“Sleazy Six” Dropping Like Flies

The “Sleazy Six” tollers are running scared! One by one, the CAMPO “Sleazy Six” tollers are announcing that they won’t run for reelection. Don't you just love a good pattern?

First, Round Rock Mayor Nyle Maxwell announced he wouldn't run again in early November.








Then in late November, Rep. Mike Krusee, the architect of freeway tolls and TTC, announced that he wouldn't run again. Read the article "Why Krusee Really Quit" to get the details.






Now this week, Georgetown Mayor Gary L. Nelon tells the Statesman that he’s bailing out as well!








And get this, a high ranking elected source within the City of Kyle administration has told me that Mayor Miguel Gonzales will NOT be running for reelection.







A call into the City of Cedar Park shows that Mayor Bob Lemon has plenty of time yet to "bail out" - since filings for that position haven’t even started yet. File for this Mayors position between February 9, 2008 and the deadline date of March 10, 2008 in case he runs.




THIS GUY WITH A BIG FAT TARGET ON HIS BACK IS Travis Commissioner Gerald "Oak Hill Toller" Daugherty. Daugherty has filed for reelection, according to Republican headquarters, and he has two D opponents for the general election, but he’s yet to get a Republican opponent. Deadline to file as an R is coming up fast - Jan 2, 2008. I've got a special place in my heart for GD . This Hee-Haw fool is my district rep so contact me if you are interested in running as an R - Let's pile on GD! (sal@austintollparty.com)


The “Sleazy Six” are the CAMPO board members who are up for reelection and voted to divert $910 million tax dollars to shift Central Texas freeways to toll roads. Our targets since October 2007, the “Sleazy Six” ignored the public’s will and voted to toll existing freeways like 71W, 290W, 71E, 71W, and 183 with our tax dollars.

Why are these politicos running scared?

These politicos know how our Political Action Committee has created a campaign that eviscerates double tax tollers and leaves their toller carcasses to rot. It took us a couple years to figure out the recipe, but we’ve now got it down to a science. In a successful stealth campaign to remove the Vice Chair of CAMPO we moved the race 15 points in only 2 weeks!

Changing CAMPO Allows us to chip away at the toll plan.

Here is how we’ve already changed CAMPO, and how we’ve

slowed down the toll plan and killed some portions of the

double tax freeway tolls.

OTHER DOUBLE TAX TOLLERS WE WON'T FORGET:

Other 2007 CAMPO board members who voted to divert $910 million tax dollars to shift Central Texas freeways to toll roads, but who are up for reelection AFTER 2008 are:

• Sen. Kirk Watson - Term ends 2011
• Council Brewster McCracken - Mayor in 2009?
• Williamson Commish Cynthia Long - Term ends in 2011
• Travis Judge Sam Biscoe - Term ends in 2010
• Travis County Commish Sarah Eckhardt - Term ends in 2010
• Mayor Will Wynn - Term limited 2009
• Council Betty Dunkerley - To retire in 2008
• Capital Metro John Trevino - Unelected, Unaccountable.
• TxDOT District Eng. Bob Daigh - Unelected, Unaccountable.

Other pre 2007 CAMPO board members who voted for double tax freeway tolls in 2004 or/and 2005 include:

• Rep. Mark Strama
• Rep. Dawnna Dukes
• Sen. Steve Ogden
• Sen Dan Gattis

Related articles:

Who Voted To Toll MoPAC?

Everything You Need To Know About Austin Freeway Tolls

Commissioner Daugherty Places Profits Over Our Families Safety

KXAN report: CAMPO Has No Accountability System For Spent Money

2005 Statesman Article covers Daugherty Anti-Toll Thong

Hundreds of anti-tollers locked out of Toll Road Hearing.

Why Krusee Really Quit

STATESMAN: The Invisible 'Double Tax' Tollway

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Brian Thompson challenges Toller Dawnna Dukes for state House in Democratic primary

TxDOT Forcing Texans to Acquire TxTAGs

Dallas News says Rick Perry is running for President (click here to read!)

Unpopular Texas Governor banks on collective amnesia in future bid for president

Costello's “Circle of Payolla” Freeway Toll Video Wins National Award!

The Sam Adams Alliance & Foundation announced the six winners of the "Sammie Awards" today.

The awards are designed to recognize outstanding citizen leadership and creativity nationwide, and are being given this year to individuals and groups from Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington.

"We are proud to see so many citizens participating in the effort for greater government accountability and transparency," said Bob Costello, Sam Adams Foundation president. "We hope the Sammies can highlight their efforts and encourage them-and others-to continue working to advance the ideals of liberty."

"Winning one of these important national citizens awards is a fantastic honor for myself and the citizens of Texas," said Sal Costello, founder of TexasTollParty.com and AustinTollParty.com (no relation to Bob Costello).

* Sal Costello of Austin, Texas won the $5,000 Best Short Satire Film award for his “Circle of Payolla” Toll Road video highlighting the "double taxation" of shifting Austin's freeways to toll ways. The video, that can be seen on YouTube, stars Sen. Kirk Watson, Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, Rep. Dawnna Dukes, Rep. Mark Strama and others.

* Stefan Sharkansky of Seattle, Washington won the $5,000 Sunshine award for his work investigating the government with Washington's Public Records Act and exposing cases of government waste, incompetence, and malfeasance on his blog, Sound Politics.

* Leon Drolet of Macomb, Mich. won the $5,000 Best Short Documentary award for his video footage of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance spreading the word about State Representative Marc Couriveau's 3,000 percent tax increase on local garbage disposal.

* Melyssa Donaghy of Indianapolis, Indiana won the $5,000 "Tea Party" award for staging numerous creative protests around the state in response to Indiana's increasing property tax burden.

* Ben Cunningham of Nashville won the $5,000 Local Blogger award for his blog, Taxing Tennessee, which gets on average over 2 million views weekly and covers topics on taxes, freedom, and individual rights.

* Finally, the "We Demand A Vote Coalition" from Hamilton County, Ohio won the $10,000 "Modern-Day Sam Adams" award for its work to defeat an $800 million sales tax increase through grassroots mobilization.

The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Chicago on December 20, and details for next year's Sammie Awards will be posted on the Sam Adams Alliance & Foundation website-www.samadamsalliance.org-in the coming months.

The Sam Adams Alliance aims to revive the principles of our namesake by connecting and supporting citizen leaders who are working to defend liberty, hold the government accountable, and protect the rights of taxpayers starting at the state and local level.

The Sam Adams Foundation strives to educate and inform citizens about the important political issues necessary to maintaining a free society, including government accountability, government transparency, property rights protection, fiscal responsibility, free speech, and citizen initiative and referendum rights.

Mr. 39% Sets Up Special Election For R to win, But the D Wins.

Sen. Kirk Watson vs. Ric Williamson Spat in the Statesman - The Real Skinny.

Ok, there’s a lot happening in the last few days, many of them are not ripe enough to share, but they are coming soon, so check back.

The whole freeway tolling planning process, from top to bottom is in turmoil. The political infighting below is just a snapshot of how the foundations are continuing to crack.

In 2005, when the CTRMA borrowed $200+ in debt for a few miles of 183A, toll bond dollars were easy to get.

But today, the cost of driving (gas) is high, and gas prices are not expected to drop again. AND, the costly bond insurance, like the ones used to bump up the US 183A bonds to investment grade, are now under severe Wall Street pressure for all the risky municipal debt they insured.

SA Express wrote about the effects of gas prices on tolls last year - HERE.

The overall US and global economy are both in terrible shape.

And Texans are driving less.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, Travel Volume Trends and Energy Information Agency, Short-Term Energy Outlook, Traffic volumes on urban arterial roadways in Texas in September 2007 were 1.3% lower than in September 2004. Over the same period, the U.S. retail gasoline price increased by 49.9%. The Energy Information Agency’s December 11, 2007 Short-Term Energy Outlook predicts that the average U.S. gasoline retail price will increase by another 21.6% between September 2007 and May 2008.

The pressures above are mounting to get the freeway tolls in, before it gets worse.

And, you add the chemically imbalanced Ric Williamson to the equation - then you've got real fireworks.

Sources say, the real reason for TxDOT (Ric Williamson) giving Sen. Kirk Watson a hard time about the nearly $1 Billion tax dollars (to shift Austin freeways to toll ways) was because Watson allowed the Eckhardt Amendments, (which some tollers feel “ties their grubby little hands”).

That is why Williamson is torturing Watson. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see the Statesman article from yesterday here.

So, what can happen?

Well, perhaps TxDOT/Williamson is just torturing Watson, or maybe they are trying to get the unaccountble toll authority (CTRMA) to cover some or all of the debt.

In any case, it’s a bunch of crooks fighting over how they set up this unaccountable taxation of tolling our freeways with nearly $1 Billion tax dollars.

Also, I hear that perhaps CAMPO Executive Director Micheal Aulick’s retirement, might not have been his idea, but perhaps Kirk Watson’s. Sources say that Watson (and a couple other CAMPO members) were not happy with how Aulick was doing his job, and they want a more politically seasoned person to carry the toll road message.

Big things are happening today! Stay tuned to this blog for a lot of exclusive breaking news in the coming days!

Court hearing to compel TxDOT to hand over documents regarding illegal lobbying

Local U.S. Congressman is Upset at TX-DOT's "Lack of Funding" Statements

TxDOT, Watson, Carter And The Iraq War

STATESMAN: What did TxDOT not know, and when?

By Ben Wear, AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN

Monday, December 17, 2007

Steamed senator wonders why TxDOT pulling funding
for toll road plan after politically risky vote in October

Kirk Watson is not happy.

State Sen. Watson, you see, and 14 of his Central Texas colleagues pretty much put their posteriors on the line in October, approving a toll road plan despite gathering evidence that voting for tollways can be hazardous to your political health.

Then, in late November, less than two months later, the Texas Department of Transportation decided to cut off spending on new construction starting in February, a move that could threaten those Austin toll projects.

What Watson has asked TxDOT, and what others are wondering: What exactly did TxDOTnotknow about its financial pressures around Columbus Day, when the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization board he chairs was authorizing five toll roads that TxDOT had conceived and pursued for four years?

That toll road vote, as Watson repeatedly pointed out in a letter last week to Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Amadeo Saenz, was based upon a commitment from TxDOT that it would furnish up to $700 million of the $1.45 billion cost.

In fact, the words "committed," "commitment" and "commitments" appear a total of nine times in the three-page letter from Watson. The senatorial grinding of teeth jumps off the page.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Ron Paul is the Only Candidate Running, Who has NEVER...

Gov. Perry, eager to be VP, says Bush never fiscal conservative

Texas Gov. Rick Perry wants the VEEP slot so bad that he is willing to throw his long-time pal and mentor President Bush under the bus.

The video was taken of Mr. 39% while he stumped in Iowa for Rudy Giuliani for president last week. Perry says that Bush failed to rein in spending increases as governor of Texas and 'has never ever been a fiscal conservative.'

Terri Hall named San Antonian of the year

Austin lawyer Brian Thompson plans to file to oppose Rep. Dukes on Tuesday

Rep. Dawnna Dukes Must Be Removed Like The Cancer That She Is.

Big time freeway toller State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, is correcting reports on her campaign and office-holder spending dating to 2000, her campaign consultant said Thursday, according to a Statesman report today:

In those years, Dukes spent almost $300,000 of campaign donations on lodging, travel, gifts, gasoline and other items.

Almost a third of that was on credit cards, reported without detailing how much she had spent on each item, as required by the Texas Ethics Commission.

Based on that one bold red line of type above, it appears that Dukes violated state law.

Dukes was also caught this past week playing hookey in Vegas. According to blogger Matt Glazer (see the pic of her playing the one arm bandit), Dawnna was playing the slots in Las Vegas, when she was scheduled to be in an important Medicaid hearing last week:

The committee was scheduled to meet last Thursday. It met and the video and minutes are here.

Who is the only thing missing from the hearing? Dawnna Dukes. Who needs a boring hearing on Medicaid when the seductive lure of the Las Vegas slots beckons.

This is nothing new for Dawnna, remember when she missed a critical vote on education because she was on vacation in France?

Dukes continued irresponsible behavior is all good news for Brian Thompson, a lawyer who works at McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore who is considering a run at Dukes in the D primary.

In January of 2004, Dukes voted to toll MoPAC (a toll lane coming soon - they plan on reducing current lanes to "shoehorn" in a toll lane!)

On 9/13/2004, at a public transportation hearing, I exposed the payola that State Representative Dawnna Dukes received for her YES vote, to toll hundreds of millions of dollars worth of our public highways (see VIDEO here).

Rep. Dawnna Dukes expects her low income East Austin constituents to pay the steep cost of $1,000’s more a year, as the Dukes family receives freeway toll contracts, including a NO BID contract paid for with our tax dollars.


Dawnna Duke's sister, Stacy Dukes-Rhone, received a contract with the toll authority the morning after Dawnna Dukes voted YES for the Freeway tolls, after 93% of the public feedback opposed the plan

The nepotism revelation I made, and the TV news reports that followed, caused the Statesman to do a article on 9/18/04:

"Rhone (Stacey Dukes-Rhone), according to records and interviews with mobility authority officials, has been doing public relations work since February for the mobility authority under a contract with HNTB, the mobility authority's general engineering contractor for its first project, the U.S. 183-A toll road. That tollway, already under construction, was unrelated to her sister's vote in July.

But Rhone also worked on public outreach on the seven-road plan in the runup to the July 12 vote. Her contract allows her to receive as much as $44,400.

According to Richard Ridings with HNTB, the lead engineer on the project, she has been paid $26,000 so far and has billed an additional $6,000.

Her contract specifies her start date as Feb. 1 this year, and the agency, in a letter to Barrientos released Friday, said Rhone has worked for the authority since Feb. 18. But Rhone did not sign the contract with HNTB until July 7. Ridings signed on July 13, the morning after the toll road vote."

Rep. Dawnna Dukes vote included placing tolls on East Austin's 183 & 71 freeway expressways, which are already 100% fully funded with our gas tax dollars. These roads can open as free roads faster than if they were toll roads. Rep. Dukes also voted for freeway tolls again in 2005.

As expected, Stacey Dukes-Rhone has received additional contracts as well. Including a NO BID toll contract for tens of thousands of dollars as listed in the Special Investigation the Texas Comptroller produced in 2005.

Comptroller’s report also found that Rep. Dawnna Dukes approved tolls costing up to $1 a mile. Eleven (11) times the national average. The Comptroller’s investigation illustrates how freeway tolls are “Favoritism and Self-Enrichment” and “Double Taxation without Accountability”.

Dawnna Dukes, the daughter of Eastside power broker Ben Dukes Sr., even places her vote above our Federal Law.

Federal law, Title VI
(Environmental Justice):
We must avoid
disproportionately
high economic effects on
low-income populations.

Title VI also states that we must “prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority populations and low-income populations.”

Last year CAMPO removed large sections of its Environmental Justice website page. But, altering a web page doesn't not alter federal law. Rep. Dawnna Dukes is unfazed by the recent reports of the dangers of toll roads and toll booths, as the disproportionate accidents and deaths of her constituents are on the line.

TxDOT Cashes in On Families of Accident Victims

by TheNewspaper.com

Texas Department of Transportation charges $300 for DUI roadside memorial signs.

The cash-strapped Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will charge accident victim families $300 if they wish to remember their loved ones with a roadside memorial sign. TxDOT announced the kick off of the drunk driving (DUI) accident sign program yesterday. The agency will provide those who pay a blue-and-white sign with the slogan "Don't Drink and Drive" and the name of the victim. The agency will install the sign near the crash site for up to one year.

"So many grieving families will want to honor their loved one's memory in this way because they know that good will come from it," Julie Blasingame said in a TxDOT statement. Blasingame's daughter died in a 2003 accident caused by a drunk driver.

If the family of every victim took advantage of the program, TxDOT would generate $500,000 in annual revenue. Families of victims who died in accidents caused by factors that did not involve alcohol, however, are not eligible for the program. This prevents the proliferation of signs at locations such as toll booths, a frequent location for fatal accidents caused by the unnatural restriction in the free flow of traffic.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

The Games TxDOT Plays

By EyeOnWilliamson Blog:

Ben Wear has a great post up about a TxDOT plan to use “an extra $300 million” to secure a $2.1 billion bond. It could be used to help out Williamson County and it’s recent loss of federal money for roads. From the post, TxDOT, strapped or not, might get a loan.

The catch is that you can’t borrow $2.1 billion when all you’ve got is $300 million in year one. Bond investors would want to know you’ll keep having the money in future years. In this case, that means that in future years the agency would have to use gas taxes to make the debt payment — which is exactly what they’ve already chosen NOT to do — or the Legislature would have to make the $300 million an ongoing deal.

Actually, voters kind of already did half the work. They approved Proposition 12 in November, which would allow TxDOT to borrow up to $5 billion and pay it back from the general fund rather than the gas taxes and motor vehicle fee that feed the TxDOT kitty. But to make that voter decision a reality, the Legislature will have to pass “enabling legislation” in 2009 and appropriate the money.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

NY State Rep. calls for resignation of the entire Toll Authority Board

Plan to Toll Pennsylvania's I-80 Freeway in Jeopardy

The Federal Highway Administration questions the adequacy of the Pennsylvania plan to add tolls to Interstate 80, currently a free highway.

Austin Chronicle Removes Muckraker Comment on Krusee

Think the Austin Chronicle is a trustworthy source for news from a progressive perspective?

Think again.

The Chronicle has supported double tax tolls from the beginning, and this week, I posted a comment on the latest crappy article they did on Rep. Mike Krusee "Finding Solutions". I just found out that the Chronicle deleted my comment! Feel free to comment, maybe they'll delete yours too!

Why would they do that? Well, last year I outed them for ethical challenges - to be more specific, one of their reporters, Mike Clark-Madison, had been working with a CTRMA toll road contractor, TateAustin, for over a year and continued to write pro toll articles - as if there was no conflict.

NY State Rep. calls for resignation of the entire Toll Authority Board

Take That, Newsweek!

Because from Mexico to Canada, everyone knew but you.

By Bryan Ervin, Urban Tulsa Weekly

During the past several months, UTW has periodically reported on plans among some Washington elites to bring about a "North American Community" in which the United States, Canada and Mexico would be integrated into a single entity modeled after the European Union. The body would share infrastructure, common regulating agencies and laws, and no actual borders would exist between the three nations.

Well, apparently, none of that's true.

That's according to an article in the Dec. 10 issue of Newsweek magazine, anyway.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

Cry Baby Commissioner Needs a Republican Opponent!

After citizens give tollers some cat calls for voting to toll our public highways, Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty storms out of the Feb 2005 CAMPO meeting.

Click the arrow above to view this priceless "Cry Baby Daugherty" moment. Just look at his face just before he slams his day planner down and shakes his head.

Daugherty is one of the "Sleazy Six".

A few years back, Gerald stormed out of a KVUE interview, when reporter Clara Tuma questioned Daugherty about his many liens for late tax payment; Daugherty told Tuma her report was "a hatchet job", and he walked out.

Daugherty has yet to get a Republican primary opponent.

WE NEED YOU!
LET'S "PILE-ON" THE OAK HILL TOLLER!

Make my day - PLEASE consider running - hey, as a commish you get paid about $90,000 a year. You must live in the Precinct 3 district (see a map here). The deadline in Jan 2nd.

Sure, there are 2 Dems running, but two bites at the apple is better than one - right? (primary and general battles). Only 500 sigs allows YOU to oppose this clown as an R, without having to pay the $1,250 fee. Or oppose him as a Libertarian for NO cost and NO sigs!

Email me at sal@texastollparty.com to learn more.
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Mr. Costello Goes to TxDOT. Again.

I'm going to TxDOT today to check out a FOIA request I sent in months ago. When you add them all up (city, county, state organizations, elected individuals and CTRMA), I've done hundreds of requests in the last few years. Learn to do your own FOIA requests HERE.

DRAGGING THE FEET

When a citizen submits a public information request in Texas, the entity or individual must allow the citizen to see the information within 2 weeks, or they must file a petition with the AG's office with legal details why the public information should not be released. When they "drag their feet" it usually means there's something they are trying to hide.

So today could be good digging for me. Think of it like a mix of xmas and an easter hunt - if I can find the present.

My request was for "any and all communications about the double charging of TxTAG drivers in Texas". I had found emails months ago about the TxTAG double charges of tens of thousands of Texans (and the TxDOT lies), and did a report, but thought there was something else I didn't get, so I expanded my request. KXAN's article, including TxDOT's misdirection is HERE.

DOES TXDOT LOVE TO WASTE YOUR MONEY?
OR, ARE THEY ARE JUST INEPT?

Just days ago, while helping out TURF/Terri Hall with a lawsuit against TxDOT, I found another interesting example of the massive bureaucracy and waste at TxDOT. As you know, TxDOT is spending millions of our tax dollars to sell Texans toll roads and the TTC.

An invoice for banner ads on KHOU's website, for the month of June 2007, was just one more shining example: The "You'll love toll toads" banner ads had only 23 click throughs out of 75,000 impressions and the total cost for that month of impressions was $825. Again, that's 23 out of 75,000 - and that is NOT a typo.

That comes out to $35.87 per banner ad click through - a dozen times more than most businesses would EVER pay (Click through rates are usually between 30 cents to $2.00 per click, usually not more than $3 a click).

I won't tell you what else we might have found, perhaps that will come out in court.

TxDOT Sells ROADSIDE DEATH SIGNS

Giuliani Embraces Renewable Energy While His Law Firm Lobbies Against It

Hobbs, Gordon file for Krusee seat

Texas Keeps Cash from Interest on Toll Transponder Accounts

By TheNewspaper.com

The Texas Department of Transportation keeps interest generated on money that must be left on toll transponder accounts.

Motorists who use the TxTag electronic transponders to drive on Texas toll roads are having their accounts raided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The agency requires a bare minimum of $10 be kept in any account at all times. If the balance falls below this level, TxDOT automatically charges the credit card on file $20. TxDOT then pockets the interest accumulated from the accounts linked to the 390,000 vehicles equipped with TxTags.

An average account generates about $1 in interest every year. Although $1 is not much, Texas tolling authorities have mailed motorists bills for 25 cents in alleged unpaid tolls and added penalties of $5.25 on anyone who ignored payment of the trivial amount.

For TxDOT, keeping the interest on the $9.8 million in motorist accounts generates about $400,000 in annual revenue. The money helps defray the cost of the multi-million dollar Keep Texas Moving public relations campaign designed to convince Texans of the need for more toll roads.

Read the rest of the article HERE

Hearing tonight on next San Antonio freeway to tollway hurdle

Kirk's CAMPO Keeps Crumbling

In Fact Daily reports that CAMPO Executive Director Michael Aulick notified CAMPO Chair Kirk Watson on Friday of his intent to resign as of January 15, the day after the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board’s next meeting (the December 10 CAMPO meeting has been cancelled). See the 2005 letter I sent to CAMPO, asking Aulick to be fired in the link above.

KXAN's recent report on CAMPO's lack of accountability could have been one of the last straws for Aulick, as the agency has been under a harsh spotlight ever since the freeway tolls came up for a vote in 2004.

CAMPO continues to unravel with Aulick resigning and a number of CAMPO board members jumping ship (including the freeway to tollway converting architect himself - Rep. Mike Krusee).

MORE PLANTED SEEDS TO BREAK GROUND?

I fully expect one of the most radical CAMPO changes in 2008... as the momentum of changes should continue. A lawsuit we filed in 2005 (as PET Inc.) will most probably remove Toller Sen. Kirk Watson, and we've got our eye on a number of races to further pluck freeway tollers from that CAMPO board.

More to come.

STATESMAN: Two Democrats file to challenge Travis County commissioner

Toll lanes: A quick escape for the rich "Getting anywhere will mean big bucks or semi-gridlock."

Newsweek dismisses NAFTA Superhighway as a conspiracy theory - TxDOT's Ric Williamson, a member of NASCO, says there's no such thing.

Gerald Daugherty's Democratic Opponent Revealed

Just a couple days ago I wrote about the "Sleazy Six" and Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty HERE (Voted to toll existing public highways).

Karen Huber, a citizen activist who has been working on growth related issues in SW Central Texas for years, just filed as a Democratic candidate to oppose Gerald Daugherty for Precinct Three.

I just spoke with Karen on the phone.

She's retired, and over the months has been "drafted" by many individuals and community groups that have been tired of the total lack of representation Daugherty has provided. Karen has a business and economic background.

Karen told me she opposes tolling existing roads, the opposite of how Daugherty voted in 2005 and this last October (2007). Google shows that last month, Karen wrote this Op-Ed about a public safety issue - TxDOT's plan to change Texas roadways into Las Vegas like signage displays with LED billboards.

I remember some months ago, when an article in the Statesman came out about all the accidents and traffic congestion on 71 West. Just days latter, another Statesman article was released that told of, Commissioner Gerald Daugherty's vote - to allow hundreds of homes to be built off the same dangerous road. That vote underlines how irresponsible Gerald Daugherty really is - to place developer profits ahead of our families lives. I brought that story up with my conversation with Karen Huber, and she said that just one of many examples of why she's running.

Karen has strong initial support and plans on raising the money needed to defeat Daugherty. You know a candidate is serious, and will have a viable candidacy when they hire David Butts, known as one of the best political consultants in Central Texas today - which she already has. I’ve also heard that Alberto Gonzales might also be running as a Democrat, but as far as I know, he's not yet filed.

Look for a Statesman article this weekend about this race. I'm still waiting for someone to run against Gerald as an "R", to hound him at community candidate forums about his irresponsible votes.

Rental-Car Customers Hit With 8700% Increase in TX Toll Fees

Travelers who rent cars in Texas are being surprised by large bills when they find no way to pay for a toll road in cash. Click the arrow above to watch the video, or read the story HERE on TheNewspaper.com

Dawnna Dukes Draws a challenger... finally

Rep. Dawnna Dukes voted to toll Austin Freeways 71E, 71W, 183, 290E, 290W, 45S and MoPAC - The day AFTER her sister got a contract signed with the tolling authority (CTRMA). I outed her in 2004 (see the video), then the Statesman did a detailed story on her sister's contract 5 days later.

Sunset Commission Asks For Suggestions To Fix TxDOT

GOOD NEWS - The CAMPO "Sleazy Six" Update!

Things are shaping up very nicely for us in 2008, so that we may alter the CAMPO board again, and stop more freeway tolls in Central Texas. We've got at least 2 years to continue to chip away at the double tax tolls, as we did from 2004 to 2007.


Already some of the key CAMPO tollers, two of "The Sleazy Six", are running away from their elections in 2008! That includes Rep. Mike Krusee and Mayor Nyle Maxwell - publicly saying they won't run again for their seats. I've also heard yet another one of the Sleazy Six, Mayor of Kyle Miguel Gonzales might not run. These shifts allow us to focus our resources like a laser beam. Two of the Sleazy Six need opponents to surface in the next couple weeks - Georgetown Mayor Gary L. Nelon and Cedar Park Mayor Bob Lemon.

I've heard from a couple sources that a very viable funded opponent has been seriously considering a general election run against another one of the "Sleazy Six" - County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, Republican (SW Quadrant of Central Texas). There is a good chance she'll file soon, as I've heard she's hired a professional to navigate.

It's likely that if she does decide to run, she'll be good for us. More to come on that later...

TWO BITES AT THE APPLE - BETTER THAN ONE
We are still waiting for someone to step up to run as a Republican, in the R primary against "The Oak Hill Toller" Daugherty.

Daugherty voted to toll our freeways who's running in 2008. The deadline to file is just weeks away. I've got a special place in my heart for Gerald, since he's my district representative. I want him fired, and so do many community groups who he's pissed off over the years.

Even someone to run that didn't have a campaign war chest could help soften him up for the general election in the fall, IF they went to all the community forums to expose his toll votes and his other irresponsible actions as a county commissioner.

Do you know anyone that is good at public speaking - knows the toll issue, and has considered, or might consider, running in the primary against this double tax freeway toller?

Many seeds have been planted over the years, months and even just days ago. 2008 will be a good year to kill freeway tolls. Stay tuned to this blog.

Williams Brothers Construction and Dannenbaum Engineering make unsolicited P3 bid to build part of the Grand Parkway as a toll road

NEW Report Uncovers More Questionable Spending By NTTA

Report Uncovers More Questionable Spending By NTTA

Reporting
Bennett Cunningham

Vienna, Austria (CBS 11 News) ― They went, they spent and they partied with your money.

Two weeks after an exclusive CBS 11 hidden camera investigation showed North Texas Tollway Authority officials spending tens of thousands of dollars on a first class trip to Europe, more financial records reveal more perks.

According to records obtained by CBS11, North Texas Tollway Deputy Executive Director Rick Herrington arrived to the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association Tollway conference in Vienna, Austria 3 days before it started.

According to those documents, Herrington billed the NTTA for meals on those non-conference days, sometimes at the maximum daily rate of $149. Herrington did not provide any receipts in the documents obtained by CBS11.

When CBS11 attempted to ask Herrington about it, a NTTA public relations assistant quickly escorted him away before answering any questions. Later, a representative said Herrington acted in accordance with NTTA policy.

CBS11 also examined more of Herington's expense reports and found he billed the NTTA $154 for Internet access while in Vienna before the conference began. He also charged a $25 airline fee for his extra heavy luggage and $50 for 2 phone adapters to the NTTA.

Herington also put in for food reimbursement on the same day he flew on an American Airlines plane, where he received lunch and dinner. He submitted meal reimbursement for $149.

CBS11 first reported how five NTTA representatives traveled to Vienna for an international conference on tollways, costing tollway users more than $42,000.

CBS11 cameras watched as some NTTA representatives enjoyed the high life, partying every night and eating catered dinners in castles with open bars. The cameras were also rolling as some went souvenir shopping and sightseeing instead of attending the conference.

Three NTTA representatives chose to fly business class at a cost of $7,000 per ticket. All this happened days after the tollway raised your rates to drive on the tollway.

This type of behavior outraged State Senator John Carona, a Dallas Republican, who was surprised that the state government currently has no power to audit the NTTA. He said that he would fight to give the Auditors Office the power to audit the NTTA.

Carona called it "a glaring mistake and something we need to do something about... We also need to make sure the travel policy mirrors the state. The state is very frugal with its money and the same policy should apply to the NTTA."

Many of the receipts from the Vienna trip are still not available for public review. The ones CBS11 did get have been blacked out like a top-secret government document.

Carona points out, "The real thing the public expects is disclosure and open records, and that's what has been lacking in this."

Read (or see the video) for the rest of the story HERE.

San Antonio MPO Ignores The Public And Votes To Toll Public Highway 281 With Tax Dollars.

The modus operandi of yesterday's toll SH 281 MPO vote in San Antonio is the carbon copy of the Austin CAMPO vote from October (list of Central Texas tollers here as well).

The M.O.? A smaller than needed venue, Chamber of Commerce getting the profiteers out early, and a bunch of politicos ignoring the public will - as they vote to shift another public asset to an unaccountable revenue generating machine. Critics outnumbered advocates 3-1.

From a San Antonio Express article:

By the time board members convened at the VIA Metro Center, the 208-person capacity room was full and dozens of people were locked out, prompting complaints that the meeting should have been held in a larger room.

For the first time at an MPO meeting, people entering had to empty their pockets and let a guard use a hand-held metal detector to search them.

From a Carlos Guerra opinion article today:

The Greater Chamber, I was told, mounted a major effort to get its people to attend.

"I got 442 e-mails generated by the Chamber," County Commissioner Lyle Larson mused, pointing to a breakdown of the senders. "You've got engineering firms, 86; real estate firms, 67; construction and engineering, 37; homebuilders, 33 ...

"These are all folks that have a vested interest in getting construction under way. But I can tell you that the lion's share of correspondence I've gotten over the last 31/2 years has been opposed to (toll roads), and I mean by the thousands."

Like others, Larson doesn't buy into the notion that tolling is the only option for alleviating traffic congestion. And he questions the numbers the Texas Department of Transportation has issued to support its pro-tolling arguments.

"On the state level, at least, they're focused on revenue," he said.

"It's not about building capacity, it's about revenues."

From San Antonio Toll Party's Terri Hall (which includes the list of San Antonio tollers):

NON-COMPETE WILL PROHIBIT EXPANSION OF SURROUNDING FREE ROUTES! These sorry excuses for elected representatives voted to limit ANY new roads or expansion of existing roads surrounding the the 281 tollway which undoubtedly includes, Stone Oak Pkwy, Bulverde Rd., Red Land Rd., and Blanco Rd. (up to a 4 mile area around the tollway by law, yep that counterfeit moratorium Perry rammed through allows it)!

TxDOT to Crack Down on 1.8 Million Unpaid Toll Transactions

Muckraker Video's Seen by Over 100,000 on YouTube!

A little over a year ago I began placing toll road corruption video's on YouTube - to help educate the press and the public, in a cost efficient manner. Some of the video's are created by my organization (the cartoons like "The Circle of Payolla"), others are direct press reports and some are pulled from public video recordings.

It's interesting how the video's get around...bloggers post the video's, the press sees the corruption with their own eyes, and regular folks pass them on...

You might not think 100k is a lot, but just 1 view by 1 reporter can help better educate tens of thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of voters.

To date the YouTube account shows over 106,000 video views! Here are some of my favorites:

Sen. Watson's toll hearing Set up to Squelch Free Speech

KXAN EXCLUSIVE Exposes TxTAG Double Charges

The Circle of Payolla -
Sen. Kirk Watson's CORPORATE WELFARE SCHEME!
(over 10,000 views!) stars many Central Texas tollers
- a MUST SEE!

Toll Authority Execs Raise Toll Rates Then Party in Vienna!

CNN reports on Texas Tolls and TTC Protest at Capitol 3/2/07

TxDOT NOT interested in keeping toll costs down.

KXAN's Perfect Report on Double Tax Tolls!

TxDOT Arrogance Displayed at House Hearing

Gov. Rick Perry stars as Mr. 39%!

Texas Gov. Rick Perry stars in land grab cartoon!

TxDOT ain't Poor No More!

"TxDOT can no longer plead poverty." It just received a Christmas gift in the form of a big fat check - in the amount of "$3.197 Billion from NTTA for the rights to build tolled express lanes on 121 State Highway" says TexasCloverleaf blog. And don't forget that $5 Billion infusion they will get via the constitutional amendment that just passed just weeks ago.

Round Rock Leader Poll has 76% saying Krusee Has NOT Been a Good Representative

NTTA pays $3.2 billion for right to collect tolls on State Highway 121

What's still amazing is that motorists will pay back the NTTA more than $3 BILLION with interest just to accelerate the construction of a lousy 10 miles! 16 of the 26 mile project was built and paid for with gas taxes, nearly a Billion tax dollars. That's a TON of money for 10 miles.

This freeway turned toll road will have the highest toll rates in the region, with frequent increases built in.

That never seems to enter the discussion, EVER! This whole fight wasn't about gouging the taxpayers as Shapiro said, it was a battle of who got the pot of money from gouging the citizens. The politicians want "free" money to build all the other toll roads in DFW by stealing from one to give to another. A two-tiered Robin Hood system is discriminatory and unfair. Shapiro apparently has no problem with the gouging as long as Cintra isn't the one doing it.

KLBJ: Taxpayer Funded Police To Begin Ticketing 183A Toll Violators Monday

More public resources spent on bureaucratic tolls.

Let the probing begin!

If any agency could use a hard (unlubricated) probing, it's TxDOT. Bend over TxDOT, this will only hurt real bad for a few months (LOL). Houston Chron has the story, "State Affairs to study TxDOT ad campaign":

Yesterday, Speaker Craddick assigned House Appropriations to analyze the agency's finances going back five years. Today, he told State Affairs to "study the issue of using state funds to advertise government programs and services to discern if taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately."...

...TxDOT has been under fire for a multimillion-dollar ad campaign on toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor. The agency has defended the $7 million to $9 million that it's spending on the Keep Texas Moving campaign....

..."I appreciate Speaker Craddick's decision to accept my request for an interim charge study to examine the issue of using state funds to advertise government programs and services to discern if taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately," Rep. Ken Paxton said in an email today. "While it may be appropriate, at times, for government agencies to educate citizens through public service announcements, I maintain that government should not ever spend the money raised from taxpayers to lobby the public."

Read the whole Houston Chron article HERE.

Motorists let TxDOT survey track their every move for $50

MPO Class Warfare Caught On YouTube: “Those people can afford the tolls...”

In an outrageous display of bias and class warfare, Chairwoman Sheila McNeil, who chairs the MPO Board that will take a vote to use tax dollars to shift public freeways 281 and 1604 into tollways on December 3, tells her District 9 constituents that “Those people can afford the toll roads, the average income up there is $300,000 a year.”

The City of San Antonio’s web site says the per capita income in District 9 is only $31,000 - But McNeil fails to tell her constituents that their tax dollars, intended for freeways, are now paying for freeway tolls across Texas.

Read the rest of the article HERE, on the San Antonio Toll Party Blog

Why Krusee Really Quit.

Seeds were Planted in the Spring.

In the spring of 2006, I figured we’d plant a seed and start telling the story of the “Krusee Corruption” by finding him an opponent, in hopes that a viable opponent (with money) would naturally surface to take him out in 2008.

Myself and a couple of pals in our PAC, plucked an unknown from the universe (with no money) to run in Krusee's 2006 Republican primary. As a matter of fact, the opponent we found signed up just minutes before the WilCo deadline closed. I remember actually directing with her on the phone in the final minutes to get to the right building, to meet the deadline.

On a shoestring budget we moved forward. I created her VoteBarbara.com website, fliers, ad (CLICK TO READ) and free online bumperstickers hitting Krusee hard for his double tax of tolling roads we've already paid for. Our volunteers, led by one of the finest people I've ever met - Richard Reeves, delivered fliers to thousands of District 52 homes.


With virtually no money, an unknown got 36% of the vote. (45% East of 130). That showed Krusee, and incumbent, was very vulnerable.

The work we did in the primary paid off earlier than I planned, with Krusee barely winning the general election by only only 5% of the vote.

Krusee’s narrow win against a Democrat in a Republican (Williamson County) district was a real shocker. Krusee's main opponent, Karen Felthauser, had virtually no money to produce a competitive campaign.

So, in 2006, Krusee was shown to be very vulnerable. Funded candidates always smell blood in the water, and Krusee knew it.

Krusee bailing out is kind of bitter sweet.

I was getting geared up for a sweet knock-out punch, but I guess that gives me more time to take down some other CAMPO tollers. I've talked with a very big name, some weeks ago, who is seriously considering stepping into that race as a Republican. She'd be good for us, very good - 100 times better than another toller like Maxwell - I'm confident she could beat him if he steps in for the R primary. A lot of great bloggers are working hard to spread the word and take down these crooks who steal our tax dollars and freeways to build double tax toll roads.

The Dem in that race is also good for us.

Some have emailed me asking if the info I have about Krusee and Wheatley advertising on a sex swap website was also part of his reasoning/timing. I don't know.

The "Sleazy Six" VOTED FOR FREEWAY TOLLS
and failed to represent our families:

They ignored the public and voted to spend $910 million tax dollars to shift our Central Texas freeways to toll roads. The tollers below with photographs, have terms ending in 2008, and are our targets for the coming weeks and months.

From left to right, the “Sleazy Six”: State Representative Mike Krusee, Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, Round Rock Mayor Nyle Maxwell, Georgetown Mayor Gary L. Nelon, Cedar Park Mayor Bob Lemon, Kyle Mayor Miguel Gonzales

Krusee, was one of the Sleaxy Six. Maxwell says he's stepping down as well. We need everyone to spread the word to ensure we get viable funded candidates for all the rest of the "Sleazy Six" ASAP - deadlines to run takes place at the first of the year!

As we remove more tollers, we can peel off more tolls.

It might be some days before I post that nasty stuff (close-up pics of nasty bits). I'm trying to figure a couple things out first. Keep checking back.

"Most of the early 'public meetings' have not been advertised to the public but are for a select audience often called 'stakeholders'..."

McBlogger Attacks Politico "Retards"

I've never had one, but if McBlogger keeps writing articles like this I just might get a man crush on him.

McBlogger put the biggest smile on my face today, as he attacks all of my favorite double tax toller crooks. McBlogger calls Sen. Watson, Brewster McCracken, Mike Krusee and Gerald Daugherty "Retards" and "Fuc%$@" as he lashes out on them for their constant ignorance on transportation issues HERE.

: )

Sen. Watson Takes Another Step to Ask for MORE Taxdollars on Thursday

It's business as usual in Austin...

Hidden within the Austin City Council agenda for Thursday (tomorrow) Sen. Kirk Watson and his law firm, Hughes & Luce ask the Council to expand the scope of work into other development areas - that's just the first step for more of our tax dollars for Kirk "I don't see any conflicts" Watson.

As you know, roads and development go hand in hand. And Kirk Watson's got his hands in as many cookie jars as possible.

After Krusee handed Watson the toll road ball in January, the Central Texas toll road kingpin Watson has:

1) become the Chair of CAMPO
2) pushed and passed a plan to spend nearly $1 Billion tax dollars to shift freeways to tollways
3) been put on the payroll of developers
4) billed the City of Austin taxpayers at a rate of $450 per hour for representation on land deals with developers. Over $420,000 has been paid to Watson’s law firm, by the City of Austin in the last two years.

Read all about Watson's conflicts of interests HERE.

TEXAS TOLL ROADS NEED CORPORATE WELFARE TO WORK

Subsidizing Toll Roads

by Patrick Driscoll, San Antonio Express

Something that might not get enough attention in the toll-road debate is the matter of public subsidies, so let's take a look.

Texas Department of Transportation officials knew years ago that most toll roads wouldn't be able to pay for themselves. To put it in DOT-speak, "Few projects are 100 percent toll viable." To put it in taxpayer terms, public money on top of toll fees is needed to help pay for most of them.

• Toll Road Finance 101

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Diana Maldonado Statement On Krusee Not Running In 2008

On Hidden Agendas and Political Paybacks

A Statement from Diana Maldonado, Democratic Candidate for House District 52, on the resignation of Craddick Lieutenant Mike Krusee, as seen on Eye on Williamson Blog.

People have grown increasingly suspicious of politics. Unfortunately, their fears are well founded, and today’s announcement from State Representative Mike Krusee that he plans to step down from office effective at the end of his term in January 2009 will only serve to reinforce their suspicions.

Despite widespread rumors of political payback for his steadfast support of toll road privatization plans, Mike Krusee failed to state why he is stepping down, how he will be rewarded, or what backroom meetings took place in the planning of this announcement, just days before official candidate filing opens.

It’s this type of political arrogance that has led people to be justifiably suspicious of the Governor’s toll road plans. Krusee, the lead proponent for the Trans Texas Corridor, has ignored the voters’ demand for information before. He was the only Representative out of 150 members to oppose a moratorium on toll road privatization which would have provided voters time to gain a better understanding of how billions of dollars would be spent, how development rights would be handed over, and how the face of our communities would be changed forever.

The goals he couldn’t reach legislatively, we are left to assume, he will pursue administratively. After all, the same disrespect he showed for voters in the past has been reinforced with his failure to answer questions today.

Read the rest of the statement HERE on Eye on Williamson Blog

It's official, Krusee won't seek re-election

by KXAN

Republican Rep. Mike Krusee of Williamson County ended weeks of speculation and admitted in a statement Monday afternoon that he won't seek a ninth term in the Texas House.

Krusee was once a key member of Speaker of the House Tom Craddick's inner circle as chair of the House Transportation Commission.

He saw his star dim considerably during the most recent session, however, as he faced a backlash over his authorship of the transportation bill that created regional mobility authorities, the Trans-Texas Corridor and the increased use of toll roads as an option to fund major road projects.

When it came time to reverse measures under the bill, he was the sole House member to vote the measure down.

Read the rest of the KXAN article HERE.

Krusee To Announce He Will NOT Run Again

Tip to WilcoBlog

HOCKING THE TOLLWAYS: Broken promises

New Jersey's Courier news gives a brief history lesson of unaccountable Toll Roads Lies:

Politicians have touted the state's toll roads as fiscal panaceas for decades. But seldom has the wishful thinking proved true. Here is a list of the most egregious of the broken promises:

1952: No tolls. The Garden State Parkway would be toll-free when its $330 million in construction bonds was paid off around 1988, or so said proponents of the new superhighway. More than 50 years later, tolls are omnipresent. The original toll charge was 25 cents at 11 toll plazas and from 10 cents to 25 cents at exit and entrance ramps.

1997: Free E-ZPass. The new, high-tech E-ZPass toll-collection system would be so smart that it would fund itself, costing motorist nothing more in fees. The system not only would catch toll cheats, but it also would collect millions of dollars in fines, estimated to be $300 million by 2003. A 2004 State Commission of Investigation report showed that only about $15.5 million in fines had been collected by 2003, with the larger amount of revenue, more than $84 million, coming from the lease of new fiber-optic lines. The SCI report said the E-ZPass contract and award was "an administrative and financial debacle of immense proportions." E-Z Pass users are now charged $12 a year to help maintain the system.

2001: No more tolls. Gubernatorial candidates James E. McGreevey and Bret Schundler said they would eliminate roadway tolls if elected. McGreevey was elected. Tolls remain.

2003: Cost savings. McGreevey pushes through a merger of the state's major toll road authorities, the Turnpike Authority and the Highway Authority, in a move he said would "end wasteful duplication and save our taxpayers' money." Four years later, predictions of large-scale savings have not materialized. The Turnpike Authority's expense budget is $465.7 million this year, compared with the combined expense budgets for both roadways of $405 million in 2003, the year before the merger.

Wait, if toll roads are THE solution, and Jersey has them all over the place. How come they still have problems?

DALLAS NEWS: Reaching our peak oil supply

WHEN MAYOR WYNN ATTACKS II

Austin's Mayor Will Wynn lost his cool again, according to the Statesman article today. This time the Mayor "spewed a fog of profanity" after a truck blocked traffic. Since the 311 call was released to the media, the Mayor went into "spin mode" with some homespun remarks for the Statesman:

"I spewed a fog of profanity that is still floating down Shoal Creek someplace," Wynn said. "I'm sorry if my language offended (the construction workers') sensibilities."

The fact is, Mayor Wynn has a history of uncontrollable anger. Yup, the same Mayor, who along with Sen. Kirk Watson and others voted to toll our Austin freeways with nearly 1 Billion tax dollars.

Mayor Will Wynn broke the law by putting his hands on someone that didn't want to be touched on March 17th 2006. (The Texas Penal Code, Title 5, Chapter 22, Assaulting Offenses § 22.01(3))

Mayor Wynn grabbed a student by the throat at a late night party, after the Mayor was being teased about his name. The party took place at the community outdoor area of Mayor Wynn's apartment complex, on 800 W. 5th Street. Mayor Wynn grabbed Johnson and forcibly removed him.

The victim, Luke A. Johnson filed an Austin Police Department report against the Mayor for "Assault by Contact".

Hours earlier, I saw the Mayor at Opal Devine's on 5th Street at 3:00 pm. I was drinking a coke as I waited for my associate for a meeting. I noticed the mayor was not standing totally balanced - just about everyone was getting trashed since it was St. Patrick's Day.

A KVUE report says that Johnson called the police and said that Mayor Will Wynn choked him. Johnson said he was taken to a hospital and has X-rays documenting his injuries. The Statesman did a Metro brief while the San Antonio Express produced a whole article.

What was the Mayor's spin of this outburst? He requests a full time police officer to keep HIM safe. Perhaps Mayor Wynn is right about having a full time cop escort him - that could protect the public from the Mayor.

Since March 2006, every few months, I've asked for the public records about this incident, and I've been denied every time. Like some in the press, I wanted to contact Luke Johnson to ask his version of what happened. Requests for the public information have been blocked by the city every time:

Dear City of Austin,

With the rights granted to me under the Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, I request these documents:

1) A full incident report of March 17th, 2006, 13:07, report # 2006-761976 involving Mayor Will Wynn assault on Luke A. Johnson (born 1/4/1980)

2) The officer's written portion of the incident report of March 17th, 2006, 13:07, report #2006-761976 involving Mayor Will Wynn assault on Luke A. Johnson.

3) 911 tape (cd preferred) and CAD report made by Luke A. Johnson on March 17th, 2006, 13:07, report #2006-761976 involving Mayor Will Wynn assault on Luke A. Johnson.

Thank You,
Sal Costello

On Nov 14, 2007 the City last responded that records will still be held back:

"Grace, Cary" <Cary.Grace@ci.austin.tx.us> wrote:

Mr. Costello,

Sergeant Rick Shirley in APD's Integrity Crimes Unit contacted the County Attorney's Office today as a result of your request, and the prosecutor's office advised Sgt. Shirley that the status of the case is still unchanged. Accordingly, APD continues to rely on the AG's ruling that allows it to withhold the requested information at this time.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Cary Grace

The authorities say the case is still "ongoing" - a loophole the bureaucrats use to keep the unlawful and embarrassing incident a secret. We all know there will be NO case against the Mayor. What favors do the bureaucrats get in return? Who knows.