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pg.5: PHANTOM FUNDS II: Where's the Money? That's (Still) the Question.
TODO AUSTIN page 5 : August 2010 Edition : By Katie Walsh _______________________________________
Blowing the Whistle: Selections from correspondence.
RE: Fleet operations and City of Austin Officials THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : July 02, 2010 : By Jordan Smith __________________________________________
Audit says Georgetown Housing Authority misspent $195,855. in federal funds
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Fr. June 04, 2010
: By Claire Osborn ___________________________________
Margaret Shaw removed as Austin housing director
TEXAS HOUSERS : June 03, 2010 :
John Henneberger ____________________
City manager reassigns housing director
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Th. June 03,
2010 : By Sarah Coppola __________________________________________
pg.5: PHANTOM FUNDS I: Austinite Fights for City Accountability to Taxpayers.
TODO AUSTIN page 5 : June 02, 2010 Edition : By Katie Walsh _________________________________
City attorney resigns amid Keypoint controversy -- Smith failed city by providing legal opinion to keep report secret, Ott
says.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : May 19, 2010
: By Tony Plohetski & Marty Toohey __________________________________________
Cap Metro differs with state report on key points
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : April 23, 2010
: By Ben Wear ________________________________________
Report slaps Cap Metro: Agency's rail bridges need major repairs, as does its 'unsustainable' spending, sunset panel says.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : April 22, 2010
: By Ben Wear _________________________________________
Fairview residents take concerns about code violations to Austin mayor.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : By Ricardo Gandara : March 30, 2010 _________________________________
Where's City of Austin accountability in federal fund use? -- The loan that never was: An Austin family's experience with
the City of Austin's federally-funded home loan program.
By Morgan Elliot : November 29, 2009 __________________________________
________________________________
"Audit: Travis Housing Authority misspent millions in U.S. funds -- Agency officials dispute some findings over accounting
but say they will cooperate with federal authorities."
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : August 27, 2009 :
By Suzannah Gonzales _____________________
"Audit: Housing Authority cannot account for millions in federal funds."
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : August26, 2009 :
By Suzannah Gonzales _________________________________________
"What's Next for the ARA? -- As the longtime director departs and an audit looms, does the East Austin nonprofit have a future?"
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : August 7, 2009 :
By Lee Nichols _________________________________________
EDITORIAL: Many enablers led to indictments in scandal -- Pedernales Electric Co-operative
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Sa. June 20,
2009 : Editorial Board _____________
Indictments say pair directed co-op money to relatives of PEC executives.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Sat. June
20, 2009 : By Claudia Grisales _______________
Grand jury indicts former Pedernales leader, longtime lawyer.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Th. June 18,
2009 : By Claudia Grisales _______________________________
Critics question deal on housing project
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Tu. June
9, 2009 : By Eric Dexheimer _________________________________________
Revitalization Authority leader eyeing Virginia job
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Wed.
June 3, 2009 : By Sarah Coppola _____________
Texan is finalist for Richmond's top administrative post.
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH : June 2, 2009
: By Will Jones ________________________________
Where the Stimulus is Going
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : 'Naked City'
(bottom of the page) : May 22, 2009 : By Wells Dunbar ________________________________
NOKOA - THE OBSERVER : May 07, 2009 _________________________________________
CAPITAL METRO Rail opening on indefinite hold Further rule violations, system glitches cause delay. Agency accused of making
'scapegoat' of contractor
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Saturday March 21, 2009
: By Ben Wear
__________________
CapMetro cancels public rail events; additional violations cited
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Friday March 20, 2009 _______________________
EDITORIAL: Capital Metro's lax fiscal oversight
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Thursday March 19, 2009
: Editorial Board ________________________________________
Program helps families check for lead
NEWS 8 AUSTIN : Th. March 19, 2009 referenced from July
15, 2008 : By Amy Hadley _________________________________________
Obama Warns Mayors Not to Waste Stimulus Money
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Saturday February 21, 2009 ____________________
City could use Federal Funding to mitigate foreclosures effect
AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL : Friday February 6, 2009 :
By Jean Kwon _________________________________________
Nonprofit's carwash illegal, jury finds -- Push-Up Foundations Inc. director says he'll appeal fines.
THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : January
30, 2009 : By S. Gonzales ________________________________
JOHN JOSEPH, CITY OF AUSTIN, WATER PLANT Lawyer sued over water plant land sale
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : December 13, 2008 : By
Chuck Lindell _________________________________________
Urban League Program Under Scrutiny
KVUE NEWS : Th. November 20, 2008 : By
Olga Campos _________________________________________
Financial tangle spurs city scrutiny - Revitalization nonprofit charges Austin $77,000 in extra rent, owes $132,000 on overdue
loan.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Th. October 23, 2008 : By
Sarah Coppola __________________________________________
"Former assistant City Manager indicted in South Carolina"
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN City Beat : March 26, 2008 5:35
pm : By Katie Humphrey _______________
Grand Jury indicts Atlantic Beach Mayor: Manager (Marcia Conner) also charged with misconduct
THE SUN NEWS - McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE information services
via COMTEX : March 21, 2008 (posted March 21/22 @ 7:37pm) _______________
Conner's Curious Contracts
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : November 15, 2002 : By Mike Clark-Madison _______________
City set to evaluate Conner - plagued by questions surrounding the awarding of city contracts, the City Council will question
City Manager Marcia Conner Monday
THE CHRONICLE (Durham, NC) - www.dukechronicle.com
: November 15, 2002 By Ryan Williams
__________________________________________
PEDERNALES ELECTRIC CO-OP Review raises new questions about co-op -- Pedernales shows history of costly, questionable transactions.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : December 17, 2008 : By Claudia
Grisales ____________________
New Pedernales chief brings Austin official on board -- Co-op General Manager Juan Garza starts work, begins drafting reforms
THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : February 12, 2008
: By Claudia Grisales _______________
F.B.I. Interviews Housing Director - Details on F.B.I. inquiry about Austin Housing Money
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : November 2, 2007 10:55 a.m.
: By Sarah Coppola _______________
Hilgers Elaborates on F.B.I. inquiry
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : November 2, 2007 @ 03:43
pm : By Sarah Coppola __________________________________________
Former convention center director pleads guilty, sentence includes community service, public apology
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : May 24, 2008 : By Katie
Humphrey _______________
Hodge Indicted for Altering Convention Center Surveys
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : December 28, 2007 : By Michael
King __________________________________________
The Dead End at Olive and Juniper Homeowners Languish while ARA and City Shrug
AUSTIN CHRONICLE ; September 07, 2007 : By Kimberly
Reeves _______________
ARA Sets the Record Straight
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : September 20, 2007 : By Dr. Charles
Urdy _______________
Correspondence: Charles Urdy & Michael King
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : September 24, 2007 : correspondence
between Charles Urdy & Michael King ______________
Point Austin: "Shoot the Messenger - The ARA strikes back"
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : September 28, 2007 : By Michael
King __________________________________________
City to help developer with homes - nonprofit agency considering buying land for affordable housing in East Austin
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : May 5, 2007 : By Sarah
Coppola __________________________________________
"When Does a Private Road Become Public?"
7 ON YOUR SIDE FOX 7 : September 25, 2006 : By Chris
Coffey __________________________________________
Home, Decaying Home -- City's affordable housing squeeze means code violations are often ignored.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : May 5, 2005
: By Andy Alford _________________________________________
Housing program short of its goal? -- Austin's effort isn't helping working poor families, critics say
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : Thursday, May 05, 2005
: By Jeremy Schwartz _________________________________________
Did Knee and Futrell Leak APD Warrants? -- Whistle-blower testimony raises new questions concerning actions of city officials
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : April 29, 2005 : By Jordan
Smith _______________
Minority contract facilitator targeted - Firm's financial records seized in new turn in fraud investigation
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : September 17, 2003 : By
Stephen Scheibal, Jonathan Osborne __________________________________________
Hard Luck in Heritage Heights
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : August 29, 2003 : By Jessica
Chapman __________________________________________
The ARA Faces the Music - For the Austin Revitalization Authority, Eastside Renewal Proves to Be a Long, Slow Dance
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : August 29, 2003 : By Amy Smith ______________________
ARA, CRP, E-I-E-I-O -- The Central East Scorecard
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : August 29, 2003 ________________________________
Austin gets $1.8M to fight lead-based paint
AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL : January 8, 2003 __________________________________________
Criminal probe examines City contract 'irregularity'
AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL : November 14, 2002 : By John
Egan __________________________________________
In through the Back Door: City Hall's m.o. and the sins of Vision Village
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : October 11, 2002 : By Mike Clark-Madison ________________________
Vision Villains
AUSTIN CHRONICLE : October 4, 2002 : By Amy Smith ________________________
Dusting Away the Cobwebs (re. AHFC; Housing Bond $; other)
AUSTIN CHRONICLES : July 28, 2000 : By Kevin Fullerton
_______________________
The ACM Machine: Assistant City Managers Outlive Rumors of Their Demise.
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : September 12, 1997 : By Kayte Vanscoy
_________________________________
Enough Is Enough -- Councilmembers Are Fed Up With Mitchell's Antics
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : June 12, 1997 :
Kayte Vanscoy________________________________
"As the Mitchell Turns -- More Sequels Than a Spielberg Movie."
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : November 02, 1995
: By Alex de Marban _________________________________________
The ARA Steps Up -- East Austin Redevelopment Money Approved
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : November 23, 1995 : By
Alex de Marban ________________________________
East Austin Development?
UTWATCH : Spring/Summer 1994 pp. 20-23 : By Alex
Avila ________________________________
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REGIONAL / STATE: _______________________________________
Melsheimer & Smith: Cornyn uses politics as law enforcement road block in Texas.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN : June 04, 2010
: Thomas Melsheimer & Craig Smith, Special Contributors ____________________________________________
Rep. Hodge pleads guilty in Dallas corruption case
ASSOCIATED PRESS : AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN :
Wed. February 3, 2010 : By Jeff Carlton, the Associated Press ____________________________________________
47 homes retrofitted, $3.7M spent in Texas through Dec. under program to improve low income homes
TEXAS WATCHDOG : February 01, 2010 : By Mark Lisheron ___________________________________________
Homes evacuated in San Antonio as hill crumbles
Associated Press : Tu January 26, 2010 : By Michelle Roberts __________________________________________
FBI recordings show tax credit developer and indicted local officials discussed redirecting housing bonds away from the poor.
TEXAS HOUSERS BLOG : July 17, 2009 :
By John Henneberger __________________
A culture of greed tarnishes the Texas Low Income Housing tax credit program.
TEXAS HOUSERS BLOG : July 16, 2009
: By John Henneberger ____________________
Texas LIHTC corruption case should embarrass us into taking action.
TEXAS HOUSERS BLOG : June 22, 2009
: By John Henneberger _____________________
Fort Worth housing fund crisis shows need for more public oversight.
TEXAS HOUSERS BLOG : June 23, 2009 : By John
Henneberger ___________________________________________________
Timely Demise -- Legislature decides to let 'builder protection agency' die.
THE EXAMINER - the independent voice of Southeast
Texas : May 30, 2009 : By James Shannon _______________________________________
Moment of triumph for whistle-blower takes a tragic turn -- Woman, whose fight for housing repair revealed government waste,
dies in her home
HOUSTON CHRONICLE : December 28, 2008 : By Mike
Snyder _______________
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE : December 25, 2008 : By Mike
Snyder ___________________________________________________
TRCC: It's the Uneducated Consumers' Fault
THE TEXAS OBSERVER : September 23, 2008 @8:26 pm :
By Melissa DelBosque ___________________
"Let the Sun Set on TRCC (Texas Residential Construction Commission)
HOMEOWNERS FOR BETTER BUILDING (H.O.B.B.) : Sa. August
5, 2008 ___________________________________________________
HUD Repeatedly Dismissed Staff Concerns About Contracts
THE WASHINGTON POST pg. A-10 : Su. May 18, 2008 : By
Carol Leonnig ___________________________________________________
City's flood law drains land values dry - Many shocked to find out that city ordinance puts restrictions on their property
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE : October 25, 2007 : By
Mike Snyder _______________________________________
Revisiting the Trans-Texas Corridor
WAXAHACHIE DAILY LIGHT : October 20, 2007 : By Paul
D. Perry ____________________
Trans-Texas Corridor - Wikipedia
_______________________________________
Prosecutors detail evidence in Dallas City Hall corruption case
DALLAS MORNING NEWS : October 17, 2007 : By Rudolph
Bush ____________________
16 indicted in Dallas Corruption Case Federal indictment names 16 in Dallas City Hall Bribery & Extortion Case
ABC NEWS : October 10, 2007 : By Jeff Carlton ____________________
Probe into Corruption in Dallas Snares 16 Indictment names legislator, ex-councilman and former mayor pro-tem
HOUSTON CHRONICLE : October 01, 2007 : By Thomas
Korosec ___________________________________________________
Elderly woman accused of trying to run over neighbor
KILLEEN DAILY HERALD : October 11, 2007 : Associated
Press _______________________________________
Gimme Shelter - Tax Shelter-Funded Affordable Housing - a TPJ Project - "Watch Your Assets - exposing the misuse and abuse
of the Public Commons"
a TEXANS FOR PUBLIC JUSTICE Project: July 7, 2007 ___________________________________________________
Federal Prison Sentences Handed Down In San Antonio City Hall Corruption Case:
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT JOHNNY
SUTTON : March 30, 2005 _________________________
Austin collection agency sues S.A. law firm over alleged bribery
AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL : February 27, 2003 __________________
San Antonio City Council member go before grand jury
SAN ANTONIO ASSOCIATED PRESS - from the Reporter News, Texas
: Wednesday October 23, 2002 ____________________
TEXAS: Bribery Arrests
NEW YORK TIMES : October 11, 2002 ____________________
Bribery Probe Has New Orleans Ties -- City Hired Same Law Firm to Collect Delinquent Property Taxes
SAN ANTONIO NEWS KSAT : October 10, 2002 __________________
Two San Antonio councilmen arrested by FBI
SAN ANTONIO ASSOCIATED PRESS - from the Reporter News,
Texas : October 10, 2002 : By T.A. Badger ___________________________________________________
The Deal of a Lifetime - Did a State Housing Agency Board Member Conspire to Profit from Contracts she helped approve?
THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE : November 3, 2000 : By Kevin Fullerton ____________________
Bush Housing Agency Appointee Convicted; Grand Jury Investigations said to continue
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE MAGAZINE : HOUSTON November
2, 2000 ___________________________________________________
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NATIONAL: __________________________________
Looting Main Street: How the nation's biggest banks are ripping off American cities with the same predatory deals that brought
down Greece.
ROLLINGSTONE : March 31, 2010
: By Matt Taibbi ______________________________
California may lose $93 million federal home weatherization grant
McCLATCHY NEWS : Wed February 3, 2010 : By Joe Ortiz
_______________________________________
Ex-security head in D.C.'s Chief Technology Office pleads guilty in bribe case.
Washington Post Staff Writer :
Sat. Dec. 19, 2009 : By Del Quentin Wilber ________________________________________
"Judge's Frustration Grows With Mortgage Servicers"
THE NEW YORK TIMES : September 3, 2009
: By John Collins Rudolph
_________________________________________
"Is It Now a Crime to Be Poor?"
NEW YORK TIMES : Saturday August 8, 2009 :
By Barbara Ehrenreich ___________________________________________
"Obama's Plan to Protect Homeowners Is a Bust -- Why was the industry allowed to police itself?"
ALTERNET : August 7, 2009 : By Zach
Carter ____________________________________________
44 Charged by U.S. in New Jersey Corruption Sweep
NEW YORK TIMES : July 23, 2009 :
By David M. Halfbinger ____________________________________________
End of an era in Vernon: Son of founding family resigns.
L.A. TIMES : June 10, 2009 :
By Hector Becerra ________________________
A steep fall for patriarch of tiny, industrial Vernon -- Leonis Malburg was mayor...city is suing him, seeking to retrieve
money it paid for his legal fees in a voter fraud case.
L.A. TIMES : May 29, 2009 :
By Hector Becerra __________________________________
3 Temple City figures indicted in corruption case.
L.A. TIMES : June 11, 2009 : By
Victoria Kim __________________________________
The Fed Did Indeed Cause the Housing Bubble.
SOLARI : March 11, 2009 : By Catherine Austin Fitts __________________________________________
Susette Kelo's revenge -- New London regrets eminent domain fiasco.
EXAMINER : March 10, 2009 __________________________________
Release of Memos Fuels Push for Inquiry Into Bushs Terror-Fighting Policies
THE NEW YORK TIMES : March 3, 2009 : By Charlie Savage
and Neil A. Lewis ____________________________________________
Obama to watch cities' stimulus spending -- President Tells a Gathering of Mayors That He Will Hold Them ACCOUNTABLE for Money
Being Wasted
WASHINGTON POST : Saturday, February 21, 2009; Page
A01 : By Michael D. Shear (Staff writers Dan Eggen and Spencer S. Hsu contributed) _____________________
Obama didn't call Austin out by name, but...
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, City Beat : Friday February
20, 2009 : By Marty Toohey __________________________________
Inauguration Day Is Time to Move On
TRUTHOUT : Saturday January 17, 2009 : By Michael
Winship
__________________________________
FORCED OUT: An investigation Into Casualties of the District's Real Estate Boom. BUILDING ON BROKEN PROMISES: D.C. Developer's
Projects Marred by Unchecked Spending and Dubious Deals.
WASHINGTON POST : Sunday December 07, 2008 :
By Debbie Cenziper ________________
The Tragedy of HR Crawford
WASHINGTON POST : December 08, 2008 : By Marc
Fisher _____________________________________________
Obama Team Is Warned That HUD Needs Work
THE WASHINGTON POST : November 20, 2008 :Page
A02 : Washington Post Staff Writer __________________________________
Cisneros helped build flawed American dream -- Former housing secretary still proud of his work but has misgivings over what
his passion has wrought.
THE NEW YORK TIMES : October 19, 2008 : By David
Streitfeld & Gretchen Morgenson _____________________________________________
U.S. Raids New Orleans Agency in Scandal Over a Housing Cleanup Program
THE NEW YORK TIMES : August 11, 2008 : By Adam
Nossiter __________________________________
Reporter's Notebook: On the Border
PBS NOW : August 15, 2008 : By Maria Hinojosa _______________
Transcript: The Border Fence
PBS NOW : August 15, 2008 : Hosted by David Brancaccio and Maria Hinojosa : guest reporter Melissa Del
Bosque _______________
Against the Wall: Not even federal law can keep Bush's fence from ripping through natural areas along the Rio Grande.
THE TEXAS OBSERVER : June 27, 2008 : By Melissa
Del Bosque _______________
Holes in the Wall: Homeland Security won't say why the border wall is bypassing the wealthy and politically connected.
THE TEXAS OBSERVER : February 22, 2008 : By Melissa
Del Bosque __________________________________
Why Reverend Edward Pinkney is so Important to Black America - Keeping it Real
BLACK COMMENTATOR : June 5, 2008 - Issue 279 : By Larry
Pinkney ________________
Reverend Pinkney Jailed For Exercising Free Speech
BLACK COMMENTATOR : December 20, 2007 - Issue
#258 : By David A. Love, JD & Larry Pinkney ___________________________________
Inspector General looks into HUD Secretary's comments about rejecting anti-Bush contractor
WASHINGTON AP / SIOUX CITY JOURNAL.COM : May 10, 2008 ____________________
Top U.S. Housing Official Resigns
THE NEW YORK TIMES : March 31, 2008 : By Rachel L.
Swarns ____________________
Dallas' Alphonso Jackson Resigning as HUD Chief
DALLAS MORNING NEWS & AUSTIN KVUE : March 31, 2008 :
By Todd J. Gillman t.gillman@dallasmorningnews.com ____________________
HUD Secretary Jackson Resigns Amid Allegations of Cronyism
CQ POLITICS :March 31, 2008 _____________________________________________
Henry Cisneros on the hot seat
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS : February 17, 2008 : By Jennifer
Hiller _____________________________________________
Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping In to Help Consumers
WASHINGTON POST : Thursday February 14, 2008 p. A25
: By Eliot Spitzer ___________________________________________
Land Grab case in Boulder incites anger and protests
BOINGBOING : November 21, 2007 : By Mark Frauenfelder _____________________________________________
Investors want to acquire large public assets. Here is why that's a bad idea:
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE : November 10, 2007 : By
Michael Olivas __________________________________
Testimony of Lori Wallach at Congressional Hearing on Protecting Children from Lead-Tainted Imports
PUBLIC CITIZEN : September 20, 2007 ____________________________________________
Grand Jury indicts former Newark mayor
USA TODAY : July 12, 2007 : By Janet Frankston Lorin
AP Press Writer _____________________________________________
HUD Chief: Right list leads to government cash
DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL : May 13, 2006 : By Christine Perez
and Chad Eric Watt ____________________
HUD chief denies spiking Bush critic's contract
CNN INTERNATIONAL.com : May 10, 2006 or May 11, 2006 _____________________________________________
IMPROPRIETIES IN
AWARD OF MILLIONS IN LEAD SAFETY:
HUD Inspector General Is Investigating Questionable Lead Paint and Healthy Homes Grantmaking Process
ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY HOMES Media Advisory :
April 28, 2005 ____________
Request for Investigation Regarding the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) HUD Grant awards for FY2004
ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY HOMES : October 7, 2004 : Don
Ryan Executive Director __________________________________
Who is Guarding the HUD Guards?
INSIGHT MAGAZINE : March 03, 2003 : By Martin Edwin
Andersen
____________________________________________
North Carolina Supreme Court Allows Homeowners to Sue for Negligent Building Inspection
HOWREY - Construction Weblinks
: September 24, 2001 : Howrey LLP ___________________________________________
Why is $59 Billion Missing from HUD?
INSIGHT MAG.com : October 14, 2000 : Kelly Patricia
OMeara _____________________________________________
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