Monthly Archives: September 2012

Techies and the city

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The reason why tech companies are eschewing suburban campuses for urban office locations. For as long as many of us can remember, high-tech industries have flourished in the suburban office parks that are so ubiquitous in Silicon Valley, North Carolina’s … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Blueberry Hill

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #50 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Blueberry Hill”, originally by Gene Autry and covered by Fats Domino. Here’s the original: The things I’ve discovered doing this series. Gene Autry, who knew? It sure is different than … Continue reading →

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Why are we paying for a privatized psych hospital?

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Makes no sense to me. The Department of State Health Services has spent more than $2 million on bond interest for a psychiatric hospital that it doesn’t own and that was championed by Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams. But that’s … Continue reading →

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No more Fat City

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the goal of a new effort from the Mayor’s office. Dubbed Healthy Houston, the effort will promote programs and policies aimed at getting Houstonians moving on bikes and walkways and in parks and playgrounds; improve access to healthy, affordable … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Civil courts, part 2

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Finishing what they started the day before, the Chron endorses three of the four remaining Democratic civil district court judges for re-election. Civil District Court 133: With 30 years’ legal experience under her belt, Democratic incumbent Judge Jaclanel McFarland was … Continue reading →

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Friday randon ten: More one hit wonders, part 2

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on last week’s post, here are the remaining “one-hit wonders” in my collection from that list that I found in that Village Voice post. 1. Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood 2. In A Big Country – Big … Continue reading →

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“Dead voter” purge finally laid to rest

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Our long countywide nightmare is finally over. The running dispute over presumed-dead voters on Harris County rolls was substantially resolved Wednesday between the Texas Secretary of State’s office and Harris County’s tax registrar just hours before a Travis County judge … Continue reading →

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Hammond pushes back on Pauken

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

After I read Patti Hart’s column about Tom Pauken and his anti-standardized testing quest, I noted the absence of a mention of uber-testing advocate Bill Hammond. Hammond has no trouble talking about Pauken, however. Tom Pauken, former chairman of the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Civil courts, part 1

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gets started on candidate endorsements with a first look at the civil court races. They made recommendations in seven of the 14 District Civil Court races, and in five of those seven they endorse the Democratic incumbent for … Continue reading →

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The state would like for the counties to enforce the law against eight-liners

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, some legislators who don’t much like gambling had a few things to say about that article about eight-liners. “Eight-liners that provide cash prizes are against the law, and the law needs to be enforced,” [State Sen. Dan] Patrick said … Continue reading →

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Texas’ public pension funds are solvent through 2075

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There was a hearing in the Lege this week about the state’s pension plans, and the good news is that they’re in pretty good shape. The better news is that the members of the Lege’s pension committee recognize that fact. … Continue reading →

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If you knew Paul Sadler

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If you knew Paul Sadler, you’d probably think he was an experienced, well-qualified candidate for the US Senate. And you’d be right. Unfortunately, not enough people know Paul Sadler well enough to know this. In 2002, state Rep. Paul Sadler … Continue reading →

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MFU Houston encounters some resistance

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

No one ever said updating Houston’s food truck ordinances would be easy. On Tuesday, more than 50 mobile food truck owners and supporters showed up at a council committee hearing to push for changes to the city’s mobile food unit … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 17

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is still on a post-convention bounce as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Cody Pogue

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Running for office is always a challenge, but some challenges are bigger than others. HD127 up in the Kingwood area is a particularly large challenge for a Democratic candidate. Cody Pogue has undertaken that challenge. Pogue, who can trace his … Continue reading →

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Deal reached to restore SOS funding for Tax Assessor

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This whole protracted standoff between Harris County Tax Assessor Don Sumners and the Secretary of State over the “dead voter” purge has apparently been the result of a misunderstanding. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett has brokered a deal with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Pauken on testing

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart has a conversation with Texas Workforce Commission Chair Tom Pauken about testing and accountability in public schools. As a Texas Workforce Commissioner, Pauken has spent a lot of time studying whether our public school system prepares an … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit will re-hear the Farmers Branch lawsuit again

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have an uneasy feeling about this. Farmers Branch was sued four years ago after it passed an ordinance allowing the city building inspector to evict any illegal immigrant renters. Its case will now go before the full membership of … Continue reading →

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What that Wilson Perkins poll really tells us

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s something about that poll of Texas last week that I don’t think has gotten enough attention. I only mentioned it in passing myself, so I want to go back and spend a little more time on it. As I … Continue reading →

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Guinn files suit over Constable Precinct 2 runoff

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt it’ll make any difference, but it’s his right. The loser of the Democratic runoff for Harris County Precinct 2 constable has sued winner Chris Diaz, contesting the election result. Zerick Guinn said he thought a recount he requested … Continue reading →

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Once again on bail and jail overcrowding

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Grits returns to a familiar topic. Harris County has successfully reduced its jail population in the last couple of years to the point where they no longer must ship inmates to jails in Louisiana and other Texas counties due to … Continue reading →

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Voting-related lawsuit updates

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From Texas Redistricting: The three-judge panel presiding over the Texas voter ID entered an order this morning adopting a briefing schedule for questions about the constitutionality of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. With minor differences, the schedule tracks … Continue reading →

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Interview with Vy Nguyen

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County is one of the most diverse places in America, with roughly equal shares of Anglo, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian populations. It’s fast-growing, now with three full State Rep. districts and a part of a fourth, and becoming … Continue reading →

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TxDOT finally publishes comments from last year’s public forum on I-45

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: Hello I-45 Coalition folks – There are finally some updates regarding I-45! As you may recall, back in mid-November 2011, TxDOT held 2 public meetings to get the public’s input on their thoughts on what should be … Continue reading →

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Et tu, Leo?

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

At least one person living near the Ashby Highrise is looking forward to its construction. Linbeck Group, a general contractor whose top executive lives in the neighborhood adjacent to the building site, is expected to start construction at the beginning … Continue reading →

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White Oak Bayou Bike Trail closed at 610 until 2014

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. It is with regret that we inform you that project delays (utility relocation) has negatively impacted the schedule for the IH-610 at TC Jester improvement project, causing the trail closure to be extended into Spring 2014. TxDOT is as … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 16

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

National Talk Like A Pirate Day is this Wednesday. Better make sure your eyepatch and wooden leg are ready to go for the occasion. The world’s oldest message in a bottle has been delivered. Rainbows are more complicated than you … Continue reading →

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SOS ups the ante against Sumners

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting real at the Tax Assessor’s office. Harris County election officials got a bit of a surprise Friday morning when they attempted to open the county’s spending account on the Texas Secretary of State’s office website and found their … Continue reading →

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Castro’s road show

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, racking up the frequent flyer miles. On Saturday, Castro spoke to Democratic campaign workers at a strip mall near Fort Belvoir and to students at George Mason University in a coordinated effort by the Obama … Continue reading →

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Counties are skirting the state on gambling, too

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

When eight-liners are outlawed, cities and counties will tend to look the other way rather than try to deal with enforcing the laws against them. Some of the money has arrived at the Duval County building in five-figure money orders … Continue reading →

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One form of federal funding Texas has not rejected

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Funding for bike trails is still welcome in the state. As you may know, under the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21, bicycle and pedestrian projects now have more competition for less money than was available under previous transportation laws. The … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Summertime Blues

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #51 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Summertime Blues”, originally by Eddie Cochran and covered by The Who. Here’s the original: Just a classic song, one every bar band in the country knows. I don’t know offhand … Continue reading →

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HISD board passes ethics reform

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It was a unanimous vote at Thursday’s board meeting. Under the new rules, which will be finalized next month, trustees will have to abstain from voting on deals involving vendors who contributed at least $500 to their political campaigns the … Continue reading →

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Houston-Austin rail update

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Tomorrow: The Texas Department of Transportation is planning to fund environmental and financial feasibility studies for a passenger rail line connecting Houston to Austin, according to the Texas Tribune and KUT Austin. The planned line would be a 110mph … Continue reading →

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