Mr. Royal's is not a new name in the TYC saga. He was the point man charged with being the Governor's "eyes and ears" when the Pyote scandal was first reported. The Dallas News investigation put Royal at the center of whatever information flow existed between TYC and state officials about the West Texas sex scandal, but he apparently did not pass on the hot-button information, the News reported last March ("Mistakes, mismanagement wrecked TYC," March 13, 2007):
In February 2005, when the governor's office learned of the Ranger's sex-abuse investigation in Pyote, a 36-year-old junior staffer named Alfonso Royal was Mr. Perry's liaison to TYC. He had been on the job just over three months.
One of 32 analysts in the governor's budget office, Mr. Royal has refused to comment. His office calendar and e-mail records show more than 20 contacts with TYC officials or board members between February 2005 and February 2007.
Mr. Royal's job was to be the governor's eyes and ears with TYC, said Robert Black, Mr. Perry's press secretary. "The governor expects the budget, planning and policy folks to be problem solvers. They have some latitude - a lot of latitude, actually - to work with the state agencies to solve problems to implement law, to govern," he said.
During that two-year period, records show, Mr. Royal had two one-on-one meetings with TYC executive director Harris. He also met with unnamed TYC staff members, visited two TYC units and attended 11 TYC board meetings.
From June 2005 until October 2006, press secretary Black said, Mr. Royal learned no new information on the West Texas investigation, and the governor's office believed it was proceeding.
But around Nov. 1, 2006, Alison Brock, chief of staff for Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, told Mr. Royal that there had been no movement on the case and provide him with a copy of Ranger Brian Burzynski's graphic 229-page report. "He was concerned," she recalled.
The governor's spokesman said that when Mr. Royal found out, "he did what he thought was the right thing to do and that was to call the D.A. and call the Ranger, call the A.G. He did what he thought was actionable and what we would expect him to do."
It was not clear whom in the governor's office Mr. Royal told about the West Texas investigation, or when. Mr. Black at first said he told no one, then said he assumed Mr. Royal had informed senior staff during the 2005 legislative session and again late last year.
Gov. Perry was never informed, Mr Black said.
Can the list of advisers Gov. Perry trusts on this matter be so short that he couldn't find somebody whose name wasn't at the center of covering up the original sex scandal that caused this mess? To my mind, the appointment makes little sense. Mr. Royal already had the chance to be the Governor's eyes and ears on this topic, and he failed to pass critical information up the ladder. It seems crazy to assign him that same role again.
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128 comments:
I would have to disagree, based upon this dialogue then Whitemire and others should step aside as well. At this juncture in the TYC "Saga" it should be re-assuring to have somebody in this role to understand how we got where we are. I do not see nor have I heard anything that Royal did that should negatively impact him in this position.
"Chuy"
With Perry putting his errand boy in as Chief of Staff, you can rest assured that anyone else remaining in TYC that ever tried to make Perry or his cronies look bad will be immediately tossed out on their ear with a nice pink slip stuck up their rear. And, he has effectively placed a land mine in front of Nedlekoff should he make any meaningful staff "adjustment" moves to correct the TDCJ buddy influx or the placement of imbiciles in positions they have no business being in. Sounds like Perry now has the ability to choke the good Conservator's movements should he step in any direction Perry doesn't like. Good chess move Perry. You're such a prick.
I dont see it this way, how about we get Mickey Neal back and then you can be happy. Talk about incompetent.
Seems the whole thing can be summed up in your final sentence with "crazy" being the operative word.
This is not surprising or a bad move IMO. Don't forget that the gov has no interest in keeping the agency under conservatorship. He wants every state agency to be running smoothly. This is not a message of his control, but a win -win to get Mr. Royal out of his current office and assure the gov when the agency is ready to run itself again. Conveniently, it also sends a message to the lege about who's really in charge here.
TYC has already been the dumping ground for Owens and Pope. Now Royal.
My God the man has no sense of direction. Kimbrough, Harrell, Owens, Pope, Nedelkoff, Royal. It is enough to make your head spin.
The don't think the Governor is foolish enough to back someone who was involved with the coverup and I am certain the Conservator is not. You shouldn't believe everything you read in the papers and nothing Mike Ward writes. Besides, I have heard the Ombudsman say positive things about Royal during the last two or three hearings. I'd like to hear Royal's side of the story but I sure won't jump on the bandwagon against him.
Unless Nedelkoff himself releases a statement that he ASKED for Alfonso, TYC employees will probably continue to believe all their pain and anxiety for the last 12 months is all just politics and covering for poor performance. On his first day on the job, Mr. Royal should call in all the CO employees still left from January 2007 and apologize to them.
Alfonso is one of the few who could have acted in 2005 and diverted so much distruction. After all, it was not so mucn the alleged sexual abuse but the perceived covering up that brought down the fire and brimstone.
Perry should now appoint Randall Reynolds from Ward County as TYC's new General Counsel.
Grits,
What is the real story here. Is this guy real or what? I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Seems like everyone associated with this issues is gone but he is still around and infact been promoted. Do you think he will talk to someone about what really happened?
TYC is a lost cause. Not one of us left at TYC can think for a second our future is secure! Just when we thought there was hope for TYC the governor strikes again. Fool me once; shame on you, fool me twice; shame on me!
There's also the possibility, if not likelihood, that Royal told Perry, but like a good soldier, didn't admit it when it became an issue. Now he's being rewarded.
There was only one evil genius in the whole scandel, and that was Ray Brookins. The state's(government, media, and citizens) reaction to this has been a confederacy of dunces. God couldn't fix the mess that TYC is now. The sad result is the young criminals of this state are getting the message that they can commit crimes and, at most, they will spend a little time at a summer camp.
Gov Goodhair's errand boy is another mark of his own incompetence.
Any hope for intelligent government in Texas lies in throwing the Bastards out.
I really enjoy all of you self righteous ones who blog about Royal but really know nothing about what he did or did not do. I do not personally know him but have been with this agency for almost 20 years and have read all the reports about WTSS, saw the hearings, etc and cannot say Royal knew anything other than what he reported. The question should be why did the Gov and Ledge not respond sooner based upon what they were told.
Once again the majority of you people jump on the bandwagon of pointing fingers and crying wolf when none of us have all the facts. So a low level staffer like Royal couls have saved the day, get real, these past 9 months really must have been tough on some of you.
Last time I checked Brookins and Hernandez are walking the streets, must be a conspiracy there too huh???
The people who helped in the cover up have all been rewarded. Royal gets a job at TYC, Barnard didn't get arrested, Parsee got a job teaching at TSTC - Waco Campus with no conviction. No doubt there are others I failed to mention. If you little people haven't figured it out - nothing is going to happen to the damage control team at TYC because they took care of the big people!
We now have the good cop - bad cop team in place at TYC so you won't have a clear picture of who is screwing who.
Thank God I am days away from the rule of 80 and I have a retirement job lined up in the real world. I am so tired of the lies and BS. Don't bother telling me I am a disgruntled employee because I admit it. It has taken many years but I have come to hate working at TYC. Wanda King has been so helpful in making me the disgruntled employee I have become. Her hatred for white men like me is too ovious. Who could have ever thought she was mangement material. Oh I remember it was Pope the white people hater.
All you back stabbing, ass kissing fellow employees can kiss my ass. I am free at last!
What else is new?
Politics in Texas is definately a blood sport.
The more I read, the more I understand why I don't like politics. I just cannot stand the idea that folks obtain their position because they're good at covering for their boss and have no other meaningful skills.
TYC's mission statement should read "Cover your boss's ass and get a......head".
I hope this new chief of staff doesn't do too much damage.
Let's not be foolish. We all know that Royal will be the new executive director. He's been lobbying for the job since this scandal broke.
Perhaps Royal is the price Nedelkoff had to pay to get his other choices in. It shouldn't long as chief of staff to convince Royal he does not want to face Whitmire with no correctins, no administrative and no political skills.
March 4, 2008
Dear TYC Staff,
I’m pleased to tell you about some executive leadership decisions I’ve made for TYC. Today, I announced the hiring of Dianne L. Gadow as the Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Treatment, James D. Smith as the Deputy Commissioner for Residential and Parole Services, and Leticia Peña Martinez as the Deputy Commissioner for Planning and Policy. I also hired Alfonso Royal as Chief of Staff and Alan ‘Chip’ Walters who will serve as James Smith’s deputy. These executive positions are critical pieces of the management structure I am creating to help rebuild the agency and I am excited about all of the people who have accepted the challenges that come with these new jobs.
Because you don’t yet know some of these public servants, allow me to introduce them to you:
http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/reform/rn_conservator_3-4-08.html
TYC's mission statement should read "Cover your boss's ass and get a......head".
yep that's RIGHT. I guess I should of covered Cynthia Ellis and Christi Goods ass better.
But than I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
All the lies and coverup and ROBIN M. agrees w/ the bitches.
The chief of staff position is essentially TYC's lobbyist, whose job it is to keep up relations with the legislature and the governor's office. Royal is qualified to do that.
Howard A. Hickman
Howard: and just how well will Royal do with Whitmire? My understanding is that Whitmire and Perry are not exactly on friendly terms.
It is the same old game at TYC; the lying and cover up continues. Today at the Mart unit a youth in handcuffs made it to the roof of the AMP Unit. Wanda King was the administrator in charge while the situation developed at the Mart Unit. When Ms. King was contacted by local TV media she flat out lied and told them no such thing had occurred. The event was witnessed by numerous people including Star Team members who were called out.
Wanda King is part of the old administration from the days of cover up and was promoted to Assistant Superintendent by Ms. Pope her close friend. Today’s cover up of a major incident at Mart and the recent appointment of Mr. Royal as Chief of Staff of TYC Central Office should make it very clear to all only some of the names have changed but it is still the same mode of operation at TYC. Lie and cover up is the order of the day, every day at TYC.
I am more than curious as to how a youth was able to walk away from AMP Unit staff and get on the roof of the building undetected. Are there so few officers on duty or were they so poorly trained the youth could wander off? NO doubt some unfortunate low level staff member will take the full blame for today’s incident.
I challenge any Mart staff who witnessed the event to contact the local TV media news department. You can speak up or be part of the cover up; it is your choice.
Late Addition – After continued questioning Wanda King has admitted there was an incident at Mark but refuses to give a statement. It appears local media received so many calls on the incident they pressed Ms. King and she admitted the previous information given to the media was false. At least Ms. King told the truth about lying!
Howard, that's sure not what Pope or Mickey Neal did in that position. They were firing people!
Students at all the units will be on the roofs after the email we got today. As we all know...word spreads between the kids all over the system faster that it does between staff! Today, Tim Savoy, in his "TYC Spotlight", ran an article about the kids at Evins getting on the roof of the building where he was quoted as saying, "It shows you that there's still a kid in there - a kid that can be reached and saved." Are we going to be climbing on the roofs in order to save them? What makes it funny is it's absurdity. The article also said, "TYC officials described the act of defiance as relatively minor, saying it merely shows the inmates are still young at heart." Makes ya just want to burst into song, doesn't it? Good Grief..this is dangerous, defiant behavior that shows a lack of respect for rules and authority which may just be a few steps from sticking a gun in your face and taking your car. WHAT IS THE DEAL?? Now they are on the roofs at Mart. Wonderful!
Mr. Black, Perry's spokesman, is quoted in the Statesman saying, "Governor Perry is well aware of where the buck stops...Folks shouldn't be surprised that the governor wants someone he knows and trusts on hand in the state agency." So, the Governor IS taking the blame for his office's inattention to detail in 2005 and 2006? So, now he inserts Royal (who claims he never told Perry about WTX) into a position where Royal can continue to insulate him from the issues that can cause political difficulties? Black's statement speaks volumes. Someone please explain this to me!
"And the beat goes on"!
Retired 2004
It means just as it reads. Does anyone know how the Governor's aides work with him? Howard shed some light on the process.
The Chief of Staff position has been changed fairly dramatically since the days of being a liaison with the Lege. Don't count on this position being the primary legislative person. From what I hear, he's going to be busy supervising several key departments.
From what I have seen, the chief of staff position is whatever you make it. For pope, it was the office of the axman.
Back when Joy Anderson held the post it was primarily legislative liason and public relations.
Well now that they have chosen the leadership team in CO who will lead us, which I must say is impressive, what will they do with the Juvenile Corrections Regional Directors? These were place by Billy Humphrey based upon loyalty to him and not qualifications for the job.
To make the mart situation even worse, can you believe that the youth from AMP who climbed to the top of the roof, was in handcuffs the whole time. He also had a basketball on the roof threatening to throw the basketball at any staff who attempted to remove him from the roof. Youth stayed on the roof for over 4 hours before he finally came down. This is no joke and I am not exageratting, this really happened.
The AMP unit is unsafe, there is no programming the youth stay locked in their cells the majority of the time because there is no staff avaliable to run time, so they can be out. Staff are tired from constantly working 12 hour shifts. If your dorm is short you cannot have a staff from another dorm work your dorm, you hold the staff over on a 12 and let the other staff go home or sit around on their dorm and do nothing, this is suppose to crate accountability for each dorm, punishing the staff that come to work for the ones on their dorm that don't come. So you wonder how staff can't properly supervise youth on the AMP unit, they work at least four 12's a week. JCO staff are tired, you have staff leaving the picket unattended and going on the dorms, and getting locked on the dorm with the youth. JCO staff are mentally and physically drained, there is no direction from the administrators in charge, Mart 1 need help, after all this is orientation if the staff are not sure of what need to be done, how can they teach the youth.
I really don't see how climbing up on a roof is the same as sticking a gun in someone's face. I could see how assaulting a staff might be close to sticking a gun in someone's face. Care to explain how climbing the roof is dangerous, defiant behavior one step away from armed robbery or assualt with a deadly weapon?
Nedelkoff is starting to make Owens and Pope look good. At least they met with TYC staff on going before making major decisions. Nedelkoff apparently is listening to only a few people before making his own decisions or the few that have his ear are making them for him. He has been quoted as saying that he doesn't dictate or read his own memos or directives. So how do we know who is really running the TYC? Hard to believe Nedelkoff would promote Chip Walters. Did he not bother to read Chip's personnel file? WOW. Talk about a walking time bomb. The media will have a field day with this one. FYI Employees of TYC: remember that if you get a DWI while driving a state vehicle, no problem. Just call good ole boy Allen Steen and he will have it stricken from your record. It never happened, or did it? And of course this means that Eddie will be transferred back to Giddings. He was forced to transfer to Evins because of the incident where he used pepper spray on the youths in the tree. He denied it of course. But the video tells the truth and all Eddie can say is are you going to believe me or your lying eyes? And if that action wasn't bad enough he goes to Evins and makes sexual and degrading remarks to non-male staff (women).
So far being a conservator of the TYC appears to be a career death sentence. The good ole boy system used for years at TYC appears to be in place again and doing well. Will the corruption never end. I understand wanting to bring your own "good" people with you but to bring in people with computer backgrounds and or house mother experience doesn't do much to help with the decisions that need to be made with regards to the operations of the TYC. Bottom line? The youth are still being subjected to the same good ole boy system (corruption) and good employees that do not look the other way or punished. Will it ever end
And you all thought Chip and Eddie were the shining stars of the agency. Chip fakes the funk like no other person on earth can ever hope to and Eddie just happens to be the right... Just when we think Big Ned was heading in the right direction, he proves that he's fallible like the rest. Time will tell just how much.
You all just don't get it. STILL!!!
The agency is a failure. No person, "good ole boy" or not can fix it. The contracts are coming boys and girls. Get out now while you can.
The kid on the roof at Mart was there because he was being abused in the AMP unit. Hell where else can a kid go to escape the abuse of Wanda King and her tribe. I heard she chased the kid back and forth threatening him with more AMP time. That was the problem in the first place, his time was up and nobody would listen to him or let him back into population.
What the HELL is going on Ms. King. Do you know. Hell no you don't know.
A while back I commented that Mr. Ned was not going to be the savior of TYC and drew heavy fire for my position. Now that reality has reared its ugly head I feel it is time for me to say; “I told ya!”….
To 9:53...students DO have to exhibit chronic aggressive behavior in order to EARN their way to the Aggression Management Unit. Just a week or so ago several students on that unit created a distraction and one hit a caseworker in the head with a flashlight. Dangerous? C'mon, if you don't think it is dangerous for a student to climb on top of an aluminum building (maybe you don't know the height of these buildings?) where he could fall, or throw something down on someone else then I am not about to explain it to you. It remains, in my opinion only, dangerous and deviant behavior.
Some people love to be miserable, and love bringing other people down in the pit with them.
Hot off the grapevine... Neds newest appointment has reported to work and there have been no announcements. How can he justify bringing in a new assistant superintendent at VictoryField as a Manager III - B15 ??? He obviously didn't read the policy and procedures and HR manual either. Other hard working TYC assistant supervisors are Mgrs II -14s. Can he legally do this Wade? Oh, you probably haven't gotten around to reading the policies and procedures manuals either. But boy I bet you are good on a Dell laptop! At TYC it isn't how hard you work or how good you do your job, it's who you know. And obviously there are a lot of people loyal and indebted to Ned. Who doesn't want to be a B-15 and not even have to go through an interview process or have the proper qualifications. Sounds good to me. Wonder how long it will last though. I hope the Don't buy any new cars yet.
Ned also sent out an email to VF to assure all that he was NOT closing it down. He can't even read the writing on the wall, how can we expec him to read his own emails/memos. If this doesn't take Ned down then the Chip appointment will for sure. Talk about a corrupt system. It's the walking tall cowboy mentality that has started the avalanche. Once it gets rolling there will be no stopping it and Perry will have no choice but to ask for his resignation. Gotta do your homework guys. You just don't walk in to a new facility / new position and start barking orders, promotions, demotions, new appointments with out reading what has gone on before you. You get in bed with the hogs and you will get some mudd on ya for sure. Bringing in his own people hasn't helped him so far. He had good people on staff and didn't take the time to even meet them.
And you talk about HR? The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Even HR has been quoted as saying "they can't do that. he can't do that. That's not the way it's done. That's illegal." Pretty bad when HRs staff knows that TYC's new management /conserator and friends are breaking the rules and not following proper protocol.
Anon too.
I think it's truely sad. I started working at TYC to help the youth. Now we the staff need help, a youth can physically beat the hell out of you, he may have a mock hearing in which the paperwork will either come up missing or some paperwork error will have that same youth (18 yr old back) in your face the next day, laughing calling you a bitch, telling you watch how he does you the next time. THANKS LAURA (SIDEBURNS) BRALY and WANDA (NO DISTINCTIVE SHAPE, I GUESS OBLONG) KING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. As soon as anyone I gave an application to calls me. At this point, I see Mart tumbling down. There is no direction and basically the youth run the facilty. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO THE ONES WHO HAVE NOT HEARD, MART IS VERY UNSAFE. King and Braly are too busy bringing "THEIR OWN" and placing them in position they are definetly not qualified for. If you go on a tour, refuse to go on the dorms because the supervisors do and after all they are supervisors so they must know something.
Didn't I hear something about 2 out of 4 of the caseworkers getting assaulted on the AMP unit just last month?
It's bad all over. Rumor has it that one of the ADOs at Crockett is facing criminal charges for spraying a kid during the riots last month. What do you bet TYC throws him/her to the wolves?
Folks posting on here need to get your facts straight and not rely on rumors. It's a shame most of you are so bitter and not much will make you happy. Damned if you do...damned if you don't.
If they have criminal charges then it must be more than just spraying, if that was the case over 100 staff in TYC would have criminal charges filed on them for "just spraying".
Why are you people talking smack about Walters, he is one of our own and he has made it from a JCO alll the way to this current position. Move on and quit throwing dirt, bunch of wolves, cowardly at that.
9:03 - That's my point. That's the scariest part. Local admin. saw nothing wrong with the incident but all of the sudden, OIG says it's criminal.
Everyone praises the OIG but who knows what they are really looking at and how these investigations are being conducted. It will be interesting when the facts come out. Everything is political.
I think Melody Vidaurri needs to get her facts straight. What a flunk. There's no doubt she's posting her bullshit here. She's pissed off that she got replaced and justifiably so. She had no respect in the field – and hated Walters and Steen.
Give it up Melody Vidaurri.
Bronco Billy is gone. So is your Pope.
- Evins Staff
- “better without you.”
OIG cannot just say something is criminal and local administration cannot tell OIG something is not criminal. The OIG can only take cases up through the court system and the judge will determine if it will proceed or not, generally the Grand Jury for every county has this responsibility and they can no bill any case that does not meet the criteria for a criminal case. The OIG does not have the power to convict anyone, my point is if a staff "Just" sprayed a youth this would not be grounds for a criminal charge unless your not getting the whole story about what took place. TYC has had numerous youth get sprayed over the past few months and I would hope that they were not all being charged with a crime. Where I work we have been seeing over 20 sprayings a month and the stff are not being marched off to court.
But are TYC and OIG on "the same page"? I see the point you are making 9:30am. I have often wondered, are we training our staff to protect themselves legally, especially when we change the instructions from day to day or hour to hour. If in fact local administration saw no problem with an incident and then OIG began and investigaiton into the same incident, that is a potentially HUGE problem.
But think of all the damage that can be done to a person and their family while OIG is testing these cases through the court system, etc. I agree 9:03 - TYC will never back someone going through this. Does anyone have any facts on this or are we going from rumors?
The last one should say:
I agree, 8:49
The real question is does local administration really see no violation with the incident or is that what they are telling the staff member. Who really believes they can get a straight, honest answer from supervisors these days? They may tell someone they did a good job and then fire them anyway just to keep the heat off of them, especially if OIG is involved.
Do TYC employees routinely bring an attorney with them for an interview with an OIG? Maybe they should.
If this is going to be the standrad procedures, I think the asnwer should be YES. The policy states clearly that you cannot be punished or accused of not cooperating if you take your RIGHT to remain silent.
However, what State employee has extra money for an attorney everytime someone decides you should be investigated?
Everyone with the facts cannot talk about it. It is real.
If the OIGs are certified peace officers, they have the power to arrest, so I would not want to be interviewed by one without an attorney or some sort of advocate along.
But I can see that if you really have nothing to hide and think you were right, you do not want to appear uncooperative and I agree, who has an attorney just waiting to represent you and who wants to spend the money, especially if you think you acted within policy?
I had my 15 minutes of "Hope" for TYC and after today I am more sure than ever that TYC is going, gone to Hell in a Handbasket and is never going to change on the inside. It may change on the "outside, looking in" but never on the inside!
I read this blog daily and I feel the pain that I read. I know that some are telling it just like it is. A big pile of cowpatties and the dodo birds are circling the patty.
Lookin for a job!
Speaking of....does anyone know what attorney(s) is representing TYC staff who have been terminated is all of this mess? If someone needed legal counsel at this point in the game, it would take a while to brief someone not familiar with the current mess that is TYC.
What happened today 11:08pm?
Congratulations Chip!! There are many of us in the agency that are happy for you and a great deal of faith in your abilities. You did an amazing when you had to oversee Mart I, II and Giddings at the same time while trying to clean up messes left by other people.
The youth at each facility have described you as fair and consistent and because of this they trust you. You have shown that it is possible to support your staff and your youth at the same time and they respect you for that.
Those that want to criticize Mr. Nedelkoff's decision should go to Giddings and Mart and talk to the, staff, the youth and the parents and listen to their opinion of Chip. I doubt that you could go to any other facility right now and pull 30 random youth and hear reports even remotely comparable to the positive reports you would receive about the job Chip is doing.
Mr. Nedelkoff testified that he believed that TYC was ready to heal and I hope we don't prove him wrong. The agency will never overcome the damage that has been done until we learn to support and encourage each other instead of tearing each other apart.
The upside of anonymous postings is that we can post here without fear of retaliation. The downside is that we can post here without fear of being held accountable for lies, rumors ahd hatemongering. Old Salty.
"Mr. Nedelkoff testified that he believed that TYC was ready to heal and I hope we don't prove him wrong."
These are wise words, and I hope y'all heed them. I don't censor y'all down here because I have no way of knowing who's right or wrong, but I share Salty's concern that too often these comment sections are used for "lies, rumors and hatemongering" that harm the agency. Perhaps that's their goal. But the agency won't regain an honorable reputation until the people involved with it begin to behave honorably, not just when they're accountable but when they're alone and anonymous. That's a fact; occasional irresponsible blog comments are only a symptom of broader ethical challenges.
Please behave better, people (and if it doesn't apply to your comments, then I'm not talking to you). Act like you deserve the faith Mr. N is showing you by going out on a limb on your behalf.
Wood is not going to say anything, if improper things are being done with promotions, salaries, etc. She isn't much of a leader.
She's too worried trying to keep her job. Pope is not there to save her. Or maybe she's spending too much trying to find the interview pool that got stolen from her car.
Change takes time, especially if it is to be done right. There are no miracles or quick fixes.
TYC is populated by firefighters, if there wasn't one to put out (or fan the flames on) many would create one.
I am no fan of Chip's, he's a bit too autocratic for my taste but giving the current field of competent canidates is TYC he leads the pack.
Relax, go to your doctor and get some buspar or benzos (Xanax is quicker but Klonipin is better) and chill. Jumping up and down and screaming and undercutting only re-inforces the problem.
The same person is responsible for running TYC today and in the past; Governor Rick Perry. There has been no real change at the Top of the Heap so why would anyone expect sweeping changes in TYC. The obvious is hiding in plain sight! I feel sorry for all of you who think the Governor or his appointees are trying to rebuild TYC. There is no money for him in rebuilding TYC. On the other hand, destroying TYC opens up many possibilities to make a dollar for the governor and many of his supporters.
Evins stinks and most staff that work here are the worst on the planet. We will never be happy with who they put here. To Old Salty I say "yes, because of the anonymity I can post facts here without fear".
Who's the new assistant superintendent at Victory Field?
Anyway, Nedelkoff didn't say VFCA wasn't *ever* closing, he said not in this biennium.
To all current and former TYC employees:
You each have/had a thankless job, you are in an agency that gives the residents more rights than you or I have. It is tough to watch co-workers, friends get assaulted and nothing happen to the youth that assaulted them. Nothing is worse than not knowing what your career, your future holds in store. It is difficult to stand by and read all of the negative comments in the papers, in the reports, and on here. You have a difficult job - each department - the JCO's, the Case Manager's, Admin., Education, everyone. You do not get the credit you deserve and you certainly are not getting the tools from TYC to help "resocialize" or reintegrate or whatever they are calling it now. I can imagine how difficult it is just trying to keep the peace in each facility. You are a remarkable group of people. However, writing negative comments about your co-workers, dragging other through the mud, placing blame on people or things that it appears you do not really have a clue about is exactly what Pope and her posse did. We all criticized Pope for doing exactly what is going on here in this blog. Don't get me wrong I witnessed her wrath and am a firm believer in Karma - so she got hers. But, don't fall victim to the game. I no longer work for TYC and quite frankly am thankful for that. But, improvements generally start from the top and roll down, that has not happened yet, so start a new trend. Start making the improvements at each facility and stop fighting against one another, you will never get anything accomplished. I was never the "tree-hugger" type, but I always stood for what I felt was right, most of the time that was the staff that worked my dorm or my supervisor or whomever. Bitching on here is not solving the problem. Anyone can complain, few can lead.
I thionk it better to say that few are willing to lead and fewer are willing to do the work necessary to get the job done.
7:52 -- that was hysterical....
It's interesting she didn't get fired for that. That would suck if those candidates had their identities stolen. Then the agency would definitely be under scrutiny..... another wannabe VA scandal. Can you imagine your social security number and tx driver license in the hands of a criminal?
6:44: One of the unrecognized benefits of working for the state and TYC in particular is that having your identity stolen could be to your advantage. With my income and outgo, better someone else had it than me; that is why I sign everything anonymous.
now that was funny! Pope stole my credit.
Who has the best breakfast taco in ATX? I have to come down there and give a spill, and I said I'd bring tacos. Where should I go? I'm coming from California, so please try to direct me from the Marriot at the airport. I think thats 183 or something close.
Pamela
To: 6:44
It did happened, Wood left an entire interview pool on her car and it got stolen. I'm surprised that TYC hasn't done anything about it.
Here's one for you, Jeff Berry will be the new Supt. at Giddings.
Good ole boy! It lives and breaths... in Texas.
Are you saying Berry is not qualified?
Man - this guy is impressive. I wished he'd become our executive commish...
TYC staff,
It has been an exciting week and a real turning point for our agency. We now have most of our senior management team named and soon they will all be on the job and heavily involved in our rebuilding efforts. As we move forward, I want to emphasize the importance of our Vision & Framework document. For those of you who have not had a chance to see the document in its full publication appearance, now you can access it on the TYC website at the following link, and then by clicking on ‘see a .pdf version of the printed report’ in the upper right-hand corner of the page: http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/reform/framework.html
This document is not just a booklet of words. It is truly our blueprint for change, representing who we are as an agency and what we are all about. As you think of improvements and changes you’d like to see, think of them in terms of how they will fit into the priorities outlined in the Vision & Framework booklet. I’m proud of our potential and I remain optimistic that together we will create a TYC that makes meaningful differences for youth and one in which all Texans can take pride.
I want to thank the hundreds of you who have submitted suggestions, comments and concerns to my email addresses. There are many good ideas and also real problems that must be addressed in this agency. I’m reading your emails and responding as fast as I can. If you have not yet received a response, you’ll get one soon. I appreciate your patience and the time you took to express your thoughts. The tremendous response I’m seeing from all of you is indication enough that we have an agency of people who genuinely care about our youth and want to see TYC reach its full potential. We will get there.
Have a great weekend.
My best,
Richard
Is Jeff Berry really the new Superintendent at Giddings? That is excellent, congratulations Jeff!
He is honest and fair and the youth who know him respect him. He will be a good Superintendent and after the hell he has gone through he has earned a shot at the opportunity.
Good Luck Jeff!!
And so it goes, some things never change. I'm personally happy for Jeff Berry if what is being said is true. It's just a shame that other, equally qualified individuals are not even permitted the opportunity to compete for the position. I thought Pope-a-Dope and Broncho Billy were gone. Maybe it's time to consider a career change? Maybe all we need is a kiss...I love being kissed while I'm being screwed!
I have to agree on Berry. He was fair.
Get over it. Just let it go.
You were saved by getting out of Evins. Be thankful. That place would've killed your career. You know it, I know it. Just let it go.
" Anonymous said...
Man - this guy is impressive. I wished he'd become our executive commish..."
Posted by Mr. Ned's mom
Vision & Framework document plan will actually happen shortly after you see pigs flying. Mr. Ned you can't Xerox enough money to pay for your pipe dream and the Texas Legislature sure isn't going to give it to you. Dude you don't have enough money to run TYC at its current level. TYC youth will have to be released and employees laid off to stay in budget as it is.
Well momma, I'd run a thousand miles and more for your child. It's such a relief to have him on board. I hope he stays with us. He knows and understands what we're facing. Nedelkoff has our support -no doubt about it.
Richard Nedelkoff is the real deal, and we'll take him.
Naysayers - move on.
Bronco Billy, it's too late. We crowned our King, and no, you're not it Plankton.
Move on with your Krusty Krab.
9:26,
I keep hearing that reform in TYC takes money, but are you sure that's all it will take? Perhaps with a little willingness to think "yes, we can do it" instead of "no, it's impossible" Mr. Nedelkoff will be able to achieve far more than the previous naysayers (Not Pope & Co, but Harris et al) thought was possible.
I wish Mr.Ned.lots of luck and I hope he can pull this off. I hope he can change the attitudes of some of these Power tripping supervisiors at all levels if he wants happy staff and happy kids. We all know the answer to that one!
But his first plan needs to be get the kids that are in TYC in CONTROL and FAST. As everyone knows on this blog, kids are running TYC at the present time. They know we can't do anything to punish them for their acts of violence, lack of education motivation, and they don't give a rats ass what we say to them at this point. Ask them to pull up their pants , they say FKNKEK YOU! Ask them to take a time out, they say FKDDKD YOU BITCH. If they hit you, they are back on a dorm in five minutes. You all know the drill, no need for me to continue with what is Really going on in TYC.
So please Mr.Ned. fix this first and then see if you can fix staff.
Mr. N needs to let go of the power tripping supervisors first. They determine the prevailing attitude of the facility. The kids pick up on this fact and attempt to run the facility and power struggles between them pop up. Kids nor employees are safe in this type of environment. Superintendents still can't come to grips with the fact that they don't supervise all departments and are so busy with that power struggle that the dorm issues are secondary to them.
Regionals believe superintendents will have to do what they dictate. The sad thing is that some regionals were not promoted on the basis of qualifications and are inept in handling the job. Retaliation, favoritism and secrecy are rearing its ughly head among regional superintendents.
The WTSS regional superintendent is a classic example of ineptness and embarassment. He is totally ill-equipped to handle the job!!
As a person, he's nice and can be likeable but as a manager, he doesn't cut it. He maybe selling his line to central office but out in the field, we know better.
The facility supt is so power hungry that he won't accept input from anyone. No one is going to tell him how to run the facility, it's his facility and he'll run it. It's no-win situation with him and he needs to take a look at transferring. When someone becomes that territorial, it's time go elsewhere. Perhaps a career change would be best at this point. He needs to take his secretary with him, she is the root of many problems throughout the facility. She has alienated staff and created a hostile working environment. It's really sad when someone in a position such as hers cannot be fair and objective with all employees. Again, nothing personal against her but a facility is only as good as its superintendent and his staff.
Some people can talk the talk but absolutely can't walk it. Some people are book smart but can't put what they know into practice and lack people skills. Mr. N hopefully you know the difference between bull and real because the regional supt over WTSS is a classic example of what 10:59 p.m. is trying to say.
10:59 p.m. let's hope your cry is heard before it's too late. Perhaps emailing Mr. N with your concerns will help your facility before its too late! Kids need structure & consistency. When mangement lacks these skills, the facility and kids suffer.
TYC employees don't have anything personal against administrators but are frustrated that central office cannot see that most of these supervisors lack, management skills, are power hungry, have no tact with employees, will not make decisions, will not allow anyone else to make decisions and so folks you have a facility in turmoil and kids that run amok! It does not matter how many management classes they are sent to; upon return they revert to the same practice. Kinda like the kids when they are sent back to the same neighborhood and revert back to their old ways!
Hang in there 10:59 p.m.
Evins = Suicide Mission
They meaning the guys and gals in CO have a "fix" for these so called power tripping supervisors and managers. They have devised a focus group that will begin meeting in two weeks in CO to come up with a plan or a training module to make supervisors and managers better. The group will comprise of JCO III's all the way up to a Superintendent. What I find laughable about all of this is the people who place all of these ill-equiped supervisors and managers in their current positions in the first place.
If you place incompetent staff in positions they were never qualified for in the first place guess what, there is not magic bullet to fix them. Just look at all of the Assistants, Superintendents, and Regionals that were put in place because they understood what "Yes Sir Boss" meant. Any moron should know that training these underachievers will be a monumentous task that frankly will result in a failed experiment.
They won't be able to fix or train any underachieving morons for supervisory positions until they can find a way to stop attacting the dull normal (read that possibly or slightly retarded individuals) they hire for JCO and CSW staff. One way is to stop the automatic step increases in pay without any standards based reasoning. They don't want us to be like TDCJ then they should make the system achievement and work attendance based. Increases in pay should depend on continuing education and minimum scores with true skills based training and testing. Too many, WAY TOO MANY, of these so called dedicated and professional staff are there simply because they want $2200 to $2649 to $3000 + dollars a month. They can't command that salary anywhere else because of their lack of ability and their friends and releatives encourage them to come over to the facility and suck it up like the rest. Start at the bottom first and work to the top.
WELL SAID 10:26!! You should repost this on a newer blog string so more people will see it. Your ideas make a lot of sense!
Better yet...SEND IT TO MR.N.
Please, you can't send people to trainings and expect these people to change. It will not happen. We have a supervisor that they have spent tons of money on trying to fix it. Mediation, training after training and it comes back worse than it left. It will never change and the hell it puts us thru everyday is unbearable. I call it and IT to keep from saying him or her.
No training or any thing short of a miracle can fit IT. Has not happen in 4 years and it is never going to happen until they fire IT or IT quits!
The fact of the matter is that YOU CAN NOT CHANGE PERSONALITIES and you can NOT CHANGE MORALES of those who are TRUE SOCIOPATHS that have made it into the system.
This one will snarl at the trainers who IT KnOWS is talking right at them. TYC Trainers have said that IT can not be FIXED and IT is still working and causing the same crap as it always has.
This has been documented at TYC and they know how IT is, but they continue to let IT work for this system. GO figure, change for employees. Never happen.
I am not referring to the one that works at the place , that its employees take over this blog when their IT is mentioned. Ha. Its another IT.
Which IT is it? Ha. I'm dying to know. I'm guessing IT is a woman b/c if IT were a man there you wouldn't bother to hide IT's gender. There are too many of them that are men for us to be able to identify IT if it were a man.
Which female superintendents & assistant sups have been in their positions for 4 years and have gone to trainings and through mediation?
It is 100% true. There was a kid from the AMP unit on the roof in Mart. Wanda King is an incompetant liar. She and Brawley were standing around scratching their heads. She called in some other staff to watch with her. Oh yea, the kids also flooded the cells. Where are you KWTX, KXXV, KCEN and Waco Trib?
You won't get the truth out of Wanda or any other officials out there. They are covering their arses ad their bosses as well. How do you think those fools got their positions?
All of the caring competant staff are leaving or getting fired. It makes me cynical and sad.
I lost my faith and my idealism working at TYC. The only thing I didn't lose was my soul and my compass.
Does anyone care about the staff that suffer and sacrifice their safety on a daily basis.
Rick Perry and his ilk need to be forced out of office. They are ruining this state.
9:12, Isn't "IT" a wonderful way to say it! Sorry reading this after a few! I am laughing.
No "IT" is not a super or asst.super. "IT" is in another position, what the hell "IT" is a Principal. It makes no difference if "IT" is a man or a woman, hell is hell no matter the gender!
Not giving the name as Scott has asked us not to drag people thru the mud here and be nice. Well, "IT" seems to be a nice way to refer to someone. But we got another "IT" as a asst/sup so I guess we are a two "IT'S". campus! Both of the "IT's" are joined at the hip if you know what I mean.
If you like the new Chief of Staff, you'll love James Smith, one of the other new folks coming on board down there. Those of us in Maryland who truly care about helping and holding kids accountable are very, very happy to see him go. Although his bio put out by the TYC says otherwise, he oversaw some of the worst facilities in the country during his stay in Maryland. He is a very gifted bureaucrat,and his number one concern is James Smith. Good luck Texas. Good riddance James Smith.
Responding to 3/05 9:44
Obviously I've stepped on someone's pointed toe boots. In my 48+ years working experience I have learned that when you can't answer a question openly and honestly or may choose to plead the 5th that you most likely have something to hide, or you could just give a simple answer. Which has not been done in this case. The truth and the facts speak for themselves and will eventually be known by all. Until that time those new appointees can enjoy there short term success. The facts are true as stated and it's just a matter of time before they are published for all to know. Let the chips fall where they may.
Another thing I have observed is there are two types of employees. The first is lucky enough to fall into a job and punch a clock and go home and the second selects a career and studies and prepares for same. Having retired and watched the TYC in the past year I've now seen a third type of employee. One that is appointed. Maybe lots of credentials, but not in the field and lucky enough to know someone that powerful. Anon too.
Employees are being prosecuted for using pepper spray now.
I wonder if Elmer will stand u for them in court ( Do what I say or be sprayed D'Pope mentality )
u = up ^^^^
Lots of people are being prosecuted. Look at the list here.
http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/oig/spu/report_fy08_Q1.html and here http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/oig/spu/report_fy07_Q4.html
6:26am - I know for a fact that NO ONE at TYC is standing up for those employees with pending charges for doing exactly what TYC asked. I know personally someone who is in that very situation. Even the local admin. has thrown him/her to the wolves - the same administrators who thanked him/her for handling the situation when it was happening.
8:27am - He'll fit in great. TYC is only interested in yes-men and yes-women who are interested in self-gain.
I have been watching the OIG and SPU reports on the TYC homepage. THey have not posted the second quarter info yet. It should be interesting because the Crockett investigators swear there are over 100 pending criminal cases at Crockett alone. If that is true, staffing the facilities will only get more difficult. Can you imagine coming to work everyday wondering if this is the day they will arrest you? Not worth it!
I know what you're talking about 9:03pm. I bet Crockett staff are wishing Bronco Billy had taken D. Gibbs with him now. We tired to tell you it was only a matter of time until you saw her true colors.
The OIG would have to bring their pending criminal cases before the grand jury. If anyone realy wants to know how many cases are being brought forth call your local DA's office. The OIG's office has been a very big plus for TYC and will continue to be, when any staff or youth violate the law consequnces are sure to come lets just hope both staff and youth know this and do not place themselves in situations where the OIG has to get involved.
The local DA's are only involved once the Special Prosecutors place the cases on the docket. Until then, it is an inhouse operation. I hope that well-intending staff do not get caught up in this developing policitcal web, but anyone with half a lick of sense and anyone who knows how TYC operates, can see the dangers with this.
TYC does not dictate what the OIG's office does or does not do! The Special Proseution Unit generally gets the cases on the dockett within a month after the OIG hands over the case to them.
With this type of mentality, I would assume then that all law enforcement officers eat dough-nuts and are dirty and care little about protecting the public.
Sounds like a very disgruntled or dishonest/corrupt person posting here?
Everyone, please welcome the newest caseworker to Mart II. Freshly demoted today: WANDA KING!!!! What goes around comes around! THANK YOU CHIP WALTERS!!! This is one of the best moves yet!!
9:56 - I hope that we can all strive to be as perfect, self-righteous and all-knowing as you are. I hate to break it to you, but there may be just a few situations you are not aware of.
Comments had nothing to do about being perfect or self-righeous???
Just stating facts and not lies and inneundo!
How novel.
Get Melody Vidaurri out of VFCA. Worthless...
9:45 Of course she is worthless. Why do you think they removed her from Evins. Same old deal - if they screw up one place, send them to another.
Nedelkoff is worthless too and corrupt. more info to follow
To the jackass who wrote: "Nedelkoff is worthless too and corrupt. more info to follow"
This is the kind of crap I'm absolutely sick of on these strings. Since this crowd likes songs from the Wizard of Oz, this should be the theme song for that commenter and more than a few folks who comment on these TYC strings.
It's easy, but cowardly, to take anonymous cheap shots. Put up or shut up. Either publish your information, and SOURCE it please (and if you really have cojones, put your name on it) or stop pretending you know something when you clearly are just making trouble.
Scott, I would have to agree with you. These type of slanderous comments have nothing of substance to offer and no proof. We have seen more positives in the past two months than the previous 8 months.
There was a culture in TYC that I hoped had exited the agency where certain employees, supervisors, and superintendents would submit spurious and anonymous allegations destroy reputations against rivals or those who were attempting to hold them accountable. Seems this is still the case.
Too many rumors and little truth. Good riddance TYC!
If a person uses funds from his conulting group to pay a girl he met on the internet to have sex with him during business hours and buys her a blackberry out of his conulting funds that he is receiving from state and nonprofit agencies is that illegal or just unethical?
It's neither, 2:34. I think you should tiptoe off somewhere else.
So If I had proof of an official using public funds paid to his company to pay a woman to have sex then I shouldn't give the proof because it isn't considered illegal or unethical
As I read the article again, it appears that Royal gets a large measure of the blame for no movement on the two cases from WTX for a full two years. Although we get all of our information from the spokesman, we are given to believe that Royal assumed -- apparently without checking -- that the prosecutions were proceeding. Through the spokesman, we are further told that Royal never informed the Governor, even though that was his job. This affords the governor plausible deniability and avoids the dreaded "cover-up" charge. And remember that it was the appearance of cover-up that really hurt TYC.
On the bright side, TYC now has a chief of staff who thoroughly understands the consequences of inattention to detail (not that the pre-coup Chief of Staff did not). He also supposedly has a direct pipeline to the governor, so the Governor can't use the same excuse again.
Has Royal ever made a public statement on this issue?
I am one who remains of the opinion that Royal was a very dubious choice for this position.
Has Royal reported to work yet? Has he apologized yet?
"If a person uses funds from his conulting group to pay a girl he met on the internet to have sex with him during business hours and buys her a blackberry out of his conulting funds that he is receiving from state and nonprofit agencies is that illegal or just unethical?"
If the person's consulting group receives the funds as payment, then that is HIS money and he can buy all of the hookers that he wants. You are saying that if I am a state employee then my salary is still the STATE'S money? That is ridiculous. Get a life.
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