Tag Archives: petitions

And now we have a lawsuit over HERO repeal ballot language

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, for crying out loud. Last month the Texas Supreme Court suspended the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, more commonly known as HERO, and ordered City Council to either repeal the non-discrimination measure or put it up for a public vote. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Pastors file a lawsuit over HERO

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Organizers of the anti-Houston Equal Rights Ordinance petition have filed suit against Mayor Annise Parker, saying she and unnamed “conspirators” unconstitutionally rejected valid petition signatures and “smothered the Citizen Referendum Petition in … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judge rules Wilson petitions must be counted

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks, Supreme Court. Thanks a hell of a lot. City of Houston officials must count the signatures on a petition filed by anti-gay activist Dave Wilson, who is seeking a vote to amend the city charter and bar men “who … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Hall for all the haters

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He is who we thought he was. Houston mayoral candidate Ben Hall said Thursday he signed a petition seeking to define gender identity and prevent men “who perceive or express themselves as women” from entering women’s restrooms because he wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Supreme Court rules HERO must be repealed or voted on

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Houston City Council must repeal the city’s equal rights ordinance or place it on the November ballot. The ruling comes three months after a state district judge ruled that opponents of Houston’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

It’s a little easier to run for a statewide judicial office now

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Quorum Report: In a change that flew under the radar for most and was signed by Gov. Abbott, candidates for statewide judicial offices will no longer be required to gather petition signatures from around the state before they … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What happened to Sandra Bland?

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is horrible. There are big questions about the final hours of Sandra Bland’s life. The official story is that the 28-year old committed suicide by hanging herself in a Waller County jail cell. Her family doesn’t buy it. Bland, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Dave Wilson will never go away

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

What’s that definition of insanity again? Opponents of Houston’s equal rights ordinance have once again submitted petitions calling for a voter referendum to put a gender identity issue on the ballot in November, but the mayor says it’s not going … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Making Pearland wet

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It always amazes me that there are still cities that don’t allow alcohol sales in this day and age. Absher is one of about 1,000 Pearland residents who have signed a petition to remove all restrictions on the city’s alcohol … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Moving equality forward in San Antonio

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Rivard Report: Members of San Antonio’s lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community want the city’s next mayor to follow the lead of Dallas and Houston and expand the 2013 non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) to include private companies. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Moving equality forward in San Antonio

No expedited appeal for HERO opponents

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From HOUEquality, on May 13: Today the 14th Court of Appeals denied HERO opponents’ request to force a trial in less than 30 days. The trial will proceed, but at a regular pace. This is another setback for opponents, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on No expedited appeal for HERO opponents

Here come the HERO appeals

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

So many appeals. Andy Taylor, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he will continue an appeal he has pending at the Texas Supreme Court, which has made no decision on whether it will hear the case. He has a response due … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Here come the HERO appeals

City prevails in HERO repeal petition lawsuit

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hallelujah! Opponents of Houston’s non-discrimination ordinance failed to gather enough valid signatures to force a repeal referendum, a state district judge ruled Friday, validating city officials’ decision to toss out the petition foes submitted last summer. After separate rulings from … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

No HERO ruling quite yet

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There was a hearing, but still no ruling quite yet. Opponents of the city’s legally embattled equal rights ordinance say they collected about 200 more valid petition signatures than they need to trigger a repeal referendum, a figure a district … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on No HERO ruling quite yet

Get ready for the HERO ruling

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Should happen on Monday. With a ruling expected next week in the protracted legal battle surrounding Houston’s equal rights ordinance, city attorneys entered a motion for judgment late Friday afternoon that says opponents of the law are 650 signatures shy … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Do we need a statewide solution for Uber and Lyft?

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Bill Hammond of the Texas Association of Business thinks so. Fans of apps like Uber and Lyft may find that the rules governing their operations in one city differ dramatically from those in a community down the street or across … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wilson completes his latest troll job

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He totally half-assed it, too. Houston Community College trustee and longtime anti-gay activist Dave Wilson has submitted a city charter amendment petition seeking a November vote to bar men “who perceive or express themselves as women” from entering women’s restrooms, … Continue reading →

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

Dave Wilson goes trolling again

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what he does. The battle over Mayor Parker’s efforts to protect gay and transgender Houstonians is roaring back to life. A petition is making the rounds saying, sign if you agree gender is assigned at birth. The man behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dave Wilson goes trolling again

Let Indiana be our guide

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Chron business columnist Chris Tomlinson has a warning for us. Watching Indiana Gov. Mike Pence call for a revision to a week-old religious freedom law this morning should be required viewing for every Houston politician and business person. After refusing … Continue reading →

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

Still counting HERO repeal petition signatures

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

After more than a month, we finally have an update on the signature counting from the HERO repeal petition trial. The first publicly disclosed tally since the heated trial surrounding the city’s equal rights ordinance wrapped up last month leaves … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still counting HERO repeal petition signatures

Judge Schaffer makes his ruling on the HERO repeal petitions

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I was expecting this to happen Monday, but apparently Judge Robert Schaffer handed down his ruling about which HERO repeal petition signatures were valid and should be counted on Monday. Judge Robert Schaffer ruled on which types of signatures can … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judge Schaffer makes his ruling on the HERO repeal petitions

Plano ERO repeal petitions ruled invalid

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The City of Plano has determined that a recently circulated Equal Rights petition is invalid and will not move forward. Plano’s City Secretary was unable to certify the petition because it failed to meet State and local requirements for … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Plano ERO repeal petitions ruled invalid

More on the HERO repeal petition jury verdict

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

KUHF has a good look at What It All Means. “It’s tough to predict,” said Teddy Rave, an assistant professor at the University of Houston Law Center. “It looks like the jury pretty much split the baby. They answered some … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the HERO repeal petition jury verdict

Mixed jury verdict in HERO repeal petitions trial

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some Friday afternoon big news. A jury in the trial surrounding Houston’s embattled equal rights ordinance issued a mixed slate of decisions Friday, giving neither side the obvious upper hand as a district judge now uses those findings to decide … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mixed jury verdict in HERO repeal petitions trial

HERO repeal petition trial wraps up

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There actually wasn’t all that much testimony in the HERO repeal petition trial. On Tuesday, former City Attorney David Feldman took his turn on the stand. City Secretary Anna Russell originally found enough valid signatures but did not verify the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HERO repeal petition trial wraps up

Mayor Parker testifies at HERO repeal petition trial

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Monday was Mayor Parker’s turn to take the stand at the trial over the validity of the HERO repeal petitions. You’d think this would be a momentous occasion of high drama, but since this whole thing is about technicalities and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mayor Parker testifies at HERO repeal petition trial

Front and center with the fraud allegations

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The city goes on offense as it defends the equal rights ordinance at the repeal petition trial. In his opening argument in court Tuesday, Alex Kaplan, an attorney for the city, said the petition is “full of problems.” “It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s going to be a long trial

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Settle in and get comfortable, the HERO repeal petition trial is going to take some time. Ultimately, though, the trial is expected to be tedious and technical. So much so, that even after the city lost a significant motion two … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s going to be a long trial

HERO petition repeal trial starts

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It could actually be over before it really starts, though I would not expect that. For the next three to four weeks, the Harris County Civil Courthouse will be the stage for the trial over Houston’s controversial equal rights ordinance. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HERO petition repeal trial starts

Plano equality opponents turn in their petitions

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the deadline for the opponents of Plano’s equal rights ordinance to turn in petitions to force a repeal referendum, and the haters of Plano duly did so. Opponents of Plano’s Equal Rights Ordinance say they’ve met the deadline … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Plano equality opponents turn in their petitions

The bigger threat than the Plano petitions

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This could be a big problem. Four Republican lawmakers from the Plano area plan to introduce legislation that would bar cities and counties from adopting ordinances prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people, the Observer has learned. The proposed legislation also threatens … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The bigger threat than the Plano petitions

HERO repeal petition trial will be heard by a jury

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get on with it. A state district judge ruled Tuesday that the lawsuit surrounding the city’s embattled equal rights ordinance will go before a jury trial rather than a bench trial, a decision that conservative opponents of the law … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HERO repeal petition trial will be heard by a jury

The haters are gathering petitions in Plano

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

God help us all. Opponents of Plano’s new ordinance banning discrimination against gays and transgendered people have drawn support from Pastor Rafael Cruz, father of Sen. Ted Cruz. “This is an attack on Judeo-Christian beliefs in America,” Cruz told a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Judge or jury ruling on HERO should come soon

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the other big lawsuit action on Friday. A district judge offered little insight Friday as to whether he will grant a jury trial to conservative critics who have sued the city over its controversial equal rights ordinance. During a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment