Category Archives: Local politics

I remain skeptical that anything much will be done to eliminate the office of Harris County Treasurer now that it is inhabited by Orlando Sanchez instead of Richard Garcia, but County Commissioner Steve Radack is still giving it the old … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Yesterday’s Chron brought up the issue of the Harris County Treasurer’s office and its existential future. If the Legislature agrees, voters statewide and within Harris County would have to approve a constitutional amendment. That vote could come late this year, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Oka, that’s not an accurate headline. It should be Fort Bend GOP Sues Party Chairman. But my way is more fun. The Republican Party of Fort Bend County filed a lawsuit Wednesday against its own leader, saying Chairman Gary Gillen … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Jordy Tollett may not be dead, but the Chron has his obituary regardless. Jordy Tollett and members of the executive committee of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau came to a “mutual agreement” that Tollett step down as president … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Jordy Tollett era is coming to an end. Gerard J. “Jordy” Tollett announced today that he is leaving his post as president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. He said he has decided to pursue … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Miya Shay highlights an issue on which I’d like to see some action. Yesterday, between all the babble about employee unions, several council members actually talked about something that you and I use daily: sidewalks! Mainly, Council Member Sue Lovell’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And just like that, the janitors’ strike is over. Here’s an email from the SEIU that explains where they are: Hello everyone, What a difference a day makes! We have reached a tentative agreement for a 3 year contract for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m behind on blogging about the janitors’ strike in Houston – there hasn’t been all that much in the Chronicle, but this WaPo story captures the main point of interest. Ercilia Sandoval, 42, and her impoverished co-workers have become international … Continue reading → Continue reading →

John Nova Lomax has an interesting call to arms. The way I see it, the artists and musicians who made Montrose the creative hotbed it was from about 1965 to 1995 have two choices — fight or flee. In either … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Though I disagree with his conclusion, I kind of like the way Marc Campos phrased this: “Quien es mas macho, Jordy Tollett or Houston Mayor Bill White?” Longtime local booster and political insider Jordy Tollett intends to fight for his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Not too surprisingly, the last chapter of the new anti-smoking ordinance has not yet been written. “Exemptions are never clear,” said Joe Cherner, founder of a group that advocates smoking bans. “That’s why in most cities there are regulations put … Continue reading → Continue reading →

When the new smoking ban was passed, a fellow identified as “an expert on the smoking-ban movement” predicted that the State of Texas would follow suit within a year. I wondered who might spearhead such an effort. Via Houstonist, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In the end, the vote wasn’t close. The City Council voted today to extend Houston’s indoor smoking ban to bars but to continue allowing smoking in outdoor patios and in bars that promote cigar smoking and derive significant revenue from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The revised city ordinance on smoking in bars, which was put off for a week, will come up again tomorrow. The Austin attorney who successfully sued to have parts of that city’s anti-smoking law overturned has sent a letter to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You’ve probably seen some billboards championing City Proposition G around town. One big supporter of Proposition G is Continental Airlines. “If Prop G does not pass, our ability to grow at Intercontinental will be hurt,” Larry Kellner, chairman and chief … Continue reading → Continue reading →

With the vote on amending the city’s anti-smoking ordinance put off for a week, it’s time for the lobbyists who represent the interested parties in the debate to get to work. The American Cancer Society hired Sue Walden, a consultant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s the Chron story about what happened regarding the draft ordinance to strengthen Houston’s smoking ban for bars and restaurants. Bar owners who oppose expanding the city’s smoking ban may have garnered enough support among City Council members to derail … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Via Houstonist, KTRH is reporting that there are two more proposals to modify the city’s smoking ban for restaurants floating around City Council. City Councilwoman Toni Lawrence’s office has begun circulating a petition asking her colleagues to support a ban … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Man, this has been going on for so long I’d forgotten that it was still pending. City of Houston attorneys and lawyers for many of the city’s adult businesses both expect a Dec. 4 trial over “distance requirements” for businesses … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Apparently, the new proposals to strengthen Houston’s anti-smoking ordinance do not go far enough for some people. The draft ordinance released late Wednesday would extend the smoking ban to stand-alone bars and other public, enclosed workplaces but would allow smoking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

County Rents Judge’s House For $56K A Year, Agrees To Water Cattle. Sometimes, you just know you’re in Texas. The story is an interesting little behind-the-scenes look at how county government works, in this case in Fort Bend. All I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The proposed new anti-smoking regulations for Houston are getting closer to reality. One thing to note is that several previously-expressed concerns appear to be addressed in the new ordinance. Houston’s existing ordinance prohibits smoking in restaurants, but allows it in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The four former employees of the Mayor Pro Tem office have pleaded not guilty to charges related to their improper bonuses. State District Judge Michael McSpadden read the charges to Rosita Hernandez, Florence Watkins, Christopher Mays and Theresa Orta, who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The grand jury has handed down nine indictments against the four former staffers of the Mayor Pro Tem office who were fired for taking improper bonuses. The grand jury issued a total of nine indictments against Rosita Hernandez, Florence Watkins, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

City Council Member Carol Alvarado took her turn before the grand jury today. City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado testified for three hours today before a Harris County grand jury investigating improper bonuses at City Hall. Alvarado, who supervised four Office of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Grand jury testimony for the former city employees who were fired for receiving improper bonuses begins today. As two of the city employees fired for taking unauthorized bonuses appeared before a Harris County grand jury Wednesday, prosecutors said the panel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The District Attorney’s investigation into improper bonuses received by four former City Hall employees has finally reached the next stage. Houston Councilwoman Carol Alvarado and four former city employees fired for taking $143,000 in bonuses that officials say were not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Didn’t this guy’s mama ever teach him not to waste food like that? An audience member hurled an egg at Mayor Bill White during a Houston City Council meeting Wednesday, prompting a debate over whether certain people should be banned … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So the fight over the Mayor’s proposed changes to 2004’s Proposition 2 (known this year as Proposition G) has begun with the usual round of radio ads. The new ad, voiced by Proposition 2 supporter and former Councilman Carroll Robinson, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

OK, here’s the story, as best I understand it from a reader named Roberta and my own trawling through the Chron’s archives. A couple of years ago, the city of Houston went forward with a plan to widen a street … Continue reading → Continue reading →

KHOU fills in the blanks that I alluded to regarding the potential contenders for Shelley Sekula-Gibbs’ likely-to-be-abandoned City Council seat. [T]he prospect of a special election for city council has politicos salivating. Among the candidates talked about on the political … Continue reading → Continue reading →

No surprise here. Making good on a months-old threat, city lawyers went to court today seeking restitution from four employees fired after allegations that they took $143,000 in improper bonuses while working in the Office of Mayor Pro Tem. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron checks in on City Council member Carol Alvarado, who is still wielding considerable influence with Mayor White despite having stepped down from the Mayor Pro Tem position. Despite a cloud of uncertainty about an ongoing investigation by local … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Didn’t get to this yesterday: Remember last year when a compromise ban on smoking in restaurant dining areas but not bars was enacted? Well, it looks like that ban will be extended to include bars, thanks to the unexpected support … Continue reading → Continue reading →