Austin The citizens of Houston won an upset victory today in their fight to stop the City from enacting a punitive water rate increase in violation of the 2004 Prop. 1 Charter change amendment.
David was on the field of battle again this morning and Goliath did not fare well" said Paul Bettencourt former Harris County Tax Assessor Collector.
The City was hoping for a quick win in a friendly out-of-town court. When the Attorney Generals Office appeared and intervened in the case along with Bruce Hotze and me the judge halted any City action for 30 days giving the people time to formulate a legal response to the Citys actions. The City was not prepared for this outcome."
The City of Houston went to extraordinary lengths to hide their legal actions from the citizens. They did not go to the courthouse in Houston but rather traveled over 150 miles to initiate legal action in Travis County. Their only possible motive was to conceal their dastardly acts from public view" said Bruce Hotze.
The citizens of Houston spoke clearly when they voted in 2004 to place a cap on this sort of thing. The citizens voted to limit increases to the combined rates of population and inflation. Mayor Parker has tried to increase water rates on the people of Houston by more than 30 long term. This is in direct violation of the 2004 Charter amendments" Bettencourt said. If the City wants to exceed the limits they must go to the people for a vote. Madame Mayor Let the people vote!"
Austin The citizens of Houston won an upset victory today in their fight to stop the City from enacting a punitive water rate increase in violation of the 2004 Prop. 1 Charter change amendment.
David was on the field of battle again this morning and Goliath did not fare well" said Paul Bettencourt former Harris County Tax Assessor Collector.
The City was hoping for a quick win in a friendly out-of-town court. When the Attorney Generals Office appeared and intervened in the case along with Bruce Hotze and me the judge halted any City action for 30 days giving the people time to formulate a legal response to the Citys actions. The City was not prepared for this outcome."
The City of Houston went to extraordinary lengths to hide their legal actions from the citizens. They did not go to the courthouse in Houston but rather traveled over 150 miles to initiate legal action in Travis County. Their only possible motive was to conceal their dastardly acts from public view" said Bruce Hotze.
The citizens of Houston spoke clearly when they voted in 2004 to place a cap on this sort of thing. The citizens voted to limit increases to the combined rates of population and inflation. Mayor Parker has tried to increase water rates on the people of Houston by more than 30 long term. This is in direct violation of the 2004 Charter amendments" Bettencourt said. If the City wants to exceed the limits they must go to the people for a vote. Madame Mayor Let the people vote!"
