Tag Archives: Houston

Bike sharing in London

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Write On Metro notes the one-year anniversary of London’s bike sharing program. In London’s first year of operating a bike-share program, it has proven so popular that riders can’t always find a bike, and when they finish their trip, often … Continue reading →

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

The anti-gay stuff has already started

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For the most part, we didn’t see any nasty homophobia in the 2009 Mayoral election until the runoff, at which point it oozed out from several locations. This time around, the gay bashers aren’t wasting any time. First, usual suspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

More campaign finance reports for July

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on the earlier post, here are some more highlights from the July campaign finance reports for City of Houston elections. All reports can be found on my 2011 Election page. – Since I dinged Al Hoang for not … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some early fundraising numbers

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the day that campaign finance reports are due for candidates in this November’s city of Houston elections. Some early filer’s reports are already up on the city’s Campaign Finance webpage. I’ve uploaded copies of these reports to my … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

You’ve got to grab those opportunities where you can

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I just have one question about this: Some area artists are making old look new by featuring recycled materials in their work. Their pieces, showcased Saturday at the Green Arts Festival at the Talento Bilingue de Houston in the East … Continue reading →

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The landfills of Waller County

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There are three things I find remarkable about this story about a proposed landfill in Waller County, near Hempstead. A Georgia-based company wants to build a landfill and industrial park just outside the city on Texas 6 and Kelley, on … Continue reading →

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

Directing density

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This looks interesting. A new draft ordinance prepared by the city’s planning department aims to make it tougher to build tall buildings next to single-family homes. The proposal is called the High Density Ordinance, but many of its restrictions would … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The long-term recycling deal

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I noticed this when it was posted last week but didn’t give it much thought at the time. There’s a 20-year no-bid contract on today’s City Council agenda. That’s legal because it’s an amendment to an existing contract, not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The 2011 interview season has begun

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As of this week, I will begin interviewing candidates for the 2011 elections. At the top of the site, you can see the 2011 Election page, where I will be keeping track of interviews, endorsements, campaign finance reports, and possibly … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

No appeal for now of red light camera ruling

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city will have to wait until the remaining issues in the red light camera lawsuit are resolved before it can appeal the judge’s ruling. A federal judge ruled Friday that the city of Houston may not appeal his ruling … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

713 ™

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

WTF? Anheuser-Busch is counting on civic pride to make its next product a smash seller: beer named after America’s various beer-drinking cities, based on their area codes. To that end, AB has already applied for a federal trademark for “713” … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

More on the red light camera return

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the reinstatement of the red light cameras. A couple of points that need to be made: Wednesday’s announcement provoked the full fury of Paul Kubosh, a lawyer who helped lead the petition drive to get … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

That’s what I call double parking

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Did you know that there were hydraulic parking lifts in use in Houston? I didn’t. District D Councilwoman Wanda Adams, who represents Midtown, attached an amendment to the city budget passed last month that requires the planning department to craft … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Red light cameras to be turned back on

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For now, at least. The city of Houston will turn its red-light cameras back on today, Mayor Annise Parker announced after this morning’s City Council meeting. According to a statement from the mayor’s office, tickets will be issued after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

The HISD/charter school “talent war”

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds more alarming than it should be. KIPP, in competition with HISD for students, increasingly is wooing high-level staff, too. Mike Feinberg, cofounder and superintendent of KIPP Houston, calls the contest for administrators “a talent war.” Since last year, … Continue reading →

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

Jones files her own complaint

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Okay. Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones, the subject of a city inspector general investigation, has filed a Texas State Bar grievance against City Attorney David Feldman. Jones’s spokeswoman, Kelly Cripe, would not provide a copy of the grievance, but she … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

We’re number 16!

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In a list of green cities. The Bayou City placed 16th in the newly released U.S. and Canada Green City Index, a study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of Siemens. The study, released at the 2011 Aspen … Continue reading →

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

You don’t look a day over 170, Houston

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray has a question and a request. How do you celebrate Houston’s 175th birthday? It’s a surprisingly hard question. How do you salute the longevity and stability of a place that prides itself on change? How do you sum … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Name the new Corpse Flower

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Museum of Natural Science needs your help. You remember Lois the Corpse Flower, right? Of course you do. Because no one could forget our favorite stinky plant! As it turns out, the fine folks at CultureMap – the … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

RIP, Arabia Shrine Center

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot noted that a demolition permit had been pulled for the Arabia Shrine Center on Braeswood near Kirby. Nancy Sarnoff tells us what is to come once the buildings have been razed. Three years after an apartment developer bought the … Continue reading →

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Metro gets more light rail funds

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the US Department of Transit: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $1.58 billion for 27 transit projects nationwide that will improve public transportation access for millions of Americans while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and curbing air … Continue reading →

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Composting

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Austin is looking for more ways to reduce the amount of solid waste that it puts in landfills. Aiming to cut down the waste that Austinites send to landfills, the City of Austin is sponsoring free composting … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Kubosh files appeal in red light camera lawsuit

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Mary Benton has the story and the appeal documents. Relevant quote: In the Kubosh appeal attorneys argue, among other points, “if government by the people, of the people, and for the people is to have meaning in Houston, this Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Yet another new microbrewery to open

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Not far from my house, as it happens. Startup Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. will be located much closer to I-10 than to its namesake waterway, but founder Rassul Zarinfar says that’s by design. […] The company has leased a 7,800 … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

From the “Work smarter, not harder” files

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So far, deep cuts in local budgets not yet led to equivalent reductions in service levels. The city of Houston just cut spending by $100 million in the budget that begins next month. The average Houstonian may have to look … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Invasive species report

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting story about a group of scientists cataloging invasive species in the area. Termed the Texas Rapid Assessment Team — Galveston, the group includes scientists from across the spectrum of disciplines and expertise conducting surveys and collecting samples to document … Continue reading →

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

Non-robust job numbers in Texas

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As goes the country, so goes the state. The Houston area is showing signs of a slowdown after coming off some fairly strong job gains during the winter months. “It’s very consistent with the national pattern,” said Barton Smith, professor … Continue reading →

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The Midtown arts deal

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. A nonprofit group plans to build a community arts complex in Midtown with the help of up to $6 million in reimbursements from the city. The Houston City Council this week approved … Continue reading →

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Time for another “What to do with the Astrodome?” study

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been two years since we had one of these. The Astrodome’s next incarnation — planetarium? hotel? heap of dynamited rubble? – will be the subject of yet another study ordered up by Harris County Commissioners Court this week. What … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

No Metro redistricting for now

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Back in January there was a Chron story that pointed out a state law that would require the Metro board to add two more members if the non-Houston population of Metro’s service area made up 75% or more of the … Continue reading →

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The Sundance Theater deal

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

When Sundance Theaters announced it would take the place of the Angelika downtown, everyone was happy. The deal that their landlord is getting to make way for them is not quite as joy-inducing. Sundance Cinemas negotiated a lease earlier this … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

HISD adopts its budget

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

No tax increase, at least not at this time. Students in the Houston Independent School District can expect to see larger class sizes and fewer teachers, librarians and elective courses next year under the spending plan that trustees approved Thursday. … Continue reading →

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City passes its budget

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It wasn’t much different than the Mayor’s original proposal. The overall spending plan totals $4 billion, including $1.8 billion from the tax- and fee-supported general fund. The remaining $2.2 billion involves the city’s enterprise funds, such as the airport and … Continue reading →

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Andrea Yates, ten years later

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since Andrea Yates drowned her children in their bathtub. I’ve blogged about her many times since first posting about her trial and conviction, which was later overturned on the grounds that … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments