Monthly Archives: October 2011

Interview with Leticia Gutierrez Ablaza

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Leticia Gutierrez Ablaza was a deadline day filer for Houston City Council in District I. A resident of Glenbrook Valley, she became politically involved during the fight over the historic preservation ordinance in that neighborhood. She has a degree in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Luminant and the CSAPR

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have not followed the dustup between energy producer Luminant and the EPA very closely. What I know is that like most other disputes between those who want cleaner air here in Texas and those who don’t is that someone … Continue reading →

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

Federal court refuses to throw out Open Beaches lawsuit

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I hadn’t realized that there was federal court action on the Galveston open beaches case. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request by the General Land office that it throw out the case because the beachfront house … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Federal court refuses to throw out Open Beaches lawsuit

This drought could last a long time

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In case you needed some gloomy news. Texas’ historic and lingering drought has already worn out its welcome, but it could easily stay around for years and there is a chance it might last another five years or even until … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Stardig

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gets off to a surprisingly early start in the endorsement game by backing Brenda Stardig for a second term in District A. We believe City Councilmember Brenda Stardig has proved her mettle in her first two-year term and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with City Controller Ronald Green

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

What I had originally thought would be my final interview with a City of Houston candidate is with City Controller Ronald Green. As it happens, due to some late contact with a couple of campaigns, I have some more to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with City Controller Ronald Green

Commissioner Cagle

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As predicted, the new County Commissioner is County Court Judge Jack Cagle. “Cactus” Jack Cagle was named Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner this morning by County Judge Ed Emmett, ending two weeks of political intrigue that followed former Commissioner Jerry … Continue reading →

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

Our long term water plan

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We’re in deep trouble if things continue as they are. Every five years, the Texas Water Development Board publishes a water plan for the state. The 295-page draft of the 2012 plan, published last week in the midst of the … Continue reading →

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

Can Ban lawsuit filed

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Opponents of the New Braunfels disposable container ban are already seeking to overturn the ordinance via referendum, and now some of them have also filed a lawsuit against it as well. Tourist businesses filed a lawsuit against the city Wednesday, … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Mayor Annise Parker

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another person who needs no introduction here is Mayor Annise Parker, who is running for a second term in Houston’s top office. It’s no secret that I’m a supporter of hers, and I think she’s done a good job in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Anyone going to do anything about this?

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Dave Wilson remains an electoral scofflaw, among other things. Mayoral candidate David Wilson has again filed for office using an address that disqualified him from the ballot when he attempted to run for county commissioner last year. Wilson listed his … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sen. Chris Harris and Rep. Will Hartnett to retire

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One more out the door of the upper chamber. State Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, announced [Monday] afternoon that he will not seek reelection — the fourth veteran lawmaker to announce their retirement from the Upper Chamber. He is the longest … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sen. Chris Harris and Rep. Will Hartnett to retire

Round Rock to get red light cameras

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m actually a little surprised that some places are still going forward with these things. Round Rock city officials presented for the final time [Wednesday] the locations of soon-to-be-installed red light cameras throughout the city to a city council-selected committee … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for October 2

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Am I the only one thinking “There’s more than a year to go and I’m already sick of the Presidential race”? Zombies are like a metaphor, with more brain-eating. Why do Americans like ice cubes so much? Fast food workers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for October 2

Court orders interim maps drawn

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I was just asked recently what will happen if the redistricting litigation isn’t resolved before the November 14 start of the filing period for 2012 candidates. I responded that I wasn’t really sure. Shortly thereafter, this story appeared. The federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More districts will join in school finance lawsuit

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Coming soon to a courtroom near you. School districts will throw everything short of the kitchen sink into their upcoming lawsuit against the state of Texas for shortchanging public education, a lead attorney in the case said Tuesday. “We are … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More districts will join in school finance lawsuit

Piranha!

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You never know what you might find in Texas’ lakes. When a pre-teen girl dunked a hook baited with a piece of hot dog into the 23-acre lake in Tom Bass Park on Aug. 27 and pulled out a flapping, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Piranha!

There will be no Great Pumpkin this year

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another bad effect of the drought. Pumpkin production in Texas has been sliced nearly in half by the drought; and while retailers might find enough pumpkin substitutes in other states, the price could be higher and the size of the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | Comments Off on There will be no Great Pumpkin this year

Saturday video break: I Know (I’m Losing You)

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Song #98 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “I Know (I’m Losing You)”, originally by The Temptations, but known to classic rock fans as a Rod Stewart tune. Here’s Rod The Bod: And here’s The Temptations: I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Saturday video break: I Know (I’m Losing You)

Don’t expect the next budget to be any better than this one

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing a theme I’ve harped on here, if state legislators thought that they solved Texas’ budget issues this year they are sadly mistaken. Some experts say Texas tax revenues must zoom far above forecasts, if we’re to escape another miserable … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t expect the next budget to be any better than this one

Ashby rises again

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s baaaaaaaaack. The Ashby high-rise is making a comeback. The developers of the proposed luxury residential tower that has enraged residents of the upscale neighborhoods around it resubmitted construction plans to the city Wednesday, requesting another permit to start building … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Who’s number 14?

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As the SEC welcomed Texas A&M as its 13th member, commissioner Mike Slive says they have no immediate plans to invite a 14th. Slive said the SEC wasn’t looking to expand, but that A&M was too attractive of an option … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Texas gators hanging in there

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There’s good news despite the bad news for Texas’ alligators. This year’s admittedly inexact estimate of the gator population in their prime habitat zone – the wetlands along the arc of the Texas coast – indicates there are a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment