Drip, Drip, Drip

Of the 10 ‘Stros Opening Day starters against the Mariners last season, name the two who won’t be in a ‘Stros uniform this March in our season opener in Arlington?

I saw these tweets yesterday:

Rebecca Elliott‏Verified account@rfelliott 48m48 minutes ago

The Houston mayoral press aide who conducted personal business on city time listed city staff in pitches for her TV shows. The staffers said they thought she was working on city projects.

　

Rebecca Elliott‏Verified account@rfelliott 41m41 minutes ago　

Rebecca Elliott Retweeted Rebecca Elliott

Among the titles in question: “Tunnel of Love.”

No, I’m not kidding.

Here is the latest Chron story: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/darian-ward-houston-press-secretary-reality-TV-12519219.php.

Drip, drip, drip. How long is this going to last?

From Steve Houston to Commentary:

I don’t believe for one minute that Parker was unaware of Darian Ward’s actions over the 8 years Ms. Ward worked for her. If she was unaware, that alone serves as notice that she should not be considered for any high ranking position in government or the private sector. Ward’s projects were high profile and insiders suggest she had a blank check under the Parker administration to pursue them on city time, you just don’t send over 5000 pages of emails (it was changed from 5000 emails just recently) yet receive outstanding employee ratings year after year without anyone knowing about it. So pick your poison, Parker was either 1) lying to minimize how most of Ward’s transgressions took place under her watch, or was 2) incompetent for not knowing or having appointed staffers that didn’t notice.

(From a Chron article a few days ago: Ward joined former mayor Annise Parker’s staff as press secretary in 2014, and Turner has kept her on in the same role.) So that is not 8 years.

And this:

I don’t believe Houston was ever on Amazon’s short list for their second headquarters and neither does anyone I’ve spoken with. It is far more likely that Amazon is just using their RFP process as leverage for one of their very few hand picked choices, the whole idea of demanding what looks like billions in tax concessions and incentives (read their proposal) is the definition of corporate welfare. Those now using Amazon’s decision to convince others how we need greatly improved flood control or mass transportation lest we lose similar projects in the future are just blowing smoke. Frankly, we need more flood control projects regardless and given Houston was more highly rated in transportation by Amazon than a number of communities that are still on their BS short list, that excuse just doesn’t hold water.

Then we got this news late yesterday afternoon.

Six members of Pasadena’s economic development board were indicted Tuesday by a grand jury for holding two private meetings in November 2016 with a contractor.

Here is the entire Chron article: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/pasadena-news/article/Grand-jury-indicts-Pasadena-officials-for-meeting-12519500.php.

Well at least it didn’t happen under the watch of the new Mayor of Pasadena.

Nori Aoki, our 2017 Opening Day starting left fielder, and Carlos Beltran our DH, won’t be in a ‘Stros uniform this March of course.

We will find out today who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

Read Full Post »