Monthly Archives: May 2013

Reed for AG?

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is one of the stranger “draft somebody” movements I’ve seen. A movement has been building among local Republicans over the past few months to encourage Susan Reed to run for state attorney general in 2014. Reed, the hard-nosed, four-term … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 13

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is thankful for the mothers in their lives as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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From the “Tax breaks for me but not for thee” department

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There are two types of people in Texas: Those for whom the tax code is written to favor, and everybody else. The Dallas Country Club, not a place usually thought of as needing a huge tax break, used a quirk … Continue reading →

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The Uptown plan is as much about HOV as it is BRT

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe more. Most discussion of the Uptown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone’s plan, which goes before City Council this week, has been about a proposal to annex Memorial Park into the zone and spend $100 million restoring the drought-stricken park. The … Continue reading →

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Garces and Mendez spar over a photo

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Usually, the city election season doesn’t get into full swing until summertime, safely after the legislative session has ended. But clearly, it’s on in District I. Houston City Council District I candidate Graci Garces is calling for opponent Ben Mendez’s … Continue reading →

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On the Astros’ Wives Gala

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

What Nonsequiteuse says: I’m really upset that the Houston Astros have left the Houston Area Women’s Center in the lurch as far as the gala this year. I know the people and the programs that will suffer without those funds, … Continue reading →

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Another Battleground Texas story

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There are three points of interest in this Statesman story about Battleground Texas. Point One: They’ve convinced the people who most needed convincing, the money people and the dedicated volunteers. Battleground Texas quickly won the allegiance of Steve Mostyn and … Continue reading →

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Memorial Park will not become the Riverwalk

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Council will vote on the proposed Uptown/Memorial TIRZ this week, which may or may not put an end to some of the wild speculation about what expanding the Uptown TIRZ boundaries to include Memorial Park may mean. Imagine you’re jogging … Continue reading →

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Maybe I buried Medicaid expansion too soon

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I still think it’s dead, but I could be wrong about that. The fate of Medicaid reform in Texas could rest solely on an up-or-down vote on the 2014-15 budget. State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, a member of the conference … Continue reading →

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HISD revises magnet school policy

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This has been in the works for a long time. The [HISD Board of Trustees] voted unanimously on a revised policy governing its beloved magnet school program, saying the schools would be held more accountable for academic performance and their … Continue reading →

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Where things stand with two weeks to go in the legislative session

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

With the Thursday midnight deadline for bills to pass on second reading in the House, I figured this would be a good time to take a look at the status of some major legislation and legislative priorities. There are two … Continue reading →

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Modified teacher retirement bill passes Senate

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Modified again, this time enough to garner support from the teachers. Teachers, the state of Texas and school districts all would pay more to help support the Teacher Retirement System of Texas under a bill passed by the Texas Senate … Continue reading →

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Ana Reyes makes history in Farmers Branch

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t pay much attention to Saturday’s elections, since there was nothing on the ballot for me and there were few races of interest around the state. One place where there were races worth watching was in Farmers Branch, and … Continue reading →

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Five years of Discovery Green

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Five great years for a great park and an awesome city amenity. Five years after its opening, more than 1 million people annually come to stretch out on the grassy slope to take in live music and movies with the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 12

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

On Homeland and The Americans. I don’t watch the former, so I can’t comment on it. I will say that I have been struck by a parallel between The Americans and The Sopranos in the sense that as with Tony … Continue reading →

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Mayor Parker kicks off her campaign

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the time of the season for Mayor Parker, who has a serious challenger this time, but also a stronger hand to play. In her tenure, Parker has given teeth to the city’s historic preservation rules, broken a deadlock with … Continue reading →

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Three four six

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Meet your new area code, Houston. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) on Thursday announced the addition of area code 346 to accommodate continued growth in and around Houston. The 346 area code will overlay existing area codes 713, 281 and … Continue reading →

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Everybody sues the EPA

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The state of Texas and our pollution-loving Attorney General do it because they think the EPA does too much to protect us from harm. Some other groups do it because they think the EPA isn’t doing enough. In the suit … Continue reading →

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Looking forward on Memorial Park

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Shellye Arnold, the new Executive Director of the Memorial Park Conservancy. There is no doubt that it is a pivotal moment for the 89-year old-park. Decimated by the drought of 2011, Memorial Park lost thousands of trees. The conservancy … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Der Kommissar

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #20 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Der MKmmissar”, originally by Falco and covered by After the Fire. Here’s the original: I guess I have to add this to the “originals I’d not heard before” list, since … Continue reading →

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Here are the HCDE hopefuls

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Via Stace, here are the six finalists to succeed HCDE Trustee Jim Henley, who is resigning his position as of when a replacement is chosen: Davetta Daniels, who ran for HISD Trustee against Paula Harris in 2007 and 2011 Sue … Continue reading →

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No more inspection stickers

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the plan, and I think it makes a lot of sense. Texas’ vehicle inspection stickers would become a thing of the past under legislation approved unanimously Monday by the state Senate. But there’s a catch: Vehicles still would have … Continue reading →

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Skilling’s sentence shortened

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Jeffrey Skilling’s day in court will come to an end. Responding to a federal appeals court mandate, lawyers for former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling and the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday reached an agreement that could knock a decade off … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: The city never sleeps, part 5

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard to be a saint in the city, y’all. 1. I’ve Been To Memphis – Lyle Lovett 2. (I’ve Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo – Glenn Miller 3. In London So Fair – Susan McKeown 4. Independence, Indiana – … Continue reading →

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Lehmberg out of jail

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Her incarceration may be over, but Rosemary Lehmberg’s problems are far from it. Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was released from jail early Thursday after serving half of a 45-day jail sentence for pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated. … Continue reading →

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Perry works against his own stated interests

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t understand this at all. A bill that would have increased vehicle registration fees to raise money for transportation projects met its demise in the Texas House on Thursday. House Bill 3664 by state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, … Continue reading →

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Watch out for snails

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The invasive species keep coming, and there’s only so much we can do about it. Ominous red dots pepper the war room maps, and the story they tell is ugly. Foreign enemies are advancing on Texas by the millions – … Continue reading →

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Rick Perry feels persecuted by gay people

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I got nothin‘. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said Sunday that he believes rejecting LGBT people is similar to fighting slavery during the pre-Civil War era. Appearing on the Family Research Council‘s program “Stand With Scouts Sunday,” the arch conservative … Continue reading →

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So where does redistricting stand?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Texas Redistricting: The Texas Legislature is in the final stretch of its regular session (sine die on May 27), and, at this point, in the calendar, if anything gets done, it looks like it will have to start on … Continue reading →

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Margins tax breaks passed

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Someone’s getting a tax break. Probably not you, though. The Texas House on Tuesday tentatively cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the state’s primary business tax — cuts that proponents say will keep the Texas economy humming and opponents … Continue reading →

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Council approves safe passing ordinance

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the press release: Mayor Annise Parker and Houston City Council Members today unanimously approved an ordinance to protect Houston’s cyclists and other vulnerable road users by requiring cars and other motor vehicles to keep a separation of more than … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 6

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks the state is a safer place without Wayne LaPierre in it as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Senate passes amended HB5

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Senate has passed its version of House Bill 5, which makes sweeping changes to standardized testing and curriculum requirements for high school students. Texas high school students would have new curriculum requirements under legislation unanimously passed by the Senate … Continue reading →

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Medicaid “expansion” likely dead

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The calendar is a harsh mistress. The House’s lead health care budget writer says his bill to force Gov. Rick Perry’s administration to explore the potential for a “Texas solution” on Medicaid expansion is dead. Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, said … Continue reading →

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