Monthly Archives: April 2010

Bye-bye, Texas Stadium

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It went boom on Sunday morning. More than 38 years of football and entertainment memories came crashing down Sunday morning when 11-year-old Casey Rogers pushed the button that set off 2,715 pounds of dynamite, leveling Texas Stadium in less than … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Weingarten’s whining

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, the folks at Weingarten are a wee bit sensitive about the negative reactions they’ve gotten since their plans to demolish the interior of the Alabama Theater became public knowledge. They’ve been keeping their PR people busy with a continued … Continue reading →

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Nothin’ but good times ahead

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In his recent conversation with the Chron’s Peggy Fikac, State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden said the following: Q: How likely is it that lawmakers will face another big budget shortfall in 2013, with fewer resources to bridge the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 11

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ah, baseball. Have I mentioned how much the start of the new season makes me happy? Speaking of which, some guys deserved more consideration for the Hall of Fame. Not enshrinement necessarily, but more consideration. Lilith Un-Fair. Whatever it is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Final early runoff voting totals

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

According to the County Clerk’s daily early voting report, there were 5,126 in person early votes for the Democratic primary runoff, and 5,014 absentee ballots, for a total of 10,140. Based on 2008 runoff early voting patterns, I’d estimate final … Continue reading →

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

Library hours to be cut back

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise here. Hammered by $2.2 million in budget cuts, the Houston Public Library system this month will reduce its hours by 28 percent — closing most of its 42 branches on Saturdays — and trim expenditures for library materials. … Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court to vote Tuesday on Dynamo Stadium deal

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

One presumes that since they were the holdup on this, the fact that they’re finally bringing it to a vote means it will go through. “I expressed concern (weeks ago) when we started getting this kind of Christmas tree built … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t we have some kind of ordinance for this?

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is I-10 at Studemont on Wednesday morning. They started building this thing on Monday, and by Wednesday evening there were billboards on display. Once I realized what it was, I said to myself “Don’t we have some kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Saturday video break: Squirrels in my pants

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t you hate it when this happens to you? If you’re not a fan of Phineas and Ferb, you should be. See more of their music videos here. I recommend the Evil Love Song as a starting place: Who says … Continue reading →

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What’s the deal with parking?

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Andrew Burleson attended the first community meeting to discuss possible changes to the city’s parking requirements, and gives a report on what was discussed. He also has a nice discussion on the economics of parking, which one hopes will have … Continue reading →

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Poll shows strong support for red light cameras

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following hit my inbox early Friday morning: A citywide survey of 500 likely voters in Houston’s 2010 general election conducted by a nationally respected polling firm last month finds strong support for the City of Houston’s intersection safety camera … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Apartment dwellers push back on water rate hike

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From Prime Property: The Houston Apartment Association is urging its members to resist the city’s proposed water and sewer rate hikes that, in their current form, would hit apartment tenants much harder than single-family homeowners. In a blog entry on … Continue reading →

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

The Trib talks to Craig Watkins

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib has a fascinating article about Dallas DA Craig Watkins, who is running for re-election for the first time this year, in which he defends himself against charges that he has not been sufficiently vigorous in prosecuting political malfeasance. … Continue reading →

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Bill Hobby bashes the SBOE

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, I don’t know who put the hot sauce in former Lite Guv Bill Hobby’s Cheerios, but keep it up, I say. Go read it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean. When you’re done with that, you can … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Take my list, please!

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s another Friday and it’s time for T songs. 1. Take Advantage of You – Guy Forsyth 2. Take Five – Dave Brubeck Quartet 3. Take It All Away – CAKE 4. Take It Inside – Southside Johnny and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Early poll in HD134

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the fact that they left her basically unchallenged in 2008, I get the impression that local Republicans are excited about the possibility of defeating two-term State Rep. Ellen Cohen this year. Certainly, she will face a stronger challenge from … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Renew Houston

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The fact that Houston is currently in the throes of a severe revenue shortage doesn’t change the fact that there’s a great need to renovate and repair large portions of the city’s infrastructure. Naturally, that will cost a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Recycling pilot project update

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, Monday was the day that the new compostable bag ordinance went into effect. It was also the day that the city’s automated recycling program was to be extended to many more houses. From a story in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Giant Presidential heads coming home

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We in Houston welcome them with open arms, for however long we get to have them back. Less than a month after foreclosure proceedings put the brakes on Pearland’s WaterLights District and Presidential Park & Gardens, the homeless presidents are … Continue reading →

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The state of the city 2010

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker gave her first State of the City address today before the Greater Houston Partnership. Here are a few highlights from her address, which you can read as written here. We don’t know everything that lies ahead. The pressures … Continue reading →

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

Population and voting trends: 2002 and 2006 judicial elections, Part II

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In the previous entry, I said there was another way we could compare the 2002 and 2006 statewide judicial elections to get a feel for how partisan voting patterns changed at the county level. Turns out that the two Democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayor talks Metro and money

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The new Metro board was confirmed by City Council last week, they were sworn in yesterday, and while we don’t yet know exactly what direction they’re going to take, we know what their marching orders are. Mayor Annise Parker says … Continue reading →

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

Everybody’s talking about Terry

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, that is. A few things I’ve noticed lately: From Rick Casey: For all his controversies in previous districts, Grier earned a reputation for improving the performance of all children, but especially of low-income and minority children. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

White and Perry argue about the dropout rate; White wins

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

See for yourself. The major-party candidates for governor on Tuesday waded into one of the oldest and hottest debates in public education — what’s the real high school drop-out rate? — producing the kind of fireworks that suggest the state … Continue reading →

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

Staples confirms it is not looking at the Alabama Theater

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot noted this last week when one of its readers sent an email to Staples, and now the company has written a letter to the Chron to confirm that they are not seeking to redevelop the Alabama Theater. Staples was … Continue reading →

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

Council approves Dynamo Stadium deal

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Two down, one to go. The Houston City Council unanimously approved an agreement this morning that is expected to pave the way for a new professional sports stadium for the Houston Dynamo and the Texas Southern University football team. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Water rate hike coming

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was coming, and now here it is. Mayor Annise Parker’s administration is proposing drastic water and sewer rate increases to shore up Houston’s Combined Utility System, which has operated with multimillion-dollar budget deficits for several years. The … Continue reading →

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

Groups that support Republicans oppose health care reform

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I know, quelle surprise. The uncertainty over the Congressional healthcare bill has incited fear among some small business associations in Texas. They gathered with U.S. Chamber of Commerce representatives on Tuesday to say they’re worried about ripple effects … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

First, you have to admit you have a problem

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Peggy Fikac has a frustrating conversation with State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden. I say frustrating because I know he knows what the correct answer to this is, and I also know he’s never going to say it out … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More of the case against eliminating fares

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keep Houston Houston gives a wide-ranging argument against Metro eliminating fares as some folks have advocated. His last reason resonates with me: People don’t value what they don’t pay for It’s a pretty simple concept, really. Removing fares shifts the … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Fort Bend ISD layoffs

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Unfortunately, I expect we’ll hear more stories like this in the coming months. On Thursday, many teachers in the Fort Bend Independent School District got the letter they had dreaded. It was notification from Rhonda McWilliams, the district’s chief human … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Runoff early voting report, Day One

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Day One primary runoff early voting report was sent out late last night by the County Clerk’s office. You can see the totals for each location here. Basically, Democrats had 731 in person voters and 3785 mail ballots returned, … Continue reading →

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

Another analysis of the Democratic judicial primaries

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Recently, I received an email from Brandon Rottinghaus, who is a political science professor at UH. He and a graduate student of his had put together a mathematical model of the 2010 Democratic primary for the countywide judicial races. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The enduring question of Latino voting

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You can count on there being some number of articles about Latino voting every year. The Chron took its turn on Sunday. The numbers are formidable. Hispanics made up 31 percent of the Texas population in the 2000 census and … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment