Local City Governments and Corporate Cronies

Cross-posted at PasadenaTexas.com.

Looking at Others

Pat Van Houte has been visiting other city councils and meetings to see how they do things. I went with her to the La Porte City Council Meeting.

First - they have a city manager government so the mayor isn't making as many political appointments. Someone from the city managers office and the city attorney have permanent non-voting seats on the council. Other departments make presentations.

Second - citizens have five minutes to speak.

Third - the city council meeting frequently breaks for workshop meetings within the meeting where presentations are made and citizens can speak and get answers. Then they resume the city council meeting.

Fourth - they have public budget presentations. I am not sure if this is quarterly or semi-annually. I did notice unlike Pasadena where the mayor tries to pull the wool over people's eyes it was the person from the city finance department quickly going through slides that did not show his department in a good light.

Overall, at lot more respect for the citizens and a lot more input from them. You do have the large businesses coming in seeking favors but it is more open. People from a business in a development zone were at the meeting.

Not like in Pasadena, where with the head of Second Century (Pasadena's board that plans road improvements - more here) being delayed on his favorite project that benefits his business, the Strawberry Extension, another member of that board it pushing to have the almost unused road in front of his businesses placed at the top of the list for some serious upgrading. You didn't the think the money they free up by not completing the Strawberry Extension would actually go to the streets most in need of repair did you?

Pat Van Houte may not agree with my opinions. She often doesn't - as well as being much more polite.

Tags: Pat Van Houte, Pasadena, TX, La Porte, government, local, cronies