Tag Archives: San Antonio

Austin to get bike sharing

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

About time, y’all. City Council will vote Thursday on a five-year contract with a newly formed nonprofit organization, Bike Share of Austin, to operate the system. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded Austin a $1.5 million grant last summer … Continue reading →

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

Student RFID lawsuit rejected

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A win for the school district in federal court. A federal judge Tuesday ruled that Northside Independent School District can transfer a student from her magnet school for refusing to wear her student ID badge to protest a new electronic … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Curbside composting

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Way to go, Austin. City officials are asking Austinites in 7,900 households in five parts of the city to separate their banana peels, egg shells, meat, chicken bones, milk cartons, leaves and any other organic material from their household trash … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Get well soon, Elf Louise

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve ever lived in San Antonio, you are undoubtedly familiar with the Elf Louise Christmas Project. I’m sad to say that “Elf” Louise Locker has suffered a heart attack, but thankfully appears to be recovering nicely. The woman behind … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Get well soon, Elf Louise

Student RFID case in federal court

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck sorting it all out, Your Honor. Because she has a religious objection to Northside Independent School District’s new student tracking system, Andrea Hernandez and her father testified in federal court Monday, she should not be transferred to another … Continue reading →

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

San Antonio B-Cycle expands again

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m truly impressed at how successful this has been. San Antonio’s newest B-Cycle bike sharing stations opened Friday at six new locations around South San Antonio. The new stations — located at Roosevelt Park, Concepcion Park, Mission Concepcion, Mission Road … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The anti-student RFID movement has already begun

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

When I wrote about the battle over student RFID, I said it was just a matter of time before the Lege intervened. Turns out I was behind the curve on this. Since first hearing about the use of radio frequency … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The anti-student RFID movement has already begun

Student RFID

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. A Texas high school student is being suspended for refusing to wear a student ID card implanted with a radio-frequency identification chip. Northside Independent School District in San Antonio began issuing the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

2012 election results

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As I type this there are still a number of unsettled races in Texas, so things may change between now and tomorrow morning after we’ve all had an insufficient night’s sleep. But here’s how they stand at this time, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

What I’ll be looking for tonight

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder that I’ll be on KPFT tonight starting at 7 PM to talk about the elections. Here’s a preview of the things I’ll be looking for: 1. SD10 – Sen. Wendy Davis vs Mark Shelton: Easily the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What I’ll be looking for tonight

Draft Julian?

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Who wants to see Julian Castro run for Governor in 2014? His fellow Bexar County Democrats, at least. Bexar County Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Medina launched a social media movement last week to draft Castro for the 2014 Texas governor’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It was nice knowing you, Lockhart

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s so much that’s wrong with this. Community leaders believe the four lanes of Texas 130 will spur growth — despite what is expected to be a charge of about 15 cents a mile to drive on it. The tollway, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Castro’s road show

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, racking up the frequent flyer miles. On Saturday, Castro spoke to Democratic campaign workers at a strip mall near Fort Belvoir and to students at George Mason University in a coordinated effort by the Obama … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Castro’s road show

Castro puts pre-K on the national stage

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to thrusting himself into the national spotlight with his DNC keynote address, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro also brought the discussion about pre-kindergarten education to the fore. Under the biggest spotlight of his political career, Mayor Julián Castro … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Castro puts pre-K on the national stage

MFU Houston

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Houston Mobile Food Unit (MFU) Collective will present City Council Members with stakeholder-driven Ordinance changes in September, which will further promote business growth and entrepreneurship in Houston. The proposed Ordinance changes will eliminate the 60-foot distance … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t forget Joaquin

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You can’t have a story about one twin and not have one about the other, am I right? When his minute-older brother gives the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, Joaquín Castro will be nearby, as he always is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t forget Joaquin

Julian Castro is ready for his closeup

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your primer on the rising star, San Antonio Mayor, and DNC keynoter Julian Castro. I’ll let you take it in in all its hagiographic glory, but I’d like to highlight my favorite part, where the authors manage to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Julian Castro is ready for his closeup

San Antonio’s pre-k referendum

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Houston is chock full of ballot referenda this fall, but the most interesting and potentially consequential one in the state is San Antonio. An initiative from San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro that would direct a portion of sales tax revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bike sharing to come to Fort Worth

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The Fort Worth Transportation Authority said Monday it’s raised more than $1 million, and plans to launch a central city bike-sharing program by next Spring that will include 30 stations and 300 bikes. The program will start … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Bike sharing to come to Fort Worth

No term limits referendum this fall

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Much as I dislike our silly term limits ordinance, I think this is the correct term of action. A City Council committee on Monday killed a proposal to ask voters whether to give the mayor, controller and council members up … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on No term limits referendum this fall

Local action on payday lending

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart reports on a promising movement. No one was particularly surprised a year ago when the Texas Legislature failed – once again – to pass meaningful regulation of the payday and auto title loan industries. After all, the … Continue reading →

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

Why do we want to subsidize the creation of minimum wage jobs?

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That’s a question some people are asking in San Antonio. Thankfully, the local debate over whether to grant Maruchan Inc. of Japan millions of dollars to pay people very little money to make noodles has transcended the mere question of … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Why do we want to subsidize the creation of minimum wage jobs?

Henry Cisneros

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Express News bring us an update on former San Antonio Mayor and onetime rising star Henry Cisneros. Henry Cisneros still talks about housing and urban development with passion, about the future of cities and the ways in which immigrant … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Solar’s bright future

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a long story in the Observer about the state of solar energy in Texas. The piece covers a lot of ground, including this bit about what’s going on in San Antonio. San Antonio has emerged as a city willing … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Solar’s bright future

Bike sharing is officially almost here

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From Citizens Net: Beginning Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Houston will be one of only 15 U.S. cities to launch a bike share program to make getting around downtown a whole lot easier. The bike share program, known as Houston B-cycle, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Bike sharing is officially almost here

No, San Antonio will not be getting an MLB team any time soon

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You are right to be skeptical. It’s a development that has become as predictable as yellow pollen in the spring. A Major League Baseball franchise, struggling financially, seeks a new stadium deal, a new location, a new life. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

San Antonio going for desalinization

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Another thing we’ll be seeing more of in the near future. The San Antonio Water System is now pumping salt water in southern Bexar County as it looks for new water sources for the city. Tuesday the utility gave a … Continue reading →

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

San Antonio B-Cycle keeps on growing

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s very cool to watch. [B-cycle and city officials announced] plans to add three bicycle stations in April, at HemisView Village apartments, the San Antonio Housing Authority park on South Flores Street, and the 1221 Broadway apartments, said Cindi Snell, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Meet the new rail debate, same as the old rail debate

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like I’ve heard all this before. Opponents of the planned downtown streetcar system said Tuesday that county officials broke a promise with voters when they agreed to use advanced transportation district funds to help fund the project. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

San Antonio chooses its solar provider

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Under a bright winter sun Wednesday, CPS Energy CEO Doyle Beneby introduced the companies selected to build one of the country’s largest solar projects and a solar manufacturing plant in San Antonio, an investment of more than $100 million. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on San Antonio chooses its solar provider

Another Lone Star Rail update

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the Statesman: Commuter rail between San Antonio and Georgetown, at least as a legislatively sanctioned policy goal, will have its 15th birthday this spring. The tiny government agency created later to make it a reality is almost 9 years … Continue reading →

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

More on Bike Share Houston

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the Council vote to get bike sharing in Houston off the ground. The plan for the so-called Bike Share Houston program is to intrigue residents and visitors with the technology, then raise funds to install … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on Bike Share Houston

Compost recycling in San Antonio

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And now that I’ve mentioned compost recycling, here’s a look at how it’s working in San Antonio. At New Earth’s composting site off Interstate 10 on the far East Side, it is easy to pick out the pile generated by … Continue reading →

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

Food trucks

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city of San Antonio is preparing to overhaul its regulations of food trucks. In San Antonio, strict mobile food vending laws make it difficult for food trucks to flourish. Acknowledging the need for change, officials are jump-starting a process … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Food trucks