Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel & Spa, Home for the Brownsville 6 during Seminar |
$56 per Diem for Food while at TTAT Seminar |
City staffers will each enjoy a 430 sq. ft. non-smoking room, free wi-fi, a Sweet Sleeper bed, 32" flat screen LCD TV and a "comfortable work area" while at the Sheraton Fort Worth.
Health Director Arturo Rodriguez Gets 500 Expedia Points for Trip |
Mr. Rodriguez will not be without transportation during the seminar. He has reserved at the DFW Airport a 2 door or 4 door Kia Rio or similar with air conditioning, automatic transmission and 2 wheel drive paid for by the taxpayers.
Park Director Chris Patterson is the only TTAT attendee to have filled in the section on the Travel Request Form stating the "anticipated benefit to the city for allowing this trip and how will information be disseminated?" Chris states: "The conference will focus on issues of economic development, health, safety and many other topics relevant to advancing active transportation and trails. I will also attend the trade show, which will help introduce me to vendors." Anything in the seminar about parks, Chris?
Chris Patterson |
Despite the $56 per diem food allowance, our six city staffers will not go hungry at the actual seminar as a "Wednesday reception, Thursday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Friday dinner" are included.
Is it possible that Brownsville could have been represented at this critical bicycle conclave by one or two from the city's staff. Do we actually need to send six? Is that fair to the taxpayers of the "poorest city in the United States?"
In this era of live streaming, podcasts, not to mention video, would it not be possible to put staff inside a comfortable air-conditioned room at City Plaza, the multimodal or the City Commission building to glean the information from this seminar? The $7,247 interactive video screen originally purchased for Tony's downtown office by the taxpayers could be put to good use. Even if the viewing were catered, the taxpayers could still save thousands.
Addendum: Just received this message: "Jim, the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation is also sending four to the TTAT; Commissioner Rose Gowen, Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez, Jude Benavides and an administrator(likely Rachel Flores)"
That's interesting and saddening. The BCIC is also taxpayer funded with so-called 4B funds, 1/4 cent of every sales tax dollar, for "quality of life" issues. So, now we have a total of ten from Brownsville monitoring the same conference at taxpayer expense. In what world is that a prudent use of our tax dollars?
As seminars go, this is not that expensive. Do some fact checking, Jim.
ReplyDeleteYou're a bit dense. Approximately $1,400 X 10 for a conference on bicycles is a bit much for Brownsville taxpayers. Try to do some actual thinking.
ReplyDeleteYou keep "downing" Brownsville. If you're not ragging on the Mexicans, it's the Mexican mayor. Move, you sad fuck!
DeleteHey, life is good when you're part of the Power Elite! All others are viewed with contempt as the goyim.
ReplyDeleteWe pay over 5,000 a year in property taxes. Our taxes didn't even cover the city employees going on this trip which is really more of a vacation for these young people.
ReplyDeleteWhy do 10 locals have to attend this meeting on biking. This is ridiculous, yet consistent with the management style demonstrated by the mayor during his tenure. Can't believe we send 10 to deal with biking and we seldom send people for real policy issues.
ReplyDeleteYou do good stuff. This is petty.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't they pedal their fucking bicycles to the conference? Most of them could use the exercise, especially the "Health Director".
ReplyDeleteRose Gowen and Da Mayor made everyone go. You do what she says or else.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the pool gives me the creeps. It has all the charm of a Betty Ford rehab center.
ReplyDelete