Flashback - 2021 TX Lege passes, Abbott signs bill for greater POA transparency

Every so often I'd ask friends and family about why they don't attend or watch their own property owners association board meetings. Time and again one of their biggest bug-a-boos about attending these meetings is notice--when, where and what time--or "can I watch from the comfort of my own home"? 

 

So its worth noting for my friends in Texas that among the bills passed by the 2021 Texas Legislature was SB1588-- which now requires property owners associations to notify members six days before a regular or special board meeting and post the notice on the association website.

 

From the Bill Analysis: (emphasis mine)

Open board meetings. The bill would require notices to members of a regular or special board meeting of a property owners’ association to be provided at least 144 hours, rather than 72 hours, before the start of regular board meeting and at least 72 hours before the start of a special board meeting. Notice would have to be posted on the home page of any internet website available to association members that was maintained by the association, including a website maintained by a management company on behalf of the association

The Community Associations Institute Texas Legislative Action Committee posted a recap of the 2021 Texas Legislative session where you can learn what bills were tracked and analyzed by CAI pertaining to property owner associations. 

 

Another nugget tucked into SB1588 makes property association board members, their spouse

or a person residing in a current board member's household ineligible to serve on the associations architectural control committee (ACC), and adds language regarding the homeowners rights to install security measures.  

COMING SOON! How to keep your Homeowners Association Great!

With both Texas and Florida gearing up for their respective 2023 legislative sessions, County Examiner is pleased to announce a new section of online resources that affect the rights of residents who choose to live in a property owners association. 

 

We're also keeping an eye on what legislation gets filed for consideration in both Austin and Tallahassee. And if we come across court cases or interesting stories the team will highlight them here too.

But first a bit of a primer and the disclaimer: the team behind County Examiner is not comprised of lawyers but we are American citizens with a right to educate ourselves and be knowledgeable of our rights should we choose to live in a common interest community.

 

In Texas the website of the State Law Library provides a legal research guide to understanding "property associations" or what many refer to as a "homeowners association" defined in Section 202.001 of the Texas Property Code. If your property owners association has registered as a non-profit the Secretary of State website will allow you to search and view for your associations articles of incorporation and other documents related to its formation.

In Florida Section 718 and Section 720 provide procedures for how your condominium and homeowners associations should be operating. And in Florida the Department of State is your resource for searching and viewing your associations articles of incorporation and other documents.

 

 

 

 

 

Three Texas counties are ground zero as Dan Patrick's meddling in SD 24 GOP primary race comes to light

As early voting gets underway in Texas' "first-in-the-nation" 2022 primaries, the Texas counties of Sutton, Atascosa and Medina are shaping up to be ground zero as the states Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's meddling in the Senate District 24 GOP primary race comes to light.

Medina and Sutton counties fall squarely into Texas Congressional District 23 AND Texas Senate District 24. The SD 24 map below shows an Atascosa carve-out Dan Patrick and the Texas Legislature created for the Dan Patrick  - endorsed candidate Pete Flores.

And if Senate District 24 GOP primary voters in Sutton, Medina and Atascosa counties need further evidence of Dan Patrick's meddling in their choice for State Senator there's nothing like taking a peek at page 1 of Pete Flores' campaign finance report.

A campaign finance report for a campaign that just so happens to share the sames Houston address as Patricks' long time svengali Allen Blakemore.

That's it.

For now.

The Five Texas Republicans who ignored pleas to postpone Jan 6, 2021 Electoral Count

 As "first-in-the-nation" 2022 primaries get underway in Texas, County Examiner is revisiting and publishing a much needed reminder of how every member of the Texas delegation to Congress voted on January 6, 2021. 

Who among the Texas Republicans voted to fulfill their oath of office by supporting the then and now, well-founded pleas of election maladministration in the November 2020 Presidential election? Which Texas Republicans had the courage to reject the deception and threats heaped upon battleground state legislators by their own state executives and local officials desperate to prevent investigations into election law violations? 

And who among the Texas Republicans joined the Texas Democrats & totally ignored their Constitutional duty, their responsibility to the American people & their colleagues in Congress by turning a blind eye to admitted violations of explicit elections laws enacted by judicial fiat or state legislatures in violation of separation of powers? (Go here, here, here, here for details)

Texas primary voters should take this information and factor it into your decision-making process as you vote tomorrow through March 1.

Taken from a Washington Post electoral college count tracker these are the five members of the Texas delegation who did the latter--joined Mike Pence, the Democrats and together ignored the pleas of their colleagues in Congress who only wanted more time for their battleground state legislators to meet and fulfill their constitutional duties:

• Senator John Cornyn (who is not on the 2022 ballot)
• Representative Dan Crenshaw - TX CD2
• Reporesentative Tony Gonzales - TX CD23
• Representative Chip Roy - TX CD21
• Representative Van Taylor - TX CD3
• Representative Michael McCaul - TX CD10

Hold them accountable at the ballot box. They are in part a key reason why Joe Biden is in office today.

Texas October Surprise! Lt. Col Allen West reveals National Guard Caught Coordinating With Cartels

Lt. Col. Allen West, Republican candidate for Governor of Texas appeared on Lance Wallnau's show "Firewall" earlier today and revealed a huge October surprise.

Allen West told Wallnau and his audience it appears there is some type of coordination (not resistance) between the Mexican cartels and the National Guard ----together enabling the illegal aliens crossing into Texas and placement into the hands of NGO's (non governmental organizations).

NGO's BTW who are getting taxpayer money to fly the illegal aliens across the country to become the problem of other states like Louisiana, New York and Florida.

Flashback: Texas RINO Congressman pleads for Biden to use Laughlin AFB to dump illegals into Florida, NY

As Texans  mark their absentee mail ballots or head to the polls on Monday to vote in the "First-In-The-Nation" 2022 primaries it's worth taking a trip down memory lane to June 4, 2021. 

That was the day Texas RINO Congressman Tony Gonzales wrote to Jennifer Miller, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Energy, and Environment, requesting she work with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to fly the illegal aliens out of his Texas congressional district and essentially dump them onto the taxpayers of Louisiana, New York and Florida.

Here's the text of the letter:

"I am writing to express my support for expanding access to Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). 

As you know, the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is experiencing record levels of migrant apprehensions. Local, state, and federal entities in the region are thus severely limited in their detainment and processing capabilities. As a result, substantial numbers of migrants, pending trial, are being released into communities in my district, overwhelming local resources and creating unsustainable bottlenecks. 

To help alleviate the high traffic this region is enduring, I urge you to collaborate with ICE to facilitate flights for migrants out of Laughlin Air Force Base and to their final destinations. The current crisis on the border requires law enforcement agencies to be adaptable in their operations and work with counterparts to effectively manage federal resources. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and please contact my office if any questions arise."

We now know the Biden Administration made good on Texas RINO Congressman Tony Gonzales' request. 

Even Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson exploded when he learned the Laughlin AFB flights were dumped in Alexandria, LA.

“There are a lot more questions than there are answers right now,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La. “In fact, we are seeking those answers. I sent a letter to the President himself just two days ago that we get some of this data that’s accurate, that we get some of the plans of ICE.”

Then there were comments from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: 

Governor Ron Desantis proposes bussing illegal immigrants, brought to Florida, up to Delaware. "I will send them to Delaware and do that. If he's (President Biden) not going to support the border being secured, then he should be able to have everyone there." pic.twitter.com/V8WuoUTGD4

— CBS4 News Gainesville (@mycbs4) November 10, 2021

Instead of Tony's Texas voters and communities being overwhelmed his thought process was for Joe Biden to dump this mess on Louisiana, New York and Florida.

RINO Texas Congressman shares office building with Biden "Border Invasion" federal contractor

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales - a first term member of the House of Representatives running for reelection this year- has a field office in a San Antonio building owned by a Biden "border invasion" federal contractor, County Examiner can reveal.

Representing Texas' 23rd District Gonzales official government website features a district office address of 6333 De Zavala Rd which public records reveal shares the same address as Family Endeavors, a nonprofit linked to the Biden Administrations' suspicious, massive no-bid contract awarded to Endeavors and Biden Administrations border invasion of illegal aliens.

 

The contracts potentially totalling over $641 million were awarded in March 2021 through Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of HHS shortly after Gonzales was sworn into office on January 3, 2021.

On May 24th 2021 the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) applauded the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General for launching an investigation into a massive, no-bid contract awarded to Endeavors Inc.—a nonprofit linked to the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

“The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General is right to launch an investigation into the Biden Administration’s suspicious no-bid contract awarded to Endeavors Inc. There are serious concerns about the award process, the nonprofit’s ability to meet the contract needs, and the link to the Biden-Harris Transition Team. The cost of President Biden’s border crisis already burdens American taxpayers and we cannot allow the Biden Administration to exploit it to reward political allies with lucrative taxpayer-funded contracts. This is government waste and abuse and must be addressed. I hope this investigation sends a strong message to the Biden Administration that taxpayer dollars cannot be misused to line the pockets of political friends."

 

Texas DPS publishes update on Operation Lone Star; ProPublica seeks more details

The Texas Department of Public Safety released their August 5, 2021 update of their activities related to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation LoneStar" initiative. County Examiner has learned one non-profit news room that frequently collaborates with the Texas Tribune is seeking additional detail on the operations immigration and prosecution efforts.

The DPS report reveals over 58,000 migrant apprehensions & referrals and in excess of $3.7 million dollars in currency were seized inside the interest area of Operation LoneStar while over $8.3 million in currency was seized outside the interest area. 

DPS pursuit stats for four regions in South Texas were also published in the report; DPS revealed a 774% increase in the Del Rio (DRT) sector pursuits.

Operation Lone Star Aug 5 U... by Yvonne Larsen

According to Texas DPS the migrant referrals began March 17, 2021 and that date coincides precisely with an open records request for immigration arrest, prosecutions information sent to Val Verde County, Texas just a few days prior to the Texas DPS report release.

Note in section (q) the specific request for the names of arresting and investigating officers and information on the complaintant.

March 17, 2021 also coincides with the exact date Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office published a press release announcing the expansion of Operation Lone Stars effort on human trafficking related to illegal border crossings. (emphasis mine)

"President Biden’s reckless open border policies have created a humanitarian crisis that is enriching the cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers who often prey on and abuse unaccompanied minors,” said Governor Abbott. “Americans deserve to know what the Biden Administration is doing to  investigate the surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the border and to protect those who are victims of human trafficking. That is why we are expanding Operation Lone Star to include anti-human trafficking efforts, such as interviewing unaccompanied minors to learn if they are victims of human trafficking. This will help us gain information to keep these children safe, root out human trafficking or other criminal activity, and prevent more children from being trafficked and abused. Whether it's securing the border or fighting human trafficking, the state of Texas will always step up to fill the gaps left by Washington."

County Examiner looks forward to ProPublica's report on the victims of illegal alien crime--the Texas landowners & the physical condition of their property, their livestock loss and how their rights, the rights of Americans are being trampled on.

"Anyone but Abbott" is the battle cry---hmmm, not so fast, TEC records show

"Anyone But Abbott" might be the battle cry of some Texans supporting Don Huffines for Texas Governor but a review of campaign finance reports could leave others scratching their head saying "Whoa Nellie; not so fast". 

We found one Huffines family member made a hefty campaign contribution to Texans For Greg Abbott and have the documents to back it up.

Earlier this month County Examiner reported about Bianca Gracia's appearance on Steve Bannon's show War Room: Pandemic. (emphasis mine)

Earlier today Bianca Gracia from Latinos for Trump appeared on Steve Bannon's show War Room: Pandemic. She told Bannon's audience there have been no arrests of illegal aliens as Texas Governor Abbott had promised and.... she is supporting Don Huffines.

"Anyone But Abbott"? Well it seems a member of Don Huffines own family is in complete disagreement with that statement; let's take a peek at those pesky campaign finance reports, shall we?

According to data reported to the Texas Ethics Commission one James Huffines made a $10,000 contribution to Texans for Greg Abbott. The contribution was recorded as made on June 25, 2021, barely over one month AFTER Don Huffines May 10 announcement to challenge Governor Abbott in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

 

"Anyone but Abbott"? One member of the Huffines family doesn't think so. Or perhaps hedging bets is the more likely scenario. 

Amnesty-championing group signals support of Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly, an RNC-aligned group with credible, documented evidence of advocating for mass amnesty of illegal aliens is discretely supporting Eva Guzman for Texas Attorney General, County Examiner can report.

According to public records accessed through the Texas Ethics Commission, Texans for Eva Guzman's campaign treasurer is Orlando Salazar of Dallas, Texas.

A search of their Leadership page reveals Salazar currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

Harris County Democrats know this, too.(emphasis mine)

On Friday, Guzman, a Republican, filed what is known as a campaign treasurer appointment form with the Texas Ethics Commission, saying she is seeking the office of attorney general, according to a copy of the form obtained by The Texas Tribune. Her treasurer is Orlando Salazar of Dallas, the vice chair of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

County Examiner reported on the RNHA's official organization in 1974 under then incumbent Republican National Committee chair George H.W. Bush ; the only Hispanic Republican organization recognized as an ally of the Republican National Committee (RNC)." and more.

County Examiner previously wrote about questions that swirled around Harris County, Texas pertaining not only to foreign meddling but to an endorsement scandal in the March 2020 Texas CD-7 Congressional Republican primary race---by a DACA recipient and then National Press Secretary for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

That former DACA recipient and National Press Secretary for the RNHA was invited to Capitol Hill for a March 2019 House Judiciary Committee hearing and via meddling in US politics and our electoral process, lobbyied Congress on the issue of passing a mass amnesty for illegal aliens and other foreign nationals present in the country--the same type of mass amnesty contained in the $3.5 trillion budget bill pending before Congress.

As Guzman campaign across Texas during this primary season America First voters in the state are well advised to do their research and ask the tough questions of Eva Guzman's support of a mass illegal alien amnesty. 

DACA amnesty advocate scrubbed from RNC-linked GOP Hispanic group website

A Republican National Committee-linked Hispanic organization with chapters across the United States  scrubbed the name and biography of the groups top DACA and amnesty advocate from their website, County Examiner has learned.

Congressional candidates in Florida, Texas, and other states where this group has a presence would be wise to take heed in seeking and accepting endorsements from this organization.

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly quietly deleted their former National Press Secretary, Hilario Yanez, from the Leadership page of the organizations website.

A screen shot of the RNHA's website taken June 2020 contained the name, photo, title and biography of former spokesman Hilario Eli Yanez and County Examiner saved a PDF of that web page here. (PDF here)

The Leadership page of the RNHA website now shows Yanez scrubbed from the site, 

Hmmm, why would they want to HIDE Yanez's historical affiliation with the RNHA from voters and candidates for office?

County Examiner recently reported that Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw's stepmother Carmen Crenshaws name and role as Texas Chapter Chairwoman was also deleted from the RNHA website. 

Hmm, why would they want to HIDE the Congressman's stepmothers affiliation from voters and candidates?

Yanez, a foreign national and illegal alien DACA recipient was invited to Capitol Hill for a March 2019 House Judiciary Committee hearing and via meddling in US politics and our electoral process, lobbyied Congress on the issue of passing a mass amnesty for illegal aliens and other foreign nationals present in the country--the same type of mass amnesty contained in the $3.5 trillion budget bill pending before Congress.

  

When County Examiner asked Has the RNHA (and by alliance the Republican National Committee) been quietly advocating for an American Last, illegal alien amnesty of DACA recipients?  the answer is a resounding YES ! They have!

Here's Yanez thanking former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins for inviting NOT an American citizen but a foreign national to testify in front of Congress.

AND here's Yanez thanking the US Chamber of Commerce for their support of amnesty.

America First advocates and candidates running for office should be very skeptical of endorsements from this group. 

With a documented history of thumbing their nose at the Federal Election Commission, meddling in U.S. politics for benefit of their own personal agendas, lobbying without  FARA registration, and interfering in the endorsement processes affecting Texas Congressional AND Judicial races there are many reasons to not accept and outright reject an endorsement from this organization lest the Republican candidate become known as supporting the RNHA's objective of an American Last  mass amnesty.

RNC-aligned Hispanic group quietly scrubbed Texas Congressman's relative from website

 An RNC-allied Hispanic organization quietly scrubbed the step-mother of Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw from the Texas Chapter Leadership section of their website. 

Why? What controversies could possibly be swirling around the group known as the Republican National Hispanic Assembly ?

But first a little background and the emphasis below is mine.

Officially organized in 1974 under the leadership of then-incumbent RNC Chairman George H.W. Bush an archived version of the RNHA website discloses the group has "been the only Hispanic Republican organization recognized as an ally of the Republican National Committee (RNC)."

Having established their alliance to the RNC (in the organizations very own words BTW), a screen shot of the RNHA's "State Chapters" section retrieved June 2020 identified Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw's step-mother serving as Chairwoman of the groups Texas Chapter.

 

And in their article below, the Houston Chronicle noted the relationship between Carmen Crenshaw and the then Congressional candidate:

Fourteen months later however the Congressman's step-mother is no longer listed as the Chair of the Texas State Chapter:

County Examiner previously wrote about questions that swirled around Harris County, Texas pertaining not only to foreign meddling but to an endorsement scandal in the March 2020 Texas CD-7 Congressional Republican primary race---by a DACA recipient and then National Press Secretary for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly

This news site published:

"Yanez is a DACA recipient  (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) --a foreign national, unlawfully present in the United States but allowed to work and obtain a drivers license and protected from deportation under an Obama executive order.

Foreign national Yanez is also tied to a Republican advisory board that issued THIS LIST of endorsements in Congressional and Judicial candidates prior to the March 2020 Super Tuesday GOP primary."

Exit question: Has the RNHA (and by alliance the Republican National Committee) been quietly advocating for an American Last, illegal alien amnesty of DACA recipients? 

Is this why Ms. Crenshaw's name and role as Texas State Chairwoman was scrubbed from the RNHA website?

Allen West on the border: Americans Having To Abandon Their Homes

Texas Gubernatorial candidate LTC Allen West spoke with residents of Del Rio, Texas yesterday and was shown homes that Americans had to abandon because they didn't feel safe in the State of Texas.

"Americans had to abandon their homes because they're terrorized...that should not be happening...when Americans have to abandon their homes that means they are abandoning the American dream...and they're allowing illegal immigrants, cartels, islamic jihadists, violent gangs like MS-13 to win"

 

"That's not gonna happen in Texas if I become Governor."

War Room: Border Patrol has lost all control with no end in sight

Earlier today Bianca Gracia from Latinos for Trump appeared on Steve Bannon's show War Room: Pandemic. She told Bannon's audience there have been no arrests of illegal aliens as Texas Governor Abbott had promised.

I'm ordering @TexasGuard to assist @TxDPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border.

More manpower is needed to enforce federal & state criminal laws including for criminal trespassing, illegal entry, smuggling, & human trafficking.https://t.co/SOd8lUBxat pic.twitter.com/OnwrEGa0zf

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 27, 2021

"No arrests."

"Only soundbites from Governor Abbott."

"He says he is tougher than Don Huffines and Lt. Colonel Allen West."

"The sheriffs have been asking him to use our capabilities"

"Its anything but Abbott at this point in time; I honestly am supporting Huffines"

"There's nowhere to put them in the jails even if they DO get arrested"

Congressmen roasted for failure to demand release of Jan 6 political prisioners in the DC Gulag

Two Congressmen from Texas and Florida are openly and strongly supportive of freedom for the people of Cuba but when it comes to demanding the release of the January 6 political prisoners held in the DC Gulag right here in the United States--well, nothing but crickets.

And now a Congressional candidate from Georgia has taken to roasting  Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw on Twitter for failing to demand the release of the Jan 6 political prisoners.

Walk your asses down the street and demand the release of J6 political prisoners. Then *maybe* you can talk about Cuba. Con Inc. at work. https://t.co/HEMIgU6oN6

— Patrick J. Witt (@patrickjwitt) July 27, 2021

Reporting over at American Greatness reveals the U.S. Constitutional rights stripped from our fellow Americans: (emphasis mine)

Dozens of Americans held in the D.C. Gulag have been incarcerated for months awaiting trials that aren't scheduled to begin until 2022 (Sixth Amendment speedy trial anyone?)

Many defense lawyers are complaining about lack of access to their clients and access to video evidence captured by the U.S. Capitol's security system (production of Brady material anyone?) which is under protective seal. 

Meaning all that evidence is hidden not just from the lawyers and their clients but from the entire country, including the media who wish to report on it.

County Examiner is saddened that US Congressmen believe freedom and liberty for foreign nationals suffering under communism are a higher priority than preserving the Rule of Law and preventing communism from gaining a foothold right here in America.

Door-to-door COVID shot pushers coming to Fort Bend County, TX

The agreement is an effort to encourage more people in the county to get the COVID jab and Fort Bend County Commissioners just approved spending $350,000 of your hard-earned tax dollars to accomplish exactly that.

The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court agenda item for July 13, 2021 read: 

"Take all appropriate action on Agreement between Fort Bend County and Next Wave Strategies, LLC for Community Vaccine Outreach, pursuant to RFP 21-077, in an amount not to exceed $350,000. (Fund: FEMA-Public Assistance)" 

and linked to a copy of the agreement document.

Teaming up with county elected officials, the Fort Bend County Health Department, DHS/FEMA and the Texas Department of Emergency Management, Community Vaccine Outreach services consultant Next Wave Strategies will develop a messaging and eventual door-to-door "canvass" to provide information to all you "high resistors" out there.

Check out this video of the audience reaction as County Judge KP George lowers the hammer--think the attendees are happy about this?

Censured Houston Community College trustee Dave Wilson announces run for District VI

A former Texas community college trustee censured by the college system for speaking out against the governing body announced his new candidacy to return to that very same board.

Dave Wilson gained national prominence when on April  26, 2021 the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear his landmark First Amendment case regarding Houston Community College (HCC) censure of his speech, thereby violating Wilson's constitutional rights to represent the people who elected him.

County Examiner received a statement from Wilson:

Why is this case and election so important? 

For many years before being elected to the Board of Trustees, I spoke out about the disease of corruption at HCC on contracts, real estate, capital spending, and more.  In addition, today HCC is faced with plummeting enrollment, skyrocketing administrative salaries, and discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuits.

After being elected to the Board by campaigning to fight corruption, they have tried to restrict and shut me down over these important issues.  They do not want transparency or a spotlight on their dirty deals.  Regretfully, my positions have rung true.

There is a lot of talk about vaccines these days.  We need a different vaccine at HCC.  One that will provide Transparency and Truth and Accountability.

Now I am running for HCC 6 to carry on the fight to end corruption, increase enrollment, change the culture, and make everyone proud of Houston Community College once again.

Houston Community College District VI covers the Alief area and the below zip codes:

Wilson served as the District II member of the Houston Community College Board of Trustees until August 27, 2019, when he resigned to focus on his District I candidacy.

The campaign of Wilson's opponent in that 2019 runoff was financed in part by the:

• Andrews & Kurth Texas PAC: $1000.00
• Richard Weekley: $2000.00
• Houston Business Education PAC: $12,000.00

From Wilson: "For those of you that do not know who the HBEC is: they are composed of members of the Greater Houston Partnership.  They have a long established history of buying HCC Trustees."

Wilson subsequently lost in the December 2019 runoff.

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