Corruption in El Paso, Texas

 

Letter to Citizens' Commission on Best Practices in Government
December 7, 2009

Dear Commissioners,

You told us that El Paso has a "culture of corruption" and then you asked us to "answer the call." Click here According to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." I answered the call with an offer of $50,000. I asked you to answer the call by arranging to expose PSB to the sunlight of state regulators. You refused. click here

PSB billing rates have not been exposed to sunlight in fifty seven years. PSB is an unregulated monopoly embedded in El Paso's "culture of corruption."

The State of Texas does not have jurisdiction over PSB. The El Paso City Manager says that neither she nor the City Council have any control over PSB activities. PSB can spend money as they please and then force El Paso Citizens to pick up the tab. El Paso Citizens are being forced to pay for the following PSB expenditures;

Exhibit A: Contracts with Fort Bliss click here
Exhibit B: Paseo Del Este click here
Exhibit C: Bargain land sale click here
Exhibit D: Subsidies click here
Exhibit E: Conservation or Confiscation click here
Exhibit F: More profitable than Exxon click here
Exhibit G: CEO Employment Contract click here
Exhibit H: Painted Dunes Golf Course click here
Exhibit J: 10% Payment to City click here
Exhibit K: Lobbyist click here

Although the State of Texas does not have jurisdiction over PSB, they do have a staff of experts to assist municipalities and affected counties upon request. Why not ask state regulators if PSB billing rates are "just and reasonable"? Can PSB shut off a customers' water if the customer is unable to pay for a subsidy to Hunt Communities?

Virtually all other monopolies in this country are regulated every day. Will you arrange for the State to regulate PSB for one day in fifty seven years? It will cost you nothing and I will give you $50,000 to fight corruption in other places. You have nothing to lose.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Janacek