Mailbox Blues
I didn’t want to get up at 4 am yesterday to watch the U.S. Women’s soccer team on the flatscreen. I got up instead at 5 am to watch the second half, extra time, and penalty shootout. I am not knowledgeable enough on this sport to second guess the strategy. We had our opportunities for sure.
_____
Commentary uses the post office on W. 18th Street, 77008. The featured photo is the mailbox at that post office that hasn’t been used in months. It was initially wrapped in plastic and now the elements have taken a toll. It looks like the mailbox blues. Why don’t they just remove it. Do they need congressional approval to dismantle the thing. If folks can’t use it, why are they letting it serve as an eyesore. Have a little pride in your workplace. Sigh.
_____
Another change is coming to HISD. See this from the Chron:
The Houston ISD administration is seeking to increase the minimum purchasing threshold that requires board approval by twentyfold, a move that would allow state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles to spend up to $2 million at his discretion.
Under current policy, any district purchase of at least $100,000 requires approval from the school board. Miles asked during the board’s work session meeting Thursday to increase the limit to $2 million so the district can be faster and more efficient with its purchases.
And this:
Board member Rolando Martinez said he thought the current $100,000 threshold was too low and that the district needed to become more efficient. However, he said he thought the district could find a “happy middle” between $100,000 and $2 million, citing community concerns and past “inappropriate” financial decisions.
Board member Ric Campo said it was “silly” to think that every board member would understand every contract, and the board shouldn’t be “second guessing” the superintendent and his team unless they fail to meet their stated goals.
Campo said the proposed changes were about making the district more efficient so it can deliver better and faster services to students, and a threshold below $2 million would be “handcuffing” the administration.
“We should have the best internal controls or more, and we should have the best internal audit,” Campo said. “At the end of the day, somebody still can steal money from HISD if they wanted to, because you can’t stop complicit fraud ever.”
Here is the entire read: HISD seeks to make purchases under $2M without school board approval (houstonchronicle.com).
Ric Campo is the Chair of the Port Commission over at the Port of Houston Authority. I wonder if the Port can spend up to $2 million without approval of the Port Commissioners. Just wondering.
On a related note, the Houston Landing has a story on the HISD Board of Managers after being on the job for two months and Charles Kuffner has his take here: So what exactly is the role of the Board of Managers? – Off the Kuff.
It is pretty clear that the new superintendent is shaking things up and has a lot of folks freaked out including the H-Town Mayor. You know what though? Kids don’t report to school at HISD for another couple of weeks. Commentary is going to wait until kids return to class and see how they are being taught. I think my approach is the most reasonable.
_____
Mike Trout is 32 today. Happy Birthday, Mike! Trout has 368 career dingers. 29 against Astros pitchers. He is considered among the best if not the best in the game today. He has only played in 3 playoff games and lost all three. Think about that.
_____
We split four games in the Bronx this past weekend. Jake Meyers had two three-run dingers yesterday.
The Astros will be at the White House today. I am sure the local congressional delegation will be there. I hope they don’t invite Cancun Cruz. I wonder if any other H-Town locals have been invited. I will watch it live on the flatscreen today around noon.
