Friday, May 25, 2007

Keep Your Promises Solly. Remember Miller? Why are CCISD Students still running at large during school day hours?



CCISD: Why are CCISD Students allowed to run at large during school day hours?



Education is for our Children, our Youth, our Future. Children and Youth need constant redirection and set boundaries at home and at school as well. When a minor is allowed to run at large during the school day hours whether it is in the halls, leaving or returning a closed campus or simply unaccounted for is irresponsible of the caretaker whose custody in which he / she is placed.
Kenedeno



An absent student is one who does not arrive at school in the morning and is absent for the WHOLE Day. The student was never on campus. The Parent is responsible for the student getting to school (requiring the student to attend school). If the student does not get to school it is the Parent’s responsibility not necessarily the Parent’s fault. There are circumstances where the student will walk in the front door and out the back door without attending a single class. This is where the attendance officers need to improve their due diligence like the old days.

Once the student is counted present in the morning; the Parent has required the student (child) to attend school. Once the student is verified in attendance at the beginning of the school day the student is in the custody of the School.

If the student is tardy or skips class (on campus or off campus) this happens on the watch of the school. The Parent if informed should cooperate and communicate with the School Counselors Administrators and the Attendance Officer to correct the behavior. The Security and Attendance officer should take notice and tighten the belt. This is a security issue as well; there is no excuse for students coming and going outside of the lunch period and it is imperative that attendance irregularities be dealt with within 24 hours. This is easily done with our modern technology.

Instead, what we are seeing is the Attendance Officers documenting the absences as they accumulate and filing on the Parent and student when the number of absences are achieved.

Solly, did you forget about the issues and the kids at Miller and CCISD as a whole?

South Texas Chisme: Chisme roundup

Posted on May 15, 2006 at 06:55:18 PM by Jaime Kenedeno ... sources at ccisd downtown have said that a miller hs asst. principal has become a whistleblower. ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/05/chisme-roundup.html - 48k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Solomon Ortiz Jr. on the ballot for State Rep D33!

I am Jaime Kenedeno of South Texas. A simple Google search will inform you more of WHO I Am. ... The credentials of Noyola and the CCISD / Miller fiasco was ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/08/solomon-ortiz-jr-on-ballot-for-state.html - 31k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Truth? you cant handle the truth!

That hadn't happened in years, that is why Miller was facing sanctions from the feds (before noyola's time). And Kenedeno is right, we can't support the ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/07/truth-you-cant-handle-truth.html - 35k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: New block walking program in Corpu$

Posted on May 29, 2006 at 01:28:04 AM by Jaime Kenedeno ... Roy Miller’s political skills, vision brought Corpus Christi into the modern era ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/05/new-block-walking-program-in-corpu.html - 42k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Lets see how you dance to this tune

All the Talk Radio stations will be talking about the Miller HS issue as well as ... From: Jaime Kenedeno [mailto:kingalonzoalvarezdepinedaxiii@gmail.com] ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/07/lets-see-how-you-dance-to-this-tune.html - 46k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Race for State Rep. District 33 gets HOT

It said that the whistleblowers name at Miller was former assistant ... Jamie Kenedeno, no I just thought it would be fun to do something like that poem. ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/07/race-for-state-rep-district-33-gets.html - 43k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Who's the REAL enemy?

... Sr. attempts to manipulate the vote and his performance at Miller HS last year. ... Jaime Kenedeno/Haley, Who Knows why he writes anything that he does. ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/09/whos-real-enemy.html - 53k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: PULP FICTION & The Award Winning Caller-Times

... an article on July 23rd entitled PAPER WON’T REPORT RUMORS AT MILLER HIGH, ... Thanks for watching my back, Kenedeno. At 4:19 AM, Jaime Kenedeño said. ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/07/pulp-fiction-award-winning-caller.html - 22k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Dangerous chisme?

When we write something us here at Kenedeno & Associates believe it to be true. ... in example will be the one that Danny Noyola was removed from Miller. ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/06/dangerous-chisme.html - 27k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: HD 33 shuffle

Danny Noyola, Sr., recently reassigned from Miller HS principal to Moody assistant principal, ... Posted on July 3, 2006 at 09:51:17 PM by Jaime Kenedeno ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/07/hd-33-shuffle.html - 37k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

South Texas Chisme: Once again the Caller times tells only half truth

-Jane Wall – Current teacher and former Miller HS journalism instructor “As a Precinct chair, ... Political Pulse: Kenedeno’s Political Pulse ...
stxc.blogspot.com/2006/08/once-again-caller-times-tells-only.html - 32k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this


Texas Public Education Watchdog Authority

3 comments:

Jaime Kenedeño said...

South Texas Chisme: Too many minority students dropping out of high school


Too many minority students dropping out of high school

Hispanic youths who lack English skills are three times as likely to drop out as other Hispanic students, according to census data. Almost 40 percent of Hispanic dropouts do not speak English well.

The implications for Texas are especially troubling, given that one-fifth of the nation's Hispanic children live in the state, according to the Civil Rights Project.

It isn't just a problem for minority kids.

One in 10 Texas students vanishes from high school each year to an uncertain future, according to the state.

As bad as that number seems, the reality is probably worse. Many experts say the state undercounts dropouts. Three in 10 students who enter ninth grade don't graduate, according to an index developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers that compares the number of 12th-graders with the number of ninth-graders four years earlier.

Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Debbie Graves Ratcliffe said the agency counts dropouts using a variety of methods
[depending upon the result they want for their PR], including an attrition rate similar to the index. But independent studies and attrition rates don't take into account students who move, she said.

We all know Republicans don't care much for that accountability.
posted by CouldBeTrue


Texas State Representative House District 33: And What What About Our South Texas Democrats?


What did they do for our Youth's Education?


Miller High School was big on Jr.'s agenda, at least as an election issue.

Will you defend him

Winchell said...

A bill that would have given Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority board members the same health insurance and benefits as RTA employees is being rescinded by the representative who pushed the measure past the Texas Legislature.

State Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr. will ask the governor to veto the bill after RTA board Chairman Roland Barrera sent a letter to Ortiz on Friday afternoon asking the bill be killed.

"With all of the recent concerns about this measure, however, I believe that it is in the best interest of the RTA to withdraw its request for this legislation," Barrera wrote. "... in order to have more time to address community concerns about this process, it will be my recommendation to the RTA Board of Directors that we ask our elected officials to request Governor Perry not sign this legislation into law."

Ortiz said he filed the legislation based on unanimous support from the RTA board.

"That support is no longer unanimous," he said in a statement. "Constituents and community leaders have expressed opposition to the bill, and when my constituents speak, I listen. Pending receipt of a resolution from the board, I will formally request that Governor Rick Perry veto HB 2622."

As part of the RTA's legislative agenda, board members asked Ortiz to carry a bill that would make it legal for the RTA to provide health, life and dental insurance for its 11-member board. The House and the Senate passed it and it was sent on to Gov. Rick Perry, where it was awaiting his signature.

RTA board members would have been eligible for the same insurance benefits as RTA employees, paid mostly by the RTA, which receives 87 percent of its funding through a local sales tax and the rest from fares and federal grants. Covering an individual board member would have cost the RTA nearly $4,500 a year. Insuring a board member's family would have cost more than $8,000 a year.

No other transit authority in Texas offers its board members insurance benefits, nor is it an option for the people appointed to the various local government boards, committees and commissions.

Neither Barrera nor Ortiz returned e-mails or repeated phone calls seeking comment.

But RTA general manager Ricardo Sanchez said the insurance veto recommendation is on Wednesday's agenda.

"I know that the chairman has been in contact with the other board members," Sanchez said. "In my conversations with the chair, I think they (board members) were receptive to his recommendation."

Sanchez said he is unsure whether board members will pursue the insurance matter in the future.

"It's something that the board would have to reconsider at some point," Sanchez said. "For all intents and purposes, this has become a dead issue."

Sanchez said he had mostly friendly jabs about the insurance matter from friends, but he suspects board members were hearing about it out in the community.

"Was it a good idea?" Sanchez said. "Everybody has perfect hindsight I think that there should have obviously been community outreach and more education about what we were trying to do so there were lessons learned in that sense."

Corpus Christi resident Joe Black said he was immediately incensed when he read of the measure.

"I was totally disgusted," Black said. "There does not seem to be any reason for this. I am glad that they have withdrawn it. In fact I sent just about everybody on my e-mail list the House Bill number so that they could go to the governor's Web site and request it to be vetoed."

Gov. Perry's spokesman Robert Black said the governor will take Ortiz's request but the measure won't necessarily get vetoed.

"If the bill sponsor sends us a note it will carry some weight but that is not definitive," Black said. "The governor will make up his own mind. No decision has been made yet."

Contact Jaime Powell at 886-3716 or powellj@caller.com
Post Your Comments

Posted by no on June 2, 2007 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What good $ense our newly elected repre$entative Jr. Ortiz ha$. May he long $erve his di$trict.

Posted by marybelltx on June 2, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let me understand this correctly the bill was brought to Ortiz Jr. by the RTA.
Bill was drafted by Ortiz
Bill was filed by Ortiz in both the House and Senate (Hinojosa)
Bill was heard in Committee in both House and Senate at the request of Ortiz
Public testimony was heard in both the House and Senate on bill by Ortiz
Bill was voted out of House (Ortiz) and Senate (Hinojosa)
Bill was sent to the Governor for signing

AND NOW it's a bad bill?

How much did that cost process cost the taxpayers?
Perhaps he should be wary of people bringing self serving legislation to be filed.
This bill took 3 months to get passed.
How much did the RTA spend to work on this? Wait we paid for that.

16 bills filed by Ortiz and 13 never made it out of committee!!

With this "very special" interest bill "possibly" being vetoed by the Governor means only 2 minor clean up bills actually did anything.

Oh forgot 17 "congratulatory resolutions" were passed THOSE of course are the most important one's.

Perhaps if more effort was spent on HB 710 by Ortiz, Jr. dealing with children's health insurance as was spent on the RTA bill then it would not be sitting dead in committee and instead be sitting on the Governor's desk waiting for signature. Something to think about.

Kenedeno Media said...

Here are some comments from the Article: Ortiz Tidies Up After Another Gaffe?

I say GAFF

Post Your Comments

Posted by no on June 6, 2007 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ortiz is such a joke! Guess he finnally learned that it's the public he should listen to, not the puppet-master. Oh well, hopefully he's a one-term wonder....sure definitely seems to be on track to be one.

Posted by guest on June 6, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Makes you wonder if something spooked then into backing out on the bill, time will tell. Looking forward to the Caller Times in keeping us informed.

Posted by stff on June 6, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He's your boy Caller Times. You endorsed him. But like you always endorse his daddy after it's been revealed he's been involved in funny stuff, you'll continue to endorse Jr. The editorial board's interest is preserving the Democrat Party in Nueces County, not open and honest government as it likes everyone to believe.

Posted by mychbelle on June 6, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is what happens when registered voters make uneducated decisions and vote for a name rather than considering a candidate's true qualifications for the job in which he seeks. Now we're stuck with an imbecile representative who can't even pretend to know what he's doing. He rode his father's coattails all the way to the statehouse and now we're paying for it. We can only hope and pray that he'll do relatively little damage the rest of his term in office, and maybe more intelligent voters'll stand up next time.

Posted by truthincc on June 6, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The next election will be the true test as it will speak a great deal about the voters if they vote to send him back.

Posted by mondosurf77 on June 6, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At least he is backing off these pieces of legislation when the public expresses that they do not approve of them. I'd rather have an official who does that than the smartest man/woman in the world that does not listen to the people. Overall, it would be nice to have an intelligent, experienced person who listens to the people...but you are only limited to the candidates that run for office, right?

Posted by cwaller on June 6, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey, the boy backed off the legislation, which makes him look silly, but shows that he will change when there is public disapproval. At least the guy listens to the public and acts on it.

Posted by mike.carter on June 6, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for Rep. Ortiz. He makes a mistake and admits it and does something about it. Wish we could say the same for the President of the United States.

Posted by df61743 on June 6, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The jerks that sent him up there are the same jerks that kept sending his useless daddy back, and they will send him back again. Apparently they aren't smart enough to read about what he's doing. The name is all they need to know!

Posted by dthompson on June 6, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The CCCT seems to only report the 'bad' things that Rep. Ortiz is doing. If and when they ever post anything good he's done, it's a small blurp on a back page. The CCCT receives the same press releases that Ortiz's constituents and supporters are able to receive. If the Caller Times were to report on all of his accomplishments within his first 6 months in office then they'd really be keeping us informed.

Posted by browardjoe on June 6, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Its a joke and he is a joke of a legislator. There are state reps that go decades without screw ups like this and he did this in his first session. Unbelievable. His father can do this stuff and never get called on it and this newspaper continues to endorse him...another joke. Anyone ever figure out that there has been a senior congressman, a county judge, a county commissioner, and now a state rep hail from Robstown since 1982 and it still looks like a third world country over there? When our citizens are going to wake up is beyond me. Hes trying to do 'under the table,' shoddy deals like his dad, but thank goodness he is too stupid to even pull them off.

Posted by usaf7191 on June 6, 2007 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Carter,

It appears to me that Representative Ortiz did not admit to making a mistake until after the public raised and eyebrow or two about his actions. Both this time and also when he accepted a bill from his uncle and submitted it without even reading it to the legislature for consideration.

Who in his right mind would introduce a bill giving (tax dollar paid)benefits to people who volunteered to be RTA Board Members.

Last time I checked Volunteer meant to perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will without expecting to be compensated.

Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Someone should look into other deals that the RTA has done?

I read that they each have a personal expense accounts for travel to conventions and other "informational" seminars. Is that "on the job training" or "vacation time" at taxpayer expense?

What is really going on at the RTA that the public is unaware of?

Let's get some true volunteers who believe in public service at the RTA.

I remember that political ad portraying Ortiz Jr. as a puppet. At the time I thought it to be very mean spirited, however now one has to wonder just how many strings really tied to Jr.? I'm very disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCXYGsChu...

Posted by nick.wetegrove on June 6, 2007 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The real joke is the Caller-Times. Had the newspaper had any interest in reporting the real news they would have noted the needle exchange legislation that Rep. Ortiz got passed that will protect our police officers from contracting HIV. Also, don't worry about mentioning his work on the CHIP bill to get thousands of more Texas children insured.

Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The bill you are referring to is only one of 13 bills that died. Only 3 bills were passed by Representative Ortiz in 5 months. The RTA bill, a county pay raise bill, and a access to records bill. My niece showed me how to find this information and she is 16.

I would think that you would take the time to check your facts. Let me assist you in your endeavor to educate yourself.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/Bi...

Posted by nick.wetegrove on June 6, 2007 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you for your kind offering. As you are probably unfamiliar with the true workings of the legislative process let me assist you. The Republican opposition to any form of needle exchange bill was very intense this legislative session. Had you investigated further you would have noticed that HB 1846 was referred to the Public Health Committee which is chaired by Rep. Diane Delisi, who was a 2001 Texas Eagle Forum Freedom and Family Award winner. Additional inquiry would have led you to realize that the Eagle Forum is a group affiliated with Phyllis Schlafly, a woman that wrote a book against the Equal Rights Amendment, and encourages "conservative participation in public policy". Certainly Rep. Delisi could not go back to her constituents and tell them she voted for a bill that would give intravenous drug users access to needles. That certainly does not sound deserving of the Freedom and Family Award. But wait -- Rep. Delisi never had a chance to vote on the bill because as chair of the committee she ultimately decides which bills her committee will hear and she did not want to hear this one. Maybe your niece should have informed you of that. Furthermore, a true detective like yourself I am sure would have watched the debate on SB 10, you would have noticed that it was amended to create a pilot needle exchange program in Bexar county. Rep. Ortiz and his staff's work towards this compromise is also something else you won't read in the Caller. The other bill I assume you are cross referencing with me is HB 710. Rep. Ortiz filed this bill in conjunction with at least 15 other members. Despite opposition, this bill passed in a different form (HB 109 I believe) and as a result 127,000 more children are now insured. Next time you should probably consult someone other than your niece or your government textbook. Maybe then you would realize there are dozens of different ways for great ideas like this from Rep. Ortiz to make it into law. That is what it's all about right? Helping the people of Texas. Good job Rep. Ortiz.

Best wishes during your endeavor to educate yourself on the realities of politics and government.

Posted by raquel.premier on June 6, 2007 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think Rep.Ortiz, is doing a fantasic job....There will be tons of issues that we the public will not agree on, we don't realize that he has given alot of his time and energy for the citizens here and has given up more than he will probably ever gain... He has accomplished alot and I am an glad he represents CC...Once again we are talking about people in corpus that dont get involved and are the first to have a negative comment...

Keep up the good work Rep.Ortiz!!!

Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That was a round about way of saying that he had a bill which became and amendment of which he doesn't even have his name on but it supposably was passed in to law BY HIM? 18 amendments and I didn't see Ortiz listed.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLooku...

The statement was that "needle exchange legislation that Rep. Ortiz got passed " where does it say he passed it?

I never read that he was an author or co-author in the house.

And where did protection of law enforcement come into play? Was that just your interpretation?

I applaud anyone who is a public servant including teachers but don't make a statement that something was accomplished or passed when it simply is not the case. 3 bills were passed by Ortiz the RTA, the County, the notification bill

If you can provide the link where it shows where he provided that amendment we would certainly like to read that. And will gladly admit that I made a mistake. I'm only a teacher but research is not that difficult.

Posted by el_longhorn on June 6, 2007 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey marybelltx, Ortiz is a CO-AUTHOR of HB 109, the CHIP bill that restores health insurance to thousands of kids in Texas and that you like so much. In addition to his 3 bills, Ortiz also passed 3 amendments and sponsored one senate bill...pretty good for a freshman who is in the minority party and voted against Speaker Craddick! Look it all up. Compare his accomplishments to any freshman Democrat. He did very well.

On needle exchange, why don't you ask the ACLU or the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation what they think about Ortiz's efforts on legalizing needle exchange programs? By the way, law enforcement supports needle exchange because they don't want to get stuck with a dirty needle when patting someone down.

Posted by miguelmba1 on June 7, 2007 at 1:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another example of the corrupt politics of Nueces County. We need to cut the Puppet's strings!

Posted by marybelltx on June 7, 2007 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My issue is not with Ortiz but with the RTA.

If I was Ortiz my concern is who is hurting him and/or who is helping him. The people who put him in this position must have another motive. No idiot would not think of what the fallout would be. RIGHT?

TO me Ortiz Jr. is the victim of people may have intentionally manipulated him in order to put him in that position to be at the minimum vulnerable to defeat in the upcoming election.

Since you are primarily concerned with Ortiz and cannot see beyond that. Answer a question for me

OF THE 16 BILLS THAT HE AUTHORED HOW MANY WERE PASSED?

OF THE BILLS THAT WERE PASSED HOW MANY WERE SPECIAL INTEREST BILLS AND/OR FILED RELATED TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

Question
Why wouldn't he pass a county bill to another member of the delegation to avoid the perception of impropriety.

I guess he would rather do it "in" the taxpayers "face" than try and hide it.

To my little people aka "the minority"

When did it become about the one and not the many?

Politics is about building bridges and helping the people who deserve helped and truly deserve help.

It was said earlier that Rep. Oriz made a mistake and he corrected it. And for that I understand. I feel that the Caller deserves the same respect in that it endorsed the Congressman's son and in MY opionion the CALLER should be extended the same courtesy and rescind it's endorsement of Ortiz, Jr. for... well doing absolutely nothing.

WE VOTED YOU IN AND I VOTED FOR YOU. WHAT DID YOU DO? FOR CORPUS? TELL US PLEASE.

RTA
Why cant the Caller tell us what these RTA people really do and what the qualifications are?

I would like to have a travel expense account, a title, be able to vote on millions of dollars of taxpayer money and NOT HAVE TO BE ELECTED. Wait it's "our" tax money they are spending.

NOW HOW DO I BECOME ONE OF THESE CHIEFTAINS?



Posted by kingalonzoalvarezdepineda13 on June 8, 2007 at 3:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am proud that finally people are becoming engaged. The Elected count on the disengagement of the average citizen. Solly did not keep his commitments to the community. When the exposure campaign began we never expected this kind of response. Good for HD # 33 and good for Corpus Christi.

For more insight into the failed term of Solly it is referenced at the following sites.

http://ccisd-kenedeno-edu.blogspot.com/

http://vilmaluna.blogspot.com/2007/05/ke...

Posted by kingalonzoalvarezdepineda13 on June 8, 2007 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Also, my regards to the Caller Times Reporters who worked on these issues.



Posted by monikaschmitt on June 8, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

since the RTA operates on money paid by us taxpayers in the first place, I sure wish the Caller-Times would investigate on what else the RTA is wasting this money. The half percent of Sales Tax we are paying that goes to them, could have been cut in half long time ago and they would still swim in the fat. And we all could use some cut in taxes somewhere.

Posted by mottranch5 on June 8, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Young Mr. Ortiz is going through the learning curve. Perhaps his election to this position was a little hasty, but that is politics. Mr. Ortiz should have appointed his old demo rival Mr. Noyola as a consultant/advisor. He could have had a wealth of experience and wisdom at his side.

Posted by tisha2002 on June 8, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What I don't seem to understand is why people would be so opposed to providing health insurance to a group of people that do public service, volunteer or paid. Do you know how many uninsured live in our city? Teachers, police officers, fire fighters, etc. get health insurance and yes we the taxpayers pay for some of it. What is wrong with that? They provide a service that is needed and paying a small price for health insurance is better than the large bill of them going to the emergency room.

On another note, the job of an elected official last time I checked was to represent his constituents. The RTA is a constituent group and when they asked for this legislation Rep. Ortiz was following a request of his constituents. If people were so opposed, they should have attended their public board meeting to comment prior to this being approved.

Be more educated people!

Posted by marybelltx on June 8, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So JUST by chance the chairman works for the very insurance company the RTA is buying the insurance from?

You really don't see that as an issue?

To me it doesn't pass the "sniff" test and if you can't see that then JUST maybe you have more of a vested interest in defending Jr. and not the interest of the tax paying public.

Please tell me that the RTA had other bills other than this one.

I saw that the Caller posted all the pictures of all members of the RTA that say NOW that they would NOT participate in the benefits.

Why don't they put up who actually voted for the motion to have the legislation filed?

Another thing If NO one wants to utilize these benefits then why go to all the trouble of filing the legislation in the first place. Guess under the bright lights of public scrutiny the rats jump ship and leave JR. hanging.

You asked why didn't more people attend the public board meeting. Well maybe, just maybe the public TRUSTED that a volunteer board would not betray public trust and use public dollars to "feather their own nests".

YOU"RE TELLING US THAT NOW WE NEED A WATCH DOG GROUP TO MAKE SURE THIS "VOLUNTEER" BOARD DOESN"T DO THIS AGAIN? They have already indicated that they would at a later time.

Each one of them knew what they were doing they just got caught. To me if the public doesn't trust them then why keep them? I just bet that the public transportation system here in Corpus will not fall apart if we get new RTA members. It may say alot about the integrity of the city, county and mayor.

HEY CALLER-TIMES print who voted in favor of the resolution back in 2006! They even passed a resolution for formalize this action!

Oh and you say that Rep. Ortiz's "constituents" requested this bill. WHO? The RTA? Obviously it WASN'T the will of the "constituents" otherwise the RTA, ORTIZ AND Sen. GUNNAHOSE-YA wouldn't be scambling to DEMAND that the Governor veto it.

I say make these positions elected not appointed. Let's then see how many will actually want to be on the board and if they win THEN give them benefits. And what's with this longer terms!! I think 12 years!

Let's see 5 city appointees, 3 county appointees, 2 by area committe of mayors, and one chairman.

5 city appointees hmm the this is the same city council that was going to give our beautiful beach away to a developer?

The city didn't let them get away with that then and I'm glad we are waking up to the corrupt actions of their appointees.

Most of the bad apples are gone from the city but now we are stuck with the appointees they left behind. I for one will be attending more RTA meetings even though I won't be getting paid $50 a meeting or a fancy RTA Lincoln Towncar to drive to the meeting.

Posted by wfscaggie on June 8, 2007 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In response to the comments regarding the RTA and its activities - I'd like to recommend to the CCCT that they also look into the effect that the RTA water taxi had on locally owned small businesses - namely Capt. Clark's Flagship. Consequently, a family owned business on the waterfront that was first created in 1934 is now barely able to hang on. Regardless of how the RTA "spinned" the taxi service as "transportation", it was in direct competition with the privately-owned tour boat.

It's my understanding that RTA can't even get a company to come back and run a water taxi this summer, even though the service was almost completely subsidized by taxpayer money.