Tag Archives: Houston

Food trucks going un-mobile

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a trend. Matti Merrell and Rodney Perry first parked their Green Seed food truck on a Third Ward street in 2011. Within a year Food & Wine named it the No. 9 vegan and vegetarian restaurant in the U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Food trucks going un-mobile

City reaches settlement with developer over Woodland Park damage

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Mayor Annise Parker, the City of Houston Legal Department and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) announced the City has recovered $300,000 to restore recent damage to Woodland Park by a private developer. Woodland Park, located at … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on City reaches settlement with developer over Woodland Park damage

What would Ben Hall do for schools?

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ben Hall made his official filing for Mayor on Wednesday, and had a campaign rally after ward. This story is about that and about a new video his campaign released, and it contains three ways in which Hall says he … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Roy Morales

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As of my last At Large #3 interview, I reported that I had not yet been able to make arrangements with either Michael Kubosh or Roy Morales. I’m pleased to say now that both interviews have been completed; I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with CM Stephen Costello

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

At Large #1 incumbent CM Stephen Costello is running for his third term. While most new Council members spend their first term learning the ropes and staying more in the background, CM Costello made an immediate splash by spearheading the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with CM Stephen Costello

Interview with David Robinson

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Running against CM Burks in At Large #2 is David Robinson, which makes this a rematch of sorts from 2011, as both men ran in AL2 that year, though Robinson did not make the runoff. I had suggested a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with David Robinson

Interview with CM Andrew Burks

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There are so far three races in which an incumbent Council member faces at least one credible opponent. The first is in At Large #2, where CM Andrew Burks is in his first term. As you know, CM Burks has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Meet the new Crime Lab boss

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

He sounds impressive. The fuzzy process of shifting the city of Houston’s crime lab from the Houston Police Department to an independent board got a little clearer Wednesday with the hiring of a president and CEO for the new operation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Meet the new Crime Lab boss

Election page updates

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If you take a look at my 2013 Election page, you will see that I have added information about HISD and HCC races. I don’t have information about all candidates, mostly because I don’t think I’ve heard of everyone yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Election page updates

No kids allowed

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have a problem with this. Chef Aquiles Chavez said his decision to ban young children from his restaurant during the evening hours was not easy. And the decision wasn’t shared by his wife. On Monday, La Fisheria, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: GLBT Caucus and HSYD

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We are entering the part of the election cycle where groups are making their endorsements. One of the first out of the box is the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, which held its endorsement meeting on Saturday night. Here’s their press … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

One more ballot item

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the Astrodome and (maybe) Early To Rise referenda, Harris County voters will also get to decide on a jail bond referendum. From the preview story on Tuesday: Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday also is expected to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on One more ballot item

Early To Rise submits its petitions

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From here it gets real. The Harris County School Readiness Corp., a new nonprofit led by business and civic leaders, is calling for a ballot intiative to levy a 1-cent-per-$100 tax through the Harris County Department of Education to generate … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Rogene Gee Calvert

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for At Large #3 is Rogene Gee Calvert, who has worked for non-profits such as the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast and for the city, as a City Director under Mayor Bill White, and Chief of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What to do with that extra money?

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some unexpected good financial news for the city, but what to do about it is the tricky part. Just months after hiking health premiums, shifting costs to employees and plugging a projected multimillion-dollar deficit in its health benefits fund, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What to do with that extra money?

Interview with Roland Chavez

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Next up among At Large #3 candidates is Roland Chavez. Chavez was a Houston firefighter for 34 years before retiring in June. He was active for many years in the firefighters’ union, Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 341, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Roland Chavez

Interview with Jenifer Pool

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This week we move into the crowded field for At Large #3, which is the only open At Large Council seat on the ballot. Currently held by CM Melissa Noriega, there’s a large but not easily pinpointed number of candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Jenifer Pool

School superintendents for Early To Rise

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the press release: (Houston, TX) Today Harris County Superintendents participated in a press conference for the Early to Rise campaign, which is seeking to create a dedicated funding stream to improve the quality of early childhood education through a … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on School superintendents for Early To Rise

Chron for Uber

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes in favor of Council approving a change to city ordinances that would allow Uber to set up shop here. Uber, a car service software company, wants to start operating in Houston so that folks can reserve Town … Continue reading →

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

How much does it cost to really live in Houston?

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good question. So what does it cost to secure an “adequate but modest living” in the Houston area? According to the Economic Policy Institute, it requires an annual income of $63,600 for a family of two adults and two children. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on How much does it cost to really live in Houston?

Interview with CM Jack Christie

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

CM Jack Christie is serving his first term on Council in At Large #5, becoming one of only four people in the term limits era to defeat a sitting incumbent when he nipped former CM Jolanda Jones in a runoff. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chron wants multiple multi-candidate debates

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t know if they’ll get what they want, but it can’t hurt to ask. For the main show, mayoral candidate Ben Hall has called for six one-on-one debates with Mayor Annise Parker, albeit with three debates after early voting begins. … Continue reading →

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

On PACs in city elections

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Politics looks at something we haven’t seen much of in city elections – PACs that are candidate-specific instead of being centered on a referendum. Among the topics bandied about last week was why [Ben] Hall and District A candidate … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On PACs in city elections

Interview with CM Ed Gonzalez

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Ed Gonzalez is serving his second term in District H. He’s actually already four full years into his service, as he was the winner of the 2009 special election to succeed former CM and now Sheriff Adrian Garcia. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with CM Ed Gonzalez

Debating about debates

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There will be some number of debates between Mayor Parker and Ben Hall between now and Election Day. How many debates, and how many participants there will be in those debates, is itself a matter of debate. In a letter … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

On closing Main Street to cars downtown

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Tomorrow runs a post by Kyle Nielsen that he originally published in May advocating for more of Main Street downtown to be like Main Street Square, that is, closed to automotive traffic. What if we were to close Main … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

July campaign finance reports, HISD and HCC

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ericka Mellon did me the favor of the heavy lifting for HISD Trustees. Campaign finance reports filed this week show at least two non-incumbents are entering races for the Houston school board this November, while contributions for most trustees generally … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on Rep. Poe and the University line

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on Rep. Ted Poe’s surprising-to-me support of building the University Line. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, whose district shifted earlier this year to include portions of the area where the planned University Line would run along Richmond … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on Rep. Poe and the University line

Show them the data

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. A major donor to HISD’s key school reform effort is putting its remaining $3 million check on hold amid concerns that detailed research about the success of the program is lacking. The president of the Houston Endowment, Ann Stern, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rep. Poe supports rail on Richmond

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

He supports something, anyway, and that’s a step forward. After seeking input from Houstonians, Congressman Ted Poe has spoken out in favor of building “something” in the University transit corridor. A statement outlining his position was released on Facebook yesterday: … Continue reading →

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

July finance reports for non-candidates

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not everyone who files a finance report with the city is running for something this November. Term-limited incumbents, and former candidates who still have money in their campaign treasuries are required to file reports as well. Here’s a look a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on July finance reports for non-candidates

A closer look at Mayoral campaign finances

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I said I’d get to a closer look at the Mayoral campaign finance reports later, after I had a chance to read all the way through them. That time is now, so let’s have our look. Mayor Parker’s finance report. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ashby everywhere: The San Felipe highrise

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to keep track of them all. THESE UNDERSTATED “Stop the San Felipe Skyscraper” signs started going up about knee-high this weekend in River Oaks and Vermont Commons to protest that shiny 17-story office tower that Hines is proposing to build nearby. Though these … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Ashby everywhere: The San Felipe highrise

Parking Panda

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting Parking Panda, an online parking reservation system, launches Tuesday in Houston and Dallas. The site’s already up and running, taking reservations for lots around many area venues, including Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium and the Toyota Center. The concept … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Parking Panda