Chapter closed? Mayor Turner tells KPRC 2 Investigates, ‘Sylvester Turner has taken care of that bill’

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner spoke with KPRC 2 Investigates on Friday in the most recent bankruptcy of the talk tied to a e-book targeted in particular on Turner’s time as mayor. The e-book used to be produced for the new State of the City Luncheon and there have been makes an attempt for Houston First — town’s tourism and conference arm — to pay for it.

“Houston First needs to account for the $557,000 in private funding that was raised for the State of the City,” mentioned Turner following a public tournament.

This all comes within the aftermath of KPRC 2 Investigates first reporting a push for Houston First to hide $124,000 in printing prices surrounding the newsletter of 600 books highlighting Mayor Turner known as, “A Winning Legacy.” It used to be an schedule merchandise set for a vote at Houston First’s Board Meeting on Thursday.

However, Houston First pulled the thing hours ahead of after which equipped the entire financials to the media. The .pdf file detailed precisely the place the entire personal donations for this tournament have been spent. In a remark, Board Chair David Mincberg mentioned, “Houston First plans to collaborate with the event chairs and fundraisers to develop a strategy to generate additional private funds to pay for this project.”

One Houston First respectable made it transparent to us after we began asking questions that the tourism-focused company is “not in the business of printing books.”

On Friday, KPRC 2 Investigates requested Mayor Turner if he used to be involved concerning the personal fundraising technique through Houston First and whether it is running out of doors of their wheelhouse. We additionally requested if this used to be the most productive use of public greenbacks in figuring out easy methods to print his e-book.

“It’s not my book. This is a book that was for the State of the City. Which you’ll have misconstrued,” mentioned Turner.

However, a supply concerned with the State of the City tells us, “the mayor’s office was in charge of the book” for the luncheon. The town has been highlighting the e-book at the site for the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Communications.

KPRC 2 Investigates additionally went to the place of work of Cindy Clifford in seek of solutions. Clifford is an overly shut supporter of Mayor Turner. She helped put the luncheon in combination, so we went to her place of work in seek of additional readability. Clifford wasn’t there however did say in a telephone name, “I thought it was very successful. I was honored to serve as chair and I am particularly appreciative of the sponsors.”

Clifford additionally made it transparent that “I was in charge of the luncheon, not book.”

During our interview, Mayor Turner expressed he felt let down through Houston First over their take at the topic.

“A little bit disappointed in Houston First in how they presented it,” mentioned Turner. 

The mayor then published who used to be paying the six-figure tab after we requested concerning the fundraising plan.

“David Mincberg doesn’t have to come up with any funding, Sylvester Turner has taken care of that bill.”

So in mild of Mayor Turner’s feedback, we requested Houston First how he paid for the invoice. Houston First pointed us again to the mayor’s place of work. We then requested the Mayor’s Communications Director, Mary Benton, the next questions:

• (*2*)Did the mayor pay for this himself?

• (*2*)If now not – who did?

• (*2*)Why is the mayor becoming concerned to pay invoices if his place of work obviously instructed me 48 hours in the past, “the funds were raised and sent to Houston First to pay all invoices related to the state of the city’”?

• (*2*)I even have been instructed through a supply concerned with the luncheon, “The mayor’s office was in charge of the book.” Who from the mayor’s place of work used to be concerned?

Benton didn’t in particular resolution our particular questions however as an alternative, mentioned, “The mayor is taking care of it and there is no city/public money involved.”

KPRC 2 Investigates isn’t ultimate the bankruptcy in this investigation however will proceed to inspect the publishing and prices surrounding “A Winning Legacy.”