Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, February 15, 2011,
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next and this item gives residents an opportunity to address the court on any matter not on the agenda for up to three minutes.
the following three individuals have signed in and are welcome to speak in this order: gus pena, paul avena, richard victorian.
good morning.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, gus pena, native east Austinite, proud vietnam veteran.
urban rail, $750,000 is going to be spent utilizing our tax money for a consultant fee to study urban rail.
$750,000.
how many meals can we purchase for the senior citizens that don't have food or the homeless that don't have a house or the homeless that need food?
this is not wise and prudent.
we don't havist infrastructure.
I'm all for alternative transportation, Commissioners, you heard me before, this is not good at this time.
we're in a recession, I don't care who says what, we're in a recession.
$400 per hour for outside counsel for the city of Austin and their lack of infinite wisdom as far as open meetings are concerned, not wise and prudent.
city of Austin has city legal department attorneys.
nobody seems to have knowledge about these issues so word to the wise, I said at the city council last week, hire individuals that have experience instead of hiring legal outside counsel, it's more costly.
unemployment is a higher level than 9% reported.
people have given up.
I've been saying this for the last two years.
no jobs.
job creating people are doing their stock at the school district and I thank you for collaborating with aisd on trying to reach an alternative solution to laying off teachers.
we can't afford to.
we have kids already that are falling through the cracks.
truancy.
dropouts.
a lot of kids hear their favorite teacher is supposed to be laid off, they have trauma, not good.
homelessness, and I'm glad, ma'am, you spoke about homelessness.
it's higher than what you think in Austin-Travis County.
you are not going to get a true accurate count in the camps.
military veterans with one of the highest groups that are homeless in Travis County.
it is disgraceful.
disgraceful.
12 veterans a week commit suicide.
I don't know how many in Austin-Travis County but I know dave evans with the
>> [indiscernible] they can give you a true read and picture.
Travis County is unacceptable.
we -- show your appreciation for military veterans in harm's way coming back to united states of america, specifically here in the state of Texas, Austin, Travis County.
nobody likes war, nobody supports war, but they are coming in with various illnesses.
ptsd treatment needed.
a lot of people are homeless because of these issues, losing their houses.
I'll end it at this, kiss your children, hug your children, tell them that you love them because you might not have them.
a society's worth is measured by its treatment of the less fortunate.
we can all do things collaboratively with each other and not allowing all those catastrophic hits and cuts to occur at the Austin understand school district.
who is going to lose?
the children and the senior citizens as are the children.
judge, thank you very much.
god bless you all.
thank you for your service and keep up the good work.
>> thank you.
mr. Avena is next and would richard victorian please come forward.
you are here on the urban league item?
>> no.
>> will you please come forward and have a seat there.
and ms. Artemus, if you would join those two individuals.
as one speaker finishes, I will call the name of the necessary one and I would like for three to be at the table if possible.
it will help us expedite citizens communication.
yes, sir.
>> I've been here several times claiming there is criminal activity going on on your side.
and that you have been led to believe these are blacks, chicanos.
I got a call from a mr. Ken harry man.
he was upset because I asked the local newspaper to fire him because of his
>> [indiscernible] problem in west Austin.
he did almost half his column to lead readers to compare immigrants with deer.
he sounds well educated.
he chose to discuss that particular column, he said dealing with school dopouts and I rejected his blame on parents and questioned his statistics.
>> [indiscernible] mr. Biscoe to go to the barrios and gather facts.
his comparison of mexicans with the peskyness of deer is what ticked me off.
and also his admission he's from new york and the son of immigrants.
people like him have talked of times of change for local policy like
>> [indiscernible] on ticket raids, immigrants from the north getting the top jobs, the new airport, the
>> [indiscernible] settlement, the displacement of blacks and chicanos from magnet programs. The grand jury's stance to grant impunity to killers, it's.
despite the fact mr. Herman in the statesman is hate speech.
how can we convince him he is perpetrating all stereotypes that no longer work.
he can make fun of their food, music, their women.
some of my heroes are black, but I don't know what they cook.
chicanos don't okay either and chicano music is based on the blues and
>> [indiscernible].
silent, hot dogs, barb okay.
you guys had it coming because in 30 years I've seen more and more turn to tacos.
they must be good.
all you do is invade our countries for their resources, then lie at home about it.
you need to stop getting advice from rabbis at all levels.
other countries are getting ahead of the united states already including mexico.
you need to change.
you, the ones who sign off on their behalf.
thanks.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
mr. Victorian is next and followed by ms. Artemus and morris priest.
>> judge Biscoe, Commissioners, thank you, richard victorian with the organization audits in the public interest.
I want to speak to you today about formula one.
I would like to start by acknowledging suzanne in a gonzales is the states man's reporting in the paper about your consideration of upping the hotel-motel tax by two cents to help fund the roads.
>> media, could we get a little more volume on the microphone.
your volume went down and I want to make sure everyone can hear you.
>> thank you, Commissioner.
about 30 days ago I was asked to start an analysis, my organization was, of the formula one incentive.
what I have even count in other words the last 30 days is shocking.
I have been before the controller of public accounts that administers the Texas major events fund.
her organization is known as windows on state government.
she shutters the public's interest in the form of the formula one incentive to a terrible degree.
I've had her program administrators hang up on me.
the fruits of my analysis have the state's incentive for a total of $250 million is blown by 400%.
that incentive should probably only be 5 million.
that's an estimate produced with sketchy information.
she will not provide the daily need.
but she has produced an estimate of a formula one race, the economic benefit from it.
one of the things I would like to talk to you about today or bring to your attention, the law bars her from producing an estimate until 12 months before the event.
the law requires that a county or city request her make the determination.
has this county requested that the controller of public accounts make an estimate of the economic benefit from a formula one race?
I don't believe the county has.
I don't believe the city has.
I believe she jumped the gun.
I believe she produces an estimate that is in error, is wrong, is blown by 400%.
and is going to bring a major project to Travis County that lacks fundamental economic merit all the way through.
well, I think for now -- I didn't come with prepared remarks.
I really just read the paper and barged in here.
I would like, you know, for the Commissioners court to look more closely at the Texas major events fund and the processes that are bringing formula one to Travis County.
my take on it right now, it was -- this project was produced all by relationship access.
it lacks fundamental merit.
if you are going to do things --
>> [buzzer sounding] -- such as raise the hotel-motel tax please know you are doing it with merit.
>> thank you, dr. Kim and then ms. Artemus is next.
>> thank you very much.
>> dr. Kim, you will be third.
we do need you at the table.
if you would just remain at the table, we would appreciate it.
ms. Artemus.
>> okay.
I had on number 5, it says consider and take appropriate action on proposed routine personnel amendments.
again, is that going to be based on the type of report card or analogous to the report card and repercussions I proposed in the health care board for job candidates?
>> no.
>> I recommend it do be.
same thing with number 6, approve modification, number 8 to contract city of Austin for operation maintenance of the combined transportation and emergency communication center.
I'm recommending that be based on report card from users no longer in need.
so those are my recommendations on those items. I also have comments on agenda items 10, 11, 18 and 19 that I'll hold off until you get to those points.
>> morris priest is next.
and would steven turner please come forward.
>> thank you, judge, Commissioners.
morris priest speaking on my own behalf.
I did want to say some of the comments I've heard earlier about formula one and special interests being involved in decision making by elected officials, we've seen this in our transportation issues as well.
some people don't call the red line the red line, they call it the kruse line.
we saw this legislation taking place, changing entire boards, the campo board, the cap metro board were changed by senator watson.
and so our transportation needs aren't being addressed and now we have this formula one bringing on additional problems. It's just absolutely a nightmare that this situation is going to cause, and if you look at formula one's history, track record, it's about the biggest money losing event that anyone has ever known to mankind.
we hear our mayor talk about we're going to make sure that when people come to Austin that they are going to have a living wage and then we see right after he says that he introduces plans to build another hotel and there's not many industries that have such low wages as hotels.
just wanted to say that we have all these situations and we see so many people going to our city council saying that our representatives and our legislators, our Commissioners on this court as well as the city aren't listening to us and we see and we've even heard from Commissioners from this court saying that they were disappointed in the fact that people didn't get to speak at campo meetings, and we have combative representatives on this board as well as campo, constantly interrupting people or taking issue and not giving the appearance that they are really truly want to go represent the interests of Travis County.
but I do think that we have some issues with our campo board and one of the issues is we don't get to give any input.
you know, it's really insignificant we didn't get to speak at campo and we're not involved in the process before the decision is made.
we've seen Austin bulldog complaints of people breaking rules of open meetings violations, and I will be talking to the county attorney's office about some of those allegations and some of those issues that I've been personally involved in and witnessed, such as last night.
one member of the campo board voting twice and it wasn't because that person had a proxy.
so we see issues that we have at campo with issues of not giving input, people voting twice, what would seem or appear to be open meetings violations right in our -- in front of us.
and so one of the things we're going to have to do is remember this in November and maybe perhaps look into recalling somebody from the city council because we do have the ability legally to recall elected officials on the city council.
and it's something that we should come together as a public and start considering --
>> [buzzer sounding] -- some of these more creative ways of dealing with these gross violations of our elected officials.
thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Priest.
dr. Kim is next and is steven turner still here?
please come forward.
and ronnie reeferseed is our final speaker today.
dr. Kim.
>> thank you, your honor.
good morning, honorable judge Sam Biscoe and my district Commissioner sarah Eckhardt and Ron Davis and Margaret Gomez.
I greatly appreciate for this chance to talk to you to praise united states of america and the state of Texas, especially Travis County court.
Travis County is
>> [indiscernible].
if I had a -- have a choice for me choice I would come back to the Travis County as a human being.
I thank you very much.
I have a great news for this Commissioners court to keep Texas -- Travis County -- democracy perfect by have meeting with my honorable judge Sam Biscoe this week.
it's a great news for me to keep this community court democracy great and perfect.
and today is February 15, 113 days of my item request as agenda, but denied continuous for 113 days.
actually 717 days I came here to your office March 6th, 2009, just after Travis County Commissioners court -- no, Travis County district court judge -- judge scott jenkins, he declared john kim as
>> [indiscernible].
I came here immediately to your court and I have filed and I complained to my district -- that's your officer signed it here.
that 65 pages how horribley wrong the district court of Travis County, scott jenkins wronged my civil rights in the court.
and fortunately I received a letter from my district, Commissioner sarah Eckhardt wrote this.
dear mr. Kim: as I have said and -- to you before January 18, 2001, the Travis County Commissioners court does not have any kind of appellant authority over the courts or Austin community college.
I suggest again as I have suggested before that you pursue your grievance with acc board or -- about presenting you in a court challenge to your treatment and -- by acc.
sincerely sarah Eckhardt.
>> [buzzer sounding] this violated american democracy.
first of all, if you turn in this paper you might class american government in any colleges you should not pass.
you should get f grade.
you violated so many laws, I provide all of you.
the time is over and I'll come back to you, I will write to you how many laws you violated.
thank you.
>> thank you, dr. Kim.
steven turner is next, and he will be followed by ronnie reeferseed, the last speaker.
does somebody have that proclamation in item number 3?
we've got it?
okay.
mr. Turner.
>> I usually wouldn't talk about tragic event that has happened to me personally and I don't enjoy talking about the personal things in my life so much, but my truck was stolen before repairs could be estimated.
and it was a hit and run by a person that also hit me and drove off.
and so could there be a task force assigned to investigate these things going on around the city.
as wonderful as it could be an experience that I usually play music for people, as you see I brought my guitar in, couldn't put it in my truck, no truck to put my guitar in and I'm walking home.
>> thank you, mr. Turner.
mr. Reeferseed.
>> yes.
thank you.
yes, I'm ronnie reeferseed, singing rejoice our very own ob-gyn dr. Ron paul revolution for love and liberty in our precious constitution keeps on keeping on worldwide.
all those long-time oppressed peasants are grabbing hold of liberty and they are not about to let go to did you tell dutyyn line.
the power of the people now is just too great to put back in the box.
those talking heads, they keep squawking, but the feisty egyptians better known to mess with the scheme ology that somehow always referred to as the so-called peace process.
with our world's most aggressively biggotted total area and -- that's a joke.
the so-called peace process with the world's most rabid pack of false flagging from vietnam to afghanistan, these time wasting delusion of a so-called peace process is an evil ponzi scheme spewing more death and destruction forever waging war all over.
and death is not what we want.
and to avoid that, I'm trying to turn the page.
and I know it's hard to grasp, but for over 100 years our once proud constitutional republic has been led like sheep to the slaughter by our evil banksters who push around kenyan born subject illegal alien president barack obama.
it's those evil scheming banksters who are destroying our world before now, thank you you egypt for saying no more hog wash.
the screaming think tanks are just agenda driven propaganda mills and pollute our public discussion of issues with mr. Slogan, catch phrases and lock step.
our entire goon squad of our media cough up the same slimy slogans as they keep trying to misdirect our thoughts.
face the shocking facts about fluoride.
we're halfway there.
check it out.
that's really what it's all about.
start with fluoride.
you will blow your mind.
learn more by visiting infowars.com.
dr. Ron paul and/or pick up a phone dial toll free, 1888-1314 for weekly up dates from founding father among us now, five-year veteran, ob-gyn dr. Ron paul who has delivered well over 4,000 babies into our world.
listen to alex jones on the radio and turn off the program propaganda.
by the way, and/or subscribe.
>> [buzzer sounding] dialing toll free doctors paul both write for free press so we can learn more.
thank you much.
>> thank you, mr. Reeferseed.
and those are the individuals who signed in to speak under citizens communication.
>> judge?
>> and ms. Artemus, if you would have a seat in the audience, we would appreciate it.
>> call me up again for the agenda items?
>> right.
yes, sir.
>> judge, under citizens communications, at this time I would like to maybe have a moment of silence for the loss of eric mitchell, former city council person here and I think we need to have a moment of silence for him.
also, judge, I would like to include you and your family with your loss that you just recently also experienced.
so with those two and also a special prayer for gary cobb.
we hope that he has a speedy recovery.
he's with the district attorney's office.
with those three things, I would like to pause for a moment of silence.
thank you.
>> we may not be aware of gary's situation.
is he in the hospital?
>> yeah.
>> okay.
>> amen.
thank you.
>> thank you.
>> no, thank you, judge.
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, February, 2011 2:19 PM
