Judge orders city to cough up recycling emails
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State District Judge orders the City to release Houston recycling emails
State District Judge Kristen Hawkins has ordered the City of Houston to release potentially damaging e-mails on the scandal ridden Houston recycling contracts.
The court order compels the City of Houston to produce e-mails illegally withheld from Dolcefino Consulting and ECOHUB by January 5, 2018. The judge has also ordered the City to turn over for her inspection, thousands of e-mails the Texas Attorney General has allowed the City to keep from the public.
“This is a major victory for the public’s right to know,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “Houston taxpayers owe a debt of gratitude to Stewart Hoffer of Hicks Thomas law firm. I know we do. They have fought for transparency at Houston City Hall.”
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At a court hearing this week, Hoffer proved the City was improperly hiding e-mails, including documents that detail possible bid rigging and ethical misconduct by Houston garbage boss Harry Hayes.
ECOHUB is a recycling firm that has offered to save the City of Houston up to $40 million dollars a year in recycling costs, eliminating two-thirds of garbage routes and the need for landfills. Instead of taking advantage of the offer to even share profits, Mayor Sylvester Turner has opted instead to give tax breaks to a Spanish firm and wants to give them a 20-year contract even though they will cost Houstonians millions more than necessary.
“It is not too late to delay this vote, so that Houstonians will know the whole truth,” says George Gitschel, founder of ECOHUB. “We stand ready to help Houston save millions of dollars and help the environment at the same time.”
The Mayor is scheduling a City Council vote on the controversial FCC Contract for Wednesday morning, despite growing complaints by Council Members that the process of picking the company is flawed. One of FCC’s owners is political power broker George Soros.
Judge Hawkins also reminded City lawyers the Mayor must turn over recycling records from his private e-mail account requested by Dolcefino Consulting.
“Judge Hawkins should be commended. Her ruling is a victory for the public right to know, for transparency, and for good government,” says Dolcefino.
Please contact Wayne Dolcefino at 713-360-6911 for interviews.
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