Category Archives: Local politics

Payday and title loan regulation in Houston

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Nonsequiteuse, who got the following email in her inbox: Proposed City of Houston Lending Ordinance Presentation to Council Committee Tuesday, February 5, 2013 The City of Houston Legal Department has proposed new regulations for credit access businesses, commonly referred … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Schechter’s seat filled

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The HCC Board of Trustees has named a replacement for the outgoing Richard Schechter. Houston Community College trustees unanimously agreed Thursday to appoint attorney Leila Feldman to fill a recently vacated seat on the school board. Feldman served as associate … Continue reading →

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

Sports Authority gets sued

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

MBIA, the company that insures the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority’s bonds, has filed a lawsuit to force the Sports Authority to collect more money to pay its obligations. If MBIA must cover payment shortfalls and cannot reimburse itself from the … Continue reading →

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

Tell us more about these HCC concerns

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron expresses some concerns about recent happenings with the HCC Board of Trustees. As many longtime Houston residents are well aware, HCC has too frequently been plagued by problems involving the approval of contracts to board members’ supporters and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Inside baseball with the hospital district

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to learn from this article about the political relationship between the Harris County Hospital District and Commissioners Court. You have to wonder if David Lopez ever feels like he’s in the circus. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Inside baseball with the hospital district

Some things you can vaccinate against

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Saying dumb things isn’t one of them. As the council considered a proposal Wednesday to accept $3.1 million in federal funding for childhood immunizations, Councilman Jack Christie voiced his opposition to the measure, apparently conflating it with flu vaccinations. “I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

City pension funds make their case

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This deserves more visibility than it’s gotten. Representatives of Houston’s three employee pension boards told a Houston City Council committee Monday that the sky is not falling and pleaded with council members to be patient in examining the city’s pension … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Todd Clark and Chris Gonzales of the firefighters’ pension fund

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have written numerous times about the ongoing battle between Mayor Parker and the Houston Firefighter’s Relief and Retirement Fund, which is to say the firefighters’ pension fund. After I noted a legal victory by the city in its attempt … Continue reading →

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

The Sports Authority’s finances are back in the news

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I still have no idea whether this is something we need to worry about or not. The firm that insures the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority’s $1 billion in bonds – sold to finance the homes of the Texans, Rockets and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

City wins access to firefighter pension information

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox, late Friday afternoon. Mayor Annise Parker today announced Judge William Burke of the 189th District Court of Harris County has mandated the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund (HFRRF) Board to provide and disclose information requested by … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on City wins access to firefighter pension information

One year of Helena

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer‘s Emily dePrang takes a look at CM Helena Brown, one year after her upset win in District A. When she took office, Brown made waves for her nearly satirical level of budget hawkery. She made simplistic government-bad, free-market-good … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

City-county cooperation

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? At 9:27 p.m. on Election Day, when it was clear a Metro referendum crucial to both of their road-building budgets had passed, Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack’s phone buzzed with a text message from … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on City-county cooperation

Transition, schmansition

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Don Sumners, ladies and gentlemen. “There is no transition,” said lame-duck Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners. The occasionally cantankerous 73-year-old anti-tax taxman said he and his two predecessors came in cold, and [Tax Assessor-elect Mike] Sullivan will have to do the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Controller’s travels

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is me shaking my head. Houston controller Ron Green, the city’s top elected financial watchdog, has flown first class and frequented high-end hotels in New York and Chicago at taxpayer expense for more than two dozen publicly funded excursions, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

City settles with Treasures, county still on the case

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Prominent strip club Treasures, hauled into court as an alleged public nuisance and haven for crime by city and county attorneys seven months ago, has agreed to put $100,000 in a nuisance abatement fund as part … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

CM Brown reimburses the city for her magnets

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for David Feldman. Houston City Councilwoman Helena Brown has repaid the city nearly $3,000 in taxpayer money she spent on refrigerator magnets that the Texas Ethics Commission says amount to campaign swag. City Attorney David Feldman, who had … Continue reading →

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

Speeding tickets and vehicle registration

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I’m puzzled by this. Municipal Court Presiding Judge Barbara Hartle has a proposal on Wednesday’s City Council agenda to sign an agreement with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles that would have the state refuse to issue vehicle … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why the HISD Board of Trustees needed stricter ethics rules

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, Trustee Larry Marshall. HISD trustee Larry Marshall voted repeatedly to award taxpayer-funded contracts to companies that hired his longtime business associate – who gave him a cut of her earnings, according to court records, deposition testimony and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

On helping District B

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

District B Council Member Jerry Davis is taking a direct approach to improving his district. Davis hopes to inspire through his do-it-yourself approach a strengthened ethic of self-reliance. The answers to the challenges of District B, and there are many … Continue reading →

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

Strip clubs sue city over $5 fee

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the $5 per customer strip club fee that was added as a budget amendment by CM Ellen Cohen as a way to fund clearing HPD’s backlog of rape kits? The clubs threatened to sue the city at the time … Continue reading →

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

Sen. Gallegos in “grave” condition

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Scary. State Sen. Mario V. Gallegos Jr., D-Houston, is in grave condition at Methodist Hospital in Houston, sources have confirmed. “Senator Gallegos’ family is at his side during this difficult time, and they have asked me to respectfully request that … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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 →

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

More Green woes

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe it’s the name. A 28-year-old nonprofit workforce training organization is teetering on the brink of extinction after four years under the leadership of Houston City Councilman Larry Green. Green left HoustonWorks USA in May by what he and board … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on More Green woes

City says No to some of CM Brown’s expense reports

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always something. Councilwoman Helena Brown hired a private attorney to sit in on meetings with her publicly paid attorney, then tried to bill taxpayers for it. Records obtained by the Houston Chronicle reveal that Brown sought reimbursement for $850 … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Women’s Equality Day celebration

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This seems like something we could all use right about now: The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund today announces Rising Stars of 2012, men and women who have made important contributions to the Houston community and whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Women’s Equality Day celebration

The Green blues

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

First there was this. City Controller Ron Green, Houston’s top elected money manager and self-described watchdog, is seeking leniency for a five-time convicted felon and contractor who masterminded an elaborate real estate and forgery scam targeting the city’s historically African-American … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Here come the city bonds

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For your approval. Houston voters will decide in November whether local governments can borrow more than $2.7 billion for schools, parks, libraries and public safety. City Council OK’d its portion of that total Wednesday, a $410 million package of bond … Continue reading →

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

Petitions to overturn homeless feeding ordinance submitted

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s plenty of signatures, but no guarantee that this will make it onto the ballot. Activists seeking to repeal a new law requiring City Hall’s permission to serve charitable meals on city-owned land turned in 34,000 petition signatures on Monday … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Once again with sales price discolsure

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Loren Steffy returns to a familiar topic. By some estimates, Williams Tower could sell for as much as $475 million. When it comes to paying the taxes, though, the 64-story tower will be worth less than half that much. That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

We speak again of an elections administrator

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’ve been wondering when this might happen. Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said he will ask the Texas Secretary of State’s Office to examine his office’s election processes after a “human error” in his office caused erroneous … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The door will stay open

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good decision. A proposal to give Houston City Council the ability to meet behind closed doors is dead. What a mayor’s spokeswoman called a “lack of consensus” was manifest in a committee meeting last week during which several council members … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The door will stay open

Chron smacks Stanart and Sumners

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ouch. Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart is bad at his job. Specifically, Stanart has performed poorly as chief election officer in his duty to responsibly and effectively administer elections for Harris County. […] Stanart said that the delayed results were … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments