Monthly Archives: March 2007

The do-nothing prosecutor

Posted on March 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

One of the themes of the TYC scandal is that for whatever the reason, the local prosecutor never bothered to take the evidence from Texas Ranger Brian Burzynski and charge the alleged wrongdoers with crimes. It turns out that this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

What happened to HB478?

Posted on March 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Have you ever been dinged for a late fee by a utility company even though you mailed your bill in on time? Utility companies in Texas, unlike (say) the IRS, are not required to use the postmark of the bill … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Preservation isn’t just about buildings

Posted on March 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I want to highlight a comment from this story about the removal of an iconic Maxwell House sign from the East End plant where the coffee was ground (here are the before and after pictures so you can see what’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Jones and Morales

Posted on March 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Over at Kuff’s World, I’ve got a look at the city’s response (PDF) to Ray Jones’ lawsuit regarding his exclusion from the ballot for the City Council special election. Bottom line: I think the city has the better of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

TTC moratorium is veto-proof

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

According to Corridor Watch, there are now veto-proof majorities in both chambers for the toll road moratorium bill. It still has to make it through committee, which will present some interesting options for toll-loving Chair Mike Krusee, and it needs … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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TYC: You can’t quit just yet

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The TYC board may have resigned on Friday, but that may not mean anything just yet: Mark Brown, a lawyer with the Texas Legislative Council, told state lawmakers today that despite their resignation letters, the Texas Youth Commission governing board … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Thanks, Bob

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

After coming to the floor yesterday, the bill to (mostly) restore CHIP funding was sent back to the drawing board to try again. A missing word in a bill analysis derailed debate Monday on a bill to cover more youngsters … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Robinson Warehouse – The grassy knolls

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been six weeks since I last checked in on the Robinson Warehouse, and to say the least things look a little different now. I thought they were beginning construction then, but clearly they were not. They were just getting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Melissa Noriega campaign headquarters opening this Saturday

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From Team Noriega: Please join us at our headquarters opening party this Saturday, March 24th from 4 pm to 7 pm for food, drinks and fun! Pick up a yard sign and bumper sticker while you are there and find … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 7 Comments

Jerk!

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

My first reaction upon reading this article about jerks in the workplace is how fortunate I’ve been in my professional life. I’ve never had a bad boss, going all the way back to my student days. There’s not a one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 3 Comments

Funding pro-transit candidates

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Rad Sallee’s column yesterday was of great interest to me. Developer Ed Wulfe and Citizens for Public Transportation, which he chairs, played a key role in winning voter approval of Metro’s long-term transit plan in 2003. Since that tough campaign … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

The politics of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I was no longer living in New York by the time the fights over whether or not gay organizations would be allowed to participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade started breaking out. (The best summary of the whole sorry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

The LSG evaluates the CHIP bill

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Today the committee substitute for HB 109, also known as the CHIP restoration bill gets brought to the House floor. You already know what I think about this, so I’m just going to tell you what the Legislative Study Group … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on The LSG evaluates the CHIP bill

On qualifying for the ballot

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes on the matter of disqualified candidates for the Council special election. I basically agree with their conclusion: [K]nocking qualified hopefuls out of a race over minor technicalities is neither in the interests of the democratic process nor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Interview with Noel Freeman

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

My interview with City Council special election candidate Noel Freeman is now up on Kuff’s World. I wasn’t sure what to make of him going in, but I came away favorably impressed. Give it a listen and see what you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Interview with Noel Freeman

Arabia Shrine Center to be sold

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in January, we heard that the venerable Arabia Shrine Center on Braeswood near Kirby was on the block. According to Nancy Sarnoff, a deal is in the works. The 144,632-square-foot facility that’s hosted arts galas, roller derbies and other … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Arabia Shrine Center to be sold

The Worst NCAA Division I Mascots

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

For your amusement, one blogger’s opinion of the 25 Worst NCAA D-I College Mascots. I might have skipped over this, but she picked Rice’s Sammy the Owl (warning: that link will be blocked by any corporate net.nanny worth its salt) … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

What hath the warrant roundup wrought?

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, the Great Texas Warrant Roundup is now over. How’d they do? More than $383,000 in fines was collected in Houston during a recent statewide warrant sweep, clearing 1,444 outstanding municipal court cases, Police Chief Harold Hurtt said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on What hath the warrant roundup wrought?

The “Healthy Marriage Initiative”

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this: The state would funnel millions more federal dollars into promoting healthy marriages among low-income Texans under a proposal pushed by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, and others. Chisum put a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

39 << 100

Posted on March 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not a whole lot more in this Clay Robison piece on the halfway mark of the 80th Lege than we’d already gotten from Paul Burka, but there is one thing worth highlighting: [S]everal of Gov. Perry’s priorities are in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on 39 << 100

Face time

Posted on March 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I have finally drunk the Kool-Aid and gotten myself set up on Facebook – see my profile here. Those of you who are looking for a sign than social networking is dead should probably write down today’s date, just in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 2 Comments

Time for a task force

Posted on March 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this on Friday: Mayor White met with a bunch of the other mayors in the area, following their complaints about his air-cleanup plan. “It’s a really big day in the region,” White said after the closed-door summit with the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Time for a task force

More silliness in Farmer’s Branch

Posted on March 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good grief. Word that Minyard Food Stores is considering moving a Hispanic-oriented Carnival supermarket into an empty building in the center of town has further roiled a city that has been debating whether to impose local measures to curb illegal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 4 Comments

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We did not got to the parade downtown today, but that’s OK. We went to the Saint Patrick’s Day parade at Olivia’s preschool yesterday. Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

The TYC “czar”

Posted on March 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Ed Owens. Ed Owens effectively became the Texas Youth Commission czar Friday, vested with total power to rebuild an agency in administrative disarray and unable to guarantee the safety of youth in its custody. Owens, the TYC’s acting executive … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

No more teams for San Antonio?

Posted on March 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Will San Antonio ever get another major sports team? Right now, it’s looking like the answer is No. The prospects for San Antonio landing a second major-league professional sports franchise in the near future are so dim, local officials say, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Tom DeLay’s book

Posted on March 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Juanita points to this review of Tom DeLay’s new book, which judging from the excerpts should be subtitled something like “All Republicans Stink But Me”. For no particular reason, I’m reminded of something Tommy Lasorda said when his former player … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Tom DeLay’s book

RIP, Bowie Kuhn

Posted on March 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn has passed away at the age of 80. To say the least, he was Commissioner during interesting times. In 1976, he voided the attempt by [Charlie] Finley’s Oakland Athletics to sell Vida Blue, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on RIP, Bowie Kuhn

On the radio again tonight

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

How long has it been since you’ve heard me on the radio spouting off about things like the Lege and Senate speculation? Well, that’s too long, as they say. You can fix that tonight, as I’ll be on the air … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on On the radio again tonight

An answer to Dewhurst on voter ID

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, in response to threatssuggestions from fellow Republicans about getting a voter ID bill through the Senate, says: Dewhurst said he can’t understand “how anyone could be opposed to ensuring that American citizens vote in our elections.” He … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

“Houston area”

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I found this bit in Kristin Mack’s column from today to be amusing. Reps. Debbie Riddle and Robert Talton and Sen. Dan Patrick, all Houston-area Republicans, want to do away with the city’s “sanctuary city” policy. They hope to give … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

More on Ray Jones’ ballot suit

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

City Council hopeful Ray Jones speaks out about his attempt to get on the ballot for the City Council special election. He contends that city officials denied his notarized application because he left an oath section blank while other candidates … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on More on Ray Jones’ ballot suit

TYC: The feds may get involved

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Have I mentioned that the TYC scandal is not going away? It’s still expanding in scope. A South Texas juvenile corrections facility run by the Texas Youth Commission is so “chaotic and dangerous” that it violates the constitutional rights of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on TYC: The feds may get involved

CHIPs and scraps

Posted on March 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This doesn’t surprise anyone, right? House budget writers, in order to find nearly $78 million more in state funds for the proposed CHIP expansion, whittled proposed increases in other social services, including mental-health care and breast and cervical cancer screening. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on CHIPs and scraps