Tag Archives: HFD

Firefighters avoid layoffs

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city and the firefighters’ union reach an agreement on the deadline for sending layoff notices to cut HFD’s budget by $17.7 million but not require any layoffs. The agreement’s components include program cuts and fees for services that are … Continue reading →

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More city layoffs

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

How high will it get? More than 600 city employees have received layoff notices this month as the city sheds payroll in a budget crisis. The count is mounting daily as city leaders orchestrate a department-by-department approach to telling their … Continue reading →

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The State of the City 2011

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting a little better, but we’re still not close to being in good times. The city of Houston’s budget deficit for the coming fiscal year has been whittled to roughly $80 million from $130 million, Mayor Annise Parker said … Continue reading →

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Do we have an opponent yet for the Mayor?

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Probably not. Houston Fire Department Deputy Chief Fernando Herrera has filed papers appointing a treasurer for a mayoral campaign fund-raising committee. He was the Republican candidate for District 148 state representative in 2010. He lost to incumbent Jessica Farrar. However, … Continue reading →

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Mayor seeks pension fund cuts

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Given the size of the budget shortfall for next year and the amount that the city pays into the various pension funds, Mayor Parker’s proposal to pay less should not be a surprise to anyone. City Attorney David Feldman and … Continue reading →

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HFD news

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of big stories relating to the Houston Fire Department in the news this week. First, the EEOC makes a ruling: The Houston Fire Department’s failure to properly address discrimination complaints by a female firefighter and subsequent retaliation subjected her … Continue reading →

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The pension problem

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know enough about the particulars of the city’s pension problems to be able to sort out the competing claims made in this story. I do know that the current system is not sustainable, and that the fight to … Continue reading →

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Some Prop 3 action

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Campos observed last week that there hasn’t been any action on Prop 3, which is the red light camera referendum. That’s about to change. The Houston Professional Firefighters Association, a group that represents more than 4,000 firefighters, said it supports … Continue reading →

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Still focusing on overtime

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Annise Parker talks again about trying to control HPD and HFD overtime costs as a way of bridging the city’s budget shortfall. Mayor Annise Parker provided an early picture of how she intends to close a $140 million budget … Continue reading →

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HPD and HFD overtime

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As is the case with the Harris County Sheriff’s office, the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department spend a lot of money on overtime. A Houston Chronicle analysis shows that most of the money — $50 million — went … Continue reading →

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Still looking for a fire chief

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve got a new police chief, but Mayor Parker is still looking for a new fire chief. Parker on Wednesday named Charles A McClelland Jr., a veteran Houston police administrator, the city’s new police chief. She concentrated that search on … Continue reading →

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Ambulance costs

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I guess I don’t really think much about ambulance services, but it’s a reasonably significant part of the city’s budget, and the city thinks it may need to charge more for it. The last time the city raised ambulance fees … Continue reading →

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Boriskie steps down

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Add HFD Chief to the list of things Mayor Parker will need to address. With his department under siege by critics and a new mayor as his boss, Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie stepped down as the department’s top commander, … Continue reading →

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Toys for tots with valid ID

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is what you call bad holiday publicity. The Salvation Army and a charity affiliated with the Houston Fire Department are among those that consider immigration status, asking for birth certificates or Social Security cards for the children. The point … Continue reading →

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Houston Women Fire Fighters Calendar

Posted on November 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via Mike McGuff, the women of the Houston Fire Department have gotten in on the calendar-for-charity act, something their make colleagues have been doing for awhile. Here’s what it’s all about. Our mission is to represent the diversity, strength, and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Otis Jordan

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up, we have an interview with Otis Jordan, who is running in District D. Jordan just retired as a captain in HFD after 30 years of service. Jordan is a graduate of Ross Sterling High School and TCU, and … Continue reading →

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More on the lineups

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the final filings to be on the ballot for city elections. As noted before, not a whole lot of surprises, but there are a couple of things worth mentioning: Otis Jordan, president of the Houston … Continue reading →

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Interview with Council Member Jolanda Jones

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like Council Member Jolanda Jones needs no introduction. She’s got a fairly high profile these days, and if you follow Houston politics at all, you’ve probably got a familiarity with her and an opinion of her. Mine remains … Continue reading →

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Free childhood immunizations available

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the Houston Fire Department: Get Your Child Ready For School With Free Immunizations from The Houston Fire Department and Blue Cross and Blue Shield It takes more than school supplies to get your child ready for the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: We take it back

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s something you don’t see every election. The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, which had previously endorsed City Council Member Jolanda Jones for re-election to her At Large #5 seat, has now rescinded that endorsement. You can read their letter … Continue reading →

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Jones and Caynon, take two

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

If you thought that the fight between Council Member Jolanda Jones and Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association president Jeff Caynon was over, think again. Earlier this week, City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones sent out a letter with nearly 70 names collected … Continue reading →

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Tuesday Council roundup

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Sue Lovell, who is running hard for re-election after her close win in 2007, has added some fundraising muscle to her team. Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Sue Lovell announced today that Robert Miller would lead the Finance … Continue reading →

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Jones gets another opponent

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the wake of her comments about Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Jeff Caynon, Council Member Jolanda Jones has drawn a new challenger for her seat. On Friday, retired HISD administrator Davetta Daniels filed to challenge Jones in November. … Continue reading →

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Jones versus HPFFA

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yeesh. The head of the Houston firefighters union blasted City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones for her handling of allegations of racism and sexism in the Houston Fire Department, saying in a sharply worded letter on Thursday that she had disparaged “thousands … Continue reading →

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HFD’s shame

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t know what there is to say about the recent ugliness within the Houston Fire Department. It’s a shame and an outrage, and I sincerely hope the steps Mayor White is taking go a long way towards making … Continue reading →

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Another veto battle

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We know about the ruckus caused by HB770. Another once-obscure bill that has generated post-session controversy is SB1410, which has firefighters up in arms. Texas firefighters and others who value “local control’ want Gov. Rick Perry to veto legislation prohibiting … Continue reading →

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Pity the poor Astrodome

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

These sure are bad days for the old icon, aren’t they? The Astrodome will not host the rodeo’s nightly country-western dances next month, or any other special event for that matter, as city code violations that would cost millions to … Continue reading →

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Wilshire Village declared a fire hazard

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That happened on Thursday. More from Swamplot here and here. What a bizarre end to such an eccentric little development. I just hope that when the owners finally get to tear the place down, as they seem to want to … Continue reading →

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