Category Archives: Local politics

More fun with Helena

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

When I saw the headline about a clash between Mayor Parker and an unnamed Council member, I was pretty sure I knew before I clicked the link which Council member it was. I was right. District A Councilwoman Brown tried … Continue reading →

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

Harris County GOP to harass Mayor Parker about gay marriage

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bring it. The Harris County Republican Party is calling on its members to tell the mayor to back off on same-sex marriage. In an email blast sent out Monday, Chairman Jared Woodfill asks recipients to call or email the mayor … Continue reading →

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

It’s always easier to talk in the abstract

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. The city of Houston has been papering over multimillion-dollar budget deficits for nine years by borrowing money, tapping its rainy day fund, selling buildings and just plain putting off bills to the … Continue reading →

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

Two modest campaign finance reform suggestions

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

What to do about this? As indicted ex-constable Jack Abercia fights federal corruption and bribery charges brought against him last month, a lack of money for his legal defense isn’t one of his problems. The former Precinct 1 Harris County … Continue reading →

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

A bit of perspective on pensions

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker and current members of Council will receive pensions from the city some day. They also will some day vote on what steps the city should take to deal with the pension system. Is that a problem? “Whenever you’re … Continue reading →

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

Parker to sue pension boards for more information

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s pensions all the time around here. Mayor Annise Parker said Thursday that her administration is gearing up to sue the city’s pension systems to open their books and preparing a “road show” of pension reforms she will present throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Reliant drainage deal?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Will wonders never cease? There may be a resolution to the spat over whether the county has to pay the city drainage fee imposed on Reliant Park – an annual bill of $353,000. Tuesday’s Commissioners Court agenda includes an item … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Reliant drainage deal?

Two views of pensions

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Sunday op-ed pages were filled with pension-related discussion. Here are the citizen members of the Long-Range Financial Management Task Force, fresh off of their report release, taking to the pages to lay out what the city wants from … Continue reading →

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

The Long-Range Financial Management Task Force report is out

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

A little light reading for your Sunday. The report generated criticism before the figurative ink was dry on it. Union leaders criticized the report before it was even delivered to the mayor, with Houston Organization of Public Employees President Melvin … Continue reading →

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

Another item for the city’s legislative wish list

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Loren Steffy brings up a familiar issue that has added salience now as the city tries to deal with its long term finances. Across the city, prime office buildings are selling for far more than their tax values, leaving billions … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another item for the city’s legislative wish list

Brown’s part time staff

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You have to admit, she does things her way. Houston District A Councilwoman Helena Brown, whose lone “no” votes against city spending have differentiated her from the rest of the 17-member council, also is an outlier as an employer: She … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Help me, Long-Range Financial Management Task Force! You’re our only hope!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Having some Jedi mind tricks available to deal with this probably wouldn’t hurt. About one out of every 11 dollars in this year’s city budget goes to cover pension costs. The $165 million the city plans to send to its … Continue reading →

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

Debt collection is harder than it looks

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Last year around this time, the city announced it was “getting tough on users of its services who have racked up nearly $1 billion in unpaid fines and fees, unveiling an aggressive collection program that is expected to make frequent … Continue reading →

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

New Constable Berry sworn in

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interim Precinct 1 Constable Ken Berry wasn’t supposed to be sworn in until January 31, but recent events forced Commissioners Court to move up the timetable. Harris County Commissioners Court on Friday held an emergency meeting to replace Precinct 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on New Constable Berry sworn in

State Bar clears Feldman

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I believe this brings to a close the last unresolved issue involving former CM Jolanda Jones. The State Bar of Texas has cleared City Attorney David Feldman of a grievance lodged by former Councilwoman Jolanda Jones that he mishandled an … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on State Bar clears Feldman

Brown v Rodriguez

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been wondering how new Council Member Helena Brown’s style will play at Council meetings. I didn’t have to wait long to find out. Councilwoman Helena Brown and Councilman James Rodriguez squared off publicly Wednesday in the kind of bare-knuckled … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

City budget outlook

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Last year was a lousy budget year for the city of Houston. This year will be better, if only because it really can’t be much worse, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be good. Kelly Dowe, the mayor’s finance … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on City budget outlook

Thinking long term about the city’s finances

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If you didn’t have to worry about practicality or implementation issues, what ideas would you have about improving the city’s long term financial health? That in a nutshell is the mission of the Long-Range Financial Management Task Force that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Abercia resigns, replacement named

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, longtime Precinct 1 Constable Jack Abercia announced that he would not be running for re-election. On Monday, he announced that he would resign, effective January 31. On Tuesday, Commissioners Court named a replacement for him to fill … Continue reading →

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

Inauguration Day 2012

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Tuesday was Inauguration Day for Mayor Annise Parker, City Controller Ronald Green, and all 16 members of Houston City Council. Annise D. Parker began her second term as mayor of Houston on Monday with a commitment to bring more jobs … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Raycraft to retire

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Dick Raycraft, who’s been a fixture in county government forever, is calling it a career. Dick Raycraft, a trusted adviser to generations of Harris County leaders who has wielded so much influence over county policy he earned the nickname “the … Continue reading →

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

Investigations all around

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a second grand jury looking into Harris County DA Pat Lykos. Sources close to the investigation said a special prosecutor was appointed last week to look into claims by Shirley Cornelius, a 27-year-veteran of the office, that she was … Continue reading →

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

Harris County interim map in the works

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Speaking of interim maps, Harris County and the plaintiffs suing over the proposed new County Commissioners have begun mediation to come up with a temporary solution of their own. The goal of the mediation is to draft an interim map … Continue reading →

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

County will seek legislation to evade drainage fee payment for Reliant

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Harris County Commissioners Court today voted unanimously to instruct the County Attorney and the Legislative Relations office to work with the Texas Legislature to adjust current law to compel the City of Houston to collect and immediately remit … Continue reading →

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

Turnout is only half the story

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One other thing that I noticed while compiling the data for the elections from a bygone era is something that I never hear about whenever the turnout level in city elections gets bemoaned is the number of registered voters in … Continue reading →

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

More on the county going after city sales tax revenue

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And on we go. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday will decide whether to seek legislation to capture city of Houston sales taxes generated at county facilities, including Reliant Park. Commissioner Steve Radack floated the idea at the court’s last … Continue reading →

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

Elections from a bygone era

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

All through the Early Voting period, I’ve been comparing turnout this year to elections from 2005 through 2009. It’s not like we didn’t have elections in this city before then, of course. Obviously, the city now is different than it … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

On cities and counties

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really getting tired of all this BS. Smarting from a $353,000 bill for the Reliant complex under the city of Houston’s new drainage fee, Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday discussed seeking legislation to let it keep city sales … Continue reading →

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

How about we use these precincts for now?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And here’s an update on the county redistricting lawsuit. A federal court has asked Harris County and the plaintiffs suing it over its redistricting plan for county commissioner precincts to prepare briefs on whether it would be legal to conduct … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on How about we use these precincts for now?

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

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 →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who needs flood control?

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 →

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

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

More troubles for CM Jones

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There have not been many dull moments this year for CM Jolanda Jones. That seems unlikely to change in the near future. [O]n Wednesday, revelations surfaced that one of her staffers photographed a citizen picking up public records from her … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments