Austinist: Behind the Veil: Nepotism at City Hall?

guest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:25:19 -0600

The lacks observance of the city ordinances in this instance is nauseating. A few months ago,we observed a Water Utility employee lose his job over buying signage from his son. Other Water Utility employees were disciplined less severely. Yet here we have a highly paid finance chief's wife awarded two contracts. But where is the justice? I am fuming, and I wish I could vote, as I live outside our desecrated city limits, I cannot. The Council, the people' representatives, should step up and purge this malignancy (unless they're too implicated as perpetrators). Tone at the Top? I am ashamed to be associated, as a City employee, with the sordid string of ethical lapses: convention center snafus, expensive executive going away parties, "that man is not my kin", three quarter million dollar giveaways, "burn baby burn", improper spending of seized funds, killer cops, and a still born financial report... What else can we expect from the most liveable city in America? Hopefully, we can expect major regime change soon... Sadly, I admit that I am throwing a rock and hiding my hand. My fear is that the council and management have repeatedly demonstrated that they will do economic lynching to truth speakers. Still, something needs to be said: the outrage is palpable...

guest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:17:18 -0600

The item from a comment above that says "I don't think that the hiring of Ms. Stevens necessarily raises any serious issues of impropriety (outside of the fact that it apparently is against the rules)" must be a joke. So it's not a problem if it is against the rules? What kind of logic is that? Is that you Ms. Stephens?

guest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:10:29 -0600

Surly you see the problem with lawmakers and civic leaders hiring family members for consulting jobs....

guest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:07:21 -0600

I don't think that the hiring of Ms. Stevens necessarily raises any serious issues of impropriety (outside of the fact that it apparently is against the rules). She had worked at the city for many years, and she shouldn't be banned from working there again simply because she's married to someone who also works there.

guest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:44:03 -0600

I hate our City Council, I just can't decide if they are completely stupid, totally corrupt, or a combination of both. They need to step up and do away with this kind of thing...for example, the misguided loan (and misguided is being kind) to Las Manitas that it didn't deserve, now this. The Council needs to send a powerful message and shut down this shop and state this kind of corruption/nepotism will no longer be tolerated. They also need to fire Rudy Garza for his part in this episode. Oh, and maybe the Council could also issue a statement saying they will try to stop being such idiots. But do idiots know they are idiots? I'm guessing not, they probably think they do a decent job, which if it wasn't so sad would be funny.

guest

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:18:48 -0600

DAMN! $83,000!?!? That's a lot of cash! I wish they would have used that money for a couple more copies of The Road at Faulk. I've been waiting to check that damn book out for about a year now.

Scooby

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:33:23 -0600

I am shocked- SHOCKED!- to hear of nepotism at the city of Austin. For that matter, I'm also shocked to see the city spending tax money to run a business that competes with legitimate businesses. What's next? Council-critters fighting to get TV time to toot their own horns?