Tag Archives: Houston City Council

Jones versus HPFFA

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yeesh. The head of the Houston firefighters union blasted City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones for her handling of allegations of racism and sexism in the Houston Fire Department, saying in a sharply worded letter on Thursday that she had disparaged “thousands … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Lane Lewis

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving on to the first district Council race of this interview cycle, today’s subject is Lane Lewis, who is running for the District A seat currently held by Toni Lawrence. Lewis has worked as a social worker and has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Interview with Stephen Costello

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with the At Large candidates, today we hear from Stephen Costello, who is running for At Large #1. Stephen is a civil engineer, whose firm has been rated one of the best places to work in Houston, and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

City candidates on Twitter

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Since I brought up the subject of Houston city candidates on Twitter last week, I figured I’d put together as complete a list of such candidates’ Twitter feeds as I could, since I’d already gotten such a head start on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The case for conformity

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Max Watson and Ed Wulfe of the Houston Quality of Life Coalition make the case in the Chron for Houston to be more like some other cities. Last week’s new sign ordinance addressed roof, wall and window signs throughout the … Continue reading →

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

City campaign finance reports followup

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A few things to add to last night’s post. – Ronald Green’s numbers for City Controller are now in – my spreadsheet has been updated to reflect that. He took in $48,515 and has $32,700 on hand. Which is to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

City campaign finance reports come rolling in

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As the campaign finance reports for City of Houston races come online, I’ve been collecting all the reports and putting them together into an easier-to-read format. I’ve also received a bunch of press releases, which I’ll be reproducing beneath the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interview with CO Bradford

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in the interview series is C.O. “Brad” Bradford, who is running for At Large #4, currently held by the term-limited Ronald Green. Bradford was the Democratic candidate for Harris County District Attorney last year, and though he lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Interview with Karen Derr

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today we start my series of interviews for the November 2009 elections. I hope interview as many candidates for City Council, City Controller, and Mayor as possible, as well as candidates for HISD Trustee. First up is Karen Derr, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Mr. Goldberg goes to Iraq

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Former Houston City Council Member Mark Goldberg has a new gig. [Goldberg] will work as a local governance adviser for RTI International, a North Carolina nonprofit research and development organization that works in Iraq and other countries. RTI employs 79 … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Chron makes the case for beautification

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes in favor of the new sign ordinance passed by Council this week. The tone is off-putting, and as has been the case all along is long on assertion and short on empirical evidence, but it’s a pretty … Continue reading →

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

Looking ahead to City Council redistricting

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Prof. Murray and Greg take a look at the upcoming redistricting of Houston City Council, with the latter offering a possible map of the to-be-11 districts. I have two things to add to their efforts. One is to wonder just … Continue reading →

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

Design guide versus transit corridors ordinance

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what to make of this just yet. Fallout from the long-dormant Ashby high-rise development emerged Wednesday as a potential obstacle to the city’s effort to promote walkable, urban-style development along Metro’s planned light-rail lines. Neighborhood opposition to the … Continue reading →

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

Council passes new sign ordinance

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Still not sure about the wisdom of this, but it’s a done deal now. With one dissenting vote, City Council on Wednesday passed a major revision to the city’s decades-old sign ordinance that supporters hope will improve what they see … Continue reading →

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

Council Member Adams sued by former consultant

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Miya has the interesting story. Houston City Council Member Wanda Adams is the defendant in a civil lawsuit. Her former campaign consultant, Kathryn McNiel, has filed suit asking for back consulting fees and legal costs totalling around $47,000. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Council Member Adams sued by former consultant

More signage regulation coming

Posted on July 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

First, they came for the billboards. Then they came for the attention-getting devices. Now in the crosshairs: Roof signs and other potential menaces to Houston’s natural beauty. The city of Houston is poised to pass a major revision to its … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interview season

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We may be just two days past July 4, but it’s time to focus on the upcoming November elections. In particular, that means it’s time to start doing interviews with candidates for city offices. I’ve got a few lined up … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

District H Town Hall meeting

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

From Inside Central Houston: A Town Hall Meeting on “Proposed Center Street Recycle Center Relocation” will be 6 – 8 p.m. July 6 at the West End Multi-Service Center, 170 Heights Blvd. It will be hosted by District H Houston … Continue reading →

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

Lawrence looking at Commissioners Court

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Something I’d realized recently is that almost everyone in city government who is or would have been term-limited out is running or has run for another office. Mayor White is running for Senate. City Controller Annise Parker is running for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Turner not running for Mayor

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Mayoral field for this November should now be set. State Rep. Sylvester Turner announced today he would not attempt a run for mayor of Houston. The 11-term Democrat representative’s announcement comes a little more than three weeks after he … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Neighborhood concerns about the transit corridors ordinance

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I think most people who choose to live in Houston’s urban core would agree that density is a good thing as a general rule. Density done in a half-assed way, which has been Houston’s trademark, not so much. Density hasn’t … Continue reading →

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

Council Member Gonzalez

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Now that he has been officially sworn in to represent District H, new City Council Member Ed Gonzalez has hit the ground running. He was called upon by City Councilwoman Sue Lovell to speak first about the death of Officer … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Inflatable gorillas win one in court

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

How often do you get to write a headline like that? U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore ruled that a 1993 city ordinance restricting the use of attention-getting devices, such as the giant balloons atop businesses, violated the due process and … Continue reading →

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

Where that new transit corridors ordinance came from

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Christof takes another look at the proposed urban transit corridors ordinance, and asks a simple question. Days after the City of Houston’s draft corridor urban corridors ordinance was released, Houstonians For Responsible Growth – a developer group that generally opposes any new … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Where that new transit corridors ordinance came from

Recycle thyself

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose I had assumed that the city of Houston was already collecting recyclables separately from trash. Apparently, that was not the case, but it will be now. The Solid Waste Management Department has implemented programs at breakneck speed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Recycle thyself

HOPE press conference on employee efficiency suggestions

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ever think that the city’s employees probably have some good ideas for how they could conduct their business in a more efficient manner? Well, the Houston Organization for Public Employees (HOPE) thought so, and they conducted a three-week survey of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HOPE press conference on employee efficiency suggestions

Big balloon lawsuit

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. The constitutional right to have a giant inflatable gorilla in a bathing suit and sunglasses grabbing consumer attention from a Houston business rooftop is the key issue in a trial that began in federal court … Continue reading →

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

Rerun for Welsh?

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Maverick Welsh is a young first-time candidate who exceeded expectations in his initial campaign. I most certainly do expect we’ll see him run for office again. “I absolutely will run for council again,” Welsh said. “I had way too good … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rerun for Welsh?

Rick Rodriguez to announce for At Large #1

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’d heard rumors to this effect, and now it’s official: Former District H candidate Rick Rodriguez is joining the race for At Large #1 in November. From the email announcement: Rick Rodriguez to launch campaign for Houston City Council At-Large, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rick Rodriguez to announce for At Large #1

Gonzalez wins in District H

Posted on June 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, it wasn’t that close. Houston police officer Ed Gonzalez won the runoff special election to fill Houston City Council District H Saturday, defeating former high school teacher and City Council staffer Maverick Welsh. Although the campaign was … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Gonzalez wins in District H

Runoff Day in District H

Posted on June 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today is Runoff Day for the District H special election. Polls are open from 7 AM till 7 PM. Voting locations are here; if you’re not sure what precinct you’re in, go here. Early voting was heavier than I expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Runoff Day in District H

Foulard announces in G, Khan for Controller

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With the Legislature out of session (hopefully till 2011) and the District H special election about to wrap up, it’s time to refocus on the November elections for Houston. I think we will have a pretty good idea of who … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Early voting ends for District H runoff

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tuesday was the last day of early voting for the District H runoff, and as is often the case it was the busiest, with 278 in-person ballots being cast. That brings the final total up to 2188 early votes, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Last day of early voting in District H runoff

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the last day to vote early in the District H runoff. The early voting locations will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM, so take advantage of the chance while you still can. Runoff Day itself will … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Last day of early voting in District H runoff