Tag Archives: Anne Clutterbuck

July 2017 campaign finance reports – City of Houston

Let’s continue our survey of campaign finance reports with reports from the city of Houston. Name Raised Spent Loans On Hand ================================================ Turner 520,430 138,068 0 1,643,519 Stardig 59,470 36,402 0 102,289 Davis 5,500 13,231 0 147,050 Cohen 5,000 8,382 … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2017, Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HERO repeal petitions announcement today

Today’s the day we find out what happens. The city’s controversial HERO ordinance prohibits discrimination based on federally recognized groups such as race and age, but also extends those rights to sexual orientation and gender identity. Opponents of the ordinance … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Kroger gets its 380

Despite neighborhood opposition, City Council has approved a 380 agreement for the proposed Kroger on Studemont at I-10. District H Councilman Ed Gonzalez, who represents the area around the proposed store and who championed the 380 agreement, insisted the deal … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Red light cameras to be turned back on

For now, at least. The city of Houston will turn its red-light cameras back on today, Mayor Annise Parker announced after this morning’s City Council meeting. According to a statement from the mayor’s office, tickets will be issued after a … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Response from the city on the red light camera ruling

Previously, I wrote that I had asked the city about the possibility of appealing the ruling in the red light camera lawsuit. I received the following response from the Mayor’s office yesterday: This was what’s known as an interlocutory order … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

More on the red light camera ruling

I said before that what happens next with the red light camera ruling is a political decision. Here’s how that’s shaping up. City Attorney Dave Feldman said Friday’s ruling will force the city to choose from canceling the contract with … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Judge rules red light camera referendum was invalid

Boom. A Houston federal judge today invalidated last November’s referendum that ended the red-light camera program, a ruling that has sent city leaders back to square one. U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes ruled the city can not reverse an ordinance … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Does it count if it’s a TIRZ?

Well, this is interesting. As the city of Houston seeks to close a $21 million budget gap in the next eight weeks, it is counting on selling a public building to one of its own redevelopment agencies. And while the … Continue reading

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

More on the drainage fee exemptions

Here’s the Chron story about the Mayor’s change in direction to exempt churches and schools from the new drainage fee. Under previous numbers published by the administration, exempting those institutions would raise the monthly fee on other property owners by … Continue reading

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

A very early look at 2011 fundraising

A couple of weeks ago I took an early look at the 2011 city elections, but there was a key ingredient missing in that analysis: Money. The fundraising season for city candidates, which has been closed since last January, will … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Council shakeup

Things are getting mighty interesting down at City Hall. Mayor Annise Parker has parted ways with two major conservatives on the Houston City Council, removing Councilman Mike Sullivan from his role overseeing redistricting and accepting the resignation of Councilwoman Anne … Continue reading

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

The city’s financial picture looks grim

It’s ugly. A draft of the fiscal 2012 budget, which begins in July, shows a projected shortfall of at least $118 million. For fiscal 2012 through fiscal 2015, the shortfall is an estimated $542 million. […] Several City Council members … Continue reading

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

The preservation ordinance fight

The revised preservation ordinance came before Council last week. It got a lot of feedback in addition to being tagged. Mayor Pro Tem Anne Clutterbuck also opposed the changes to the ordinance, which include a provision that would prevent property … Continue reading

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

More on the red light camera Council vote

The fuller version of the Chron story addresses the question about whether the petition drive was lawful or not according to the city’s charter. “It is your absolute sworn duty to place this on the ballot,” [Mayor Annise] Parker told … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Red light camera petitions certified

They made it just under the wire. A petition to ban red light cameras in Houston has been certified by the city secretary, making it all but certain that voters will decide in November whether the 70 devices at intersections … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Mayor Parker’s first budget passes

The deed is done. We know the basic shape of the budget from earlier stories, so I just want to highlight a couple of things. First, an amendment to trim Council members’ budgets that ultimately was defeated: City Councilman Al … Continue reading

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Bilingual budget amendment controversy

Given the budget situation we’re in, there’s been a surprising lack of overt controversy about how to deal with it. Council members submitted their budget amendments last week, and one of them has generated a stir. KUHF reported on the … Continue reading

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Jolanda versus the world

If you’re on Carl Whitmarsh’s mailing list, you’ve probably seen this, which is one of several mailers being sent out by the Jack Christie campaign. That one is going to the Heights, Montrose, and District C. The others are this … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Oh, and avoid Blakemore, too

We already know why you should stay away from Steven Hotze. But Allen Blakemore is the Horace and Jasper to Hotze’s Cruella de Vil, and the same warning applies to him as well. But don’t take my word for it, … Continue reading

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

Kirby storm drain construction update

Times are tough all over for retailers. They’re especially tough when the street you’re on is all torn up. The four-phase project to install new storm drainage along Kirby Drive started in 2004. The latest round peeled back the asphalt … Continue reading

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Interview with Council Member Anne Clutterbuck

Today’s interview subject is Council Member Anne Clutterbuck, who is serving her second term in District C. There’s been a lot of action in her district of late – the Ashby highrise, the rebuild of Kirby Drive, the Universities rail … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Interview with Herman Litt

My next interview subject is Herman Litt, who is running for At Large #1. Litt is a rehabilitation counselor and hospital administrator who was elected to the HCC Board of Trustees in 1999 and served for awhile as its Chair. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

City campaign finance reports followup

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

Chron makes the case for beautification

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

Council passes new sign ordinance

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

Turner not running for Mayor

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

Precinct analysis: The City Council districts

I’d been wondering for a long time how the 2008 vote broke down by City Council districts, as well as for the city of Houston versus non-Houston Harris County. I finally did something about it awhile ago and made a … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Here we go again with City Council redistricting

Or at least, here we go again with arguing about when we should be redrawing City Council lines. Mayor Bill White’s decision to delay redrawing the boundaries of City Council districts has angered numerous community activists, who say his stance … Continue reading

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