Photo by pfrench99There had been a bit of a dust-up this week because the Metro board didn't release the details of the most expensive infrastructure contract in the city's history before the Board of Directors voted on it this afternoon. Perhaps to reconcile, Chairman David Wolff broke standard procedure at today's meeting and allowed public comments, "because it was so important." Barry Klein, an out-spoken critic of the rail, spoke first, and after he did, board Wolff said: "We appreciate him
You know what the Houston Fire Department racism mess needed? Some more stirring of the pot.Luckily, we have city councilwoman Jolanda Jones, who is a Sheila Jackson Lee in training when it comes to publicity, and Jeff Caynon, head of one of the local firefighters' unions, who also knows how to get the spotlight.Caynon is black, and a fierce supporter of firefighters who have been accused of various racial and sexist incidents. He tends to be in camera range whenever (see update at e
You know how there are things you know you're supposed to care about, but you just can't bring yourself to do it?That's kinda how we feel about the ongoing pissing match between city council member Jolanda Jones and firefighters union chief Jeff Caynon.As everyone knows, there's been a series of allegations that the fire department is home to racists and sexists. City council and the mayor have dithered on about it, asking for investigations and threatening the deployment of dreaded "diversit
Photo courtesy GHCVBSilly fuckin' us.We thought that when a Houston City Councilman says something, we're supposed to take him at his word. But sometimes we forget that this is Houston, and things are done a little differently.At the August 3 Human Services Committee meeting on Gerry Fusco's BARC contract, Councilman and Committee Chair Jarvis Johnson said he wanted to hear a progress report from Fusco on September 14, before his contract went to the full council for a vote. But Hair Balls ha
Photo by abcrumleyCity Council delayed voting again on extending the contract for Gerry Fusco, the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care's interim chief. Council members Ronald Green and Pam Holm asked that the vote be tabled. (Green told Hair Balls earlier this week that he hadn't read the contract yet). The $135,000 contract would extend Fusco's stay through January.But in a general discussion about the contract at today's council meeting, council members Ed Gonzalez, Sue Lovell, Toni L
Photo by abcrumleyCity Council once again delayed the vote on extending BARC Interim Chief Gerry Fusco's contract today, possibly killing any chance to revive the vote in the future. Fusco's initial agreement with the city, made possible via a $49,500 purchase order, expires Friday.Health and Human Services spokeswoman Kathy Barton, who was at the meeting, said she's not sure yet what effect the delay will have on retaining Fusco's services.
After weeks of delays, Council was expected t
City Council unanimously approved hotly debated 6-month contract for Gerry Fusco, interim chief for the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care.
The unanimity was a bit of a surprise, given the sharp critcism doled out two weeks ago by Councilwoman Jolanda Jones, who said she felt Fusco had refused to give her enough information about the benchmarks on his contract, among other things.
The $135,000 contract will keep Fusco at BARC through January.There was no mention we heard of the report released
