Monthly Archives: April 2018

Interview with Letitia Plummer

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I did not do interviews in all of the contested Democratic primaries this year. There were just too many of them, with too many candidates, for me to be able to get to them all in the … Continue reading →

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The timing of a Harvey bond referendum

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

How does August grab you? Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday will consider calling a special election for August 25 — the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey — to ask voters to OK a massive bond referendum for flood control … Continue reading →

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Alvarado claims poll lead in SD06

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: A new Public Policy Polling survey of 589 voters in Texas’s 6th Senate District shows Carol Alvarado leading Ana Hernandez by a 2-1 margin, 38% to 22%. 41% of voters are undecided. Alvarado’s margin is driven by … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 29

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Some potential advantages for gender-swapping a character in a TV or movie production. Who even knew that the Nancy comic was still a thing, much less that it was generating a ton of controversy over its recent changes? 10 TV … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit upholds voter ID changes

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Amid efforts to prove Texas’ embattled voter ID law is discriminatory, a federal appeals panel on Friday OK’d state lawmakers’ efforts to rewrite the law last year to address faults previously identified by the courts. On a 2-1 vote, … Continue reading →

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Nine for CD27

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And they’re off. Nine candidates have filed for the June 30 special election to finish former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold’s term, according to the secretary of state’s office. The deadline was 5 p.m. Friday. As expected, the group includes the … Continue reading →

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It’s hard being pregnant in Harris County

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We need to figure this out. Life-threatening, pregnancy-related complications — the iceberg beneath the surface of the U.S. maternal health crisis — are on the rise in Harris County, according to a new report. The report not only confirmed the … Continue reading →

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The case against expediting the CD27 special election

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Erica Greider does not approve of Greg Abbott’s actions in CD27. All things considered, then, I find it hard to believe that Abbott’s decision was motivated by his altruistic concern for the Texans who live in this district. What disturbs … Continue reading →

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Count of firefighters’ pay parity petitions needs to be done by Friday

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Or else. Not sure what follows the “or else”, but maybe we won’t have to find out. City Secretary Anna Russell has one week to finish verifying a petition Houston firefighters submitted last summer seeking pay parity with police or … Continue reading →

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Smart Cities Collaborative

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a thing we are part of. Houston will join 21 other cities in a national partnership aimed at addressing persistent transportation challenges as technology and mobility choices have planners rethinking how streets, sidewalks and private spaces interact. The upcoming … Continue reading →

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

Still waiting for those other special elections

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey returned to a frequent topic a few days ago. State Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, was found guilty of 11 felonies earlier this year. He has not yet faced sentencing and says he will appeal the convictions on … Continue reading →

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Why do business groups want to force sick people to go to work?

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is bad for society. The city’s new ordinance mandating that most private businesses in Austin provide paid sick leave to employees — heralded by supporters as the most progressive labor policy in Texas when it won approval two months ago — is … Continue reading →

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Reinventing Jones Plaza

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Big changes coming to downtown. Jones Plaza, the often-empty, 1.5-acre public space at the heart of Houston’s Theater District, may finally become a true people magnet courtesy of the second face-lift in its 51-year history. This time, Houston First Corporation, … Continue reading →

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HISD nixes charter partnership

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

First there was this. Houston ISD board members adjourned late Tuesday without voting on a controversial measure to give up control over 10 low-performing schools after the meeting turned physical and police escorted members of the public — nearly all … Continue reading →

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Paxton versus Miller on barbecue

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Just embrace the fact that this is the world we live in. A nonbinding opinion issued Monday by Attorney General Ken Paxton continues a battle between lawmakers, restaurants and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller over regulation of scales used to measure … Continue reading →

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Abbott wants to send Farenthold a bill for the CD27 special election

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding that former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold “cover all costs” of the special election to fill his seat using the $84,000 the Corpus Christi Republican used to settle a sexual harassment claim … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 23

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance salutes the students who walked out in protest of gun violence as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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SCOTUS hears the redistricting arguments

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s in their hands now. Much of the argument concerned the issue of whether the case was properly before the justices at all. Last year, a three-judge panel of the Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas, in … Continue reading →

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Special election set in CD27

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Gov. Greg Abbott has called a June 30 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi. The candidate filing deadline is Friday, and early voting will run from June 13-26, according to the governor’s … Continue reading →

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Ellis puts up money for city’s bike projects

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I like this plan. Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis on Monday announced a one-year $10 million commitment to bicycling projects in Houston, in the hopes of jump-starting the city’s transformation into a bike-friendly place. “Working together, we can … Continue reading →

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Today is Texas redistricting day at SCOTUS

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron sets the table. The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will take their seats Tuesday morning to hear a case that could remake the political map of Texas. Hidden in the legalese of “interlocutory injunctions” and “statutory … Continue reading →

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

Lawsuit against Dallas County Democratic candidates dismissed

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit that would have removed more than 80 Democrats from the November general election ballot, putting to rest a controversy that threatened to toss Dallas County elections into chaos. State District Judge Eric … Continue reading →

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HISD considers charter partnership

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

They’ve got to do something to keep the TEA at bay. Energized For STEM Academy Inc., an organization run by NAACP Houston Branch President James Douglas and former Houston ISD trustee Paula Harris, has been selected as the potential partner … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

CD07 candidate forum

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Happening tomorrow, at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston, Texas 77055, from 6:15 to 8:45. My guess, as this is the way these things tend to go, is that there will be some mix-and-mingle time with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

April 2018 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Q2 finance reports, here are the Q3 finance reports, here are the January 2018 finance reports, and here’s the FEC summary page for Democratic Congressional candidates in Texas. Let’s get to it. Todd Litton – CD02 Lori … Continue reading →

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Early voting for the May 5 elections begins today

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: EARLY VOTING BEGINS FOR HOUSTON COUNCIL DISTRICT K  Local jurisdictions, including schools, emergency, and utility districts, also holding May 5 Elections Houston, TX –Early Voting for the May 5, 2018 City of Houston Council Member District K Special Election begins Monday, April … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: District K special election

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes its choice in the District K special election. Larry Blackmon, 68, has spent decades serving on various boards and advisory committees under the leadership of three Houston mayors. Martha Castex-Tatum, 48, is the director of constituent services … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 22

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

If the words “Eurovision in space” fill your heart with glee, then this will be of interest to you. “A.M.I.’s thirty-thousand-dollar payment to Sajudin appears to be the third instance of Trump associates paying to suppress embarrassing stories about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Interview with Aisha Savoy

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I have published a series of interviews with candidates in the special election for Houston City Council District K, to fill the vacancy left by the untimely death of CM Larry Green. As you also know, sometimes … Continue reading →

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Houston Youth Walkout

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good work, y’all. Chanting for gun-law reform and reduced firearm violence, an estimated 2,000-plus students marched to City Hall Friday morning as part of nationwide school walkouts. The Houston Youth Walkout, believed to be the largest local out-of-class gathering to … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Testimony ends in Dallas County “oppressed white voters” trial

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’ll be awhile before we have a verdict. Testimony ended Thursday in the landmark redistricting case over whether Dallas County discriminates against white voters. The four-day trial — Ann Harding vs. Dallas County — featured analysis by local and national … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 16

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has never needed a taint team as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Abbott does want a special election in CD27

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Well all righty then. Gov. Greg Abbott wants to hold a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, as soon as possible.That’s according to a letter he sent Thursday to Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeking guidance on whether … Continue reading →

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No Houston-HISD partnership

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Probably just as well. Mayor Sylvester Turner has ruled out any partnership with Houston ISD to turn around 10 chronically under-performing schools, saying Wednesday he will not be part of the school district’s forthcoming proposal aimed at avoiding a state … Continue reading →

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