Mayor White has a plan for helping the homeless in Houston.
As one of several new city initiatives to battle homelessness, White is asking Houstonians not to give money to street beggars, but instead to donate to organizations that help the homeless."We want people to give, but we want to give in a smart manner," said White, who recently began spreading the word through radio advertisements. "If you see somebody begging in the streets, and you feel sorry for them, don't give to that person, but instead give to organizations to help turn around lives."
The city also has set up a special municipal court that encourages homeless to clear outstanding traffic tickets and other minor violations. Outstanding cases prevent people from getting driver's licenses or identification cards they need for housing and employment.[...]
The Coalition is helping steer homeless people who want to clear tickets through the new court that meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Violators must agree to participate in the Coalition's rehabilitation program, and they can perform community service in lieu of a fine. Most homeless who attended the court since its start two months ago have had traffic-related violations, said Judge Berta Mejia, presiding judge at Municipal Courts.
"It helps the person remove their legal barriers and be able to obtain housing, be able to be employed, and it clears the cases in our courts," she said.
And in certain neighborhoods, it soon may be illegal to sit or lie on sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.That's already the law in downtown and Midtown, but three other close-in neighborhoods - Old Sixth Ward, Avondale and Greater Hyde Park - have petitioned City Council to expand the ordinance to their areas.
The panel will hear from the public on that issue today.
[...]
[Former Council member Gordon] Quan and other advocates for the homeless say the mayor's suggestion to donate to groups instead of individuals and the creation of the new court docket will help people get off streets and into assistance programs.
They are less enthusiastic about expanding the so-called "civility" ordinance that prohibits sleeping on sidewalks during the day in certain areas, saying it just pushes the homeless elsewhere.
"It's anything but civil," said Anthony Love, president of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County, who supports the mayor's initiatives. "It tends to move the people around and not get at the core issues that contribute to homelessness to begin with."
I'm very mad at the Harris County Republican Party. Years ago, during the White mayoral race, they ran ads on the radio non-stop telling me that Bill White was a liberal democrat. And I believed them.
Oh well, at least we still got my main man Gordo...
Posted by: Mark on August 23, 2006 9:35 PMIn Re: Texas Monthly's Article on Solomon P Ortiz Jr. & HD #33, Perhaps GOD intervened.
by Jaime Kenedeno
Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 12:36:07 AM PDT
I tried to post my response article to Burka's initial article and it never showed up so I posted it again and it never showed up. I will post it here in it's entirety except there are more links at Texas State Representative House District 33: Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. Defeats Mikal Watts at his Own Game. Or Perhaps GOD intervened.
Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. Defeats Mikal Watts at his Own Game.
Burka: "When Corpus Christi state representative Vilma Luna decided to give up her legislative seat in July to take a lobbying job in Austin with Hillco Partners, the Democratic party had every reason to believe that the seat would remain in the party's column."
* Jaime Kenedeno's diary :: ::
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JK: Let's look a little further into this assertion.
Why did Vilma Luna step down?
One answer and the one on the surface would be as stated, "to take a lobbying job in Austin with Hillco Partners". Vilma cited more family time as her primary reason. It goes much deeper than that Mr. Burka; remember Vilma Luna is their hero . It is not difficult to understand that the Utility of Vilma Luna was wearing thin like the Firestone tires that made Mikal and his Crew rich. He could have eventually got her into something she will be blamed for. As it is common knowledge in South Texas; Mikal Watts is about reversing the "Capelo" legislation. There were two tort reform bills, one originated by doctors (and endorsed by TLR) that capped non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 and another containing an assortment of protections for businesses, supported by TLR.
Burka: "The Republicans had not fielded a candidate against her in the general election, nor did they challenge her in 2004. Luna's last contested race had come in 2002, when she defeated Republican Lauro Cuellar with 66 percent of the vote."
JK: WATT kind of Republican Party is this? They would not attempt to challenge the issues and compete? To field and financially support a Republican opponent; is it in the Republican Leader's eyes, to throw money into a losing cause? Why not field a candidate to represent the Republican side of the issues. No Cajones! That is the attitude of a loser and a prime example of the afraid to lose mentality. Why would HD #33 want such a mentality to step in and represent us in Austin?
Burka: "But Luna chose to resign her seat rather than to say that she was moving out of the district, and that decision could have far-reaching implications. Had she given as her reason for leaving that she was moving to Austin and would no longer be eligible to serve, the Democratic precinct chairs in the district could have chosen a replacement for her. But the Republicans, having fielded no candidate for the seat in the primary, would have been barred from naming a candidate. Luna's resignation allowed the Republicans to get back in the game and name a challenger."
JK: It was not Vilma's reason for resigning that allowed the Republican to loophole a candidate; it was that she resigned after the final filing date and the timing allowed both the Democrats and the Republicans to loophole a candidate. It also prevented the voters from voting for the Democratic & Republican candidates to run in November. Solomon Ortiz Jr. defeated Mr. Noyola in a popular vote for the Nueces County Democratic Chairman in 2002. However, the resignation of Vilma Luna was planned from before the final date to file. This assertion is based on certain court dockets, the targeting and positioning of crucial operatives and pawns so as to gain the leverage to retain a puppet in replacing Luna. Then one opponent (the WATTS supported Candidate) had the inside track and was very informed before Vilma announced her resignation. This is in reference Danny Noyola announcement and committing of precinct chairs.
Burka: "Normally, this would not have mattered; the Democratic nominee would have been a heavy favorite."
JK: HD #33 is predominantly a Democratic District. Solly's Republican opponent is a likeable guy, but WATT have the Republican's ever done for the average citizen? WATT has Solomon P Ortiz Jr.'s Republican opponent; even with his resume of bolster, accomplished for the Average Citizen? Anyway, we enjoy the underdog label;..... continue on.
Burka: But the process of choosing between controversial candidates from two politically active families split the party.
JK: Sellouts split the party.
WATT did they sell their soul & beliefs for?
Money?
Power?
A title?
The Democratic Party might have some disgruntled leaders but the people are still "Loyal Democrats" when it comes to redistricting and Craddick. The Solomon Ortiz Jr. Campaign defeated Mr WATTS. The Molina bitterness resounds hollow at best.
Burka: The winner, selected on August 13, was Solomon Ortiz Jr., 29, whose resume consists mainly of being the son of congressman Solomon Ortiz and a stormy term as Nueces County Democratic chairman.
JK: You know, initially I thought the same thing about Solly, like he was a spoiled brat or silver spoon in his mouth when he was born. Not even close to the man I know and have scrutinized. Solomon's work ethic is one of the attributes one recognizes from the get go. He is a hard worker. He has been in training to be a public servant all of his life. The Politicos of South Texas have all interacted with Solomon and "have watched him grow up before their eyes". Solomon's ideology is not from one Congressman who he calls Dad but from many who have instilled a well-rounded and independent character willing to butt heads and defend when called for. Solomon P Ortiz Jr. (at 29 years young) possesses a proven and established network that will readily respond to him in Austin. This is something he has in Austin that takes years of seniority to develop. This experience is esoteric in nature but is the key ingredient when it comes to the Lege in Austin.
Burka: "Meanwhile, the Republican chairs nominated a quality candidate in Joe McComb, the owner of a local moving company, who served for eight years on the city council and another eight years as county commissioner, sandwiched around a losing a race for county judge (a race in which some supporters criticized him for not running an aggressive campaign). He has one of those resumes that goes on forever, including a public policy experience in water and workforce issues, as well as appointments to the State of Texas Community Development Program (by Bush) and the Comptroller's Committee to Oversee Funds of the Texas Tobacco Settlement Permanent Trust Account (by Strayhorn). "
JK: All of that stuff sounds very impressive when one says it fast, but WATT has he done for the Average Citizen. Sounds kind of like "all dressed up and nowhere to go"?
Give that man a title!
Burka: Mc Comb's chance to do the same (win the election) depends upon whether young Ortiz can make peace with and win the support of the bitterly disappointed Noyola forces.
JK: This will not happen. Solomon does not need the small contribution to win. Solomon envisions and works toward the goal of returning unification and solidarity to the Nueces Democratic Party.
Burka: "Right now it doesn't look good for Ortiz. An article on the KRIS-TV Web site quoted Noyola as saying in the immediate aftermath of his defeat, "It's disappointing because there was so much hate coming from the Ortiz camp. It influenced some of our precinct chairs, some of them believed some of that hate. Quite honestly they're the scum of the earth, when they just maliciously, fictitiously, when they just come up with things like that I'm beating up on someone, it's so sad that those people revert to hate, and they're all friends of the Solomon camp."
JK: There were Noyola Haters who just hated the Noyolas. Solomon supporters were not the hater element. Also, one must realize both sides catered to the precinct chairs to win their vote. The methodology is night and day. Those are words of a sore loser.
Burka: At stake is not just the Republican-Democrat balance in the House (currently 86R, 64D) but also the level of support for Speaker Tom Craddick. Luna was an avid Craddick supporter. The coalition of most House Democrats and a handful of Republicans, all of whom dream of unseating him, were counting on Luna's replacement to join the "Anybody but Craddick" ranks. Now that outcome is by no
JK: Redistricting is one reason the Democrats will stick together and vote for Solomon. But the main reason we will stick together and vote for Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. in November is because everybody in South Texas loathes Craddick and Solly's opponent will definitely join the "Craddick Ranks" and become an a avid Craddick supporter.
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Posted by Jaime Kenedeño to Texas State Representative House District 33 at 8/22/2006 03:30:00 AM
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Kenedeno & Associates
Tags: Vilma Luna, Mikal Watts, Mike Chavez, Joseph Barrientos, Nueces County Court At Law #2, Whataburger, Noyola, Solomon P Ortiz Jr., CCISD, Del Mar College, Connie Gutierrez, Kenneth Hawkins, Colonias, Paul Burka, Solomon P. Ortiz Jr., Joe Mc Comb
Posted by: Jaime Kenedeno on August 24, 2006 2:20 AM