Another $afeClear Mess
by The Panda Man · 10/25/2006 1:26 pmHow is it that Mayor White continues to get a pass for every misdeed and scandal that occurs on his watch? The $afeClear program has been dogged with controversy since its inception and two innocent people have just died, and yet Mayor White is allowed to dismiss the problem with yet another investigation. The latest sickening outrage:
HOUSTON — A wrecker driver accused of killing an elderly couple in a high-speed crash was registered with the city of Houston’s SAFEClear program even though he had a criminal record, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.
Officials said the Houston Police Department Auto Dealer’s Unit recommended that Sergio Gonzalaz, 39, be denied participation in the program because of a 2002 assault conviction. Gonzalez also has a history of driving while intoxicated arrests.
Gonzalaz appealed the rejection of his application and was later granted SAFEClear status by an HPD lawyer.
The Mayor’s response? Investigate!
The mayor said he wants a formal investigation into how Gonzalaz was granted a SAFEClear license even though he was a convicted felon. “Applying the standard adopted by council, this person shouldn’t have been in the program,” White said.
Did it require a committee meeting to figure that out? Next, the Mayor intimates that this problem may be much bigger than this one incident might suggest.
The mayor said there might be many more wrecker drivers who are operating under a SAFEClear permit when they should have been denied.
“I have some information that somebody in the legal department of HPD has overruled numerous recommendations by police officers who are relying on our ordinance. If there’s a rogue city employee who is not following city law, then I want that person to be relieved of their city employment,” White said.
A “rogue city employee?” Could this be another tale of corruption like those fired city employees who supposedly gave themselves fat bonuses under the nose of their supervisor, who happens to remain on the City’s payroll?
Suzanne Poole said the mayor should not be surprised.
She heads the Houston Wrecker Association and said ever since the SAFEClear program began more than a year ago, questionable drivers have routinely been issued licenses.
“There was approximately 12 people who were all granted probation. Some of them were SAFEClear. Some of them were private property people. They were sex offenders. They were people who had violent, felony histories that were given back their licenses,” she said.
Poole said that for months she has asked the mayor and council to crack down, but there has been no action until now.
Mayor White dismisses Poole’s accusations.
The mayor’s office said the assertion that White knew about this problem is wrong. A White spokesman said Poole’s organization opposed SAFEClear and does not participate in the program.
Sadly, this problem was identified nearly two years ago, yet today we find out that felons are still getting licensed by the City of Houston. From LST, February 2, 2005:
I hope that there are no incidents involving former criminals who are now [SafeClear] drivers and the passengers they tow. If something does happen, God forbid, the city will be responsible and the Mayor and the cowardly council members who supported him, will be to blame.
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I have to wonder if the guy had a Harris County Tow License too. If he did, that means he would have had to pass THEIR background check too, which he should not have been able to. There may be more heads that need to roll than we know.
Ink Blots,
My guess is that you are right about the rest of the wreaker drivers.
Ms Poole’s organization has an ax to grind, but still it is inexcusable for this cretin to have every had a wreaker permit.
Simple
This guy shouldn’t even have a driver’s license, much less a wrecker license. The City probably thought he was illegal. We all know that illegals can get away with murder! /sarc
Amazing, FIVE DWI and he is out walking the streets???? Someone please explain to me how that is even possible. And a drug charge after that?!?! Why isn’t this animal in prison?
4, Navymom
I have a neighbor who has three times that many DWI convictions……
Simple
Ah, yes, the ever-present refuge of the butt-covering professional bureaucrat—-THE COMMITTEE.
#5
I had no idea. I thought at one time there was legislation written to limit DWI’s, after a certain number it was mandatory prison sentencing. I guess I was wrong in my thinking, but someone should draft a law like that, (and then pass it, of course!)
Jeremy:
The reason the mayor gets by with this is because he has somehow bamboozled everyone in the media into kissing his rear. This includes Edd Hendee of KSEV, who most of the time sounds like White’s press agent. Hendee has a habit of talking big about how he is going to whip the politicos into submission, but when White comes on his show, he purrs like a lap cat.
That’s ok, nothing will happen. A patsy will be found, those responsible for oversight will be given a wrist-slap and the whole thing will be swept under the rug a la BonusGate. Business as usual.
Which one of the Mayor’s Nov. 7 Propositions covers money lost in lawsuits over this debacle?
Simple
Your neighbor should be in prison.
My post from BH earlier this AM:
Not to mention that last night watching chanel deaux they interviewed the woman that was head of an association of wrecker companies suing the city over the safeclear program. According to what she was saying to KPRC, she had been telling White (or at least someone in the mayor’s administration) that they were allowing unacceptable background drivers into the safeclear program, but the mayor (and/or his peeps) were ignoring her pleas. Now all of a sudden when a litigious event occurs, Mayo Whitey beez lookin fo a scapegoat. Sounds kinda like another one of his buddies, oh what was that name….. Alva…. Caro….. oh never mind.
….. BTW according to what I saw, this guy did time in prison, twice for DUI related offenses, plus I think there was a third shorter stint in call-me-jenny-land.
OT…. Q - When you apply for Welfare in Mexico what does the Government give you?
A - A map to the United States
I just got my pile of junk mail.
Boy! Somebody is shekking out a lot of money to promote Shelly.
I also got a flyer, from the Committee to Save Houston Airport Jobs, in favor of ALL propositions. It has a picture of what appears to be an uniformed HPD Officer. Her last name in the tag can be read: Bailey or Baley. The officer number is 5445. Is that legal?
I am voting NO to ALL propositions.
shekking => shelling
Felons are not in jail because…the jails and prisons are full.
FULL
So, anything less than a really bad guy does a few weeks in jail and then is put on probation. Sometimes several times.
Our prisons are a joke, people that are caught delivering dope get two to five years depending on their past records. They usually serve half their sentence if they keep out of trouble.
So..our jails are full of people that have not commited a violent crime. So the real crooks/violent people get a half sentence or probation.
If you took all the people out of jail that are there on drug charges, we could put DWI offenders in for awhile.
Our war on drugs is a failure and we need to build new prisons and jails to keep up with the flow of new “felons”.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
The problem is if you can’t sing , dance or act you can be only a wrecker truck driver.
Jaime
#15
VOTE NO on all propositions! The city screams it is for public safety and police and fire departments will be cut if you do not vote for this proposition. Bullsh*t!
VOTE NO ON ALL PROPOSITIONS, ESEPCIALLY G
“…’If there’s a rogue city employee who is not following city law, then I want that person to be relieved of their city employment,’ White said.”
Would that include Chief Hurtt and Mayor Bull Whit, who choose to ignore federal immigration law because “it is not the City’s job”/”the City cannot afford” to enforce federal law, but continue to accept federal funds for law enforcement assistance?
No one ever died from smoking in a restaurant, but Mayor Bull Shite has outlawed it. Two people have died because of $afeClear. Can we now outlaw $afeClear? Probably not. The murder of an HPD officer by an illegal alien has not ended Sanctuary City policies. Safe House, $afeClear… it is seems that only deadly activities are protected by our mayor.
BigD
#20
You are stating the very obvious — unless you are (mistakenly) stating it to dhim voters!
How sad on the news today it was stated that Texas has the #1 record for DWI. Why isn’t someone addressing that issue?? I can’t believe not one of our politicians hasn’t jumped on that bandwagon. Why on earth is this acceptable?!?! Just last night an innocent family lost a member because of a drunk driver that hit and run.
#23, that is a rather disingenuous statement, sure we have more DWI’s than any other state, but we are also the second largest (behind Alaska) and second most populous too. we also have the second highest population of illegals too behind California (for both populous and illegals). Is it any wonder our DWI’s are through the roof?
#24 Does that really matter when innocent families are dying at the hands of irresponsible persons who go out and tie one on and then get behind the wheel?
25 -
Penalties are pretty tough when someone is injured, I think. Certainly, there have been prosecutions for vehicular homocide when a drunk is involved.
However, I think some of the zealots, like MADD, and police departments overstate the case. If someone has been drinking, it is easy to blame the accident on alcohol. I am unconvinced that alcohol causes the number of accidents blamed on it. Sober people have wrecks, too. So do women putting on their make-up and people switching the radio dial, and folks talking on cellphones, and people eating Egg McMuffins. Maybe we should add new categories, like “McDonald’s related accident.”
This is not to say that drunks aren’t dangerous - they are. But just because someone involved in an accident had a few drinks does not mean the accident was caused by alcohol.
Well, I personally have known more than just a FEW people who have numerous DWI’s, get slapped on the hand, and they are back at it again, drinking and driving. It has nothing to do with putting on make-up, cell phones and the like. How can failing a blood alcohol test or breathalyzer test be called overstating a case???? I am speaking of the DWI’s that involve drivers that WAY exceede the alcohol limit. (Just like the judge’s daughter this week!) You can’t blame those wrecks on anything else BUT driving under the influence.
Why is it penalties are only severe if someone is killed or injured?! Those that get away with driving drunk are just emboldened to keep on doing it with no regard for consequences - until someone is dead! I think there should be a stiffer sentence for repeat offenders that fail the sobriety tests when they are pulled over for the suspicion of drunk driving. A penny’s worth of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
just another example of the government doing more for you incorrectly.
i sure they will need more money to do it right next time.
To those of you who are or have family who work as wrecker drivers, I’m sure there are moral and good people among you. Having said that, I have not met a single one of you on the road. In my experience, whether licensed by the city or independently, this lot is the lowest form of life. I have been cut off, cussed out, watched my wife been cussed out, had my life threatened, and benn held hostage by this group of workers. My cousin is currently in an extended stay medical facility because he was hit head on by a drunk & high wrecker who then fled the scene. He is lucky to be alive but will have no use of his left hand as a minimum of the long term effects. My cousin’s companion in the “accident” is still in a coma and is not expected to make it. She has been in that state for about a month now. Unfortunately, this type of story seems to be the norm and not the exception among this group.
I am not without my prejudices and willingly admit my errors in judgment, but this group, wrecker drivers, have never done anything to make me believe they deserve anything but distrust and scorn.