Monthly Archives: September 2009

Perry sneers at Willingham evidence

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is exactly what I expect from Rick Perry. Governor Rick Perry today strenuously defended the execution of a Corsicana man whose conviction for killing his daughters in a house fire hinged on an arson finding that top experts call … Continue reading →

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If they can do it, why can’t we?

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Phoenix loves its new light rail line. The light rail here, which opened in December, has been a greater success than its proponents thought it would be, but not quite the way they envisioned. Unlike the rest … Continue reading →

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Where some money for new spending will come from

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we’ve all been warned about the dangers of new spending in Houston’s government, it should be noted that there is some money available for various projects, thanks to the stimulus package. Via City Controller Annise Parker’s September newsletter: … Continue reading →

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Parker’s first ad

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And Annise Parker wins the race to be the first candidate not named Peter Brown to air a TV ad in the Mayor’s race. Here it is: And my reaction is…eh. That’s more about me than anything else, as public … Continue reading →

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The end is near for hurricane season

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of the better things about the onset of fall is the threat of a hurricane greatly diminishes. To be fair, more than two months remain before the official end of hurricane season on Nov. 30, and the seas remain … Continue reading →

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Interview with Progressive Coalition candidates

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I know I said I was finished with Council candidate interviews, but I wound up with one more, and will have two more HISD Trustee interviews to run next week as well. Today’s interview is a bit of a departure, … Continue reading →

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Don’t forget about Farouk

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tom Schieffer has been running for Governor for several months. Hank Gilbert made a fairly high-profile entry recently and has been doing well in earned media since. Kinky Friedman – well, never mind. The race on the Democratic side is … Continue reading →

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Megaregions

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned the Megaregions conference that’s going on in town today and tomorrow. Christof explains what it’s about, why it’s important, and how our area stacks up with others like it. Check it out.

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In case you were wondering why we have bad air quality in Texas

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ever wonder why we have such lax enforcement of environmental regulations here in Texas? One reason is because the people who head up the agencies that have the power to enforce those regulations are mostly charlatans and industry apologists. Go … Continue reading →

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The case for neighborhood presevation in a nutshell

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, speaking to NPR’s Steve Inskeep about the Third Ward: As for anyone who moves into neighborhoods like the Third Ward — and integrates what had formerly been a segregated area — Coleman says the main problem … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Election tidbits for 9/23

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

– KTRK has another round of candidate videos, this time answering the question “How can you help Houstonians get to work?” – Peter Brown sends out another mailer, this one all about his blueprint for an “Even Better Houston”. You … Continue reading →

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Interview with Council Member Anne Clutterbuck

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s interview subject is Council Member Anne Clutterbuck, who is serving her second term in District C. There’s been a lot of action in her district of late – the Ashby highrise, the rebuild of Kirby Drive, the Universities rail … Continue reading →

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We’ve got uninsured people, yes we do

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

More than one out of four people in Harris County doesn’t have health insurance. One in three adults in Harris County lacked health insurance in 2008 while Texas continued to have the highest rate of uninsured residents in the nation, … Continue reading →

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FCC to move forward on Net Neutrality

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. The fight for Net Neutrality took a big step forward on Monday with the chair of the Federal Communications Commission announcing plans to expand the rules to protect a free and open Internet. In a speech at the … Continue reading →

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San Antonio moves forward on streetcars

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, the city of San Antonio announced it would form a citizens advisory committee to help guide the creation of a starter streetcar system. It has now done so. The commission’s prime task will be to advise VIA’s board … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 21

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The fall is upon us, and so the Texas Progressive Alliance closes out another summer with some more hot blogging. Click on for the highlights.

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The best idea you’ll hear for what to do with the Alabama Theater

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

How about turning it back into a movie theater? And not just any theater, either, but an Alamo Drafthouse theater. I wholeheartedly endorse the concept that ‘stina enunciates in her letter to the Alamo Drafthouse corporate office. I don’t know … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/22

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

More stuff that’s worth a mention. – The deadline to register to vote in the 2009 election is Monday, October 5. Towards that end, Texans Together will be holding a voter registration drive this Saturday, September 26, at various locations … Continue reading →

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Interview with Council Member Wanda Adams

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Council Member Wanda Adams, who is finishing up her first term in District D. Adams was an employee of the city who was the Go Green coordinator at the time of her election in 2007, and she … Continue reading →

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HOPE/SEIU poll of the Mayor’s race

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another poll result, this time from Houston Justice for Janitors. Annise Parker leads her closest opponent by a 2-to-1 advantage in an initial vote preference for mayor. Parker holds a solid lead in the election for Houston mayor (28% … Continue reading →

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Gilbert makes his official entrance

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Democrat Hank Gilbert has officially entered the Governor’s race. Hank Gilbert – East Texas rancher, former schoolteacher and newly announced Democratic candidate for governor – said today that improving public education is critical in revitalizing the state’s economy and putting … Continue reading →

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Yet another innocence frontier

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Scent lineups. The Innocence Project of Texas said Friday that scent identification lineups, in which trained dogs determine if a suspect’s smell matches the smell of crime scene evidence, are based on faulty science and have led to a number … Continue reading →

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Drilling for water

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been hearing for a long time that water rights will be the big fight of this century. So I suppose stories like this will be more commonplace. In a scorching cow pasture silent save the lowing of cattle, Terry … Continue reading →

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Monday election tidbits

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just some news and notes that I thought were worth passing along… – KPRC had a longish story on the hoax email that was sent in the name of Christians for Better Government. Whoever pulled this particular dirty trick sure … Continue reading →

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Polling health care in CD28

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Daily Kos/Research 2000 conducted a series of polls in various Blue Dog Congressional districts, one of which was Rep. Henry Cuellar’s CD28. The results are here. To the question “Do you favor or oppose creating a government-administered health insurance option … Continue reading →

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Interview with Council Member Ed Gonzalez

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to spend some time now with incumbent district Council members who are running for re-election. First up is my own Council member, Ed Gonzalez, serving his first term in office after winning a special election runoff in June. … Continue reading →

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A Rick ‘n’ Kay threefer

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

1. I wouldn’t make such a big deal yet about the latest Rasmussen poll that shows KBH with a slight lead over Rick Perry, reversing a months-long decline for her. Without any other polls to compare this to, it could … Continue reading →

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West U to consider a texting-while-driving ban

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, the city of West University Place banned using cellphones while in school zones. Now they’re looking to add a texting ban to their roster of no-nos. West U. City Council has asked city staff members to draft an … Continue reading →

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People and records, gone but not forgotten

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Now that you know about Derek Jeter and various all-time base hits records for different franchises, go read Steve Goldman’s tribute to Lou Gehrig and what it means to leave behind a legacy. Bring some tissues if you’re the crying … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Thanks but no thanks

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

UPDATE: It would appear that the email that purported to come from Christians for Better Government with the homophobic slam on Annise Parker is a complete fake. I have just gotten off the phone with the Rev. Willie Wright, the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 20

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Campaign events, German-style. This sounds, um, very interesting, at least until you consider the malware potential. Ever wonder which checkout line at the grocery store will move the fastest? Well, wonder no more. In addition to everything else, Rep. Joe … Continue reading →

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White warns about new spending

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor White has a few words for whoever will succeed him. Houston mayoral candidates, read Mayor Bill White’s lips: No new spending. White, who has shied away from endorsing or even offering tacit support to those vying to replace him, … Continue reading →

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UTMB’s comeback

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is great to see. A bigger and better University of Texas Medical Branch is rising from the debris of Hurricane Ike, with more than $1 billion in repair, refurbishing and new construction under way or being planned. The UT … Continue reading →

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Building a better turbine

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see R&D being done on improving wind energy. Universities and businesses across Texas are expecting to spend millions in the next few years honing the blades, gearboxes and generators that make up turbines designed to harness power from … Continue reading →

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