What’s in the water at Houston City Hall? Greg Groogan of Fox26 finds yet another scandal, this one involving City Controller Chris Brown.
As the elected Controller, Chris Brown is Houston’s financial watchdog – a watchdog that apparently no one at City Hall was watching very closely.
Documents obtained by FOX 26 News indicate a local developer who obtained a low interest, $3.5 million loan through the City’s Housing and Community Development Department used the proceeds to purchase Commerce Street property owned by Brown.
It was a big payday for Brown, but also a big potential problem because the City’s “financial watchdog” never disclosed to City Council he stood to profit from the publicly funded deal.
So, let me get this straight. The guy vetting a low interest loan of taxpayer money gets an above appraisal price on a piece of property he owned by selling it to the person that borrowed said taxpayer money. Naw, no conflict there boss! Sheesh.
But wait, he says! I got Sylvester Turner’s appointed City Attorney to approve the deal!
Can’t make this stuff up, folks.
Brown’s opponent in the November election, Orlando Sanchez, was quick to offer a solution to the current system whereby crooked mayors appoint crony people to “serve” as City Attorney.
Press Release
October 10, 2019
Orlando Sanchez calls for change in City Charter
In light of news reports of City of Houston City Controller Chris Brown’s shady real estate deal and his claim that the City Attorney approved it, candidate Orlando Sanchez has called for a change to the City Charter, requiring that the City Attorney be elected, rather than appointed by the Mayor.
“It is clear that the people need an attorney down at City Hall working in their best interest, not the Mayor’s and City Controller’s”, said Sanchez. “To get a rubber stamp approval from Administration insiders only adds to the distrust voters have in our leaders”, he added.
Harris County already has a County Attorney that is elected. That individual answers directly to the people. Houstonians deserve the same representation to protect against this corruption that has come to light.
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Normally I would be against adding another elected position but in this case, it sounds like a good idea. When you have the shenanigans going on in government like the City of Houston does under Slyvester Turner (please click that link for a look), someone needs oversight.
DanMan says
y’all got a dirty mayor
Warren Fawcett says
Can Brown be brought up on criminal charges? There should at least be an investigation.
Reader says
It did say that he definitely violated the city rules which usually has criminal penalties attached for doing so. Likely a misdemeanor but would prevent him from easily going back to wall streetm. What he did was akin to insider trading and then he lied and said his dad owned the property. Uh no, yoi bought the property in 2017 bub, under a corporate name after auditing the housing department. I hate these corrupt democrats.
Pat Bryan says
So you did not care to publish Brown’s reply. Brown issued a statement.
“Prior to my father’s passing, he asked that our family sell the property in East Downtown for senior affordable housing. My involvement with the transaction was limited to the sale of that property. I sought and obtained a legal opinion confirming there were no conflicts with my involvement in this transaction. I also filed all disclosures required by law.”
Pretty chickenshit of BJP
David Jennings says
Mr. Bryan, I didn’t quote Mr. Brown because it wasn’t relevant and because it wasn’t true. Of course, as a Chronicle reader, you probably don’t know that. Chris Brown purchased the property through his firm Glaven Investments in 2017, then sold it in 2018 to the group that received the $3.5 million taxpayer loan.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGh8voiXoAQejvz?format=jpg&name=900×900
DanMan says
‘I sought and obtained a legal opinion confirming there were no conflicts with my involvement in this transaction.’
reckon that legal eagle was the $95k intern with three degrees? Mr. Jennings just swatted poor ‘ol Pat like Jose Altuve knocking another high hard one out of the park. Well done sir.
Master Milton Prejean says
Corruption has allway follow friends, and Mayor Slyvester Turner administration himself..Since ABC-13 Reporter Wayne Docalenifi busted lawyer Turner in a Insurance scandal in 191..With done of his very close Homosexual Buddies..Yes He” s gay….
howie katz says
If he’s gay, so what!
Fat Albert says
Hopefully there’s an interpreter to explain what this gibberish actually means.
Bill Daniels says
“It’s OK, stewardess, I speak jive.”