CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
SEPTEMBER 1
Mom and Nana... Dear Friends, We are Carroll G. Robinson’s Mother and Mother-In-Law and we are writing together to ask you to elect Carroll Houston City Controller. Carroll doesn’t come from a family with a lot of money but he was raised to understand, respect and appreciate the value of hard work and a hard earned dollar. During these tough times, Houston needs a City Controller who understands your needs. As senior citizens, we understand having to choose between paying for medicine and food or paying our water and utility bills. Carroll understands this too. That is why he has asked the City to refund your money from the illegal Drainage Fee. As City Controller, Carroll will keep you informed and protect your money. Recently, Texas Law changed for seniors voting by mail. Now you have to request your mail ballot every time you vote. This is another reason we are writing you. The first day to request your ballot by mail is September 4, 2015. We hope you take advantage of this and vote to elect Carroll City Controller. To request your ballot by mail, please contact Harris County at 713-755-6965 or mail your request to: Stan Stanart, Harris County Clerk, Attn: Elections Division, P.O. Box 1148, Houston, Texas 77251-1148. Election Day is November 3, 2015 and early voting, in person, begins October 19-30. We hope this information has been helpful. Remember to cast your vote for Carroll G. Robinson for City Controller. Sincerely,
Thelma V. Robinson Mother
Mary L. Kirkland Mother-In-Law
AUGUST 21
ZEPH CAPO ENDORSES CARROLL G. ROBINSON FOR HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER
Houston, TX - I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, August 8, 2015, Zeph Capo, Chairman of the Board of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and President of the Houston Federation of Teachers, officially endorsed our campaign for City Controller. “Carroll is not only a personal friend, he is an effective public servant with a record of achievement, a supporter of education, a friend of labor and someone committed to ending all forms of discrimination in our community. I am honored to support Carroll G. Robinson for City Controller,” Capo said. “Carroll understands the numbers, but more importantly he understands that there are real people who need real help behind the numbers,” Capo further stated. Carroll is committed to making the Controller’s Office The Solution Center of City Government. “Zeph’s endorsement of our campaign speaks to all the work I have done to make sure that all Houstonians have a seat at the table and are protected and respected,” said Carroll. “I know that it is the taxpayers’ money and will work hard to make sure it is not wasted and that we modernize city government to make it more cost effective and efficient. I look forward to working with all Houstonians to make our City greater,” added Robinson.
JULY 21
Houston Is An International City
Dear Friends and Neighbors: Please join me in supporting and electing my friend and former law school professor, Carroll G. Robinson, Houston City Controller. As a woman business owner and entrepreneur, I support Carroll based on experience, expertise and qualifications. Carroll is a former Chair of a local Chamber of Commerce and is a former At-Large City Council Member who has served on the Board of Directors of numerous community organizations. Houston is a great city and needs a leaders like Carroll who can - and will - represent all Houstonians. Houston is an international city and Carroll is an international Houstonian, a naturalized United States citizen, who knows, based on personal experience, the importance of family and faith, the power of a good education and access to economic opportunity as foundational for prosperity beyond just a pay check. Together, let’s elect Carroll G. Robinson Houston City Controller. Sincerely, Andrea Trinh La
JULY 16
A TEN-YEAR GENERAL FUND REVENUE FORECAST: FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2017-2026*
Introduction Among the legal responsibilities of the City Controller is setting the city’s annual revenue estimate and determining whether the money is or will be available to pay for the items on the weekly City Council Agenda. Consistent with the Controller’s legal responsibilities and my commitment to making the Controller’s Office The Solution Center of City Government, I am releasing this Ten Year General Fund Revenue Forecast (FY2017-2026) to encourage a broader, more detailed and substantive discussion on how we fix the city budget, pay down our unfunded pension liability debt and pay to fix our streets-sidewalks-and drainage infrastructure faster and better-now-while preparing for the future. For me, ideas matter. The best solutions come from an open process of dialogue and debate. Data is a tool to be used to help move us from possible closer to what is probable. This ten-year forecast should be treated like open source software. It is intended to be reviewed, critiqued and commented on in order to help improve the city’s revenue forecasting process and model based on greater transparency and public participation and input. Methodology This forecast was built on a ten-year “look back” comparison of city data from three projected revenue and debt forecast reports (2011, 2012, and 2014) versus actual revenue collected in the General Fund for FY2006-FY2015. The data can be found on the City of Houston website (houstontx.gov) under the government link to the Mayor and Controller’s Office. Professor Barton Smith has said that the strength of the Houston economy is built on three pillars: first, the price of oil and gas; second, the strength of the national economy, and third, trade/export through the Port of Houston and the value of the dollar. These factors along with future demographic trends, local high school and college graduation rates, possible action by the Federal Reserve Bank’s Federal Open Market Committee on interest rates, likely international trade agreements, unrest in the Middle East and the growing development of the so-called “sharing economy” and its impact on local government revenue were among the considerations in the development of the Ten Year General Fund Revenue Forecast. Ten Year Forecast Assumptions A. 3.6% annual rate of growth, year over year, in Property Tax Revenue. B. Sales tax collections levels out over coming years remaining relatively flat (stagnate) with a potential marginal decrease over the ten (10) year window. C. 2% rate of growth, year over year, in the eleven (11) other General Fund Revenue Categories. D. The price of oil per barrel stabilizes within a $50 to $60 range for the next five years on issues in the Middle East and demand from China.
JULY 16
A TEN-YEAR GENERAL FUND REVENUE FORECAST: FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2017-2026* E. No lost of major employers, area High School and college graduation rates increase, Greater Houston Partnership’s Upscale Houston Initiative works and The Medical Center makes progress on implementing its Master Plan. F. The city’s population continues to grow at about 1.2% annually – 25,000 new residents – and that as interest rates increase inflation over the next ten (10) years annually will remain in the range of 1.5% to 2% depending on the value of the dollar and foreign currency and trade issues. The forecast is laid out in six sections: First, the ten-year “look back”, Second, a reproduction of the 2011 and 2012 long-range revenue and debt forecast reports, Third, a deviation analysis of actual revenue versus the projected revenue and debt forecast reports, Fourth, twelve revenue scenarios based on actual revenue into the general fund in 2006-2015 based on the high, low, average and median amount collected by revenue category, Fifth, a statistical analytics and validity review, and Sixth, the actual Ten Year General Fund forecast. Conclusion The final forecast numbers (Section VI) are moderately conservative and based on economic circumstances could reasonably be subjected to an upward revision of two to four percent and still comply with the City’s Rev Cap requirements in the out years depending on inflation, population growth and future construction and development in the city outside of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs). The forecast numbers are a little more conservative based on the idea of “hope for the best but plan for the worst.” My numbers anticipate slow economic growth and are tempered by the experience of “The Great Recession.” Additionally, if my proposal to legalize casino gaming in Houston is implemented it would help generate an increase in sales tax revenue in the second five year window of the ten year forecast, if not sooner, depending on how quickly the proposal was approved and implemented. Carroll G. Robinson
A TEN-YEAR GENERAL FUND REVENUE FORECAST: FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2017-2026*
This project, in an addition to, the other specific proposals I have put forth, establishes the foundation needed for the City Controller’s Office, under my leadership, to be the “Taxpayer’s Voice at City Hall,” and “The Solution Center of City Government.” I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas. Please send them to me at Robinsonforhouston@gmail.com. Together, We Can Make Houston Greater. *This forecast was produced with the assistance of Clint Lister and Paul Young. Sincerely,
Carroll G. Robinson
JULY 14
20 Years Later???? Dear Friends & Neighbors: City government is not working good enough for all of us-and our neighborhoods-because too many people at City Hall are too focused on the wrong things. Our streets are falling apart, crimes are not being investigated, the drainage fee is not working and is being collected illegally and all our neighborhoods are not getting a fair share of infrastructure funding to fix their streets, parks and flooding problems. Instead of better prioritizing how they spend and invest the billions of dollars in taxes and fees already being paid to city hall, too many people in city government are focused on figuring out ways to raise our property tax rate. That is the wrong focus. The city needs to fix the drainage fee and put it back on the November election ballot for proper voter approval. The fix should allow for the use of bonds so that more funding will be available sooner to build and repair more streets and drainage projects better and faster. Our neighborhoods can’t wait twenty (20) years for better streets and better flood control protection. Having to wait twenty (20) years for better streets and flood control protection is unfair and makes no sense. Our streets are falling apart now and in twenty (20) years the damage will be even worse. Our homes and businesses are flooding now and in twenty years it will be worse. These problems need to be addressed sooner rather than later and the voters have to be trusted to be a part of the solution. You can’t claim to want to represent the people but be afraid to let them vote at the ballot box on proposed solutions that don’t involve raising our property tax rate. The city can generate more revenue without raising our property tax rate. We can legalize casino gaming in Houston and collect some of the billions of dollars a year now going to illegal gaming rooms and out of state casinos. Legalizing casinos will also help reduce the crime caused by illegal gaming rooms.Carroll G. Robinson
JULY 14
20 YEARS LATER????
The city can also create a citywide Public Safety District to secure dedicated funding to hire more police officers, fire fighters and to help pay down the unfunded pension liability debt owed all three city pension funds. Finally, if we fix our broken water pipes and sell the water we save, the city would have hundreds of millions more in revenue to help fund the Capital Improvement Plan. The sky is not falling in Houston, we are not Detroit, we can fix our city budget, fix our streets better and faster, better protect Houstonians-our homes and businesses also-and modernize and restructure city government to make it more effective and cost efficient. Together, we can do these things. We just have to Prioritize, Focus, and be Bold and Innovative.
Carroll G. Robinson
JULY 14
20 Years Later???? Dear Friends & Neighbors: City government is not working good enough for all of us-and our neighborhoods-because too many people at City Hall are too focused on the wrong things. Our streets are falling apart, crimes are not being investigated, the drainage fee is not working and is being collected illegally and all our neighborhoods are not getting a fair share of infrastructure funding to fix their streets, parks and flooding problems. Instead of better prioritizing how they spend and invest the billions of dollars in taxes and fees already being paid to city hall, too many people in city government are focused on figuring out ways to raise our property tax rate. That is the wrong focus. The city needs to fix the drainage fee and put it back on the November election ballot for proper voter approval. The fix should allow for the use of bonds so that more funding will be available sooner to build and repair more streets and drainage projects better and faster. Our neighborhoods can’t wait twenty (20) years for better streets and better flood control protection. Having to wait twenty (20) years for better streets and flood control protection is unfair and makes no sense. Our streets are falling apart now and in twenty (20) years the damage will be even worse. Our homes and businesses are flooding now and in twenty years it will be worse. These problems need to be addressed sooner rather than later and the voters have to be trusted to be a part of the solution. You can’t claim to want to represent the people but be afraid to let them vote at the ballot box on proposed solutions that don’t involve raising our property tax rate. The city can generate more revenue without raising our property tax rate. We can legalize casino gaming in Houston and collect some of the billions of dollars a year now going to illegal gaming rooms and out of state casinos. Legalizing casinos will also help reduce the crime caused by illegal gaming rooms.Carroll G. Robinson
JULY 14
20 YEARS LATER????
The city can also create a citywide Public Safety District to secure dedicated funding to hire more police officers, fire fighters and to help pay down the unfunded pension liability debt owed all three city pension funds. Finally, if we fix our broken water pipes and sell the water we save, the city would have hundreds of millions more in revenue to help fund the Capital Improvement Plan. The sky is not falling in Houston, we are not Detroit, we can fix our city budget, fix our streets better and faster, better protect Houstonians-our homes and businesses also-and modernize and restructure city government to make it more effective and cost efficient. Together, we can do these things. We just have to Prioritize, Focus, and be Bold and Innovative.
Carroll G. Robinson
JULY 8
Another Solution
In a joint 2014 editorial with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (America’s Urban Water Crisis), Mayor Annise Parker confirmed that the City of Houston lost 22 billion gallons of water in 2013 due to water leaks. To attempt to quantify what that loss means to the City in terms of opportunity cost, a quick analysis is run below that does not factor in future water rate increases considering the City has raised rates during the preceding five years. To cover increasing costs, water and sewer rates are adjusted each year in April. In 2015, this rate adjustment is based on the Houston Regional CPI and the US census change in population. The rate change for 2015 equals to 4.4% over the 2014 rates. Rate increases this decade have been in the amount of: April 2011 - 1.9% April 2012 - 3.3% April 2013 - 3.6% April 2014 - 1.2% April 2015 - 4.4% For the year 2015, the City of Houston charges a rate (both basic and volume) for the first 6,000 gallons of $31.97, then its $4.93 per each additional 1,000 gallons, making it a rate of 0.493c or $0.00493 per gallon. Investing in fixing the pipe leaks (say within 5 years) and selling the 22 billion gallons lost for a fraction of the retail rate ($0.00295/gallon) would generate an additional $65 million annually from new external customers (Industrial and Municipal users). Earmarking that money towards repayment on a 20 year bond provides the City with the ability to secure a credit facility of $550 million that could immediately be put to use today. Rather than hoping the federal government will act to invest in water infrastructure, the City can act today to begin the process of putting its infrastructure on solid footing going into the next 50 years.
JULY 8
Another Solution Here’s how the numbers breakdown. 22 billion gallons (2013 loss) X $0.00295 = $64.9 million (revenue opportunity loss) Let’s assume an 80% resale capture rate... $64,900,000 X 80% = $51,920,000 (applicable towards annual debt service) $51,920,000 / Combined Utility Services Rate Covenant 150% = $34.61 million Assuming a 20 year term with level payments, the $34.61 million can support $445 million in bonds... Suggested Proposal The city should: - Conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine repair needs and degree of urgency by building an infrastructure database that expands on the city’s current GIS database - Forecast an aggressive repair schedule based on availability of contractors and the labor force - Determine a realistic cost estimate for the repairs on an aggressive project schedule (i.e. 10 years as opposed to the 15 years remaining with Rebuild Houston) - Sync up the proposed repairs to the current CIP (capital improvements program), incorporating all City/TIRZ/MUD projects into the same database (essentially GIS map layers), and setting a standard for infrastructural improvements including coordination of projects and accelerating neighborhood redevelopment efforts (build sidewalks and put in other infrastructure to accommodate affordable housing development in target areas) - Issue bonds on a schedule that corresponds with the city’s ability to complete the repairs (Note: there is the possibility of combining with a yet to be approved Rebuild Houston 2.0. or if this could replace Rebuild Houston, particularly if Council moves to approve a drainage fee administratively) the plans from day one. (Note: It is acknowledged that the City of Houston’s borrowing rate and terms can be considerably more generous than the assumptions made above, so the numbers applied are just to illustrate a conservative outlook of the suggested proposal. Further the money saved from ongoing operations and maintenance could be applied towards a pay-as-you-go process in tandem.)
JULY 8
Another Solution This analysis was prepared with the assistance of several financial experts and advisors to our campaign. I look forward to hearing your comments and ideas. Thank you. Sincerely,
Carroll G. Robinson
JULY 4
Happy 4th of July!!! Dear Friends and Supporters: This is Mikita Robinson wishing you a Happy Fourth of July! Faith, Family, Freedom and Fiscal Responsibility are the values that our family lives by. They are also the values our nation was built on. On this Fourth of July, we ask that you be safe and celebrate the freedom we have as Americans. As we celebrate our freedom, let’s remember to say a prayer for those who have sacrificed for us to remain free. Mikita Robinson Chair, Women for Robinson
JUNE 30
ICYMI: The Solution Center of City Government Friends and Supporters: We started this journey together with one goal, Making Houston Greater! Because of your continued support and confidence in our campaign, we have received the support of: Former Councilmembers Hon. Ada Edwards, Hon. Carol Mims-Galloway, Hon. Jarvis Johnson, Hon. Bert Keller, State Representatives Senfronia Thompson, Borris Miles, and Ron Reynolds. Business Leaders Fred Zeidman, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, Edgar Colon and Welcome Wilson, Sr. Ft. Bend Leaders Constable Ruben Davis, Councilwoman Yolanda Ford, County Commissioner Grady Prestage. School Board Members Ann Joseph-Williams (Alief ISD), Joe Stephens (Galena Park) and Jim Rice (FBISD) We have gone to all corners of our great city with a positive message and solutions for fixing our problems. Fixing potholes faster and better, Legalizing Casino Gaming to increase sales tax revenue to help reduce our property taxes, and connecting our airports to the Light Rail System. Carroll’s ideas are neither Republican nor Democrat. They are common-sense solutions that are cost effective and efficient. Houstonians know that there are better ways to solve our city’s problems without using the same old stale ideas. That is why, everyday, more and more Houstonians are supporting Carroll G. Robinson for City Controller. Please take a moment to help us cross the finish line by donating $5, $15, $25 or $50. We can solve the problems facing our city, if we work together and focus on substantive solutions. Together, We can make the City Controller’s Office The Solution Center of City Government. It can’t be done by one person. It will take more than a Mayor to move our city forward. Let’s elect Carroll G. Robinson City Controller! Justin R. Jordan Campaign Manager
JUNE 30
Carroll’s Solutions To Solving Our Traffic Problems -I support Metro improving and expanding its bus routes and fleet. -The City needs to lead the effort to build a computer database to better coordinate the timing of local construction projects by the city, county and TXDOT to reduce their impact on traffic. -More street construction should be done over night and there should be incentives for contractors to finish construction faster than scheduled. -Builders should not be allowed to block a lane of traffic during morning or evening rush hour(s). -Our community needs commuter rail and we need to work with local businesses to schedule more truck deliveries overnight to help reduce truck traffic on local streets and highways. -Finally, we need to expand our light rail system in the most cost effective manner possible.
Carroll G. Robinson
JUNE 30
The Solution Center https://gallery.mailchimp.com/d9db857db754fc33f197ddc11/images/f45dac25-aa92-4ba6-82ba-
Friends and Supporters:
We started this journey together with one goal, Making Houston Greater! Because of your continued support and confidence in our campaign, we have received the support of: Former Councilmembers Hon. Ada Edwards, Hon. Carol Mims-Galloway, Hon. Jarvis Johnson, Hon. Bert Keller, State Representatives Senfronia Thompson, Borris Miles, and Ron Reynolds. Business Leaders Fred Zeidman, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, Edgar Colon and Welcome Wilson, Sr. Ft. Bend Leaders Constable Ruben Davis, Councilwoman Yolanda Ford, County Commissioner Grady Prestage. School Board Members Ann Joseph-Williams (Alief ISD), Joe Stephens (Galena Park) and Jim Rice (FBISD) We have gone to all corners of our great city with a positive message and solutions for fixing our problems. Fixing potholes faster and better, Legalizing Casino Gaming to increase sales tax revenue to help reduce our property taxes, and connecting our airports to the Light Rail System. Carroll’s ideas are neither Republican nor Democrat. They are common-sense solutions that are cost effective and efficient. Houstonians know that there are better ways to solve our city’s problems without using the same old stale ideas. That is why, everyday, more and more Houstonians are supporting Carroll G. Robinson for City Controller. Please take a moment to help us cross the finish line by donating $5, $15, $25 or $50. We can solve the problems facing our city, if we work together and focus on substantive solutions. Together, We can make the City Controller’s Office The Solution Center of City Government. It can’t be done by one person. It will take more than a Mayor to move our city forward. Let’s elect Carroll G. Robinson City Controller! Justin R. Jordan Campaign Manager
JUNE 30
Carroll’s Solutions To Solving Our Traffic Problems -I support Metro improving and expanding its bus routes and fleet. -The City needs to lead the effort to build a computer database to better coordinate the timing of local construction projects by the city, county and TXDOT to reduce their impact on traffic. -More street construction should be done over night and there should be incentives for contractors to finish construction faster than scheduled. -Builders should not be allowed to block a lane of traffic during morning or evening rush hour(s). -Our community needs commuter rail and we need to work with local businesses to schedule more truck deliveries overnight to help reduce truck traffic on local streets and highways. -Finally, we need to expand our light rail system in the most cost effective manner possible.
Carroll G. Robinson
JUNE 30
As you sow, so shall ye reap..... Dear Faith & Community Leaders, Today, I am writing to personally ask you to support Carroll G. Robinson for Houston City Controller. Carroll is a member of my family, and a person of faith committed to the principles of caring for the least fortunate in our communities. Carroll is a former At-Large Houston City Council Member who served on the city’s Fiscal Affairs Committee and was Chairman of the Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. As a Community College Trustee, Carroll helped establish Texas Academic College Scholarship Day to help encourage more young people to stay in school and graduate from high school on time and college and workforce ready. Carroll is an active member of the community. Carroll is a champion of small business owners and low income Houstonians who need An Opportunity To Do Better for themselves and their families.
Pictured is Carroll G. Robinson standing along side Rev. Joseph Lowery, Congressman Artur Davis, myself, then Senator Barack Obama, Congressman John Lewis and others at Brown Chapel AME in Selma, Alabama at the 2007 commemoration of Bloody Sunday.
Carroll has fought to ensure that our children get access to a quality education. Carroll has fought to ensure those small businesses that have historically been denied a seat at the table get a fair shake and a level playing field. If you want someone who is not afraid to lead, and will stand up and speak out for what is right and just, support and elect Carroll G. Robinson Houston City Controller. If people of faith are unwilling to stand with leaders who are willing to stand up, speak out and fight for the things of importance to our community, then who will? Please stand with Carroll. To learn more about Carroll’s campaign, visit www.carrollgrobinson.com or contact Carroll directly at 832-863-8092. Thank you and God Bless. Sincerely, Bishop T. Larry Kirkland
JUNE 18
We Can Fix The Problems
Dear Friends, As City Controller, I am committed to helping lead our city through the tough financial decision-making that needs to occur to fix our city budget, pension funds and streets, better and faster. The city can and must generate more interest income from its investments through 1) better cash flow management, 2) portfolio restructuring and 3) negotiating better interest rates and return on investments (ROI) from financial institutions and investment vehicles. As the next City Controller, I will help lead an Invest In Houston Initiative in partnership with the city’s three pension funds and the two Metro pension funds like other major cities across the country are already doing. This effort will help strengthen our pension funds, while creating more jobs, economic development and growth in Houston. The Texas Supreme Court has recently ruled that the city has no legal basis/authority for collecting the drainage fee – the principal source of funding for street and drainage projects. I support the immediate suspension of the collection of the drainage fee and putting the issue on this November’s election ballot and refunding Houstonians the money that was illegally collected unless the voters retroactively authorize collection of the fee. Where do the other candidates for City Controller stand on this issue? Do they agree that the city should immediately stop collecting the drainage fee? If not, why do they disagree with the Texas Supreme Court? It’s time to stop wasting taxpayer money litigating this issue. It is also going to cost taxpayers more money if the issue is not on this November’s election ballot. I support the City’s Rev Cap and further lowering the annual increase in residential property valuation in order to help keep housing in Houston affordable for low income, working and middle-class Houstonians.
JUNE 18
We Can Fix The Problems Where do the other candidates for City Controller stand on these issues? The City has twelve revenue streams that fund the General Fund. We can’t simply rely on rising property valuation to fund the operation of the City. As we should have all learned from the “Great Recession”, housing prices/valuations can and will go down again. Let’s all learn from recent experience. We can fix the City’s pension funds and hire more police officers and firefighters. I support generating more sales tax revenue for Houston by having the City utilize its “HomeRule” authority to legalize casino style gaming in Houston. We should also work with Galveston to get gaming on the Island and connect Hobby Airport to our light rail system. A casino should be built near the old Astroworld/Reliant Park area with no more than two other licenses awarded. Millions of dollars in sales tax revenue are already leaving our city for casinos in Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Las Vegas. (If we are going to have a Hire Houston First program, why not also have a Spend Your Money in Houston First Attraction?
Illegal gaming rooms in Houston are already generating hundreds of millions of dollars per year in revenue that goes untaxed while taxpayers are paying for police officers to fight crime generated by these establishments. Increased sales tax revenue from legalizing casino gaming in Houston should be used to hire more police officers, firefighters and to help pay down the unfunded pension liability debt. If not legalizing casino style gaming in Houston, than what do we do to fund hiring more police officers, firefighters and paying down the unfunded pension liability?
JUNE 18
We Can Fix The Problems -I would support working with the city’s 25 TIRZs to find the $25 million dollars a year to fund HPD Chief McClelland’s plan for hiring more police. We could also consider creating a citywide Public Safety TIRZ to recapture a portion of future property and/or sales tax increases in revenue to fund hiring more police officers, firefighters and to help pay down the unfunded pension liability debt. More revenue alone will not be enough to: Fix Our Streets Better & Faster Fix the City Budget Fix the City Pension Funds; or Modernize City Government In addition to the above ideas, we will have to modernize and restructure city government to empower city employees to be more innovative and entrepreneurial while making the City more cost-effective and efficient. City employees and Houstonians should be provided incentives to help generate cost saving ideas. All of us working together can make a greater impact than the old model of City Hall going it alone to fix the problems facing our City. (See Thomas Friedman, Calling All Luddites, The New York Times, August 3, 2005, for an example of the new model of citizens and City Hall working together. It is the foundation for my call to modernize city government.) We need a new mindset at City Hall and we need to better educate and inform Houstonians about what it will really take to fix our City Houston is a great city, but we have work to do and tough decisions to make to make Houston Greater. I would like to hear your ideas. Sincerely,
Carroll G. Robinson
JUNE 4
Unlike the buffalo, City Council should not roam Dear Friends: 14 years ago then Councilmember Carroll G. Robinson proposed having Council meetings right in your neighborhoods. Fast-forward 14 years later and he is still advocating and fighting to modernize city government and make city government more efficient. As City Controller, Carroll G. Robinson plans to make Houston a shining example of how a large metropolis can best serve its constituency. The City Controller’s office should be The Solution Center of City Government. Houston is facing many challenges and we need a Controller who understands both the public and private sector. That is why I am supporting Carroll G. Robinson for City Controller. As a woman and business owner, I understand the importance of having someone like Carroll G. Robinson as our next City Controller. Carroll’s top priorities as City Controller will be: Protecting the taxpayer’s money. Modernizing city government to empower city employees to be more innovative, cost effective and efficient. Making the Controller’s Office The Solution Center of City Government. Join me in supporting Carroll G. Robinson for City Controller. With your help we can make the City Controller’s office The Solution Center of City Government! Sincerely, Lina Sabouni Campaign Chair P.S. Tell us what you think. Should council change its charter to bring City Government to our neighborhoods?
JUNE 4
Unlike the buffalo, City Council should not roam Houston Chronicle Editorial June 30, 2001 Councilman Carroll G. Robinson has proposed that Houston’s city charter be changed to allow City Council to hold meetings away from City Hall. While the change might not harm anyone, its disadvantages would outnumber its benefits. Robinson writes in a press release: “Houstonians should be able to attend City Council meetings in their own neighborhoods so that they can more conveniently share their concerns and visit with all their elected representatives at once to discuss issues relating to public health, fiscal responsibility, managing city government, neighborhood empowerment, mobility, clean air, flood control and drainage projects, parks and libraries and various other issues.�
JUNE 4
Unlike the buffalo, City Council should not roam Houston Chronicle Editorial June 30, 2001 Councilman Carroll G. Robinson has proposed that Houston’s city charter be changed to allow City Council to hold meetings away from City Hall. While the change might not harm anyone, its disadvantages would outnumber its benefits. Robinson writes in a press release: “Houstonians should be able to attend City Council meetings in their own neighborhoods so that they can more conveniently share their concerns and visit with all their elected representatives at once to discuss issues relating to public health, fiscal responsibility, managing city government, neighborhood empowerment, mobility, clean air, flood control and drainage projects, parks and libraries and various other issues.” Holding council meetings in neighborhoods would be convenient for those who live nearby but inconvenient for those who don’t. The council chamber at City Hall is centrally located, served by most bus routes and already wired for television coverage on the access cable channel. Citizens who wish to speak to council can sign up to speak at any Tuesday afternoon council meeting at City Hall. There they will be roundly ignored by most council members, who will find they must talk to aides, make phone calls or otherwise pay little attention to the citizen’s concerns. When council scheduled some of its meetings in the evening to accommodate two members on trial for taking envelopes of cash from undercover FBI agents, public attendance did not rise appreciably. If council had the ability to move the time and location of its meetings at will, it could use its latitude to thwart public scrutiny, leaving most Houstonians uncertain as to where to go, or when. Every member of council, including Carroll Robinson, should already realize that every concerned citizen wants cleaner air, swifter mobility, a safer city, better parks and libraries, and city services of the highest quality, all at no additional cost to taxpayers. Council should concentrate on giving Houstonians those things, rather than worrying about where it should meet.