Max Powers

Dry Dock

Posting will be light because of the holidays and things and stuff.

But that being said let's not talk politics, let's talk kitchen.

From time-to-time, I will cook.

I am not the best at it, but sometimes it is not necessarily you that sucks at cooking, it is the recipe.

So here are some recipes that are kinda idiot proof:

• Chicken Thighs with Blistered Tomatoes - The recipe calls for grape tomatoes, but you can get away with cherry tomatoes if you want something less tart.
• One Pot Chicken with Tomato Basil Risotto - Sure you can make your own basil pesto if you want, but otherwise solid dish.  Just be careful if you want to use brown rice cos' then you will have a soupy "risotto", but then some would say risotto should be soupy. 

Sometimes you want a steak, but you don't want to fire up a grill, especially if it is a charcoal grill, because of the clean-up involved afterwards.  But the recipe is pretty solid:

• Ribeye Steak -  I know it seems pretty f'ed up to be frequently flipping the steak, but it works here.  It is the cooling off period that is key.  And man, that rosemary really smells good when it hits the pan.

Here's another you should try:

• Goat Cheese Beer Biscuits - These biscuits are better than the "biscuits" sold at the panaderia.  And more importantly, will hold up longer too.

Yes, I will pour over those aggregator websites, and cook from those recipes, but not everything is a home-run.  Those above are least a few that have been solid.  Of course, you always have to take into account your own kitchen when cooking.  Maybe when your over says 400 degrees, it really is 410 or 390 degrees.  So you will have to make some adjustments. 

Dig in.

 

 

 

Star Wars

So Han Solo is killed by his own son. 

How long is this internal family feud suppose to last?  Father nearly kills himself to save his son.  Son's cousin has a kid who kills his father.  Are we gonna meet the crazy aunt in the next movie?

If anything this movies shows how hopeless our own future is.

In a universe with laser beams, intergalactic travel, and the ability to interpret beeps, families still have their share of problems.

But hey, if it means for two hours you can forget about your own family...

Oh, and can someone explain why the Jedis are NOT fascist as*sholes?

 

YISD and Real Estate

Does the ownership of facility matter to the education of a student?

Probably not.

So what justifies ownership?

A lot of larger businesses do not like being the in real estate business.  Sure a business may break ground on a location, whether it be an office or restaurant, but shortly thereafter it sells it because owning a building has its own share of maintenance and operation costs.  A business would rather call up the landlord or property management company that is contracted by the landlord and say, "Fix this!"

But for whatever reason, all that is thrown out the window when it comes to school districts. 

Which is odd because a school district would be make for a great tenant. 

For starters, a school district is a government agency.  Landlords like government agencies.  Government agencies typically sign long-term leases and their checks do not bounce.  A landlord can take tenant like that to the bank. 

Secondly, the amount of real estate a school district would require just adds that much more to a landlord's portfolio.  We are not talking some 1,000 square feet of retail space. 

So why don't school districts take advantage of their purchasing power in real estate?

Why do they instead hit you up for multi-million dollar bonds, which you are the hook for?  And which 10 years further down the road, they are going to hit you up again?

In a lease situation, if you think the building you are in is a bit dated you can start to shop around.   School districts? Not exactly. 

Worried about corruption?

Well, since the school district is no longer in the maintenance and operations business,  no need to worry about bids going sideways.  That is now all on the landlord. 

YISD Superintendent Xavi De La Torre said himself, “We’re educators, not architects".

For that matter they are not landlords or property managers. 

If we want school districts to be in education business, then we need school districts to get out of the real estate business.

 

 

YISD and Ethics Cont'd...Part 3

Well, here is the latest regarding the ethics complaint filed against Ysleta ISD Superintendent, Xavier De La Torre:

 

Million Dollar Question

So what's the over-under that the City of El Paso will have paid City Manager Tommy Gonzalez over a million dollars from his salary, pay increase, and settlement?  Hell, it could possibly be over $1.5 million.

Leaking stuff from executive session to the El Paso Times probably brought a smile to Gonzalez' attorney. 

 

Last Friday

Free-range pony...

Ysleta ISD and Ethics Cont'd

Here is the KVIA story regarding ethics complaints I have filed against Ysleta ISD.

To which Superintendent Xavier De La Torre responds with:

"To have someone come along with a pseudonym, who hides behind a blog, to send in this complaint, although its certainly within his right, is disappointing."

Look, folks.

If I were still anonymous, I would not have been able to file ethics complaints.  It would have blown my cover.  For that matter, I would not have been able to file open records requests for text messages.  You all can thank Martin Paredes for this. 

Anyways.

At the crux of the matter, is whether or not YISD used your money  - taxpayer  money - on political advertising.

Per YISD own "Do's and Don'ts" factsheet - Download 8_Bond_Handout_Eng_Spn - school district employees should NOT:

"Spend or authorize spending of school district $$$ on political advertising"

"Conduct political advertising on school district property - no pro-bond meeting or pro-bond literature should be at campus/district functions"

"Advocate during working hours - You can share facts only.  After hours, you can advocate if you choose."

Now check this out from YISD's Bond FAQ page:

 

Now, check out the language from the FAQ page of the One Ysleta PAC, a PAC created to advocate for the passage of the bond:

 

A PAC is allowed to advocate.  But YISD is not.

And I doubt the PAC would want to use language on its website that would not advocate its cause.

And sorry, bonds are not about the children.  As David K pointed out a long time ago, school districts are in the real estate business, but that's a post for next week.

Jaime Abeytia Responds

Jaime Abeytia is upset.

Without further ado:

 

Road to STRDM...Blue Falcon

On Sunday when I first posted about County Commissioner Vince Perez's brother, Andrew Joseph Perez, and his brother's company, I was told in the comments section I might get sued.

On Monday when I posted, I was told nothing.

But today, when I posted I was told "It's no big deal" to this gem of a comment from "A Real Lobbyist":

You're comparing private donor contributions to a probable public corruption situation? All those years of fetching Norma's lunch from lobbyists has soaked into your brain Ali. No wonder you couldn't get a job after her. Even Norma survived Norma. Next one you're back in Austin I'll see if the craft beer lobby will give you a look. (Emphasis added)

And..

Private meaning an individual, not public funds, which is what you're comparing it to. Did Claudia or Vince reject you or something? You seem more miffed with them than others for whatever reason. Just wondering if that is the reason. If memory serves you'd drink whatever was put in front of you that you or Norma didn't have to pay for, so maybe that's why I didn't know you preferred a "banquet beer". (Emphasis added)

In case you were wondering, A Real Lobbyist's email address is "[email protected]".  Which this must be a reference to former State Senator Eliot Shapleigh.  I take it this person also does not like Shapleigh.

If you ask me, these comments come from no other than Jaime Abeytia.  Only Jaime in his attempt to defend his friends blue falcons them instead.

"A Real Lobbyist" thinks private donor contributions are okay. 

You know who else thought "private donor contributions" are okay?  Former County Judge Anthony Cobos.

"A Real Lobbyist" cannot possibly be this dense. 

That or he accidentally let something slip...as in he let slip the fact maybe County Commissioner Vince Perez and City Representative Claudia Ordaz do receive "private donor donations".   And the perfect conduit to receive these "private donor donations" would be through Perez's brother's company - STRDM.

All of this certainly does put this text message between Perez, Ordaz, and Abeytia in a different context:

 

 

 

Road to STRDM...Parte Trois

Yes, this is another post about STRDM and its owner Andrew Joseph Perez, who may or may not be County Commissioner Vince Perez's brother.

Now, "Andrew Joseph Perez DBA STRDM" has done campaign work for Congressman Beto O'Rourke.

"STRDM" has done campaign work for City Representative Claudia Ordaz.

Want to know who or what has done work for County Commissioner Vince Perez?

"Andrew J. Perez": Download Paying my Brother

Yeah, I know. 

One day it is "STRDM".  Another day it is "Andrew Joseph Perez DBA STRDM".  The day after that it is "Andrew J. Perez."

Anyways.When Perez, Vince that is, is raising money, do you think he tells folks like Woody  Hunt, "This campaign money you are giving me is going to be spent on my brother"?

Doubt it.

If we think it looks bad that City Larry Romero met a guy 15 years ago, how does it look when an elected official spends campaign money on family?

Not good.

Sure it may seem like STRDM is just a "mom-and-pop". 

But who is there to stop mom and pop's eldest son, and his girlfriend from taking from the register?