Monthly Archives: December 2009

Annise Parker: Texas Progressive Alliance’s Texan of the Year

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texan of the Year Award is voted on annually by the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance, the largest state-level organization of bloggers, blogs, and netroots activists in the United States. This year’s winner is Houston Mayor-Elect, Annise Parker: … Continue reading →

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Gov 2.0

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hope that the new year will bring more of this to Houston. Welcome to a movement the tech crowd is calling “Gov 2.0” — where mobile technology and GPS apps are helping give citizens like Newmark more of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Metro does historic preservation

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I was sent this press release about Metro workers getting some interesting training as they prepare to build the new light rail lines, and thought it was worth sharing. ‘Hardhat and blue collar’ was the dress code for training classes … Continue reading →

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

KBH’s transportation plan

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day seems like an odd time to be rolling out policy initiatives, especially in a campaign that’s been going on for months, so I’ll be brief with this. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison … Continue reading →

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The effect of life without parole

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Death sentences are way down since the law was changed to allow a life without parole sentence. Since a new life-without-parole law took effect in 2005, Harris County — with a national reputation for pursuing capital punishment and home to … Continue reading →

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Leach v. Tech

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, Texas Tech head Mike Leach filed a lawsuit against the school to force them to let him coach in Saturday’s Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. Mike Leach is taking his battle from the football field to the courtroom. Attorney … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Brad Morris

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Panel to review term limits appointed

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in October, Houston City Council agreed to create a commission to study Houston’s term limits law with an eye to possibly placing a resolution on the ballot next year with some changes. Yesterday, that commission was named. Mayor Bill … Continue reading →

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

What building is that?

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of weeks back, I got an email from Wayne Lorentz, the founder of the Houston Architecture Info forum, telling me about a new iPhone app called Towrs. From the email he sent me: Right now it’s for the … Continue reading →

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Air cleanup progress report

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news about efforts to get manufacturing plants to pollute less. In 2005, following Houston Chronicle and state reports about alarming levels of butadiene in neighborhoods near Texas Petrochemicals, the company signed a non-binding agreement with the TCEQ to … Continue reading →

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Better days ahead for UTMB

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is not only coming back, it’s growing. Although the UT Board of Regents authorized 3,800 layoffs, UTMB officials announced that about 3,000 jobs would be cut. The actual number turned out to … Continue reading →

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Quan officially files

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I had lunch today at the Post Oak Grill on Milam so I could be there for Gordon Quan’s official announcement that he is running for Harris County Judge. In fact, as Martha noted, he submitted his paperwork and paid … Continue reading →

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Judge Jackson resigns

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Criminal Court At Law Judge Donald Jackson, who was recently convicted of misdemeanor official oppression, has resigned his bench, effective Thursday. Given his conviction, I’d say this counts as no surprise. Jackson was one of many judges up … Continue reading →

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

Judicial Q&A: William Thursland

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

HCAD rules for Hoang in homestead dispute

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

On Christmas Eve, the Chron reported that Council Member-Elect Al Hoang and his wife had claimed homestead exemptions on two separate houses, one in Houston and one in Pearland. Now the Harris County Appraisal District has verified Hoang’s explanation about … Continue reading →

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Yard waste

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hadn’t realized that an ordinance requiring bbiodegradable bags for yard waste had been passed, but I like it. Under the ordinance, the city will not collect yard waste in plastic bags, and will fine residents up to $2,000 for … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

A win for the Washington Quiet Zone

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news for those who live in and around the Washington Avenue corridor. Come late April, train horns should be quieter through the Washington Avenue corridor from just north of Interstate 10 to Harvard Street. Union Pacific and two … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of December 28

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance would like to thank everyone for reading all of the weekly blog roundups this year. Click on for the last roundup of 2009, as we all look forward to 2010.

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Katz to file for Lite Guv

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re in for another contested primary for Democrats in statewide races. Two weeks after former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle surprised many by filing to seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, Austin deli owner Marc Katz … Continue reading →

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Perfection isn’t everything, but losing still stinks

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So, anyone else watch that Jets-Colts game? I’ve read a lot of commentary about it today, some in favor of Coach Caldwell’s decision to pull the starters but more against, and there are two points I think need to be … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Lee Arellano

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Welcome to the not-quite-a-city of The Woodlands

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

On January 1, a unique experiment in city-like governance will commence in The Woodlands. A new government body, approved by residents two years ago and called The Woodlands Township, will take control of the Montgomery County community 30 miles north … Continue reading →

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Recycle that tree

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We have had an artificial tree for the past few years, so this story about where and how to recycle your Christmas tree isn’t relevant to our household, but it may be to yours. There’s no good reason for a … Continue reading →

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

From one Mayor to another

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One week from today, we’ll be swearing in Annise Parker as our new Mayor. In advance of that, State Sen. Kirk Watson, who was once the Mayor of Austin, offers a few words of advice to the Mayor-Elect. Not that … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 27

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Merry day after Boxing Day! Who owns the interview? Both of you, I guess. You may now call him Sir Patrick. The best and worst Christmas specials of all time. Phone hacking. The least essential albums of 2009. For once, … Continue reading →

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State to audit food stamp delivery process

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Better late than never. Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs has asked [state auditor John] Keel to audit the food stamp program to improve accuracy and efficiency. “We must fix our system so that it works for everyone. I’m … Continue reading →

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You have a funny definition of “fiscal conservative”, Senator

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” Our junior Senator calls himself something that doesn’t describe him accurately at all. … Continue reading →

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The debate over Burka

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I generally find debates between candidates who are already well known to be tedious, often mechanical affairs. So I’m glad for an event that provides a little interest outside of the usual aspects, which is apparently the case for an … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The 12 Days of Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My sister first pointed this video out to me, then I saw it at Letters from Texas. And now here it is: Happy Boxing Day, y’all.

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Texas keeps growing

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Every year it’s the same thing – there are a lot more Texans than there were the year before. U.S. Census estimates released Wednesday show that Texas added more residents than any other state in the year ending July 1. … Continue reading →

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County pays off last bill related to Ibarra brothers lawsuit

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Merry Christmas. Harris County Commissioners Court agreed [Tuesday] to pay the last of what has amounted to more than $4 million in bills related to a lawsuit brought by two men who said they were wrongfully arrested after one of … Continue reading →

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Shapleigh not running for anything

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a shame, because I was really looking forward to being able to vote for him for something, but at least State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh will be an active participant in the 2010 election. Shapleigh, 57, said he considered running … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Christmas time is here

Posted on December 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

What else could we do on Christmas Day but have a Friday Random Ten featuring songs that have “Christmas” in the title? 1. Another Christmas Song – Stephen Colbert 2. Blue Christmas – Asylum Street Spankers 3. Carolina Christmas – … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

From ours to yours, have a very Merry Christmas. I’ll have a Christmas version of the Friday Random Ten up later today, but that’ll be it till tomorrow.

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