Monthly Archives: October 2007

More on the Astrodome Redevelopment opposition

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on yesterday’s announcement that the Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo had come out against the Astrodome Redevelopment plan, here’s today’s Chron story, with more details. Scott Hanson, president of Astrodome Redevelopment, held out hope that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Preventing Wrongful Convictions and Exonerating the Innocent

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Drum Major Institute hosted an event on Monday called “Preventing Wrongful Convictions and Exonerating the Innocent”, which featured Dallas County DA Craig Watkins as its headline speaker. Here’s a comprehensive liveblog of the panel discussion, which gets into all … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Preventing Wrongful Convictions and Exonerating the Innocent

How the Candy Man stole Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Halloween, everyone! We’re going to be up to our clavicles in Trick or Treaters this evening – I’ll post some pictures like I did last year to give you a feel for how busy it gets. But before that, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

Blog My Wage

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned before that Council Member Peter Brown has been living on $92.12 this week ($23.03 a day for four days), which is what the wages of city health department worker Belinda Rodriguez allows. He’s blogging about his experience here, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

“Including this one…”

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Great moments in headline writing: State report says Texas has too many reports. You can live a long time before getting a meatball like that. Now, it’s very easy to note a story like this and go into full-on snark … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on “Including this one…”

The Daylight Savings Time shuffle

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Is one of your timekeeping gadgets off by an hour this week? If so, you’re not alone. It might be silly to talk about the duplicitous hands of time or tick-tock treachery. But the fact remains that at least some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Sugar Land’s red light cameras roll out

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, Sugar Land! Are you ready for those red light cameras you’ve been expecting? Well, ready or not, here they are. Sugar Land’s three cameras will start snapping pictures Monday, but violators will receive warnings for the first 30 days … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Sugar Land’s red light cameras roll out

Referendum Roundup

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Vince has collected a sizable amount of blog and media links with information and recommendations for bonds, propositions, and various local election issues. If you’re still not sure how to vote on some of these things, it should be useful … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Referendum Roundup

“A low turnout affair”

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Riffing on my previous post about early voting turnout, Houtopia provides a little context. As of yesterday, 15,792 folks had voted in person in Harris County. Compare that total with 2005, when 24,132 in-person votes had been cast. So far, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 2 Comments

Reliant and Rodeo oppose Astrodome Redevelopment

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an obstacle that the Astrodome Redevelopment folks may not be able to clear: The Texans and Houston rodeo officials came out today in opposition of plans to turn the iconic Reliant Astrodome into an upscale hotel and convention center … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Mayor White and the HISD bond referendum

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Stiles notes that Mayor White hasn’t taken a position on the HISD bond referendum yet. He prints the following statement from the Mayor: HISD and other regional school districts do important work. I have seen with my own eyes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Expand the map

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good news from the Senate 2008 Guru: You may notice in the upper left hand corner of the website that we have a new addition to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page: State Representative and Lieutenant Colonel Rick Noriega. Representative/Lt. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Expand the map

I’d call it a game-changer, wouldn’t you?

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

If you enjoyed that amazing video of Trinity’s improbable last-play touchdown to beat Millsaps this past Saturday, you can express your appreciation of it in a tangible fashion, according to this email I got from the ol’ bountiful mother: In … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on I’d call it a game-changer, wouldn’t you?

HOPE-ing for higher wages

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Organization of Public Employees, a/k/a HOPE, has been making its case for better wages for the city’s public employees. The event was the latest public-relations move taken by the union, which also has sent dozens of members to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on HOPE-ing for higher wages

Texas blog roundup for the week of October 29

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your Halloween eve blog roundup. Nothing scary about it, so go ahead and click on for more. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of October 29

Houston TexBlog PAC fundraiser a success

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I am pleased to report that our Houston TexBlog PAC fundraiser, at the lovely home of David Mincberg and Lainie Gordon, was a big success. By my count, we had about fifty people, and a whole lot of energy and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Houston TexBlog PAC fundraiser a success

Endorsement watch: HCCS trustees

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes its recommendations for the two contested HCCS Trustee races. District 1, Kevin J. Hoffman — In this position representing northside constituents, the best choice is Hoffman, a longtime civic activist and energy industry analyst who is president … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

The HISD bond opposition makes its case

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD bond opponents get a big story in today’s Chron. African-American political and religious leaders have been on the front lines opposing HISD’s proposed bond package, which, if approved, would build 24 new campuses and renovate 134 others. It … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 2 Comments

Early voting: Week two

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So have you voted yet? Early voting totals so far (PDF) aren’t very impressive, though I haven’t attempted a comparison to previous years so I can’t really say for certain how we’re doing. I can say, as I did yesterday, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Monster Mash and Fall Festival

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from an email sent out by State Rep. Jessica Farrar: Halloween is right around the corner. That means kids of all ages will be dressing up and looking to have fun with family and friends this Wednesday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Monster Mash and Fall Festival

Art Hall for Railroad Commissioner

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Meet former San Antonio City Council member Art Hall, who is planning to run for Railroad Commissioner against incumbent Michael Williams. Hall, born in Hempstead, Texas, and raised in Lubbock, represented San Antonio’s District 8 for two terms. He was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Art Hall for Railroad Commissioner

Endorsement watch: RichmondRail.org

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your slate of transit-friendly candidates, according to RichmondRail.org: The RichmondRail political action committee (RRail GPAC) has endorsed the following candidates for Houston City Council and Controller. These candidates have told the committee that * they will support the Richmond-to-Cummins … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: RichmondRail.org

Construction near where I work

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Via Swamplot, I learn about two big construction projects going on near where I work. First, at OST and Kirby, a short walk from my office: On Old Spanish Trail at Kirby, where Target and Garden Ridge used to be, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Construction near where I work

Lateral!

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen on a football field, and I’m not just saying it because it involved my alma mater. The story behind the play. The Trinity Tigers executed a 15-lateral, “Mississippi Miracle” on the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 9 Comments

Endorsement watch: The HISD bond referendum

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron comes out in favor of the HISD bond referendum. This bond issue has drawn heated criticism over the manner in which district officials presented the package. Instead of soliciting community input regarding needed school improvements, the board of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: The HISD bond referendum

Light rail funding

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Much as I like the decision by Metro to go all light rail all the time, it doesn’t come without risk. Federal funding is not guaranteed, so we may be back where we started, when the BRT decision was first … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Weekend Noriega update

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Just a pair of recent articles on Rick Noriega since the announcement that Mikal Watts was dropping out of the Senate race. Team Noriega, from the DMN. Rick Noriega, the sole Democratic contender to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Weekend Noriega update

Walle and Gutierrez

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of Democratic campaigns got kicked off this week, both of which might have a positive impact on the House Speakership next year. First, on Wednesday, Armando Walle officially began his campaign to oust Craddick D Kevin Bailey in HD140. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Walle and Gutierrez

Anti-Bissonnet high rise ordinance proposed

Posted on October 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

In a sense, this is surprising, and in a sense, it’s not. Mayor Bill White’s administration has proposed an ordinance that could require developers to reduce the size of a planned high-rise building that’s ignited a bitter dispute over what’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Emmett: No lawsuit yet

Posted on October 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that passions got so enflamed during the debate over the token tax cut that County Judge Ed Emmett threatened to file a lawsuit against Charles Bacarisse for wantonly misrepresenting his position, or something like that. It would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Red light camera money

Posted on October 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

What to do, what to do… Red light cameras installed at 50 intersections throughout the city have generated more than $6 million for the city since the program was launched last fall, Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said Thursday. HPD … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Prop 15 opposition ramps up

Posted on October 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It was reported earlier that there was no organized opposition to Proposition 15. Now it appears that some has emerged. A well-known social conservative is urging Texans to oppose a $3 billion bond proposal for cancer research, warning the money … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Prop 15 opposition ramps up

From the Unintended Consequences Department

Posted on October 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Border crackdown leads to more drug smuggling. Quelle irony, no? As tighter security makes crossing the border trickier and more hazardous, the traditional mom-and-pop operations in Mexico that used to ferry people across have been replaced by larger, more-professional criminal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Urban League endorses HISD bond

Posted on October 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

One more endorsement for the HISD bond referencum. The Houston Area Urban League, an advocacy group for blacks, announced today its endorsement of the Houston school district’s $805 million bond proposal. The league’s support — which comes two weeks before … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Urban League endorses HISD bond