There’s a new player on the local scene.
Bill Baldwin, a longtime real estate broker, volunteer and member of Houston’s planning commission, has launched a political action committee aimed at improving the city’s neighborhoods, schools and local governments.
The tenets of the nonpartisan PAC, called Your Houston, will center around issues of quality of life, resiliency, mobility and neighborhoods. It will focus on local elections and referendums.
[…]
The new PAC, he said, will work to support the efforts of local advocacy groups, many of which lack funding and influence.
“All of these groups are doing great advocacy work, but they don’t have money. They don’t have political power,” Baldwin said. “I’m going to add money and political power to advocacy, and elect amazing officials that think of our city as a 21st century city.”
Their Facebook page is here and their still-in-progress website is here. The Chron story says that they intend to engage in the Harris County flood bond election, “urging the county to clearly define the projects involved and then educating the public”. Which is fine, we can use all the engagement we can get on that. Beyond that, I’ll wait to see what they have to say on specific issues and which candidates they choose to back. A couple of their initial board members are people I know and trust, so that’s good, but as always the devil is in the details. Campos has more.
I will be interested to see this PAC’s impact to get definition to projects and educate the public in such a short time frame before this bond vote is held.
“Bill Baldwin, a longtime real estate broker, volunteer and member of Houston’s planning commission, ………. aimed at improving the city’s neighborhoods, schools and local governments.”
That’s rich. Baldwin (and his various employers and developer friends) have been instrumental in the destruction of Heights-area bungalows for a decade plus, replacing them with 3,500sqft homes on 5,000sqft lots. I guess if that’s your definition of ‘improvement’…
C.L. educate me why that is bad? Six Ward went the other way, but to be honest I am not sure which is the best way to go for everyone, that means the City.
Manny,
Ever heard the descriptor “historic Houston Heights?” When the gentrification is complete and all the old craftsman style houses are leveled and replaced with 3 story non descript zero lot boxes, will it still be the historic Houston Heights?
Manny, pull up:
http://swamplot.com/?s=peddie&submit=Search
These are but two of the homes Baldwin and his financially-associated ilk have bulldozed down instead restoring to the former glory. There’s something to be said for old bones and character.
This is a joke, right?
The dinosaurs that he has recruited can’t even figure out simple paid maternity leave and a $15 minimum wage for their own employees
I went to the kickoff party. He gave a great speech.
So new is bad, I am sure that the Native Americans will agree with you.
Neither C.L. or Bill said it anything of importance.
C.L. I am suppose to get what from that link? That they are tearing down old houses and building new houses. Does not answer the question.
Bill as a so called Libertarian you are full of it, what business is it of yours to tell a property owner what they can do with their property? Want to keep a house as is, go buy the property. Heights does not have as many Latinos as before but it used to be white when it was built. Latinos were sent to the 2nd Ward and Magnolia area.
Historic Houses can’t be changed (The facade). The Neighborhood, Heights, has not been designated as Historic.
Question for Kuff, how do I get an image like Horwitz?
@Manny…
https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/HistoricPreservationManual/historic_districts/heights_boundaries.html
Some of the Heights have been designated Historic about 1/2 from what I saw. If they can get enough people to agree with it, well what can I say. I would never vote to be in such a district. I don’t want the City or anyone else to tell me what kind of windows I can have, or if I can an addition to the house that does not keep Historic.
Wonder what would happen if the area became prone to flooding, could they raise the homes?
But why are you bringing it up? I am a very strong believer in property rights, my property no one else should tell me what to do as long as it is not bothering anyone or creating some hazard. Them not liking the color I choose to paint should not bother anyone, but I know it does. It drives some people crazy.
What is it suppose to prove to me?
C.L. would you want someone to look at your spouse or significant other and tell you that they are not okay? Your choice, some people like tall, some skinny, some no so skinny, some dark, some white, etc that is what makes this world wonderful.
Bill the government should not have the right to take people’s property to build a fence.
@Manny,
You asked a question, I answered the question, generally. No where did I say that I want government to force property owners to save historic homes. You’d think my support for tearing down the Astrodome would have been a clue. As a libertarian, I support those developers doing what they do to maximize the amount of money on each property they buy, and if that means building a zero lot box, then that’s what it means. People crying about historic homes being torn down should have put their money where their mouths are and bought the homes themselves, so save them from being razed.
Do I think it’s sad that Houston loses what little historical character it has? Sure, but it beats the alternative.
Now, you bring up the wall. You do realize that the wall is a matter of national security, right? Ask Jamiel Shaw’s family why that is. Also, the Constitution is pretty clear, the government CAN indeed take private property. And since Trump is Hell bent on appointing original intent judges, you’ll find that border property can and will be taken, in the name of public interest, no different than property owners near the new I-45/59(69?) interchange losing their property.
You were doing find until you got to the fence and started your lies. No national security involved in building a fence, keep your lies for the other animals that hate children.
If the property owners felt they were being invaded they would be begging for the government to build a fence that worked.