Travis County Commissioners Court
September 23, 2008
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next. This item gives residents an opportunity to address the court on any matter not on the agenda. Any matter not on the agenda. Phillip a. Dick is first. She will be followed by pat jackson, if you could come forth with ms. Dick at this time. Mark phillips is third. If we could get those three to come forth, as one finishes we will call another. Phillip a. Dick, pat jackson, mark phillips. Any item not on the agenda. Are you here for the tax rate, too? We will be there real soon when we call up items six and eight. How did we miss you earlier?
>> see that's the reason that I said that they were confused as to whether to speak at the public hearing or wanting to go --
>> county judge talking too fast?
>> [laughter]
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> media give us volume on these back speakers. We will be to those --
>> there you go.
>> okay.
>> there you go.
>> ms. Dick.
>> yes, sir.
>> good morning, panel, my name is ms. Phillip a. Dick, an Austinite, born and raised right here in Austin, Texas. I am here today to steal, try to get -- still try to get things straightened out that's under my name. I did, when -- when a civil lawsuit on medical malpractice and in November of 2004, number of 23rd, 2004. Judge patrick
>> [indiscernible] signed my final judgment and orders. I haven't been able to obtain those orders or those judgments. I would like to obtain copies of them. I know that they were filed with the district clerk's office somewhere on that date. I am reaching out to whoever is in the clerk's office, please help me find my judgement and order they can be enforced, judge patrick
>> [indiscernible] November 23rd, 2003. I am also here to announce that we have a meeting, our group, parents of concerned inmates being abused in Texas prisons, jails, youth facilities do have a group meeting on September the 25th, 2008, at the oak springs library on -- on springdale road at 2201 springdale road. And the group will be meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 and our topic will be about -- about the meeting that we attended at the forum over at the gray panthers organization, August the 17th, 2008. Mr. Clint smith invited me and my group. We had the opportunity to -- to hear the honorable judge charlie bird speak of his second chance program and we have literature on that and I would like to pass that out to my group members so that they may read and understand, you know, what the second chance program and everything is all about for inmates, because it's a -- it's a pamphlet that was listed and I picked it up and I will be running copies off so that my group members will be able to understand what we are doing. My name has been abused and used, I'm on identity theft. I really need some help. I really need my leaders to reach out to me. I'm a disabled person. And at my age I am in school. I was a participant, a student of paralegal. And all of these injustices, all of this unfairness and -- and I would like to see justice, you know, towards me. I would like to get everything settled off of me because you can't go on with the future if you have all of these things blocking your path. There is no future for you. So I really do need help for my leaders and I would appreciate that help. Thank you.
>> thank you, ms. Dick.
>> ms. Dick, ms. Dick, let me say whenever you are referring to the former judge patrick, you are saying okeel. It's just keele. I didn't want you to see him and say that. It's just keel.
>> he says patrick with a big period, a 0, keel.
>> a lot of times we have, you know, o's in front of our name. No, actually that's probably his middle initial. But it's patrick keel.
>> the middle initial is patrick o and then mr. Keel.
>> okay. You're welcome, sir.
>> pat jackson.
>> okay.
>> mark phillips?
>> we will be back to the taxes real soon, on though. Eddie gary?
>> speaking on behalf of the
>> [inaudible - no mic] not on the agenda today, is it?
>> not posted scientifically.
>> okay. Thank you.
>> good -- not posted specifically.
>> thank for you the punt to speak to you today on -- for the opportunity to speak to you today on behalf of the Travis County employees and their compensation, I am eddie gary a representative with the county employees union. Afsme has been working to get the flawed and failing compensation system overhauled so that the most critical two-thirds of your workforce, the backbone of this county can receive a fair and equitable pay they are entitled to. We met with you, the court members, the executive team, the elected officials, the department heads and hundreds of employees over this last -- over the last year on this issue. As a result of these meetings, everyone across the board acknowledges this acute compensation problem. Everyone recognizes the necessity in addressing this problem and agrees to implementing a rational and equitable compensation policy that not only benefits the employees and their ability to make ends meet but the -- greatly enhances the county's ability to provide more efficient, productive and responsive -- to be more efficient, productive and responsive to the community's needs. There's always a cost associated with providing quality infrastructure and services no matter what type of business that you are running. Government is no exception. Just as the market controls the cost of goods, such as vehicles, gas, office supplies, asphalt, facilities, et cetera, the market also dictates your labor costs. What -- what is the cost to attract and retain a quality workforce? Well, you ignore those market forces, those costs of doing business, you do so at your own peril and the detriment of Travis County citizens and taxpayers, how can an organization effectively and efficiently deliver the quality goods and services the taxpayers demand that has departments with 20% plus vacancy rates because those departments can't pay a competitive wage. It can't. Throughout this process, afsme, negotiating on behalf of the employees has consistently acted in good faith, but offering workable compromises and solutions, recognizing the difficult fiscal conditions before this court. We have consistently can requested and looked to the court to take a leadership role in this pressing matters. This year we were deeply ... Employee compensation. It is very dem moral losing for hard working, conscientious employees to be continuously undervalue and underappreciated when it comes to being fairly compensated. You have a group of employees highest paid in the state while the remaining two-thirds -- it is the will of -- it was the will of this court to fully funds the pop market study last year. Now, even if you choose to give the employees an additional 1.5 percent cost of living adjustment this year, the bulk of your employees are still moving backwards in real income. It's no wonder employees feel demeaned when the court arbitrarily gives executive managers an additional $4,000 last year on increase in their wages on top of the cost of living adjustment while the employees themselves cannot even get a cost of living adjustment to keep pace with the rising costs of food, gas and shelter. Where is the commitment and leadership of this court to provide employees with a minimum of what any healthy organization needs to function at a sustainably level in our competitive marketplace. Despite our deep disappointment we remain committed and we redouble our efforts in getting this contradicted in the fair and equitable manner in which the employees, their families and taxpayers deserve. We are looking forward to immediately forming a compensation committee to form a compensation policy to be admitted next year. That addresses the current deficiencies suffered ... Not one based on political expediency. We are looking forward to working closely with this court during this process and our expectation is that the court will step up and do the right thing. Make no mistake. The employees --
>> thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Gary. Your time is up.
>> thank you all very much for your time on this matter.
>> thank you.
>> mr. Gary, I would strike everyone from my speech next time because I don't agree. I think we did the right thing during this budget, I think we did the right thing during the last five budgets, I think overall our county workforce is well paid. They may not be paid the most in the state, but I guarantee they are competitive and we have been given colas as well as additional increases. We will put that committee in place as I recommend it and I think we ought to after October. Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> ronnie reeferseed I can't pronounce or read your last name.
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> ronnie --
>> [indiscernible] but --
>> I see why I couldn't pronounce it.
>> and I'm really it's a blessing. I used to -- it used to bother me that I had that name, always had to explain, but now I understand it's really an opportunity, a tool to advance ideas. But actually I have two brief questions, I don't know if that's within the -- but one I wanted to apologize for leaving myron paul and my anti-war signs relevant to my question in my truck, but I was in a hurry to get in here. The basic question here is, is it ever illegal to carry such sign, myron paul sign, my anti-war sign, for example, despite several fellow citizens expressing appreciation and support wherever I go. There's one store, one person, mr. Robert gould, at my local h.e.b. Who has called the police more than once to escort me and my signs out of his store. My point, I try to give him a copy of the constitution, does not the first amendment trump mr. Gould and his rules of behavior? Literally, I'm overwhelmed by citizens who are patting me on the back saying yea, keep it up, thanks for bringing your sign. One guy seems to have a problem with that. Nowhere else. No other stores. Or political meeting that I ever attend have I ever been threatened thusly. I do no solicitation, I only express my political preferences by wearing an ob/gyn dr. Ron paul t-shirt, hat with buttons, carrying my signs. I've never hit anyone over the head with any of my signs or ideas. So I'm wondering what's what? Who is right here? Who has the right to just be a citizen and when I shop do I not have the right to carry a sign that expresses my belief and preferences?
>> I don't know, but you are welcome to wear your cap and hat in here any time that you want to.
>> thank you, sir. Relatedly, not related at all, kind of a personal thing, maybe I should just -- from listening to what you all were saying earlier, how do disabled citizens get their homes tax liability reduced? What's the procedure for doing that?
>> there's an application at the travis central appraisal district. Simply complete the application.
>> the application at --
>> travis central appraisal district.
>> I think it's also available online. You have to turn it in, in person, but I think it has to be notarized but the form I believe is available on line.
>> travis central.
>> appraisal district.
>> okay.
>> [buzzer sounding]
>> all right. So as -- and as far as my first statement, there's no real way to other than I can y'all understand that I'm free to wear my sign.
>> here.
>> here. We don't speak for h.e.b. Here, though, you are welcome to wear it.
>> thank you.
>> can you make any comment or answer as to whether or not I have that right?
>> I would find me a store that accepts my signs.
>> all other stores except that one. It happens to be near my house. I don't want to waste gas. I like most of the people who work there --
>> judge, would it be permissible for us to have him contact somebody in the county attorney's office to just give a legal opinion as to --
>> I don't think that would be appropriate.
>> no?
>> okay.
>> I don't believe the county attorney's office can give legal opinions for private citizens.
>> that's correct.
>> however --
>> we do have a speech activities policy in place that the court adopted a couple of years ago, I would be happy to provide you a copy of that policy.
>> for the court.
>> for the court.
>> but the --
>> yes, yes.
>> the organization --
>> county buildings.
>> the organization most likely to be able to give you an answer on your specific question regarding h.e.b. Or a private entity's right to curtail your speech would probably be the aclu.
>> oh, okay.
>> and it's the distinction is going to be between a public entity versus a private entity. Private entities have -- have a greater right to make sure it doesn't disrupt their business.
>> good luck to you.
>> thank you, sir.
>> good luck to you. Vicki cart. She will be followed by Karen rennick. Ms. Rennikc followed by abbey delogia.
>> good morning, good morning, Commissioners and judge. I'm vicki
>> [indiscernible] for texans for real elections representing thousands of voters in Travis County and around the state. There are 42 days left until the general election and we are still in a crisis here in Travis County regarding the use of the hart electronic voting machines and so I'm here with my colleagues this morning to make some corrections on some of the statements that have been previously made to you both here and to other others by our county clerk dana debeauvoir in regards to the electronic voting systems that we're using electronic voting in general.
>> [indiscernible] in our coalition, texans for real elections, believe it is crucial that this court, which is the funding body of the voting systems that we are using in our county understand that the person whose information you are relying on has made statements that we believe are incorrect and we believe as we have said before that your decision making ability is only as good as the information that you are relying upon. So we want to get into some corrections on some issues that have been stated previously by our county clerk. Dana has stated both in this court as well as before the Texas house committee on elections that the testing she is executing on the hart voting systems can catch potential fraud or election manipulation. She says this even though she has never personally reviewed the software that operates our voting system and even if she did, she is not a computer programming or security expert and she would not know how to evaluate the software even if she were allowed to see it, when she's not, because it is secret and proprietary. Now, on the other hand as we have mentioned before and read in detail, dr. Dan wallick of rice university which is a hpd in programming and security has one by one addressed each of the types of testing done by our county team, the hash code, stated in terms of a professional ph.d. That none of the types of testing that are being done by our county are sufficient to catch fraud and manipulation which can be done without detection and I want to emphasize that. Without detection. An election can be held that appears to be going just fine, meanwhile election results could have been flipped without detection, everything could look just fine, that would be the report of the election officials. We want to stress this point to you. What is happening behind the scenes in that black box is something that is undetectable. That's why we call it faith based voting. Fact number two, on kxan-tv, an interview with jim swift last year. Dana stated that studies show that electronic voting has the lowest rate of error in the tally and that hand counted paper ballots had the highest. In fact the opposite is true. In thecal tech mit study --
>> [buzzer sounding]
>> it clearly states hand paper counted ballots have the least, the electronic has the highest error rate.
>> thank you.
>> I'm -- good morning, judge and economics, my name is Karen rennick, the founder of vote rescue, also the state coordinator for Texas for real elections. I'm going to just pick up on a few things that vacation key started talking about. The mit study which is highly regarded by computer experts, I just want to read a couple of quotes from an article that was written after that study was done. This occurred in the computer professionals for social responsibility newsletter. It says that -- that the startling result with the study with the exception of -- of optical, older technologies were significantly more accurate than newer technologies. The result, our best efforts of applying computer technology have decreased the accuracy of elections to the point where the true outcomes of many races are unknowable. New technology may have reduced the cost of elections and certainly has increased counting speed but the above results show no statistically significant progress in elections accuracy over people councilling paper ballots one at a time by hand. Furthermore, accuracy is only part of the problem. We must also worry about the security of voting systems. There is no reason to think that newer systems are more secure than older ones. On the contrary, there is good reason to suspect that since newer technologies have a more complex chain of activities or chain of custody between the voter and the outcome, newer technologies present more opportunities for fraud than the older systems. I then want to just make a couple of comments. This past week, last week, I took up the -- the invitation of our county clerk and her staff to go and witness one of the tests that they run, this was a logic and accuracy test. And the test actually ran over the course of about three days. What I did observe, first of all I want to say I thought it was very well run. But the biggest problem that I saw was that the testing they do is in test mode. Not election mode. I was shown this. And it is very well known that the computers that we use for voting do have two ways of running and in the test mode the computer can work beautiful. In election mode, we don't know. It's been proven that the computers can operate in two did I ways. Depending -- two different ways depending on which mode you are running in. We do test in test mode. To finish up, I also attended a public speaking engagement at the carver museum. This is dana's description of a perfect voter.
>> [buzzer sounding]
>> may I read this?
>> thank you. She said so now for everybody here who wants to be a perfect voter, they have a poll watcher over their shoulder. They are going to already have double checked their registration to make sure that dmv didn't do anything to mess you up. That you are in the right precincts, you have checked your polling place. You have studied your ballot. You have gone through the line quickly. You have voted very carefully. But quickly. You have deposited your ballot in the ballot box. Left the polls and went home and called someone else to remind them to vote. That's the perfect voter. That's what all you guys will be on election day if you decide to vote early. I find it -- don't decide to vote early, excuse me. I just find it very peculiar and interesting that she described using a paper ballot depositing it in a ballot box as being the perfect voting situation. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> my name is abbey
>> [indiscernible] I have been studying the issues of the leak voting security for five years, co-edited articles and books about it, I speak across the country on this topic. On my other life I'm a realtor. When I discovered through an investigation with an expert that there's toxic mold in a home, I have an ethical and professional obligation to my clients, the buyer to let them know that there's a problem so they can take the steps necessary. I can lose my license if I don't disclose matters that are material to an issue. When an airplane mechanic is given expert advice that there's something wrong with an airplane with a computer system they have an ethical and legal obligation to the consumer to let them know that there's a problem. In a lack disclosure could cost of lives of millions of people. I'm here to suggest that Travis County voters are relying on the funding and allocation of funds from this Commissioners court. When we have been coming in here for a long time, my colleagues here, and giving over expert studies and issues and problems that are continual and problematic with these machines. Four states have now banned the use of the machines that we use here in Travis County. Because they have problems that have been proven by computer security experts. I feel I'm going to ask a couple of questions that I ask you all to write down or I'll give them to knew a minutes because I want -- them to you in a minute because I want to come back next week and hear each of your answers. I feel the public, not just me, Travis County that and he lies on your professional and ethical obligations to the voters. I would like to hear the answers to these questions. Why are you relying on the opinions of our county clerk? I'm a close friends of ms. Dana debeauvoir, I helped her get reelected several years ago. She's an amazing county clerk. So don't get me wrong. She's not a computer security expert. She has not studied the code of the hart intercivic like dr. Dan walllick has. Why is this court continuing to allocate funds for electronic voting? Number two, what are your reasons, individual reasons, each of you, for allowing these machines to be used in the upcoming election? I'll come back next week, because I would like a written response or at least a verbal response from each of you during my three minutes next week. So that is my request and here's the second request I have. I would like this court to direct ms. Dana debeauvoir to take away and not purchase one of the new machines she was going to buy so that she would have the money to print enough paper ballots for the upcoming November election. I would like a press conference held between this court and the county clerk announcing to the public because of continued concerns, that are going on with these voting machines, that the public could have a choice this November that if they chose to vote on the machine, they have been fair warned. Just as I as a realtor fair warn my clients. And I'm not finished, I have one more second, please, sir. So I'm asking that a press conference be held that the public be alloyed the opportunity -- allowed the opportunity if they choose that they would have a choice to vote on hand counted paper ballot ifs they choose alongside the machines. That's my request. I would be back next week. I would like to get a response. One more disclosure, I have lived in this county for 30 years. Nine months ago, I have an Austin address, I moved outside the county lines. I would like to disclose to this court that I am no longer a resident of Travis County, I'm here in the capacity as a professional expert on this topic. I wanted to disclose that to you. Thank you very much.
>> thank you. Zimmerman is next.
>> tax question.
>> christian jones.
>> jennifer gale? Jennifer gale is the last person who signed in.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:05 AM