Houston City Government ethics (a primer)

You may not have heard the tale of the airport concessions contract before now but, now that Humberto is taking a hard right it might be something you want to pay attention to.

(from Carolyn Feibel and Matt Stiles of the Chron)

Mayor Bill White said Wednesday he was confident he had the votes to extend a multimillion-dollar airport concession contract, despite a one-week delay forced by a councilwoman who said the deal should have been competitively bid.

"Open it up, let's have a competition," Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck said. "If, indeed, this is the best deal we can get for the city, then the process will show it."

Clutterbuck used a tag, a parliamentary rule that allows council members to delay any measure for any reason, to hold off a vote Wednesday.

If approved, the contract extension would allow JDDA Concession Management, owned by local businessman Jason Yoo, to retain management of the food courts in Terminal C at George Bush Intercontinental Airport until 2016.

The concession contract, scheduled to expire next June, has not been put out to bid since 1990. The original agreement has been amended three times.

White remained firm Wednesday that extending the contract, rather than bidding, would give the city a better deal. An extension also would bypass a potentially lengthy and rancorous bid process.

(snip)

In the past two years, Yoo, his wife or his brother have donated at least $30,000 to the campaigns of eight council members. Donations to White totaling $11,260 extend back to 2003.

Councilman Peter Brown, who accepted at least $5,500 in campaign money from Yoo, supports the contract extension.

"We've got to get Terminal C fixed up," he said. "I don't think we have the luxury to go back to the drawing board on this."

Some council members were disturbed that the contract was not reviewed by either the Budget and Fiscal Affairs committee or the Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation committee. The latter committee is chaired by Michael Berry, whose wife works at the law firm that is handling the JDDA contract. Berry did not return calls Wednesday.

(snip)

Council members who asked the administration to review Yoo's concerns include: Michael Berry (who accepted $6,000 in Yoo-related donations), Ron Green ($5,000), Jarvis Johnson ($3,000), and M.J. Khan ($4,000). Other council members who took money from Yoo include Toni Lawrence ($2,000), Peter Brown ($5,500), Pam Holm ($3,500) and Clutterbuck ($1,000).

Clutterbuck and Holm said they strongly oppose the contract extension. Clutterbuck is considering returning Yoo's donation. Holm said the money would not influence her.

A longtime local political observer said he was sympathetic with those who wanted to avoid another "food fight."

"It's been big and ugly in the past because there's a heck of a lot of money involved," said Joe Householder of Public Strategies, a business consulting firm.

"I can see where the mayor and administration are going in saying, 'Let's avoid that and get a nice deal that gives us some more money, that maybe we could not have gotten in a public fight,' " Householder said.

"But, at the same time, open public processes are designed to be messy. If you don't want to have debate, then don't be in politics."

Yes, that's the same Joe Householder who's thespin doctor spokesperson for Carol Alvarado, a fact omitted in the Chron story that should be illuminated. If for no other reason than Ms. Alvarado will have a vote on this and what her PR guy says in public should be fully disclosed. Outside of that however, Stiles has done a great job on his blog illuminating the extent of Yoo's financial influence. Something the blog has allowed him to do on many occassions.


As for the meat of the story this has about as rotten an appearance as you can get. You've got a politically active donor whose contract is scheduled to be renewed in a manner that circumvents the open bid process that is being backed by politicians who have received (in some cases) several thousand dollars of campaign contributions from said donor. If this was in the private sector the same politicians would be demanding the District Attorney file various and sundry corruption charges against all parties.

Alas, this is politics, and as Slampo notes it's a small piece in a big pie of corruption and graft that occurs at every level of politics on both sides of the aise, no matter how much more "ethical" partisan banner-wavers portray their chosen party to be.

On another level, this will be interesting to watch because its another potential speed bump on Mayor White's glorious ride to Austin and the (soon to be newly renovated) Governor's mansion. Add this to the Center Serving Person's with Mental Retardation kerfluffle and any potential competitor to Mayor Bill will have a LOT of material with which to launch damaging attacks.


OTHER EYES:

BlogHouston: Running the City like a (family) business

Channel 13 Local Politics Blog: Airport Concessions: Jason Yoo wants, Jason Yoo gets

NewsWatch: City Hall: Paying and Playing

Slampo: Money for nuthin', Chicks for free (Possibly, Although highly unlikely)

Mrs. White: Bill, Bill? You get back down here and fix this mess now!....don't know what you're thinking doing something like this, and here I am at the house cleaning up your messes and sweeping your dust under the rug all in an attempt to help you AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET!?!?!?!?!