Monthly Archives: November 2011

Back and forth in At Large #5

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Did you think this would be a slow holiday week? Not when there’s a runoff looming. So far this week, the Jack Christie campaign has released a letter from the former public policy director for CM Jolanda Jones that ripped … Continue reading →

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No recount in HISD III

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There will be no recount in the HISD Trustee District III race as challenger Ramiro Fonseca has officially conceded. “After examining the official election results, I have decided that a recount is not an option that would change the outcome … Continue reading →

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Driver’s plea

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So long, Joe. A humbled Rep. Joe Driver, the Garland Republican who illegally pocketed state travel money, pleaded guilty to felony abuse-of-office charges Tuesday and agreed to five years’ probation. As part of his plea agreement, Driver will get five … Continue reading →

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Evaluating the endorsers

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I kept track as best I could of endorsements that candidates received on my 2011 Election page. Now that the regular election is over, I thought it might be interesting to go back through those endorsements and … Continue reading →

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Chron story on the interim Harris County map

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the weekend order to implement an interim map for Harris County. As expected, the plaintiffs are happy about this. Of interest to me is the county’s response. Gene Locke, an attorney representing the county, said … Continue reading →

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More map feedback

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to AG Abbott’s pitiful whining, a few other parties have been heard from regarding the interim legislative map. First, Speaker Joe Straus performs his duty as a Republican. Here’s his statement: “As the panel of three federal judges … Continue reading →

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The science of fire

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Great story about how scientists have been figuring out what really happens when a building burns, and why so much arson “evidence” is bunk: At laboratories throughout the United States—some large enough to contain a three-story house—researchers have been lighting … Continue reading →

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Looking ahead to the runoffs

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The runoff election for the city of Houston will be Saturday, December 10. It’s going to be an extremely low turnout affair – as was the case with the general election, I expect the runoff to have about the same … Continue reading →

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Harris County interim map is out

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, judges do work on weekends, because federal Judge Vanessa Gilmore issued this order on Saturday creating an interim map for Harris County, to be used for the 2012 election while the Section 2 lawsuit is being litigated. Greg has … Continue reading →

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Magnet changes coming

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD Board of Trustees is getting ready to offer specific proposals to reform the magnet school program. Trustees and Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier suggested magnet programs that draw few students from outside their neighborhoods were at … Continue reading →

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Saggy pants

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not much of a candidate forum attender, but I wish I had gone to this one. Half-a-dozen candidates in runoff City Council elections each made his or her case as champion of the downtrodden before a mostly black and … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 20

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Why loosen your belt on Thanksgiving? Just go belt-free! Nice to know that speed bumps could be good for something. Go ahead and move your money to a credit union or smaller bank. Businesses love complex regulations, because “complexity” = … Continue reading →

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Parking feedback

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of weeks ago I noted that the city is undergoing a review of its 1989 Off Street Parking ordinance. The idea is to recognize some changes in the real estate market, especially having to do with entertainment and … Continue reading →

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State objects to court-drawn maps

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office on Friday slammed an interim redistricting map proposed by a three-judge panel in San Antonio, saying the federal jurists overstepped their bounds in redrawing House and Senate district lines that could cost … Continue reading →

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Early voting for city runoffs begins today

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You remember that we have runoff elections for four Houston City Council positions, right? Well, early voting starts today and runs through next Tuesday, December 6. Here are the early voting locations that will be open for the runoff. Early … Continue reading →

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The bandwagon still has plenty of good seats on it

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So hop on while you can. Aramark, which manages the Go Texans shop at Reliant Stadium, reports sales have been running more than 10 percent ahead of last year and likely will set a record if Houston reaches the playoffs … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Raspberry Beret

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Song #92 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Raspberry Beret”, originally by Prince and covered by the Hindu Love Gods. As you know, it’s not so easy to find Prince songs on YouTube, but here’s a VH1 Pop-Up … Continue reading →

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MLB approves Astros sale

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official. Jim Crane’s $610 million purchase of the Astros from Drayton McLane was unanimously approved by Major League Baseball’s owners this morning. All that remains is a formal closing of the transaction, which likely will take place early next … Continue reading →

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“Checks aren’t cash” back before 3rd Court of Appeals

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes when you least expect it, Tom DeLay pops up in the news. It would defy common sense to reverse the three-year prison sentence of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay because his money-laundering case involved a check instead … Continue reading →

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The Ike Floodgate

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We have a recommendation for how to prepare for a future Hurricane Ike. A giant floodgate at the entrance to the Houston Ship Channel, coupled with a 130-mile wetlands recreation area, should be built to protect Houston from hurricane storm … Continue reading →

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Friday random sixteen: Yet another stupid “greatest songs” list, part 2

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last week I took a look at Time Magazine’s 100 Greatest Songs list, and listed the sixteen songs on that list that I have in their original form. As it happens, I have cover versions of sixteen more of those … Continue reading →

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First impressions of the new maps

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Before I get too into this, the invaluable Texas Redistricting reminds us that the parties in the lawsuit will be able to make objections and comments to the proposed maps today at noon. Meaning, there may yet be some tweaks … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: 2011 At Large #5

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last but certainly not least, the race everyone is wondering about, At Large #5: Dist Robinson Jones Christie Ryan ======================================= A 17.10% 23.61% 48.91% 10.38% B 18.80% 73.00% 5.09% 3.11% C 25.07% 30.02% 35.57% 9.35% D 14.96% 73.56% 7.86% 3.62% … Continue reading →

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DOJ defers again on voter ID

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the interim maps, we got some more good news yesterday. Texas provided “incomplete” information that does not enable federal officials to determine whether their proposed voter ID law would be discriminatory, the Justice Department said in a … Continue reading →

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More schools join the lawsuits

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Lubbock: The Lubbock Independent School District announced Monday they will join the Texas Taxpayer and Student Fairness Coalition in an equity lawsuit against the state. Simply put, LISD is receiving less money per student because they are one of the … Continue reading →

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On getting to walkable urbanism

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This story about neighborhood opposition to the Kroger 380 agreement doesn’t quite get at what I think are the key issues that need to be discussed. [O]pponents of both the Wal-Mart and Kroger deals say suburban-style big-box stores don’t fit … Continue reading →

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Interim State House and State Senate maps are out

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And I don’t have any time right now to analyze them, but believe you me, I will. Go here and look at Plans H298 and S163, the latter of which appears to mostly restore Sen. Wendy Davis’ district. Also take … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: 2011 At Large #2

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

What can you say about a ten-candidate pileup? Let’s start by seeing what the district numbers look like: Dist Thibaut Perez Burks Goss Fraga Dick Pool Griff Robinson Shorter ==================================================================================== A 15.69% 17.99% 13.94% 3.03% 6.93% 11.67% 6.41% 11.35% 9.75% … Continue reading →

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I-45 again

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I went to the open house for I-45 on Tuesday night to see what was going on, since we didn’t have much information about what the current state of TxDOT’s thinking is about this. Apparently, there isn’t a set plan … Continue reading →

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Two water stories

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The future of Texas’ water supply sure is a hot topic in the papers these days. I hope that continues after we start getting normal rainfall again. Story One is about desalinization: For El Paso and a growing number of … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 14

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progrogressive Alliance is beginning to think fond thoughts of cranberry dressing, pumpkin pie, and, um, something else it can’t quite recall – oops! – as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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Precinct analysis: 2011 At Large races, part 1

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a look at the election returns in each Council district for the three “normal” At Large races, in At Large #1, #3, and #4. First up is #1, where first term incumbent CM Stephen Costello won a narrow majority … Continue reading →

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Harris interim map up to the judge

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the San Antonio interim map action, we are fixing to get a 2012 map for Harris County courtesy of the federal judiciary. A federal judge will draw interim boundaries for Harris County commissioner precincts after the county … Continue reading →

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Yet another redistricting update

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, I point you to Michael Li. What’s next in the D.C. case? Basically two things. The first is that the D.C. panel will issue a memorandum opinion explaining in greater detail the reasons for its denial of summary … Continue reading →

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