Monthly Archives: September 2011

Friday random twelve: My worst songs

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Having spent so much time talking about the songs I own that are on various Best Songs lists, how about a list of Worst Songs, courtesy of the AOL Radio Blog? This list goes to twelve because that’s how many … Continue reading →

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Lineup update

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron story that ran in yesterday’s news is now updated online to reflect the fact that CM Melissa Noriega does have two opponents, Brad Batteau and Chris Carmona. I emailed reporter Chris Moran yesterday to ask about that discrepancy, … Continue reading →

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Starting with a bang

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to the UTSA Roadrunners for winning their first-ever football game. Now please inform your fans that storming the field afterward is maybe not such a hot idea. The arrests of a small group of University of Texas at San … Continue reading →

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No grass, no problems

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Texas is in the midst of one its worst droughts ever, yet one of the more arid cities in the state is seeing no noticeable drop in its reservoirs. How is that possible? Simple: They got rid of lawns years … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 5

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone had a fine Labor Day weekend as we bring you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Eric Dick

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in At Large #2 is Eric Dick, who is an attorney that runs his own firm after having spent time in the Attorney General and District Attorney’s offices. You’ve probably seen his campaign signs around the city; they’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Your 2011 electoral lineup

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There are many candidates running for office this year. Some of them have a better rationale for running than others, but thankfully for them that’s not a requirement. A flurry of late filings to run for city office Wednesday filled … Continue reading →

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League of Women Voters candidate debates

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund will hold a series of debates for candidates running for Council and Mayor, starting this evening. From their press release: The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund is pleased … Continue reading →

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Baylor conference-blocking A&M

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Hilarious. A threat of legal action by Baylor has, at least temporarily, held up Texas A&M’s move to the SEC. The SEC’s presidents voted unanimously Tuesday night to extend an invitation to Texas A&M to become the league’s 13th member, … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jenifer Rene Pool

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We now turn our attention to the last open seat for this year, At Large #2, where a diverse group of candidates are vying to succeed CM Sue Lovell. First up is Jenifer Rene Pool, a community activist and business … Continue reading →

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Filing deadline today

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the last day to file for the November 2011 election, which means that today is the day we separate the contenders from the pretenders and see which perennials will bloom on the ballot. There are no surprises so … Continue reading →

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This is an excellent time to cut funding for fighting wildfires

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

That’s exactly what the Republicans did in the budget that came into effect last week. Cash-strapped state lawmakers – led by Gov. Rick Perry’s stand against raising taxes or dipping too deeply into the state rainy day fund – cut … Continue reading →

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Bandit signs

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s campaign season so there’s a lot more of these around. Local and state laws long have outlawed the placement of signs on public rights of way – the land alongside roadways, including utility poles and the area around them … Continue reading →

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

Interview with CM Al Hoang

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

CM Al Hoang is serving his first term in District F. He was born in South Vietnam and emigrated to the US in 1975. An attorney by trade, Hoang is the first Vietnamese-American to serve on Council, and serves as … Continue reading →

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DPS Megacenters

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what I think about this. With a $63 million infusion from the Legislature, state officials hope to cut the legendary long lines and irritating red tape at driver’s license centers across Texas with upgraded technology and new “megacenters” … Continue reading →

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How many votes will it take?

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Nancy Sims has a lament about the upcoming city elections. What disturbs me most is the complete lack of interest I’m seeing and hearing from my friends, co-workers, students and people I encounter daily. Everyone wants to complain about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The toll on the trees

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

CultureMap: Houston, a city long defined by its gigantic live oak trees and lush landscaping, is changing for the worse as the relentless, thrashing sun has taken a toll on all things green and growing. The ongoing drought, which is … Continue reading →

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Redistricting litigation gets underway this week

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Starting tomorrow, a three-judge panel in San Antonio will hear one of the two redistricting-related lawsuits that have been filed in Texas. I figure this is as good a time as any to review the landscape as we head into … Continue reading →

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Petition drive to “can the ban”

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The backlash against New Braunfels’ ban on disposable containers on the rivers has begun. The New Braunfels “Can the Ban” petition drive, up and running days after the City Council banned disposable containers on the city’s rivers, slowed to a … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 4

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready for some college football? Meet new Apple CEO Tim Cook, the most powerful gay man in the world. The Five Guys story, which is making me hungry. Don’t annoy a federal judge, especially one with a finely … Continue reading →

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The 70 Percent Solution

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Where have I heard this before? November’s election really is about 2013, said lawyer, lobbyist and blogger Robert Miller. He speculates that the mayor needs to win big against low-profile opponents in November to discourage stronger candidates from running against … Continue reading →

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On Texas’ government jobs

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Since I had previously complained about a lack of acknowledgement by Texas writers about the role that growth in the public sector has played in the so-called “Texas Miracle”, I want to give credit where it is due. In the … Continue reading →

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Are you ready for the Sooner Network?

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, why not? Reporters were given a tour Tuesday of the university’s SoonerVision HD production rooms that have been expanded through $5 million in improvements in recent years. With fiber-optic cables connecting the school’s athletic venues to side-by-side control rooms, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: How do you say “Heigh Ho” in Spanish?

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Los Lobos makes everything better: Kind of fitting for Labor Day weekend, don’t you think? Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did.

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Gallego to run for CD23 and other updates

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Pete Gallego has decided to run for Congress in CD23. Gallego first won election to the Texas House in 1990 and has chaired various committees and also been part of the Democratic leadership, doing time as head of … Continue reading →

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The high school football tax

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You may not be paying more in property taxes, but if you have a kid in public school, or maybe if you just know someone who has a kid in public school, you’re probably paying more for something. High school … Continue reading →

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Let the porkchopping begin!

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready for some death from above? “Pork choppers,” Texas’ newest weapon in the war on feral hogs, will take to the skies Thursday when it [became] legal for hunters to buy seats on hog-hunting helicopters and gun down … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Grade two

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Olivia is now officially two weeks into the second grade. As I did last year around this time, here to celebrate that are ten songs brought to you by the number two. 1. Two – Ryan Adams 2. Two Bends … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kathy Blueford Daniels

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Wrapping up my weeklong tour of District B is Kathy Blueford Daniels, who is a retired postal worker and lifelong resident of the district. She is also the founder of BLACMoM (Black, Latino, Asian, and Caucasian Mourners of Murder), which … Continue reading →

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What if we didn’t have to worry about county lines?

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The federal lawsuit that will be heard by a three-judge panel in San Antonio begins next week, but in the meantime there have been depositions taken by various players, and some interesting things have come up in them. Texas Redistricting … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas Watchdog followup on HCC reports

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So after I published those HCC Trustee campaign finance reports, I got an email from Jennifer Peebles of Texas Watchdog, who asked me if I had redacted the files to hide the mailing addresses of the trustees and their donors. … Continue reading →

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The first drum majors

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We know that UTSA is debuting a football team this weekend. Well, you can’t have football without halftime entertainment, and you can’t have a marching band without drum majors. Alana Urbano, Annie Moras and Sydney Corbin know they have a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Alvin Byrd

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

District B candidate Alvin Byrd is the Constituent Services Director for current Council Member Jarvis Johnson. He is a Navy veteran who has worked at numerous community organizations and was the first president of the Greater Fifth Ward Superneighborhood Council. … Continue reading →

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“Hire Houston First” passes

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One of Mayor Parker’s signature policy items is now law. Houston City Council passed Mayor Annise Parker’s Hire Houston First initiative by a 13-1 vote Wednesday, allowing and sometimes requiring city departments to choose the second lowest bid for purchases … Continue reading →

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