Note: this post was orginally entered on the old Post-Nuke version of the site. For the purpose of linking it and tracking traffic, I have copied it verbatim to the WP side, and given it the same date/time stamp. Original entry here.
So if either of my readers is still out there, I have a few updates to toss out. First off, Dat Nguyen. If you don’t remember, a quick refresher: Dat is a veteran City of Houston water meter reader, who was menaced by an unrestrained (no leash/fence) dog. The dog’s owner alleged Dat attacked the dog, resulting in Dat’s arrest for animal cruelty, while the owner didn’t receive so much as a ticket for violation the city’s leash law. The city’s Legal department abandoned Dat to his own fate, refusing to defend him or intervene in any way with the DA’s office. Dat’s estimated $2,000 in legal costs was somewhat offset (~$1200) by employee fundraisers.
Next up is the promised rant on What Piece of Idiocy the Mayor is up to now. Bad enough he sold off the city’s freeways to a few favored towing companies, resulting in massive savings for citizens, bad enough he’s trying to ensure no utility company will want to put lines anywhere in Houston, but this one takes the cake: The Mayor wants to streamline construction processes in the City of Houston by surrendering the city’s authority to review the plans! Despite much searching, I haven’t found a link yet, but back before Memorial Day, the mayor mentioned he’d like to drop the city’s review from the permit process. Instead, any Public Engineer (that is, the architectural company’s own P.E.) could sign off on the plans as complying with building codes.
There’s a parking garage, built at taxpayer expense at 4200 Leeland, which even the current system couldn’t prevent being fubared and unusable. A helicopter pad only 40′ from the elevated section of I-45 was barely stopped in time. The owners of the Aquarama resturant made “additions” to the plans after they were approved. And yet the Mayor wants us to trust the companies with a financial interest in quick and cheap construction to put our safety first?
The update: Mr. Nguyen’s case finally came before the court. The judge dismissed the charge, but ordered Dat to pay the owner’s vetenarian fee. The Legal Department, ever mindful of the city’s interests, then told Public Works to fire Mr. Nguyen, since the act of paying the vet’s bill was an admission of guilt, thereby making the city liable.
I suspect the response from PW&E was not printable.