Monthly Archives: October 2017

Curbside recycling is coming back

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Because most of the Harvey debris has been picked up. Win all around. Houstonians who have been dragging their overflowing recycling bins to the curb every other week only to roll them back again untouched finally should have their cartons … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HISD V and VI

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Two more HISD endorsements, two more to go. Houston ISD, Trustee, District V: Sue Deigaard Four qualified candidates are running for an open seat in this southwest Houston district, which covers West University, Bellaire and Meyerland. Yet Sue Deigaard stands … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Big talker, part 3

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Time for a big finish. 1. Big Rio Grande River – Austin Lounge Lizards 2. Big Rock Candy Mountain – Harry McClintock 3. Big Round World – Trout Fishing In America 4. Big Girls Cry – Sia 5. Big Noise … Continue reading →

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An unsatisfying attempt at projecting turnout

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

So as we all know, this in an unprecedented election, as there are no city races on the ballot. This has everyone wondering about turnout, because the usual drivers of turnout are a Mayor’s race and/or a big referendum, and … Continue reading →

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We have a candidate for Treasurer

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic slate for countywide offices in 2018 is now filled out as Dylan Osborne has announced his candidacy for Harris County Treasurer. Osborne has been a City Council staffer and currently works in the Planning & Development Department for … Continue reading →

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Wilson sues HCC

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a thing with him. Dave Wilson, a District II trustee, is accusing Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, the board’s vice chair, of improperly voting remotely during a September trustee meeting. Board bylaws say that only trustees present in person can vote, though … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HISD I and III

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We have our first candidate endorsements of the season. Houston ISD, Trustee, District I: Monica Flores Richart In this heated race between three passionate candidates to represent Garden Oaks, the Heights and Near Northside, we endorse Monica Flores Richart. No … Continue reading →

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No expedited appeal of voter ID

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

There’s no speeding this up. A federal appeals court Tuesday declined to have all 14 judges participate in the appeal over the Texas voter ID law — a decision that will keep the issue unresolved heading into the 2018 elections, … Continue reading →

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The fire department’s needs

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is a conversation we need to have, but it’s one we need to dig into and work all the way through. Fire Chief Sam Pena gave City Council a bleak assessment Tuesday of his department’s readiness to respond to … Continue reading →

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Rep. Al Green’s articles of impeachment

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Gauntlet thrown. U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat, introduced formal articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on the House floor Wednesday during a session otherwise devoted to whistleblower protection legislation. In his argument for impeaching the president, Green … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 9

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance also does not deny that it called Donald Trump a moron – among other things – as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Sergio Lira

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of our week with candidates in HISD District III, to succeed Manuel Rodriguez. Bringing us home is Sergio Lira, who has been an assistant principal in HISD since 2006 – he is currently at Bellaire … Continue reading →

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The lost Harvey tax break

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I have mixed feelings about this. Owners of nearly 300,000 homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey in Texas won’t see any break in their property taxes because of political wrangling this year in the state Legislature over completely unrelated issues – … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The bonds

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Endorsement season has officially begun. The key referendum, Proposition A, is a solution to Houston’s potentially disastrous pension problem. A complex deal ushered through the Texas Legislature by Mayor Sylvester Turner would reduce the $8.2 billion unfunded pension burden now … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jesse Rodriguez

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with interviews in HISD Trustee District III, where four candidates vie to fill out the term of the late Manuel Rodriguez. Today’s interview subject is Jesse Rodriguez, no relation to Manuel, also known as DJ Jumpin’ Jess. Rodriguez … Continue reading →

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Lift Up Houston

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, you know there are bonds on the ballot, right? And Mayor Turner would like you to vote for them. Mayor Sylvester Turner spent much of his first year and a half keeping the civic conversation focused on winning legislative … Continue reading →

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More on the courthouse shuffle

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib takes a look at how things are going at the flooded-out Harris County Criminal Justice Center. Since Harvey hit Harris County in late August, one of the busiest criminal court systems in the country has suspended all jury … Continue reading →

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Houston Rocks Dayna Steele at Numbers

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t mention candidate fundraisers very often in this space, but today I’m going to make a special exception for one of the cooler events I’ve come across. Hilton at 10:30 a.m. Dayna Steele rocked Houston for years. Now, let’s … Continue reading →

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Interview with Carlos Perrett

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

On we go to District III, which would normally not be up for election this year, but the untimely passing of longtime Trustee Manuel Rodriguez created a vacancy that needs to be filled. The Board appointed an interim Trustee to … Continue reading →

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Jeffrey Payne makes it official

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Democrats have their first candidate for Governor. The first reaction by many Texans to Saturday evening’s announcement by Jeffrey Payne as the first officially declared Democratic candidate for Texas governor is likely to be: “Who?” But Payne, a businessman who … Continue reading →

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Don’t hold your breath waiting for federal Harvey recovery money

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Settle in for the long haul. It could be months, if not years, before southeast Texans and scores of counties and cities receive federal funds to pay for the long-term rebuilding and recovery of homes and communities battered by Hurricane … Continue reading →

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“Not One Penny” rally

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Indivisible Houston ​to​ ​Host​ ​“Not​ ​One​ ​Penny”​ ​Rally and Press Conference at John Culberson’s Office​ ​to​ ​Demand​ ​Congress Stop​ ​Robbing from the Poor to Give to Big Business Local Organizers Join Nationwide “Not One Penny” Campaign to … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 8

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Pocatello, Idaho no longer has the worst flag in North America. “For for the fourth time since early last year, astronomers announced the detection of gravitational waves—ripples in the fabric of space-time created by the powerful collision of two black … Continue reading →

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What the Harvey needs are from the state

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just about recovery. The long term needs, including mitigation against future events like Harvey, is where the real money will need to be spent. More than one month after Harvey’s deluge hit, local officials, including Mayor Sylvester Turner … Continue reading →

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More trans people are running for office

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The best way to gain political power is to win elections, and to win elections you have to run for office. The first time Dani Pellett tackled the bathroom question was years before the issue of transgender access to restrooms would … Continue reading →

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Harvey and the oysters

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Oyster lovers will shell out more for the marine delicacy this fall, as freshwater runoff from Hurricane Harvey’s historic floods killed virtually all of the bivalves in the prolific seabeds of Galveston Bay. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Shout

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a song called Shout you probably don’t know, from Miles Davis: That’s from the Fluxblog 1981 list. I always thought of Miles Davis as a musician of the 60s, so it was a pleasant surprise to see that he … Continue reading →

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More Beto in the national news

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From Splinter, part of the Gawker universe, a story that was front-paged on Deadspin and Jezebel: O’Rourke sticks around to meet every single person in Burnet who wants to meet him. He doesn’t leave until the last hand has been … Continue reading →

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Now is not a good time for HHSC to be dysfunctional

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And yet here we are. Under Charles Smith, the longtime ally of Gov. Greg Abbott picked to lead the state’s Health and Human Services Commission, Texas’ government health care infrastructure is hemorrhaging veteran employees and facing criticism for its response … Continue reading →

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MUDs and Harvey

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

City governments have their pros and cons, and their challenges getting things done. But at least their existence means residents of said cities have places to go when they need various services. Not everyone has that, and in times of … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Big talker, part 2

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Big list, no kidding. 1. Big Hat, No Cattle – Randy Newman 2. Big Legs, Tight Skirt – John Lee Hooker 3. Big Love – Matthew E. White 4. Big Love – Fleetwood Mac 5. Big Man On Mulberry Street … Continue reading →

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Some voting locations were damaged by Harvey

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise, but we’re not doing much about it. More than three dozen polling sites were damaged in Hurricane Harvey and might not be available for the upcoming November elections, Harris County election officials announced Wednesday. Voters in Harris … Continue reading →

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Paxton being investigated for bribery

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds sexy, but don’t get too excited just yet. Attorney General Ken Paxton is being investigated under bribery and corrupt-influence laws for accepting a six-figure gift from a CEO whose company was under investigation by the state for fraud, the district attorney leading the probe confirmed Thursday. … Continue reading →

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Sure would be nice if we could not kill CHIP

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just a thought. Insurance coverage for more than 390,000 Texas children and pregnant women is in jeopardy after Congress failed to renew authorization for a federal program. Congressional authorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost health insurance … Continue reading →

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