Tag Archives: Houston City Council

On the Parking Benefit District

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

A proposed ordinance to create a parking benefit district in the Washington Avenue corridor was on Council’s agenda this week, but it was tagged and will wait a week while everyone gets up to speed on it. District C Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

CM Brown reimburses the city for her magnets

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for David Feldman. Houston City Councilwoman Helena Brown has repaid the city nearly $3,000 in taxpayer money she spent on refrigerator magnets that the Texas Ethics Commission says amount to campaign swag. City Attorney David Feldman, who had … Continue reading →

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

Could this be the catalyst for Astrodome redevelopment?

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. The city of Houston and Harris County are preparing to create a mammoth, two-part economic development zone covering more than 11 square miles along the South Loop and at the northeast end of downtown. The plan stems from a … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Could this be the catalyst for Astrodome redevelopment?

A third act for Jolanda?

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. Jolanda Jones, who lost her at-large position 5 seat in last December’s runoff election, may run in next year’s elections to win a third term on Council — but this time it would be representing District D. The seat … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

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 →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on On the city bonds

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 →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: HCDE and District E

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 →

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

District E overview

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron overview of the special election in City Council District E to replace CM Mike Sullivan. The establishment guy is David Martin, a member of the Humble Independent School District board. Until he resigned in August, he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two for I

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, we’re still two weeks out from the start of early voting for 2012. But that hasn’t stopped two people from announcing their candidacies for City Council District I next year. Graciana ”Graci” Garces, chief of staff for District I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Interview with Sue Lovell

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Former Council member Sue Lovell was not directly involved in the current Metro referendum, but as the past Chair of the Transportation Committee on Council under Mayor Bill White, she was instrumental in the creation and adoption of the city’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Sue Lovell

Helena’s magnets

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been awhile since my last Helena Brown post, hasn’t it? Houston City Attorney David Feldman has asked Councilwoman Helena Brown to reimburse the city nearly $3,000 in taxpayer money she spent on refrigerator magnets that he contends amount to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The case against the food trucks

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Reggie Coachman, president of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association, tries to make a case against giving food trucks freer rein downtown. Currently there are more than 939 active mobile units permitted in the city of Houston, including 774 trucks and … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

MFU Houston encounters some resistance

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

No one ever said updating Houston’s food truck ordinances would be easy. On Tuesday, more than 50 mobile food truck owners and supporters showed up at a council committee hearing to push for changes to the city’s mobile food unit … Continue reading →

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

MFU Houston

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Houston Mobile Food Unit (MFU) Collective will present City Council Members with stakeholder-driven Ordinance changes in September, which will further promote business growth and entrepreneurship in Houston. The proposed Ordinance changes will eliminate the 60-foot distance … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The 2013 campaign season has officially begun

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of, anyway. Some of us received this email in our inboxes recently, touting the virtues of former Bill White chief of staff Terence Fontaine as a candidate for District D; incumbent Wanda Adams is term-limited out next year. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The 2013 campaign season has officially begun

Three for E

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There will probably be more when all is said and done, but at this time there are three candidates running for District E this November. The candidates are: Lonnie Allsbrooks – Former owner of Beer Island bar in the Heights. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More Green woes

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe it’s the name. A 28-year-old nonprofit workforce training organization is teetering on the brink of extinction after four years under the leadership of Houston City Councilman Larry Green. Green left HoustonWorks USA in May by what he and board … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on More Green woes

City says No to some of CM Brown’s expense reports

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always something. Councilwoman Helena Brown hired a private attorney to sit in on meetings with her publicly paid attorney, then tried to bill taxpayers for it. Records obtained by the Houston Chronicle reveal that Brown sought reimbursement for $850 … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

After school programs

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I see a lot of merit in this. After-school programs prevent crime, Councilman C.O. Bradford said, so some of them should be paid for by the police. “This sounds strange to hear a gun-packing, badge-toting, 24-year cop talking about this,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on After school programs

Here come the city bonds

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For your approval. Houston voters will decide in November whether local governments can borrow more than $2.7 billion for schools, parks, libraries and public safety. City Council OK’d its portion of that total Wednesday, a $410 million package of bond … Continue reading →

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

Gearing up in District A

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

And they’re off. It appears unlikely that former District A Councilwoman Brenda Stardig will get a one-on-one shot at a comeback from her 2011 loss to current Councilwoman Helena Brown. “It is my plan to run for District A,” Amy … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Gearing up in District A

Petitions to overturn homeless feeding ordinance submitted

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s plenty of signatures, but no guarantee that this will make it onto the ballot. Activists seeking to repeal a new law requiring City Hall’s permission to serve charitable meals on city-owned land turned in 34,000 petition signatures on Monday … Continue reading →

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

Pothole app

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County now has an app for reporting potholes and other problems. Users must download the app and set up a profile. After that, one can take a photo of the problem, point to its spot on the map or … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The door will stay open

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good decision. A proposal to give Houston City Council the ability to meet behind closed doors is dead. What a mayor’s spokeswoman called a “lack of consensus” was manifest in a committee meeting last week during which several council members … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The door will stay open

The discussion is closed

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about this. The mayor and city attorney are floating the idea of shutting the public out of some City Council discussions. Houston is unusual, perhaps even unique, among Texas cities in requiring that its council always meet … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The discussion is closed

Spending a little to save a lot

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Remember HPD’s Chronic Consumer Stabilization Program, in which the police department attempted to deal with some of the people who interact with them the most often in a better, more humane, and more cost-effective way? Well, it’s been working. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

As Helena Brown turns

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The soap opera continues. Houston City Councilwoman Helena Brown tried to coerce a staffer to go on medical leave because of her pregnancy, according to a memo the employee filed with the council’s administrative office. Sandra Kim, Brown’s constituent liaison, … Continue reading →

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

How do you say “J’accuse!” in Korean?

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again with the Korea kerfuffle. City Councilwoman Helena Brown on Tuesday accused Mayor Annise Parker of sabotaging her recent taxpayer-funded trip to Asia to promote direct air service between Seoul and Houston. Brown joined Houston Airport Director … Continue reading →

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

The Mayor’s office on the homeless feeding ordinance

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I have been running a series of guest posts on a variety of topics. When I invited Nick Cooper to write about his experiences with the homeless feeding ordinance, I also contacted the Mayor’s office to ask … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Sullivan submits his resignation

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As promised. Councilman Mike Sullivan submitted his resignation Wednesday, fulfilling a promise he made to leave Council if he won the Republican primary in the county tax assessor-collector race. He did win on May 29. His resignation is effective on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

So why did CM Brown go to Korea?

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

According to the Press, which is really killing it on this story, it wasn’t to meet with airline officials. Houston City Council Member Helena Brown issued a press release Wednesday touting her recent trip to Asia, which she funded with … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Parklets

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Not really sure what to make of this. Six years ago, a posse of guerrilla designers fed a parking meter on a busy San Francisco street, unrolled sod in the parking space and plopped down a potted tree. The result … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments