Tag Archives: Houston City Council

Council OKs ordinance to help bring grocery stores to food deserts

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Supermarkets now can sell beer and wine next to schools and churches, an exemption to city regulations Houston City Council granted unanimously Wednesday, hoping to encourage grocers to locate in neighborhoods that lack access to fresh, healthy food. These … Continue reading →

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Time to talk term limits again

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The subject keeps coming up, though it never seems to get anywhere. As the inauguration of Houston’s elected leaders begins Thursday morning, supporters and spectators gathered at the Wortham Center downtown will see six new City Council members walk across … Continue reading →

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The new justice complex

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a big deal. Houston leaders are in the early stages of planning a new police headquarters and courthouse complex that Mayor Annise Parker said could be the most important project on which she will work during her six-year tenure. … Continue reading →

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More reactions to the city’s settlement with the strip clubs

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not everyone likes it. Bob Sanborn, CEO of the nonprofit organization Children at Risk, and other advocates against human trafficking said on Wednesday that they should have been consulted before a deal was struck. Mayor Annise Parker, who brokered the … Continue reading →

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Payday lending ordinance passes

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, it wasn’t close. The Houston City Council overwhelmingly passed restrictions on payday and auto title lenders Wednesday, avoiding rumored parliamentary maneuvers to delay the vote and calling on the state Legislature to follow suit. The vote was … Continue reading →

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Enforcing a new payday loan ordinance

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker’s proposed payday lending ordinance will be up before Council today, though it might wind up being delayed until the new Council is sworn in. It’s not clear yet how the vote might go, but in the meantime it’s … Continue reading →

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Food deserts and booze bans

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s complicated. A city ordinance intended to keep alcohol sales at a distance from schools and churches could be relaxed for grocery stores in an effort to alleviate some of the so-called “food deserts” that plague poorer neighborhoods across Houston. … Continue reading →

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Yes, Council is short on women

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It is what it is. The Houston City Council will have its fewest women in 15 years this January, which political observers called a troublesome regression for one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. Just two women will … Continue reading →

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Is CM-elect Stardig term limited or not?

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I brought this up yesterday in my wrapup of the city and HCC runoffs, and I’m asking it again here in the hope that someone who can provide a definitive answer will offer one. The question I have is whether … Continue reading →

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Runoff results: Rough day for incumbents

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have no complaint about the results. With all precincts reporting, controversial first-term council incumbents Helena Brown, in northwest Houston’s District A, and Andrew C. Burks Jr., in At-Large Position 2, fell to their challengers, as did HCC trustees Yolanda … Continue reading →

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Anthony Robinson named to crime lab LGC

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent choice. The latest appointment to the city’s crime lab oversight board brings a unique perspective to the post. Anthony Robinson spent 10 years in prison for a rape he did not commit before being exonerated by the kind of … Continue reading →

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District I runoff overview

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s runoff and a rivalry, all in one. Saturday’s runoff in City Council District I, which covers downtown and the East End, pits the protégés of two pillars of Hispanic politics against each other in the sort of showdown political … Continue reading →

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Runoff Day today

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is it, kids, our last election for 2013. You can find your polling place here. There were two last overview stories yesterday in the Chron, both blogged above, so there’s nothing else to do but go vote if you … Continue reading →

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Final EV totals

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the final Harris County EV tally for the 2013 runoff, and here’s how the numbers stack up against the four most recent citywide runoff elections that did not include a Mayoral race. Year Absent Early E-Day Total Absent% Early% … Continue reading →

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At Large #2 runoff overview

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

One of these runoffs is not like the others. On paper, the Houston City Council incumbent most at risk heading into Saturday’s runoff elections is first-termer Andrew Burks, in At-Large Position 2. Challenger David Robinson had spent more than $201,000 … Continue reading →

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The Dome’s status is complicated

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Is it a landmark or not? If so, what kind? Mayor Annise Parker this week called an effort by the city historical commission to designate the Harris County-owned Astrodome a city landmark “ill-advised,” and said she had no plans to … Continue reading →

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Runoff 8 Day Finance Reports

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I did not get to looking at the 8 day finance reports for the November election – too many candidates, not enough time. But there was no reason I couldn’t take a gander at the 8 day reports for the … Continue reading →

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At Large #3 runoff overview

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron moves on to At Large #3, and unlike the other two previews there are new things to learn about the candidates involved. Mayor Annise Parker could be the biggest loser in the runoff race for the At Large … Continue reading →

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District D runoff overview

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Clearly, it’s Runoff Overview Week at the Chron. Whittled down from 12 candidates to two last month, the Houston City Council District D race is a David-and-Goliath runoff. Towering Dwight Boykins, 50, narrowly missed clinching the general election outright with … Continue reading →

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District A runoff overview

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the same old story, just a little louder this time. Three years ago, when city voters narrowly approved what would become a controversial monthly drainage fee to fund $8 billion of street and flood projects in the next two … Continue reading →

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Last day of runoff early voting

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: “Tuesday, December 10th is the last day of Early voting for the City of Houston and Houston Community College System Runoff Election,” noted Harris County Clerk and Chief Election Official, Stan Stanart today as he urged voters … Continue reading →

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Runoff voting is underway

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So early voting is underway for the City of Houston and HCC runoffs. Day One totals are here, and Campos ponders their locations. I’ll take a crack at projecting turnout once the EV totals are in, but if you don’t … Continue reading →

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Council hears the Mayor’s payday lending ordinance

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Reaction was mixed, though it appears likely there is enough support to pass. The proposed ordinance would limit payday loans to 20 percent of a borrower’s gross monthly income and auto title loans to 3 percent of the borrower’s gross … Continue reading →

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Runoff Q&A: Roy Morales

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Note: As we know, the runoff election in At Large #3 is not what many people were expecting. In particular, Democratic voters have been trying to make a choice in that race. While both candidates have been busy reaching out … Continue reading →

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Working to solve the food desert problem

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is a success story on two levels. A number of area grocery stores like Jim’s Super might not be around if it were not for a little-known local Vietnamese immigrant family. John Vuong took over his first store in … Continue reading →

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Early voting begins today for Council and HCC runoffs

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the map. Note that only City of Houston locations are open, since the only runoffs are for City Council and HCC Trustee. Early voting runs from today through next Tuesday, December 10, from 7 AM to 7 PM each … Continue reading →

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Bob Stein on the District I runoff

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll cut to the chase and just excerpt the conclusion of Rice poli sci prof Bob Stein’s analysis of the District I runoff between Graci Garces and Robert Gallegos. The runoff election in District I should be highly competitive with … Continue reading →

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Who’s supporting whom in District D

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron checks with the ten candidates that did not make the runoff in District D to see who is endorsing frontrunner Dwight Boykins and who is going with runnerup Georgia Provost. [Keith] Caldwell and [Demetria] Smith are supporting Boykins. … Continue reading →

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Runoff endorsement watch: For Kubosh

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes the last of its runoff endorsements by choosing Michael Kubosh in At Large #3. Looking at the candidates for the runoff, it feels a bit like the whole City Council At-large 3 race was a competition of … Continue reading →

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The Mayor’s payday lending proposal

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker sure isn’t wasting any time on her last-term agenda. Next up on the list: the payday lending ordinance we’ve been waiting for. With support from other major Texas cities and numerous advocacy groups, Mayor Annise Parker today unveiled … Continue reading →

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Council passes wage theft ordinance

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Well done. Houston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt an ordinance aimed at deterring companies from stealing workers’ wages and ensuring the city does not hire firms that do, though supporters acknowledged the measure’s limited reach. The seemingly easy … Continue reading →

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Runoff endorsement watch: Boykins in D

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As noted before, there are two runoffs in which neither of the candidates were endorsed by the Chron in Round One. One of those races is in District D, and the Chron’s choice for Round Two is Dwight Boykins. “I’m … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: At Large 1, 4, and 5

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, we looked at the competitive At Large Council races. Now let’s look at the three At Large races that weren’t competitive. First up is At Large #1, where CM Stephen Costello won a third term. Dist Costello Griffin … Continue reading →

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Wage theft ordinance back before Council

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It should be up for discussion this week. “Wage theft is defined as a situation in which someone employs someone to perform a service, not intending to pay them wages. That’s an extreme offense,” [City Attorney David] Feldman said. “The … Continue reading →

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