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County

Kostelnik Votes with Carrell Faction, Endangers $330 Million Port Deal
03/09/2010 - 14:27

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.

Weldon Published by WtP
03/08/2010 - 12:45

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

A&M - Port Savior or Just Another Self Serving Insider?
03/08/2010 - 08:24

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.

Editorial: The Port Time for Change
02/24/2010 - 22:54

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

Port Votes to Negotiate with APEX
03/11/2010 - 13:55

Shipbuilder would need thousands of skilled trade workers.

After drama, intrigue and parliamentary bungling the Port Commission voted 7-0 to have staff negotiate with APEX Group of Companies for a proposed long term lease of the whole 1,000 acres of Naval Station Ingleside and adjoining port property. APEX wants to lease the property for one of its companies Swiftships and its subcontractors for a ship building operation that could ultimately yield thousands of high paying trade jobs.

to read the rest of the story click on the title

Port Commission

Kostelnik Votes with Carrell Faction, Endangers $330 Million Port Deal
03/09/2010 - 14:27

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.

Weldon Published by WtP
03/08/2010 - 12:45

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

A&M - Port Savior or Just Another Self Serving Insider?
03/08/2010 - 08:24

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.

Editorial: The Port Time for Change
02/24/2010 - 22:54

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

Port Votes to Negotiate with APEX
03/11/2010 - 13:55

Shipbuilder would need thousands of skilled trade workers.

After drama, intrigue and parliamentary bungling the Port Commission voted 7-0 to have staff negotiate with APEX Group of Companies for a proposed long term lease of the whole 1,000 acres of Naval Station Ingleside and adjoining port property. APEX wants to lease the property for one of its companies Swiftships and its subcontractors for a ship building operation that could ultimately yield thousands of high paying trade jobs.

to read the rest of the story click on the title

City

Politics Gone Awry
11/16/2009 - 11:30

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.

City Fails to Notify Residents of Toxic Waste
09/05/2009 - 06:45

Suzie Canales Executive Director of Citizens for Environmental Justice revealed today that Mayor Adame was said to have known about toxic chemicals found in ground samples on a site for a planned public housing project since shortly after he took office but has failed to take any action or even make public the information.

Caller-Times Runs Cover for Las Brisas – Adame Conflict
09/03/2009 - 13:07

The Sunday, August 30, 2009 edition of the Caller Times ran two stories which appeared to be responses to the Aug-Sept issue of We the People. Front page stories “City moves forward on water pipeline” by Denise Malan and “Council strives to avoid conflicts” by Sarah Foley both tried to spin facts in a favorable light regarding the controversial Las Brisas-Garwood Water Line and the Mayor’s resignation from the Coliseum Committee. In a brilliant piece of journalistic deletion articles in We the People showing the possible costs of Las Brisas or the Mayor’s Whatadeal ownership leading to his resignation from the committee were not referenced.

Group Says Housing Study Proof of TCEQ's Industry Favortism
09/03/2009 - 10:29

By Suzie Canales, Executive Director of Citizens for Environmental Justice (CFEJ)
Citizens for Environmental Justice (CFEJ) has learned that the Corpus Christi Housing Authority has suspended their plan to build the D.N. Leathers Townhomes, a development that was to be located at 1001 Coke Street, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401 because the land is contaminated.

Mayor Owns Whataburger Next to Development Site
08/31/2009 - 20:28

Mayor & Some Council Members Disclosure Forms Incomplete. Bidders say Adame will step down from Coliseum Committee. Maybe there is a reason some council members except Nelda Martinez and Priscilla Leal were willing to weaken the Ethics Policy prohibiting members contracting with the City.