Tag Archives: Houston

Annise Parker: Texas Progressive Alliance’s Texan of the Year

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texan of the Year Award is voted on annually by the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance, the largest state-level organization of bloggers, blogs, and netroots activists in the United States. This year’s winner is Houston Mayor-Elect, Annise Parker: … Continue reading →

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Gov 2.0

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hope that the new year will bring more of this to Houston. Welcome to a movement the tech crowd is calling “Gov 2.0” — where mobile technology and GPS apps are helping give citizens like Newmark more of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Panel to review term limits appointed

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in October, Houston City Council agreed to create a commission to study Houston’s term limits law with an eye to possibly placing a resolution on the ballot next year with some changes. Yesterday, that commission was named. Mayor Bill … Continue reading →

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What building is that?

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of weeks back, I got an email from Wayne Lorentz, the founder of the Houston Architecture Info forum, telling me about a new iPhone app called Towrs. From the email he sent me: Right now it’s for the … Continue reading →

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Air cleanup progress report

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news about efforts to get manufacturing plants to pollute less. In 2005, following Houston Chronicle and state reports about alarming levels of butadiene in neighborhoods near Texas Petrochemicals, the company signed a non-binding agreement with the TCEQ to … Continue reading →

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Quan officially files

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I had lunch today at the Post Oak Grill on Milam so I could be there for Gordon Quan’s official announcement that he is running for Harris County Judge. In fact, as Martha noted, he submitted his paperwork and paid … Continue reading →

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HCAD rules for Hoang in homestead dispute

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

On Christmas Eve, the Chron reported that Council Member-Elect Al Hoang and his wife had claimed homestead exemptions on two separate houses, one in Houston and one in Pearland. Now the Harris County Appraisal District has verified Hoang’s explanation about … Continue reading →

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Yard waste

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hadn’t realized that an ordinance requiring bbiodegradable bags for yard waste had been passed, but I like it. Under the ordinance, the city will not collect yard waste in plastic bags, and will fine residents up to $2,000 for … Continue reading →

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A win for the Washington Quiet Zone

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news for those who live in and around the Washington Avenue corridor. Come late April, train horns should be quieter through the Washington Avenue corridor from just north of Interstate 10 to Harvard Street. Union Pacific and two … Continue reading →

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

Welcome to the not-quite-a-city of The Woodlands

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

On January 1, a unique experiment in city-like governance will commence in The Woodlands. A new government body, approved by residents two years ago and called The Woodlands Township, will take control of the Montgomery County community 30 miles north … Continue reading →

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Recycle that tree

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We have had an artificial tree for the past few years, so this story about where and how to recycle your Christmas tree isn’t relevant to our household, but it may be to yours. There’s no good reason for a … Continue reading →

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From one Mayor to another

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One week from today, we’ll be swearing in Annise Parker as our new Mayor. In advance of that, State Sen. Kirk Watson, who was once the Mayor of Austin, offers a few words of advice to the Mayor-Elect. Not that … Continue reading →

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Runoff precinct analysis, HISD I

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

To wrap up my series of precinct analyses from the 2009 Houston runoffs, we turn now to the HISD Trustee race in District I. I’ve added a sheet to the Google spreadsheet I put together for the District Council analysis … Continue reading →

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Post-election Dynamo Stadium update

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So where do we stand with Dynamo Stadium now that the Mayoral election is over? Pretty much where we were before it, actually. Of the MLS teams pushing for a stadium, the Dynamo appear closest to the goal. Team ownership … Continue reading →

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Budget cuts coming for Rice

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s going to be a tough budget year for Rice University. Rice President David Leebron set the stage for the coming year in an address to faculty this fall, warning that coping with endowment losses is one of the most … Continue reading →

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Another view of city voting

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been showing data about how the city elections broke down by Council district, but there are other ways to look at it as well. This presentation, which was sent to me by Joaquin Estevan DeLeon, is an analysis of … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis, District Council races

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the five citywide runoffs, there were two runoffs in district Council races, in A and F. In each case, they were run in territory that, judging by the citywide results, were modestly (F) or very (A) friendly … Continue reading →

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Here come the gay tourists

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The election of Annise Parker as Mayor has put Houston on the map as a travel destination for gay groups. Houston historically has not been a popular destination for gay and lesbian travelers, according to U.S. Travel Association data. Last … Continue reading →

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RIP, Laff Stop

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Rats. The Laff Stop is closed … forever. On Saturday, the legendary club — that gave rise to national names such as Sean Rouse, Brett Butler and Ralphie May — ended it’s nearly-three-decade run of comedy in Houston. In other … Continue reading →

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Runoff precinct analysis, At Large Council races

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing on with the precinct analyses from the runoff, here’s a look at the City Council At Large races. First up, At Large #1: Dist Derr Costello Derr% Cost% ==================================== A 7,200 8,160 46.9 53.1 B 5,737 4,859 54.1 45.9 … Continue reading →

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Parker’s police plan in practice

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I think we’re all reasonably familiar with the basics of Mayor-Elect Parker’s plan for the police force, which includes more and better coordination between the various local law enforcement agencies. This story, which perhaps ought to have been run before … Continue reading →

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More on Market Square

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in October, we heard that the historic Market Square Park downtown was set to get a facelift. Now Nancy Sarnoff has a few details. The renovation will include an area for pets, art installations, a 9/11 Memorial garden and … Continue reading →

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The transition team

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Meet the team that will help Mayor-Elect Annise Parker get the ball rolling. State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, one of the only area political heavyweights to endorse Parker, will lead efforts on intergovernmental relations. Coleman also has been involved in … Continue reading →

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FTA gives preliminary engineering approval to University line

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hot dog! The Federal Transit Administration notified Metro on Monday that the line has been approved to move into the Preliminary Engineering phase of the Transit Administration’s matching-funds program. Two other light rail lines, the North and Southeast corridors, are … Continue reading →

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Runoff precinct analysis, Controller’s race

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Picking up from where I left off yesterday, here’s the breakdown of the Controller’s race by Council district. For comparison purposes, here’s the November analysis. Dist Green Khan Holm Green % Khan % Tot votes ========================================================= A 4,685 6,750 7,125 … Continue reading →

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White v. Vasquez

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Tax Assessor Leo Vasquez says Look at me!” Mayor Bill White and Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Leo Vasquez traded barbs Tuesday over two contracts that have led relations between the city and county to what Mayor Bill White … Continue reading →

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Runoff precinct analysis, Mayor’s race

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

All right, I now have a copy of a draft canvass report from Saturday’s election, courtesy of the Harris County Clerk’s office. As before, I will be going through it to see what I can learn from it. First up … Continue reading →

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A preview of the Uptown line

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot has a preview of the Uptown line as currently envisioned by Metro. The main focus of the Examiner story that Swamplot cites is the potential effect on vehicular traffic. Following the construction of the Uptown light rail line, Post … Continue reading →

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

Pancho Claus toy drive

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via Stace, a message from Pancho Claus: To all my friends who have sent me well wishes and messages on my health, thank you very much. It did the heart good to know I have so many friends and supporters … Continue reading →

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Chief Hurtt to step down

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We all knew this was coming. Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt is planning to resign at the end of the year, two days before Mayor-elect Annise Parker takes office. Hurtt, who has been Houston police chief for almost six years, … Continue reading →

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Still more on Parker’s win

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hereare a couple of photo slide shows from the Annise Parker victory party on Saturday, from TPM and Hair Balls, the latter of which has some pix from the Gene Locke event as well. And BOR has a recording of … Continue reading →

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Mayor Parker hits the ground running

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor-Elect Annise Parker talks to the Chron and tells us again what she intends to do after she’s sworn in. “One of the reasons I’m not having that big, excited, happy feeling is that there is a lot of work … Continue reading →

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Council rejects Ashby appeal

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I can’t believe it, either. The Houston City Council on Wednesday eliminated the final option outside the courthouse for the developers of the Ashby high-rise to gain approval of the 23-story, mixed-use development they first sought to build … Continue reading →

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How others are viewing the election

Posted on December 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This AP story about the Mayoral runoff election contains a paragraph you won’t see very often. Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after … Continue reading →

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