Monthly Archives: June 2009

Friday random ten: Let us raise our glasses

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We did food, and now we do drink. Here are ten beverage-related songs. 1. Alcohol – Barenaked Ladies 2. Beer – Asylum Street Spankers 3. A Case of Coors Beer – Austin Lounge Lizards 4. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Music | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Foulard announces in G, Khan for Controller

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With the Legislature out of session (hopefully till 2011) and the District H special election about to wrap up, it’s time to refocus on the November elections for Houston. I think we will have a pretty good idea of who … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Obama head on the move

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hello, Austin! President Barack Obama’s concrete head rested peacefully on an open-bed trailer outside Vino Vino wine bar on Guadalupe Street on Sunday evening. The 20-foot-tall sculpture of the president had just been hauled from Houston. Its creator, 82-year-old artist … Continue reading →

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Terri Hodge draws a challenger

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Terri Hodge, a fixture in HD100 since 1996, has drawn a challenger for next year. Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson announced [Friday] that he is running for the District 100 seat in the Texas House. That’s the seat currently … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Streetcars and buses

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a little discussion starter for all you transit geeks: Infrastructurist’s list of 36 reasons why streetcars are better than buses. I’d boil a lot of it down to a smaller list: The ride is generally more pleasant, as it … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chron reports on Ed Johnson

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their story about Ed Johnson and his questionable side venture as a Republican consultant. It doesn’t add much to what we already know, but it does get some local reaction, including from Johnson’s boss, Harris County Tax Assessor Leo … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Early voting ends for District H runoff

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tuesday was the last day of early voting for the District H runoff, and as is often the case it was the busiest, with 278 in-person ballots being cast. That brings the final total up to 2188 early votes, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Please join me in supporting Mayor Castro in San Antonio

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

What RBearSAT says. Mayor Julian Castro agreed to serve as Grand Marshal of San Antonio’s Pride Parade this July 4th, becoming the first San Antonio mayor to ever serve in this role. Prior Grand Marshals have included SAPD Chief William McManus, Bexar … Continue reading →

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Another veto battle

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We know about the ruckus caused by HB770. Another once-obscure bill that has generated post-session controversy is SB1410, which has firefighters up in arms. Texas firefighters and others who value “local control’ want Gov. Rick Perry to veto legislation prohibiting … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I think the key bit in this story about the Astros’ policy forbidding fans from bringing their own food into the stadium is this: Most MLB teams list their policies on outside food and drink on their Web sites. Details … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Editorialists urge veto of HB770

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

HB770, the originally obscure bill to grant homestead exemptions to folks who lost their house in Hurricane Ike that has generated a big stink thanks to the self-serving provision inserted on behalf of State Rep. Wayne Christian, is getting panned … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Parker wants to boot Hurtt

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And the Mayoral campaign just got a little more interesting. Mayoral candidate Annise Parker has plans get rid of Police Chief Harold Hurtt if she’s elected. “I will replace the police chief. I think he’s ineffective,” Parker told the Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Feds’ report on Harris County jails

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Still a lot of people dying in the jails here, at least as of the last federal inspection. Their experiences are detailed in a U.S. Department of Justice report, completed last week and obtained Monday by the Houston Chronicle, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It’s only a negative when it’s for something I don’t like

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Yglesias writes about one of my favorite people. Randall O’Toole is a relentless advocate for highways and automobile dependency in the United States. Consequently, I don’t agree with him about very much. But the thing I consistently find most … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on Ed Johnson

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, the Lone Star Project adds quite a bit to the Ed Johnson story from yesterday. Boy, do they ever. [Johnson] is a paid Republican campaign consultant. His company, Campaign Data Systems (CDS), has numerous Harris County Republican candidate … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Special session coming

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Speaking to reporters this afternoon at a roundtable on national energy legislation, Gov. Rick Perry said there will definitely be a special legislative session. But he declined to say when, or how many issues it will include. “We’re in … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Last day of early voting in District H runoff

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the last day to vote early in the District H runoff. The early voting locations will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM, so take advantage of the chance while you still can. Runoff Day itself will … Continue reading →

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Counting on the Census

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I wasn’t really paying attention to this sort of thing ten years ago, so I don’t know how much effort was made at the time to get an accurate count of Texas’ residents for the 2000 Census. I can say … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

If the dominoes fall

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This DMN story about the potential downballot effect of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison resigning her seat in the Senate to run for Governor is mostly familiar territory, with names we’ve heard before. The reason I flagged it is this bit: … Continue reading →

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The party corridor

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’d meant to get to this NYT article about the Washington Avenue corridor last week, but never quite got there. I suppose the main thing I’d add is that while the new stuff has replaced unmemorable things, a whole lot … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 8

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a week out frm sine die and the sky is a little bluer, the birds sing more sweetly, and the beer is always cold. Which is to say, it’s how it always is with the Texas Progressive Alliance. Click … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Ed Johnson’s conflict of interest

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, there was a lawsuit filed against Paul Bettencourt and the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office over allegations of illegal mishandling of provisional ballots in the past November election. That suit was later expanded to include allegations of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More on the urban transit corridors ordinance

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned last week that the city was getting set to do an overhaul of its planning codes. In particular, there’s a proposed transit corridor ordinance that is up for public discussion on Thursday and a City Council vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Juvenile justice in Harris County

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Is rather an oxymoron, it seems. Apparently, the process for certifying juveniles to be tried as adults, which according to the DA’s office is supposed to be only done on “the worst of the worst”, is a mere formality. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Appeals court upholds strip club tax ban

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Score two for the state’s strip clubs. The 3rd Court of Appeals panel sided against the $5 per-patron fee, passed by the Legislature in 2007 with the goal of raising sexual-assault prevention funds, in a divided 2-1 opinion released Friday. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The class of 2010, so far

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In other 2010 candidate news, the HCDP has compiled a list of people who are known to be seeking a judicial office in Harris County in 2010. Their list is here (Excel spreadsheet), and I’ve published it as a Google … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for June 7

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of Olivia’s fifth birthday yesterday, the celebration of which we are still recovering from. Ain’t no party like a five-year-old birthday party, ’cause a five-year-old birthday party don’t quit. The last survivor of the “Titanic” has passed away … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Yet another Astrodome plan

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a convention center, it’s a movie studio, it’s a planetarium. Add a planetarium to the myriad ideas for what to do with the Reliant Astrodome, Houston’s iconic stadium whose future has hung in uncertainty as officials and entrepreneurs have … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

600 sq mi: Hidden

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Two years ago, Houstonist sponsored a photography show called 600 sq mi, which was about everything Houston. They’re doing it again this year, with a show called “600 sq mi: Hidden”. Houstonist is proud to announce 600 sq mi: Hidden, our … Continue reading →

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Handmade Toy Alliance update

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My cousin Jill Chuckas, who first alerted me to the Handmade Toy Alliance and its efforts to modify the CPSIA back in January, recently sent me an update on the HTA and its activities at this time. You can read … Continue reading →

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One week of early voting in the District H runoff

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I did my civic duty on Friday at Moody Park, early in the morning – according to the sign-in sheet, I was the fifth person to vote that day. That makes me one of 1302 people to cast their ballot, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Saturday video break: The Bad Precedents

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of sine die, Austin’s most powerful band: Rock on, y’all.

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A third try for Sly?

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I find this a little hard to understand. Rep. Sylvester Turner is thinking about running for Mayor of Houston, again. His press folks just confirmed to me that he’s “thinking it over” and will make a decision in two weeks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Moving rail outward

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

David Crossley of Houston Tomorrow contributes a blog post to the Chron about an idea for transit in the Energy Corridor out west on I-10 that’s as interesting in its origins as it is in its concept. Check it out.

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment