Monthly Archives: June 2015

Reviewing the Mayoral websites

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reviews the candidates’ online presence so far. Five months before voters head to the polls, the candidates’ digital platforms are up and running, but most are heavy on biography, light on ideas. “They’re checking the box. They have … Continue reading →

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Let’s wait for a normal week before we judge ridership numbers

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From The Highwayman: Two new light rail lines have gotten off to slow start, according to early ridership figures from the Metropolitan Transit Authority, but officials and riders still hope the Green and Purple Line will meet expectations. The two … Continue reading →

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Early look at the Controller’s race

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have our first race overview story of the season, with a focus on the Comptroller and whether the successor to Ronald Green will be more visible and possibly antagonistic towards the new Mayor, or more of the same lower-key … Continue reading →

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Your annual “don’t get complacent about hurricanes” warning

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

You should know the drill by now. It’s been seven years since a large hurricane – Hurricane Ike – threatened the Gulf states, and increasingly there’s talk among scientists that the Atlantic Ocean may be moving toward a more “quiet” … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Got My Mojo Working

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one of the great voices of American blues, Muddy Waters: As our subtitled narrator notes, Muddy Waters was a huge influence of many other blues artists, as well as on rock musicians. ZZ Top is a prime example of … Continue reading →

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Mayoral candidate forum season is underway

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They talk about the arts. Houston’s mayoral candidates were full of praise for the city’s arts scene Wednesday, when they appeared at a forum together for the first time, though most said they would not support raising taxes or allocating … Continue reading →

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RIP, Tal’s Hill

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One of the more distinctive features of Minute Maid Park is going away. In the relatively short, rapidly changing history of Major League Baseball in Houston, nothing in recent years has represented the Astros’ brand of baseball more distinctively than … Continue reading →

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Making Pearland wet

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It always amazes me that there are still cities that don’t allow alcohol sales in this day and age. Absher is one of about 1,000 Pearland residents who have signed a petition to remove all restrictions on the city’s alcohol … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Sum sum summertime

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

After all the rain we’ve had here, we haven’t had any opportunities yet to complain about the heat. I suspect that’s about to end. 1. All Summer Long – The Beach Boys 2. Cruel Summer – Bananarama 3. Dirty Summer … Continue reading →

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Clinton goes big on voting rights

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I like the sound of this. Accusing Republicans of a systematic effort to undercut voter access to the ballot box, Hillary Clinton called for expansive reforms to U.S. election laws in a speech Thursday. The front-runner for the 2016 Democratic … Continue reading →

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When might Paxton be prosecuted?

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Attorney Ty Clevenger thinks the clock may be running out on the grand jury in Collin County. As best I can determine, the limitations deadline for charging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with state securities violations is June 14, 2015. … Continue reading →

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The cloud still hanging over Rick Perry’s head

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ain’t easy running for President when you’re under indictment. Yet for all the implications of seeking the White House as a criminal defendant, Thursday’s announcement brings another far less political reminder: The case, quite simply, is still ongoing, unaffected by … Continue reading →

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Taking decentralization too far

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Seriously? The governor and attorney general might have to work in Austin, but under a proposed constitutional amendment, they won’t have to live there. Under the proposed amendment, the century-old requirement that state leaders reside in the capital city would … Continue reading →

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Getting ready for the SCOTUS same sex marriage ruling

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Travis County is prepped and raring to go. If the U.S. Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples have the right to marry, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir plans to be ready. The clerk’s office, which issues and records marriage licenses … Continue reading →

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The latest Uptown fuss

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose I need to say something about this. Two members of an economic development board pushing a plan to run a center bus lane along Uptown’s Post Oak Boulevard have financial ties to companies that will be paid for … Continue reading →

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Time to stock up on mosquito repellent

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I feel itchy already. It is on, mosquitoes. This sopping spring guarantees Houstonians will have to be more vigilant against the pests than ever. The mosquito kills about 1 million humans a year, chiefly from malaria, making it by far … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 1

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone is dry and safe as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Fraser and Ratliff to step down

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There’s good news: State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, announced Tuesday that he is not running for re-election, ending a tenure at the Capitol that has spanned four decades. “There comes a time when leaders must take a look at … Continue reading →

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Compromise property tax appraisal bill signed

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s better than nothing, though not by that much. Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a bill that partially closes a loophole that allowed a powerful oil company to take back millions in tax dollars from Houston-area school districts while draining … Continue reading →

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What now for Terry Grier?

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD Superintendent is in the last year of his contract, and it’s not clear whether it will get extended or not. Kashmere has made limited strides as one of the schools in Superintendent Terry Grier’s signature reform effort, called … Continue reading →

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You can still ask Metro to make changes to their new bus routes

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Chris Andrews highlights a little Metro-related activism going on in my neighborhood. Residents in the Woodland Heights neighborhood of Houston have initiated a petition to modify the proposed 30 bus route. Currently, the neighborhood is serviced by the 40 Pecore … Continue reading →

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Three legislators announce their departure

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The first to say goodbye is Rep. Sylvester Turner. Representative Sylvester Turner fought back tears today as the House gave him a bipartisan farewell as he concluded a 26-year legislative career to run for Houston mayor. “My time is up. … Continue reading →

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Ethics reform dies its expected death

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The only surprise is that it took this long. With no collective will to expose dark money contributions in Texas, a major ethics overhaul was snuffed out in the waning hours of the 2015 legislative session. “It’s dead,” Rep. Byron … Continue reading →

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Immigration bills fail

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Another thing to celebrate from this session. As the sun begins to set on the 84th Texas Legislature, promises to enact tough immigration legislation remain unfulfilled. State Sen. Donna Campbell says she’s not giving up just because the last gavel … Continue reading →

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The new closet

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From this Observer story about how Democrats finally managed to put a stake through Rep. Cecil Bell’s awful anti-same-sex-marriage-license bill, comes word of the legislative preference that dare not speak its name: [Rep. Jason] Villalba’s statements were a clear reminder … Continue reading →

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Election 2015 page is up

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

If you look at the top of my homepage, you will see a tab up in the top right for my Election 2015 tracker. It’s a listing of all the candidates that were known to me at the time I … Continue reading →

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Tighter spending cap defeated

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I consider this to be a victory. The state’s constitutional spending cap will remain untouched this session, and House and Senate leaders are blaming each other for the lack of action on the arcane but politically important measure. Senate Republicans … Continue reading →

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Moving equality forward in San Antonio

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Rivard Report: Members of San Antonio’s lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community want the city’s next mayor to follow the lead of Dallas and Houston and expand the 2013 non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) to include private companies. … Continue reading →

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Hillary Clinton in town

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

You have a chance to see her if you act quickly: You can register here if you are interested. About the award: THE BARBARA JORDAN INAUGURAL GOLD MEDALLION will be presented in 2015 at Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland … Continue reading →

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