Bonus scandal opens up : Lone Star Times

Bonus scandal opens up

by The Panda Man · 03/06/2006 3:47 pm

The Houston City Hall bonus scandal investigation is finally starting to bear some fruit. According to KPRC-TV, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado has “temporarily” stepped down from that capacity as the Office of Inspector General released its report on the matter.

While Alvarado will remain on City Council, the four employees from the Pro Tem office accused of receiving the improper bonuses are scheduled for hearings on their status Tuesday. The matter is also finally in the hands of the District Attorney’s Office.

The Office of Inspector General said its investigation revealed "sufficient evidence to conclude that the four employees, in fact, received incentive bonuses and/or salary increases that were not approved or obtained in accordance with existing city policy and rules." The matter has been referred to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for review.

KHOU-TV has more:

"I intend to temporarily … step aside from the office of the mayor pro tem pending the outcome of the grand jury investigation," said Alvarado at Monday’s news conference. "I did nothing improper and I’ve accepted responsibility."

Mayor White continues to stand behind the embattled, and now former, Mayor Pro Tem.

"There is no credible evidence that the mayor pro tem had any involvement in this particular scheme," said Mayor White. "My hope is that she would be able to resume responsibilities in that role," said Mayor Bill White. "I respect the fact she has taken responsibility and imposed consequences on herself. I anticipate there will be changes in taking out some responsibilities from the mayor pro tem’s office."

It is curious that the Mayor vocally stands by his Pro Tem yet he anticipates reduced responsibilities for that office in the future. Unfortunately we seem reduced to two rather unpalatable choices in the matter. Either Carol Alvarado knew what was going on with the improper bonuses, or she was blissfully ignorant of how the office was being run in her name. Neither choice inspires confidence, but the final say now appears to be in the hands of District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal.

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Comments

21 Responses to “Bonus scandal opens up”

SimpleSimon on March 6th, 2006 at 4:00 pm

I think that Councilwoman Alvarado should opt for the latter; that is she was blissfully ignorant. Being ignorant is not a chargeable crime, else there would be a lot of folks from Austin and Washington joining her in the jail cell.

Simple.

P.S. Does anyone doubt her political career is over? I guess she will have to go to that next step for a failed politician and become a lobbyist.
Rahman on March 6th, 2006 at 4:01 pm

What is the function of Mayor-Pro-tem office anyway, why do we need it?
malcolm on March 6th, 2006 at 4:41 pm

If she did nothing except NOT know what was going on in her own office, why did she hire a high profile lawyer and a PR firm?
Should she be guilty of non-management?

#2 The mayor pro tem fills in when the mayor is not at council and or available for other duties.
Sort of like a “stand by” mayor
Rorschach on March 6th, 2006 at 4:43 pm

#2,3, that is what it’s function is SUPPOSED be, but it would appear ours more closely resembles a tapeworm.
Rahman on March 6th, 2006 at 4:44 pm

Thank you Malcolm.
Royko on March 6th, 2006 at 4:51 pm

The East End Polecat seems to have been on the fast-track for a UN career.
CRK on March 6th, 2006 at 5:04 pm

Gee, why I cannot understand where anyone would make the connection that obliviousness, greed, corruption and vulgar behavior could have anything to do with the UN. Riiiigggghhhhhtttt.
Royko on March 6th, 2006 at 5:12 pm

Further Observations:

Looking at the various videos, and photos of the Mayor and the East End Polecat, I noticed that “Queen” Sheila was no where near the cameras.

Please make a note, SJL missed out being on stage during this media circus.

For those who think this scandal, involving Alvaroado’s failure to manage the people’s resources, as well as being distracted from her duties by constantly travelling to partisan fund raisers along with taxpayer subsidized memberships in assorted bureaucrat organizations bent on abusing overburdened taxpayers, you are wrong!

This experience is akin to earning a merit badge for limousine Liberals.
CRK on March 6th, 2006 at 5:26 pm

Queen Sheila (pi$$ be upon her) probably has so many skeletons in her closet that she no more wants to be associated with any of this all liberal nightmare than the man on the moon. Besides, Alvarado’s not black. I would imagine that just about every lib in office is shying away from Mizz Polecat, other than Mayor limo.
Doch4 on March 6th, 2006 at 5:51 pm

Isn’t it amazing on how the public is held to a different standard than government officials.

Let “Joe average citizen” get ivolved in any type of a crime or a scheme involving tax money, and the government, federal, state or local will hang you out to dry !

When a politician is involved, the whole thing was a misunderstanding as the memory fades, the spins builds and the solution is administrative adjustments, not fines or jail.

No wonder people try so hard to get into office and once there you need a AAA tow truck to get them out ! HMmmmmmmmmm term limits for the elected politicians anyone ? The Fox is watching the hen house ! Politics, beats working !
KRAUT on March 6th, 2006 at 7:13 pm

The ONE thing which is most disturbing is that the politicians/bureaucrats do not care how they spend our money,or how much of our money they spend, they care only for themselves.
They already have the best gig out there, fairly decent wages and a pension system that is very, very generous. And why do they deserve bonuses?
Most of the people I know never see any kind of a bonus. The numbers of bureaucrats keep growing and the need for more tax dollars keeps growing. I wonder, what’ll happen when the taxpayers are broke? Doch is right, you’ll never get them out of there!
pmartin on March 6th, 2006 at 8:54 pm

Kraut - then you and the others who comment on LST need to run for political office, be it dog cathers, to Mayor. We need to get involved! I mean, run for school district trustee - how hard is that, then go up.. it may work
Royko on March 6th, 2006 at 9:08 pm

No thanks! Still nursing the massive crush wounds from 11-02-04.
PBFloyd on March 6th, 2006 at 9:34 pm

Re: Doch4 #10

I think term limits we’re voted in, but not because our ‘Pack-of-Lies’, otherwise known as the Houston Chronicle, didn’t rail against them then and at every opportunity they can manufature since!

And this is exactly why they are needed, to prevent these self-serving stooges from becoming more ensconced than they already are by using the advantages provided from the system which they have manipulated to benefit only themselves.

And this lame a$$ excuse about not knowing, being willfully stupid, doesn’t cut it: like with Ken Lay, it was her JOB to know what was going on.

SJL avoiding the camera? Who’d would ever have thunk it, eh? The rats really are scurrying for the scuppers!
pmartin on March 6th, 2006 at 9:52 pm

#14

Hmmmm. Gotta think on that one!
PBFloyd on March 6th, 2006 at 10:01 pm

pmartin, you’re right, the word is manufacture…

my oversight! Otherwise, I fully stand by the comments.
Rastus on March 7th, 2006 at 1:17 am

So when do we get to see the “investigative report?” …had no involvement in “this particular scheme” - Are there other schemes in which she is involved? I see she intends to wait for the grand jury to act - have there been any referrals to the grand jury? The plot only thickens based on what I’ve seen and read so far. Wonder what those on indefinite leave had to agree to - wouldn’t be surprised if there is a wealth of information that those 4 could shed a little light on. Looks to me to be a much wider and deeper story than what we are hearing so far - the actions taken versus the words spoken just don’t add up.
left-2-right on March 7th, 2006 at 4:35 am

Apparently “accepting responsibility” is all she needs to do. What is the outcome of this acceptance? Is she forgoing all and any of her city salary to return the money to the coffers? She “stepped down” from pro tem, will she now “step down” from her seat? What a crock. Responsibility means nothing if there is no outcome to it. End of story.
Robert on March 7th, 2006 at 8:19 am

I’m still waiting for the “race card” to be played. Maybe she’s saving it until she gets indicted for something or needs it to get reelected. Ms. Alvarado does not serve her minority constituents very well but then she only using them to advance her own political career. Ms. Alvarado is probably the female version of Ben Reyes and will probably be joining him in jail. That’s why she hired Rusty Hardin to defend her and a PR firm to rebuild her image.
Sonia E. Alaniz on March 7th, 2006 at 8:23 am

#18
You are right. She has pacified two sides without leaving her post. Satisfied the Mayor and the people calling for her resignation. The fact is she will remain, hoping that persons will forget about the bonus fiasco. And the money, may as well forget about her returning it also. Actually it will probably not even tarnish her reputation. Should have never happened in the first place.
malcolm on March 7th, 2006 at 8:26 am

I just read another Carole Avocado (tongue in cheek here)report and something crossed my mind.
Why didn’t the payroll clerk/ administrator/supervisor throw up a red flag when they (she or he) changed the four people on Avocados office’s rate of pay to more than double their regular rate? Wouldn’t that seem a tad suspicious to me or you? Would this abnormal rate of pay increase cause one to pick up the phone and call their boss/suprvisor and say: “Hey, Did you authorize this new rate of pay for ____, _____, _____ and ____? Did you know that they are making more money than you are now?” Could the payroll folks be in on this too or they just incompetent as well?