We The People News | The Voice of Working People & Small Business in Corpus Christi

Ingleside Council to Port: Include us or no rezoning.

Submitted by John Kelley on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 08:29

Port Commission

Former Congressman Curt Weldon accuses A&M’s Dennis Beal of “…nothing shy of malpractice, and possibly libelous.” in alleged sabotage of APEX deal. Thousands of jobs at stake.

At an emergency Ingleside City Council meeting on Friday, March 5th, both Mayor Stella Herrmann and Council woman and former Mayor Elaine Kemp told Port Commissioners who were present they would refuse to make any zoning change required by the port to develop the property until they were included in the decision making process. The property reverts to R-1 residential when the Port takes possession. For the Port to develop the NSI property, the City of Ingleside must rezone the property to business and industrial categories. Ingleside called the meeting over concerns that some Port Commissioners were willing to kill their best chance for redevelopment in order to give Texas A&M University an undeserved multimillion dollar gift.


A&M - Port Savior or Just Another Self Serving Insider?Submitted by John Kelley on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 22:51In Port Commission When Texas A&M Chancellor Mike McKinney takes the stage at the Ortiz Center, the Corpus Christi Business community will be waiting with baited breath in anticipation of the great things that A&M will supposedly bring. That position is being questioned however by those who wonder if A&M will put its own ambitions over the future of the area. To some folks there is an inherent conflict of interest when it seeks to be seller, broker and buyer of the Port’s new Naval Station Ingleside property. McKinney will speak on Thursday at a Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce luncheon event.
The Coliseum a Memorial to Poor GovernanceSubmitted by John Kelley on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:39In Memorial Coliseum Caller Times fails to report lower bids for creating an open air pavilion. Analysis The management of the decision making process for the future of the Coliseum and the land around it, for better or worse has become the symbol of Corpus Christi City Government. There was a fairly straight line of planning development of the public park land and the buildings like the Coliseum that sat on them until the American Bank Center was built.
Is the National Swim Center Deal Dead in the Water?Submitted by John Kelley on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 17:10In Memorial Coliseum Council still dodges park issue. The City Council and the National Swim Center Corporation seemed to be going through the motions of patting each other on the back and working towards a deal, even though confidential sources from City staff say the deal is dead. Ignoring the lack of resolution on whether the area is a park or not, Council has plunged ahead with more negotiations. Even if those negotiations could bring an agreement, the City probably couldn’t legally execute their end without a protracted (years long) legal fight with community groups who have vowed to oppose any attempt to place development on what they consider a public park.
Council Staggers along on Coliseum with Conflicting AgendasSubmitted by John Kelley on Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:51In Memorial Coliseum Restored Adame rebuffed Even with Mayor Joe Adame back at the helm, Council was unable to bring to the Coliseum issue to a promised conclusion. Over three hours of public comment and chaotic Council discussion resulted in a tear it down, maybe not resolution.
Politics Gone AwrySubmitted by John Kelley on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 18:17In City Leal Stumbles, Grow Corpus Shrivels Priscilla Leal, District 3 Councilperson decided to get tough on staff today and in the process may have inadvertently demonstrated her own ignorance.


Kostelnik Votes with Carrell Faction, Endangers $330 Million Port DealSubmitted by John Kelley on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 23:51In Port Commission Ordered Staff to Stop Negotiating until A&M Deal Done, McKinney Suggests Symphony for Economic Development At a special Port of Corpus Christi Commissioners meeting on Friday afternoon, Mike Carrell refused to discuss items put on the agenda by Commissioners Ken Berry and Bobby Gonzalez authorizing the staff to pursue all proposals related to Naval Station Ingleside (NSI) and re-examine A&M’s memorandum of understanding. Carrell, Hawley and Bourchard had ordered the staff to stop negotiating with a private equity company Apex Group that wants to buy the NSI property for a reported $330 million and bring Swiftships, a ship building defense contractor as the anchor tenant. The Caller-Times for whatever reason, wrongly reported the negotiations as stalled.
Adame Credibility Goes Down With Coliseum VoteSubmitted by John Kelley on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 22:47In Memorial Coliseum Mayor gets percentage of downtown Whataburger profits, no Bray opinion issued. Texas Historic Commission certifies Coliseum as elgible for National Historic Register, Council and Staff keep secret since Jan 7. There was little surprise as the City Council voted 7-2 to tear down the Coliseum on Tuesday given the powers at work behind the scene. Council members sought to compare the cost of a finished open air pavilion for $3.2 million proposed by architect George Clower, with an empty lot for $1.2 million, saying the later was cheaper. They voted to borrow up to $2 million in certificates of obligation to tear down the facility and create a grassy field. Their budget includes no future capital improvements or maintenance costs.
WtP Primary Candidate EndorsementsSubmitted by John Kelley on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 16:48In Politics There are serious Statewide Democratic Candidates this year that could make the fall elections interesting, but first they have to make it out of the primaries. Meanwhile the Republicans battle serious divisions in their own party both locally and statewide.
The Loser City: Corpus Christi’s Self Imposed Bad RapSubmitted by John Kelley on Mon, 11/16/2009 - 13:31In Memorial Coliseum Editorial A whole Council elected on a “Pro Growth” platform is now on the horns of their own dilemma.
Brass Proponents have Press ConferenceSubmitted by John Kelley on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 15:55In Memorial Coliseum Self appointed spokesperson for Grow Corpus, Diane LaMorte Metz held a news conference where she and 29 other supporters expressed their support for the Brass Real Estate deal killed by the Council last week. While she refused several requests for an interview before WtP had to leave, City Councilman and Ice Rayz part owner Brent Chesney was there cheering the effort, wearing a green growcorpus t-shirt and commented that he still supports the deal.

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Weldon Published by WtPSubmitted by Staff Reports on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 12:45In Port Commission Curt Weldon Member of Congress 1987 – 2007 P.O. Box 300 Glen Mills, PA 19342 March 8, 2010 To: Dennis Beal From: Curt Weldon Subject: Response to your memo of February 4 To read the whole story click on the title Note the Beal and Kem Bennett Letters are under galleries - port on the top menu bar
Editorial: The Port Time for Change Submitted by Readers Write on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 22:54In Port Commission by Solomon Ortiz, Jr. State Representative for District 33 Over the last few years, many concerns have arisen regarding governance at the Port of Corpus Christi. Two years ago, a prior city council rushed the re-appointment of a port commissioner right before a city election, depriving the newly elected city council members of an appointment that should have happened under their watch. Then the appointee was quickly sworn in at a private, impromptu ceremony that happened months before port commissioners normally take their oath. More recently, the Port of Corpus Christi questioned the qualifications of another city appointee, and even hired a lawyer to review the legality of the city’s appointment. These divisive and unnecessary disputes undermine the public's faith in the Port of Corpus Christi and interfere with its focus on generating economic development for the entire region. Ad
Got it wrong and didn't even trySubmitted by Readers Write on Tue, 02/16/2010 - 15:46In WtP Editorials If you are going to make any political endorsements, at least make an effort to make an informed opinion. Interview them (you didn't)! Check on their claims ( you didn't)! You know, investigate for the truth like a respectable newspaper. Then, make your choice.
Judge JAG Accused of Abuse of Office in 2nd AuditSubmitted by John Kelley on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 16:43In County Update - Audit of Judge JAG’s Court finds “Fabricated adjustments and missing cash” Judge Joe A. Gonzalez who has been a high profile figure in Corpus Christi championing education for delinquent youth, has come under scrutiny for some of the practices in his court that are alleged to be improper and illegal, yet he refuses to release a confidential agreement with Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct that reviewed the matter. One confidential source in the legal community says that agreement may have forced the judge to resign and thus led to his current run for County Commissioner.
Hillcrest Groundwater Investigation to BeginSubmitted by Staff Reports on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 10:16In Latest News & Events 25 million gallons of pollution as close as two foot from the surface flows towards the ship channel George Rice, MS, a soil hydrologist from San Antonio, opened the February 11th meeting and urged local participation in all aspects of the TCEQ planned investigation of the groundwater scheduled to start in six weeks. He noted that currently not enough data is available to determine the extent of the problem in Hillcrest, but noted that in his 30 years in the industry, he had never seen a more polluted groundwater system that currently exists along “Refinery Row.” He added that movement of the hydrocarbon plume floating atop the groundwater is probably leaking into the ship channel.
Coastal Bend Chronicle: The Book that Saved the Lives of Settlers and SoldiersSubmitted by John Kelley on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 17:32In Coastal Bend History Captain Randolph B. Marcy wrote the book, The Prairie Traveler, in 1859 and it became a bestseller for the rest of the century. It was written as a guide for the cavalry and the cross-country settlers headed overland to California, Oregon and Utah. Marcy was an explorer, a surveyor, a map maker and a military leader. His book distilled his decades of experience on the frontiers in the West and Northwest. The book was comprehensive, detailed, illustrated and easy to read, despite its 200 page length. The Prairie Traveler was authorized by the War Department and sold for one dollar. It was indispensable reading for any settler venturing by wagon train to the West Coast, as well as any military expedition dealing with the Indians.

Weldon Published by WtPSubmitted by Staff Reports on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 12:45In Port Commission

Curt Weldon
Member of Congress 1987 – 2007
P.O. Box 300 Glen Mills, PA 19342

March 8, 2010
To: Dennis Beal
From: Curt Weldon
Subject: Response to your memo of February 4

To read the whole story click on the title

Note the Beal and Kem Bennett Letters are under galleries - port on the top menu bar

Editorial: The Port Time for Change Submitted by Readers Write on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 22:54In Port Commission

by Solomon Ortiz, Jr. State Representative for District 33

Over the last few years, many concerns have arisen regarding governance at the Port of Corpus Christi. Two years ago, a prior city council rushed the re-appointment of a port commissioner right before a city election, depriving the newly elected city council members of an appointment that should have happened under their watch. Then the appointee was quickly sworn in at a private, impromptu ceremony that happened months before port commissioners normally take their oath. More recently, the Port of Corpus Christi questioned the qualifications of another city appointee, and even hired a lawyer to review the legality of the city’s appointment. These divisive and unnecessary disputes undermine the public's faith in the Port of Corpus Christi and interfere with its focus on generating economic development for the entire region.

Got it wrong and didn't even trySubmitted by Readers Write on Tue, 02/16/2010 - 15:46In WtP Editorials

If you are going to make any political endorsements, at least make an effort to make an informed opinion. Interview them (you didn't)! Check on their claims ( you didn't)! You know, investigate for the truth like a respectable newspaper. Then, make your choice.

Judge JAG Accused of Abuse of Office in 2nd AuditSubmitted by John Kelley on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 16:43In County

Update - Audit of Judge JAG’s Court finds “Fabricated adjustments and missing cash”

Judge Joe A. Gonzalez who has been a high profile figure in Corpus Christi championing education for delinquent youth, has come under scrutiny for some of the practices in his court that are alleged to be improper and illegal, yet he refuses to release a confidential agreement with Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct that reviewed the matter. One confidential source in the legal community says that agreement may have forced the judge to resign and thus led to his current run for County Commissioner.

Kids play in Hillcrest surrounded by air and water pollution.

Hillcrest Groundwater Investigation to BeginSubmitted by Staff Reports on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 10:16In Latest News & Events

25 million gallons of pollution as close as two foot from the surface flows towards the ship channel

George Rice, MS, a soil hydrologist from San Antonio, opened the February 11th meeting and urged local participation in all aspects of the TCEQ planned investigation of the groundwater scheduled to start in six weeks. He noted that currently not enough data is available to determine the extent of the problem in Hillcrest, but noted that in his 30 years in the industry, he had never seen a more polluted groundwater system that currently exists along “Refinery Row.” He added that movement of the hydrocarbon plume floating atop the groundwater is probably leaking into the ship channel.

Coastal Bend Chronicle: The Book that Saved the Lives of Settlers and SoldiersSubmitted by John Kelley on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 17:32In Coastal Bend History

Captain Randolph B. Marcy wrote the book, The Prairie Traveler, in 1859 and it became a bestseller for the rest of the century. It was written as a guide for the cavalry and the cross-country settlers headed overland to California, Oregon and Utah. Marcy was an explorer, a surveyor, a map maker and a military leader. His book distilled his decades of experience on the frontiers in the West and Northwest. The book was comprehensive, detailed, illustrated and easy to read, despite its 200 page length. The Prairie Traveler was authorized by the War Department and sold for one dollar. It was indispensable reading for any settler venturing by wagon train to the West Coast, as well as any military expedition dealing with the Indians.

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Ingleside Council to Port: Include us or no rezoning.

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