Monthly Archives: October 2012

Texting campaign contributions

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I see no reason why this should not be allowed. A Houston-based PAC is asking the Texas Ethics Commission to approve a proposal that would allow the committee to solicit text message contributions from donors in the state. The Federal … Continue reading →

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Psych hospital privatization rejected

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Department of State Health Services has rejected a bid by Geo Care to privatize Kerrville State Hospital. Last year, legislators told State Health Services it had to solicit proposals from mental health providers that wanted to run one … Continue reading →

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Interview with Mayor Annise Parker

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s bonds and more bonds this week, as we discuss the remaining referenda on the ballot. First up is the city of Houston bond package, which by law will be broken out into five separate propositions for your approval. Proposition … Continue reading →

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Two for I

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, we’re still two weeks out from the start of early voting for 2012. But that hasn’t stopped two people from announcing their candidacies for City Council District I next year. Graciana ”Graci” Garces, chief of staff for District I … Continue reading →

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Why not a university?

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Tory Gattis has an interesting suggestion for that 136 acre tract of land east of downtown. This parcel of land could be the last opportunity for Houston to add a major college campus to the city.  We should consider something … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Boring

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron expends more words on the history and function of Commissioners Court than it does endorsing the three incumbents running to stay on the Court. Precinct 1: Veteran incumbent El Franco Lee is our choice over an energetic Republican … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 7

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Only 24 more shopping days till Halloween. “So, honey, it’s just impossible for me to say how old The Pip will be when you’re forty-one. I’m not sure it’s even a well-defined question in a relativistic universe.” Baseball brings us … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The other easy call

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes a ringing endorsement of Sheriff Adrian Garcia for re-election. In the 2008 elections, Adrian Garcia received more votes than any other candidate in Harris County. His record in office merits a similar outcome in 2012. With Garcia … Continue reading →

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The felony mental health court

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’d celebrate, too. [State District Court Judge] Krocker and others celebrated the official opening of Harris County’s felony mental health court, which started putting mentally ill defendants on probation instead of sending them to jail in May. Krocker has been … Continue reading →

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It was nice knowing you, Lockhart

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s so much that’s wrong with this. Community leaders believe the four lanes of Texas 130 will spur growth — despite what is expected to be a charge of about 15 cents a mile to drive on it. The tollway, … Continue reading →

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The hogs are winning

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

So many feral hogs. So much more needed to deal with them. Texas upped the ante in its battle with feral hogs a year ago when it passed a “pork choppers” law that allows recreational shooters to blast wild pigs … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Tears Of A Clown

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #48 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Tears Of A Clown”, originally by Smokey Robinson, and covered by English Beat. Here’s the original: Smooth as silk. There was nothing else quite like Motown at its peak. Here’s … Continue reading →

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An honor for Buffalo Bayou

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Buffalo Bayou’s transformation from a murky, yuck-inducing stream to a recreation destination earned Houston’s iconic natural resource a top honor from a national organization Wednesday. The American Planning Association named Buffalo Bayou one of the nation’s 10 “great public … Continue reading →

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We got those bad road blues

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

So many bad roads, so little funding to maintain them. Issues including traffic congestion, damage to vehicles from roads needing repair and costs incurred in accidents caused by insufficient safety features on roadways cost drivers in Texas $23 billion annually, … Continue reading →

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It’s all about me!

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Leader newspaper did a feature story on me that’s in this week’s edition. If you want an unvarnished look at what I do on this site, complete with an action photo of me at the computer, this is for … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the watchdog

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses County Attorney Vince Ryan for re-election. Because crime makes more headlines than drawing up contracts for bond issues or conducting reviews of county agencies, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office has a much higher public profile than … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Bad habits

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For your Friday listening pleasure, ten behaviors to avoid. 1. Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette – Elena James 2. Smoke – Eddie From Ohio 3. Gettin’ High – Asylum Street Spankers 4. Too Much Barbecue – Big Twist and The … Continue reading →

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What comes after the Metro referendum

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I hope you found my series of interviews on the Metro referendum to be useful. I think there’s plenty in those four interviews to bolster your support of or opposition to the referendum. The referendum question is simple – do … Continue reading →

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Dewhurst prepares to ditch public education

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This tells you all you need to know about his priorities. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is poised to announce Senate leadership changes today that could have a profound effect on Texas education policy — including giving fuel to a push … Continue reading →

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Making the case for the parks

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ed Wulfe advocates for the parks-related referendum on the ballot. Over the past several months, multiple organizations dedicated to Houston’s Bayou Greenway Initiative and a new organization, ParksByYou, have been uniting parks and bayou enthusiasts. Their work aims to mobilize … Continue reading →

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Canseco’s poll response

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Quico Canseco has released his own poll in CD23. New polling data released by Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco’s campaign shows the freshman congressman with a 10-point lead on his Democratic challenger, Pete Gallego. The new poll is radically different … Continue reading →

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Interview with County Commissioner Steve Radack

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

To wrap up my series of interviews relating to the Metro referendum, I spoke to the person with whom Metro Chair Gilbert Garcia brokered the deal on the GMP reauthorization: County Commissioner Steve Radack. Commissioner Radack is a strong advocate … Continue reading →

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Settlement reached in “dead voter” lawsuit

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. A lawsuit by four registered voters alleging that the state of Texas was violating their civil rights by purging them from voter rolls has been dropped after the plaintiffs and the state reached an agreement. The Texas residents … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Constables

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes recommendations in the three contested races for Constable. Alan Rosen for Constable, Precinct 1: As a reserve major and commander of the Special Operations Bureau for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Alan Rosen has the law enforcement … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 1

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you that the deadline to register for the election is October 9 as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff has a Q&A with Democratic Supreme Court candidate Michelle Petty, who is running … Continue reading →

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Interview with Sue Lovell

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Former Council member Sue Lovell was not directly involved in the current Metro referendum, but as the past Chair of the Transportation Committee on Council under Mayor Bill White, she was instrumental in the creation and adoption of the city’s … Continue reading →

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Lyceum poll: Romney 58, Obama 39

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This one is just nuts. Republican Mitt Romney has a commanding lead over Democrat Barack Obama in the presidential race in Texas, with 58 percent to the incumbent’s 39 percent, according to a new Texas Lyceum Poll. The same survey … Continue reading →

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Three hundred million trees

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the latest estimate of the toll from last year’s drought. The numbers are ugly. A whopping 301 million trees have died across state forestlands as a result of the 2011 drought, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported Tuesday. The … Continue reading →

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Helena’s magnets

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been awhile since my last Helena Brown post, hasn’t it? Houston City Attorney David Feldman has asked Councilwoman Helena Brown to reimburse the city nearly $3,000 in taxpayer money she spent on refrigerator magnets that he contends amount to … Continue reading →

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Interview with Gilbert Garcia and Christof Spieler

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing the discussion of the Metro referendum, today’s interview is with Metro Board Chair Gilbert Garcia, and Board Member Christof Spieler. Garcia originally proposed a referendum that would continue the GMP but freeze revenues for the member entities at 2014 … Continue reading →

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The Sheriff’s Crisis Intervention team

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a really good idea. Crisis intervention teams, tagged to respond to calls involving mentally disturbed subjects, reflect a new wave of law enforcement thinking pioneered by the Memphis, Tenn., Police Department in the 1980s. Such efforts have received renewed … Continue reading →

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Driverless cars in Texas

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You have perhaps heard the news that Google’s driverless car has been approved for street usage in California; specifically, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that requires the California Department of Motor Vehicles to draft regulations for autonomous … Continue reading →

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Another reason to vote early

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Your Election Day polling location may not be what you’re used to. Recent redistricting will force about 20 percent of Harris County voters to cast ballots at new polling locations on Election Day, County Clerk Stan Stanart said Monday. That … Continue reading →

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Interview with David Crossley

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This week I’m going to take an in depth look at the one contentious referendum on the ballot, the Metro referendum. The purpose and the language of the referendum is whether or not to reauthorize the General Mobility Program, in … Continue reading →

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