Tag Archives: Houston

Not a surprise that the bonds passed

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

All of the bond issues on the ballot this year had favorable conditions working for them, so their ultimate passage should not be a surprise. The dire warnings of crippling debt, the long presidential campaign conversation about the limits of … Continue reading →

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Ben Hall is a definite maybe for Mayor in 2013

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I’m as excited as you are. Former City Attorney Ben Hall, long rumored to be considering a run for mayor, said Tuesday that “It’s more likely than not” that he will run for mayor next year. Hall has … Continue reading →

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Why the HISD Board of Trustees needed stricter ethics rules

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, Trustee Larry Marshall. HISD trustee Larry Marshall voted repeatedly to award taxpayer-funded contracts to companies that hired his longtime business associate – who gave him a cut of her earnings, according to court records, deposition testimony and … Continue reading →

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More bike racks

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes that Houston is on the verge of becoming an actual bike-friendly city, and that we ought to recognize that and do something to help facilitate it. Notably, many downtown buildings lack accessible and visible bike racks. For … Continue reading →

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More on Ashby Heights

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That’s not this project‘s name, but it’s how I think of it. Canadian developers of a condominium project on a wooded 1.4-acre plot near the Heights Bike Trail and White Oak Bayou late have dropped their request for a variance … Continue reading →

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Tomorrow is the last day to submit comments to TxDOT on I-45

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Dear Neighbors – TxDOT has plans for I-45, which will impact you!  If you ever drive on I-45; if you live or work near the I-45 Corridor; if you live or work in the Heights, Old Sixth … Continue reading →

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

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 →

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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 →

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Endorsement watch: Various miscellaneous

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Just a brief roundup of various endorsements that have come to my attention lately. No particular theme to them, just what I’ve seen in the past few days. – The Environmental Defense Fund has endorsed the HISD bond referendum. The … Continue reading →

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Closing arguments for the Metro referendum

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

One way or another, this argument will be settled on Tuesday. What happens after that is still anyone’s guess. The referendum on Tuesday’s ballot asks whether to continue spending some public transit sales tax money on streets and bridges. Opponents … Continue reading →

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On helping District B

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

District B Council Member Jerry Davis is taking a direct approach to improving his district. Davis hopes to inspire through his do-it-yourself approach a strengthened ethic of self-reliance. The answers to the challenges of District B, and there are many … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the bonds

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reiterates its support for the bond issues on the ballot. While all eyes are on the presidential race, we would like to remind voters that some of the most important issues for Houstonians aren’t on the first page … Continue reading →

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KHOU story on the Metro poll question

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I noted yesterday that there would be a separate story on the Metro referendum result from that KHOU/KUHF poll of Harris County.That story is here. A new poll indicates the Metro referendum on Houston area ballots will probably pass, but … Continue reading →

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Obama leads in poll of Harris County

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

More polling goodness for you. The poll conducted for KHOU 11 News and KUHF Houston Public Radio indicates Obama leads Romney in Harris County, but not by much. That gives some indication how election night might go for politicians running … Continue reading →

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Elsa Caballero: Public Employee and Janitors Mobilize in Support of City of Houston Bonds

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Note: The following is a guest post. For the past month, Houston’s janitors have joined forces with our city’s public employees in favor of the City of Houston bond package and METRO referendum on the ballot this election cycle. Volunteers, … Continue reading →

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Mapping oil usage

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the Natural Resources Defense Council America buys 18.8 million barrels of petroleum products every day, accounting for more than 20% of all global usage. This can drain roughly $1 billion on average every day out of the economy. This … Continue reading →

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The Heights Wal-Mart is now open

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

On the plus side, the world did not come to an end. On the minus side, it’s still a lousy location for a Wal-Mart and a giant missed opportunity for better, more urban-oriented development. For nearly 2½ years, Heights-area residents … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Metro’s new trains

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, Metro announced that it had received delivery of a new train, the first of a batch of new light rail vehicles (LRVs) scheduled to arrive in town. Gilbert Garcia, METRO board chairman, said the light-rail Siemens S70 represents … Continue reading →

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Will the Astrodome derail our Super Bowl bid?

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Heaven forbid. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told a crowd on Tuesday that by 2017, Reliant will be 15 years old and therefore in need of some upgrades like digital scoreboards. Texans owner Bob McNair says the city must look at … Continue reading →

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On the city bonds

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an overview of the city bond issues. The city of Houston is asking voters on Nov. 6 for permission to borrow $410 million to shore up its parks, police stations, libraries, other government buildings and substandard housing. Propositions A, … Continue reading →

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I-45 public forum tomorrow

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: I-45 Public Forum ~ October 24th! Many people who attended the TxDOT public meeting last week (October 9th or 11th ) left with more questions than answers! Why? It appears that TxDOT is listening & trying to come up with … Continue reading →

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All the interviews for 2012

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As we begin early voting for the November election, here are all the interviews I conducted for candidates who are on the ballot as well as for the referenda. These include interviews that were done for the primary as well … Continue reading →

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Who doesn’t like parks?

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The usual suspects – cranks, malcontents, and the Harris County GOP, that’s who. Proposition B on the Nov. 6 ballot asks you to pay for part of that plan, of course. Not with increased taxes, though, [Mayor Annise] Parker insists. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HCDE and District E

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses three Democrats for the Harris County Department of Education. At-Large Position 3: Democratic challenger Diane Trautman would bring expertise and professionalism to the job. As a professor of education at Stephen F. Austin State University, she taught … Continue reading →

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Presidential campaign contributions in Texas

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I suspect there’s not much in this story that will surprise you. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign raised nearly twice as much money in the greater Houston area than that of President Barack Obama – most of it from wealthier … Continue reading →

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Maybe the fourth time will be the charm

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Houston is once again bidding for a Super Bowl. If everything goes according to an ambitious plan devised by city and county leaders, Houston will host its third Super Bowl in 2017. The NFL informed the Texans … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the city bonds

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gives its approval to the city bond referenda. While all eyes seem to be on the presidential election, the upcoming city bond measures on the ballot this year may have more immediate impact on Houston than any federal … Continue reading →

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But was it worth it?

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

No doubt that traffic on the Katy Freeway moves a lot more smoothly now than it used to. But there’s a lot more to the question of whether the $2.8 billion that was spent to widen it was a good … Continue reading →

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Strip clubs sue city over $5 fee

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the $5 per customer strip club fee that was added as a budget amendment by CM Ellen Cohen as a way to fund clearing HPD’s backlog of rape kits? The clubs threatened to sue the city at the time … Continue reading →

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The opposition to the bonds

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Longtime City Hall naysayer Dave Wilson and other anti-tax activists gathered on the grounds of an elementary school that was slated to get $3.7 million from the last Houston Independent School District bond measure but instead … Continue reading →

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Conroe is growing up

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Conroe native Jay Ross Martin says he never imagined his rural hometown in the piney woods developing bustling retail centers, a thriving housing market and a population that’s more than doubled in the past 20 years. The … Continue reading →

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Downtown schools

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes downtown’s continuing evolution. Last week’s announcement of plans for a Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage marked the latest in a string of developments in the decades-long march in the evolution of about 50 square blocks west … Continue reading →

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Sen. Gallegos in “grave” condition

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Scary. State Sen. Mario V. Gallegos Jr., D-Houston, is in grave condition at Methodist Hospital in Houston, sources have confirmed. “Senator Gallegos’ family is at his side during this difficult time, and they have asked me to respectfully request that … Continue reading →

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Ashby Heights

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the next frontier in unwanted development. A residential development proposal that’s been on and off in the Heights since 2004 is back on, reviving neighborhood opposition to the project and catching the attention of the mayor. Canadian developer Group … Continue reading →

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