Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, August 27, 2010 02:25 PM
Although a good number of Texans are unemployed as Labor Day approaches, Texas still remains in a better position for employment than most other states.
Texas’ unemployment rate of 8.2 percent is lower than the United States’ rate of 9.5 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). While the state has added a total of 168,000 jobs since January, that represents a net gain of right at 4,600 new jobs, as various public entities, such as school districts and community colleges, have cut payroll when confronted with shrinking budgets.
To help put Texans back to work, during last year’s legislative session the Legislature appropriated $15 million for the Texas Back to Work program, which provides financial incentives to help employers hire unemployed Texans. Texas Back to Work offers employers a wage subsidy of up to $2,000 for hiring qualified, out-of-work Texans.
Some employers may receive a portion of the employee’s wages for a set period of time. Helping employers with on-the-job training, retention bonuses and wage reimbursement will result in more opportunities for unemployed Texans.
Employers who are interested in the Texas Back to Work program should contact the local workforce development board in their area. These numbers may be found on the TWC Web site at http://www.twc.state.tx.us. Click on “Texas Back to Work” and then on “Local Contact Information.”
An older, and still much used, Web site of interest to employers and those seeking jobs is www.workintexas.com. This Web site, which is hosted by TWC, matches employers with job seekers.
Employers using the site may enter the specific skills they need to fill jobs.
A click of the mouse nets them names of the most promising candidates and their contact information. If a job applicant includes an email address, an employer may set up an immediate interview.
Job seekers may enter their skills and then run a custom job search. They also may select any job category and search through available jobs without submitting an online application.
The free job matching service is open to everyone -- from professionals desiring to advance their careers to the currently unemployed.
Job categories include scientific, technical, computer, professional, managerial, sales, clerical, service, agriculture, construction, transportation and others.
The Work in Texas Web site also includes links to other job search options and to support services, such as child care providers.
Texas employers and job seekers can cut the time they spend looking for each other by using Web sites created by TWC to help put Texans to work.
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, August 20, 2010 01:46 PM
There are 9,000 public schools in Texas filled with almost five million students of whom one million ride school buses.
Protecting the lives of Texas students on their way to and from school means obeying traffic laws. Motorists know they must stop when a school bus’ red lights are flashing and the stop sign is displayed; however, they may not be aware that they must stop whether they are behind the bus or approaching it from the opposite direction.
Failure to stop could result in a fine of up to $1,000. If a driver is convicted of this offense more than one time, the Texas Department of Public Safety may suspend the driver’s license for six months.
A driver does not have to stop for a school bus if it is on a highway with lanes separated by a median or some other physical barrier between lanes. Drivers may continue their trip once the bus has moved, the lights have stopped flashing or the driver signals it is all right to pass.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, one-third of pedestrians killed in school bus related accidents occur within a 10-foot area surrounding the school bus.
In addition to traffic laws regarding school buses, other laws protect pedestrians. All pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks, and a driver is held liable if he or she injures a pedestrian who is crossing the street legally.
Motorists should remember that fines double in school zones and may vary from city to city, depending on the driver’s speed. In Austin, for example, the standard fine starts at $204 for five miles over the speed limit.
In 2009, the 81st Legislature took yet another step to protect Texas students by passing House Bill 55, making it a criminal offense to use a handheld wireless communication device within an active school zone. This includes, but is not limited to, talking on a handheld cell phone or texting.
Currently, for this law to apply, a sign prohibiting the use of a cell phone must be posted at the start of the school zone, if a city chooses to enforce the law, which most cities do.
In previous legislative sessions, I have filed bills limiting the use of cell phones while driving to those with a handheld device. I plan to refile the bill when the Texas Legislature convenes next year.
While traffic laws help protect Texas school children, parents should also educate their children about how to walk to school safely and how to behave on a school bus. For example, children should always walk on a sidewalk, obey crossing guards, and if there is no sidewalk, children should walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic. They also should be aware of traffic when exiting a school bus, and younger children should not be left alone while waiting for the school bus.
Guarding the safety of children has always been, and will continue to be, a legislative priority in Texas.
The city was having a problem getting all the audio loaded so the rest will be posted early next week.
Recognition of Firefighter/Paramedic Sam Menges on his retirement after 27 years of public service with the City of Alamo Heights
City Manager’s Report
An Ordinance to amend Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances to change the effective times and days for parking restrictions West Elmview and the 100 block of West Fair Oaks...
Partial discussion: Consideration of an Ordinance granting a license to the Alamo Heights Optimist Club to use a portion of Viesca Street Part 1
~1 hour, 7 min.
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, August 13, 2010 10:09 AM
When a story breaks about fraud, waste or abuse within a Texas state agency, college or university, chances are one of the state’s investigative units has successfully done its job.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Texas State Auditor’s Office (SAO) investigates specific acts or allegations of impropriety, malfeasance or nonfeasance in the obligation, expenditure, receipt, or use of state funds associated with state agencies, colleges or universities.
Through the years, the SIU has obtained indictments against a school superintendent, an administrative assistant to a college dean, and employees in various state agencies for misuse of property or falsifying information.
SAO investigates criminal offenses, which include theft, forgery, tampering with governmental records, securing execution of document by deception, misapplication of fiduciary property, conversion of funds, abuse of official capacity, gifts to a public servant by a person who is subject to the official’s jurisdiction, breach of computer security, organized crime, money laundering and bribery.
As you might imagine, in a state the size of Texas, monitoring state agencies, universities and colleges is a monumental task. SIU needs Texans’ help in its role as guardian of your tax dollars. To report fraud, waste or abuse occurring within a Texas state agency, college or university, call the SAO Hotline at (800) 892-8384. You also may report fraud by filling out a form that is available on the Internet at http://sao.fraud.state.tx.us.
Reports of fraud also may be mailed. Address your report to the State Auditor’s Office, Attention: SIU, Post Office Box 12067, Austin, Texas 78711.
All reports are held in confidence, and individuals may choose to remain anonymous. When reporting an incident of fraud or abuse, SAO officials ask that you please provide as much detail as possible.
Public employees who, in good faith, report official wrongdoing are protected by the Whistleblower Act. This law prohibits retaliation against public employees. If the employee is the victim of retaliation, he or she may file suit against a state or local government for damages, reinstatement, lost wages, court costs and legal fees.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has its own Internal Audit Division (IAD) that works to prevent fraud and waste within TDHCA and its auxiliaries.
IAD’s hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; calls are answered, and information is converted into an incident report. Individuals who call may remain anonymous.
In an ideal world, SIU and IAD employees would have little or no work, but until that ideal world becomes a reality, these two agencies within agencies will continue to work to ensure that your tax dollars are being spent wisely, efficiently and legally.
Written by Gary Scharrer and Peggy Fikac - Express-News
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 07:24 AM
AUSTIN — When Texas House Speaker Joe Straus recently invited a group of Gillespie County Republicans to ask him anything they'd like, the most passionate questions didn't focus on a huge, looming budget shortfall, worries over education or high insurance rates.
Instead, fired-up “patriots” wanted action on an Arizona-style, get-tough immigration law in Texas.
The Alamo Heights Republican's answer was less than satisfying for the conservatives. (read more).
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, July 23, 2010 11:40 AM
Texans planning a summer vacation that includes instate driving may want to make a note of a couple of toll-free numbers.
The first, (800) 525-5555, is printed on the back of all Texas driver licenses and ID cards, and is for motorists to use when reporting a need for non-emergency service. This toll-free number is not a substitute for 9-1-1, nor is it a customer service line to answer questions pertaining to drivers’ licenses or other Department of Public Service (DPS) matters.
Some examples when a motorist may call the number include being stranded with car problems, reporting hazardous road conditions or debris on the road. A motorist may also report obviously drunk or dangerous drivers or suspicious activity at a rest area.
To assist staff members who answer the call, please be prepared to provide DPS with your name, cell phone number, vehicle description when applicable, and location. Wireless customers who use ALLTEL, AT&T/Cingular, Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular and T-Mobile, may all dial *DPS (*377) anywhere in Texas to report non-emergency situations.
Stranded motorists should be aware that DPS does not provide free towing service, nor does it dispatch tow trucks. DPS operators will refer callers to a local law enforcement agency. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and some cities have courtesy patrols that may be able to assist if a motorist has a flat tire or has run out of gas. If a private tow truck or other non-towing service, such as a locksmith, is needed, the motorist is responsible for all costs.
In addition to DPS’ toll-free number to report non-emergency situations, TxDOT’s toll-free number, (800) 452-9292, is the number to call for daily travel information, trip planning assistance and emergency road condition information.
TxDOT’s Web site: www.txdot.state.tx.us is filled with useful information, including road conditions, such as construction delays, for all Texas counties. This site is updated regularly, so it can help you avoid long delays or hazardous weather conditions, even when you are traveling.
Texas has 80 Safety Rest Areas, many of which have been renovated and reconstructed. These new areas, whose locations may be found on the TxDOT Web site, are equipped with wireless Internet. Stopping to rest may be doubly beneficial at one of the new rest stops. Drivers can stop and rest both to fight fatigue and get information about roads ahead, even if they are in another state.
A quick check of surrounding states’ department of transportation Web sites revealed that those states, like Texas, have travel information that is updated daily. In addition to the individual state’s information, Oklahoma’s site, for example, includes information about surrounding states’ highway conditions.
To avoid inclement weather, many state’s schedule their highway construction for the summer months, so checking various states’ Web sites for possible construction delays can make your trip faster, safer and more pleasurable.
Written by Jeff Wentworth, State Senator, District 25
Friday, July 09, 2010 01:16 PM
Between the years 2000 and 2040, the number of Texans aged 65 and over is expected to increase from two million to seven million, representing 16 percent of the total Texas population.
In addition to Texas’ aging population, the 2006 American Community Survey conducted by the US Census found that approximately 15 percent of Texans had one or more disabilities. That number will increase as the population ages, placing even more demands on the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and Adult Protective Services (APS).
DADS is responsible for providing access to long-term services and support to Texans who are aging or disabled, while APS’s mission is to protect elderly and disabled adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, which I chair, recently heard testimony concerning the state’s guardianship program implemented by DADS and APS. The hearing was in response to Lt. Governor David Dewhurst’s interim charge, which asked the committee to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the guardianship program.
The program has been in the headlines lately as the result of various allegations by Texans, including claims of abuse or neglect within state-run facilities; improper revocation of guardianship status; mistaken determination of incapacity; abuse within the court system; and the mishandling of a ward’s estate.
One widely publicized case documented an elderly couple allegedly forced into state custody after an APS investigation led to a judge’s determination that they were incapacitated. As a result, the couple lost control of their home, their finances and, ultimately, their lives. This particular case illustrated an increasingly common claim made against the state guardianship program, that it lacks protection for the ward and the ward’s estate.
Under the current state guardianship program, APS is charged with investigating allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation to determine if a public guardian is necessary. Should APS determine that a guardian is appropriate for the situation, APS may refer the case to the DADS guardianship program.
After the referral, APS assists DADS with the process by providing details of the ward’s assessment and serving as a resource during probate proceedings.
In the course of providing protective services to elderly and/or disabled Texans, APS may file emergency orders for protective services. These legal actions are presented to statutory probate courts or other courts with probate jurisdiction.
In Texas, guardians may be family members and friends, private professional guardians, private guardianship programs, county-operated guardianship programs and DADS guardianship program.
Guardianship responsibilities may include managing finances, making medical decisions and arranging for ward placement and personal care. In 2009, APS filed 453 referrals to DADS for guardianship. Currently, the DADS guardianship program is serving 1,213 Texans.
Since any abuse or injustice within the state guardianship program is unacceptable, this issue requires further examination by the Texas Legislature to ensure that elderly and disabled Texans are adequately protected.
Written by Jeff Wentworth - State Senator, District 25
Friday, July 02, 2010 09:31 AM
Open government is accountable government, and Texans who are interested in the state’s financial accountability may want to access a relatively new Web site that tracks both where the state’s revenue comes from and how it is spent.
State Comptroller Susan Combs created the Web site: www.texastransparency.org to provide up-to-date information for taxpayers on how their money is being used. The Web site allows users to discover “Where the Money Comes From” and “Where the Money Goes,” and provides direct access to data through the “Open Data Center” portal.
Click on the icon for “Stimulus Reporting,” and you will be able to track Recovery Act activities county by county and activity by activity.
As a longtime and strong advocate for transparency in government, I commend Comptroller Combs for her determined and successful effort to keep taxpayers informed. I believe that Texans have a right to information about government agencies that enact, enforce and implement laws.
I also believe that Texans have the right to know how their state senators vote on bills that impact their lives. To that end, in the 2005 and 2007 Texas Legislative Sessions, I joined Senator John Carona as the co-author of legislation that would have amended the Texas Constitution to require that all non-ceremonial votes be recorded and made available on the Internet. Both attempts to pass this measure failed primarily because some of my Senate colleagues believed recording votes on substantive legislation to be too time-consuming and too expensive.
Finally, at the beginning of the 2009 Regular Legislative Session, the Texas Senate amended its rules to require a record vote in certain circumstances, such as the final passage of a bill, a resolution proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment and motions to suspend the rule that bills be considered for three consecutive days. Resolutions that are of a purely ceremonial or honorary nature do not require a recorded vote.
While I would have preferred that every vote, including votes on the second reading of a bill prior to third and final reading, be recorded votes, changing the rule was at least a start.
In the Texas House of Representatives, members’ votes are automatically recorded on the final passage of any bill or joint resolution calling for a constitutional amendment. Other votes may be recorded at the request of only one member.
Voting information recorded in the House Journal and Senate Journal is available on the Internet; however, looking it up requires both knowledge, such as the bill number, and effort. Locating the final action is not always easy. I believe that Senate votes should be both recorded and as easy to find on the Internet as it is to follow tax dollars.
Not only is it important for Texas taxpayers to know where their hard-earned money goes, it is also important for them to know how the men and women who represent them in the Legislature vote to spend it.
Recognition of Fire Chief Bill Hagendorf on his retirement after 20 years of public service with the City of Alamo Heights
An Ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a renewal of a Mutual Aid Agreement with the San Antonio Area Emergency Services – Bill Hagendorf, Fire Chief
Mosquito Control Update – Shawn P. Eddy, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, June 25, 2010 09:32 AM
The Fourth of July marks the day when, 234 years ago, the founders of this nation declared to the world that America preferred a government of the people, by the people and for the people over that of being ruled by a king.
Citizens of older countries looked upon the Declaration of Independence as reckless and even ridiculous. The colonists had no real army or navy. If by some miracle, they should defeat the British, the idea of a people governing themselves was absurd.
Our nation’s founders understood that the document they signed on July 4 did more than audaciously declare a nation’s independence. Its words defined a nation and set it apart from all others then and now.
Transforming the founding fathers’ vision of a democratic republic into a functioning government was not, and never will be, easy. Democracy is work. It is a form of government that demands much of its citizens.
Intellectually, it is easier to let a monarch, a junta, or a despot tell citizens what to do than it is to participate in the governing process. Thomas Jefferson knew that the republic needed educated citizens for its survival.
“An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper function of a republic. Self-government is not possible unless the citizens are educated sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight,” Jefferson insisted. He developed a plan in which all children, rich and poor, were entitled to three years of free public education paid for by taxes “levied on the wealth of the country.”
Current public school and higher education funding accounts for 41 percent of Texas’ general revenue-related spending. Despite education’s taking up the lion’s share of the budget, the Texas Legislature last year increased public education funding by $1.9 billion and higher education funding by $1.2 billion, resulting in a total of more than $75 billion for public and higher education.
While an educated citizenry is the foundation of a self-governing nation, citizens also must be willing to make personal sacrifices in the name of freedom. More than a million American men and women have given their lives in defense of our nation. The willingness to put one’s life on the line for an ideal continues today on the streets of Baghdad and in the mountains of Afghanistan.
More than 4,000 Americans have died in Iraq, and more than 1,000 have given their lives in Afghanistan. Their sacrifice and that of more than 38,000 wounded military men and women must not be forgotten on the Fourth of July.
The war against terrorism will continue to try our patience, test our resolve and take the lives of those who fight so that we may live free.
Preserving freedom is as arduous today as it was during the Revolutionary War when pamphleteer Thomas Paine wrote, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
Recognition of City Employees for their exemplary teamwork efforts on June 2, 2010
City Manager’s Report
A Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Alamo Heights Kennel Club as the City’s veterinary hospital/quarantine facility for impounded animals – Rick Pruitt, Police Chief
Briefing on granting a license to the Alamo Heights Optimist Club to use a portion of Viesca Street and the parking areas associated with the Alamo Heights Swimming Pool for the celebration to be known as “O’Nine@Nite” – Shawn P. Eddy, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 02:08 PM
Move over Generation X, here comes Generation TX.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) recently announced a new, multi-year, statewide initiative that will organize and mobilize entire communities to help Texas students and their families pursue the path to college or career education beyond high school.
Pronounced “Generation Texas,” Bexar County students will be among the first to benefit from the initiative. Generation TX will launch in two pilot markets -- San Antonio and Fort Worth -- at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. These pilot markets will lay the foundation for building a movement focused on creating a culture of college and career readiness that will expand statewide as quickly as possible.
Generation TX is not just another program. THECB believes there are already programs and resources at the state and community levels to help high school students prepare for college or for career training. For many students, especially disadvantaged students or students who would be the first in their families to continue their education beyond high school, gaining admission to college or a technical institute can be daunting.
Navigating Web sites, filling out admission applications and applying for student loans can be so difficult that students and their parents become discouraged and just give up. Generation TX will unify resources under a common banner to make it easier for students and their families to find the help they need and utilize it appropriately.
Generation TX is partnering with the P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County, chaired by Bartell Zachry, to make these resources available to 15 independent school districts. The P16Plus Council is a group of educational and community leaders who formed the council to ensure that all San Antonio students are prepared for college and the workforce. These two efforts will complement and support each other.
With more students failing to complete college because they are not adequately prepared, this effort is important in assisting students gain admission to college or career programs; in addition, these skills also will be valuable in helping them accomplish their goals. Their success is important both to them, as individuals, and to the state of Texas.
When it is fully underway, Generation TX will invite students, parents, educators and business and community leaders to become part of the movement and to support this generation of Texas students.
To learn more about Generation TX and to see an introductory video, you may go to: http://www.GenTX.org.
Generation TX’s success depends on the active involvement not only of students, parents and educators, but also of friends, neighbors, businesses, nonprofits and community leaders. Collectively, we can make a difference in the lives of many young Texans and in the future of the Lone Star State.
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, June 11, 2010 11:46 AM
Texas’ state park system may be more than 80 years old, but the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is working to keep up with the times.
On May 12, just in time for the summer season, TPWD launched a new business software system christened TxParks that integrates customer-friendly features along with comprehensive and trackable real-time park and financial data.
As computer users know, things don’t always go as smoothly as everyone hopes they will. During the roll-out period, TxParks has hit a few bumps in the road, and TPWD is hoping that park users will understand.
“There have definitely been some glitches in the system,” said Bryan Frazier, TPWD Director of Public Affairs. “They are being worked out as quickly as possible, and we hope folks will be patient. We know this isn’t easy. It is folks’ leisure time, and they don’t want to waste a minute of it hassling over a computer glitch.”
One of the benefits for park users is they now may make online camping reservations without paying an extra $3 fee, which had been charged previously for booking via the Internet. Reservations may be made online by logging on to TPWD’s Web site: www.tpwd.state.tx.us; click on “Parks” and then on “Reservations.” This is a multi-subject site that includes a host of information about TPWD.
Another Web site, www.texasstateparks.org, is devoted strictly to the parks system and may be navigated more quickly and easily. Just log on and click the “Reservations” icon.
Between May 12, when the system went online, and May 31, the central reservation office received more than 30,000 calls, booked 8,031 reservations and sold 267 annual state park passes.
TxPark makes state park annual pass cards immediately available for park- goers who purchase them. There is no more temporary card or lag time waiting for a card to arrive through the mail. Texans may now use their park passes and discounts on their very first visit to one of Texas’ beautiful state parks.
Other benefits include new State Park Gift Cards, which may be bought at any park and redeemed for any park purchase or rental, such as entrance or camping fees, state park store merchandise or canoe or kayak rental.
New, color-coded Parklands Passport cards, commonly called “Bluebonnet Passes,” also are available. These passes are free to senior citizens, Texans with disabilities and disabled veterans. All new, park-related pass cards include a
barcode and magnetic stripe on the back, allowing park employees to scan for customer data at a park’s entry.
Our beautiful state parks are a Texas treasure, and I commend TPWD for taking steps to make it easier for Texans to utilize the parks. I encourage park- goers to give the new system a chance to work.
Another phase is planned, and when Phase II is implemented, I believe Texas will have the finest - and most efficient - state park system in the nation.
Written by Jeff Wentworth State Senator, District 25
Friday, June 04, 2010 09:32 AM
Thus far, the oil spill that is wreaking havoc in the Gulf of Mexico has left Texas’ 300 plus miles of coastline untouched.
States to Texas’ east are suffering both environmental and economic disaster as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to thwart efforts to stop the flow of crude into the Gulf.
Although the out-of-control well is more than 200 miles from the Texas coast, state agencies that are responsible for protecting our state’s environment are on high alert.
The General Land Office (GLO) is the lead agency for responding to crude oil spills that enter, or threaten to enter, coastal waters. According to Greg Pollock, GLO Deputy Commissioner for Oil Spill Prevention and Response, the Land Office and the United States Coast Guard are monitoring the situation and will remain on standby until the crisis is resolved.
Although GLO is the lead agency, other agencies are monitoring the situation. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is charged with protecting the state’s fish and wildlife resources, which includes investigating fish kills and any type of pollution that may cause loss of fish and wildlife. Currently, no one has reported any oil-soaked wildlife in Texas coastal waters.
Unlike other states’ marshy coastlines that are being impacted by the oil spill, Texas’ coastline is primarily sandy beaches, which are more easily cleaned if tar balls do drift onto the beach. Deputy Pollock said there has been a slight westward movement of the oil, but the spewing well is far enough away that the oil should degrade into tar balls before it hits the coast.
If the spill’s westward movement increases, GLO could deploy both strings of snares to detect tar balls and silt curtains to protect washouts and beach cuts.
“Tar balls can be cleaned up quickly compared to the oil slicks that are drifting onto the shores of Louisiana and other states,” Pollock said.
The Texas Department of Agriculture is another agency that is monitoring the spill. Because the spill has not impacted Texas waters, Texas shrimp and seafood harvested off the state’s coast are still safe to eat.
In April, the Department of State Health Services temporarily closed most Texas coastal waters to the harvesting of oysters, clams, and mussels due to an algal bloom. These coastal-waters were reopened and have remained open since the danger passed. GLO has posted a link to the latest information on the oil spill and recovery activities. The Web address is www.glo.state.tx.us and click on “Need Information Regarding Oil Spill and Response.”
Unless the situation takes a significant turn for the worse, such as a hurricane pushing the oil spill toward Texas, the biggest problem for anyone planning a summer vacation on the Lone Star State’s coast is securing a reservation.
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