31 May 2007
Off to Dallas
Almost two weeks ago I told you that my son's baseball team -- the Spring Klein Red Sox -- had won the USSSA South Zone tournament for their age and class level. With that win, the team began preparing to go to the USSSA Class A Texas State Tournament.
And that time is here, so my family is heading up to Dallas tomorrow for a weekend of baseball and fun. Woo hoo! We have lots of Gatorade, bug spray, sunblock, and excitement. We are ready!
Go Red Sox!!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/31/07 09:47 PM | Announcements | Technorati | Comments (7)
Grab the camera and head for Hempstead's Liendo Plantation this Saturday
Yes, I know. I have the blogHOUSTON posting bug. Many of you may already be familiar with Liendo Plantation, its rich history, and the annual Civil War reenactment weekend held in November. If you haven't been, the short drive from Houston to Hempstead to visit this magnificent home and old plantation can be a great way to spend part of the day.
The house still serves as a private home for the Detering family, and the result of their time, work, money, and love restoring Liendo is evident everywhere. Tours are available only on the first Saturday of every month and begin at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. There's a $7.00 fee; however, seniors, groups, and students only pay $5.00. That's not a bad price for a quick trip to the past, and docents will lead you through the home and pepper their tale-telling with the likes of Sam Houston, sculptress Elisabet Ney, General Custer and more. These volunteers love Liendo and their love for history is evident in their oral storytelling. One heartbreaking story about Elisabet Ney continues to roost in my memory to this day.
This Saturday is the first Saturday in June, so plot your drive out to 38653 Wyatt Chapel Road in Hempstead. (Scroll down this link to see a map.) If you don't make it this weekend or this summer, do pencil one of the November 16-18th days to visit the reenactment.
Posted by Vikk Simmons @ 05/31/07 05:25 PM | Houston Arts/Culture | Technorati | Comments (5)
Granato, Hoffman returning to Houston radio
The Chronicle's David Barron posts today that John Granato and Chronicle columnist Ken Hoffman both will be returning to Houston radio shortly.
Granato, who recently left KILT-610, will be launching a show this summer on KILE-1560, and will be the reformatted station's VP of operations. KILE-1560 will not confirm rumors that Jim Rome Smackoff king Sean Pendergast will co-host Granato's new show.
Hoffman, until recently a regular Wednesday guest on KPRC-950, will apparently host his own show on KILE-1560, although details were not forthcoming.
Barron wonders if there's room for yet another sports-talk station in Houston. The answer to that question is no, but the addition of Hoffman as a host suggests the station may well go with the guy-talk/sports format that has proven so successful just up the road in Dallas (with KTCK). I've long thought that good radio hosts could make that format work in Houston. Maybe Granato, Hoffman, and crew can pull it off.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/31/07 11:43 AM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (6)
Brazos Bookstore hosts Senator Kerry, remembers Molly Ivins, and celebrates the "religion of no religion"
Brazos Bookstore (2421 Bissonnet) has a triple-header for H-Town's Democrats, liberals, and/or progressives and it begins tonight. I'm sure politicos of every stripe are welcome but the interest level may be highest for those who list to the left.
Thursday, May 31, 6:00 PM
What do you get when you combine California, the Beat Generation, and the 1960s? Apparently something called the "religion of no religion." Jeffrey Kripal explains it all tonight in his book ESALEN: America and the Religion of No Religion.
Friday, June 1, 12:00 -2:00 PM
It would seem that Senator Kerry is still looking for his moment. This time he--and his wife--have cast their eyes on the future and come up with a new book: THIS MOMENT ON EARTH: Today's Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future. This is a 2-hour event, so fans will probably want to get to the store early. The book reflects their "combined intensive research with keenly observed personal experiences." I didn't see any mention of either one speaking, so it looks like this will be a signing only. I can't help but wonder how many "pioneers" showcased are recipients of Mrs. Kerry's foundations?
Saturday, June 2, 5:30-7:30 PM
Molly Ivins brought much joy and laughter to her audience. Saturday's event has been crafted to bring out the best of Molly and her friends with an open microphone, stories, and readings. The Celebration of the Life and Work of Molly Ivins festivities will include the following special guests: Lou Dubose, Molly's co-author; Charlotte McCann, publisher of the Texas Observer; Betsy Moon, Molly's "Chief of Stuff", the Chronicle's Leon Hale; and Andy and Carla Ivins. A "Special Molly Issue" of the Texas Observer will be available. There is a $10 cover charge to help defray the cost of refreshments and the bookstore asks that you bring the correct change. Since the wine and beer will be flowing, I'm sure you can expect the unexpected.
I've always enjoyed the time spent at Brazos Bookstore. The weather we've had lately--minus the rain--is perfect for a trip to the store. Brazos has a great travel section, and they have a lot of books on architecture, particularly Houston's. I think the only thing they lack is a healthy selection of conservative books and conservative author appearances; but that's my opinion. You be the judge.
Posted by Vikk Simmons @ 05/31/07 12:21 AM | Houston Arts/Culture | Technorati | Comments (5)
30 May 2007
Houston Press: St. Louis telemarketer tries, fails to sell Chron
In his latest Hairballs column for the Houston Press, Richard Connelly describes a call the Press got from a St. Louis-based telemarketer trying to sell subscriptions to the Houston Chronicle.
The exchange is too hilarious to capture with a fair-use quote, so just click over and scroll down a bit.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/30/07 10:59 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (6)
Some evacuees still not working, despite boom times in Houston
The Houston Business Journal reports that the metro area continues to enjoy stunningly low unemployment:
Employment continues to increase in the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area, according to figures released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The area had one of the largest increases in nonfarm employment among metropolitan areas in April compared with a year ago, with 84,900 jobs, following Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington with 92,400 jobs.
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown also had one of the largest year-over-year percentage increases in employment among large metropolitan areas of 3.5 percentage points, second only to Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale with 4.2 percentage points.
The area's unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent in April from 4.1 percent in March.
Once upon a time, an unemployment figure of 5% was considered "full employment," meaning that Houston really is booming at the moment.
Despite the demand for labor in Houston, one group of people remains underemployed, according to an AP report:
Nineteen months after Hurricane Katrina sent evacuees from New Orleans streaming into Houston, more than 5,000 heads of households among them are still unemployed despite the city's booming economy, officials say.
The number of jobless is contributing to the sense among some Houston-area residents that the storm's victims are a drain on the city and have worn out their welcome.
[snip]
[Mayor Bill White] -- who was recently given the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, bestowed on politicians who risk their popularity to do what they regard as the right thing -- defended the evacuees, saying: "I don't think most people want to live in trailer cities or shelters. They want to get on with their lives."
But Republican Rep. John Culberson said the evacuees should have benefits cut off if they don't get a job.
"We're a charitable nation and Houston in particular has a big heart, and we have already gone way above and beyond the call of duty to help our neighbors," Culberson said. "It's time for everyone who can work to get to work."
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/30/07 10:48 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (8)
Continental in the news
The Chronicle's Bill Hensel reports that Continental's regional carrier, Continental Express, will now be occupying all of Terminal B at Intercontinental, now that Northwest Airlines has moved to Terminal A:
Continental Airlines is taking over all the gates in Terminal B at Bush Intercontinental Airport for Continental Express.
For passengers there, it will mean fewer bus trips across the tarmac to board aircraft, Continental spokesman Dave Messing said Tuesday.
Continental was able to expand at Terminal B after Northwest Airlines, which had two gates in Terminal B, relocated to Terminal A earlier this month.
Houston Airport System spokesman Rich Fernandez said Tuesday that the change was made because Continental Express needs more room, and Northwest was willing to move.
"In a way it helps the passengers here," Fernandez said. "So it works for all parties."
Houston airport officials are looking at the possibility of further developing Terminal B in the long term. Director of Aviation Rick Vacar has said that is likely a project in a new Master Plan for the airport.
And the Houston Business Journal reports that Houston's hometown airline has gone all stylish:
Continental Airlines Inc. and carbon-offsetting nonprofit Sustainable Travel International on Wednesday announced a joint venture that will allow Continental passengers to calculate the carbon footprint of their itinerary and purchase carbon offsets from STI.
Brian Mullis, president of STI said that by late 2007 passengers will be able to buy the offsets at the point of ticket purchase, upon check-in, or online at continental.com. Mullis pegs the industry average payment at about $30 per passenger.
Boulder, Colo-based STI will use the money generated by carbon offsets to fund high-impact sustainable development projects such as reforestation, renewable energy and energy conservation. Passengers will be able to select which projects their payments will go to.
If that makes you feel better about flying the hometown airline, good for you. Then again, if you're a traveler more like me, you'll likely be dropping that $30 "carbon offset" in the airport bar. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/30/07 10:32 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (4)
Stiles: Mayor not happy about lege's red-light camera decision
The Chronicle's Matt Stiles posts that Mayor White isn't happy with the state legislature's action that requires cities to divert some red-light-camera revenues to trauma centers.
The mayor and his clever communications shop have made it kind of tough to complain about this.
If, as the mayor insists, the red-light cameras are all about safety and not at all about revenue, then it's hard to object to the diversion of some revenue to specific public safety/health purposes.
Then again, if the objection is that the legislature shouldn't be usurping "local control" by imposing "mandates," the mayor might have to reconsider his own notion of regulating emissions in other cities using Houston's nuisance ordinances.
It must get tricky sometimes for the mayor's communications department to keep these competing rhetorical flourishes straight!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/30/07 09:27 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (2)
The return of the frogs
Houston, you asked for it: Frogs! a sequel exhibition opens Friday for a full summer run. This city is frog-crazy, and that's probably a good thing given all the recent rain. Any chance of peace and quiet at my end of the pond evaporated with the ever-increasing, onslaught of a non-stop frog chorus. Big frogs, little frogs, bull frogs, and teenie-tiny lime green frogs greet me. I step, a frog leaps. Even my goofy cocker spaniel has given up his beloved rock hunting for water-drenched splash-a-frog chases. The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) discovered the amphibians' popularity during the Frogs! A Chorus of Colors exhibition. I'm sure I'm one of many who lamented the end of the exhibit. By the time I found a free weekend, I was too late. If you're a fellow procrastinator, you're in luck. HMNS is bringing back the frogs--and then some. New frogs to the exhibit include Clown Treefrogs and the Strawberry Poison Dart frog. With the new exhibit running from June 1 through September 03, 2007, you'll have all summer to get your fill of the amphibians.
Posted by Vikk Simmons @ 05/30/07 10:50 AM | Houston Life | Technorati | Comments (11)
28 May 2007
Catching up on all sorts of things
I've returned to Houston after a successful (but sometimes soggy) camping/canoe trip to a bloglines folder full of interesting Houston news and such that I missed while unplugged.
There's not time to do it all justice, but here are a few items that caught my eye.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/28/07 10:41 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (24)
27 May 2007
Chron criticizes HPD again for Taser usage
What's HPD to do? The Chronicle thinks police officers shoot too many people, so Chief Hurtt convinced Council to buy Tasers. Now the Chronicle's Roma Khanna writes, disapprovingly, that HPD is using the stun guns too often on mentally ill people:
More than 120 encounters between Houston police and people with mental illness ended with officers using their Tasers to control troubled suspects in the grips of a mental crisis, according to a Houston Chronicle review of more than 1,000 incidents since December 2004.
In many cases, officers were forewarned they were about to encounter someone with mental health issues — yet almost never did officers call on colleagues specially trained to deal with the mentally ill to calm a volatile episode, according to police reports.
Most of the people officers stunned with their Tasers carried no weapon. Fewer than one in four were later convicted of a crime.
Some had committed violent crimes, threatened others or harmed themselves. But most were people who failed to follow officers' orders in the fog of their mental confusion, records show.
I didn't see a link to the records, but I'd be interested to know if that's what the records really say or if that's the Chronicle's interpretation.
We were skeptical when Council gave HPD $5 million to purchase the Tasers instead of investing in manpower, but we sure didn't see any critical pieces in the Chronicle. In fact, the only local news outlet to look into the effectiveness of Tasers was the Houston Press, so it seems highly unfair for the Chron to castigate HPD for shootings, then turn around and castigate HPD for what it uses as a less-lethal alternative. Exactly how would the folks at 801 Texas Avenue have Houston police officers do their jobs?
UPDATE: The AP has picked up the story which means there are multiple entries on Google News, and Drudge has the story linked on his homepage as well.
BLOGVERSATION: Cigars, Donuts, and Coffee
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/27/07 06:04 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (1)
Happy Memorial Day -- Metro celebrates with service "improvements"
It's been at least a couple of weeks since Metro last "improved" bus service, so it must be time for some more "improving"...starting today!
METRO Service Adjustments
Sunday, May 27, 2007METRO is implementing the following route and schedule modifications to provide more efficient service. Following is a list of planned changes that may affect your daily travel.
1 Hospital
Weekdays – Add 11:19 a.m. and 1:07 p.m. northbound and 10:25 a.m. and 12:13 p.m. southbound trips between the VA Hospital and Downtown to match ridership demand.2 Bellaire
Saturdays & Sundays – Extend the route to State Highway 6 to match weekday service.
7 days/week – Adjust trip times for more reliable service.8 South Main
7 days/week – Separate the South Main portion of this route from the 8 Yale. Discontinue service between Wheeler Station and the Downtown Transit Center. This route will now end at Wheeler Station. Separating the Yale and South Main routes will lead to an improvement in reliability and on time performance.8 Yale
7 days/week – This route will be renumbered the 66 Yale, and will be separated from the 8 South Main. Discontinue service between Downtown Transit Center and Wheeler Station. This route will now end at Gray and Smith. Separating the Yale and South Main routes will lead to an improvement in reliability and on time performance. Adjust trip times for more reliable service.33 Post Oak
7 days/week – Adjust trip times for more reliable service.46 Gessner
7 days/week – Adjust trip times for more reliable service.50 Heights
Weekdays – To optimize ridership, adjust times of freeway trips. Eliminate the 6:29, 6:47, 6:59, and 7:17 a.m. eastbound trips, and the 4:50, 5:05, 5:35, and 5:50 p.m. westbound trips.Create a 6:50 a.m. eastbound trip, originating from the Hollister branch, and a 7:05 a.m. eastbound trip, originating from the Rosslyn branch.
Create a 4:55 p.m. westbound trip to the Rosslyn branch, change the 5:05 p.m. westbound trip to serve the Hollister Branch, and add a 5:10 p.m. westbound trip to the Rosslyn Branch (local-not via freeway).
52 Hirsch/Scott
Weekdays – Adjust trip times for more reliable service.65 Bissonnet
7 days/week – Adjust trip times for more reliable service.82 Westheimer
Weekdays – Add 3:05, 4:39 and 7:45 p.m. westbound trips and 6:23 a.m. and 3:48 p.m. eastbound trips between Downtown and West Oaks Mall to match ridership demand.88 Hobby
Weekdays – Add a 4:38 a.m. northbound trip to match ridership demand.163 Fondren Express
7 days/week – Adjust trip times for more reliable service.214 Northwest Station Park & Ride
Weekdays – Eliminate 7:55 and 8:05 a.m. inbound peak direction trips, and the 7:11 and 7:19 a.m. outbound reverse peak direction trips to reflect ridership shift to the Cypress Park & Ride route.217 Cypress Park & Ride
Weekdays – Relocate lot from temporary HP facility to the new permanent facility located at US 290 & Skinner Road (summer 2007). Add a 5:42 a.m. inbound, and a 7:05 p.m. outbound trip to match ridership demand. Adjust trip times for more reliable service.265 West Bellfort Park & Ride
Weekdays – To improve travel time and on time performance, the “A” and “B” outbound afternoon peak service will be modified. The “A” route will stop at outbound stops along Congress, and on Smith between Congress & Dallas. The “B” route will stop along Smith between McKinney & Holman.
More reliable AND improved! We've been tracking Metro's "improvements" for a couple of years now; do you think there'll ever come a time when Metro will get bus service reliable and improved?
COMPLETELY UNRELATED: Metro's +$70,000/year blogger draws our attention to bus yoga. Really.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/27/07 07:32 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (0)
26 May 2007
Surprise! Gas prices are up.
Memorial Weekend brings the usual passel of articles and reports about high gas prices and consumer spending. The Chronicle is no different. Having spent $45.00 at the pump yesterday the high prices mentioned are no real shocker, although I admit to having an epiphany when I realized the dollar amount had doubled in a couple of years. This was followed by a moment of thankfulness that I no longer have to make the roundtrip 80-mile trek to work three times a week.
As a travel writer with a book still available and a signing on the horizon, I’m happy to read that Americans are saying the high prices won’t keep them off the highway; but a closer look at my own recent habits makes me question the veracity of the headline. I have elderly parents and act as their caregiver. It’s a 110 mile roundtrip. To conserve gas, I’m spending more nights and combining visits. I plot my routes and schedule my errands so the stops are incorporated along the way. I considered a hybrid car until I learned of the battery replacement cost and decided to wait until the cars had more mass market distribution under their hoods before I made the plunge.
What I really wish is that I could get my simple brain around the reasons for the high prices. Refinery costs, power outages, and higher demand seem to be the familiar refrain. Eventually this will be followed by a report of some oil company posting higher-than-ever profits. I don’t know enough about the industry to judge whether the reasons given for the high prices are flip, easy to give answers and the articles the result of lazy journalism or whether they are a true reflection of what is going on. Today’s article struck me as one more throw-away with predictable content. And don’t get me started on those blasted summer electricity bills….
Posted by Vikk Simmons @ 05/26/07 12:51 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (7)
Council Agenda for May 30
It's been a while since I've looked at a City Council agenda, but thanks to Tom Bazan, I saw that the latest one has quite a few interesting items in it.
First is something that caught Tom's eye:
4. RECOMMENDATION from Director Building Services Department for approval of final contract amount of $2,429,031.86 and acceptance of work on contract with CARRERA CONSTRUCTION, INC for Sylvester Turner Park fka West Little York Park, WBS F-504B02-0002-4 - 21.20% over the original contract amount - DISTRICT A - LAWRENCE
Twenty-one percent over budget! Love how government operates. Instead of telling a contractor that they have to work within the accepted contract, and any cost overruns have to be eaten by the contractor, the city gives them more money. Any contractor that accepts city work should be expected to do its own homework to determine if a contract is reasonable when it is approved and accepted. Now imagine the cost overruns for Metro's rail lines and the Dynamo's soccer stadium.
We are still unclear why the City of Houston should be in the subsidized housing business, but it's a priority of Mayor White, so next up are items 39 through 45:
39. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston, WHITNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and TEJANO CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERNS to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $700,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of ten (10) affordable homes - DISTRICT H - GARCIA
40. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston, WHITNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and AVENUE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $700,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of ten (10) affordable homes - DISTRICT H - GARCIA
41. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston, WHITNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and GUIDING LIGHT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $420,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of six (6) affordable homes - DISTRICT D - EDWARDS
42. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston, WHITNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and RE-WARD THIRD WARD to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $700,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of ten (10) affordable homes - DISTRICTS D ‑ EDWARDS and I ‑ ALVARADO
43. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston, WHITNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and ACRES HOMES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $700,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of ten (10) affordable homes - DISTRICT B - JOHNSON
44. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston, WHITNEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and MACSC AND HOUSING, INC to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $210,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of three (3) affordable homes - DISTRICT D ‑ EDWARDS
45. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing an agreement between the City of Houston, UNITY BANK and HOLMES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION to provide a second lien construction loan of Federal “HOME” Funds in the amount of $700,000.00 for eligible costs in connection with the construction of ten (10) affordable homes - DISTRICT D - EDWARDS
The HOME webpage states that "participating jurisdictions (PJs) match 25 cents of every dollar in program funds mobilizes community resources in support of affordable housing." Maybe someone can explain which entity will be paying the matching dollars -- City of Houston (taxpayers), or the partner group listed in each entry.
Finally there's this entry:
60. RECOMMENDATION for supplemental allocation of the following funds for Professional Civic Art and Conservation Administration Services Contract for the Houston Arts Alliance:
· $183,000.00 - Fire Consolidated Construction Fund
· $467,500.00 - W&S System Consolidated Construction Fund
· $369,000.00 - Police Consolidated Construction Fund
· $161,250.00 - Public Library Consolidated Construction Fund
· $187,800.00 - Parks Consolidated Construction Fund
· $140,000.00 - Public Health Consolidated Construction Fund
DISTRICTS B ‑ JOHNSON; D - EDWARDS; G - HOLM; H - GARCIA and I - ALVARADO
TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WISEMAN
This was Item 3 on Agenda of May 16, 2007
Ultimately the recommendation will pass, but we love that Addie Wiseman asks questions about agenda items.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/26/07 08:14 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (4)
Mayor White's JFK award acceptance speech
As you know, Mayor White recently accepted a JFK Profile in Courage award for his Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The city has now posted the text of his acceptance speech:
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/26/07 07:21 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
24 May 2007
Have a bloomin' buggy weekend at BUGStravaganza!
The cool thing about being a writer is that you get to ferret out things that interest you. I had visited Houston’s Museum of Natural Science a number of times over the years but it wasn’t until I toured the entire facility as part of the research for a travel book that I discovered the museum’s quirky bug zoo. What a fun place. Anyone who's been to Houston for more than a nanosecond has run into some segment of our bug population. The museum simply expands the experience. While most visitors get caught up in the rainforest experience of the Cockrell Butterfly Center, the Insect Zoo with its many weird creatures is even more fascinating. I don't know if I'd call them "crowd-pleasers," but the infamous Madagascar Hissing Roaches clearly get top billing.
The Cockrell Butterfly Center, the Brown Hall of Entomology, and the Insect Zoo have been closed for major renovations. Memorial Weekend 2007 marks their re-opening with brand new state-of-the-art interactive exhibits that bring the insect world to life, while displays of preserved specimens of rare butterflies, beetles, and moths show off some of the most jewel-like tones and intricate patterns found in the insect world. The butterfly rainforest habitat also provides amazing opportunities for the amateur digital photographer. Be sure to wear something colorful and bright. Hawaiian-style shirts tease and tempt butterflies to land on your shoulder, your head, even your hands. On my last trip to the center I even managed to photo-capture the resident iguana as he basked in the sun on the stairway’s railing.
BUGStravaganza! opens Friday, May 25 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with a performance by the Houston Ballet butterfly dancers, face painting, and even butterfly origami. Saturday, May 26 from 11:00 – 4:00 pm, the on-going Bug Fest features a Bug Chef, roach races, a Stump the Entomologist quiz and more. Rachel Carson fans will enjoy Sunday’s (May 27) A Sense of Wonder from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm with the Rachel Carson Tribute, Bugs on Wheels, snacks and more. And if you heard about the recent Cash for Roaches program, the museum promises an update about Houston's favorite insect-sons during the weekend celebration. (You have to wonder: Just who captured and sold their roach buddies to the museum?)
With the unusually cool spring-like weather we’ve been having, anyone with a slightly green thumb and a curiosity about butterflies will find the butterfly garden plants interesting. Be sure and pick up one of the quick guides to local butterfly-attracting garden plants to help you plan your own butterfly habitat. In fact, this weekend might be the perfect time for such a backyard enterprise. Most nurseries stock the many local butterfly-attracting plants such as Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, and Lantana. If your visit to BUGStravaganza! ignites your gardening fever and you'd like to extend the experience, take a drive out to The Arbor Gate and explore their offerings. Native plants, garden art, cottage gardens, and a multitude of herbs will delight your senses; your garden and your creativity will flourish. Have a great weekend.
UPDATE Friday, May 25, 2007: Apparently Eileen McClelland at the Chronicle caught the same bug this weekend. You can read her article "Think of it as Beetlemania" in today's section E. You'll also find food editor Peggy Grodinsky's short interview with David Temple, the Houston Museum of Natural Science's "in-house bug chef," who swears dry-roasted scorpions taste like pork rinds. You may not want to eat any more broccoli, though, once you find out 3 1/2 ounces may have up to 60 aphids mixed in with your greens. For film buffs, the same page has a list of 10 bug-infested films put together by writer Andrew Dansby. Good eating!
Posted by Vikk Simmons @ 05/24/07 12:37 PM | Houston Life | Technorati | Comments (2)
Radio silence (or something like that)
It's time for my annual Memorial Day Weekend float/camping trip, so I'll be mostly unplugged from the net for a few days and definitely not posting here (although I probably can't resist checking email with my smartphone every once in a while).
Here's wishing everyone a great Memorial Day weekend. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/24/07 08:54 AM | Announcements | Technorati | Comments (7)
Hurtt responds to Chron op-ed
Last weekend, the Chronicle ran a letter from Chief Hurtt responding to the most recent op-ed from Alan Helfman, Jay Wall and William A. Wolff. In the letter, Chief Hurtt takes exception with their notion that crime statistical analysis should be a much higher priority within HPD, then goes on to argue that crime statistic analysis already IS a high priority within HPD.
We've reproduced the letter below the [Read More] link, as the Chron archives are not always the most searchable.
This part in particular caught my eye:
Despite a recent reduction of more than 600 officers due to retirement as well as an unprecedented influx of new residents, the officers, civilians and managers of our department have actually reduced the likelihood that a Houstonian will be a victim of serious crime.
One supposes it depends on how one defines serious. As the Chronicle reported a little over a week ago, crime declined statewide in Texas last year, but rose in Houston, and murders actually surged in Houston. Chief Hurtt's spokesman didn't have a comment then, and now the Chief's reaction is... denial? Maybe HPD really does need to improve its statistical analysis!
In any case, we sense the Chief is trying to be much more visible of late, what with this op-ed, a rare Saturday press availability, and whispers emanating from downtown that he loves Houston and really doesn't depart for Arizona every weekend. It's almost as if someone has realized a crime problem and an absentee police chief probably won't help in winning statewide election. The problem is, a bumbling-but-present police chief may not help either.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/24/07 08:51 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
23 May 2007
Things not intended
The mayor is back today with a new letter released to the city employees (and one presumes, the Chronicle) about his plans to continue underfunding the civilian employee pensions.
May 23, 2007
To: City of Houston employees
From: Mayor Bill WhiteYou probably have been following the public discussion in recent days of the City of Houston Municipal Employees Pension Plan (HMEPS). I know that it can be complicated and I appreciate and understand your concern about pensions benefits. So, let me share some simple facts with you.
The municipal employees' pension plan is healthier than it has been in years, as are the pension plans for Police and Fire. Keeping pension benefits secure is a very important issue for me -- today and tomorrow.
As we negotiate with the HMEPS Board, I do not intend for you to lose any benefit you have earned.
In 2004 we agreed with the HMEPS Board to make a schedule of substantial annual contributions. Those agreed upon contributions were $66 million in Fiscal Year 2005, $69 million in FY ’06 and $72 million in FY ’07. That equates to about 15.8% of City payroll.
Prior to the agreement, from 2001 through 2003, the City’s contribution was 10% of payroll. During Fiscal 2004, also before the agreement was reached, it was 14.7%. So, under the agreement we have increased both the annual dollar amounts and the percentage of payroll contributed to the pension fund.
In addition, I offered and the Pension Board accepted a $300 million interest-bearing note secured by a lien on one of the most valuable buildings in Houston, the Hilton Americas Hotel. We have fulfilled those obligations.
Both parties agreed that we would discuss the City’s contribution beginning July 1, 2007, after we had evaluated the progress we made since 2004 in reducing the unfunded liability of the pension fund. Since the changes in 2004, we have cut the unfunded liability in half. That's real progress in three years. We expect to come to an agreement soon that continues this kind of progress and makes your pension fund even more secure.
Meanwhile, I repeat, municipal pensions are secure. I am dedicated to keeping them that way.
Bill White,
Mayor
I find this statement the most interesting: "I do not intend for you to lose any benefit you have earned." (Emphasis added.)
My first reaction is that he intends to be in the governor's mansion before the pension goes broke, so he can shed crocodile tears and claim he did everything he could to save the program. The second thing that occurs to me is that his definition of "lose" as applied to city employees doesn't appear to include "be forced to give up what we were promised." Given his earlier statements about offering the "option" of retirement packages with less money, and that I can't imagine anyone volunteering to accept less, his definition of "lose" seems at odds with "keep," as in promises, and "obey," as in the law that dictates the city's contribution.
Thoughts and comments?
Posted by Ubu Roi @ 05/23/07 03:13 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (8)
22 May 2007
Stiles on keeping those transparent government entities transparent
The Chronicle's Matt Stiles blogs about his efforts to pry public information out of HPD, and his fallback method when the usual procedures don't work quite right:
Around the same time, I made an open-records request to the Houston Police Department for images and videos captured in six of these citations. An official in the open-records unit replied 10 business days later:
Pursuant to your request, before the requested information can be distributed, advance payment is required. A minimum research charge of $250 (2hrs x $125) has been established. You must pay in the form of a cashier's check or money order; made out to American Traffic Solutions, Inc.
Say what? The city's open-records billing policy follows state law, which sets the price for research/labor time at $15 per hour, not $125. And why was I being asked to pay the contractor, not the city?
HPD's understaffed and overworked open-records office told me that American Traffic Solutions had set that price. I didn't think that was legal, so I complained to Mayor White's press office, as I often do when I get resistance from city departments, and the police backed off the higher price.
This was in mid-March. But the department didn't release the photos until late Friday: 55 working days after my original request.
Stiles is persistent, and knows how to work the system to get information for his newspaper (and the public, ultimately). It's unfortunate that public entities like HPD and METRO sometimes frustrate the dissemination of public information, and that it takes such persistence.
In any case, kudos to Stiles (and the city's other journalists) who manage to dig up all the good stuff that serves as conversation fodder here and elsewhere. It's not always the easiest thing to do.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/22/07 08:49 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (3)
Dolcefino questions "private" security deals of some HPD commanders
Last night, KTRK-13's Wayne Dolcefino ran an investigative story on the "private" security operations being run by HPD commanders, sometimes from within the department during working hours.
Here's a teaser:
Houston police headquarters is rocked by an internal investigation. The focus - lucrative security deals of some of HPD's top commanders.
Are some of the city's top cops worried about an extra payday while you're paying them to worry about protecting your family?
Since our investigation began, one HPD captain has resigned his security jobs making him tens of thousands of dollars more than the city was already paying him. He's one of the HPD brass under fire for blurring the badge.
The full story is here.
The second part of the story will air tonight on KTRK.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/22/07 08:19 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (3)
21 May 2007
METRO: Danger Trains on collision course
Various media outlets reported today that two different times this month, switching mistakes put Danger Trains on collision courses with each other.
Here's Rad Sallee for the Chronicle:
Two MetroRail trains carrying passengers in the Texas Medical Center area came within half a mile of a possible head-on collision earlier this month, Metro officials said today.
The two trains were going in opposite directions on the same track because of a switching error, and employees involved have been disciplined, Metro officials said today.
Both trains were stopped — one at the Dryden Station and one at the TMC Transit Center — on May 9 when Metro controllers at the Houston TranStar traffic center learned of the error and ordered them to hold their positions, said David Feeley, Metro senior vice president of operations.
[snip]
John Sedlak, executive vice president, said this was the first time since the Metropolitan Transit Authority's light rail line opened Jan. 1, 2004, that trains were running in opposite directions on the same track without supervisors' knowledge.
Less than a week later, on May 15, a second such incident occurred at the south end of the 7.5-mile line as rail cars were being linked into 2-car trains for the evening rush hour.
Scary.
Some of the comments on Chron.com are entertaining, however.
From KTRK-13's reporting:
There was almost trouble on the METRO Light Rail tracks as trains loaded with passengers accidently switched to the wrong track. And it happened more than one time.
It's a mistake METRO wants to correct because trains on the wrong tracks put people's lives in danger.
What happened on the track May 9 is described by METRO in one sentence.
"Mistakes were made in this situation," says John Sedlak of METRO.
Does anyone else get the sense that the person who wrote the KTRK copy recently watched A Few Good Men?
From KHOU-11's reporting:
Light rail riders never knew the danger they faced. 11 News has learned METRO has put trains on the wrong tracks twice in the last two weeks, which could have caused head‑on collisions.
[snip]
“Mistakes were made in this situation,” said John Sedlak, METRO Vice President. But the riding public was never in danger, he added.
It seems undeniable that the riding public was in some danger -- unless, of course, you're a professional METRO spinner.
BLOGVERSATION: MIFOC, Lone Star Times.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/21/07 11:01 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (6)
South Zone champs -- Spring Klein Red Sox!!
I have been fairly out of the loop for the past couple of months due to my younger son's baseball season. He's on the Spring Klein Red Sox (11 and under, USSSA Level A ball). Between practices, games, and tournaments, we've been busy!
And it all paid off this weekend as they won the South Zone State Tournament for their age level! It was wild and nerve-wracking, but they went all the way on Sunday, playing their hearts out, and winning three games in a row to become champions.
Next up, the state tournament in Cedar Hill, which takes place on June 1-3. We are all excited, exhausted, and so proud of the boys!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/21/07 07:11 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (3)
20 May 2007
Soccer stadium will make downtown like Manhattan (or at least not racist)!
Some of the Chronicle sportswriters are becoming excited over the prospect of a dedicated new Houston Dynamo stadium boondoggle downtown.
Glenn Davis weighs in with the following:
Let me borrow a real estate phrase: Location, location, location is what this is about, and a downtown stadium will be an unparalleled vehicle for promoting soccer. Stadiums out in the hinterlands in MLS are still trying to prove them-selves as a magnet for fans.
Fans migrating to stadiums located in the inner city can become a part of a ritual.
When I was growing up in New Jersey, my father used to take me to sporting events at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York. The ritual began as we left the house.
Take the train from the suburbs to Hoboken, N.J., then jump on the Path train (subway) under the Hudson River. As we exited the Path and scrambled up the steps to the street, a whole new world opened up.
The streets of Manhattan were alive with vendors, scalpers hawking tickets, and fans of the New York Rangers or Knicks. The air crackled with competition and excitement.
For a kid from the suburbs, this was like going into a new world. To this day, these impressions are indelible in my mind. Whether going to Madison Square Garden or to Giants Stadium to watch Pelé and the New York Cosmos, I always felt that sense of anticipation.
Quick reality check: The east end of Houston's downtown is not Manhattan. It's not going to be Manhattan whether a new downtown stadium is or is not constructed for what is a minor-league sport in America.
Of course, if that logic resonates at all with you, Chronicle columnist John Lopez today suggests that some people might think you're a racist:
When the city of Houston signed a letter of agreement with the Dynamo in hopes of ultimately building a soccer-specific stadium downtown, the verbiage said the deal was non-binding.
Technically, yes.
But in reality, the deal inflated not just hopes for Houston soccer fans, nearly half of whom are Hispanic, according to ticket-tracking research by the Dynamo.
It also blew up a dangerous political futbol that city leaders will be kicking around. City leaders will be watched closely on this one by many local minority groups hoping for inclusion among the big boys of sports.
[snip]
The unwritten message in the letter of agreement with the city:
The predominantly white fan base that follows the Astros got theirs. The largely white and black fan base of the Rockets got theirs, too.
What about Dynamo fans? What about the fan base that has been estimated at roughly 45 percent Hispanic, 45 percent white and 10 percent Asian?
Imagine you are a local politician, McLane or Alexander.
Imagine the backlash among Hispanic voters and community leaders if you came out against the proposed 21,000- to 22,000-seat stadium, which is planned for the area just east of U.S. 59 downtown, near Minute Maid Park.
So, we need a new soccer stadium downtown so that Houston can be more like Manhattan, and so that fans of what is a minor-league sport in the United States won't cry racism?
Those are certainly interesting perspectives on how public policy should be made in our city.
BLOGVERSATION: Houston's Clear Thinkers, Lose an Eye, It's a Sport, Off the Kuff.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/20/07 09:27 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (16)
An unarmed, good person did not flee from police
Contrary to initial local media accounts that allowed family and friends to portray a suspected robber as a "good person" and as "not armed," the truth is he wasn't a very good person and he was armed:
Rivera, who King said was a "hard-core" and "documented" Crips gang member with a "lengthy criminal history," was positively identified Friday through Department of Public Safety fingerprint records.
Harris County records list several pseudonyms for him.
"This is someone who preyed on the community at large," King said.
And:
The women who called police after being robbed by Rivera have been "terrorized" by gang members, said King.
"They have received death threats, and, quite frankly, are scared," King said.
And:
"He had a black object in his hand as he was running," Hurtt said. The object was later identified as a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver.
Regardless, Chief Hurtt promises that a complete look at what happened will be presented to a grand jury:
Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt promised Saturday that a grand jury will hear a "fair presentation of all evidence" in the May 12 fatal shooting of a fleeing armed robbery suspect by an officer.
Goodness! A Saturday press conference conducted by Chief Hurtt? In Houston??!
Don't forget the Chronicle's editorial board participated in Harris County's Shoot/Don't Shoot simulator in 2004 with less than optimal results. Police officers have to make those types of split-second decisions often, without the benefit of a do-over.
Houston police officers deserve better than what local media dished out.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/20/07 09:25 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (1)
Lemer on the pension fund problems
A few days ago, the Chronicle ran a letter from local government watchdog Bob Lemer on the continuing municipal employees pension fund problems.
Here are a few key points he made:
The city's June 30, 2005, audited financial statements (the most recent available, as 2006 is still unreleased to the public, a blatant violation of state law) shows the net assets of the employees' pension plans were $6.8 billion, even without receiving the still-to-come huge underfunding makeup payments.
The $6.8 billion greatly exceeded the city's $4.5 billion in net assets, only $2.8 billion of which was invested in the city's true core mission, infrastructure. In fact, the city invests a great deal more in its employees than in its residents - even excluding the under-funded liability to the plans.
[snip]
Instead of depositing the proceeds of the pension bonds directly into the pension plans to cover past underfunding, the mayor has been dumping the proceeds into the city's general fund to cover general operating expenses. This avoids compliance with the total revenue and expenditure cap of the 2004 voter-approved Taxpayer Bill Of Rights amendment to the city's charter.
The city's 2007 budget showed that of the $570 million of pension bonds then considered payable, $470 million would not begin coming due until at least the year 2031, creating total interest costs of $899 million. Who would finance their home with this kind of exorbitant, interest-bearing, backend loading of their loan?
The mayor neglected to point out to voters that when they authorized the pension bonds, they thereby irrevocably committed the city to paying that portion of the unfunded pension liability and forever forfeited any negotiability on that debt.
The entire letter is available in the Chron.com archives here.
Lemer's perspective is always interesting.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/20/07 09:06 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (3)
Metro's ongoing hostility toward bus riders
With continued windfall tax revenue flowing into Metro, one wonders why Metro can't maintain its own bus stops/shelters, and provide a level of bus service that would actually benefit Harris County residents (I'd link to the illuminating comment, but Metro's ill-functioning blog seems to be...ill-functioning. Scroll down to mizz_porkie2003's comment posted on May 15, 2007 8:20 AM.)
As the Metro bus driver says, things were running rather smoothly until a "new management regime took over."
Metro has to be stockpiling money for the upcoming boondoggle rail expansion, which will do nothing to improve transit options for most residents in Metro's taxing jurisdiction. In fact, as we saw with the opening of the Main Street rail line, inflexible rail worsens transit options because Metro will slash bus routes to force riders onto the train.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/20/07 09:00 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (3)
18 May 2007
Murder by the Book hosts a triple header that ends with Lee Child
This weekend Houston’s nationally acclaimed mystery bookstore offers a series of booksignings sure to draw out the mystery lovers. Murder by the Book (2342 Bissonnet) consistently draws big names in the mystery field and is a pro when it comes to booksignings. Take a look at this weekend’s offerings.
Friday, May 18, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
What happens when a Texas peace officer’s views on the Second Amendment are tested in a real life situation? No matter where you fall in the political debate, Edgar nominee Ben Rehder's latest book GUN SHY has something to offer in this satirical book “packed with firepower and poignant surprises.”
Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.
True crime lovers have an opportunity to meet two Texas authors. Kathryn Casey, author of A WARRANT TO KILL and the new DIE, MY LOVE: A True Story of Revenge, Murder, and Two Texas Sisters, and Diane Fanning, author of UNDER THE KNIFE, A Beautiful Woman, a Phony Doctor, and a Shocking Homicide will be at the store signing books.
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.
If you’re one of the many fans who rabidly read any book by the New York Times Bestselling author Lee Child, you’ll have an opportunity to hear him talk when he comes to town to publicize his latest title, BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE. (The talk is free, but if time is an issue you may want to call ahead and buy your book(s) so that you get an early numbered ticket.)
If you’ve never been to the bookstore, you’re in for a treat. Stacks of books and rows of filled bookcases will tempt you with eye-catching notes hailing this book and that author. The staff is friendly and, more importantly, knowledgeable. And if you rank among the millions of fans who read Michael Connelly, you'd better mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 29th at 6:30 p.m. and for an early place in line make sure you call ahead to purchase your copy of THE OVERLOOK. The books go on sale May 22. Connelly's talk is free.
Posted by Vikk Simmons @ 05/18/07 11:45 AM | Houston Arts/Culture | Technorati | Comments (2)
Another change at KPRC-950
Ken Hoffman's latest Chronicle column looked a little odd, in that it didn't have the usual plug for the columnist's longtime KPRC-950 radio gig on Wednesdays.
Sure enough, Hoffman informs that he's no longer doing the Wednesday show, which was always a reason for me to listen.
He does hint that another radio gig might be in the offing at some point, though. Stay tuned.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/18/07 06:09 AM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (0)
17 May 2007
Pension fund issue looms over budget
The message local media were supposed to take away from the unveiling of the Mayor's new budget yesterday was increased public safety spending without a property tax rate increase.
Instead, as Matt Stiles reports for the Chronicle, concerns over the city's attempt to back away from a commitment to fund the pension at a negotiated level detracted from the intended message:
After proposing a $3.8 billion city budget Wednesday, Mayor Bill White's administration today begins wrestling with one of its more contentious details: funding city employees' retirement program.
The mayor's chief administrative officer, Anthony Hall, and the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System's executive director, David Long, are to begin negotiating the size of the city's contribution to the retirement fund in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Long says the mayor's proposed contribution of $75 million falls short of an agreement both sides reached in 2004. He also questions why the mayor, who must get approval of the pension fund's management on the contribution amount, placed a figure in the budget before the parties began formal discussions.
White called any assertion that he's underfunding the pension "ridiculous." He said his administration has a long-term plan to give employees more retirement options while securing the system for the future. He said the city's pension expert has been working on the issue for months.
The city under this mayor agreed to a certain amount. Now the mayor's budget has proposed less than that amount. How is it ridiculous to use the term "underfunding?" It seems accurate enough.
Anyway, the mayor may not be able to change the clear meaning of words, but he can always resort to the old tactic of demonizing one's perceived political opponents:
The tension over the pension issue was obvious during White's budget presentation to the council Wednesday. The pension system's unfunded liability grew after 2001, when benefits were enhanced under former Mayor Lee Brown, markets slumped and financing assumptions proved wrong.
White likened the situation to the collapse of Enron and criticized Long's stewardship. He has headed the pension system since 1993.
Council members weighed in, too. Councilwoman Carol Alvarado labeled Long a "fat cat," and others challenged him to speak before the council to answer concerns about his compensation.
Long, who has attended recent council pension meetings but has not been asked to speak, sought to stay above the fray. "I have never personally attacked him. I have never personally attacked a City Council member," he said. "Yet, I have been personally attacked."
KTRK-13's Miya Shay posted about the personal nature of the attacks as well:
Basically, Mayor White accused Long of using scare tactics, and David_l_long [sic] bending the truths to decribe [sic] an employee pension system. The Mayor also talked about how basically Long makes more money than just about every city employee... among other jabs. Council Member Carol Alvarado ventured as far as to say that she doens't [sic] understand why Long even has a job.
One has learned not to expect much in the way of decorum from the crude councilwoman, but Mayor White ought to comport himself better than that if he truly fashions himself a future statewide leader of Texas.
There's hard work to be done on the pension mess Mayor White inherited to be sure, but the namecalling and petty personal attacks don't need to be a part of it. They don't really solve any problems.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/17/07 09:30 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (4)
Boom!
I was on my way back from lunch earlier on Buffalo Speedway when I heard a boom, all the traffic lights went dead, and I saw billowing black smoke off to the east.
Apparently, a power transformer station along the Southwest Freeway exploded into flames. Since I was nearby, I walked down to the thing and got a cameraphone photo (above).
It didn't take long for firefighters to get the thing under control. The media horde that soon descended on the relatively small fire was probably harder to control, in fact.
If you're in the West U/Montrose/Greenway area, you should probably expect traffic lights to be out for a while (along with building power) and plan accordingly.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/17/07 01:46 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (5)
16 May 2007
Are the Editorial LiveJournalists auditioning for mayor's PR staff?
Do you sometimes get the idea that the Chronicle's Editorial LiveJournalists are envious of their former colleague, Frank Michel, the mayor's communications director?
It has seemed that way so far this week.
On Tuesday, the Editorial LiveJournalists praised City Hall's fancy new $36,000+ desk, calling it a "long term investment" that "showcases Houston's values." We doubt Mr. Michel could have phrased it much better than that!
Today, the Editorial LiveJournalists praised Mayor White's efforts to deal with the pension problem and adopted the mayor's tactic of demonizing HMEPS director David Long. The mayor's press people had to be smiling.
If the mayor eventually wins statewide office, maybe he'll bring some of the Editorial LiveJournalists (dubbed Mrs. White by some bloggers) on board as PR staff. They certainly seem to be auditioning for the part.
Incidentally, HMEPS director David Long has responded to the mayor's attack from yesterday with his own letter to the Chronicle. It's posted below in the [Read More] section. Long disputes the mayor's insinuation that the HMEPS board (which included five representatives appointed by the city) has committed "outright fraud." As we've said previously, that's a reckless statement the mayor (or the staffer who wrote the letter to the Chronicle) should not have made without evidence.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/16/07 10:28 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (3)
Who's running HPD?
HPD assistant police chief and blogHOUSTON favorite (for entertainment value!) Martha Montalvo is quoted in a KPRC-2 story on the decision to pull officers from the street to help out in the property room after a recent scandal:
Many Houston police officers are being taken off the streets to pay for an investigation into missing evidence in the department's property room, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.
About $40,000 used to pay for an overtime program to target car burglaries in downtown Houston is being shifted to pay for the property room audit after 21 guns were stolen from the secure facility.
"I think that the public is entitled to ensure that what we have in there is correct," Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo said.
Montalvo said she needed to quickly fund the audit as the criminal investigation continues.
"What I wanted to do was have an outside inventory of the guns inside that property room," Montalvo said. "I wanted an outside group of classified officers to go in and do a count."
Assistant Chief George Buenik sent out an internal memo ordering that the downtown program stop.
"Effective immediately, stop all overtime programs that were being paid with seizure money," Buenik wrote. "I will also need an accounting of the total amount allocated and spent. Chief Montalvo needs this money for the property room investigation. She is likely to receive other money and once she does, your program will continue."
Strangely enough, I thought Harold "Raising Arizona" Hurtt was the chief of police, not the frequently entertaining Montalvo.
He hasn't decided to stay in Phoenix until someone notices he's missing, has he?
ANNE ADDS: It's been a busy couple of days for Assistant Police Chief Montalvo. In yesterday's Chron, she announced that HPD soon expects four downtown surveillance cameras will be online, modifying criminal behavior.
And KHOU-11 got ahold of an HPD memo that said if officers assigned to a downtown overtime program didn't start producing more citations and arrests, the program could be ended.
So there you have Martha Montalvo's idea of policing downtown: less police officers and more cameras. Downtown's looking inviting, eh?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/16/07 09:19 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (10)
KRIV's Carey takes a look at Sharpstown
KRIV-26 reporter Isiah Carey had an interesting story earlier this week on the rise and fall of Sharpstown.
The video is available here.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/16/07 07:54 PM | Houston Life | Technorati | Comments (4)
15 May 2007
Breaking news you CAN get elsewhere (05-15-2007 edition)
The Chron.com Froot Loops Bureau was watching the TV news this morning:
A man is critical condition after he tried to stop a suspect from stealing his car from a gas station in southeast Houston this morning, according to televised reports by KTRK (Channel 13).
Authorities gave a reporter this account: The man walked into the gas station at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Reed with his car's engine running, While inside the store, he saw a man get inside his vehicle.
The car's owner ran out of the store and jumped on top of the vehicle to stop the suspect, but the thief began to drive off.
The man was dragged several blocks and finally fell of the car.
Paramedics found the man and rushed him to the hospital with severe head injures. He is listed in critical condition.
Police later found the vehicle at the 8400 block of Rockford and are checking the vehicle for fingerprints.
We haven't seen much from the Froot Loops Bureau in a while. It's good to know they're still keeping an eye on the television news as they enjoy their cereal in the morning.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/15/07 06:23 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (4)
14 May 2007
White: City can't/won't meet pension funding obligations
The Chronicle's Matt Stiles reports today on Mayor White's latest response to the massive underfunded liability in the municipal employees pension fund:
Short of layoffs, the city won't meet its full obligation to the municipal pension fund in the next fiscal year, Mayor Bill White says, citing rising public safety and health care costs that are expected to strain resources.
In the next budget, expected to be unveiled Wednesday, White's administration will propose paying only two-thirds of the statutorily required pension contribution — an arrangement that still would need approval from a skeptical pension fund board.
[snip]
The city has prepared for some of these looming payments, White said, building up tens of millions in an undesignated fund in recent years. But that is not enough to meet the additional $39 million for the increased pension obligation.
That has sparked concern from David Long, the fund's executive director, who said the system needs full annual payments to remain viable over time. He also said White's move could upset morale among the 12,000 civilian city employees.
White said he can't make the payment, which he agreed to in 2004....
[snip]
Facing the prospect of having to make huge annual contributions to comply with state law, the city got the fund's board to agree in 2004 to reduced payments for the past three years. The contribution was to increase in this year's budget.
[snip]
Controller Annise Parker said she's concerned the city hasn't started negotiations with the pension fund, but she said the statutorily required contribution — roughly 24 percent of payroll — isn't supportable.
Long, who's asked the mayor in writing for meetings but got no response, called it "disappointing and frustrating."
"We're hoping at some point that they will answer our letters, and he'll appoint somebody to sit down and have a discussion with us to try and figure out what we can do to bridge this gap," he said. "Ultimately, we're sort of coming to the end of the line here."
The massive underfunded liability and the requirements of the 2004 agreement (that Mayor White now says he won't honor) haven't been a mystery over the last few years (just search the blog for "pension"), so it's really strange that the administration has not been engaged in meet-and-confer negotiations with the pension board to work on the problem.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/14/07 10:50 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (15)
City continues to harass driver cleared of red light ticket violation
Local media is reporting that ten more red light cameras are in place. Here's the list, courtesy of Matt Stiles' City Hall blog:
* NB South Wayside at Gulf Freeway
* NB Woodridge @ Gulf Freeway
* WB West Bellfort Avenue @ Southwest Freeway
* NB Fairbanks N. Houston @ Northwest Freeway
* NB West Sam Houston Parkway South @ Westpark Drive
* EB F.M. 2351 @ Gulf Freeway
* EB South Post Oak Boulevard @ West Loop South
* NB Northwest Freeway @ Mangum Road
* WB South Sam Houston Parkway East @ Telephone Road
* SB Stella Link Road @ South Loop West
And HPD's official statement is:
"Our priority is to promote the safety and welfare of the citizens of Houston," said HPD Sgt. Michael Muench. The ultimate goal of the program is to change driver behavior by increasing driver awareness and discouraging dangerous driving and red light running."
No, if the ultimate goal had been to change driver behavior and discourage dangerous driving, the city would have lengthened yellow light times in addition to other intersection modifications, before resorting to a revenue-generating program that assumes drivers are guilty.
Speaking of assuming drivers are guilty, KPRC-2 Investigates recently looked into the problem of red light camera mis-identification. Stephen Dean talked with a local resident who received a ticket, but the vehicle in the photo didn't come close to matching his vehicle. The problem? A one letter difference in the license plate.
The driver who received the notice then had to take a day off from work, spend it at court, and convince a judge that it wasn't his car on the ticket. The judge agreed and wrote "not liable" on the violation notice, but that hasn't stopped the city from sending demand notices to the wrongly-ticketed driver. He is still battling the city.
According to KPRC's report, 150 tickets have been challenged and 30 have been dismissed. That low number of dismissals is proof, according to HPD Sgt. Michael Muench, that the program is successful.
Another way to look at it is that 30 people were wrongly ticketed, and had to take time out of their lives to prove it. And from the sound of Dean's report, that still doesn't stop the city from harassing those folks whom a judge has cleared.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/14/07 07:28 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (6)
KPRC-2 investigates METRO's mass transit promises
KPRC-2 ran an interesting story last night from investigative reporter Robert Arnold, who's been looking into promises made by METRO in the 2003 referendum versus promises kept.
The story has now been transcribed and posted here.
Most of the complaints about METRO's departures from the referendum will be familiar to readers here, although METRO Board Chairman David Wolff's condescension for those who dare question his organization seems ratcheted up a few notches.
How about anchor Rachel McNeill's query of Arnold after the story?
"Robert, when METRO took its plan to the voters in 2003, didn't it also promise to increase bus service by 50 percent?" KPRC Local 2 anchor Rachel McNeill asked.
"Yes, it did. But that hasn't happened either. In fact, some routes have been cut since the election. METRO officials say there just not a demand for that much of an increase. Plus, METRO officials say the routes that were cut had such a low number of people using them they couldn't justify keeping those routes open," Arnold answered.
It seems sort of strange that an unnecessary promise would have been included in the 2003 referendum (unless it was necessary for METRO to mislead certain voter demographics in order to win the vote, eh?), but as Chairman Wolff suggests, those promises were always malleable anyway (kind of like a living constitution!).
UPDATE (05-14-2007): Part Two of Arnold's reporting ran today, and is posted here.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/14/07 10:50 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (10)
13 May 2007
A dark Mecom Fountain is definitely not world class
The Chronicle's Maggie Galehouse reports that thieves have rendered one city landmark somewhat less than world class:
The lights of Mecom Fountain, one of Houston's showiest landmarks and a bright spot on the city's grandest thoroughfare, have been dark for seven months. Last fall, someone stole the fountain's 264 light bulbs and the bronze canisters that encased them.
Why?
"Hard to say," says Mark Ross, deputy director of facilities for the Parks and Recreation Department, which is responsible for the fountain's upkeep. "Precious metal theft is in vogue for sure."
[snip]
"It's our Trevi Fountain, our Golden Gate Bridge," says Peter Brown, the exasperated city councilman at large who's been fielding complaints ever since the fountain went dark. "It's the urban icon that helps define this city."
[snip]
[T]he Parks Department estimates that it will cost $100,000 to replace the stolen lights and fixtures. That sum, which is steep by city standards, does not include labor and the cost of draining and filling the fountain.
"Currently we do not have funding identified to order the replacement," says Estella Espinosa, department spokeswoman. "We plan to order it as soon as we get fiscal money for 2008, which will come in July." But that answer isn't sitting so well with nearby residents.
"The museums have complained to the city, people at Warwick Towers have complained, other residents have complained," says Brown, who lives within walking distance of the fountain. "I think this is a sign there's something wrong with the way the city works."
The lighted fountain is an important city landmark, and it is embarrassing that it's dark because a city that is enjoying record tax collections won't pony up the money to fix it. Indeed, it seems like yet another case of simply ceding the city to vandals and criminals. Councilmember Brown is right to suggest that it's a sign there's something wrong with the way the city is working right now.
The conclusion to the story is even more embarrassing:
"When the lights were stolen, somebody had to get into the fountain with cutters and cut through all the cables," explains Mark Ross, deputy director of facilities for the Parks Department. "Our guess is that they did it in the middle of the night, or during the day when everybody assumed they were maintaining the fountain."
That someone succeeded in carting away all those lights and 12-inch canisters is nothing short of incredible, Ross says. "It's like stealing a great big diamond in the middle of a museum in front of everybody."
It does not seem world class when a city can't protect its landmark monuments from such vandalism/theft.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/13/07 09:53 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (6)
Op-ed: Houston needs Bratton's approach to crime
Alan Helfman, Jay Wall, and William A Wolff have followed a March 2007 op-ed on crime with another op-ed on crime in today's Chronicle.
In this one, they advocate greater use of statistics and New York City's broken-windows approach to fighting crime.
Here is their conclusion:
When [former NYC police commissioner William] Bratton arrived in L.A., he found a shrinking department, crime rates that had been climbing for three years and a demoralized organization. During his four-year tenure as LAPD's chief, morale within the department has skyrocketed, relations with the minority community have improved and crime has fallen 25 percent. The LAPD was manpower-challenged, too, with 2.25 officers per 1,000 population and a 468-square mile territory to police. The "won't work here" argument won't hold water.
Houston Mayor Bill White has shown little or no interest in implementing CompStat for HPD. We believed that a mayor elected based on his promise to bring "best practices" to city government would have instituted a version of CompStat a long time ago.
CompStat can and will bring accountability to HPD. It would empower HPD's middle management and allow the cream of both its managerial and front line forces to rise to the top.
Energizing the stodgy command at HPD, forcing city departments to work together and ultimately altering public behavior will take hard work and guts. We hope our city leaders will step up and meet the challenge. It's about time.
The city needs the philosophy that William Bratton brought to NYC (and LA) policing as much as it needs the statistical tools he employed.
Unfortunately, neither Mayor White nor his absentee police chief seem that interested in Bratton's approach to crime.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/13/07 09:39 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
Busy doing nothing?
Mayor White and his rubber-stamp Council may not have any good answers regarding Houston's surging crime or HPD's manpower issues, but don't let it be said they're doing nothing.
Just this week, they've cracked down on sexually oriented businesses (a crackdown that, interestingly, seems to include the downtown Hyatt Regency) and further tightened the juvenile curfew.
That'll show the city's bad guys! Or something.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/13/07 09:19 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
Chron Austin bureau: Crime up in Houston, down statewide
On Thursday, the Chronicle posted the following news from the Austin bureau's Lisa Sandberg:
Overall crime rates fell in Texas last year, although Houston's rose slightly, marked by a spike in the number of homicides, state records indicate. The city's overall crime rate rose 0.6 percent between 2005 and 2006.
Houston recorded 377 homicides last year, 13 percent more than in 2005 and the highest number since 1996, when 261 homicides were reported. Houston's homicide rate, 18 per 100,000 people last year, was also the highest in a decade.
While it's good that Chronicle crime reporters not posted to the newspaper's main office are able to call an increase an increase (not alway the case at the 801 Texas Avenue mother ship), isn't 377 homicides a larger number than 261 homicides? It would have been useful to report the last time that Houston exceeded last year's homicide total.
Statewide, crime statistics showed improvement:
There were 1,385 homicides across Texas last year, 20 fewer than in 2005, a 3.3 percent drop. Reported rapes fell 3.8 percent between 2005 and 2006, to 8,407.
The state's overall crime rate fell 5.3 percent between 2005 and 2006, though robbery rose 1.3 percent, to more than 37,000 reported incidents. The state's violent crime rate fell 2.3 percent.
HPD had no comment for Ms. Sandberg at the time of the story:
HPD spokesman Victor Senties said his department needed to review the data before Police Chief Harold Hurtt would comment.
Is that code for, "Chief Hurtt has headed to Phoenix already for a long weekend?"
In any case, we're sure that Mayor White's PR machine will have a positive spin on these numbers ready soon.
PREVIOUSLY: Editorial LiveJournalists reject mayor's spin on crime, Making sense of muffed crime reporting/editorializing, KHOU: Mayor slashes HPD manpower initiatives, Crime statistics continue to confuse Chron reporters, editors.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/13/07 05:31 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
12 May 2007
KHOU: Downtown or ghost town?
KHOU-11's Jeremy Desel ran a story yesterday that will probably get him a scolding phone call or two from the usual downtown booster types. Here are some choice excerpts:
There was a time Main Street downtown was the heartbeat of the city.
"That's what this was. This was the center of it. This is where you went,” said Patrick Teague.
A thriving entertainment district packed.
Now it is barely beating.
In place of the pulsing beats and flashing lights are locked doors and eviction notices.
Sign after sign on windows read, “For Lease.”
Main at Prairie four years ago was the busiest part of the action.
Now every space on the block is vacant. And the next block over.
Since the current administration effectively ceded downtown to an aggressive, pushy homeless population, downtown became a much less attractive place for people to go. And so people have apparently stopped going. That may not be the only reason, but it's probably part of it. Indeed, my significant other got takeout pizza from Frank's (Travis and Prairie, beside Cabo) recently, and was accosted by two separate homeless people demanding money, even though the car was parked just outside the door!
Sorry, but that atmosphere really isn't conducive to, "Wow, this is great, I think I'll stroll around and spend a day here!"
Of course, there's the Pollyanna view:
Angie Bertinot is with the Downtown District.
"You look around here and you see a lot of empty space and some people say that is scary, but to us we see it as an opportunity,” she said.
An area with a huge concentration of nightclubs and not much else may make great nightlife, but not a great neighborhood.
"Quite frankly we are really looking at repositioning this entire part of downtown,” said Bertinot.
There’s hope a unified vision can attract a mix of high-end restaurant and retail. Only if the building owners are patient enough to wait.
Why would any business want to make a major investment in an area where vagrants are allowed to accost customers with impunity? (But hey, at least MayorWhiteChiefHurttChiefLambert have made downtown safe from renegade jaywalkers!)
It's a shame, because downtown had become kind of interesting for a brief period. Now, it resembles so much of the property along the light rail line -- abandoned, boarded up, decrepit.
PREVIOUSLY: Nothing says world-class like parking garages and eau de urine, KTRK CrimeTracker: There's some percentage of crime downtown, we think.
PHOTOS: Here's a Flickr set of photos I took around downtown yesterday.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/12/07 01:29 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (31)
Maybe we should post about our parents more on blogHOUSTON?
New Chronicle metro columnist Lisa Falkenberg followed up Friday on an earlier column about her father's views on President Bush with... yet another column about her father's views on President Bush.
So far, a full 25% of her columns (two of eight) have been about her father's views on President Bush.
It's really a shame there aren't more Houston-area topics to be covered in the metro column (apparently), but hey, the editorial page is sometimes like LiveJournal, so why not the metro pages?
In somewhat related news, we noticed that Rick Casey's mug, which had seemingly disappeared from the columnists page online, reappeared this week at the very top of the page! And with this note:
Casey is currently on sabbatical.
Perhaps The Plagiarist isn't quite ready to be forgotten?
Here's hoping he comes back with lots of stories about his family! Because that sort of thing makes for compelling urban journalism.
ANNE LINEHAN ADDS: As strange as it may seem, the Chron found a way to make us long for Rick Casey's return. Better yet, how about turning over the Metro columnist duties to Slampo?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/12/07 12:56 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (9)
Astrodome Hotel developers seek projected tax revenue to secure funding
Kristen Mack reports on the latest idea to help developers of the Astrodome Hotel get financing for the boondoggle:
Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, amended a House bill to qualify the project for hotel and sales tax rebates, which could total $150 million over 10 years.
"We have a national icon sitting unused," Janek said. "They want the ability to convert the Astrodome into something useful. If you build a hotel, it lets you keep the taxes you generate. The money wouldn't be there, but for the existence of that hotel."
Astrodome Redevelopment Corp., the private entity seeking to transform the so-called "Eighth Wonder of the World" into a luxury hotel, is counting on the future rebates to help it secure financing for the $450 million project.
"This could be the critical piece that puts them over the top, that allows this to work," County Judge Ed Emmett said. "If it's something that will help make it work, I'm willing to throw that in the mix."
Emmett noted that the county won't receive any money until the hotel is up and operating, and says it is a "long shot" such rebates would make a big difference in the overall scheme of things. "We're not putting the money into it, it's the people who choose to stay there," he said. "The county should not put any taxpayer dollars into it."
There you have two competing sentences from appointed County Judge Ed Emmett: the plan to let developers count on potential tax revenues could put them over the top for financing, but it's a long shot the tax rebates would make a difference. Well, which is it, Judge?
Getting financing based on projected revenues would be fine if this were a completely private enterprise. But it's not. The fact that developers are having problems getting private financing, even with a supposedly rosy feasibilty study in hand, does not bode well for Harris County taxpayers.
The good news is that not everyone is sold on the plan:
Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack said the county should not be in the hotel business.
"They couldn't put a deal together in a timely fashion. Now they want these tax incentives," Radack said of Astrodome Redevelopment. "If this project could stand alone, we wouldn't have this conversation. You have people who want to see the county help fund a hotel and I disagree."
Neither Radack nor Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia knew the county was pursuing the rebates. Garcia said it was premature to count on the estimates. She supports redevelopment, but not at the expense of the county.
"This whole venture, from the beginning, has been to try and get the private sector to come up with its own financing," she said. "I'm not for spending any tax dollars on this project."
Let's not forget that the chairman of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. said it has ALWAYS been an option for Harris County to develop the boondoggle:
"From day one, we have always known that it is an option to do this as a publicly developed program," said Mike Surface, chairman of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., which manages Reliant Park.
Kristen Mack's story notes that there is precedent for this:
The city of Houston used the same approach, known as the Texas Enterprise Zone program, as a vehicle to help develop the Hilton Americas next to the George R. Brown Convention Center. The program is being updated this session with House Bill 3694, which already has passed the House.
Janek changed the bill's language to qualify a county-sponsored hotel. His amendment passed out of the subcommittee on Emerging Technologies & Economic Development, which he chairs. It must now go to the Business & Commerce Committee before heading to the full Senate for a vote.
As explained here, the Hilton Americas was built with bonds secured by the city's hotel occupancy tax:
In a uniquely unusual financing strategy, the board raised development funds through the sale of AAA rated tax-free bonds secured by the city’s hotel occupancy tax. This strategy enabled the corporation to raise the significant amount of revenue needed to build a first class hotel. Even more importantly, the plan ensured that the project would be free and clear of a mortgage on the day the Hilton Americas-Houston opened.
Then Mayor White used the hotel to prop up the city's underfunded municipal pension plan, and a glut of hotel rooms in Houston kept the Hilton Americas from meeting projections.
So Astrodome Hotel developers are counting on future, potential tax revenue to secure funding. And when things don't pan out, Harris County taxpayers will be stuck with the mess.
BLOGVERSATION: Houston's Clear Thinkers.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/12/07 09:22 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (4)
11 May 2007
U.S. Attorney visits with Houston media on Compean/Ramos affair
The Chronicle's Anne Marie Kilday reports on U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's swing by the editorial offices at 801 Texas Avenue this week. Sutton's successful prosecution of border agents who shot an alleged Mexican drug smuggler and then engaged in a coverup of the affair has set off a firestorm among some critics of U.S. immigration policies (mostly conservatives), and Sutton has apparently decided to undertake a public awareness campaign in defense of his actions.
Here's an excerpt from Kilday's reporting:
Despite months of criticism from the media and members of Congress, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western District of Texas has stepped up his defense in a decision to prosecute two former Border Patrol agents who shot an illegal immigrant and suspected drug smuggler two years ago.
Sutton told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday that "the rule of law" required him to prosecute former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean who are appealing their March 2006 convictions on federal charges stemming from the February 2005 shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila. Aldrete-Davila was unarmed and fleeing the Border Patrol when he was wounded by one of 15 shots fired at him by the two agents.
The case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration reform, with immigration-control advocates and conservative House Republicans hailing Compean and Ramos as heroes unfairly prosecuted by the government.
"The facts have been misrepresented as 'These guys are American heroes doing their job, and a drug dealer has been set free,'" Sutton said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle editorial board.
"All I want to do is get the truth out, and I think the way to get the truth out is to duke it out in the public sphere," Sutton said. "That's what I am trying to do now, is to get the facts out."
The former Harris County prosecutor said he came to Houston to appear on the Edd Henry talk radio show, where the host has taken to calling him "Johnny Satan."
"I'm giving him the benefit of a doubt," Sutton said. He added: "I try not to take it personally. I went on that show because I grew up on the west side. I know Edd doesn't have many listeners, but the listeners he does have are on the west side of Houston."
It's actually the Edd Hendee show. The reporter might have gotten the name right if she or her editors had thought that perhaps a comment from Hendee was in order after that unnecessary slam from Sutton, but at least the error wasn't as bad as the following one that was recently corrected:
Houstonian Nancy Kinder, who was on the invitation list for the White House state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, is president of the Kinder Foundation. The foundation's name was listed incorrectly on Page A11 Tuesday.
You have to love those vaunted layers of editing and fact-checking!
The Edd Hendee/Pat Gray exchange with Johnny Sutton on KSEV-700 is available for download on Pat Gray's website here, and an interesting discussion has emerged on the Chron.com website.
We're going to follow David Benzion's lead on this one, and suggest that the Chron.com forum is actually the best place for what is likely to be a discussion of immigration policy, a subject that strays from our usual focus here. That's where I'll be leaving a few non-Houston-ish thoughts on the matter.
BLOGVERSATION: Cigars, Donuts, and Coffee, Lone Star Times.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/11/07 11:18 AM | Houston Media | Technorati |
10 May 2007
This rain sponsored by.... Frank Billingsley?
Did anyone notice Frank Billingsley constantly breaking in to tonight's programming on NBC?
As Frank kindly reminded us as he was telling us about the rain and lightning (in Houston! In the springtime! Who knew?!), no programming was interrupted. Just the commercials.
The advertisers must love that.
At one point, he ran a viewer photo of a piece of hail, describing it first as lemon-sized, then as golf-ball sized.
In case anyone is wondering, it's still raining at the time of posting. And I just heard a little thunder.
UPDATE: Not to be outdone, KTRK-13 had Jessica Willey reporting from a flooded intersection. She was running around out of breath. Really. Goodness.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/10/07 09:22 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (13)
09 May 2007
Cab drivers protest new airport security requirements, Mayor suspends
The Chronicle's Matt Stiles reports on an unusual protest that took place downtown yesterday and forced a (temporary) suspension of a previously approved change in security screening of airport cab drivers:
Mayor Bill White held up new security rules Tuesday aimed at taxicabs serving Houston's airports, after hundreds of frustrated drivers descended on City Hall to protest.
Toting handmade signs and loudly chanting demands for "justice," the drivers marched around the reflecting pool at 901 Bagby before filing inside to vent their concerns in front of White and the City Council.
At issue for the drivers are new rules requiring them to get photographic identification badges and submit to more stringent federal background checks in order to pickup passengers at George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.
[snip]
"We don't believe that they've done anything to deserve what's being heaped upon them by these new rules," said Deric Muhammad, of the Millions More Movement Ministry of Justice, a group helping represent the drivers.
[snip]
The city has for years required a seven-year background check through Houston police for drivers seeking a license. But the council changed the rules in February, substituting the airport system's existing 10-year check by the FBI's automated fingerprint-identification system.
Airport-system officials said the badge plan was driven by a desire to boost security, noting that everyone else doing business in their facilities is required to wear a badge and undergo a criminal background check.
There's no word on how much (if anything) Mr. Muhammad's group was paid to "represent" the drivers.
One of the most important entities in the making of policy in this town -- especially airport policy -- was quoted at the end of the story:
Robert Rugg, president of Yellow Cab, said the company supports the airport system's plan. He said it actually is an easier, faster method for getting a cab license.
"Not one driver has come to me and told me what the problem they have with it is. I really don't understand what the concern is," Rugg said. "Again, background checks have been a part of getting a cab license forever."
If Yellow Cab is on board, it's hard to foresee the new policy being scrapped, even after a second debate. And it's not entirely clear to me what is wrong with the new policy (aside from the fact that it's a new policy, and changes in bureaucratic procedures always involve some degree of hassle).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/09/07 08:37 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (14)
07 May 2007
Community activism, for fun and profit!
KRIV-26's Isiah Carey has an interesting post up about community activists allegedly arranging media coverage for their constituents/clients -- for a few grand a pop.
Here's Carey's advice to anyone approached by a community activist/shakedown artist:
People: You don't have to pay for news coverage. Just pick up the phone yourself and call KRIV, KHOU, KTRK, KPRC, KTRH, The Houston Chronicle, Houston Press, Houston Defender or CW39 yourself. We all will take your call and if you have a legitimate issue - you will get news coverage without costing you a penny.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 10:57 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (4)
METRO blogger laments late bus
After several days without posting, METRO blogger Mary Sit returned today with a story about running late for a meeting, courtesy of a METRO bus fiasco:
To make an 8 a.m. meeting, I had to arrange for a friend to come spend the night Sunday to manage the early-morning household routine, freeing me to walk out the door precisely at 7 a.m.
I was on time. The 7:07 bus never came.
[snip]
I called the general phone number on the bus stop sign, and got customer service who called dispatch. At least customer service was efficient and informative. Within seconds she told me the 7:07 a.m. bus had broken down, and the 7:25 was late due to passenger overflow.
I boarded it at 7:34 a.m., knowing I would be late. For the past three weeks or so, I had been driving into the office because I could never make the bus on time. The one day I chose to rely on the bus to make an important meeting, the bus system failed me.
For people who don't have the option of driving, this can be a pretty big problem (one that Laurence Simon documents frequently on his blog).
It would be nice if someone in operations could explain on the official METRO blog what contingency plans METRO has for such occasions, since mechanical breakdowns are to be expected from time to time. We won't be holding our breath waiting on that explanation, however.
BLOGVERSATION: TBIFOC.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 10:35 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (5)
Union Pacific criticizes METRO commuter rail/terminal proposal
The Chronicle's Rad Sallee reports that Union Pacific Railroad has serious doubts about METRO's grand commuter-rail/intermodal-terminal plans:
A Union Pacific Railroad official says the Metropolitan Transit Authority's plans to run commuter trains between the suburbs and a large intermodal terminal planned for the Near Northside probably won't work.
"We feel it is not feasible to operate commuter rail at this location," Joe Adams told the regional Transportation Policy Council last week. "We have made this clear in discussions with Metro."
METRO's John Sedlak disagrees:
Sedlak told the council that Metro's commuter rail plans are being studied for feasibility, and until the results are in, he said, "We'll have to agree to disagree."
"This is a situation where there are a number of studies under way — freight studies, relocation studies, freight examinations, line volumes, looks at various movements across the region," Sedlak said. "All that is essential. At the same time, you must examine the plans, and if you never put a plan together, you'll never accomplish any long-term objectives. This is an approach to carry forward a long-term vision, and we believe it is feasible."
So, we really need to wait for the studies, according to Sedlak, who also says the plan is feasible even though the studies aren't yet in. Gee, I wonder what the outcome of METRO's studies will be?
The conclusion of Sallee's story sounds a bit ominous:
However, Adams said an engineering solution may be possible. "If you have a very significant amount of money to devote, you can probably solve any problem," he said.
If firing the money catapult is the approach, METRO will likely prove adept at problem-solving.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 10:10 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (5)
Smash-and-grab burglar hits five area restaurants
KPRC-2 reports on five brazen smash-and-grab burglaries that occurred overnight:
Five southwest Houston restaurants were broken into within a 30-minute span early Monday, officials told KPRC Local 2.
Houston police said a Hispanic man broke into Berryhill Baja Grill, Tokyohana, Buffalo Grille, Chez Beignets and Molina's Cantina on Buffalo Speedway near Bissonnet Street at about 3 a.m.
The burglar broke windows and stole an unknown amount of cash from the restaurants, police said. Investigators said the burglar used either a mallet or a foot to break the glass.
Detectives said the burglar was last seen wearing a light blue shirt.
Police searched for fingerprints and are using surveillance video to try to determine the burglar's identity.
The burglar got away from the scenes on a bicycle, police said.
Unlike the Chronicle, KPRC is apparently not worried about encouraging those who would engage in shirt-color scorekeeping!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 09:46 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (3)
05 May 2007
Chief Hurtt wants trash dumping cameras
Let's see if we have this correct: the city wants to reduce the frequency of heavy trash pickup, so now HPD needs cameras to catch trash dumpers (via Matt Stiles on the City Hall blog):
City Council next week will consider spending $59,000 in grant money for a big truck featuring a 36-foot "manlift" device. The department needs the vehicle so its Neighborhood Protection Corps can "install and service cameras that are used to deter illegal dumping."
Er, wait. HPD wants trash dumping cameras, or it already has trash dumping cameras?
Whichever it is, HPD wants this "manlift" truck thing fast-tracked, with minimal input:
If council members and their staffs have questions, they'd better ask them quickly. The department is requesting no tags [free reg.] on the item. How convenient.
Yep, that's the way Chief Hurtt likes it.
Do you think Chief Hurtt will put some "trash dumping" cameras near apartment complexes and homes that have "too many calls for service"? That's one way for Houston's police chief to get more surveillance cameras!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/05/07 06:56 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (9)
Dynamo and Astros could be neighbors
KTRK-13's Miya Shay reports the Dynamo are looking at property east of Minute Maid park, currently used for Astros parking:
Officially, the Dynamo say they are still looking at building a new stadium either in Sugar Land or Houston. But I've learned there's been a strong push by city and sports leaders in town to keep the team in Houston. And while the final decision is still weeks away, there's been lots of scouting for a potential location.
[snip]
Luck would not go into specifics, but multiple sources say the Dynamo is seriously considering a stretch of parking lot located just east of Minute Maid Park. Owned by the Houston Sports Authority, the large surface parking lot is under a 30-year lease by the Astros. But Pam Gardner says the team's willing to share.
[snip]
The city says it's been in some intense discussions with the Dynamo. You can expect an announcement of whether the team will stay in Houston or go to the suburbs within six to eight weeks.
Which means the only question left is how much will this cost taxpayers?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/05/07 04:29 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (8)
What was the shirt's color again?
A Chronicle report on Houston's latest murder contains this less-than-useful description of the suspect:
The shooter is described as a 19-year-old male, who is about 6 foot 2 with a short fade haircut. He was last seen wearing a white multi-colored pullover shirt.
The second teen, possibly a juvenile, was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.
So, was the shirt white, or was the shirt multi-colored?
We know the Chronicle frequently declines to post descriptive information about suspects because of concerns over "racial scorekeeping." Is the newspaper now also working to discourage the intolerant practice of shirt-color scorekeeping?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/05/07 08:56 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (7)
04 May 2007
KHOU reports on problems with HPD crime reporting
KHOU-11's Mark Greenblatt has broken an important story on problems with HPD's crime reporting.
Here are some excerpts (although the story should really be read in its entirety):
Is the Houston Police Department telling you the truth about crime in our city?
A six-month 11 News investigation reveals that the answer is no.
And some experts are now saying the problems 11 News Investigates uncovered at the department are as bad as the Houston Crime Lab.
[snip]
So what’s going on?
Well police everywhere compile and keep statistics to help them fight crime.
What arrests are up and which are down and where to help them keep you safe. But 11 News has discovered the Houston Police Department has gotten things so mixed up for so long that they may actually be putting you in danger.
“It looks worse than the Houston Crime Lab,” said renowned criminologist Dr. James Fox.
11 News shared what we found with him, and he’s worried.
“You can’t trust the accuracy,” he said.
Because he sees big problems in HPD’s crime reporting.
“It really is giving an impression of the situation in Houston that is wrong,” Dr. Fox said.
Greenblatt goes into much more detail on the discrepancies he found. The response from Assistant Police Chief Charles McClelland was, to put it mildly, unimpressive.
We look forward to hearing what Chief Hurtt has to say, but of course it's the weekend, and he has no doubt headed off to his home in Arizona. Maybe next week someone can track him down for comment.
UPDATE (05-05-2007): HPD sent out a press release (which a reader was kind enough to forward) on Greenblatt's story. It's reproduced below:
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/07 11:42 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (8)
Orange Show, Art Car Parade plugged on popular travel blog
Houston is more of a business destination than a tourist destination, so Houston attractions aren't always featured heavily in newspaper travel sections or on travel websites.
Earlier in the week, though, the Orange Show and the Art Car Parade both got a nice plug on Gadling, a popular travel weblog. Here's an excerpt:
McKissack created The Orange Show in honor of his favorite fruit -- um, the orange -- and today, his organization focuses on making art tangible and accessible. One of its early makin'-it-accessible endeavors was the Fruitmobile, an art car that led to the annual Art Car Parade, which is scheduled for the weekend of May 11-13. If you're in the area, check out the parade.
That's good advice!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/07 10:37 PM | Houston Life | Technorati | Comments (1)
Editorial LiveJournalists confused over guns, METRO
On Wednesday, a Chronicle editorial on guns (oh my!) contained an embarrassing error:
Texas law prohibits guns in bars, schools and most areas of courthouses and college campuses. Local governments and churches have the right to prohibit firearms from buildings and meetings. Private employers can ban employees from bringing weapons into the workplace. Most mass transit agencies, including Metro, do not allow passengers to bring firearms aboard buses and trains.
METRO, of course, does allow passengers with concealed-carry licenses to bring concealed weapons aboard its vehicles, a policy change that the Chronicle reported in 2005.
The Chronicle did issue a correction:
An editorial on Page B10 Tuesday misstated Houston Metro's policy on firearms. Texans licensed to carry concealed handguns can board Metro buses and trains.
Texans licensed to carry concealed handguns have always been able to board METRO vehicles! The issue was whether they could board the vehicles with their weapons (an issue that was misstated by the original editorial).
While it's a pleasant departure from the norm that the Chronicle issued a correction to an error in an editorial (and did it quickly!), the language could have been more precise. It's odd that professional writers/editors have such problems writing a precise correction.
BLOGVERSATION: Lone Star Times.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/07 10:31 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (4)
03 May 2007
More importantly, does Syria have slime in the ice machines?
Here's a headline from KTRK-13's Marvin Zindler, who is, for some reason, reporting from Syria:
Hmm, well, that's probably a question best left to intelligence analysts and such.
But we're sure if there are any Syrian chicken ranches or ice machines with *ahem* any irregularities, Marvin will be right on top of it!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/03/07 10:55 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (11)
McGuff scores Berry interview
Mike McGuff posts a lengthy interview with Michael Berry, the new operations manager for Clear Channel Houston.
In the post, Berry elaborates on some of the changes he plans for Clear Channel's talk stations, and mentions several Clear Channel web initiatives.
Here's hoping the web strategy includes some real Clear Channel blogs, instead of those non-interactive webpages they insist on calling blogs. I've long thought that local talk radio and blogging were a natural combination, but it hasn't really worked out that way in Houston (so far).
BLOGVERSATION: TBIFOC.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/03/07 09:31 AM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (9)
02 May 2007
Final days for MET Masterpieces at MFAH
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's exhibit "The Masterpieces of French Painting from The Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1800-1920" is just about to end its run here in town.
The exhibition runs through May 6. Tickets may be purchased online and printed out, to save a little time at the museum.
I caught the thing late this afternoon, and it was well worth it.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/02/07 11:28 PM | Houston Arts/Culture | Technorati | Comments (8)
01 May 2007
Council to discuss curfew Wednesday
City Council will again take up the pressing issue of tightening the city's curfew tomorrow.
Here is earlier Chronicle coverage of the matter:
Children under 17 would have to be off the streets an hour earlier on weeknights under proposed changes to the curfew ordinance discussed by the City Council on Wednesday.
The earlier curfew would help deter juvenile crime, including graffiti and gang violence, Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Mike Thaler told the council Wednesday.
[snip]
Mayor Bill White, who has two teenagers at home, said he supports the stricter curfew.
"Eleven o'clock is late enough," he said. "(It) will reduce the risk to those young people, reduce the risk to the community and give new tools to law enforcement and to parents."
But some council members have their doubts.
Councilman Michael Berry said he would vote against any curfew ordinance.
"It should never be illegal to be outside your house," Berry said.
You wouldn't think so, but the nanny mayor and a majority of nannies on Council seem to think otherwise.
It's good that they have solved all of the other problems in the city -- including the overall crime problem -- and they have time for this.
RELATED COVERAGE: KUHF-88.7.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/01/07 11:56 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (10)
Immigration rally fizzles
Headline on KHOU.com this morning:
Headline on KHOU.com this evening:
In related news, Rorschach noticed something interesting about a recent anti-immigration rally held in town.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/01/07 11:35 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (4)
While we're engaging in utopian fantasies...
The Chronicle's Jennifer Friedberg writes that some Houstonians continue to believe in METRO as an economic development organization (as opposed to a regional transit/mobility organization):
Residents who attended the Southeast Corridor workshop on Wednesday night said they are hopeful that Metro rail will bring redevelopment to their forgotten neighborhood.
[snip]
Robert Thomas, a University Oaks resident who is also the executive director of the non-profit Center for Social and Economic Empowerment, which focuses on the Third Ward, said while the rail will not directly go through his neighborhood it will go near it, and he is hoping it will bring redevelopment.
"We need upgraded residential dwellings in our neighborhood, elimination of the blight and commercial development and overall beautification," he said. "It's been an ignored area."
Thomas said he would like to see dilapidated homes torn down and rebuilt, and businesses such as grocery stores, drug stores and restaurants come to the area.
Lori Davis, a Southview resident who is also the program director for the Center for Social and Economic Empowerment, said she would like to see more mixed use residential and commercial development in her neighborhood.
"I'm hoping as a result of the rail coming through it will foster redevelopment of the community," she said. "You've got to have something to support the rail."
I'm hoping that as a result of ill-conceived light rail being laid down busy streets, crime that has skyrocketed under the White Administration will start to decline.
Why not, so long as we're dreaming about things that really have no connection to light rail.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/01/07 11:06 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (8)
ADVERTISING
DISCLAIMER
All content © 2004-09, blogHOUSTON and the respective authors.
blogHOUSTON.net is powered by Nucleus.
Site design and Nucleus customization are by Kevin Whited.