Monthly Archives: January 2008

The soccer stadium and the rail line

Posted on January 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Rad Sallee writes about the Dynamo Stadium situation: Local bloggers pointed out last week that the site being considered for a soccer stadium on the east side of downtown may lie in the path of two planned light rail lines. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on The soccer stadium and the rail line

Pictures from a demolition

Posted on January 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Did you miss Sunday’s implosion of the old Montagu Hotel? Well, HouStoned and Houstonist have pictures, with the latter including video. As yet, no shadowy figures near a doorway have been spotted just prior to the kaboom, but it’s early … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 21

Posted on January 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Still in shock over not seeing Brady versus Favre in the Super Bowl? There’s nothing like a Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup to cure what ails you. Click on for the week’s highlights. Continue reading →

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The lawyer versus the jurors

Posted on January 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the complaints by two grand jurors over DA Chuck Rosenthal’s decision to dismiss the indictments that were returned in the Medina arson case have led to the Medinas’ attorney asking the judge to sanction them for violating … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 5 Comments

Candidate interview: Carol Alvarado

Posted on January 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing written Q&As with judicial candidates. I’ve been a fan of Carol Alvarado for some time now – pretty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Replacing Ronnie Earle

Posted on January 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This Texas Observer story on the four candidates vying to replace retiring Travis County DA Ronnie Earle (all Democrats; no Republicans filed) is a must-read, especially if you live in Austin. Two points to highlight: Candidate Rick Reed, an assistant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Feds blindside Eagle Pass, file other suits

Posted on January 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Well, I suppose this is one way to hold down the costs of litigation: Last Monday, the federal government sued the border city of Eagle Pass for access to municipal land to do surveying for the border fence. Turns out … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Who would build residences there?

Posted on January 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So we went to Beavers Barbecue, the new Monica Pope place, the other night. As we drove down Sawyer towards Washington, I told Tiffany that the Mahatma Rice silos were going to close down, and that the owners were seeking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Two more views of Rosenthal

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The discussion of DA Chuck Rosenthal moves to the Chron’s op-ed pages today with a couple of articles. First is newly-elected City Council Member Jolanda Jones’ scathing call for Rosenthal to resign. As I enter my 10th year as a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Two more views of Rosenthal

Gas lines and the Railroad Commission

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Senate election this year is likely to get the bulk of the attention here, barring the somewhat unlikely possibility that the Presidential candidates feel the need to contest the state, but there’s an election for the Railroad Commission that’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Hike and bike, train and detain

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Everybody wants a piece of the action. For a skinny and unglamorous tract of land sandwiched between railroad tracks, an abandoned freight rail right of way in northwest Houston has attracted a lot of interest. The city wants to extend … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Now the real story can be told

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This is one of the funniest things I’ve read in recent memory, and way too plausible for its own good. Go on and read it, and see if you don’t agree. Link via Kevin Drum. Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on Now the real story can be told

Complaining about the grand jury

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

And the latest twist in the David Medina saga – his attorneys are asking that the grand jurors who spoke about his case be sanctioned for their actions. Medina’s attorney, Terry Yates, said grand jury foreman Robert Ryan and assistant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

More on planning and “anti-planning”

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on Sunday’s extravaganza of stuff related to the new developers’ PAC, here’s some oppo research by David Crossley. [Randall] O’Toole calls himself “The Antiplanner” and publishes a Cato Institute website by that name, “Dedicated to the sunset of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Another step towards the cliff for Farmers Branch

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You almost have to admire their perverse level of determination. The Dallas suburb that jumped into the nationwide debate over immigration plans to take up another law to force out undocumented immigrants. The Farmers Branch City Council plans to consider … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 3 Comments

Are you ready for another implosion?

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

No, no, nothing to do with politics. Another old hotel implosion. Cherry Demolition crews have been chipping away at buildings on the block bounded by Main, Fannin, Rusk, and Walker since October, to make room for a 46-story pipe wrench. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Are you ready for another implosion?

And the Sheriff’s office gets in the email deletion act

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s funny, isn’t it, how so many of our government agencies have decided that retaining email is a liability for themselves? When he turned on his computer at the Harris County Jail this week, Sgt. Richard Newby was greeted with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 5 Comments

Friday random ten: Three times a cover

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time to lighten the mood around here a bit, I think. So let’s go with a third week of cover-related Random Ten goodness – see here and here for the first two installments. 1. “Your Horoscope For Today” – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

Now that’s what I call a quick weight-loss plan!

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Who needs diet and exercise when you have Photoshop? The brochure that U.S. House candidate and former Sugar Land mayor Dean Hrbacek mailed to voters this week says, “Dean’s record speaks for itself.” But his physique does not. In a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

More on Medina and Rosenthal

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron front-pages their coverage of the Medina indictment, with an emphasis on Chuck Rosenthal’s interference. The Harris County District Attorney’s office this morning dismissed the indictments returned Thursday against Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and his wife in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 4 Comments

Mandamus update

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

According to the newish Star-Telegram politics blog, the writ of mandamus regarding Wendy Davis’ ballot eligibility will be heard by the Second Court of Appeals on January 23. The court order setting the date for oral arguments is here (PDF). … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Feds widening local investigation

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see where this leads. Grand jury subpoenas released Wednesday appear to signal the expansion of a years-long federal corruption probe to major construction projects from former Mayor Lee Brown’s administration and the well-connected players who stood to benefit from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Feds sue Eagle Pass over land access for border fence

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was coming, and now here it is. The federal government sued Monday to get on land owned by a Texas city whose mayor has been highly critical of a planned U.S.-Mexico border fence. The lawsuit was filed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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David Medina indicted by grand jury for arson

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I know there’s a lot of weird stuff going on these days, but this qualifies as a shock. Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and his wife have been indicted in connection with the arson fire that destroyed their Houston-area … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

GOP DA candidates say “We’re not Chuck!”

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what would you expect them to say? With Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal sure to be out of the job in 11 months or less, Republican candidates for the office pledged Wednesday to reform his agency well beyond … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on GOP DA candidates say “We’re not Chuck!”

Another City Council candidate conundrum

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another 2008 Legislative candidate is running into questions about his ballot eligibility. The state Democratic Party wants a judge to settle questions over the eligibility of a Midland City Councilman to run for the legislative seat held by House … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Candidate interview: Armando Walle

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing written Q&As with judicial candidates. Today’s interview is with Armando Walle, who is running in HD140 against the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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How to honor Andy Olmsted

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Hilzoy says: A member of Andy Olmsted’s family has just written me to say that if people want to do something in honor of him, they can send donations to a fund that has been set up for the four … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The other mandamus

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned previously that the writ of mandamus filed on behalf of State Rep. Garnet Coleman’s primary opponent to restore her to the ballot was rejected by the State Supreme Court and re-filed with the First Court of Appeals. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Is it 2009 already?

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I realize that we political junkies have no grounds to groan about an early start to a particular campaign, but I was kind of hoping to put off the 2009 Mayor’s race until at least, oh, March or so. No … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mincberg raises money

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Real estate investor David Mincberg raised $381,477 in contributions from lawyers, investors, developers and others. Added to his own money, he put a total of $631,477 in his treasury for the November general election for county judge, according to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Memorial service for Joan Ehrlich

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I did not know Joan Ehrlich, the longtime director of Houston’s Equal Employment Opportunity office who passed away last week, though when I go I hope as many people say as many nice things about me as they have about … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Roger and Miguel

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I think it’s fair to say that the Astros franchise, and GM Ed Wade, have had better days than yesterday. Disappointed baseball couldn’t solve its steroids problem earlier, Drayton McLane and several Astros withheld judgment after the House Oversight Committee … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Candidate interview: State Rep. Garnet Coleman

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing written Q&As with judicial candidates. There’s a lot I could say about State Rep. Garnet Coleman, who is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate interview: State Rep. Garnet Coleman