Memorandum
June 14, 2007
To: bill white, Mayor of the City of Houston c/o Steve Tinnermon
From: Charles X White
Subject: No Word – Theft by Ordinance
Cc. All Civic Club Presidents & mass distribution – Please email this memo to others
Steve Tinnermon, mayor white has unnecessarily framed a negative set of circumstances -- community verses government or David against Goliath or rich against poor. Having served the southeast community since 1985, as a life guard (67-69), pastor, director of a community center, school gang and drug interventionist, businessman, resident and community worker, I am compelled to address several points in your memo dated 6/14/07 to me and the African American community. First, I am going to address our concerns related to the duty aspects of this matter and the mayor; secondly, I will address your memo specifically. I am scripting this response in prayer and with reverence to all mighty GOD. My premise is based on matters limited to city business and activities directly related to situations thereof. This matter requires frankness on my part on behalf of the specific area of the city that I serve as well as my duty to humanity, best practices and common sense.
Steve Tinnermon, jobs are important to all of us and we are well aware of your intellectual capabilities however, you are being misused, humiliated and your integrity has been greatly comprised by the mayor and we really hate that for you. Your response dated 6/14/07 invoked by deepest heart felt sympathy for you as a black man and truly see your function rooted in the past practices operating under pre-reconstruction or pre-civil war era traditions. Your response created a 3-D view of how unethical the mayor is as a so-called ceo and so-called public servant. (Please seek Jesus)
We also think and feel that the mayor should be ashamed (?) using African American women too hide behind or do his biding as well. Conversely, we find it highly unethical and questionable for those African Americans elected or not, to allow their position to be used in a most viscous manner, willingly. We find it reprehensible and extremely bias that the mayor would not respond positively to a reasonable request to attend a community meeting hosted by the largest African American civic group in southeast. Discussing policies & ordinances with citizens is a basic function and duty of the person severing in the office of mayor.
We the people understand that this is a mayoral form of government and department heads do not enact policies or executive orders. As a matter of procedure we meet with the department heads twice a year or on a as need basis. Our request has been before the mayor for four-years to discuss matters directly related to the duty and authority of the office of the mayor not department heads.
We know that the mayor has demonstrated repeatedly an unhealthy bias when it comes to equity of service and representation in matters related to the African American community at large. We also know that mayor white uses whatever African American that he controls to keep the silent majority at rest.
We the people know that you (Steve Tinnermon) represent the mayor at the county auctions purchasing these so-called PROJECT HOPE lots in some cases driving up the prices of lots and making today’s elderly tomorrows homeless. (Can you say Third Ward no Midtown)
We the people know that the vulnerable populist are in harms way in terms of serving the need to evacuate special needs persons and persons with no transportation in the African American community. We also know that the city has received funding to address this need.
We do know that the mayor has failed to address outdated city ordinances that strangle civic group’s ability to enforce deed restrictions in many cases in the African American community. We also know that the mayor has not addressed the need to enforce various city ordinances that requires notification to civic groups of new businesses and permits before a business can receive a permit. We also understand that the real estate value makes Sunny Side/South Park prime property – Theft by Ordinance. (An chapter in my book you have a copy)
WE PRAY TO ALL MIGHTY GOD THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT PROFESS THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CIVIC RIGHTS STRUGGLE WAS ABOUT --- REMEMBER NAT TURNER, DENMARK VESEY, DR. CARTER G. WOODSON, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JESUS AND OTHERS THAT STOOD AND DIED TO BE THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS. A MAN CANNOT RIDE YOUR BACK IF YOU ARE STANDING STRIAGHT UP. BEING THE VOICE OF REASON TO AN UNREASONABLE ADMINISTRATION (mayor) could cost a person his or her job. Dictator management style operating in a democracy (?). Thank you for your time.
From: Tinnermon, Stephen - MYR
To: charityproductions@CHARITYPRODUCTIONS.COM;
Cc: Richard.Lapin@cityofhouston.net;
Subject: RE: meeting date
Date: 6/14/2007 12:33:00 PM
Charles,
It was unfortunate that you were unable to attend the meeting held with the civic associations you represent and several city department directors. As you know, departments represented included: Health, Public Works, Parks, Solid Waste, Planning and Development and Housing. The feedback I received from neighborhood participants is that the meeting was productive and the information shared was useful. NOT REQUESTED
With reference to your request that the Mayor attend a community meeting, I am informed that Council Member Ada Edwards will be hosting a community-wide town hall meeting GET A GRIP in the very near future. Mayor White will be in attendance GAME and will address the concerns of the civic associations you represent as well as any concerns of the many other community stakeholders. The town hall meeting will be held at the Willie Lee Gay Hall campus at a time and date to be announced shortly. I trust this satisfies your request. Thanks for your patience. STOP PLAYING AROUND WITH WORDS. We would have never agreed if we used a bias mind-set.
Steve,
1. Unfortunate for whom? – It was not unfortunate for us! – The civic associations that I work with (30 +) utilize the unified command style of management as well as common sense. Our reason for agreeing to attend that staged meeting that you requested with the departments heads was our way of hoping and having faith that you would be on the square this time. Para phrasing your words --- this would be a two step process to get the mayor to attend our requested community meeting. You consistently (misrepresent the facts and truth) lie as a matter of standard operating procedure. You know that many of us experienced this behaviour with you in the past in public.
2. The feedback that you received was not documented therefore your spoken word is not reliable with us. We were being cordial to you but your tricks are still present.
3. SO! You expect us to be happy with a meeting at a place that may hold two hundred people that you plan to put all two hundred people in seats. Using an African American woman as bait is a shame and you and the mayor should be ashamed for staging such a meeting!
4. THIS DOES NOT SATISFY OUR REQUEST! As you and the mayor are aware I host the largest community partnership breakfast in the city of Houston every ninety - days and have been for the past five-years. This breakfast forum addresses and informs citizens about issues and concerns related to service delivery and quality of life matters. Our average attendance is 475 people. January 25, 2007 we had 800 people and May 2007 we had 550 people. February 2007, I invited the mayor again to attend a community meeting and I would get 1,500 to 2,500 people to attend. In addition, I asked the mayor to bring the brightest and best from city hall and conduct a critical thinking problem solving discussion on improving service delivery in our area. If the mayor would spend as much time working with us as he does avoiding us he could address more of the peoples business instead of special interest groups business.
Steve, my commitment to service and humanity is based on need and my ability to serve regardless of race, creed, color or religion. There is a need in southeast Houston that has existed since 1956 or 51 years. My service started long before you or the mayor came to town and I will be here when you leave, GOD willing. My continuous contributions as a native Houstonian serving Houston causes for a life time like other citizens has earned us the right to voice our concerns. As a practicing believer in GOD and freedom of speech we expect the city leaders to have the common decency or sense of duty to honor our reasonable request after four-years of waiting. May GOD bless you and the mayor with the light of reason?