I hope you enjoy RumpToons No: 160!

It’s Saturday.

What’s on your mind?

We deserve better

Brutus

The city plans to have a runoff election for the district 3 representative position.

This is necessary because city council decided that the incumbent district 3 representative had resigned from city council when a post showing her to be running for the office of mayor was posted on social media.

There will also be a special election to replace the district 6 representative who is running for an open seat in the Texas house of representatives.

The cost to the citizens will be $157,619.55.  This is money the county will charge to conduct the elections.

We deserve better

Brutus

Some - offline - have been kinda surprised at my recent pictures. Like, "Max, I know you were always HAWT, but how did you get hotter?!?!" I am paraphrasing. Well, some of you all that read this blog remember me back when I weighed about 160lbs soaking wet, a few... Max Powers

It is extremely poignant that it is immigrants that are delivering the death blows to Donald Trump’s defense […]

Oh, and by the way here’s another “story” related to the $100 million that city council seems to be determined sell.

Part of the $100 million will go to paying for cost over-runs on the quality of life projects.

We deserve better

Brutus

Although most of us understood that articles of impeachment were going to be filed against Donald Trump, it […]

If you were asking that - good question. When the sale of the publicly traded company made news I had an interest in what was going to happen. I also had conversations with people who had many questions as to... Brad Kanus

Take a look at what the EPISD central office costs have been:

The district is shrinking but the central office is not.

We deserve better

Brutus

Everyone is wondering why Donald Trump visited Walter Reed Medical Center for an announced medical exam on Saturday. […]

I’m not a reporter but I can think of another couple of stories that should be told about the debt that the folks at the city have run up on us.

This and prior city councils have approved projects that have yet to be completed.

I’m not talking about the quality of life projects or the recent bond election.

According to the city chief financial officer’s slide presentation there will be another $179 million needed to pay for previously approved projects that have not been completed yet.

The city was not sitting on a $100 million secret when they promoted the public safety bonds.  They were sitting on $279 million.

Maybe that isn’t much money in our city manager’s view but it is to many of us.

We deserve better

Brutus

The Southern Poverty Law Center published some leaked emails about Stephen Miller starting on November 12. Miller is […]

I need y'alls help. I have been combing through City Representative-wannabe Will Veliz's campaign finance reports and for the life of me I cannot find expenses related to your former mayoral candidate, Emma Acosta. See for yourself - Download Veliz William R 8 DAY Download Veliz William R 8 DAY... Max Powers

I was interested to see how city council handled the $100 million certificates of obligation issue so I watched the video of the meeting.

The city manager repeatedly made the point that “there’s no story here”.  He kept telling council that if someone was to make a “report” there is “no story” since all of the money was approved “years ago” and thus there is “no story”

He was evidently trying to tell council that they had nothing to worry about with the voters not liking the issuance of the $100 million in bonds.

I believe that there is a story here.

He, city staff, and city council knew that they were going to need to issue the certificates of obligation but kept that quiet while the $413 million bond issue was being considered by the voters.

A more honest group would have told the voters that the $100 million would be brought at their first opportunity after the bond election.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

Raul Rodriguez wakes up each morning wondering if today is the day that the Border Patrol descends on […]

If you have any doubt about whether the folks at the city have found a way around the 3.5% maximum property tax increase that the state imposed last year take a look at this slide from a recent city council presentation:

The way they will get more money is to issue debt.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

I hope you enjoy RumpToons No: 159!

What’s on your mind?

Brutus

Speaking of city taxes, take a look at this slide from one of the presentations to city council:

Are they proud of the fact that Dallas has been able to stay basically flat with their tax rate and Austin has been decreasing their tax rate while we have suffered a 33% increase in taxes?

Why would they present a slide with two cities that make our city government look bad?

We deserve better

Brutus

Donald Trump and the Republicans have decided that the best way to respond to the impeachment hearings is […]