Showing posts with label Susie Byrd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susie Byrd. Show all posts

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Cassandra Hernandez Brown: From the People that Brought You Steve Ortega


Cassandra Hernandez Brown: From the People that Brought You Steve Ortega and Joyce Wilson
District 3 City Council Candidate Hernandez Brown's Campaign Finance Reports Show Who Friends Are



Recently posted Campaign Finance Reports by Cassandra Hernandez Brown show us that Hernandez Brown comes from the same school as Susie Byrd, Joyce Wilson, Beto O’Rourke, and the Paso del Norte Group (PDNG)(now Borderplex Alliance. 

More out-of-control spending and higher property taxes are sure to follow.


Hernandez Brown is running for the District 3 City Council seat, a position that will be vacated by Rep. Emma Acosta.


We looked through her contributors and have listed those who contributed over $100. 

There are some we list that are under $100, but we decided to list them because we know you’ll find interesting who they are.


Connections to Former City Rep. and Failed Mayoral Candidate Steve Ortega


We thought the last mayoral election was a referendum that the people of El Paso did not want Steve Ortega. I’m sure you thought you’d seen the last of him. 

However, Hernandez Brown holds a special connection to Ortega in that she was his legislative aide (also see http://brownforelpaso.com/meetcassandra). 

Steve Ortega gives Hernandez Brown $500 for her campaign. Ortega’s aunt, Lina Ortega, and now Texas congresswomen also chips in (see below).


Connections to Susie Byrd


Hernandez Brown was also a legislative aid to former City Rep. Susie Byrd who now sits on the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees (see http://brownforelpaso.com/meetcassandra).

Hernandez Brown has hired Moxie Communication and Consulting, which is a registered company of Byrd. This company, or shall we say Susie Byrd, is kept on its feet mostly from the expenses of Congressmen Beto O'Rourke (See our post Almost 50% of Beto O'Rourke's Top Expenditure Went to Suzie Byrd).



Connections to Joyce Wilson


Possibly the “Most Hated Women in El Paso,” Joyce Wilson gave in-kind contributions to Hernandez Brown through venue and food. Wilson is currently the CEO of Workforce Solution Borderplex. If we are matching things up right, Hernandez Brown works for Joyce Wilson!!!

Cassandra Brown's web page states: "Cassandra is the Deputy Director at Dynamic Workforce Solutions (DWFS) for the non-profit Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB)" so we know she works under Wilson.

Wilson also provided Brown Hernandez an in-kind contribution of $331.62 for "campaign event venue and food" (PDF page 21).

Connections to the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce

Hernandez Brown's website also states she served as Director of Policy and Programs for Education and Workforce Development at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. 

You'll remember that the Chamber of Commerce recently sent that letter to the Texas Historical Commission to block the historical designation of sites of significant history to Mexicans, Chinese, and Chicanos.

 

Here is some more:


James Graham $50 – Graham became known as the “Redistricting Bigot” from the City of El Paso’s redistricting meetings. We remember him well, not wanting to be in the same district as those “brown” people south of I-10.


Steve Ortega $500 – You thought you’d seen the last of this vendido after you thanked him for the debt he instill on you and made your property taxes soar. He’s back!


Deborah Kastrine – $500 - lobbyist and sister to Veronica Callaghan (see http://www.legis.texas.gov/tlodocs/78R/witlistmtg/html/C5802003040113001.HTM). Also see Lobby Watch (http://info.tpj.org/Lobby_Watch/pdf/MedicaidDentalFraud.pdf).

Jeannete Antunez - $550

Julie Zimet - $100 


Veronica Callaghan – $200 - Deborah Kastrine’s sister, daughters of the late William Kastrine. Callaghan is one of the ones promoting Butterfield Trail warehousing and was one of the major pushers along with Robert "Beto" O'Rourke and William Sanders, for a port of entry at Yarbrough and the Border Highway. $50



Edward Holland and Susannah Byrd $60 – yes, Thanks for the Debt Susie Byrd


Susan Melendez – Yes, known as the Wicked Witch of the Borderplex Alliance (Paso Del Norte Group). 



A few years ago she engineered the firing of many Borderplex employees, with security watching over you as you put your stuff in the box, walked out of the building by security. 


The Borderplex Alliance’s former name is the  Paso del Norte Group. It was founded by William Sanders, Beto O’Rourke’s father-in-law. It was once run by Myrna Deckert. It was responsible for the Downtown Plan and the Glassbeach Study.

Steve Ortega  - $100

Ricardo Fernandez – $100 – Transtelco – owes El Paso Times Building. The City was very careful not put the arena near or over any property in Union Plaza that Ricardo Fernandez owned.  A bosom buddy of Beto O’Rourke.

Deborah G. Hamlyn – $75 – She did not give much, but former Asst. City Manager “Debbie” Hamlyn was known for her racism toward people of color even before Joyce Wilson arrived. 

She engineered much of the stadium debacle for Joyce Wilson before Hamlyn retired from the city. Then she was immediately hired by the El Paso Tomorrow PAC which was pushing the 2012 Quality of Life Bond and HOT Tax in support of the baseball park.


Robert Wayne Mays –$100 – Don’t know much about him but we think he has some association or former association with the Thomas Manor Neighborhood Association

Celeste and Ryan Kieffe – $100

E.C. Houghton Jr. - $1000 – Yep, Ted Houghton who offered no support in saving Lincoln Center. Long-time association with Texas Department of Transportation.

Joshua Hunt $1000 – Yes, son of Woody Hunt and a big pusher for the downtown baseball park.

Edward and Martha Escudero $1000 – member of the Paso Del Norte Group

Lane Gaddy - $1000

Miguel Fernandez – $500 -  brother of Ricardo Fernandez of Transtelco. He was involved in funding the PAC that trashed former Congressmen Silvestre Reyes when he Beto O’Rourke ran against him and one. He was also implicated in running an Internet connection across the international bridge without city approval. However, it was put it before city council to approve it after the fact, when O’Rourke was in office. Also see El Paso News Story: The Miguel Fernandez DWI Arrest.


Gary Porras $2000 - contractor



Leonard Goodman –$ 500 – Yes, you remember him. “Tripper” Goodman, spearheaded El Paso Tomorrow PAC to support baseball stadium and demolition of city hall. (see New PAC to promote quality of life bond).


El Paso Police Municipal Officer Association - $2500



Amy O’Rourke $150 – wife of Congressman “Beto” O’Rourke and daughter of billionaire Bill Sanders. Runs Stanton Street Inc..



Lina Ortega $100 – Steve Ortega’s aunt and current Texas congresswoman. Long associated with former Mayor Ray Caballero and former Senator Elliot Shapleigh.

Ann Morgan Lilly – $500 – yes, our former District city representative who was asleep at most city council meetings. 

Member of the PDNG and was present when her husband assaulted Mayor Leeser (Mr. Lilly was never charged and is innocent until proven guilty).

Laura Pople – $573.14 – this is a rental expense. We know from Chucoleaks that Pople's name was in some emails regarding the 2012 Quality of Life Bonds in concerning aquatics on the Westside.


Expenses

As we mentioned earlier, Hernandez Brown spent $2,151 to Moxie Communication and Consultation, which is Susie Byrd’s company.

Hernandez Brown also paid Stanton Street Inc. $541.25 in “fees” for “Online Software Acti-Vote.” This is Congressman O’Rourke’s company currently run by his wife Amy O’Rourke.
 



More out-of-control spending and higher property taxes on the way folks.

Read the entire Campaign Finance Report

Disclosure: Well, some people don't have a sense of humor. No, Donald Trump, Jr. is not a supporter of Melendez-Brown, but look more closely at the photo and see if you get it.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Guilty of Fiduciary Malfeasance? Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Cortney Niland Cause $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Cortney Niland Cause $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall

$9 MILLION Dollar impact in Financial Damage to City

Fiduciary - A fiduciary duty is a legal duty to act solely in another party's interests. Parties owing this duty are called fiduciaries. The individuals to whom they owe a duty are called principals. Fiduciaries may not profit from their relationship with their principals unless they have the principals' express informed consent. They also have a duty to avoid any conflicts of interest between themselves and their principals or between their principals and the fiduciaries' other clients. A fiduciary duty is the strictest duty of care recognized by the US legal system. (Legal Information Institute).

Malfeasance - wrongful and unlawful conduct, especially conduct by public officials which interferes with their public duties (Black's Law Dictionary).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Jerry

An email obtained via the Texas Open Records Act and posted at Chucoleaks.org shows that City Representatives Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland knew on August 24, 2012 that the Western Refinery Property Tax appraisal would be between $216 to $280 million dollars. Even though they knew this  -- they kept it quiet.  

CLICK TO ENLARGE
 

As a result, this caused a $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall with a $9 MILLION Dollar impact in financial damage to the City, damage harming all El Pasoans.

 

Who Knew What and When?



Dinah Kilgore stated that she met with ALL the taxing entities in July 2012 and informed them not to count on the Western Refinery property tax money from the $780 million dollar appraisal.

 
Rep. Suzie Byrd

On August 24, 2012, Susie Byrd forwarded an email to Steve Ortega and Courtney Niland stating that the Central Appraisal District (CAD) board will not allocate funds to go to court and instead will negotiate a settlement with Western Refinery and the expected property tax appraisal would be between $216 to $280 million dollars.

 

Byrd attributed these statements to a conversation with Dinah Kilgore, Director Central Appraisal District proving that Dinah Kilgore is telling the truth about giving the City notice.

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland KEPT THE SHORTFALL QUIET!

 

Gary Hanson spokesman from Western Refinery stated his company notified all the taxing entities not to count on the $780 million dollar appraisal.

 

Furthermore, are we really expected to believe that the City Manager Joyce Wilson and Chief Financial Officer Carmen Arrieta Candelaria were not informed by both Dinah Kilgore and Western Refinery, but Susie Byrd was????

 

Could the Budget Shortfall Have Been Prevented?

 

Absolutely!

 


Photo obtained via Occupy City Hall


City Manager Joyce Wilson and the Chief Financial Officer Carmen Arrietta Candelaria had a responsibility to amend the budget and submit a truthful accounting of expected property taxes in July 2012 when notified by both Dinah Kilgore and Western Refining.

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd and Courtney Niland could have prevented this from happening in August 2012 at the beginning of the budget year. Ortega, Byrd, and Niland had a responsibility to post an agenda item to review the impact on the budget rather than “keeping it quiet” until May 2013, the last quarter of the budget cycle when the budget shortfall would have triple the impact.

 

Who gets Harmed?



As a result of “their secret,” Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland have harmed every person in the City.

 

Yes taxpayers, you will have to make up the shortfall in higher taxes or lose services.

 

What are the Financial Damages?

 

The expected financial impact is between $11.3 to 17.3 MILLION Dollars in budget shortfalls countywide.

 

KVIA reported Western Refinery CAD settlement leaves budgets short

You can read the KVIA story here


 

The Western Refinery Property Tax Settlement is expected to cost in budget shortfalls:

§  The City $3 million dollars and an actual impact of $9 million dollars

According to Mayor Cook with only a quarter of the year left that $3 million triples to a $9 million dollar impact on the city budget.

To put it in perspective, the City only keeps a $16 million dollar reserve fund and they want you to lower that in the Charter Amendment Propositions!

§  The County $1.7 million dollars

§  The El Paso Independent School District $5.3 million dollars

§  The El Paso Community College $500,000

§  The University Medical Center $800,000

 

The Convenient Scapegoats: Central Appraisal District Board (CAD) and Dinah Kilgore

 

Steve Ortega had no response which is no surprise since he thinks he answers to no one.

 

Amazingly, Susie Byrd’s response to the KVIA story regarding CAD was "It's almost

like they make this stuff up," City Rep. Susie Byrd said.

 

 Geez “It’s actually like Susie Byrd is completely lacking in both honesty and integrity.”

 

Courtney Niland has “volunteered” to sit on the Central Appraisal District (CAD) Board and “vowed to do what she can to prevent something like this from ever happening again.”  

 

Newsbreak to Niland! Your oath of office is a “vow”!

 

You had a responsibility to take steps to prevent this in August 2012. Do you really expect us to believe your “vow”?

 

Vote INFORMED EL PASO  - It’s time to Clean Out a Corrupt City Government!

Do you really think Steve Ortega is fit for public office much less Mayor?

 

Do you really think Susie Byrd is fit for public office much less an EPISD school board trustee?

 

Do you really trust Carmen Arrieta Candelaria to “fix” the problems at EPISD by serving on the EPISD Board of Managers?

 

Are you tired of being scammed for millions of dollars by City Manager Joyce Wilson?

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland should resign or be removed from office immediately by recall or fiduciary malfeasance. They should NEVER be allowed to run for elected office again.

 

Joyce Wilson and Carmen Arrieta Candelaria need to shown to the door.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Kids First Reform EPISD Now PAC: What’s Wrong and What’s White


 
Kids First Reform EPISD Now PAC: What’s Wrong and What’s White
Where Are All the Brown People: PAC has trouble even attracting Steve Ortega types

by Ben


The recent low-attendance of forums hosted by Kids First Reform EPISD PAC may be a clue how out of touch they are with people of color. Of course you remember, this is Susie Byrd and Elliot Shapleight's PAC trying to put Byrd on the EPISD school board among others.

 

However, a much better clue is their financial report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

 

Out of the 52 people listed as donors, only 6 appear to be Latino. Now we are basing this on the number of Hispanic surnames found in their financial report: five (5) which we counted (we counted 47 White surnames), and one surname whom we know the person is Latino despite the last name. So let’s do the math, that’s only 11.32 % of Kids First donors are Latino (out of the more than 80% Latino make up of El Paso).

 

Wow!

 

Kids First huh?

 

Who’s kids?

 

Definitely not 87% of the population of El Paso who are Latino -- not their kids.

 

What is 11.32% closer to? Who? We get it, the 14.2% make up. Which group is that: yes, Whites.

 


What Side of Town do Kid’s First Donors Come from

 

Certainly, Kids First has walked the barrios to make sure their organization is diverse.

 

70.5 % of Kids first donors live on the Westside

 

·         One donor lives south of I-10

·         One donor lives in Memorial Park

·         Eleven donors live in the North East (21.5%)

·         Four live in the Burges area

 

So much for diversity!

 
Gandalf the White

Paso del Norte Group/Borderblex Alliance Membership Cross-References

 

However, if you are trying to get a bigger percentage, look no further than whom the PAC donors are and how many of them are members of the PDNG.

 

Now, we may be using an old membership list. Some we could not find on the roles. But for people like former Assistant City Manager Debbie Hamlyn (known to be a terrific friend of people of color), we know she worked for PDNG or one of its affiliated entities during the stadium debacle (just a few day after her retirement we’ll add). There is also Tracy Yellen of MyrnaDeckert & Associates,* but not found the PDNG lists. We did not find her on the membership list, but she might as well be.

 

Edward Escudero

Perry Fienbert (Stephen)

Carol Glicrease (Paul)

Leanard "Tripper" Goodman (yep, the stadium guy)

Frank Gorman (Patrick)

Jimmy Janack

Frank Gormans

Robert O’Rourke (Beto O'Roarke)

Melissa O’Rourke (daughter of Bill Sanders)

Eric Peirson if he’s the same guy in Peirson and Peirson

Deberah Kastrin

Pearson and Pearson (Eric)

Tracy Yellen

JoAnn Casey

Michael Wenolt

 

That’s 29.4% of Kids First donors are PDNG members.
 
 
* Deckart is a co-founder of the PDNG and former executive director