A poo poo update: City reverses "file a claim" stance

Anne · 2012-02-26 14:53:19

So, apparently the city figured out this wasn't the best response when a city worker caused serious damage inside several Houston homes:

A supervisor with Houston Public Works visited his home late Thursday night and informed him he would have to arrange clean up himself and file a claim with the city attorney’s office. The city will then decide if he will be compensated for the damage to his home and for the cost of the hotel room he will have to live in until his house is habitable again.

It's still hard to believe that someone in a supervisory position, representing the city of Houston, came to their homes and told them to file a claim.

Now KHOU-11 is reporting that, although it took two days, the city is finally paying for repairs:

On Saturday, the city paid for workers to go out to the home and start repairs. They worked for more than 16 hours and now the walls are partially gutted and the floors look cleaner. While there’s still a lot of work to be done, Alfredo Nuno’s wife said she was appreciative the city stepped up to help.
“I’m happy with the people that are doing this job, I’m happy with the people that allowed them to do this job and like I said, I’m happy with Channel 11 for doing the report and helping us,” said homeowner Marie Nuno.

She's probably right. Without a little local media attention, it's unlikely the city would have stepped up to do the right thing.

Link to post: http://www.bloghouston.net/item/8902

FilioScotia · 2012-02-27 10:49:54

It's tempting to think the Nuno family has "important" friends at City Hall. When I was the PIO for City Public Works back in the early 90s, I learned that the department would "routinely" service and repair private water lines at houses and on property of "important people". Off the books of course.

The City Code says property owners are responsible for water lines on their side of the water meter. The city is prohibited from doing work on the "private" side of the meter. But, if one has "friends" at City Hall, miracles can happen. But if you don't have friends in high places, you're stuck with the cost of hiring a plumber to do the work.

Then again, it's remotely possible that somebody at City Hall came to his or HER senses and did the right thing. I know that's pretty remote, but it does happen once every other blue moon. Like the blind squirrel who stumbles over an acorn every now and then.

Last edited by FilioScotia (2012-02-27 10:54:45)

Neal Meyer · 2012-02-27 16:54:38

Filio,

Thanks once again for giving us yet another pearl of your insight on how the world really works. In this case, where the insiders quietly use the power of government to pilfer off small benefits for themselves at taxpayer expense.

After all my reading, cynicism, and insight, I should have woken up to the idea that a few of the powers that are do this kind of stuff, but it's always a good thing to get confirmation from someone who has been there.

Addendum edit: I just had a plumber come out to my residence recently in order to do some work. The bill was several hundred dollars. I know a politician or two, but it never occurred to me to call a politician and demand that they send PW&E to work on my residence.

Neal

Last edited by Neal Meyer (2012-02-27 17:03:19)

FilioScotia · 2012-02-27 17:48:37

That experience was just one of many that showed me the seamy side of life at City Hall. If the general tax paying public actually knew how much of this sort of political graft goes on behind closed doors at all levels of city government they would storm the place and build a gallows in Hermann Square.

I was there during the first Bob Lanier administration, when Jimmy Schindewolf was Chief of Staff and Director of Public Works at the same time. Schindewolf and his sock puppet Dan Jones, who controlled the City Council agenda, ran every department in the city.

As Chief of Staff, Schindewolf used his power to get things done and keep things from happening. He and Jones weren't the least bit shy about using that power to their advantage.

Houston city government is a political cesspool, and woe unto those who don't know that and develop skills in political gamesmanship. I was fired after about a year because I lost my enthusiasm for working there and it was becoming apparent. I wasn't a "team player", and it showed.

Last edited by FilioScotia (2012-02-27 21:09:27)

Ubu Roi · 2012-03-06 11:14:36

Several years ago, Marvin Zindler got upset over how much his new sprinkler system was costing him, and thought we had to be making up the reads. PWE agreed to send a meter reader out to his house every morning at 5 AM to read the meter for a month.

You think we got meter readers on the staff at 5 AM? I still want to know how much OT that little "favor" cost us. Or whether they diverted someone from Maintenance who should have been doing other work at the time... probably a supervisor.

But yeah, the city policy is officially "we're not legally responsible." There was a major main break that flooded a bunch of houses several years ago; the most the city would do was arrange for a low-interest loan for the repairs.

Just remember, comrade, some of us are more equal than others....

blogHOUSTON.net forum

#1 2012-02-26 14:53:19

A poo poo update: City reverses "file a claim" stance

#2 2012-02-27 10:49:54

Re: A poo poo update: City reverses "file a claim" stance

#3 2012-02-27 16:54:38

Re: A poo poo update: City reverses "file a claim" stance

#4 2012-02-27 17:48:37

Re: A poo poo update: City reverses "file a claim" stance

#5 2012-03-06 11:14:36

Re: A poo poo update: City reverses "file a claim" stance

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