Monthly Archives: September 2013

The aftermath of the NDO in San Antonio

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Council vote is over, but don’t expect the fight to be. In four separate public forums since mid-August, more than 1,500 people approached the dais at City Hall and addressed the council, speaking passionately in support of and against … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More ways in which refusing to expand Medicaid will cost Texas money

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Fiscal conservatism, baby. Gov. Rick Perry’s rejection of Medicaid expansion will force private health insurance premiums to rise by an average of 9.3 percent for Texans buying coverage on their own, a new study finds. GOP lawmakers, strongly encouraged by … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on More ways in which refusing to expand Medicaid will cost Texas money

Key Maps

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, if this doesn’t inspire a wave of nostalgia, you either haven’t lived in Houston for long or you’re under the age of 30. Jen Marie Rau, the mapmaker’s daughter, is not a big fan of global positioning satellites or … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , | Comments Off on Key Maps

Friday random ten: Get your war on

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Influenced by the news, as you might imagine. 1. Baby Missiles – The War On Drugs 2. Life During Wartime – Talking Heads 3. Peaceful Warrior – Flying Fish Sailors 4. Some Unholy War – Amy Winehouse 5. War – … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: Get your war on

July finance reports for Harris County officeholders and challengers

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Odd-numbered years are primarily about city elections, but primaries are just around the corner, and some hopefuls for county and state offices are already out there lining up support and raising money. Here’s a peek at some of the Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on July finance reports for Harris County officeholders and challengers

San Antonio council passes non-discrimination ordinance

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Well done. The City Council voted 8-3 Thursday to approve adding sexual orientation andgender identity to the list of classes protected from discrimination in San Antonio. Council chambers erupted with emotion — red-clad supporters of the updated nondiscrimination ordinance applauded … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

More on Metro’s bus strategy

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The anticipated “re-imagining” of Metro’s bus service is underway. The “new” Metro is still prioritizing things in an old way, splitting its priorities evenly between ridership growth and coverage to areas where officials know the bus provides the only viable … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Grand jury convening in Perry/Lehmberg veto threat case

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t wait to see how this turns out. A visiting state district judge began convening a special grand jury Wednesday to consider two possible criminal cases stemming from the April drunken driving arrest of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Michael Kubosh

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We circle back one last time to At Large #3, with Michael Kubosh. Kubosh is a bail bondsman and political activist. He ran for the State Senate as a Democrat against Dan Patrick in 2006, but is best known for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

No federal benefits for you, soldier!

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We sure do love the troops here in Texas, don’t we? The Texas National Guard refused to process requests from same-sex couples for benefits on Tuesday despite a Pentagon directive to do so, while Mississippi won’t issue applications from state-owned … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hiram Clarke TIRZ

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I think this will be a good thing. The Houston City Council and the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved a plan this month to boost development in Houston’s southwest corner with the creation of a tax increment reinvestment zone. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Hiram Clarke TIRZ

Texas blog roundup for September 2

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with workers in their fight for economic equality as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for September 2

Interview with Kathy Daniels

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Challenging CM Jerry Davis in District B is Kathy Daniels. Daniels, who had also run in B in 2011, is a retired postal worker whose family has deep roots in the neighborhood. Like CM Davis, she has lost a family … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Kathy Daniels

More to learn about Wendy Davis

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some things you may not know about Sen. Wendy Davis but will find out about when and if she declares her candidacy for Governor. Wendy Davis burst into the national political consciousness this summer as a feminist folk hero. She was … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Wallace Jefferson to resign

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is his last month. Wallace Jefferson, the first African-American to be chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court and one of the most respected jurists in the nation, is resigning his position effective Oct. 1. In an interview Monday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Wallace Jefferson to resign

Uber in Dallas

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A possible preview of things to come, courtesy of our neighbors to the north. Uber pulled into Dallas in one year ago, offering residents a ride with a few taps of an app. Drunk or stuck or just not sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Uber in Dallas

Interview with CM Jerry Davis

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We move now to District B, where CM Jerry Davis is in his first term. Davis is the CEO of the non-profit Making It Better, which works to improve literacy, leadership, and life skills for disadvantaged children. He is also … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ballot order and the HCC lineup

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The ballot order has been determined for the November city elections. You can click over and see them, I’ll just use this opportunity to once again say how ridiculous it is that in the year 2013 we are still drawing … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ballot order and the HCC lineup

Van de Putte for Lite Gov?

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, please. Democratic operatives are scouring Texas to find worthy statewide candidates to run on a 2014 ticket with Sen. Wendy Davis. Davis is expected to announce in the coming weeks whether she’ll challenge for governor or opt to seek … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Uber debate

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it over the weekend, the Chron’s op-ed pages featured a point/counterpoint on Uber and its push to enter the Houston market, which would require changes to various city ordinances. Here’s the pro-Uber piece: Imagine it’s Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Uber debate

More tributes for Mike Anderson

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the full Chron story on the death of Harris County DA Mike Anderson. “We all have suffered a terrible loss today of a devoted public servant, husband and father,” first assistant Belinda Hill said in a statement from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on More tributes for Mike Anderson

A new day in North Forest

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really really rooting for this to work out well. [Maria] Cortez used to teach at Burbank Elementary in the Houston Independent School District but agreed to follow her principal to a tough new assignment – and to transfer her … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend link dump for September 1

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

“Onan’s sin was his exploitation of the helpless and his failure to fulfill his responsibility in the safety net for childless widows.” “You know the Bechdel Test: Now meet the Russo Test for LGBT movie characters”. The worst moments of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Appeal filed in country redistricting lawsuit

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Chron: Activists who believe a now-adopted Harris County redistricting plan illegally dilutes Latino votes in the only Latino-opportunity commissioner precinct are set to appeal a ruling made at the beginning of the month. In her long-anticipated decision, issued … Continue reading →

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

Not pissing off your neighbors is generally a good thing

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the message I get from this story about one developer who is trying to not piss off the people who live near his proposed development. Oak trees along the sidewalks? Check. A push to build a dog park? Check. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Pertussis

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not good. State health officials warn that Texas is on track to see the highest number of whooping cough cases it has registered in 50 years if occurrences of the disease continue at the current rate. As of this week, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Pertussis