Sullivan to Brown: hands off my NASA!

Here in Houston, politicians are all very supportive of NASA, the astronauts, and NASA’s thousands of employees.  Year after year, we’ve heard Mayors council members, and every elected official in between talk about the importance of the space agency.  Now, it seems one local council member is getting a bit

agitated with another council member’s support of NASA.

It all started late last week, when Council member Peter Brown sent the following letter Download CM BROWN - NASA Support (2) to the Mayor and other council members.  In it, asked the Mayor to consider a resolution saying that the City of Houston acknowledges the economic benefit of NASA, and its employees. He said in the letter that he thought a unified voice from Council members saying how great NASA is would only help the space agency.  The Mayor’s office replied that it does not in general issue resolutions on issues, but that it will discuss it in its weekly meetings.

Every other council member seemed to be content with that answer, except for Council Member Mike

Sullivan. He fired off an email, basically, being upset that Council member Peter Brown was on his turf. In the following email, Mike Sullivan asked his colleagues not to act on Brown’s suggestion:

From: Sullivan, Mike - CNL

To: Fiederlein, Robert - CNL; Mayor Bill White
Cc:
Sent: Fri Sep 18 15:20:16 2009
Subject: RE: Support for NASA

Mayor White and Colleagues:

Please do NOT act on Peter Brown's email to you regarding NASA and writing a resolution.  NASA is in my council district, and I am absolutely all over this issue.  Brown is not in the loop, has no idea what is going on behind the scenes, who is involved already, and what our strategy is. 

I will compose a letter this afternoon that addresses what I have done over the course of the last few weeks.  (...)

Please look for my update to be delivered to Mayor White and all council offices by the end of the day today.

Thank you.
Mike Sullivan

Council Member Mike Sullivan then followed up an hour later with an email that included a list of various meetings he’s had with the Greater Houston Partnership, Sen. John Cornyn, and other individuals.  He ended the second email with this:

(...) This is an important issue. This is a council district issue, although it affects our entire region, but I am absolutely on top of it. I do not need an at large member making decisions about what needs to be done on this issue. No other council member needs to be involved at this time, as we have a very specific plan that we are following. If anyone goes haywire and tries to run things themselves, it would be a terrible distraction and would take us off of our game plan. 

Election Day is only 6 weeks away. Everyone needs to put their own personal agendas aside and let me run with this. I have served NASA/JSC well, will continue to do so, and have done it with the Mayor's and NASA/JSC's support.

Thank you.
Mike Sullivan

It is very common for At Large council members to defer to District Council Members on issues in their district.  That goes for unsafe buildings, crime issues, all sorts of things.  It is obvious that Council Member Mike Sullivan feels that way about NASA.  He told me over the phone that he views Brown as meddling in his neighborhood, something he feels passionate about.  He told me he's worked hard at the NASA issue, and he's the one point man at City Hall, not Brown.

Some council members told me privately that they thought NASA was everyone’s concern.  In addition, Peter Brown’s request probably would have gone largely un-noticed by other council members had Sullivan not pointed it out.  On other hand, NASA employees should feel better knowing that Sullivan, as well as other Council Members, are going the extra step to fight for them!  Whether they get any results from our Washington, D.C. lawmakers, we’ll be waiting and watching..

Comments

[twila]

Mike Sullivan is a good man. He supports lower taxes and keeping the government from making choices form me. Peter Brown is a limo lib that has nothing better to do with his time

[SCAN]

Uh oh, seems like DUI Mike Sullivan is at it again...

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=576132589]

Peter Brown really wants to become Mayor and Uh oh... what if he does become mayor?!?! Will these 2 fight? I think so. Interesting enough, it looks like the other council members are going to support the NASA initiatives... What does Sullivan know that the others don't... and why don't we (Houston Citizens) know what Sullivan is talking about?

Come see the candidates fight in the upcoming State of the City - Technology Report hosted by NSTA (www.nstaworld.org). 4 Candidates will let us all know what their future plans are around business and technology.

[tired dog]

Hmmm, Sullivan warns Brown off NASA. Wonder if Sullivan's been warning all those 'at large members' off his entire Lanier gerrymandered district, 'cause we've seen neither hide nor hair of any of 'em out here in E.

Mike, the pension tsunami is going to eat our breakfast, lunch and dinner...your kids (if they stay here) will be paying for the pension bonds rather than saving for their own retirements. The unions have 90% (hmeps) pensions, the employees effectively never leave our payroll.

Haven't heard a peep out of you on that rather important issue. In fact I'm told you've supported union demands during your term. What say you?

[tired dog]

SCAN,
What's that dui reference about?

[KEvans]

I guess somebody should tell the entire Texas congressional delegation not to worry about NASA – the rinky dink district council member has it under control! Sullivan, get over yourself.