MCC Exclusive: Poats and Others Confront Owens Over Potential Ethics Practices in Election-
Monday nights city council session was staged as a "feel good event" for Allen Owen with about an hours worth of awards and congratulatory presentations before the channel 16 cameras, but when the open session finally arrived several Missouri City residents, including mayoral candidate Greyling Poats, spoke on ethics, apartments, crime and the problematic future hospital that is currently on hold for our area.
Poats addressed council on reported unethical city e-mail use and possible race baiting as a campaign tactic by Mayor Owens, while other speakers requested reconsideration of the controversial approval in '05 of up to 2700 apartments brought to the city by one of Owen's top campaign contributors, which lead to additional uninvestigated ethics complaints filed with the city last year when the mayor did not recuse himself from the voting. It was stated in an earlier piece that Owen's administration, under Frank Simpson, city manager, that they determined no such investigation was warranted.
Additionally, several residents spoke up on the alarming increase in their neighborhoods of low rent housing and increased noise and crime. Very little response was offered at the time by mayor or those on council.
See the minutes of these hearings by clicking the title link above and judge for yourself. . .
Stay informed and keep in touch!
posted by responsible_dvlpmnt at Thursday, May 04, 2006
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From an earlier related FBSun piece:
Mayoral candidates Owen, Poats, differ on ideas
By: Diane Tezeno, News Reporter 05/01/2006
Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen, and his challenger, Greyling Poats, both long-term residents of the city, hold very different views for shaping Missouri City's future as they campaign for their election on May 13.
The six-term mayor is committed to maintaining a low crime rate and providing a safe environment for citizens. He believes public safety, mobility, redevelopment and revitalization of aging infrastructure, and seeking continued development opportunities for the city, are the major issues facing Missouri City.
If reelected, Owen plans to continue bringing quality retail business to the area to replace property taxes with an alternate source of revenue such as sales taxes, partner with utility districts to adhere to state surface water mandates and treat run off before it enters the water supply. Owen says he will also work with developers to provide a quality source of housing and amenities.
"My role is to facilitate and take the leadership role in working with people that are interested in seeing our city prosper. It takes a team of council members working together in the same direction," he says.
Owen credits quality developments like Sienna Plantation, Riverstone, Lake Olympia, Brightwater, Lake Colony, Colony Lakes, Lexington Colony, and others, with attracting much needed large retail establishments. "None would be here today had it not been for these new subdivisions," he says.
"Our city is reaching a point where many streets and other infrastructure will need to be upgraded or replaced entirely which will be a very costly endeavor," says Owen. "One that will need to be paced over time to avoid any new tax increases," he adds.
During his recent tenure, a new HCC campus has been approved, a new county library will be built, the Fort Bend Toll Road has been completed, and there has been a marked interest in developing the Highway 90A/Beltway 8 corridor.
"We continue to work with Christus Hospital to bring a much needed medical complex to replace Memorial when they leave for their new facility on Highway 59. We also continue to work on developing commuter rail along the 90A corridor," Owen says.
"Having served on planning and zoning for five years, council for eight years, and now mayor for the past 12 years, I have dedicated 25 years to being a public servant to the citizens of Missouri City. I hope to continue doing that. The city is 50 years old this year and I look forward to seeing it be the place people enjoy calling "home" for many more years to come," says Owen.
Poats, who wants to unseat Owen, lists as his top priorities, restoring honesty and integrity to council and the administration, and retaking local control from special interests.
Real tax relief, reducing disparity in development in Missouri City, protecting the environment, long-term planning with community input and term limits for all council members are among his goals. "I believe the focus of a new administration should be on protecting homeowners' value throughout Missouri City and not just newer areas," says Poats.
The 25-year Missouri City resident says he is not committed to anyone, but the citizens of Missouri City.
"I am pledging to not accept out-of-area special interest contributions and to represent this community's wants and needs," Poats says.
Two important goals, if he is elected, are to retake local control from the special interests that he says are now operating and profiting in the community and to conduct a review of fast-track privileges for corporations instituting negative PR models here locally, he says.
He also believes the concerns of Sienna residents regarding apartments in their community are valid issues.
Asked how he would have handled the issue of apartments in Sienna, Poats says he would have proposed review of the contract with Sienna, and then worked with current ordinances or provided new ordinances as appropriate. Poats says the apartment issue is not only in Sienna, but citywide. He believes term limits on council are necessary because citizens are apathetic under the current structure. "Fresh ideas are always needed in government," he adds. . . (click on the link above for the entire story and accompanying ad/platform).
___________________
CRD Comment: Why now suddenly is Owen interested in bringing down taxes? Hasn't he been promising this along with no more apartments for years. What's new in another broken promise. Check his campaign contributors (most are out of area and nearly 60% '99-'05 were big Houston development companies. Check his voting record too on controversial issues that divided voter, homeowners, taxpayers and his developer backers and see who he supported (no big surprise -- take back local control!).
Related threads:
Anonymous said...
Related MCC piece:
One Small Victory or Two?
Last week a couple of little noticed proceedings occurred that, although small, may represent something larger in the big picture. The first event was a requested court hearing whereby John Keville, a lawyer for Johnson Development Co. of Houston (developers of Sienna Plantation and Riverstone communities here in Missouri City and SLAPP suit initiators against Sienna customers) attempted to argue, unsuccessfully, their case against the Fraud accusations brought by some Sienna homeowners with regard to perceived changing features of the community. It was reported by the homeowners legal counsel, Jeff Singer of Sugar Land, that several of the requested pleadings were an attempt to quash the case and, when that was unsuccessful, to separate the case from the SLAPP suit they instigated last year following an attempt by homeowners to petition/stop up to 2700 apartments coming to our community courtesy of JDC. Judge Ruiz’s advisory opinion sets the stage for further litigation in a case that had been covered extensively by local media. One homeowner in Sienna stated that this was “very good news for our side in this case”.
In a follow-up to this case JDC, through lawyer Keville, has requested names, phone numbers and addresses of all those homeowners who participated/supported the "No More Apts" fight here in the Sienna Plantation area. MCC wants to know why?
Stay tuned as we keep this SLAPP/SLAPP-back (see Canen & Pring, 1996) suit updated.
Event number 2-
In an article released last week in FortBendNow.com, an online county-wide newspaper, it was reported that a political sign war had been taking place in Mo-City between developer-backed, special interest incumbent candidate Allen Owen (supporter of the JDC apartments in the above law suit story) and Greyling Poats, a successful area businessman, former Gary, IND. asst. city attorney, TIRZ board member here and long time resident and activist. One bone of contention was some of the Wells Fargo branches in Mo-City reportedly were allowing only Allen Owen, an executive of the bank, signs at some of their facilities along key roadways (and 2 other candidates he supports: Hal Jay & Steve Smelley). It was also reported to MCC that a complaint was filed by the Poats for mayor committee to the Houston regional Wells Fargo office which oversees Owen’s area. According to these same sources within an hour of the phone call the signs had been removed and an apology issued to all candidates by the company representative stating that Wells Fargo does not endorse local political candidates.
Stay informed and keep in touch for more on these developing Mo-City stories!
4:01 AM
Anonymous said...
Related FBN comment thread:
1 Prescott E Small - Apr 24, 12:43 pm
Unfortunately it is part to of our nature and the nature of all living organisms to operate and live in an environment of the Alpha_____.
But, as far as we know, we are the only species on the planet that is aware of this behavior that can do something about it.
Voting is definitely an option.
Bullies also have a tendency to pick on individuals when they are vulnerable and alone.
The mistake bullies make is to pick on too many individuals.
This might be that type of case.
What needs to happen is enough individuals that have been bullied will have to stand up, approach the bully and tell them “Go to hell, we aren’t taking this crap anymore!”
Now that can be done at the ballot box. But it can also be done here in Op-Ed Articles like this one. Through letters to the bullies in mass quantities. Through lots of phone calls.
Then, if need be, through class action in the form of a law suit.
Sometimes to stop a bully you have to punch them in the nose.
2 Chris Calvin, Ph.D. - Apr 24, 04:16 pm
I agree with you Mr. Small! If people keep networking the clique grows smaller and the masses seem to multiply until you have a reform effort.
On a side note, one of the “bullies” (a Houston based developer) called our candidate (Poats) this morning urging him not to put anymore signs in, that they have rules. I guess those “rules” do not apply to their benefactor mayor Allen Owen who signs are all over their development (along with other area candidates). Is this more selective enforcement?
3 Burt Levine - Apr 24, 06:28 pm
Dr. Calvin A) 4×8 signs are for commercial areas and yard signs are for homes that hopefully for the candidate have at least two voters w/ a history and liklihood of voting living there. Yard signs in front of a business next to an opponent’s 4×8 who has permission to put his 4×8 there does not make me sympathize with the challenger that can not get his act together enough to get 4×8s or the support of someone to permit or authorize him to put it there and B) Why on your candidate’s signs for Missouri City Mayor do you need to take up valuable font space by informing voters that Missouri City is in Texas. Isn’t that a fact you’d hope your voters would’ve learned before registering to vote in Missouri City? A private property owner has THE right to permit whoever he backs to plant signs on his property and not those he does not back. I’d hope you agree that choice and private property right is part of what makes this America? I would not want to live in a country where a property owner is forced to host signs of candidates he did not back in philosophy or principle.
4 Chris Calvin, Ph.D. - Apr 25, 07:56 am
Burt,
It’s interesting that you call them “my signs”. I seem to recall I’m a volunteer and am not personally responsible for every sign someone puts out. Of course I have noticed your signs in many of the same areas and they haven’t been pulled (and are yard signs).
I did not order or design these signs nor do I run this campaign. I am a volunteer and BTW you seem to have a great deal of information on the “sign pulling” which I find interesting (thanks for your comments they are very telling).
5 jls - Apr 25, 08:12 am
Burt,
Where did you get all the details on the signs? I don’t see any of that in the article above. Are you perhaps in the sign biz?
6 Chris Calvin, Ph.D. - Apr 27, 07:05 am
J,
Mr. Levine is a professional political manager. He contacted Greyling a few weeks back to offer his services, but was not hired. Perhaps he’s just giving free advice to volunteers.
You might also be interested that they’ve removed many of the larger signs and yard ones in areas here in Sienna P. not owned or controlled by the developer (here in Sienna the yard/mainteance employees are usually given this task). I think they are trying to clean-up for their homes tour and the famous “Sip-n-Stroll”. We must keep up those appearances now!
Remember early voting starts Monday everyone. GET out and change things!
7 jls - Apr 27, 07:58 pm
Oh, that makes sense now. I better take notes. I noticed they took down all but the Owen’s signs again, even on areas they don’t control. I think the article above is right on for this stuff!
4:02 AM
Anonymous said...
I noticed Owen has revised his March statements on the post-poned Christus hospital! When did he know?
5:01 AM
Anonymous said...
This statement is interesting:
"Owen credits quality developments like Sienna Plantation, Riverstone, Lake Olympia, Brightwater, Lake Colony, Colony Lakes, Lexington Colony, and others, with attracting much needed large retail establishments. "None would be here today had it not been for these new subdivisions," he says."
--Aren't these the big mega-developments who have contributed heavily to his campaign funding? Notice he doesn't mention the people that purchased and live in these communities or pay the taxes here. He only recognizes those that made the money off these sales.
6:01 AM
Anonymous said...
This is the same guy that had so many complaints last year in the local paper, right?
Related FBN comment thread:
1 Prescott E Small - Apr 24, 12:43 pm
Unfortunately it is part to of our nature and the nature of all living organisms to operate and live in an environment of the Alpha_____.
But, as far as we know, we are the only species on the planet that is aware of this behavior that can do something about it.
Voting is definitely an option.
Bullies also have a tendency to pick on individuals when they are vulnerable and alone.
The mistake bullies make is to pick on too many individuals.
This might be that type of case.
What needs to happen is enough individuals that have been bullied will have to stand up, approach the bully and tell them “Go to hell, we aren’t taking this crap anymore!”
Now that can be done at the ballot box. But it can also be done here in Op-Ed Articles like this one. Through letters to the bullies in mass quantities. Through lots of phone calls.
Then, if need be, through class action in the form of a law suit.
Sometimes to stop a bully you have to punch them in the nose.
2 Chris Calvin, Ph.D. - Apr 24, 04:16 pm
I agree with you Mr. Small! If people keep networking the clique grows smaller and the masses seem to multiply until you have a reform effort.
On a side note, one of the “bullies” (a Houston based developer) called our candidate (Poats) this morning urging him not to put anymore signs in, that they have rules. I guess those “rules” do not apply to their benefactor mayor Allen Owen who signs are all over their development (along with other area candidates). Is this more selective enforcement?
3 Burt Levine - Apr 24, 06:28 pm
Dr. Calvin A) 4×8 signs are for commercial areas and yard signs are for homes that hopefully for the candidate have at least two voters w/ a history and liklihood of voting living there. Yard signs in front of a business next to an opponent’s 4×8 who has permission to put his 4×8 there does not make me sympathize with the challenger that can not get his act together enough to get 4×8s or the support of someone to permit or authorize him to put it there and B) Why on your candidate’s signs for Missouri City Mayor do you need to take up valuable font space by informing voters that Missouri City is in Texas. Isn’t that a fact you’d hope your voters would’ve learned before registering to vote in Missouri City? A private property owner has THE right to permit whoever he backs to plant signs on his property and not those he does not back. I’d hope you agree that choice and private property right is part of what makes this America? I would not want to live in a country where a property owner is forced to host signs of candidates he did not back in philosophy or principle.
4 Chris Calvin, Ph.D. - Apr 25, 07:56 am
Burt,
It’s interesting that you call them “my signs”. I seem to recall I’m a volunteer and am not personally responsible for every sign someone puts out. Of course I have noticed your signs in many of the same areas and they haven’t been pulled (and are yard signs).
I did not order or design these signs nor do I run this campaign. I am a volunteer and BTW you seem to have a great deal of information on the “sign pulling” which I find interesting (thanks for your comments they are very telling).
5 jls - Apr 25, 08:12 am
Burt,
Where did you get all the details on the signs? I don’t see any of that in the article above. Are you perhaps in the sign biz?
6 Chris Calvin, Ph.D. - Apr 27, 07:05 am
J,
Mr. Levine is a professional political manager. He contacted Greyling a few weeks back to offer his services, but was not hired. Perhaps he’s just giving free advice to volunteers.
You might also be interested that they’ve removed many of the larger signs and yard ones in areas here in Sienna P. not owned or controlled by the developer (here in Sienna the yard/mainteance employees are usually given this task). I think they are trying to clean-up for their homes tour and the famous “Sip-n-Stroll”. We must keep up those appearances now!
Remember early voting starts Monday everyone. GET out and change things!
7 jls - Apr 27, 07:58 pm
Oh, that makes sense now. I better take notes. I noticed they took down all but the Owen’s signs again, even on areas they don’t control. I think the article above is right on for this stuff!
4:54 AM
I heard Owens did a no show at a campaign event this morning at the Shipleys donut shop in Missouri City. Some of his campaign workers showed up and were dismayed at the positive response Poats received while attending!
Go Poats!
Did you all catch that lame Star front page piece and title? It made it look like no one was running against Owen (back-handed endorsement). I guess that's the power of ad pressure we always here about. Hopefully residents will catch Poats confronting Owen on ethics issues running over the next two weeks on channel 16. That's the same paper that ran the piece on the mayor calling those that opposed apartments "Tree Huggers" last summer?
Remember this Owen slip:
http://www.fortbendstar.com/Archives/2005_3q/070605/n_Tree%20huggers%20vs.%20developers%20in%20Mo%20City.htm
Reprint of earlier MCC report:
Campaign Contributions (Public Record)-
Political Contributors To
Mayor Allen Owen
1999-2005 (thru Jan '05)
(Developers only in order of giving. Nearly 60% of all of Owen’s contributions)
____________________
1. Clinton Wong (Land Development Co.)
2. Larry Johnson (Land Development Co.)
3. Paris Schindler (Land Development Co.)
4. Rocky Lai (Land Development Co.)
5. Larry Wong (Land Development Co.)
6. Bob Perry (Land Developer)
7. Jim & Sandy MacNaughton (Land Developer)
8. Pat Cagle (Land Developer)
9. Thomas Cagle (Land Developer)
10. E. Blake Hawk (Land Developer)
11. Scott Reamer (Land Developer)
12. R.E. Reamer (Land Developer)
13. S. Jay Williams (Land Developer)
14. Eugene Arensberg, Jr. (Land Developer)
--This data can be confirmed via request from the Missouri City secretary for campaign contributions for anyone serving on the city council over the same time period. Many other contributions were made from corporate sponsors who live outside of Missouri City to Mayor Owen and this data will be released in a timely fashion.
--Question #1: With such a large percentage of Mayor Owens campaign contributions coming from those in the land development business can you trust him to represent your interests at council?
SPMUD2 sample ballot link:
http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/upload/images/elections_administration/sample_ballots/060513/spmud2.pdf
I just saw another spray painted Poats sign in old Missouri City. Not a pretty site but an expected one given the current tone of this race.
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