Tag Archives: Houston

Only some kinds of mistakes were made

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I probably shouldn’t be, but I was amused by this Chron story about the current state of the HPD fingerprint lab and the consultants who audited it. [HPD Assistant Chief Timothy] Oettmeier said consultants also had performed more in-depth technical … Continue reading →

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Grand jury hears Metro document shredding evidence

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Obviously, the District Attorney’s office is farther along in their investigation than I thought. A courthouse appearance today by Frank J. Wilson, the former Metropolitan Transit Authority president accused of destroying public documents, provided the first indication that prosecutors are … Continue reading →

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More on the Metro lawsuit settlement

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the Metro document shredding lawsuit has been pulled from the court docket in anticipation of a settlement agreement. The Chron has more on what that settlement agreement might entail. The proposed settlement of an open-records lawsuit against … Continue reading →

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And then there were three microbreweries

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Mike Brian Royo, the owner of what will soon be the third microbrewery in the Houston area, No Label Brewing Co. Royo, 32, and his wife, Jennifer, and his parents, Gilberto and Melanie, have leased space in an old … Continue reading →

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More “Buy America” complications

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the “It’s always something with Metro” department: The Federal Transit Administration plans to deny the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s request for a waiver from Buy America rules in connection with [a $15.8 million radio equipment] radio purchase from Motorola, FTA … Continue reading →

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One Metro lawsuit pulled from court docket

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Looks promising. Metro expects to reach a settlement soon in an open-records lawsuit that triggered a series of accusations and investigations that gripped the transit agency for months, board chairman Gilbert Garcia said. The trial of the lawsuit by attorney … Continue reading →

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(A little bit of) job growth returns to Houston

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a start. From small hand-lettered signs on shop windows to Fortune 500 heavyweights hosting job fairs, Houston companies are once again starting to look for workers. The influx of new jobs helped push the Houston area’s unemployment rate down … Continue reading →

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Demolition Day

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready to say goodbye to a bunch of abandoned buildings. “Demolition Day,” which Mayor Annise Parker announced in her state of the city speech last month, is the culmination of months of effort by the Houston Police Department’s Neighborhood … Continue reading →

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HISD to keep CEP

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has been pushing for months to get HISD out of its contract with Community Education Partners (CEP), its provider for the disciplinary alternate education program. He ran into opposition from HFT President Gayle Fallon, who has … Continue reading →

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Streetcars on Washington Avenue?

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some big things may be coming to Washington Avenue. Super Neighborhood 22 — a council of civic clubs in the Washington Ave. corridor — will hold a meeting May 24 to discuss its proposed master plan for transportation in the … Continue reading →

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More on city term limits

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the 2010 term limits survey and recommendations by the Term Limits Commission. Of interest is what the immediate prospects are for action by City Council. [Dr. Robert] Stein, a commission member who has polled voters … Continue reading →

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Dallas has it worse than we do

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Houston has its budget proposal for this year, and while it’s no thing of beauty, it’s not got any layoffs, furloughs, or truly drastic cuts in it. The city of Dallas is still working on their budget, and they’re in … Continue reading →

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2010 Houston term limits survey

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, I posted several links with information and research relating to term limits, including the results of a 2004 City of Houston survey about them and the proposed wording for an updated survey. That updated survey has been done, … Continue reading →

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Body scanners

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, they’re coming to Hobby Airport. Full-body scanners for airline passengers, the devices that have stirred controversy over personal privacy, are being deployed at Houston’s Hobby Airport this summer, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Friday. […] The … Continue reading →

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Briefly noted

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some interesting things from today that I wanted to note… There are plenty of people who want to be on the Appropriations Committee, so putting some who doesn’t want to be there, like State Rep. Joe Driver of Dallas, doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Still smoking in San Antonio

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

But maybe not for much longer. San Antonio City Councilman Justin Rodriguez announced [last] Friday that he is sponsoring an ordinance to outlaw smoking in most public places, including all bars, restaurants and workplaces. Rodriguez said San Antonio is one … Continue reading →

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And the bitching about the water rate hike begins

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It took a little longer than I might have thought it would take, but as the sun rises in the east, the kind of person who gets outraged when the government does something other than lower taxes is outraged about … Continue reading →

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White and Parker

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not particularly concerned about this. Gov. Rick Perry has found an unlikely — and apparently unwitting — ally in his effort to paint Bill White as a liberal spendthrift who left Houston in arrears: Mayor Annise Parker. As she … Continue reading →

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Austin divests itself from Arizona

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The Austin City Council decided Thursday to end business and travel ties with the state of Arizona to protest a new state law that will allow law enforcement officers there to detain people they suspect are in … Continue reading →

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Computer recycling

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As a state, we do a pretty lousy job of recycling old computers and computer components. Texas ranks last in recycling computer parts among states that require manufacturers to take back their electronics, according to a report by an Austin … Continue reading →

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Meet George Greanias

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, former City Controller and member of Mayor Parker’s transition team George Greanias has taken over, at least on an interim basis, as the CEO of Metro. Houston Tomorrow has a brief intro to Greanias, including a pointer … Continue reading →

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Central City Co-Op Fundraiser

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Central City Co-Op, Houston’s original organic co-op, is doing its annual fundraiser at this time. The following is from Tiffany Tyler, the chair of the Central City Co-Op Board, and also my wife: Central City Co-op is partnering with Bubbles … Continue reading →

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UH-Downtown renaming update

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, UH-Downtown has been looking to change its name since 2008. After an unsuccessful first attempt to get consensus, it’s trying again and seems to have settled on City University or Houston City University as its preferred replacement … Continue reading →

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No tech vendor contributions to HISD trustees

Posted on May 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This seems straightforward enough. Houston school board members can no longer accept unlimited contributions from technology vendors after federal regulators alleged HISD violated competitive bidding and gift-giving rules. The new policy, which board members discussed Thursday, relates to the federal … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Art car parade!

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the famous Art Car Parade here in Houston. It’s one of the most fun events in town all year, and one of the things that truly makes Houston what it is. For those of you who’ve never had … Continue reading →

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Wilson resigns

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

He’s out. Frank J. Wilson relinquished the leadership of the Metropolitan Transit Authority on Friday, leaving Metro’s reconstituted board and an acting chief executive with the task of completing the light rail system Wilson was hired to build six years … Continue reading →

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UTSA’s growing pains

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This story about UTSA and the issues it faces as it tries to accommodate its mostly non-residential student population as it grows is so reminiscent of Houston I had to keep reminding myself as I read it that it wasn’t … Continue reading →

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Was it worth it for two prototypes?

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really at a loss to understand how the previous Metro board could have put $900 million at risk to make it easier for their manufacturer to build two prototype light rail cars. Eight days after federal officials rejected the … Continue reading →

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Gallegos versus Grier

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Mario Gallegos is not a fan of HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. He has made this clear through two letters he has released. This one, from April 8, raises questions about Grier’s past record in other school districts, while … Continue reading →

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More on Wilson’s departure

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

More evidence that Metro CEO Frank Wilson is about to be history: The Metro board has a replacement in mind. The board is expected to name George Greanias, a former city councilman and controller who co-chaired Mayor Annise Parker’s Metro … Continue reading →

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Dynamo Stadium design

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wondering what the new Dynamo Stadium will be like? The Chron has some early information. “We hope to be on site with a shovel in the ground by the end of this year,” said Dynamo general manager Oliver Luck, who … Continue reading →

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“Committed” to rail

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Well, it’s better than not being commited. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today that his agency is continuing a review of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s light rail funding application, but he declined to say when the $900 … Continue reading →

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Is this the end for Frank Wilson?

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Could be. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board is working toward president and chief executive officer Frank Wilson’s “amicable” departure from the agency as soon as Friday, sources said today. A plan under discussion involves naming George Greanias, the former city … Continue reading →

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Drainage update

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

City Council Members Stephen Costello and Ed Gonzalez had a public meeting last week to bring folks up to date on their efforts to upgrade Houston’s drainage system. Neighborhoods that report drainage problems to the city wait five years for … Continue reading →

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