Monthly Archives: January 2007

Another Cisneros in San Antonio politics

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I first heard about on the Walker Report before Christmas, and now here’s the Chron story of the official announcement: Mary Alice Cisneros is running for San Antonio City Council. Mary Alice Cisneros, wife of former mayor and HUD Secretary … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Why the Speaker’s race matters

Posted on January 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Nice job by the Chron. Far more is at stake in the race for Texas House speaker than just whose hand will wield the oversized pecan gavel used to bring the unruly chamber to order. There also is influence. And … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Is this the end for the Harris County Treasurer’s office?

Posted on January 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

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 →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

How about that Houston housing market?

Posted on January 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The other day, I lamented the lack of data on housing prices in Houston. As it happens, yesterday’s Chron provided some. Overall, single-family homes in Houston appreciated more than 6 percent last year, the best home appreciation rate since 2001, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

What kind of vote for Speaker will there be?

Posted on January 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

To vote in secret for Speaker or not to vote in secret for Speaker, that is the question. According to conventional wisdom, a record vote next week means Craddick stays put; a secret vote means he packs up the contents … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Debating red light cameras

Posted on January 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, I posted some links from a traffic safety expert named Reed Berry, with whom I’d corresponded after he left a comment on this post about red light cameras. Berry mentioned that he had been involved in a radio … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 5 Comments

Northcross moratorium broken

Posted on January 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, the developer that’s building a controversial WalMart in Austin said it would suspend activity on the site for 60 days so it could gather more input from the neighborhood, presumably including the vocal opponents of their project. On … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 1 Comment

Lampson’s return to Congress

Posted on January 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s good to see Nick Lampson back where he belongs. Though Lampson proudly claimed membership in an unusually large freshman class of 55 lawmakers, he is anything but a new guy on campus. As he made his way through the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Burnam files complaint against Craddick

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Add another element to the Speaker’s race mix: a request for a criminal investigation on Tom Craddick. Rep. Lon Burnam of Fort Worth, a vocal critic of Craddick, wrote in a letter to [Travis County DA Ronnie] Earle that an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Pitts and McCall, McCall and Pitts

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the news from yesterday’s press conference. There was no cavalry, no list of supporters — indeed, no promises of a list of supporters. When Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, announced Thursday that he had locked up the votes in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Pitts and McCall, McCall and Pitts

Robinson Warehouse – …Gone

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

And more or less on the timeline I envisioned, there she goes: I’d driven by on Tuesday and seen that the top story on the remaining building section was gone, so I knew it’s be basically gone by the end … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Waiter!

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I read with some amusement this story about how waiters and customers can understand each other better. I have a simpler and more effective solution: Everybody should spend at least a summer doing a food service job, preferably actually as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 3 Comments

No new appraisal caps?

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The task force appointed by Governor Perry to study property taxes and appraisal caps has issued its report, and going by news coverage it’s a little hard to tell what they said. Depending on who you read, you might come … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

What awaits us at 4 PM?

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We’re about an hour out from the Pitts-McCall press conference, at which some unknown number of Republicans (hopefully at least 30) will stand with the consensus alternative to Tom Craddick and bring his reign as Speaker to an end. Or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on What awaits us at 4 PM?

Fort Bend GOP sues itself

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

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 →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Van Chancellor resigns

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This comes as a surprise to me. Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor has told FOX 26 sports that he has resigned after 10 years with the team. Chancellor led the Comets to the first four WNBA championships and won the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Brock speaks, and other Saint Arnold news

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Brock Wagner, the main man at Saint Arnold’s, sends a letter to the Houston Press, as does one of his microbrewing colleagues. Kill bill: I laughed when I read your article [“Beer Time in Austin,” as told to Richard Connelly, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Houston’s disaster preparedness

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Houston: Better than most in disaster preparedness. “I’d give us probably a solid B if I was grading us, and we’re working towards the ultimate A+,” [Harris County Judge Robert] Eckels said. So far, Harris County has achieved interoperability with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

And so we come to the end of the Jordy Tollett era

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

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 →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on And so we come to the end of the Jordy Tollett era

Matthews hearing to revoke probation postponed

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in August, former right-wing radio talker Jon Matthews was re-arrested for violating the terms of his probation after a guilty plea on charges of indecency with a child. The hearing to determine if he goes to jail or not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Matthews hearing to revoke probation postponed

Speaker’s race: My head is spinning

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what I think I know about the Speaker’s race at this point: 1. I think Jim Pitts is going to have to do some work to make sure he really will get all of the people who have pledged … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Speaker’s race: Upside down

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

If this turns out to be true, I believe it’s deep trouble for Tom Craddick. Word came filtering in late afternoon of what would be a stunning turn of events in the speaker’s race. Rather than Rep. Jim Pitts considering … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Speaker’s race: Upside down

Today’s Speaker Race update: Craddick confidence

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The theme I’m seeing today is confidence being expressed by Craddick supporters. To wit: Sylvester Turner: Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, Craddick’s appointed speaker pro tempore, said he has called at least 30 House members, both Democratic and Republican, in an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

HD29 runoff set

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The last election of the 2006 cycle will be the first election of 2007. Voters will decide Jan. 16 who represents northern Brazoria County and Matagorda County — a week after the Legislature begins its new session. The runoff election … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Trashing the Bayou

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Via Houstonist, the troubles with trash in Buffalo Bayou. Pieces of plastic bags cling to tree branches, soda cans slosh against the banks and plastic water bottles move swiftly downstream. The garbage haunts the $15 million Sabine-to-Bagby Promenade that was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Trashing the Bayou

Habla espanol?

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Via Stace comes this article about Houston immigrants, especially business owners, learning Spanish. Stace covers the main points, to which I just have this to add: Though there’s often a push for immigrants to learn English, the growing Hispanic population … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on Habla espanol?

Turn that thing down!

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I swear, I read an article very much like this one 25 years ago after getting a Walkman as a Christmas present: Your iPod may be damaging your hearing. Experts say the problems are probably caused by the use of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

The Human Baton

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Okay, this is cool. A recent Sunday comes and Cherish Pageau (Internet handle: gifa) is so amped up with anticipation she hops out of bed early. In only a few hours the 30-year-old redhaired Kansas City, Mo., production artist for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

“Lee Harvey was a friend of mine”

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The house that Lee Harvey Oswald stayed in the night before he shot President Kennedy may be turned into a museum. The tidy house with the large picture window on West Fifth Street looks like many other older homes in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Let’s talk surplus

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Texas has a surplus in it. There are worse things to have. After considering basic demands like school enrollment growth and making good on a highly touted promise to lower local school property tax rates, there are choices to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Craddick claims he’ll win

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Paul Burka prints an email from Tom Craddick’s spokesperson Alexis DeLee, which claims that Burka’s Plan B post is all wrong and that it’s Craddick who has the momentum and the pledges to win the Speakership. All I know is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Craddick claims he’ll win

Is a deal in the works?

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reports that a deal is being talked about to combine the forces of Brian McCall and Jim Pitts against Tom Craddick. “I don’t think there is a deal. I know they have been talking and continue to talk,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Is a deal in the works?

The top ten criminal justice stories of 2006 in Texas

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Grits for Breakfast gives a rundown of the biggest news from the criminal justice system in Texas last year. Lots of familiar stuff there, many of which will play a starring role in 2007 as well, now that the Lege … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on The top ten criminal justice stories of 2006 in Texas

McGwire: Yes or no?

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Another thing that the new year will bring is the 2007 Hall of Fame balloting, and with it the conundrum about Mark McGwire. David Pinto has a sample of what the actual voters are thinking about McGwire, both pro and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on McGwire: Yes or no?