Tag Archives: Houston

Turner wants to rethink transportation

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I like the way he’s thinking. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, in less than a month on the job, has hit the streets at full speed. First he tackled potholes. Last week he tackled a state transportation department that’s spent the … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Term limits plaintiffs respond to dismissal motion

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about what you’d expect. Last November Houston voters approved an amendment to the city charter that changed the length and maximum number of terms elected officials can serve. The lawsuit by Phillip Paul Bryant alleges the language on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Three more HISD schools to be renamed

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. The new campuses to be renamed, joining four others approved on split votes in January, are Albert Sidney Johnston and Sidney Lanier middle schools and Jefferson Davis High School. Johnston was a … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What do you want in a new HISD Superintendent?

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Take the survey and let them know. The Houston school board has started seeking community input on the desired traits for a new superintendent, with the goal of hiring a new leader by July. A survey posted on the district’s … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on What do you want in a new HISD Superintendent?

Term limits lawsuit against city could be dismissed

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This was unexpected. Last November, Houston voters approved an amendment to the City Charter that changed the length and maximum number of terms elected officials can serve. The lawsuit by Phillip Paul Bryant alleges the language on the ballot tricked … Continue reading →

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

Harrisburg line overpass delayed again

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Just, ugh. A rail overpass vital to completion of the East End light rail line that has divided neighbors and eroded public confidence will be delayed another four months, Metro officials confirmed Monday. “It has been the project from … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Harrisburg line overpass delayed again

Yet another record year for Obamacare signups in Texas

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s like a trend or something. A record 1.3 million Texans signed up for health coverage during the 2016 Affordable Care Act’s enrollment period, topping last year’s number by more than 100,000, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Meet the woman in charge of prepping Houston for Super Bowl LI

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The countdown is on, and the spotlight is already ours. When Sallie Sargent applied to take charge of Houston’s preparations for next year’s Super Bowl, she faced a rather daunting audition: find 11 major sponsors to finish a $25 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Meet the woman in charge of prepping Houston for Super Bowl LI

TOP releases report on inefficiency of development tax subsidies

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: [Thursday], the Texas Organizing Project and the Workers Defense Project released a report on the ineffectiveness of tax subsidies in cities across Texas, and proposed ways to increase requirements for such deals in Houston to offer benefits … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TOP releases report on inefficiency of development tax subsidies

Things are tough all over

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

HISD faces a big deficit: Houston ISD leaders are bracing for a projected $107 million budget shortfall that, in a worst-case scenario, could prompt the district to slash jobs. During the school board meeting Thursday, however, officials pledged to try … Continue reading →

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

The Mayor’s education czar

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Former HISD Trustee Juliet Stipeche has joined the Turner administration. Mayor Sylvester Turner has named former Houston ISD board president Juliet Stipeche to a newly created Director of Education role in his administration, seeking greater collaboration between the city and … Continue reading →

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

Another look at AirBnB

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. The hotel industry is starting to object. On Wednesday, a report funded by a national trade group claimed some Airbnb hosts function illegally and operate essentially as full-time hotels without the same health and safety oversight. It also says … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State of the county 2016

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This year’s theme is cooperation and meeting challenges. In his ongoing effort to revive the Astrodome, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Tuesday proposed using the aging landmark for an outdoor light show when Houston hosts the Super Bowl next … Continue reading →

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

HPD Chief McClelland to retire

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Mayor Sylvester Turner today announced that he has accepted the retirement of Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland, effective February 26, 2016. McClelland was sworn in as a police officer in September 1977. He rose through the ranks … Continue reading →

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

Can you ever truly “fix” the 59/610 interchange?

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I kind of think the answer is “No”, but they’re going to try anyway. With Houston choking on traffic congestion from Clear Lake to Jersey Village, an infusion of $447 million in state funds promises relief sooner than expected at … Continue reading →

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

Chron story on the bus map tweaks

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A few bits of interest here. Metro leaders hope more frequent service on popular routes will build on the ridership gains the system is experiencing. “I think as you get higher frequency and people know it is going to come, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Chron story on the bus map tweaks

The Jolanda Show

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Set your DVRs. The Houston school board just got a little more star power. Jolanda Jones, the former city councilwoman who joined the board last week, is starring in a new reality show called “Sisters In Law,” set to air … Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Jolanda Show

The Dream takes on The Donald

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

You tell ’em, Hakeem. Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon, a devout Muslim splitting his time between homes in Houston and outside London, England, on Saturday called the proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States “not worthy of a president.” … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Resign to run has kicked in for Council members

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another change that our new term limits law has wrought. Houston elected officials who become a candidate for another elected office are now automatically required to resign their current seat, uncharted territory for city officeholders who previously had not been … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Resign to run has kicked in for Council members

Under the Dome

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The latest plan to save the Dome takes a step forward. Harris County Commissioners Court moved forward on Tuesday with one piece of the Astrodome revival that needs to happen whether or not the park plan is achieved, according to … Continue reading →

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

So what happened to One Bin for All?

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

KUHF asks the question. It has been almost three years since the city won a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the One Bin For All concept, which would let Houstonians throw all their waste in one bin, to … Continue reading →

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

Maybe the state should regulate Uber and Lyft after all

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly reviews the current state of affairs with transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft and their fight against mandatory fingerprinting as part of the background checks that new drivers must ondergo, all of which is playing out … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Houston Tomorrow presents its Vision Zero plan

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here you go. Following other “vision zero” programs nationally, Houston Tomorrow encouraged officials – especially Houston lawmakers – to crack down on speeding and distracted driving while investing more in rebuilding streets so that vehicles can share them safely with … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston Tomorrow presents its Vision Zero plan

Metro bus system tweaks coming

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: You spoke, and METRO listened. Beginning Jan. 24, 2016, METRO will put in place a series of route and schedule modifications based on feedback received from riders and bus operators since launching the New Bus Network Aug. … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro bus system tweaks coming

The Chron on the El Franco Lee successor selection process

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

First, a lamentation. Not even a month has passed since Sylvester Turner was sworn in as Houston’s new mayor, and already the next election cycle is just around the corner. Early voting for party primaries is about a month away, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HISD board moves to change some school names

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There may be more to come at a later date. The five-trustee majority also voted to rename Henry Grady, Richard Dowling and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson middle schools and Robert E. Lee High School. Now, a committee at each school, including … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Know any good, solvent highway construction firms?

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

TxDOT is looking for a few. Drivers on Interstate 45 will wait longer for better connections to Loop 610 and U.S. 59 because a Woodlands-based contractor will have to be replaced. The jobs, totaling about $102 million, were won by … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Know any good, solvent highway construction firms?

“Bad, but not awful”

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Your Houston economy, folks. As Houston enters the second year of the worst oil downturn in decades, its once-booming economy has sputtered, and the strain finally is starting to show. Houston could flirt with recession in 2016 as the oil … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on “Bad, but not awful”

When will there be a special election to fill Mayor Turner’s legislative term?

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Leader News brings up a point that I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere, namely that HD139 is now vacant since the inauguration of Mayor Sylvester Turner. They have their top-of-page-one story devoted to this, but of course you can’t find … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

RIP, Yale Street post office

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s gone. Clues could have been the overgrown landscaping, multiple notices taped to the doors and, for the keenest observer, the bare pole without a U.S. flag or clanging metal cables. Headed back to his SUV on Thursday, one man … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on RIP, Yale Street post office

Another Uber lawsuit update

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we are headed towards a jury trial soon. U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore has denied Uber’s request for summary judgment and rejected parts of the company’s motion to dismiss. “This court has found that the question of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another Uber lawsuit update

B-Cycle’s 100,000 rides

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Okay, almost 100,000. Still impressive. Houston’s growing bike sharing system – poised for a big 2016 – nearly pulled off 100,000 checkouts last year. After adding two stations in the last weeks of the year, bringing the total to 31 … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , | Comments Off on B-Cycle’s 100,000 rides

Mayor Turner sworn in

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The new era begins. Lauding Houston as a city where, “when you dream big, big things can happen,” Mayor Sylvester Turner delivered his inaugural address Monday morning at a packed Jones Hall downtown. Turner also announced his first policy plan, … Continue reading →

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

Austin versus San Antonio on ridesharing

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Current reviews the state of play. In the spring of 2014, Lyft led the way in Austin, but the company launched without city approval and was eventually banned, along with Uber, which launched in the capital a short time … Continue reading →

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