Monthly Archives: October 2011

Endorsement watch: For Prop 8

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

After two weeks of following a predictable path, the Chron veers off in an unclear direction. Proposition 8, on this year’s ballot, is easy for everyone to love. It’s supported by farmers and city dwellers. Republicans and Democrats (the supporting … Continue reading →

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Interview with Chris Oliver

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There are two contested races for HCC Trustee seats this year. Chris Oliver is the incumbent in District IX. He was first elected in 1993 and first served as Board Chair in 1999. Oliver is a businessman who has also … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HISD races

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

They paint it as a referendum on Terry Grier. He’s not on the ballot, but Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier is a key figure in next month’s school board elections. Grier has led the state’s largest school district for two … Continue reading →

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Studemont Kroger update

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Heights Life brings news about the proposed Kroger at Studemont and I-10. Of particular interest is this bit: The property on which Kroger plans to build lies on the east side of Studemont north of Arne’s. The store will … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Downtown shuttle service to return

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Do you miss the free trolleys that used to run downtown? A new version of that service is set to debut in the spring. The Houston Downtown Management District, funded through tax assessments on downtown properties, plans to launch a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Richard Schechter

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Along with HISD Trustees, there are three HCC Trustee races on the ballot. First up is Richard Schechter, who is serving his first term in District V. Schechter is an attorney who has also taught law classes at the Thurgood … Continue reading →

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DOJ defers on County Commissioners map

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More information, please. The U.S. Department of Justice, charged with considering whether Harris County’s redistricting map meets the requirements of the Voting Rights Act, has asked the county for more information to make its ruling. The DOJ letter is here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Senate changes

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not worried about the State Senate becoming more conservative, I’m worried about it becoming more stupid. “A seat in the Texas Senate does not come open very often, and all of a sudden now there are four,” said Sen. … Continue reading →

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City’s water use down

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think there’s anything mysterious about this. Water usage has dropped nearly 20 percent since citywide restrictions were ordered in mid-August, possibly because residents have reluctantly complied and temperatures are dropping. Houston was pumping 647 million gallons a day … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Parker

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Mayor Parker for another term, noting how eventful this term has been. After she beat opponent Gene Locke in a 2009 runoff, the former three-term at-large council member and city controller opined that she felt like the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 16

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Twelve years and 364 days ago was the best day I’d had in my life. The Amish crime beat is a strange place. From the Everything You Know Is Wrong, Iconic Scientific Images department. I don’t know about you, but … Continue reading →

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UH to the Big East?

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner
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HISD tightens ethics rules

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Houston school board agreed Thursday to tighten its ethics rules to prevent trustees from meeting with vendors and from accepting certain campaign donations during open bids. […] Board members would not be able to attend meetings with vendors … Continue reading →

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Tort “reform” is still a scam

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I’m as shocked as you are. A national report released Wednesday says the 2003 Texas law that limited damage awards in malpractice suits has caused health care spending to rise and has not significantly increased the number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chron overview of District J

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the “Latino opportunity district” that isn’t quite a Latino opportunity district. Southwest Houston was supposed to be the land of opportunity for aspiring Latino city leaders. Whether it actually starts out that way will be up to first-time candidates … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: I Need Love

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Song #96 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is the first one involving a former 80s hip-hop star turned TV star, and also the first one in which the cover is of a significantly different style than the original. … Continue reading →

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Austin ISD moves its election to November

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As the song goes, two out of three ain’t bad. The Austin school board voted unanimously on Monday to move trustee elections from May to November. The school district will share November election costs with the county and the Austin … Continue reading →

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The $25,000 question

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

What the hell? A $25,000 campaign contribution to a Houston school board member normally would raise eyebrows for its size. Add in the fact that the donation was not listed in the trustee’s financial disclosure forms, and the five-figure check … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Who needs flood control?

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Not Harris County, apparently. Harris County, despite a history of costly floods, appears likely to scale back its flood control work in the coming years in the face of declining federal funding. In a typical year, the county gets about … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Noriega and Bradford

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another twofer, and another easy and obvious choice in At Large #3. For the past four years Houston has been well served in At-Large City Council Position 3 by Melissa Noriega. We recommend Noriega for a third and final term … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: I’d like to buy an argument, please

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

How many of these godforsaken Republican debates are there going to be? 1. Argument – from the “Chess” soundtrack 2. Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting – The Who 3. We Always Fight When We Drink Gin – Austin Lounge … Continue reading →

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Interview with Paula Harris

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We close the week with HISD Board President and District IV Trustee Paula Harris, who is service her first term on the Board. Harris has a degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M and has worked as an engineer and … Continue reading →

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Council passes noise ordinance revisions

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

They’re the first such changes in a decade, and are intended to make it easier to prosecute complaints. The police now can cite revelers, musicians and other noise makers for bass notes that officers can feel from the sidewalk. In … Continue reading →

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Another complaint filed against CM Jones

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

On and on it goes. A former staffer of Councilwoman Jolanda Jones has filed a complaint with the city’s Office of Inspector General, accusing her of employee misconduct in cutting his salary by more than 18 percent after he cooperated … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Biking to work

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More Houstonians than before are riding their bikes to work, though in absolute terms it’s still a pretty small number. Figures from the League of American Bicyclists show a 62 percent increase in the number of Houston residents who commute … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Costello and Thibaut

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another day, another twofer as the Chron makes recommendations in the first two At Large races. In At Large #1, they go with the incumbent: Houston City Council member Stephen Costello, an engineer, is best known as the force behind … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ramiro Fonseca

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Opposing Trustee Manuel Rodriguez in District III is Ramiro Fonseca. Fonseca is the program manager of Minority Male Initiative at HCC, where he has also been a financial aid associate. He has also served as President of the Houston Hispanic … Continue reading →

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More 30 day finance reports for City of Houston races

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on yesterday’s report, here are the interesting, odd, and questionable things I’ve seen in the rest of the 30 day campaign finance reports. Mayor Parker raised $469K, spent $526K, and maintained $2.3 million on hand. She appears to … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of District C

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Ashby Highrise is casting its shadow over the race for the open seat in District C. Even with substantially redrawn boundaries, which in January will extend from north of Loop 610 down through the Heights and south to the … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 10

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is occupying your browser as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Endorsement watch: Laster and Green

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Today is a twofer as the Chron finishes its endorsements in the district races with recommendations for the two new seats. In District J, they pick Mike Laster: District J’s inaugural City Council race has drawn three capable candidates from … Continue reading →

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Interview with Manuel Rodriguez

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Trustee Manuel Rodriguez was first elected to serve District III in 2003. Rodriguez is a businessman and longtime education activist who has served as the Board President and currently serves as its Vice President. (See also School Zone’s Q&A with … Continue reading →

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First school finance lawsuit filed

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More will follow, it’s just a matter of when and how many. A coalition representing public school districts, taxpayers and parents filed a lawsuit against the state in Travis County district court Monday night. The Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of District F

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Moving on from District B, here’s the Chron’s overview of District F. It’s really more of an overview of the incumbent Council Member Al Hoang, and I think it’s safe to say that it’s different from the rest of these … Continue reading →

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