tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post4996383468180498400..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Roundup: Innocence in Waco, record tampering at the parole board, and other storiesGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-5118525373801348882014-10-07T23:15:50.723-05:002014-10-07T23:15:50.723-05:00“ban the box” legislation - couple that with a com...“ban the box” legislation - couple that with a complete withdraw of the DPS surcharge "double jeopardy" rule would make a hell'va difference. We were talking about that surcharge BS is about to die. I advised them I contacted my rep on the committee and he still hasn't responded so I called again - still no response. We concluded by agreeing we (1) need a facelift in ATX as the old order is stuck in their ways, (2) to bombard our representative daily (we actually have a schedule now), and (3) to drop our blanket support for the Republican party while listening attentively to other candidates. These articles you have been submitting on these issues initiate great talking points. Please keep it up. Greenville, Texas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-38013010933818085822014-10-07T02:40:40.515-05:002014-10-07T02:40:40.515-05:00A few tidbits you might find interesting:
Regardi...A few tidbits you might find interesting:<br /><br />Regarding the 'banishment' post, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, via article 1.18, also prohibits "outlawry and transportation".<br /><br />Regarding the 'video game & violence' post, Stephen King made a similar argument in his essay "Why We Crave Horror Movies", which ended with the memorable refrain, "...as long as we keep the gators fed" (referring to movies as a way of taming our fear and satisfying, by proxy, our urges to engage in perverse behavior).<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46062921599827922072014-10-04T13:00:19.936-05:002014-10-04T13:00:19.936-05:00@Soronel, I've had exactly that happen many, m...@Soronel, I've had exactly that happen many, many times. Common as dirt and as a requestor I always just look at it electronically, if available.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39429388371792034072014-10-04T10:59:30.630-05:002014-10-04T10:59:30.630-05:00The thing I could see about posting requested info...The thing I could see about posting requested information online and then responding with a link, unless TX is very different from the norm that statute also allows the government body to charge for the information retrieval, I could see them foregoing that in a case where no copies need to be made and nothing needs to be mailed.<br /><br />"Sure, we can send it to you snail mail, but it's going to cost you and it'll take longer. Wouldn't you just rather have a link to the already created response?"Soronel Haetirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639906179427371695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1563580714276995862014-10-03T22:51:52.071-05:002014-10-03T22:51:52.071-05:00Here's a little more detail on the Parole Comm...Here's a little more detail on the Parole Commissioner being indicted...<br /><br />https://www.texastribune.org/2014/10/03/parole-commissioner-indicted-falsifying-inmate-rec/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-57276271336008019742014-10-03T22:47:39.350-05:002014-10-03T22:47:39.350-05:00Grits, the Parole Commissioner you referenced was ...Grits, the Parole Commissioner you referenced was not "charged" in April. The wrongdoing is alleged to have occurred April 30. The Board was promptly notified of the wrongdoing. Board Member Chavez, the person directly over that commissioner, wanted action to be taken, but he was ignored by the Board Chair, Rissie Owens and Commissioner Freemen wasn't even suspended. She was still voting cases until all the was through the day she was indicted. Even now, the Board seems to be downplaying it and acting like it's no big deal. Oh, here's the best part, Board Member Chavez was forced out of his job by Owens the day before the indictment, and he's the one person who had the courage to try to hold Freemen accountable for her wrongful acts. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-41098787892362878482014-10-03T17:23:14.704-05:002014-10-03T17:23:14.704-05:00Agreed, Thomas, I stated that poorly. But if every...Agreed, Thomas, I stated that poorly. But if every time they fulfill an OR request they post the information online, from then on they will receive fewer requests and most people will just get the data themselves. Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-57486742972289593472014-10-03T13:41:04.084-05:002014-10-03T13:41:04.084-05:00Improving Access to Public Data -
While simply se...Improving Access to Public Data -<br /><br />While simply sending a link seems perfectly reasonable to me and most requestors are fine with it, it isn't sufficient without requestor permission. According to the Texas AG's 2014 <i>Public Information Handbook</i>:<br /><br />"<i>Thus, in order to comply with section 552.221, a governmental body must either provide the<br />information for inspection or duplication in its offices or send copies of the information by first class United States mail. The attorney general has determined that a public information officer does not fulfill his or her duty under section 552.221 by simply referring a requestor to a governmental body’s website for requested public information. A requestor may, however, agree to accept information on a governmental body’s website in fulfillment of the request and, in that situation, the governmental body must inform the requestor of the Internet address of the requested information.</i> [Open Records Decision No. 682 (2005)]"Thomas Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10832779920216463979noreply@blogger.com