Author Archives: Greg Wythe

Round and round we go with City Council redistricting

Posted on January 31, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Vidal Martinez made the case in yesterday’s Chron for tackling the task of City Council redistricting in time for the 2009 elections, on the grounds that this is the deal the city agreed to with the Justice Department back in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Round and round we go with City Council redistricting

Senate committees

Posted on January 31, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Elise Hu has the list of committees and members for the State Senate, which came out yesterday. Not much drama here – as she noted, Sen. John Carona, the on Republican vote against changing the rules for voter ID bills, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Senate committees

Healthcare Workshop

Posted on January 31, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Public service announcement: Next Saturday, February 7, from 9 AM to 1 PM at Covenant Baptist Church (4949 Caroline, see map), the group Health Care For All Texas will be holding a workshop on “Health Reform: An Opportunity to Address … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

How much would you pay for that post office?

Posted on January 31, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The US Postal Service would like to make you a deal. The U.S. Postal Service is unloading as many as 200 facilities in an effort to offset some of its huge financial losses. In Houston, just two properties have been … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, National news | 2 Comments

Friday random ten: Still more new music

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Once more to the new music. I’ll probably take another tour through Genius-land starting next week, but for now we’re still mining the new music. 1. Fancy Footwork – Chromeo 2. Everybody Hurts – Elk City 3. Running Away – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

Critics claim camera study shenanigans

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Greg Wythe

So what else is new? The Houston Police Department tried to influence the outcome of a controversial city-commissioned study by changing how crashes at intersections with red-light cameras were counted, according to documents included in a lawsuit. HPD’s request was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Another lawsuit filed against DPS

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Greg Wythe

That makes two such suits over the new DPS policy of verifying residency status in order to get a drivers license. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed the lawsuit in state district court in Austin. It’s on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Another lawsuit filed against DPS

A SUPERTRAIN for Texas?

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It could happen. The idea of high-speed rail is being pushed again in a big way in Texas, and backers hope to have $12 billion to $18 billion high-speed trains running by 2020. This time, they say they have taken … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 6 Comments

Let’s always elect our Senators

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Greg Wythe

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, having seen what a farce the gubernatorial-selection process for replacing Senators has been this year, proposes to do something about it: The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial appointments to vacant Senate seats make it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 3 Comments

Blogging for “Houston Have Your Say 2.0”

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’m at KUHT along with Ree-C Murphey and Mike Reed of the Examiner newspapers, and we’re getting ready to begin doing our stream-of-consciousness thing for Houston Have Your Say. You can follow us there, and I’m sure I’ll post a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Blogging for “Houston Have Your Say 2.0”

House adopts rules

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Once again, not much drama in the lower chamber. After an all-day debate, the House approved its rules for the 2009 legislative session in a relaxed atmosphere overseen by new Speaker Joe Straus. The most intense squabble came when the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on House adopts rules

Houston Have Your Say 2.0

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Greg Wythe

So last year I got to serve as an on-the-spot blogger for KUHF’s production of Houston Have Your Say, which was about immigration. I blogged some of it at Kuff’s World and some of it at a blog that was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 5 Comments

Election date set for District H

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Greg Wythe

City Council has officially set the date for the District H special election. As noted in Item 42 of the Council agenda, the special election date is Saturday, May 9, which is the next uniform election date. If there are … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Comments Off on Election date set for District H

California breathin’

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Greg Wythe

We may get some cleaner air to breathe here in Texas thanks to California and President Obama. Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to review the Bush administration’s refusal to allow California and 13 other states to set the nation’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on California breathin’

Fish farming in the Gulf?

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Not sure what I think about this. Regional fishery managers have a plan to open the Gulf to the first industrial-scale fish farms in federal waters. The proposal — intended to help reduce the nation’s reliance on imported seafood — … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Don’t fear a fight with KBH

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I want to take a minute to recommend Karl-Thomas’ analysis of the Governor’s race, and why Democrats seem to be working towards a self-fulfilling prophecy of Kay Bailey Hutchison’s inevitability and unbeatableness. I’ve talked about some of this stuff before, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 5 Comments

So much for the wine bar

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The battle between Weingarten and its neighbors over the changes to the new River Oaks Shopping Center, which reached a resolution two weeks ago, may end up as having been over nothing. Houston restaurateur Tony Vallone said he’s canceled plans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on So much for the wine bar

Talk to them about helmet laws

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Last month, I noted that some police departments will be lobbying the Legislature to require motorcyclists to wear helmets, which would effectively repeal a law from 1997 that granted them the ride to ride bareheaded if they had sufficient insurance. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Who are you calling a knucklehead?

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This article about a panel of experts coming together in Houston to assess the city’s readiness to deal with disasters is moderately interesting – I look forward to reading their conclusions, that’s for sure – but what really caught my … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Who are you calling a knucklehead?

So how’s the state of our state?

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Well, you can read the text of Governor Rick Perry’s State of the State speech and see for yourself what it was all about. Frankly, I think Matt got it in one: This was a campaign speech. I mean, stem … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 4 Comments

CIP meeting for District H

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I don’t know how widespread the email distribution list is for this sort of thing, so consider this to be a public service announcement for District H in Houston: City of Houston Capital Improvement Plan Meeting for District H Hosted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on CIP meeting for District H

Innocence

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Lisa Falkenberg examines what Circuit Judge Jacques L. Wiener Jr. referred to as “the elephant in the room” in granting a stay of execution to Larry Swearingen. The nation’s highest court hasn’t directly addressed whether a claim of actual innocence … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Innocence

The state of the state 2009

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Governor Perry will be making his State of the State address today at 11, in which he’s expected to talk about the budget, hurricane relief, and some red meat for his primary voters. You can get a preview of it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on The state of the state 2009

City Council lineup update

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Via Carl Whitmarsh, we have a third potential candidate for the to-be-open Council seat in District A, attorney Alex Wathen. Wathen joins Bob Schoelkopf and Jeffrey Downing in eyeing that seat. Wathen has been a candidate for City Council before … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 6 Comments

The border camera boondoggle blues

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Your tax dollars at work, courtesy of Governor Perry. A virtual border surveillance program Gov. Rick Perry has committed millions of taxpayer dollars to fell far short of expectations during the first six months of operation. Border sheriffs, who Perry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on The border camera boondoggle blues

One more reason to be glad he’s in Dallas and not here

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I don’t need another reason to be glad that former President Bush chose someplace other than Houston to retire to, but if you do, here’s one for you. The tab to provide crowd and traffic control at the new Preston … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 26

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It the first official Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup of the Obama Administration. And no, it’s not going to get old saying “Obama Administration” any time soon. Click on for the highlights. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 26

Swearingen gets a stay

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Thank goodness. Accused killer Larry Swearingen has been granted a second stay of execution. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit handed down the ruling this morning. Swearingen was set to be executed by injection on Tuesday. “We’re … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Harris County tackles jail overcrowding

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Well, what do you know? Harris County’s burgeoning jail population is expected to swell to 12,600 this spring, prompting newly elected officials to take a fresh look at ways to alleviate overcrowding, including releasing low-risk offenders. The new sheriff, district … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

It’s 2009 and we’re still arguing about CHIP

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It’s hard for me to believe that after all this time, and after all of the candidates who’ve lost elections over it, that the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a/k/a CHIP, still has dedicated opponents. It’s especially hard for me to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Derr files, Bradford contemplates

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Karen Derr made her treasurer’s report filing on Thursday last week, becoming at least the second candidate for District H to do so. I know that Maverick Welsh has filed his report, and I know that as of Friday, Ed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Comments Off on Derr files, Bradford contemplates

Lobby money

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Greg Wythe

My first reaction upon reading this story about lobbyist spending on food and drink and entertainment for elected officials and their staff is the old chestnut about how government should be run like a business. People who say that, especially … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Kay and Rick, Rick and Kay

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Greg Wythe

So Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry were rallying supporters yesterday for the primary they’ll eventually have for Governor, which I’m already sick to death of since it seems like it’s been going on since 2005. It’s a whole lot … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 3 Comments

Here we go again with City Council redistricting

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Greg Wythe

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 → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Here we go again with City Council redistricting