Houston News:

A public apology by a high ranking public official in the city of Houston. It cam one week after her office was raided, the locks changed and four of her employees placed on administrative leave, reports Houston News. "I want to apologize for any disruptions this investigation may have caused and how we conduct business of council," said Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado.
It's her first public apology to Houston city council. At times, Alvarado's voice cracked as she told council she would never do anything to jeopardize the integrity of her office.

But is it too little, too late? New facts emerge about the budget of the mayor pro tem's office and questions about why no one caught what are now glaring red flags.
By now you've heard about the $130,000 worth of bonuses the staff gave itself. Now there are revelations about a 25% budget increase for the mayor pro tem's office approved by council. Leaving questions swirling around city hall, why didn't anyone try to stop the irregularities sooner? "I have been astonished and disappointed how easy it was for someone to forge my initials and steal both taxpayers' dollars and my personal reputation," Alvarado said.
Now there are new allegations the mayor's pro tem office requested and was granted a 25% increase in budget last year, totaling $326,000. It's an amount approved by council last year, but now questioned this year by council. So why weren't these concerns raised earlier?
Council member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said, "I know many of us were present at those meetings and it seemed to me there wasn't ample discussion that occurred. I don't know how that increase in budget was justified."

Mayor Bill White asked, "Should I have spotted it, should somebody have spotted it? Yes."
The irregularities leave councilmember Alvarado in the hot seat. She's unable to account for how her mayor pro tem's staff was able to request and get a $66,000 increase in budget. It's left the embattled councilmember on the offensive.

Alvarado said, "I am the mayor pro tem. My mistake was putting a lot of trust in an individual or two that I thought would have brought some irregularities to my attention."
The investigation is being handled by the office of inspector general. Answers are expected next month.

When asked if Alvarado should step down, Mayor White said he hasn't lost confidence in her ability. And while no one is safe from investigation, Mayor White also says he doesn't see a need to rush to judgment

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