Last week, Texas Watchdog broke the news that the Houston Airport System, under the direction of Richard Vacar, had created a web of public-private offshore companies that have, to date, been shielded from public review, press review, and even review by the city controller and one councilmember.
Today, Texas Watchdog‘s Steve Miller follows up with the news that not only were public resources tied to creating and operating these shadowy offshore companies, but that public officials working for the Houston Airport System routinely cycled into high-level positions with the “private” spinoff companies that were created.
Houston Mayor Bill White, who frequently talks about transparency, has refused to answer Texas Watchdog‘s questions about the latest revelations.
Meanwhile, White Administration staffer (and former Brown Administration insider) Anthony Hall apparently continues to oversee a review of Vacar’s expense reports and other activities, despite the fact that Hall was the White Administration’s point man for approving many of Vacar’s requests (according to previous reporting).
Given the ongoing revelations about the Houston Airport System, it’s well past time that Mayor White, acting with the City Controller and City Council, appoint an audit committee (whose members are not tied in any way to the Houston Airport System) and charge them with getting to the bottom of the questions that have been raised to date (and maybe some others).
