State Auditor's Office, Queen Sheila raise concerns over METRO
Isiah Carey and Texas Watchdog both call attention to this audit report by the State Auditor's Office on METRO.
The report (which should be read in its entirety) is generally complimentary of METRO. However, the most interesting section (Chapter Three, beginning about page 16) raises questions about optimistic projections by METRO, as well as concerns over debt. METRO responds at some length to the questions (beginning around page 19).
In the meantime, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who has been thinking about Houston light rail since she was a six-year-old running around the Jamaica area of Queens, has scheduled a press conference to criticize METRO -- not over the questions raised in the audit report. No no, that would be timely and salient. Instead, Queen Sheila apparently is upset because METRO isn't functioning well enough as a local jobs program. See her press release after the [Read More] jump. The release indicates that a press conference will be held downtown on Wednesday, December 2, so we're not sure exactly when it is going to take place. But if you make it, please leave us a comment and let us know about it.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judith Kargbo
December 1,2008
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Charges Houston METRO With Insensitivity In Creating Jobs For Houstonians and Economic Opportunities For The Region
The Major Contractor Secured By Metro Are Rejecting Local Small Business And Community Contractors And Therefore Stifling Opportunities For The Broader Local Community—The Tax Payers Of Houston Are The Stake Holders Of This Mobility Project. They should Benefit!
Houston, TX – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) hosts a press conference expressing outrage as Houston METRO rejects working with Houstonians and small local contractors, and METRO ignoring employment opportunities for job creation in the region. Congresswoman Jackson Lee will announce immediate action that should be implemented to hold Houston METRO accountable to its promise of creating job opportunities and small business opportunities in the Houston area. Finally Congresswoman Jackson lee will call for an investigation.
“Right now, we face one of the biggest recessions our nation has seen since the depression and it pains me to see Houston METRO hindering job creation by not working with Houstonians and small local contractors on many of its initiatives. Now is the time to face our economic hardships head on and hold Houston METRO accountable for job creation and small business opportunity in Houston,” said Congresswoman Jackson Lee.
WHO: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Concerned Houstonians
WHAT: Special Announcement Calling on Houston METRO to Create More Jobs in Houston
WHEN: Tomorrow Wednesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 11:00AM CST
WHERE: METRO Headquarters
1900 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/01/08 10:43 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Sphere | Comments (9)
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