5Scott Luna         sluna@lunalunallp.net
Place 4Cindy Castaneda      ccastan@garlandisd.net

                 Since there is no email address listed for Place 7 he shall remain nameless.    

                                    If you are looking for an excellent dentist, please consider
                                  Robert Smith, DDS
                                                                       1605 N. Garland Avenue
                                                                       Garland, 75040
                                                                          972-272-3496 
              

#2                  CITY COUNCIL BUDGET INFORMATION

Take a look at the Council budget.  The Mayor's personal assistant receives $67,999 in salary plus other benefits.  Why doesn't this figure  remain part of the  City Council budget?   Why transfer it out  to another department?    Answer:  to make it appear that Council is actually spending less money than they did a year ago.    How  very clever!    The taxpayers are still  picking up the tab.   In actuality the Council budget has increased by $68,000 plus. 

1. What does the City Council budget entail?

The Council budget provides funding and support for Council activities as they conduct City business and represent Garland and its citizens.

FY2008-09 Approved Budget              $176,693

2. What kind of items are covered?

The City Council budget funds the following items:

Monthly stipend for Council members (per Charter)                               49,088
Assistant to the Mayor                                                                                   67,999
Refreshments/meals for Council meetings and work sessions           13,325
Wireless Internet access                                                                                    5,940
Cell phone reimbursement                                                                                8,000
Postage and printing/copying fees                                                                 1,425
Misc office supplies, business cards, etc                                                      4,400
Professional services (Council retreat and other)                                     21,800
Travel, registration costs for TML & NLC conferences,
                                         as well as local events                                            72,715
                                                                                                                            _______

Total Approved Budget                                                                                $244,692                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Salary/benefits charge-out                                                                            (67,999)

Net budget                                                                                                       $176,693
                                                                                    
3. How large was last year's budget?    
                
FY-2007-2008                                                                                                  $182,460

4. How much is projected for next year?

The City Council FY2009-2010 budget is   currently being  reviewed  by  the  City  Council Administrative Services  Committee.


August 30, 2009        WHAT IS A "PERFORMANCE BASED" AWARD? 

The City of Garland is presently  around $7 million dollars in the hole.    That deficit, however,   has not kept City Manager, Bill Dollar from coming up with his own version of a  Ponzi scheme called   "performance based awards"  by which he can reward people he considers to be "performers."   Since there are only 17 people who qualify as  "performers,"  and the award to Mr. Schwertner remains confidential, the total cost of this Ponzi scheme also remains  "confidential." What these 17 individuals have done, above and beyond what they are being paid to do is also "confidential."   But I digress!       Here's how Dollar's creative  scheme  works.  

(1)  Cut employee salaries across the board by 1.15% * 
(2)  Eliminate step increases for police and fire.   
(3)  Take  some of the savings gained in 1 and 2 above and use the money to award selected people considered to be  "performers."   Unfortunately, we only have 17  "performers"  who deserved this recognition (see list below).   Hopefully the police, fire and the rest of the employees don't think of themselves as  deadbeats  since they received  no award. 

At present our country is in a recession.  More and more people are out of work.   GISD had 3000 people apply as substitute teachers.   The City Manager is not worried that anybody will quit their job -- after all, where are they going to go?   Why are the little guys once again having to  "suck it up"  while the high-paid honchos get "performance money awards" for doing their job?   Isn't it time that every city employee bite the bullet and just be thankful to have a job and health insurance?   The Council is scheduled to vote on this budget shortly.   Hold your elected officials accountable if they pass this budget without challenging  the unfairness of these Performance Based Awards.   

*We are still attempting to ascertain if the 1.15% across the board salary cuts included everybody from City Manager, Bill Dollar to the guy who cuts the grass -- or were exceptions made here also?  



August 30, 2009

TAXPAYERS  WANT TO KNOW  how the Chamber of Commerce is spending our $$$     
Every year, for the last ten years, the City of Garland has been subsidizing the Chamber of Commerce.  In the year 2000 it was $300,000 and this amount has grown each year until at  present we are now  giving the Chamber  close to half a million bucks a year.   Unfortunately,  how the money is being spent remains a big secret.  Since Mayor Jones has twice run  on a platform of open and honest government, we are asking him to come out of the "hot air closet" and do what he promised ...  MAKE THE RECORDS PUBLIC. 

According to the Economic Development Services Agreement dated 17 October 2000,  Section 3, Accounting and Auditing, an annual financial audit is to be conducted by an independent accounting firm and provided to the City every year.  In addition, the Chamber is to provide the City with monthly accounting reports of all expenditures made by the Chamber under the Agreement.  Have these reports ever been discussed  during a Work Session?  If not, why not?      Or, do they reach the City Manager's office and go no further?    

When an open records request for the audits was recently made,  the City Attorney refused to honor the request citing "Confidentiality."   So all you taxpayers out there -- think about this:  The Chamber has received approximately $3,776,406.00  of your hard earned money, but where it's going is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.    Aside from subsidizing hefty salaries, expensive luncheons and  generous expense accounts  what is the Chamber doing with your tax dollars?    Call Ron Jones the "open and honest government" Mayor of Garland and  ask him to put some walk behind all that talk he makes during election time. 
PERFORMANCE BASED LUMP-SUM AWARDS IN 2009

City Manager, Bill Dollar            $10,000                              Neil Montgomery, Planning          $  6,000
City Attorney, Brad Neighbor         9,000                              Robt. Wunderlich, Transportation     6,000
City Secretary, Mary Kayser          5,000                               Richard Briley, Health                      5,000

GP&L Director, Schwertner       CONFIDENTIAL                  Danny Grammer, Fire Chief              4,000
                                                                                           Mitch Bates, Police Chief                  4,000

Martin Glenn, Dep. City Mgr          8,000                               Lonnie Banks, EWS                          3,000
Bryan Bradford, Budget Dir.          7,000                               Jack May, Water Utilities                  3,000
David Turschmann, Info Tech        7,230                              James Stone, Parks                          3,000
Priscilla Wilson, Human Res.         6,000                              George Kaufmann, Finance             3,000
Rebecca King, Organ.                   2,000
Sept 3, 2009      CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE ANNUAL AUDITS

The Economic Development Services Agreement, signed by Mayor Spence in 2000  is very clear.   Section 3 specifically states that the Chamber of Commerce  is to produce to the City an annual financial AUDIT  plus monthly accounting reports of all expenditures under the Agreement.   In return the City pays the Chamber a specified monthly sum of taxpayer money (presently it's over half million dollars a year). 

It appears however, that this Agreement is not being followed.   In  2008 the Chamber made a presentation before the Audit Committee consisting of Chairman Rick Williams, Councilmembers Barbara Chick and Preston Edwards.   Apparently the hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out  to the Chamber was considered  so insignificant that a presentation to the entire Council was  never made.  

The Audit Committee was informed that audit reports (annual and monthly)   are available "upon request"  but apparently  nobody on the Council thought it  important enough to request them, or the City Manager did not  think they are important enough to distribute. So, like mushrooms in a dark cellar,  the taxpayers have no idea how the Chamber spends the  hundreds of thousands of  their hard earned money because this information is considered   CONFIDENTIAL!

Questions:

1.  The Economic Development Services Agreement reads that an independent auditing firm that is "reasonably acceptable to the city"  must performs the audit.   What does "reasonably acceptable" mean? 

2. Rumor has it that the person auditing the Chamber's books is a good ole boy who has ties to both the City and the Chamber.   Is this what is meant by a  "reasonably acceptable" INDEPENDENT  auditing firm?  And acceptable to whom?  To the Council?  To Bill Dollar?  To the Chamber?

3. Who is this  "reasonably acceptable" independent firm that has performed these audits for the last ten years?   Let him answer to the citizens if he is actually doing an AUDIT  or just a cursory  review of the books.

4. Does this "reasonably acceptable" independent auditing firm have any ties to the City or Chamber?    If so,  how independent can it be?  Sounds like a conflict of interest to me!    

5.  Has the Mayor  requested to see  any of the monthly reports thus far  for 2010  that the Chamber is obligated to furnish the City?  Have all Councilmembers  seen them?   

6.  When an open records request was made to see these audits, it was denied citing "CONFIDENTIALITY."   If the Chamber has been responsible for  increasing the tax base in Garland, why would they  not want to the public to know   how the money was spent?

The Chamber is obligated to provide the City with monthly financial statements and the  City Manager is obligated to pass this information on  to the Mayor and Council.   Specific  requests by individual Councilmembers  for this information SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY.    Where is the accountability. 

7.  How  can we improve this situation?  One way is to return to a City funded - Economic Development Board similar to the City of Plano.  Their  Board is funded through the City Budget. They have 5 top-notch employees on loan to the Board.  All   information  including how tax dollars are spent  is open for public scrutiny.   Plano's annual EC budget is $835,000 but this Board has brought in millions of dollars in new business every year.    

Mayor Jones should request a comparison of  how other cities are functioning in the economic development area, and  compare track records!   Let's see which cities close their books to the tax payers.   It's time to bring more accountability to the way Garland does business.  

Next year Chamber's contract comes up for renewal.   Do the tax payers of Garland want to continue this "confidentiality" nonsense  with audits done by an independent firm who is only  "reasonably acceptable"  to the City?    Have we lost our minds?

As Chair of the Audit Committee, citizens are asking Rick Williams to request that the City Manager distribute these annual and monthly  reports to the entire Council as stipulated in the Agreement.  It should not be up to each Councilmember to have to ask for information which should be provided to them on a monthly basis.  

Now that the Chamber is spending 20% of their time on workforce training at the college, and no longer pays rent,    why is the City still paying them 100% of the money stipulated in the Contract when we are only getting 80% of their time?  

When Mayor Jones ran for election he ran on a platform of OPEN AND HONEST government.  Is this what he considers OPEN and HONEST government to be?   

Does anybody have a problem with all these  "confidentiality"  labels that keep tax payers in the dark like mushrooms growing in the bowels of City Hall?    As Councilman Jackie Feagan often said,  ENUF IS ENUF!   
                       A  MUST-WATCH  VIDEO  CONCERNING YOUR FUTURE


Here is a YouTube short version of a speech given by Lord Christopher Monckton October 1, 2009. 

Copenhagen is about to become the successor to Kyoto as the synonym for the U.N.'s plan to control climate change.   The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen December 7-18.  Until this meeting ends, expect to hear a growing number of climate-related horror stories, presented by a wide array of so-called environmentalists, at a rising decibel level that's sure to drive the sane quite mad.

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to thoroughly peruse the audits or even ask pointed questions regarding the numbers contained therein.   

This information should have been available to the public without a private citizen first  having to get an Attorney General opinion to force the Chamber to release the information.     Even though the audits have finally been released,    the Chamber is still not in compliance with the agreement they signed in 2000 because they were also supposed to furnish the City with monthly accounting reports.     That adds up to 72 months of monthly accounting reports still missing.     Will  Council  hold their feet to the fire?   Does the Mayor have the guts  to demand  they deliver what they agreed to provide?   Tune in tonight and watch the Council meeting.   See for yourselves who on the Council speaks up and who sits there as if clueless.              

Since the Chamber will now be subsidized on a yearly basis, and since 20% of their  time is  shared with the DCCCD (college district) the City might be better served with an in-house marketing team.  It will be impossible to know if  taxpayers are  actually getting what they are paying for now that the Chamber's time is divided.    

Frankly, I don't trust anyone who does business like this Chamber has done and jacks the citizens, and the Council, and the staff around by withholding vital information.     Perhaps the time has come for them to  stand alone financially and  raise money through membership and events much as other cities are doing.            
CHAMBER REMAINS SILENT ON MISSING AUDITS
On Tuesday night, December 8,   the City Council is going to discuss signing a new contract with the Chamber of Commerce,  despite the fact that 6 annual audits (2000 to 2005)  remain unaccounted for.  Were these audits ever conducted?   If so, why doesn't the Chamber release them?  Why the secrecy?  What's wrong with this picture?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:       

Every year, for the last ten years, the City of Garland has been subsidizing the Chamber of Commerce.  In the year 2000 it was $300,000 and this amount has grown each year until at  present we are giving the Chamber  close to half a million bucks of your hard-earned tax dollars. Unfortunately,  how the money was spent from 2000 to 2005  remains a big secret.

According to the Economic Development Services Agreement dated 17 October 2000,  Section 3, Accounting and Auditing, an annual financial audit is to be conducted by an independent accounting firm and provided to the City every year.  In addition, the Chamber is to provide the City with monthly accounting reports of all expenditures made by the Chamber under the Agreement.  Have these reports ever been discussed  during a Work Session?  If not, why not?        

When an open records request for the audits was recently made,  the Chamber refused to hand over the information  citing "confidentiality."  The City Attorney then sought the opinion of the Attorney General who ruled in favor of the citizens.    The Chamber was now obligated to make the records public.     To date the Chamber  has yet to release   these audits .   

Aside from subsidizing hefty salaries, expensive luncheons and  generous expense accounts  what is the Chamber doing with your tax dollars?    Call Ron Jones the "open and honest government" Mayor of Garland and  ask him to put some walk to all that talk he makes during election time.  Let's not forget that back in 2000 Mr. Jones was Assistant City Manage   Where are the audits, former  Assistant City Manager?  It  would be unconscionable if the Council would negotiate a new contract with the Chamber,  while the Chamber  refuses to comply with the Attorney General's ruling and make the audits public.       

Where is the accountability you promised the citizens Mayor Jones?   Where is the promise of open and honest government?     Talk is cheap and hot air is free.  Why are you being so tight-lipped about  these audits, Mr. Mayor and former Assistant City Manager?  Do you know something the rest of Council does not?     Why are you pushing to approve a new contract, Mr. Mayor?   

Council must remember, the Mayor only has ONE vote.   You are elected to represent  the people.    So please do the right thing by the taxpayers and demand the Chamber  produce the audits before a new contract is  even considered.           

For those Councilmembers who plan to run for re-election,  I would  expect  any opponent you may have will be over you like stink on a skunk if  a new contract with the Chamber is approved  before the missing audits are made public.  Such action could be considered  collusion, malfeasance or just plain stupidity on your part.   And for the rest of you, will approving a new contract without  the missing audits be  your defining moment?   Is this how you spell "fiduciary responsibility?" 
                    ~$2 MILLION
     OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS  UNACCOUNTED FOR
THE TRUTH ABOUT KWANZA   and it's FELON               FOUNDER .... Ron Everett
               MISSING AUDITS FOUND
It's a mystery!    It's a miracle"   Twenty-four hours  before the Garland City Council  is scheduled  to discuss   a new contract between the City and the Chamber of Commerce, the  missing audits suddenly turned up.  Imagine that! 

Rumor has it someone  saw Paul Mayer's feet sticking out of an abandoned storm cellar from which he was  pulling the missing audits.     Given the time squeeze, however,  it is doubtful whether  Council's Independent Auditor, Craig Hametner or  any of the eight Councilmembes will    have enough time