Welcome Back, Corpus
Who else at Corpus Christi city hall is COMPROMISED? Tonight the City Manager Peter Zanoni is facing allegations he’s too close to a hotel developer suing the city.
“The word of the day in Corpus Christi should be compromised” Wayne Dolcefino told the camera.
“For weeks we’ve been exposing the questionable relationships between city officials and hotel developers as part of a wider probe into water contracts….” said Dolcefino.
“Now it is the city manager who has some explaining to do….” Dolcefino told the camera.
“It’s a warm welcome back to Corpus Christi city hall.” said Dolcefino.
“I thought you didn’t like me. I don’t.” said Hernandez.
“But this isn’t like going to high school in the 70s.” said Dolcefino.
“It’s more like kindergarten.” Dolcefino tells the camera.
“I don’t know you I don’t even like you.” said Caballero.
“City council members acting like they are facing cameras after getting busted or something.” said Dolcefino.
“A couple of quick questions councilman 104 why can’t we get your phone records?” said Hernandez.
“Hey councilmember.” said Carolyn Vaughn.
“By the time Carolyn Vaughn shows up at city hall… security has been ordered to protect her… I’m told I can’t do interviews here. really?” said Dolcefino.
“You can’t do that here.” said Carolyn Vaughn.
“I don’t care I’m allowed to do this. I’m allowed to talk to you it’s called America” said Dolcefino.
“You said you don’t like me.” said Hernandez.
Hernandez slams the door shut so we can’t follow.
“Kaylynn Paxson drove past her reserved spot just to avoid our camera… there’s talk she wants to be mayor…” said Dolcefino.
“She’s been ignoring our requests for an interview for weeks.” Dolcefino states.
“But do you know what they all have in common?”
“They all took campaign money from companies tied to hotel developers Ajit David and his business partner Raju Bhagat.” said Dolcefino.
“And have helped David and his powerful lawyer Doug Allison promote a scandal that has engulfed this city by the bay ever since… costing taxpayers more than half a million already.” says Dolcefino.
They are also behind the council’s plan to remove mayor Paulette Guajardo from office.
“It’s been unbelievable.” said Guajardo.
“Paxson and Vaughn are under investigation by the Texas ethics commission for allegedly accepting an illegal corporate campaign contribution from the hoteliers…” said Dolcefino.
“I’d like to talk to you about Texas ethics commission complaints… Vaughn…” said Dolcefino.
“Good morning no comment.” said Vaughn.
“You know what else they have in common?” said Dolcefino.
“They just voted not to spend the money necessary to even apply for up to 120 million in federal grant money for the proposed inner harbor desalination plant.” Dolcefino stated.
“They appear willing to squander the fifty million dollars of your money already spent.” said Dolcefino.
“Did I mention Doug Allison is in the water desal business… he wears lots of hats.” said Dolcefino.
“We look like clowns. it’s a clown show and that’s not what i want right” said mark Scott.
“The city attorney announced his retirement a few days after the assault of our camera” said Dolcefino.
“Guess it was better than getting fired.”
“We played hide and seek with the city auditor before he announced he was suddenly retiring.” Dolcefino says.
“What do they have in common?
Ajit David… Doug Allison.” says Dolcefino.
“People rely on you. you know that, Peter Zanoni.” said Dolcefino.
“Well, I don’t know about that” said Zanoni.
“City manager Peter Zanoni is the highest paid city employee. a little south of half a million dollars… a sweet deal with 12 weeks’ vacation a year.” said Dolcefino.
“Zanoni got his hand slapped after he was caught wining and dining too much during a p card audit.” said Dolcefino.
“We don’t need horsshack anymore… it was often entertainment with Ajit David.” said Dolcefino.
“I personally think the relationship they had was too close and i think it is part of the challenge that we face.” said Barerra.
“And that was before we started looking into a plane that looks a lot like this one.” said Dolcefino.
We traced a tail number to RGB air services owned by Raju Bhagat and Sid Ridlehuber… the head of charter bank in corpus.” said Dolcefino.
“And we confronted Peter Zanoni about a trip he took on that plane.” Dolcefino stated.
“I went, I took a trip, right to see one of their projects… like city managers would, you know customarily do” said Zanoni.
“But how did that trip help corpus… good question.” said Dolcefino.
“Turns out Raju was having trouble with the city of Austin on the construction of the Fairfield inn here on Rainey Lane in Austin.” said Dolcefino.
“It was a day trip. it was less than a day trip” said Zanoni.
“Zanoni knew the deputy city manager” said Dolcefino.
“It’s typical that city managers help businesses people that not all their projects are always in the community” said Zanoni.
“He was clearly brought along to grease the skids. not to profit corpus Christi… to profit Raju.” said Dolcefino.
“what’s your reaction I can’t believe that.” said Guajardo.
“The mayor was not amused.” said Dolcefino.
“Do you think voter taxpayers are going to want the city manager flying in developer’s planes to help them in another city… absolutely not.” said Dolcefino.
“I was not aware of that. this is the first I’m hearing about.” said Guajardo.
“Have you taken trips with any other businessmen that you could tell me about to others” said Dolcefino.
“I have but I’m not going to hear about it just so you know” said Zanoni.
“Zanoni was among the city officials who fueled allegations developers of this new Homewood suites hotel committed some kind of crime when they got two million dollars in tax incentives.” said Dolcefino.
Ajit and Raju wanted their competition to stop.
Even though they had benefited from millions in tax incentives too.
They initially brought thing after thing, issue after issue, none of them checked out
“Until this… the date on a FEMA press release was covered up during a presentation.” said Dolcefino.
“Developers say Zanoni immediately accused them of a crime in that meeting.” said Dolcefino.
It’s been spun into a narrative the developer pulled a fast one… altering a government document with an intent to defraud taxpayers… it was the date on a press release.
“At the end of the day, it is categorically untrue.” Ramirez states.
“I think this is manufactured controversy,” said Barrera
“That has taken up a ton of time and money in a town facing real water issues.” said Dolcefino.
“And even though Ajit’s lawsuit is costing taxpayers a ton of money… councilmembers seem to be on his side… not yours… and we’ve started calling them the foolish five.” said Dolcefino.
“Remember their names.” Dolcefino states.
“We’ve got new emails… wait till you see who has egg on their face.” said Wayne.
“And our waste fraud and abuse complaint alleging Ajit David’s company cheated taxpayers on building permits fees.” said Dolcefino.
“It seems like the whole city is compromised. I know what you know and the perception of it is not good.” said Guajardo.
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