Two thugs walk into a Matamoros business and demand the owner pay them a certain amount of money before a certain date or they will burn his store, rape his wife and kidnap his children. In Mexico the victim can't even turn to the authorities because the two thugs might be off-duty policemen. So much for a worthless piece of paper.
There has been much talk during Mayor Tony Martinez's six-year reign about establishing a code of ethics, but there has been no action because it might prevent the City from doing business as usual. Even printed, it might prove as meaningless at the City's personnel policy manual, which apparently writes rules only for appearances' sake
The policy manual clearly states in Section 702 regarding political activities that:
There has been much talk during Mayor Tony Martinez's six-year reign about establishing a code of ethics, but there has been no action because it might prevent the City from doing business as usual. Even printed, it might prove as meaningless at the City's personnel policy manual, which apparently writes rules only for appearances' sake
The policy manual clearly states in Section 702 regarding political activities that:
"B. Specifically, City Employees may not engage in the following activities: 4. Hold an elective City office or hold an elective or appointive office in any other jurisdiction where service would constitute a direct conflict of interest with City employment, with or without remuneration. Upon assuming such office, an Employee shall resign or shall be dismissed for cause upon failure to do so."
Former Fire Chief Carlos Elizondo, recently demoted by City Manager Charlie Cabler, has thumbed his nose at this regulation for months. His critics, led by political activist and muckraking journalist Juan Montoya, have asserted categorically and relentlessly that Elizondo is in clear violation of this regulation with his position as a BISD trustee, yet the municipality is failing to enforce its own regulations.
"The City is imitating Donald Trump," states Justo Leyes, The McHale Report's legal expert. "He lies, so his subordinates lies. The City refuses to enforce its own rules, so the employees fail to follow the rules. This perhaps accounts for the chaos at City Hall where very few municipal workers seem interested in doing their jobs."
Everyone knows that Elizondo is in flagrant violation of this regulation. In the latest example of his compromised position, where will he stand when the BISD sues the City over the exorbitant rates that PUB has been charging the school district?
Does the City have a responsibility to save the BISD by forcing Elizondo to choose which of two masters is he going to serve? His former underlings accuse him of being a crook for allegedly pocketing more than $8,000 from their political action group for his own use. At the BISD he recently voted for a $3.7 million project without the school district seeking bids.
"The BISD has lost the confidence of the community because hanky-panky is the most accurate description of its modus operandi," said a watchdog. "The board of trustees recently voted a huge tax increase without asking for the public's approval. Now they are sitting on $100 million that they plan to invest in infrastructure. Can you imagine the orgy of contracts that is going to result from this money and the possibilities for kickbacks? Can we trust Elizondo to do the right thing? Can we trust the City to enforce its own rules?
Or is trust, like the ocelot and the University of Texas/Brownsville, extinct in the Third World Capital of the United States?
Former Fire Chief Carlos Elizondo, recently demoted by City Manager Charlie Cabler, has thumbed his nose at this regulation for months. His critics, led by political activist and muckraking journalist Juan Montoya, have asserted categorically and relentlessly that Elizondo is in clear violation of this regulation with his position as a BISD trustee, yet the municipality is failing to enforce its own regulations.
"The City is imitating Donald Trump," states Justo Leyes, The McHale Report's legal expert. "He lies, so his subordinates lies. The City refuses to enforce its own rules, so the employees fail to follow the rules. This perhaps accounts for the chaos at City Hall where very few municipal workers seem interested in doing their jobs."
Everyone knows that Elizondo is in flagrant violation of this regulation. In the latest example of his compromised position, where will he stand when the BISD sues the City over the exorbitant rates that PUB has been charging the school district?
Does the City have a responsibility to save the BISD by forcing Elizondo to choose which of two masters is he going to serve? His former underlings accuse him of being a crook for allegedly pocketing more than $8,000 from their political action group for his own use. At the BISD he recently voted for a $3.7 million project without the school district seeking bids.
"The BISD has lost the confidence of the community because hanky-panky is the most accurate description of its modus operandi," said a watchdog. "The board of trustees recently voted a huge tax increase without asking for the public's approval. Now they are sitting on $100 million that they plan to invest in infrastructure. Can you imagine the orgy of contracts that is going to result from this money and the possibilities for kickbacks? Can we trust Elizondo to do the right thing? Can we trust the City to enforce its own rules?
Or is trust, like the ocelot and the University of Texas/Brownsville, extinct in the Third World Capital of the United States?