Thanks to something said by a council person's wife on facebook and confirmed by Amir Omar's email, it can be surmised
that all of the council members and some of the Richardson Coalition leadership
were given the facts about the Richardson Coalition mailer before it landed on
doorsteps informing them the allegations were false. This notice that the
information was false would have been known to Laura Maczka.
As for being honest and transparent, she has failed the
test. Even after knowing the information was false, she hitched her wagon to the Richardson Coalition
and doubled down on spreading the inaccurate information.
In an email with the header “Not sure if you’d heard this …”
it seems she helped propagate misinformation by linking to the Richardson
Coalition website and the documents that were the source for the misinformation.
She said “The good news is that they said a lot of nice things about our
campaign. But on the other side, they highlighted a few new pieces of
information from Mr. Omar’s background including a bankruptcy, back child
support, garnishment of wages, and federal tax issues.”
She continued with “I am committed to you that I will run an
honest, fact-based, transparent campaign…and that’s exactly what I have done so
far.”
Where I see she was dishonest and not transparent was she
was provided with information from Amir Omar that the back child support, forcible
garnishment of wages and tax issues had been resolved. The Richardson Coalition
also made claim that his student debts were wiped out with the bankruptcy.
Laura Maczka has done the citizens of Richardson and herself
a disservice to hitch her wagon to the Richardson Coalition to further spread
misinformation. That shows a lack of character, a lack of honesty by at the
same time informing the people that she knew that accusation were false and a
lack of transparency in letting the public know that she held information that
would contradict the claims made by the Richardson Coalition.
I have felt that she was too close to the Richardson
Coalition. Concerns about her ties to the Richardson Coalition made me leery
that she would she wasn’t so independent and would side with what I view as one
of the most underhanded groups of people in the city. She and the leaders of
the Richardson Coalition knew these claims were false. Both she and the
Richardson Coalition had the documentation to know these accusations were
false.
While we have known for a long time that there is no low too
low for the Richardson Coalition, we now know the same thing about Laura
Maczka.
I have made it no secret that I was supporting Amir Omar over Laura, but not because she was a bad person or that I had doubts about her leadership abilities. Plain and simple, I felt Amir would be a better leader and Richardson would benefit more from his leadership than that from Laura.
Things change. The way I see it, to benefit herself in this close election she was not honest nor was she transparent,
and it seems she has also lost the personal admiration and respect I held for her when she decided to abandon honesty and transparency.
So unfortunate and disturbing that the first time Richardson voters have a chance to elect their mayor, that momentous event is tarnished by dirty campaign activities.
ReplyDeleteWhen one side of a campaign feels it is slipping, the urge to play the "dirty card" is unleashed. The Coalition played it. Then the other side feels compelled to reply "setting the record straight", and its message becomes more strident.
It's time to return to the real issues. What ideas and what actions each candidate advocates will best seve the citizens of Richardson and its future? What candidate can provide the change this historic opportunity gives us?
After examning those real issues, I made a choice. I hope your decision on whom to vote is based on those real issues as well.
Another case of Ms. maczka leading from behind and following the lead of the coalitionists. Too sad.
ReplyDeleteLead from behind. I’m not sure I want our city managed like a board of trustees any more.
ReplyDeleteAmir Omar did not know if he was going to win the mayoral election but offered his seat on the council as the mayoral position during the discussion.
Amir Omar suggesting Place 7 as the Mayoral seat.
Consensus Building video.
Scott Dunn
Odd thing about the coalitionists, they will support some guy who leaves his wife to shack-up with the other woman without marrying her.
ReplyDeleteOdd thing about the coalitionists, they will support one of their own who sets up office at city hall for his private company and find that acceptable behavior from an elected official.
Odd thing about the coalitionists, they will support an elected official who ran his private company out of a different city owned building while that elected official would neglect to pay his full rent.
Odd thing about the coalitionists, they will support a elected official who appears to have paid a bribe to a disgraced and jail Illinois government who is currently in jail on corruption charges.
Odd thing about the coalitionists, they make reprehensible person attacks on candidates for elected office who are kind, intelligent and decent people.
Odd thing about the coalitionists, they will not support a true leader who happens to be a decent person.
What is not odd in all of this was that the campaign had been relatively free of personal attacks until the Richardson Coalition sent out their Sr. Mailer hit piece attempting to scare the old people in town.
What is not odd is the discovery that once again, one candidate is leading from behind, yet again, and not denouncing the actions of the only organization that endorses her.
Disappointment. That is how I feel about Laura.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad day in Richardson politics, and doubly sad because of its predictability.
ReplyDeleteThe years of telling the citizens about the dirty dealings of the group now known as the Richardson Coalition and its loyal subjects are beginning to resonate with the voters. That's a good thing.
Hopefully some good old-fashion house cleaning will result from this latest round of back stabbing.
Personally, I think there are lots of bones buried at City Hall, and no innocent members on the Council, except perhaps Amir Omar.
We have witnessed too many underhanded actions not to know there is something terribly wrong with Richardson leadership.
I hope the good people of Richardson go into this election with their eyes open and with determination to put the city on the road to restoring honesty and integrity in the halls of local government.
Warmest Regards,
Nathan Morgan
Did Amir file bankruptcy or not? Can someone please answer?
ReplyDeleteYes, he did, tirteen years ago. However, what the Coalition put in their senior mailing, and what Ms. Maczka repeated more fully in her "Don't know if you've heard" email was misleading.
ReplyDeleteIf you heard the League of Women Voters debate last night, Mr. Omar made clear that the thrust of his oponent's argument - that his wages were garnished because of large unpaid child support, that his student loans were discharged and not paid were incorrect. The broadcast will be repeated I believe- you can listen for yourself and make up your mind about the issue and how it was hndled.
An important point is that the Coalition KNEW about this four years ago when they supported Mr. Omar in the 2009 and 2011 elections. Wonder why the same information was not disturbing to them than?
I had a bankruptcy. They are not fun. You have to reconcile your debt with creditors. That means you have to pay your debt. It’s a very humbling experience. Do you think Amir skipped out on something?? Why do you need to know?? Just to denigrate him?? The city management handles our tax money. You should be concerned with the city management’s retirement plan, vacation payout…. Why does it take 25% more government to run a city smaller than Plano?? Why do we have so many city employees trolling the internet looking for unregistered rental property?? (if that’s what they are doing)… 20 years ago we didn’t have city employees driving around reporting our neighbors because a car has one tire on the homeowners lawn. Why do we have a ‘Report a Suspected Rental’ webpage… why wouldn’t you be concerned with the MyRichardson iPhone app that will be used to report your neighbor because a tree limb is touching his roof. We have a city encroaching on our civil liberties. We should be worried about that.
ReplyDeleteLuke, don't forget, they have to pay SOMEBODY to check up on David's blog too. ;)
ReplyDeleteApril 25, 2013 at 6:02 AM
ReplyDeleteHonestly, why do you care?
Bad life things happen to good people all the time. Illness, divorce, aging parents, kid problems, job loss, business failures. We would have no entreprenuers if every one didn't get up again after a failure.
We could go into the whole devaluation of the dollar and abuses by the banking industry that we are all feeling these days, but that is off topic to why some guy filed bankruptcy.
We could look at the number of times American Airlines has filed bankruptcy, started over, living the high life until they are in the tank again. But the bucks are to be made because everyone knows the government is not going to let them fail.
How about K-Mart? It went into bankruptcy; did all the workouts with vendors and just before it came out of receivership, it declared all common stock was revoked and a reissue to the vendors. Within one year it was trading at $100 a share. So which was worse shafting a creditor or a shareholder?
If you are risk adverse, then do not step out there and do anything. And certainly do not run for Council. Your view of the world just might be too narrow.
What I want to know is which Council members have run their lips on the rumor trail with this? Specifically which one of these people. I also want to know who within City Staff released his private payroll information? There is an ethics violation here to be addressed.
Laura's email condoned the behavior. There is really no other way to take that.
But before we completely call the kettle black, let's look at the deals the Council has made on behalf of the citizens and see how they would fare in the real world of bankruptcies.
Golf Course - An outdated contract they REFUSED to address cost the citizens over $1mm is losses on the surface. Can you really have a negative reserve fund? Please! That contract made Mr Glanton the highest paid Pro in the country. But last year they were forced to review that contract because of a Comptroller audit. Result of that audit the city paid a tax liability in excess of $350k on behalf of Mr Glanton. He is a Pro alright. Is that good management by these people who have never had a bankruptcy?
con't....
Has the city ever used bonds to bail out overspending of the budget? YES!! In 2010, just 2 days after the $66m bond election approved by the voters, this council approved a CO Bond for $18.3m. Problem with that increased debt is the budget only allotted for $10.7m. Is this good management? Is it in compliance with the Charter and Statutes?
ReplyDeleteBrick Row - The staff and Council courted a guy to REVITALIZE E Spring Valley by creating a Planned Development and spent over $350k to "study" the area. Then they had the grandiose idea to create a TIF zone to encompass the area. Mountains of paper to engage you into believing this area would bring in tons more revenue if they increased the density. Millions and millions of appreciable asset dollars on the ground will revitalize Richardson. Except when you replace apartments with apartments, just more of them, and some town homes 6 feet from the street you only get appreciable tax revenues of less than half a million. A very taudry amount to pay off $16mm in grants at 7% compounded interest to a developer. That $.5m does not even cover the interest accrual. Is this good management? The response I heard recently is it just wasn't dense enough.
We could go on all day on the Eisemann Center.
There is so much more needing your attention than this. As I look at Amir today, falling off the financial wagon years ago will make him much more mindful and cautious in the future.
If Laura had taken one or two steps in the direction many of us had hoped for, this would be a much harder decision than it is already. She can be "stunned" at many who disagree with her posture on certain topics, but it doesn't change the financial travesties the citizens will have to make up with more debt. I think she knows that.
I hope she knows that.
Truth is in the math and it is not HIS financial statement you should be worried about.
I am disappointed in Scott Dunn who does not want to look at the financial realities. Kendall who should have some interest due to his profession, yet never says a word. And Steve Mitchell. Who does the Coalition have behind the curtain that these men stay and do not speak? I don't get it?
Stepping off the Erin Brockovich soapbox and on to real life with grown ups! Have a great day!
CDH
Well really?? I just went through yesterday's junk mail and found the RC mailer. Wonder why it showed up a full week after everyone else received it? Never have received anything from the RC before!! Hmmm...I live on the east side of town, you know the side that is always forgotten except when politicians wanna put a fire station in the middle of a neighborhood and school! Maybe the RC wants to consider US part of the city now and snag our votes? Surely it wasn't because the RC thinks I'm "a senior" as I just turned the other side of 49 a few months back?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't really matter as I'm still voting for Dr. Seuss!
"Why does it take 25% more government to run a city smaller than Plano?? "
ReplyDeleteLuke, do you want to explain this statement or the source of your fact? Hint - Plano has about 2 & 1/2 the number of city employees as does Richardson.
Okay April 25, 2013 at 10:07 PM, Here you go,
ReplyDeleteQuestions for the Candidates for Mayor (should they choose to answer)
It should have been 20% but now that I think about it…. Our government has probably grown since that article was written. You must be a numbers person if that’s what you took away from my comment. The city just released an iPhone app so people can report their neighbors easier. The app has been in development for over a year. We are paying our city government to come up with faster and easier ways to spy on and report us.
There are, what looks like, brand new Ford’s driving our neighborhoods with the Richardson logo on them citing our neighbors for things like one tire parked on the homeowner’s front yard, trees touching the homeowner’s roof… They’re taking ‘the cities’ housing stock to a ‘Whole ‘nother Level’! When a city considers my home part of their housing stock, I get concerned. The city needs to worry with the street side of the sidewalk and I’ll worry with my home side of the sidewalk. When the city comes into a neighborhood and tells you what color to paint your house don’t come crying to me. Big Government starts in the City and we are living poof.
Luke, your 20% number is way off too. Richardson has a little over 900 city employees and this includes workers who collect trash. Plano has over 2,400 employees and trash collection is outsourced. The correct conclusion would seem to be that city employees per capita is very similar in the two cities. The app was developed so we can easily report issues - a pothole, a streetlight out, a missed trash pickup, a broken sidewalk, etc. I don't believe the city has ever told anyone what color to paint their house. There may be a few who were told what color they shouldn't have used and certainly there are guidelines for commercial development.
ReplyDeleteApril 26, 2013 at 10:14 AM
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how to put in context your statement either. Richardson does have double the management oversight of Plano and we have less police per capita of Plano.
Here is where I have the largest issue on the so called greatness of Richardson.
From the CAFR:
Key Highlights of the 2012 – 2013 Budget Include:
• A 3.4% increase in the overall certified tax base and no change in the tax rate.
• A 2.1% increase in base sales tax is projected.
• A 13.0% rate adjustment in water and sewer fees.
• No rate adjustment in solid waste or golf fees.
• Fund balances maintained in all 5 major operating funds.
• 5% step increases for approximately 50% of employees eligible for the increase.
• 3% merit based increase for those employees at the top of the pay range.
• Continued funding for employee retirement and health care.
First off, water increases are a little on the made-up cost side, but that is a different story.
What I read is really slow appreciable growth in assets on the ground today, overall. 3.4% does not beat inflation. Nor does the sales tax growth. And in context, sales tax is still lower than the huge rise in groceries, gas, electricity, etc. My term is sluggish growing going on.
Yet the major focus once again is raises and benefits for staff so the pain of inflation is not felt by the few. Where is any of the the appreciation spent on the repair of our failing streets, infrastructure, the services, the growth of Richardson. It is never there because it has to come from debt. And debt is never relieved so it always grows. Hopefully not faster than the appreciation.
The per employee cost is significantly more in Richardson than other cities. DISD can provide for 3 times employees what the total cost is here. Collin County pays almost double the staff for what we do here in Richardson.
The compensated absences number is the most incredible and growing! This past year it is $10.3mm. That is over $11k paid to each employee on average.
Vacation buy backs for only management and some department heads amounts to $1.3mm+/- per year. That inflates the comparisons to other cities. I have not found one other city that does this and I am looking.
It is demanded people volunteer, yet staff is paid overtime for events away from their lives. Laura told me pointedly she was going to address this issue. Not a peep in 2 years. (Crickets chirping)
The food and entertainment bills in Richardson are astronomical!! It is like one big party under the illusion of _________ ( you fill in the blank).
So you can say the city does not tell anyone what color to paint their home, yes I would agree. But it does tell people when to mow and water;how to maintain appearances and when; and creates all kinds of ways and apps asking people to turn in their neighbor.
It just might be the city promotes infighting among residents...
It is the sickest form of leadership/representation I have ever seen. But it is the greatest deal of all time for certain employees!
The numbers do not lie.
CDH
CDH, Please expand on your assertion "Richardson does have double the management oversight of Plano". Are you asserting based on job titles? I understand that Plano does not call some of their executive management "Assistant CMs" or "Deputy CMs", yet they have similar job duties as our Assistant CMs or Deputy CM.
ReplyDeleteThey operate more as department heads than Deputy or asst management. At least that is my understanding.
ReplyDeleteCDH
I bet those Plano employees do not have similar salaries to Richardson's Ass City Manager or Deputy City manager. I bet they are considerably lower.
ReplyDelete>The app was developed so we can easily report issues - a pothole, a streetlight out, a missed trash pickup, a broken sidewalk, etc.
ReplyDeleteIt might have been the original intention, but Mr. Magner has a different plan, according to the 4/8 work session (26:00)--
he wants to use the app so citizens can report neighbors for illegal watering with pictures uploaded "in real time."
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/play/04082013-637
To make it easier for anyone to find the video of the
ReplyDeleteCode Enforcer’s tool belt.)
momaly@4/26/13@1:35:
ReplyDeleteRichardson has:
City Manager
Salary: $240,000, $1000.00 per month for leased vehicle, not including gas and expenses. "RE-IMBURSED" retirement contributions and other reimbursements approaching $40,000.
Plano has:
City Manager
Salary: $232,000, NO CAR ALLOWANCE
Richardson has:
Deputy City Manager, Salary $192,996
3 Assistant City Managers, Salaries are $182,916, $$159,000 and $159,000.
Plano has 2 Deputy City Managers: Salaries are $179,000 and $159,523.
Included here is a list of all Plano's directors and other heads of operations for the City of Plano, as well as their salaries.
You are welcome to your assertion that some of Plano's Directors handle functions handled by our three Assistant City Managers.
So what? Richardson is top heavy in management AND compensation especially when compared to our much larger in area and populated neighbor immediately to our north.
Feel free to compare the compensation provided Plano directors with those provided Richardson directors. Might be illuminating.
We have competent employees in Richardson. They should be fairly compensated. However, the responsibility for these salary differentials, and the excessive
perks allowed for management in Richardson (cash out of vacation hours prior to retirement - extended also to Department and assistant managers is one that comes to mind among others) rests with those supposedly elected to serve the taxpayers of the City. How can one excuse such laxness? If council members didn't know, why didn't they ask questions to inform themselves? Did they not think to look into pay and benefit levels in other cities on their own? If they did know, it very clearly shows oversight wasn't necessary because "staff knows best".
When staff is the beneficiary of their own requests for salary increases, benefits, and perks, how could no independent oversight take place? Why no "check but verify", why no real questions before raising hands and voting "Aye?"
The Council is running unapposed. All the more reason for those individuals to DO THEIR JOB. There is very ample room for improvement.
momaly@4/26/13@1:35:
ReplyDeleteRichardson has:
City Manager
Salary: $240,000, $1000.00 per month for leased vehicle, not including gas and expenses. "RE-IMBURSED" retirement contributions and other reimbursements approaching $40,000.
Plano has:
City Manager
Salary: $232,000, NO CAR ALLOWANCE
Richardson has:
Deputy City Manager, Salary $192,996
3 Assistant City Managers, Salaries are $182,916, $$159,000 and $159,000.
Plano has 2 Deputy City Managers: Salaries are $179,000 and $159,523.
Included here is a list of all Plano's directors and other heads of operations for the City of Plano, as well as their salaries.
You are welcome to your assertion that some of Plano's Directors handle functions handled by our three Assistant City Managers.
So what? Richardson is top heavy in management AND compensation especially when compared to our much larger in area and populated neighbor immediately to our north.
Feel free to compare the compensation provided Plano directors with those provided Richardson directors. Might be illuminating.
We have competent employees in Richardson. They should be fairly compensated. However, the responsibility for these salary differentials, and the excessive
perks allowed for management in Richardson (cash out of vacation hours prior to retirement - extended also to Department and assistant managers is one that comes to mind among others) rests with those supposedly elected to serve the taxpayers of the City. How can one excuse such laxness? If council members didn't know, why didn't they ask questions to inform themselves? Did they not think to look into pay and benefit levels in other cities on their own? If they did know, it very clearly shows oversight wasn't necessary because "staff knows best".
When staff is the beneficiary of their own requests for salary increases, benefits, and perks, how could no independent oversight take place? Why no "check but verify", why no real questions before raising hands and voting "Aye?"
The Council is running unapposed. All the more reason for those individuals to DO THEIR JOB. There is very ample room for improvement.
TITLE-ANNUAL SALARY-Annual Car Allowance
City Attorney-$193,686-$0
Director Economic Development-$162,088-$4260
Police Chief-$158,640-$0
Fire Chief-$145,000-$0
Director Finance-$138,103-$4260
Director Policy and Governmental Relations-$136,646-$4260
Director Public Works-$130,156-$4260
Director Planning-$128,345-$4260
Director Budget -$127,933-$4260
Director Human Resources-$126,071-$4260
Director Technology Services-$124,118-$4260
Director Environmental Health-$122,627-$7966.56
Director Parks & Recreation-$122,599-$4260
Director Public Safety Comm & Emerg Mgmt.-$122,340-$4260
Chief Building Official-$121,091-$4260
Director Property Standards-$113,788-$4260
Director Libraries-$103,522-$4260
Director Marketing and Community Engagement-$103,500-$4260
City Secretary-$91,863-$0
Director Sustainability & Envir Services-$125,356-$4260
And what is the median income of Richardson Texas citizens??
ReplyDeleteMuch of these checks and balances are assumed to come from an annual audit. But it does not. The scope of work by KPMG is an audit of the financial statement and accounting procedures. Kent Pfeil has done a great job making sure his staff stays up to date on those issues.
ReplyDeleteThe intended purpose of the audit committee is allowing some oversight for the citizens, but if you chair that position and have no basis for what is presented there is little to question. All the internal audit processes fall to the city manager without discussion.
Having sat in on the audit committee this past year, there was little dialog by Bob Townsend. Scott Dunn asked a couple of questions that indicate he was unclear on the difference between a qualified audit and one that is unqualified. Laura Masczka wanted info expressed in layman terms. And the lead auditor confirmed they would not get into any part of the internal issues that have been raised to the council. Hence, you get an unqualified clean opinion. That is an oxymoron in itself.
He told Scott Dunn that financial statements tell you what you spent your money on, but not how efficiently it is spent. And in the same breath saying it's a well run city because of non accounting specifics. OK. What does that mean?
10-15 years ago there was more discussion auditing that is not done any more. Agreed. Professional skepticism was another topic in light of the Enron debacle. Auditor said that no matter how good their controls are, things can happen. They will catch the poor accounting practices. Laura called it a good ol boy audit. lol It is frauds that are very hard to detect. My point. And 80% are caught internally and 60% of those are because people are talking.
People have been talking...for years....Council doesn't want to listen. Well, I take that back. Amir has listened. And that matters to me. He has made efforts to work on cost savings. That matters to me.
Laura has not from my perspective. If she has, please share.
CDH
Luke Lucas - to answer your question:
ReplyDeleteMedian earnings for Richardson, TX workers(dollars)
38,193 +/-2,267
Median earnings for male full-time, year-round workers (dollars) 56,514 +/-3,132
Median earnings for female full-time, year-round workers (dollars) 45,961 +/-1,032
Some allowances must be made for part time workers to average down to $38K per year.
The median household income is set at $70k.
That is still below the median average including benefits of city government with an average of $93K. Benefits are approx 40% of this number.
My assumption is the larger salaries are so out of balance the averages are quite impressive.
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk
Anon at 7:35. To compare apples to apples, do the median averages you quote above include benefits?
ReplyDeleteCensus does not qualify that. This is why I added the comment benefits are roughly 40%
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering the question. So assuming that the census data is salaries only and does not include cost of benefits, which is probably a reasonable assumption. Your research shows that median salaries of city workers is $55,800 or 60% of $93K. This is slightly lower than median salary of males. Sounds fair to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info.
CDH's assertion was that "Richardson does have double the management oversight of Plano"
ReplyDeleteor Richardson is top heavy in management.
Someone switched the discussion to how an average employee is paid.
The median income of city employees doesn't show how well managers are paid. (I hope people understand what "median" means. I have no idea what "median average" is.)