30 August 2007
Accident on Spur 527 death ramp!
There was an accident on the Spur 527 Death Ramp earlier this evening. Here are a couple of (bad) photos from my cell phone:
Of course, as TXDOT's PR representatives love to say, there's nothing wrong with the ramp.
Nothing to see. Move along. Unless your 527 merge turns out badly and you must be towed.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/30/07 08:30 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (8)
Dolcefino and the Sports Authority - Part 3
Part 3 of Wayne Dolcefino's investigation of the Sports Authority gave us a glimpse of internal board members' emails and their unflattering portrayal of Billy Burge.
The story really has to be read to be believed, but some of the "highlights" include Burge's effort to get his niece hired to a $40,000-per-year position; Burge's getting a personalized love song written for his wife by someone who hoped to get future Sports Authority business; the Toyota Center garage that has cost taxpayers over a million dollars; and a ridiculous lack of public meetings (what a shocker!).
All this from a quasi-governmental agency that has access to taxpayer money, with little oversight, and no accountability. It's everything that's wrong with government, wrapped up in one nice little package. And Billy Burge is the bow on top.
In Part 4 tonight, Dolcefino hints that tax dollars might already have been used toward a soccer stadium -- another shocker!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/30/07 07:36 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (6)
29 August 2007
METRO promises a lovely world of crape myrtles; Chron applauds
On August 15, the Chronicle ran a letter from Robert McClain, who owns a business on Richmond and opposes rail on that street. Here is the letter in its entirety:
LIKE many in the coalition who oppose a Richmond rail line, I supported the 2003 referendum in which Houstonians voted for a commuter rail system on Westpark, connecting to the suburbs and supposedly to take cars off of our freeways. Now the Metropolitan Transit Authority has ignored the will of voters and converted the original plan to an "urban" system which reduces mobility. Metro proposes adding 50 new traffic lights along this rail alignment.
On peak days, 60,000 cars cross Richmond Avenue at Kirby, Shepherd and Buffalo Speedway. Yet Metro's own study said a Richmond line will create unacceptable congestion at 31 intersections - in short, expect near gridlock.
As for clean air, it will only be worse with thousands of cars jammed along Richmond Avenue intersections and increased commuter traffic on the Southwest Freeway.
The Main Street line has not removed any cars from our roads. Even the Environmental Protection Agency rejected Houston's application for pollution credits, concluding that the rail line did not reduce auto traffic.
After five years of construction, the loss of hundreds of mature trees, increased flooding, relocation of countless utility, phone and water lines, here is the punchline: It will most likely not even be rail. As in the other "rail" corridors that have been approved, it will be rubber-tired, diesel-powered, glorified buses going down a dedicated lane of traffic. It was just another "switch and bait."
Why not spend our tax dollars in ways that would really improve traffic mobility. Improve the bus service and get cars off the freeways with commuter rail; help preserve the quality of life of the entire city.
Although most of McClain's points are pretty solid, his assertion that the Richmond line will "most likely not even be rail" is an overstatement. All indications are that METRO intends that corridor to be rail, although technically it is still considering other options.
While it is not unusual for the erratic Chronicle letters editor to run letters that sometimes overstate matters (or that sometimes are just wrong), it is unusual for a Chronicle columnist to devote a significant portion of a column to debunking a reader letter. Nonetheless, that's how Chron transportation columnist Rad Sallee chose to lead his column on Monday:
Similar suspicions were raised by others who, like McClain, oppose Metro putting the route on Richmond. Metro officials emphatically deny any retreat from their light rail commitment.
"That's the wildest rumor and untruth that I've heard in a long, long time," said president and CEO Frank Wilson.
"There never has been any question that the University Corridor will be light rail," board chairman David Wolff said Thursday.
Metro spokeswoman Sandra Salazar said analysis in the voluminous Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS, for the line justifies light rail as cost-effective.
So what's the basis for doubt? That same environmental statement, according to three of the opponents.
Let's take a look.
•Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT for short, is one of four transit options examined in the DEIS. The BRT buses look somewhat like trains and would run in a guideway that Metro says is exactly like the one for rail tracks.
"Why is BRT-Convertible being seriously studied at this late date?" asks Afton Oaks resident Ted Richardson.
First, it's not as if Metro were slipping that option in at the last minute. A brief search turned up slide presentations from March and June 2006 that include BRT among the choices to be evaluated, and it was, no doubt, considered even earlier.
Why is it still one of the options? Because the evaluation process required for federal funding is still going on. If Metro wants light rail instead of BRT, it needs to justify the added expense, and the DEIS analysis is part of that case.
Including BRT also is a prudent hedge, because if the cost/benefit numbers turn out to not justify light rail, they might at least support BRT.
[snip]
There are things in the DEIS that do raise questions — and some, such as the 197 median trees to be removed, that raise major concern. Also, its ridership forecasts show only a modest advantage for light rail over BRT, given rail's considerably higher cost.
But evidence for a bait and switch on the mode of transit seems slim to zero.
At this point, nobody knows that outcome.
Evidence of an intentional "bait and switch" is slim at this point. However, Sallee concedes that "[i]ncluding BRT ... is a prudent hedge." That would seem to be evidence that BRT is an option on the table. So, while Chronicle letter writer McClain may have overstated his case, he's not completely out in left field to suggest that the Richmond-rail folks could get stuck with BRT, just like the people in other corridors who thought they were getting light rail (and not BRT) as a result of the 2003 vote.
Surely METRO appreciated a Chron columnist putting a Chron letter writer in his proper place, though. How dare the public question METRO!
Here is some of Sallee's other METRO promotional work from the last week:
Q: Some who live or work along Richmond fear that the actual number of trees lost will be much larger than 197 when you add trees on each side of the street to those in the median. What's the real total?
A [from METRO "tree guy" Burt Ballanfant]: I don't know the actual number, but it will be less than the one in the DEIS report because we're very much committed to transplanting and replacing trees.
Q: A lot of people will see the loss of mature oaks as a huge negative. Two sets of tracks and boarding platforms take up space, and the trains need room overhead for the power line. How can you avoid taking out a lot of trees?
A: Some will have to be removed, but with others you may be able to go in and have professional pruning done so the wires can go underneath them. A lot of trees may need to be picked up and moved 10 or 20 feet, but they will stay in the corridor to keep the feeling of greenery and shade and beauty.
Q: We're talking about live oaks, with deep roots and massive trunks. How can you transplant those?
A: Some may be too big to move, but trees larger than you might think can be transplanted. I have two live oaks in front of my house that came from the parking lot in front of Saks Fifth Avenue, and they're probably 12 inches (in diameter).
Q: Oaks take years to reach maturity. What will the street look like at first?
A: We'll be planting different species. In some places you may have to use something like crape myrtle, and in others you may need a tree like a pine that will grow vertically rather than widely. The thrust of this is to make sure that when rail is built along the Richmond-Westpark corridor, it is more attractive after we're done than it was to begin with.
Lovely Oak Trees along Richmond,
via my Flickr account
Here's one more snippet from Sallee's work this week, the conclusion to his story on METRO's recent public comment session:
Robin Holzer said that despite their differences, "many on both sides share the same concerns" but are separated by "a difference of trust."
Holzer urged Metro, in moving forward, "to work with neighborhoods and involve us in the planning."
Sedlak said Metro would.
The first quote from Holzer (who does not live or own a business on Richmond) is nonsensical. Seriously, if anyone can parse it intelligibly, please do so in the comments.
It's the sort of quote a journalist works in when he wants to quote a certain person, and wants to conclude his story a certain way.
And Sallee has been doing that sort of thing enough lately that we can't help but wonder if he is capable of covering this issue objectively. It wouldn't be the first time such questions have been raised about the Chronicle's ability to cover METRO objectively.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport (and here).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/29/07 10:25 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (18)
Dolcefino and the Sports Authority - Part 2
The second part of Wayne Dolcefino's look at the Houston Sports Authority aired last night.
Last night's topic was the Rockets' expensive, money-losing parking garage. Here's an excerpt:
Toyota Center in the heart of downtown is home to a chunk of the huge debt we have because we have built sports stadiums across our city. But we didn't just build a stadium for Les Alexander and his teams.
You built the Toyota Center parking garage next door. And if you want to see your tax dollars going down the drain, just enter there. You know how much money the Toyota garage has lost since it opened in 2003? We found it lost $1.2 million.
"We have a situation where the sports authority collects very little of the revenue, yet pays the lion's share of expenses," said CPA Bob Martin.
The Rockets pay the expenses and keep all the money made on game days, but you pay expenses to operate the garage the rest of the time -- a virtually empty garage.
"We've been unable during the day to get anybody to park there," said Billy Burge with the Houston Sports Authority.
Look at the receipts on one day, they totaled just $14.00. But under the lease, the sports authority inked with the Rockets, the garage has to stay open and staffed, even for a handful of Rockets executives to park there.
Dolcefino promises he'll have more on the Sports Authority tonight.
Why does this entity still exist?
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/29/07 08:39 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (24)
Houston hurries to add more red light cameras before new law takes effect
With little fanfare, the city is adding 20 more red light cameras, possibly to beat a deadline, even though the city has already installed the 50 cameras it said would be initially installed (via the Chronicle's Matt Stiles):
Houston police quietly have moved to install new red-light cameras at 20 intersections already monitored by the system, allowing citations for motorists traveling in the opposite direction, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The 20 new cameras are expected to start working Friday. Motorists caught by the new cameras would be issued warnings during a month-long grace period ending in October, police said.
The move to add more cameras, which had not been publicly disclosed, appears to conflict with the terms of a contract the City Council approved in 2006 with American Traffic Solutions Inc., the private company that installs and monitors the cameras.
That agreement includes payment arrangements with the company for a total of 50 intersection "approaches," or cameras monitoring specific directions at a location.
But department officials said Tuesday that they long had planned to increase the number of cameras at some locations, and they denied the contract limited that total to 50 intersections.
"These are different approaches at those same intersections," said Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo, who supervises the program.
And now, let's highlight some fine Martha Montalvo quotes:
Montalvo said the decision to add the new cameras had nothing to do with a new state law, which takes effect Saturday, that could require some cities to do engineering studies at new locations.
Of course not!
She also dismissed a common complaint that the new cameras were intended to generate more revenue, even as the new law requires that a portion of the fines go to a regional trauma center fund.
"This is not about revenue," she said. "This is about changing the behavior and public safety."
Of course not!
Montalvo said late Tuesday that she was not aware of any briefings to council members about the new cameras.
Of course not!
But she said Police Chief Harold Hurtt had planned to make an announcement later this week.
Before he leaves town for the weekend?
Montalvo has in the past said expanding to more sites was possible, but only after the department hired someone to study the effectiveness of the current cameras at reducing crashes.
Montalvo said Tuesday she had not arranged for such a study, but that one was still planned.
Sure.
We know it's about revenue. The city needs to recoup some of the money it'll be losing thanks to the new state law. If it was about safety and changing behavior, the city would have lengthened yellow light times.
It'd be fun to put red light cameras to a vote -- not before Council, but before the citizens of Houston.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/29/07 05:21 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (2)
28 August 2007
Earthlink cuts jobs, has no comment on delayed Wi-Fi buildout
Earthlink, the company chosen by the city of Houston to build out its citywide Wi-Fi system, has made official massive job cuts that have been rumored for a while:
Internet service provider EarthLink announced a plan today to cut 900 jobs, or about half its work force, and close four offices as part of a restructuring plan aimed at reducing operating costs.
The restructuring by the company, which has a contract to build a city-wide wireless network in Houston, will begin immediately and be completed by the end of the year, said Rolla P. Huff, the Atlanta-based company's president and chief executive. More cuts could be announced before the year's end, he said.
[snip]
There was no immediate word on how the restructuring would affect the Houston project, which has been stalled for months.
The company declined to comment on deals with specific cities, but EarthLink spokesman Jerry Grasso said they plan to discuss with each city where they are doing business the need for the city government to serve as the company's primary customer. Houston's contract is already based around that model.
"We will be talking to each city on an individual basis to discuss the needed changes in our new business model, which includes them stepping up to some sort of anchor tenancy agreement," he said.
As noted previously, Earthlink has not yet started the Wi-Fi buildout in Houston that should have begun months ago. The Chronicle's Dwight Silverman posted yesterday that the project had been "inexplicably delayed." However, there seems to be a ready explanation: Earthlink has discovered that it's going to be very difficult to turn a profit on the project, and is now trying to sort out its options, which likely include abandoning the project altogether or asking the city of Houston to increase its anchor tenancy fees.
A story in the Chicago Tribune reports that Chicago and its eminently sensible mayor have opted not to pursue the Earthlink Wi-Fi boondoggle there:
As envisioned in early 2006, Chicago was expected to become one of the first big cities in the country to blanket its streets and neighborhoods with a wireless Internet signal that would allow residents access to the Web in their homes and wherever they traveled in the city.
But technology is advancing and the cost of online access for consumers is declining so dramatically that Chicago has other avenues to promote more use of the Internet. As a result, the Wi-Fi deal lost luster when negotiations bogged down, according to sources close to the matter.
Chicago officials had intended that the city would offer infrastructure, but no cash, to a carrier that would use its own funds to build the network here. EarthLink and AT&T Inc. submitted proposals to the city, but after months of negotiations the parties were unable to reach agreement.
The companies sought a commitment from Chicago to be an "anchor tenant," agreeing to pay to use the Wi-Fi network to support city services, but the city declined.
[snip]
A few years ago when San Francisco, Philadelphia, Houston and other cities jumped into Wi-Fi, officials thought paying less than $20 a month to get a high-speed Internet connection anywhere in the city would find a lot of takers. They also thought advertising could support citywide free connections.
Results on both scores have been generally disappointing. In Lompoc, Calif., which activated its $2 million Wi-Fi network almost a year ago, the city signed up fewer than 500 users out of a population of more than 40,000.
"There's a serious dose of reality, much needed, that has come into play after all the hype last year about free, ad-driven Wi-Fi," said Craig Settles, a wireless business strategist and consultant based in Oakland.
Doses of reality can be helpful.
UPDATE: The Chronicle posts a story by Alexis Grant on this topic, although there's not much more in the way of details than there was in the AP copy.
UPDATE (2007-08-29): KHOU-11's Lee McGuire reports that Mayor White has cut a deal with Earthlink. They get to postpone the buildout, for which they currently do not have financing, and the city gets $5 million.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport, High Tech Texan, TBIFOC, Business Unusual.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/28/07 10:30 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (10)
27 August 2007
Shut down the Sports Authority (cont'd)
On tonight's 10pm broadcast, KTRK-13's Wayne Dolcefino took a closer look at the Houston Sports Authority's nice suite at Minute Maid Park.
It looks as if Dolcefino has more interesting reports lined up for the rest of the week.
We'll suggest once again that it's time to shut down the Sports Authority, which has fulfilled its purpose of constructing three major new sports facilities and serves no useful public purpose today.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/27/07 11:04 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (27)
Editorial board's rash of problems threatens to erode public confidence *
On Sunday, the Chronicle ran an editorial on NASA that was rife with errors. NASA's Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats issued a same-day press release detailing some of those errors. Chron.com commenters have pointed out the errors. At least one emailer pointed out the errors to the Chron brain trust (and blind copied me). Clearly, the Chronicle has been made aware of the errors.
Nevertheless, as Matt Bramanti notes on Lone Star Times, the Chronicle has yet to issue a correction or to run the response from Mike Coats.
While we agree wtih Bramanti's criticism of the editorial board's disregard for truth, it's not exactly the first time it's happened. This month, even. Here's a nice line from an August 18 editorial:
Michigan University's College of Aviation, in conjunction with OBAP, has partnered with five historically black colleges to create aviation fellowships and scholarships for minority students.
There are two significant problems with that line. First, Michigan's flagship comprehensive state university refers to itself as the University of Michigan, not Michigan University. Second, and much more problematic, the University of Michigan does not have a College of Aviation. The editorial should have referred to Western Michigan University, which has a well regarded College of Aviation and participates in the program described by the editorial.
I informed relevant Chronicle staffers of this error when the editorial appeared, and the response was that the editorial was written by a part-time writer, and that it was referred to that writer for correction. Maybe the writer hasn't come back to work, because the error still has not been corrected.
It's not clear why Jeff Cohen's editorial board doesn't promptly publish corrections when errors are pointed out. Then again, Cohen is the same diminutive editor who let his old friend Rick Casey engage in plagiarism with no repercussions shortly after moving to the Chronicle, so maybe it's not that surprising. It's certainly not world-class journalism, though.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/27/07 09:38 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (6)
2pm press conference set from Minute Maid; Purpura, Garner out
Several media outlets just sent out email blasts that the Astros have called a 2pm press conference for an announcement.
The That Astros Show blog (run by a journalism student who covered the Astros for MLB.com this summer) says that Purpura and Garner have been fired.
We'll find out shortly.
UPDATE: KRIV-26 also reports that Purpura and Garner will be fired. Berman's sports department usually doesn't miss on these sorts of things.
So many Chron blogs, and not a peep on Chron.com about it yet! Maybe they're all too busy being radio personalities today.
UPDATE 2: Drayton McLane just announced that Purpura is out. Tal Smith will assume the GM role on an interim basis, and a search for a permanent GM will begin tomorrow.
UPDATE 3: McLane just announced that Garner is out. Cecil Cooper will assume the manager's role on an interim basis.
BLOGVERSATION: Fire Phil Garner.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/27/07 01:58 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (11)
26 August 2007
Tomball okays red light cameras
Not wanting to be left out of the revenue-generating bonanza known as red light cameras, Tomball has approved a five-year contract with Redflex:
City Council also approved a five-year renewable contract with Scottdale, Ariz.-based Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. to install and operate a photographic traffic signal enforcement system at a minimum of four intersections — and up to 20 intersections — to record photographs and video of vehicles that run red lights.
Redflex will conduct an engineering survey to determine the intersections that warrant red-light cameras. Police Capt. Rickey Doerre said the Texas 249/FM 2920 and Texas 249/Zion Road intersections will probably rank among the top four to six that will be selected for the program.
TheNewspaper.com has examples of Redflex's ticketing expertise:
Arizona: Impossible Speed Camera Case Settled
Tennessee: Innocent Man Pays Dearly for Bogus Red Light Camera Ticket
Arizona: Black Man Sent White Man's Speed Camera Ticket
Colorado: Gardening Truck Accused of Speeding 102 MPH Over Limit
Texas: Innocent Man Faces Uphill Battle Against Camera Ticket
Tennessee: Red Light Camera Mistakes Pickup Truck for BMW
Tennessee: Red Light Camera Ticket Goes to Man Who Stopped
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/26/07 05:22 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (2)
Maybe the Midtown homeless could fix the roads?
Here's a nice bit of excavation on West Alabama near the Spur in Midtown that has apparently been left exposed and unrepaired, since last Friday (at least):
It's a little hard to see at night, as we discovered the hard way on Friday night. Luckily, it didn't seem to damage the vehicle, although it seems to have gotten deeper over the weekend. It's unclear why so many trenches are simply left this way on major streets, instead of being filled in with asphalt.
Incidentally, while I was snapping photos of the hole this morning, a homeless man "working" the nearby intersection started screaming at me and rushed over. He told me I couldn't take photos of him without his permission, or he would sue. I told him I was taking photos of the pothole, but we could call 911 right away if he wanted to file a complaint about my photos with HPD.
He just kept on ranting and raving, and I finally left. Crazy people really don't respond well to reason or logic. That's one of many reasons they shouldn't be allowed just to set up shop/camp in dangerous intersections among traffic (and among people who are strapped in by seat belts and largely defenseless IN their cars) and harass motorists and pedestrians alike.
But it's Midtown, where neither policing nor public works seems to be a priority, and crazed homeless people really do believe they "own" the public intersections they are working, right down to photography rights!
RELATED: Midtown businesses want something done about the homeless (Andy Cerota, KTRK-13 News).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/26/07 10:59 AM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (47)
25 August 2007
Whimsical transit policy: Left hand, right hand, what hand?
On Thursday, the Chronicle's Rad Sallee reported that METRO's real-estate division was about to spring into action:
The Metropolitan Transit Authority board today will consider the purchase of a former rail bed between downtown and the 610 North Loop, as well as sites for new Park & Ride lots in Katy and Pearland.
Metro plans a commuter rail line from near U.S. 290 and Hempstead Highway to a future terminal for trains and buses north of downtown, although an exact route has not been announced.
Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts refused Wednesday to discuss the transit agency's interest in the property or provide a map of it before today's meeting, set for 1 p.m. at 1900 Main.
On Friday, Sallee reported that METRO decided it might be worthwhile to think over the matter and talk to other local actors before barreling ahead:
The Metropolitan Transit Authority shelved a planned vote Thursday to buy a former freight rail bed for commuter rail, after learning - to board members' surprise - that the city plans a bike trail there.
Board member Rafael Ortega said news that Metro is interested in the route had "created some concern in the community." He suggested that Metro should "communicate our regret to the city of Houston and TxDOT for jumping the gun."
Chairman David Wolff said that was not necessary, but agreed that the agenda item had been premature. Metro staff will discuss the proposal with Houston officials before a vote is rescheduled, he said.
Wolff said the property, now owned by the Texas Department of Transportation and formerly by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, was considered as a possible route from the northwest area to a planned terminal north of downtown for buses, light rail and commuter trains.
Whoops!
As noted in an earlier post, transit policy in Houston certainly does have its whimsical aspects, and this is a nice example.
We're fairly sure this planned acquisition will return to the agenda at some point, however. METRO usually is persistent about pursuing what it wants.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/25/07 01:23 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (5)
Perils of at-grade (freight) rail/vehicular traffic interaction
Christof Spieler of the transit advocacy group Citizens' Transportation Coalition posts an interesting 1953 report on Houston's problems with at-grade rail lines, and continues with a discussion about the surprising salience of the report's observations and recommendations to Houston's ongoing policymaking with regard to freight rail operations. Here's Spieler's conclusion:
What’s ahead is a process of prioritizing. TxDOT’s Houston Freight Rail Study has proposed hundreds of individual projects: grade separations, street closings, added track, relocated yards. We do not have the money to do all of them; the hardest task will be to figure out which to do first. Equally important is doing them right; some of the projects in the Study make sense, but others could damage neighborhoods rather than help them. And all this needs to happen in coordination with other agencies: TxDOT’s highway plans, METRO’s light rail and BRT lines, and the county’s commuter rail proposals.
We’ll only get good results here if the public is involved. It’s absolutely critical that the District keep the public informed and seek neighborhood input on overall goals and on specific projects. And it’s important that neighborhoods that are living with freight rail lines pay attention.
The good news is that this could be a win-win. It’s possible to design projects that will make neighborhoods quieter, safer, and easier to get around in, reduce traffic jams at railroad crossings, and take trucks off the roads by reducing railroad congestion.
The excerpt I've bolded is the only reference to METRO's light-rail operation in the entire post, which otherwise focuses on freight rail.
METRO, of course, is planning a massive expansion of at-grade rail lines in the near future. If the Main Street Danger Train line is any indicator -- and it would seem to be a better empirical indicator than editorializing from pro-METRO blogs and newspapers -- then the further expansion of at-grade rail lines along busy vehicular traffic corridors is likely to result in an increase in the number of dangerous rail/traffic intersections and associated vehicular traffic congestion.
Those two problems of at-grade-rail/traffic interaction figure prominently in the 1953 report cited by Spieler, so it's interesting that he focuses exclusively on the impact of freight rail (and not passenger rail). It's not really surprising, though, since CTC has long championed running light rail down busy Richmond (even as it told gullible local journalists that it merely wanted all options studied, and didn't prefer any alignment, something we now know was untrue). Running at-grade rail down Richmond will contribute to vehicular gridlock along Richmond and will create more dangerous intersections along the street, so we're not entirely surprised that Spieler restricted this discussion to freight rail lines, even though the same logic should apply to the Richmond light-rail alignment his group has long favored.
Transit policy formation in Houston often has its whimsical side, even from organizations that construct really nice graphics.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/25/07 01:15 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (1)
It's time for another installment of "We're as good as Dallas!"
From time to time -- usually around sporting events -- the Houston daily runs one of those insipid articles on the presumed "Houston-Dallas" rivalry. Typically, comparisons are made across several categories, and we are advised that Houston really does compare favorably with Dallas!
With the preseason Texans-Cowboys NFL game coming up tonight, the Chronicle's latest effort to boost our municipal self-esteem is posted here.
It's not clear that Dallas residents or journalists ever give so much thought to their alleged Houston "rival." But it's nice of the editors at the Houston daily to try to make us (or maybe themselves?) all feel better about things from time to time.
PREVIOUSLY: We may not be world class, but we're as good as Dallas, Houston elites: We're not inferior to Dallas! Really!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/25/07 12:21 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (10)
23 August 2007
Newspaper vendor killed in west Houston
The Chronicle reports that another street vendor has been killed while peddling newspapers, this time in west Houston:
A 70-year-old man selling newspapers by the side of the road died Wednesday after a car struck him near the intersection of S. Dairy Ashford and Westheimer, police said.
A man was driving a white Chevrolet Camaro north in the center lane of S. Dairy Ashford about 4:15 p.m. when he lost control of his car and swerved into the left lane across the median and struck a white Saturn sedan that was stopped waiting in the left turn lane, said Sgt. L.H. Leffler of HPD.
The Camaro then struck the man selling newspapers in the median and hit a tan Toyota SUV before coming to rest on top of the median, Leffler said.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The headline identifies the street vendor as a "pedestrian," which isn't quite right. He was a newspaper street vendor.
The story also reports that the vendor was selling newspapers "by the side of the road." Later, the report is that he was "selling newspapers in the median." It's unclear why Chronicle copy editors don't catch such discrepancies before stories are posted.
We assume that the newspaper being sold was the Chronicle (we've never seen the New York Times or Wall Street Journal distributed this way in Houston). After this latest fatality, we urge the Chronicle to abandon the dangerous and annoying practice of employing street vendors to distribute its newspaper in the middle of busy streets. Streets are dangerous enough for Houston drivers, and are no place for impromptu markets, no matter how badly the Chronicle's circulation figures continue to sag.
PREVIOUSLY: Chronicle vendor killed in unsafe work environment, Chron sues for constitutional right to sell papers in streets.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/23/07 07:01 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (17)
22 August 2007
Buh bye, Billy Burge
Longtime Sports Authority Chairman Billy Burge has decided (agreed?) to leave the quasi-governmental agency:
Billy Burge, who played a major role in building Houston's three professional sports venues, will not be reappointed to the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.
Burge said he had served long enough on the authority — 10 years — and Mayor Bill White said he wanted to inject new blood into the authority.
Commissioners Court recommended Tuesday that the authority's vice chair, J. Kent Friedman, take the chairman's job.
White also has nominated Friedman, and the City Council will take up the matter at an upcoming meeting.
The authority's chairman must be approved by Commissioners Court and the City Council.
It appears a bit of a power struggle contributed to the decision:
Burge said his decision to leave the authority comes two months after he asked the board to consider whether Janis Schmees, hired as the authority's executive director a year ago, should be replaced. The board rejected the idea.
"Janis Schmees is doing an excellent job, hustling and trying to find sporting events for Houston," Friedman said.
During that same meeting, the board debated the chairman's role and whether the chairman could make decisions without the board's approval.
Burge said he helped make executive decisions at the sports authority in the six months between former executive director Oliver Luck's resignation and Schmees' hiring last summer.
"Last week, I visited with (Burge), and he said he wanted to move on," White said. "I think it's good for boards and chairs to turn over from time to time."
We still agree with Paul Bettencourt and Tom Kirkendall: The Sports Authority's mission is complete; the agency should be dissolved. There are other local agencies that can be "hustling and trying to find sporting events for Houston."
But, back to Mr. Burge: Now he can fill his days attending Grand Parkway meetings, and supporting Harris County Judge Ed Emmett in his election bid.
But he probably doesn't have a future in radio.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/22/07 07:59 PM | Houston People | Technorati | Comments (28)
BTC meetup, Friday night
Lose an Eye, It's a Sport announces a Friday night blogger gathering (of sorts).
The Byzantio Transportation Consortium will be getting together for some '80s music courtesy of Houston's best cover band, Molly and the Ringwalds, this Friday at the Continental Club at 7pm.
We may retire afterwards to the West Alabama Ice House to chat about transit policy, the Texans, or whatever comes to mind.
Lose an Eye writes more about the Byzantio Transportation Consortium (a grassroots organization!) in this earlier post.
Come hang out with us Friday night, if you're so inclined.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/22/07 12:24 PM | Announcements | Technorati | Comments (25)
21 August 2007
Houston's transit backbone has a spasm?
I was driving through Midtown tonight, and noticed that METRO's light-rail "transit backbone" was having some difficulties:
The Danger Train rail line was shut down in both directions at Main near Cleburne, with several METRO technicians working on some sort of problem, and several more METRO folks watching them work.
We probably won't hear about the problem on METRO's blog or website (those are devoted to positive spin, after all). Here's hoping METRO dispatched buses to get people around.
UPDATE: KPRC-2 and the Chronicle finally covered the news.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/21/07 09:24 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (11)
John Lopez has left the building
For a couple of weeks at least, rumors have bounced around that the Chronicle brass is not happy about the newspaper's scribes working so many hours on local talk radio stations, and is especially unhappy about the sportswriters who are reading ads on talk radio.
Yesterday, Richard Connelly speculated that John Lopez might actually leave the Chronicle and take his chances on the radio side, working with sponsors.
Today, Lopez confirmed on his Chron.com blog that he is indeed leaving the newspaper. He will still be doing his radio show on KBME-790 (at least as long as that station is around -- it's hard to see four sports talk stations surviving), and he will also be involved in some sort of fantasy-bus-charter business. His full explanation is here. He does not say whether the Chron's talk-radio policies for sportswriters influenced his decision.
I have to say that if I were ever to land a newspaper column (not that I have ever tried, and not that it would ever happen anyway), they'd have to drag me kicking and screaming away from the keyboard. But apparently Lopez thought it was time to move on. Here's wishing him the best -- and that he'll keep blogging about sports, somewhere.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/21/07 07:02 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (10)
20 August 2007
We're #1 (in commuting expense)!
Prolific commenter Vernon Guy passes along a Forbes article by Matt Woolsey that reports Houston is tops when it comes to commuting costs:
It's often said that the trip to work can kill you. But if you live in Houston, what really takes a beating is your wallet.
There, the average commuter spends 20.9% of his annual household costs on getting to work.
He's not alone. Cleveland, Detroit, Tampa, Fla., Kansas City, Mo., and Cincinnati also landed on our list of the country's biggest cities where transportation eats up a fifth or more of household costs. The study, by nonprofit research firm Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (STPP), draws on 2003 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the most recent available. The study looked at annual transit costs such as gas, tolls and public-transit fare, as well as money spent on car payments and maintenance.
Robert Puentes, a metropolitan policy fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., says, "In Houston, the cost of transportation is the No. 1 household expense, above shelter."
But that's in part because Houstonians spend a lower than average proportion of their take-home pay on housing.
And that's the trade-off.
The percentage of household income Houstonians spend on transportation may be the highest in the country, but when combined with the amount residents spend on housing expenses, Houston's aggregate cost ranks them 14th, with the composite cost equaling 52% of household income.
Transit costs are high because Houston has few policies hindering sprawl, which in turn allows for cheaper housing. In San Francisco, which is much denser and has more prohibitive zoning laws than Houston, residents rank 22nd in commute costs but fifth in the combination of housing and transportation.
Please discuss in the forum.
BLOGVERSATION: Sit, Ubu, Sit, Houston Strategies.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/20/07 09:49 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (15)
19 August 2007
1560 - The Game launches Monday
After a summer of sports talk shuffling and speculation, the new sports/guy talk station KGOW-1560 launches on Monday.
Here's the daytime lineup, courtesy of the 1560 The Game website:
6-10 John Granato
10-12 Richard Justice
12-2 Ken Hoffman
2-6 Sean and John
I didn't include any later shows, because KGOW isn't going to have any kind of nighttime signal for a while, so it's really kind of moot.
It will be nice to hear Granato in the mornings again, as Houston's current morning sports talk lineups are unlistenable (as is MOJO 950 KPRC in the mornings). Richard Justice has some great guests lined up for his launch. Ken Hoffman promises a great radio mystery guest on his first program (we hope it's not the mystery pooper!) and at least one excellent sports guest. I have no idea what to expect from the Sean and John show, beyond some good sports smack from the Cablinasian (but they can't be any worse than the Cynthia Hunt/Michael "Babe Pages" Berry fiasco on MOJO 950 KPRC last Friday or Rich Lord's program on KILT-610 in the same rough time slots).
How long can four sports talk stations last in Houston?
BLOGVERSATION: Mike McGuff, Four DVRs, No Waiting (and more here).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/19/07 08:12 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (19)
Months after approval, still no start to muni Wi-Fi build-out
The Chronicle's Alexis Grant and Matt Stiles report that Earthlink is already behind on its scheduled rollout of municipal Wi-Fi:
Months after the City Council approved a contract to allow EarthLink Inc. to blanket Houston with a wireless network, the build-out still has not begun.
The delay is prompting concern that the company, which publicly has said it is rethinking its business model, may be having doubts about whether to proceed in Houston as planned.
Mayor Bill White acknowledged Friday that the company is two or three months behind schedule. But he said EarthLink is obligated under contract to build the network within a certain time, so if there are significant delays Houston would receive compensation.
[snip]
The company has yet to sign an agreement with CenterPoint Energy to lease its light poles for the project, according to CenterPoint spokeswoman Leticia Lowe. City officials expected that to happen soon after the council approved the city's contract in mid-April.
[snip]
The city contract allows EarthLink to build a wireless network over Houston's 640 square miles. Residents, city employees and visitors then would be able to access the network for a fee through an Internet service provider.
The city agreed to pay the company $2.5 million during the next five years to serve as the anchor tenant.
But EarthLink officials, who declined to comment for this story, have expressed unease recently about the financial viability of wireless projects, which have yet to prove on a scale as large as Houston's that they will draw enough customers to make a profit.
The project here is expected to require an investment of about $50 million, according to EarthLink and city officials.
Fiscal reality may finally be setting in for Earthlink.
Local blogger and techie Larry Hendrick has been talking about the economics of municipal wifi and the holes in the city's plan for quite some time now, so this news probably comes as no surprise to him or his readers.
It will be interesting to see if Earthlink decides to proceed with the current agreement, bails on the agreement (with whatever financial penalties that apply), or tries to renegotiate with the City to charge even more for anchor tenancy.
BLOGVERSATION: High Tech Texan, Professors R-Squared.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/19/07 04:36 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (5)
If only the proletariat would rally around the visionary architect-councilmember...
In her weekly politics column, the Chronicle's Kristen Mack profiles Councilmember Peter Brown, who desperately wants to be Houston's next boss, er, mayor. Here are some interesting excerpts:
Brown suffers from rich guy syndrome — he's the only council member who has original artwork from Monet and Picasso hanging in the hallways of his home — which causes him to be idealistic and creates blind spots in his thinking.
[snip]Government's job, Brown says, is to create a middle class and increase the creation of wealth. That requires a vision, which leads to a plan, policy, standards and then continuity.
[snip]
Brown is in the process of considering whether he can be a visionary mayor for the city of Houston. He's already adopted a potential platform: creating a global, green and good city. By that he means creating a "quality of place to attract people here," more parks and open space and addressing social issues head on.
Brown says he is being drafted to run for mayor in 2009. A group of friends, led by lawyer Jim Robertson, have formed an exploratory committee encouraging him to run.
Ah yes, the old reliable "Draft X" movement formed by "friends." For the good of the city (Peter Brown), county (Charles Bacarisse), state (Rick Noriega), or country (Fred Thompson/Al Gore). Completely spontaneously, of course! *wink*
Quite a few people likely share Councilmember Brown's concern for quality-of-life issues. However, one suspects that most Houstonians don't share Councilmember Brown's views on using the heavy hand of government to force folks to abide by the whims/wisdom of elitist planners like the Architect-Councilmember, who sometimes seems as out of touch with everyday middle-class life as Stanley Fish! For that reason, it seems unlikely we'll be calling him Architect-Mayor Brown in a few years, however much money he decides to spend on the race.
Matt Stiles has posted the Peter Brown Manifesto to the NewsWatch: City Hall blog. It is an entertaining read.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/19/07 04:21 PM | Houston People | Technorati | Comments (8)
Houston Zoo loses last rhino, gains toilet art
The Houston Zoo lost its last rhinoceros this week:
Bu, a gentle Southern white rhino who enjoyed a good scratching from keepers and a roll in his mud wallow, has died from complications of old age.
He was 39.
His passing early Thursday leaves the Houston Zoo without rhinos for the first time since Bu and his companion Marci (short for Marcibit) arrived at the zoo in the summer of 1971.
The story is lengthy, but it never addresses whether zoo officials have any plans to acquire replacement rhinos.
Oh well, at least folks paying steadily increasing admission fees can enjoy new toilet art. How World Class!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/19/07 03:57 PM | Houston Life | Technorati | Comments (4)
18 August 2007
Longer yellow-light times decrease red-light running (cont'd)
TheNewspaper.com highlights what happened at a red-light camera intersection in Springfield, Missouri, when the yellow-light time was increased:
Springfield, Missouri found that lengthening the yellow signal warning time at intersections that had previously been selected for the city's new red light camera program has now eliminated profit from the system. The city has decided to address this problem by moving its cameras to intersections where the yellow warning time has been shortened by at least half-a-second.
Just remember -- it's about safety, not revenue.
PREVIOUSLY: bH posts on yellow light times
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/18/07 08:47 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (2)
17 August 2007
Recognition for the Chronicle
We all know the mainstream media hold themselves in very high regard. Why, these are professional journalists! These people went to journalism school, you know! Well, the American Thinker blog has put together a list of "professional" media oopses:
Offenses include lying and fabricating, doctoring photos, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, falling for hoaxes, and overt bias. Some are hilarious, such as an action figure doll being mistaken for a real soldier. Some are silly, such as reporting on a baseball game watched on TV. Some are more serious
Check out number 44:
Houston Chronicle, Light Rail Controversy (2002). Admitted bias. An internal memo outlined how the paper would promote the light rail project in Houston and do research into Tom Delay and other light rail opponents. That would be creating the news rather than reporting it.
Hugh Hewitt calls the list the "MSM Hall of Shame." It's always nice when the Chron is recognized for its work.
PREVIOUSLY: Houston Chronicle "Rail Memo" Mirror
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/17/07 04:57 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (6)
16 August 2007
Emmett tweaks Bacarisse, "Friends" fire back
A couple of weeks ago, the Chronicle's Kristen Mack reported on a bit of political gamesmanship/fiscal leadership (the term you prefer depends upon your loyalties, I suppose) from selected-not-elected County Judge Ed Emmett:
At last week's Commissioners Court meeting Emmett slapped the hand of potential rival District Clerk Charles Bacarisse, who is eyeing a run for county judge. Emmett delayed a vote on Bacarisse's annual leadership retreat by questioning the cost to taxpayers.
This year would be the district clerk's eighth retreat to Moody Gardens for 23 of his staffers.
"It's a boondoggle trip down to Galveston," Emmett said. "Spending $8,000 to take county employees down there and miss two days of work for something called leadership could be perceived as a bad (use) of taxpayer dollars.
This week, the Friends of Charles Bacarisse fired back. Here's an excerpt:
Despite adding at least three newly created positions to his own staff, at an additional annual cost of roughly $197,000 to county taxpayers, newly appointed County Judge Ed Emmett has recently led the Harris County Commissioner's Court in denying a comparatively modest amount of funds for basic operations by staff members in the Harris County District Clerk's office run by Charles Bacarisse — a potential, but as-yet unannounced, GOP primary opponent to the little-known Mr. Emmett.
Let's first look at how Mr. Emmett is lavishly spending additional county tax dollars in his own office. To start, Mr. Emmett has created two new "policy" positions in the office of county judge: his new policy "director," who used to work for him in Washington, DC and who now makes approximately $85,000 a year (based on her $41.05 hourly wage at a full-time rate); and Emmett's new policy "analyst," who used to work for The Emmett Company and who now makes roughly $42,000 a year (based on his $20.19 an hour wage). These two new hires alone make for as much as $127,000 in new salary costs for policy advisors that Mr. Emmett's predecessor, Robert Eckels, did not require.
A third new hire by Mr. Emmett, director of his newly created "placement and employment" department, makes another $70,000 a year based on her hourly wage at a full-time rate. As with policy advisors, Judge Eckels likewise did not require a "placement" director, nor did he need the three different personal "assistants" of various stripes that Mr. Emmett now has. In fact, according the County Auditor's office, the county judge's staff under Mr. Emmett has expanded from 45 full-time positions at the end of February 2007 to 51 in the current pay period. We also understand there are significant renovations on the fourth floor of the county administration building at 1001 Preston to accommodate Mr. Emmett's growing empire. The total cost for Mr. Emmett's spending spree to local taxpayers is not yet clear.
We suspect that these developments have Friend of Bill and likely Dem Harris County Judge candidate David Mincberg smiling.
Incidentally, did anyone see our selected-not-elected County Judge on television discussing the flooding, in his lovely green Harris County polo shirt, with "County Judge Ed Emmett" featured on one side (link to KTRK-13 video)? I felt a little embarrassed for the guy, who either has trouble remembering his name or is really feeling insecure about being the selected-not-elected incumbent.
BLOGVERSATION: ABC13.com Political Blog.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/16/07 11:48 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (4)
15 August 2007
Council approves West Dallas, Bolsover land deals
City Council officially approved Mayor White's $6 million shakedown of the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation today:
The Houston City Council voted today to sell a 6.7-acre tract on West Dallas near Shepherd and Allen Parkway to the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation.
The unanimous vote capped a long and sometimes heated negotiation between city officials and the center, which had occupied the land since 1963 under a 99-year contract that the city recently declared invalid.
[snip]
"It will be one of my great moments as a member of council, that we decided to do the right thing for the people that live there and to choose people over land," Councilwoman Sue Lovell said.
Declaring a (previously valid) lease invalid in an effort to shake down the Center (successfully, as it turns out!) shouldn't be a matter of pride, no matter how much the Mayor and his Council try to spin their shakedown after the fact.
Speaking of spin, Charles Kuffner posts this description of Mayor White's comments before this item was considered:
During the discussion of the agenda item, before the vote was taken, Mayor White spoke somewhat cryptically about a piece of direct mail that went out in the early stages of the city's negotiations with the Center that attacked the city's motives and made some statements that the Mayor called untrue. You could tell that he was upset about this - he specifically said that if the senders of that mail had really wanted to do something constructive, they would have given money to the Center instead of spending it on that attack mailer - though he didn't go into any detail about its origins. You could also tell that he hadn't spoken of this before in public, because everyone I asked about it, including folks who were representing the Center, didn't know anything about it.
Without seeing the alleged direct mail, I can't really comment on it. However, we do know that sometimes our mayor can be thin-skinned when it comes to public criticism, and we can understand that he would have preferred his Boot The Mentally Retarded Shakedown discussion to have remained private, instead of becoming a matter of public debate (and criticism). Picking on retarded children publicly isn't the best imagery for mayors with aspirations to higher political office, after all. It will be interesting to see if the Chronicle Editorial LiveJournalists (aka Mrs. White) supplement the Mayor's spin later in the week!
In other land-transaction business today, Council approved the transfer of a section of Bolsover to a developer for $1.5 million:
This is not the first time the city has abandoned a road.
Not even in the Rice Village area.
But Houston Mayor Bill White says the way this one happened made him want to rethink the way the city does this in the future. “What we’ve done here is really try to make reasonable improvements.”
For two weeks the Mayor has been working on new procedures the city should follow when it sells public streets.
In this case the city got two appraisals for the property, which were nearly $1 million apart.
Mayor White says next time, the process shouldn’t be so haphazard.
If Mayor White (and the principal Councilmember who worked this deal, Anne Clutterbuck) truly thought the process was haphazard, they certainly could have slowed it down and brought more order to it. The fact is, there were some legitimate questions about the appraisal process and whether the city was getting proper value for the tract in question, and Mayor White didn't see that as a reason to slow or modify the "haphazard" process considerably. Presumably, Mayor White and Councilmember Clutterbuck think they secured a good deal for the city, although that's not completely clear at this point.
RELATED COVERAGE: KHOU-11, KTRK-13, Inside Central Houston.
MORE MAYORAL PR SPIN: Off the Kuff.
BLOGVERSATION: A Veneer of Certainty.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/15/07 11:32 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (43)
It's going to rain!!!!
The tropical storm is about to hit the Gulf Coast, and local TV news stations are excitedly gearing up their "team coverage" of the event.
It's probably going to rain in Houston!
There's really not much more to say -- but the TV news folks are, of course.
If you see any particularly entertaining weather-related antics on your favorite TV news broadcast, please feel free to post them in the forum.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/15/07 10:24 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (15)
It's always fun when the Editorial LiveJournalists tackle the globe
Today, in an editorial advocating universal healthcare, the Editorial LiveJournalists discovered a new country:
It is no wonder that in 41 nations — including Japan, most of Europe, and Jordon — citizens can expect to live longer than the average American. Part of Americans' morbidity has nothing to do with access to medical care and everything to do with their diets of empty calories and sedentary lives.
I have an advanced degree in international relations, but I had not heard of this Jordon until today. Of course, I had also not heard of the new treaty discovered by the Editorial LiveJournalists a while back either. Reading the Chron editorial page is certainly informative!
Hat tip to Matt Bramanti for spotting this new country earlier.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/15/07 11:30 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (2)
14 August 2007
Council committee considers park set-aside proposal
The Chronicle's Mike Snyder reports that the City of Houston may soon enact legislation requiring developers either to set aside park space or pay the city significant fees:
A draft ordinance reviewed by a City Council committee Monday would require a developer who built 100 houses to provide 2.6 acres for park space or pay an $80,000 fee.
The ordinance, which city officials hope to have in place by Oct. 1, would be one of the most significant new regulatory requirements in years for Houston's politically powerful development industry. Leaders of single-family home and apartment development organizations said they supported the measure in principle but were concerned about some details.
A sidebar provides more details:
LAW'S HIGHLIGHTS
• The requirement: Developers of single-family or multi-family residential developments would have to provide land for park space or pay a fee.
• Park formula: 10 acres times number of housing units times 2.6 average household size, divided by 1,000. That means a developer building a project with 100 units would have to set aside 2.6 acres of space.
• Fee formula: $800 per housing unit.
• Goal: 10 acres of parks per 1,000 new residents as Houston grows.
• Not affected: Commercial development projects; areas in Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Lest anyone be concerned these requirements are unfair to developers, the architect of the ordinance says that's not true:
Andy Icken, a deputy public works director assigned by Mayor Bill White to help develop the measure, said its formula for determining land or fees required is consistent with those in other Houston-area cities that have park set-aside laws.
Its intent, Icken said, is to ensure that as Houston's population grows, it provides 10 acres of parks for each 1,000 additional residents, which is far short of the 25.5 acres per 1,000 residents recommended by the National Parks and Recreation Association.
In other words, the legislation is not as draconian (or green, depending on your perspective) as it might be.
The debate over this (rushed?) ordinance could prove to be interesting.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/14/07 10:35 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (39)
It's time for more METRO service adjustments!
Laurence Simon notes that METRO is promising another round of "service adjustments" on August 26, 2007.
This latest round of "service adjustments" doesn't look as if it will get METRO much closer to fulfilling the promise it made to voters in the 2003 referendum to boost bus service by 50%. A different page brags about the hours METRO is adding to the system but doesn't mention the hours being cut in the latest round of "service adjustments."
But hey, it's METRO. Promises made to voters really don't matter all that much when there is utopia to be constructed.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/14/07 09:33 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (1)
13 August 2007
Way to serve the community, Metro!
Last week, the Memorial Examiner ran a story about how the Spring Branch Family Development Center was given the cold shoulder by Metro, after being promised four years ago that the taxpayer-funded transit agency would expand bus service in the Spring Branch area:
Barnes has been lobbyingMetro to expand bus service in Spring Branch since the Family Development Center opened in 2001 and came close to success when Metro announced four years ago that it would inaugurate a north-south line on Bingle-Voss-Hilcroft that would run from south of Richmond to near U. S. 290 in Spring Branch.
The route was supposed to open in August 2003 but Metro’s leadership changed, and the new line was scuttled. The executive who supported it was reassigned.
As the story notes, the center was on the receiving end of a large charitable donation that enabled it to provide its own transit service for those in need, in spite of Metro's unwillingness to follow through on a promise:
For just $10 a month, Spring Branch residents who have no means of transportation can get portal-to-portal service to area medical clinics, markets and social service offices on a 14-passenger bus purchased by the Spring Branch Family Development Center with funds donated by an anonymous benefactor.
Recall that Metro doesn't like bus routes to have a more than $6 per-rider subsidy, but doesn't mind the almost $25 per-rider subsidy light rail requires.
You might also find it interesting that Metro's sales tax allocation for August was more than $46 million.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/13/07 07:39 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (9)
12 August 2007
Klineberg: A mature Houston is a Houston that embraces planning
Today's Outlook section runs an op-ed by Rice University's Stephen Klineberg about how his annual Houston Area Survey shows that experts and residents agree that the health of Houston's future depends on higher taxes and urban planning:
The emerging consensus is echoed by the goals articulated in the Greater Houston Partnership's "2005-2015 Strategic Plan," in speeches by Mayor Bill White, and in virtually all the communitywide envisioning efforts undertaken in recent years. Just about everyone now recognizes that if Houston's prosperity is to be sustained in the 21st century economy, we will need to make far more substantial public and private investments both in the region's aesthetic and environmental qualities, and in education and other forms of "human capital."
Part of what makes this consensus so impressive is how different it is from Houston's traditional conception of the "good business climate." The city was built almost entirely by developer decisions, by a business community seeking above all else to maximize its short-term, firm-level profits. As Robert Fisher, then a professor of social work at the University of Houston observed in 1990, "the ideological thrust in Houston in the 20th century has been anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-planning, anti-taxes, anti-anything that seemed to represent, in fact or fantasy, an expansion of the public sector or a limitation on the economic prerogatives and activities of the city's business community." Houston has benefited tremendously from the vision and generosity of the civic and business leaders who built this city, but today's challenges call for a decisive maturation of such a narrowly conceived "pro-business" agenda.
Did you catch that? Klineberg says the "pro-business" agenda, which has made Houston as successful and wonderful as it is today, is immature. The mature agenda is the urban planner's vision, which, according to Klineberg, is what Houston needs now, along with substantial public investments -- taxes! And to back up his assertion, he cites the results of his 2007 Houston Area Survey:
• By 59 percent to 36 percent, area residents said they were in favor of "raising taxes to make major improvements in the Houston area's quality of life, such as pollution control and park improvements."
• Fifty-four percent said that the best way to spend the region's transportation dollars would be "to improve rail and buses." Only 37 percent called for more spending "to expand existing highways."
• When asked about the impact of an additional million residents on the area's living conditions, fully 50 percent said that such growth would make things worse. Just 20 percent thought conditions would improve.
• The concerns about unfettered growth translate into strong support for some form of planning: 70 percent agreed that, "We need better land-use planning to guide development in the Houston area." Only 22 percent believed instead that, "People or businesses should be free to build wherever they want."
• Finally, among all area residents in this famously "unplanned city," 83 percent were strongly or somewhat in favor of "creating a general plan to guide Houston's future growth." Just 11 percent were opposed.
Just like the previous post, something's missing from this piece -- a link to the actual survey! As we know from experience, anyone can make a poll say what they want it to say, just by framing the questions a certain way. So how did Klineberg pose the questions?
Well, we can visit the Houston Area Survey website and see previous years' questions (2007's don't seem to be included in all categories) to get an idea of how the questions were framed. Take for example, taxes. Klineberg says 59 percent support increasing taxes in order to fund quality of life improvements. This looks to be one of the categories where 2007's questions aren't listed (if I overlooked where the question is, please let me know), but on this page we can see what tax-type questions were asked in previous years, along with the results. Last year, this question was asked:
In today's economy, local government may be faced with the choice of either increasing taxes or reducing services. Would you personally be willing to pay higher taxes in order to maintain the current level of public services, or would you prefer to reduce the level of services in order to avoid a tax increase? If that were the only choice, which would you prefer: raise taxes or reduce services?
That's fairly loaded. The results (of 765 asked) were 53 percent in favor of raising taxes, and 36 percent in favor of reducing services.
Not included was the suggestion that the city could reprioritize some of the fluff that is in every budget -- you know, kind of like we all have to do with our personal finances. Most of us can't walk up to our boss and demand a raise just because the finances are a little tight.
As an aside, I love this question asked in previous years:
Agree/Disagree: Houston city government has plenty of tax money to pay for all the needed services.
The last time this question was asked was in 1997. The results? Sixty-three percent agreed that the city had plenty of tax money to pay for all needed services. It hasn't been asked since!
The point here is it would have been helpful if Klineberg and the Chronicle had included a link to this year's questions and methodology, instead of just expecting (hoping for?) readers to accept Klineberg's interpretation of the results. Isn't that one of the great benefits of having these things on the web?
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/12/07 03:16 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (8)
Where's the rest of the story?
There's something missing from today's Chronicle story about "dozens of lawmakers" who have failed properly to report credit card expenses charged to their campaigns:
The Texas Ethics Commission has fined three legislators in the last year for failing to properly disclose credit card expenses charged to their campaigns, but a Houston Chronicle review has found that dozens of other lawmakers have done the same without being sanctioned.
Texas legislators slapped down the plastic to charge more than $1 million in political expenses since January 2005, but failed to disclose who actually received the bulk of the money, nearly $900,000, the analysis shows.
The Chronicle's review of ethics commission records between Jan. 1, 2005, and June 30 found few complying with a 1981 law that requires disclosure of the person or company that receives a credit card payment and the purpose of the expense.
As several Chron.com commenters also noticed, what's missing is the actual report, so we can see who the "dozens of lawmakers" are. Named in the story are eight legislators, four Republicans and four Democrats, but nowhere in the body of the story, on the sidebar, or even in the Texas Politics blog is there a link to the Chron's analysis.
Two Houston representatives are named in the Chron's story: Rep. Rick Noriega and Rep. Garnet Coleman. Rep. Coleman blamed his lack of compliance on his 72-year-old mother's inability to understand the electronic filing software (maybe he needs an accountant?), while a consultant for Rep. Noriega said half the charges occurred while Noriega's wife was serving in his stead when he was in Afghanistan, and that Noriega himself discovered the lack of compliance and amended his filings.
Now, when will the Chron post the full analysis? Sunshine is always a good thing when it comes to government.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/12/07 02:01 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (9)
Mayor White excels at getting pro bono legal representation for city
This City Hall blog post by Matt Stiles about Mayor White's response to a lawsuit aimed at the city's tougher smoking ban, included information that a law firm will represent the city pro bono. That led to today's story by Stiles about the mayor's ability to get free legal representation for many of the city's legal battles:
The mayor, a former civil litigator, has recruited some of Houston's most skilled — and expensive — lawyers to fight the city's legal battles. White isn't the only Houston mayor to ask lawyers for favors, but he's clearly taken the practice to a new level.
In recent years, he has persuaded top firms to take on chemical companies, coal-fired power plants and nuisance nightclubs. The lawyers say they do it for several reasons: interest in the issues, civic responsibility and their relationships with White.
"I think he's got people at half the law firms in town doing it. I mean, it's hysterical," said Jim Moriarty, a local lawyer who has taken on several high-profile projects in recent years at no charge, including negotiating a $2.5 million settlement with a trash-hauling contractor accused of overbilling the city.
"You know, I laugh when he calls, because I know it's just one more job I have to do," Moriarty said in jest, adding that being asked to do the work is an honor.
"Said in jest," of course, but there undoubtedly is an expectation that these law firms will help out when the mayor asks.
On the sidebar, Stiles has included some of the issues/mayoral pet projects that have relied upon such representation:
• Smoking ban: Kathy Patrick of Gibbs & Bruns is defending the revised ordinance, which bans smoking in most public places starting next month, from a recent federal court challenge.
• Trash: Jim Moriarty of Moriarty & Associates got a one-time city contractor, Republic Waste Services, to pay for an audit and $2.5 million settlement in 2006 after allegations that some of its employees were overbilling the city.
• Revenue cap: Scott Atlas of Weil, Gotshal & Manges has defended a lawsuit over a ballot measure, passed by voters in 2004, that capped city revenues. The case is on appeal.
• Environment: David Berg of Berg & Androphy negotiated a deal with Texas Petrochemicals. The company agreed to reduce carcinogenic emissions and upgrade its facilities.
• Coal plants: Stephen Susman of Susman Godfrey prepared an administrative challenge on behalf of Houston and a coalition of other Texas cities that opposed a plan to build numerous new coal-fired power plants.
• Nuisance nightclubs: Allan Van Fleet of Greenberg Traurig represented the city in a lawsuit seeking to close down three clubs on Richmond near South Gessner that city officials said were magnets for crime.
• Illegal signs: Lance Lubell of Heard, Robins, Cloud & Lubell filed a lawsuit against a sign company that installed billboards in violation of a city ordinance.
BLOGVERSATION: Sit, Ubu, Sit, Houston's Clear Thinkers.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/12/07 10:37 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (3)
11 August 2007
Can The Woodlands be world-class without light rail?
Remember how The Woodlands began a trolley service around its downtown area? Well, officials are pretty excited about it (via the Chron):
The new, free transportation system for The Woodlands Town Center officially was dedicated Tuesday in a ceremony attended by 75 community leaders.
The new trolley system, which serves The Woodlands Waterway, Lake Robbins Drive and The Woodlands Mall, is averaging about 800 to 1,000 riders a week, a number that is expected to double within the next month as more people discover its use as a lunchtime shuttle and for other activities, said Lyle Nelson, assistant general manager of The District, the public transportation agency which is operating the trolley system through a contract with TCID.
The service started July 4.
"This is a momentous occasion for The Woodlands Town Center," said Nelda Luce Blair, chairwoman of The Town Center Improvement District. "It is more than just a fun ride. It is important because it is great for downtown."
The trolley is expected to remain free for passengers for the first three years, and TCID is studying whether to extend the line to other areas, particularly within the downtown area, said Frank Robinson, president of TCID. Robinson said there have already been requests by residents to extend the trolley services to the village centers around The Woodlands.
"Since we announced the trolley, the interest has been peaking," Robinson said. "We are seeing if it can't be duplicated within the residential areas to bring people into downtown."
Of course, as Metro officials would tell these people, The Woodlands isn't thinking big enough. What's needed is light rail, especially considering the continuing growth all around the Town Center area (also via the Chron):
The Woodlands Development Co. held a topping out ceremony for its newest offering in the downtown district Thursday, a 13-story building that will feature office space, retail stores and restaurants.
Three more buildings also are on the drawing boards for Town Center, ranging in size from six to nine stories. The Woodlands Development Co. plans to build two more office buildings near Woodloch Forest and Lake Robbins Drive, and U.S. Oncology announced plans for an eight-story corporate headquarters on Woodlands Parkway at Woodloch Forest Drive.
"It's downtown," said Alex Sutton, co-president of The Woodlands Development Co. "You associate high-rise buildings with downtown."
The new building in Town Center is 24 Waterway Avenue, which marks the first step for the prestigious Waterway Square area, an urban park that will feature a fountain and a pavilion.
"It offers a prestigious address and a wonderful environment," Sutton said. "People can look right down on Waterway Square."
[snip]
This is the largest building constructed by The Woodlands Development Co. on speculation without predetermined tenants, and most of the space has been committed or leased, Sutton said.
"Leasing is very strong," Sutton said.
With office vacancy in Town Center approaching zero, The Woodlands Development Co. is planning to build more — and larger buildings — in the downtown area.
"We are doing really, really well," said Dan Leverett, vice president of commercial for The Woodlands Development Co. "We still are having about 100 percent occupancy."
Remember when state Sen. John Whitmire complained that The Woodlands wasn't giving enough to Houston in return for a no-annexation promise?
"The Woodlands would be nothing but a deer lease if it weren't for the city of Houston," he said. "Residents of The Woodlands enjoy the golden goose of Houston. They get the benefits of working here during the day and then going back to their comfortable, homogenous, bedroom communities at night."
We can put that nonsense to rest, since the "golden goose" benefits clearly go both ways now. Long gone are the days when most Woodlands residents had to drive to downtown Houston for work. These days, how many Houstonians are commuting to the Woodlands? Northbound I-45 isn't empty in the mornings, you know!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/11/07 02:09 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (4)
10 August 2007
"Urban planner" laments lack of opposition to highway 290 expansion
KHOU-11's Jeremy Desel reports that public comment sessions on the proposed highway 290 expansion have produced very little in the way of public comment/opposition:
The planned expansion of State Highway 290 could impact hundreds of homes and businesses the displacement list is long more questions than answers.
"Just rumor from what I've heard from people. Just rumors. And their is many different stories,” said [business owner Stan] Campbell.
The problem is the public comment period for the project ended Wednesday. And the deadline passed with little outcry from those potentially affected.
[snip]
Not what urban planner David Crossley of the Gulf Coast Institute was looking for.
"It not only surprises me it surprises me a lot and it saddens me too,” Crossley said.
That's the same "urban planner David Crossley" who's been a strong advocate for running rail down Richmond (no matter what folks who live/work/drive along Richmond have to say during public comment!) and whose Gulf Coast Institute has also worked for METRO to "study" the matter.
Interestingly, the same groups that lament the apparent lack of opposition to the highway 290 tend to favor METRO running roughshod over folks who live/work/drive along Richmond and who oppose losing traffic capacity, property, and green space to dangerous, ill-conceived at-grade rail. Funny how that works.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/10/07 10:00 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (7)
Isn't it time for The Plagiarist to get back to work?
Back on March 4, Chronicle columnist Rick Casey announced he was about to take a sabbatical:
WHEN I began writing this column two newspapers ago, I was 40 years old, had never worked for anyone more than two years and was living in my eighth city.
Now, seemingly suddenly, it's 20 years later.
Obviously, something needs to be done.
No, I'm not moving or quitting. I'm having too much fun for that.
But I am taking a sabbatical. For the next five months, I intend to relax, read and reflect without being within two days of a deadline.
It's been just over five months now, but there's still no sign of The Plagiarist.
Surprisingly, we find ourselves missing the guy just a little bit, if only because of LiveJournal-like hair-fare such as today's effort from Lisa Falkenberg.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/10/07 07:43 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (7)
09 August 2007
Breaking news: Editorial LiveJournalists in favor of Richmond line
You're surprised, no doubt, that the Chron's editorial board has decided that the study compiled by Metro staff and consultants should be the final say in the University Line debate.
So, there you go. No more discussion needed. The higher-ups at the Chronicle find Metro's study convincing, and anyone with a dissenting opinion should just shut up.
PREVIOUSLY: Houston Chronicle "Rail Memo" Mirror
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/09/07 08:13 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (11)
08 August 2007
Metro's public comment meetings
We all know Metro has no direct accountability to the public that funds it, so it's interesting to read a couple of anecdotes about how Metro handles those pesky public comment times.
Recall last week this KHOU-11 story about residents protesting Metro's plan to run the East End rail line down MLK. Metro's David Wolff complained that there's already been plenty of public input, and no more is needed:
“We can’t just wiggle around every time somebody shows up. This process went on for six years like I said we had 140 meetings. At some point you have to make a decision, and stick with it,” said Metro Board Chairman David Wolff.
But look at what happened when a Richmond property owner went to meetings where the University Line was up for discussion:
For 30 years, Francisco Valle has owned one block in Richmond, but now new rail could be coming.
That could affect all four of Valle’s properties.
In fact, he says three of them could be taken in full, “That is what they always emphasized in every meeting. Not to worry about it. It is not going to effect anything. It will only be a few feet from the front. That’s all it’s gonna take.”
In all 13 homes and about one dozen businesses would be lost on the Richmond option.
Were similar soothing reassurances given at the East End meetings? Probably. But all Metro has to do is say it has held these meetings, and its obligation is done. Metro can spin or dismiss any concerns affected residents and property owners might present.
Which is why Metro is pressing forward with the Richmond route, even though that wasn't on the 2003 ballot. It's what Metro and its supporters have wanted all along.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/08/07 08:20 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (9)
07 August 2007
HPD crime lab analyst suspended for failing to secure (drug) evidence
KHOU-11 reports that there are new problems at the HPD Crime Lab:
There are more problems for the Houston Police Department crime lab. A criminalist for the troubled crime lab was suspended last week, accused of not properly securing evidence.
James K. Carpenter, who hired on at the crime lab about five years ago, worked in the controlled substance section of the crime lab. That is the section of the lab that analyzes, among other things, narcotics taken in as evidence.
Investigators would not specify what protocols Carpenter is accused of violating, but a department press statement said he was relieved of duty after he refused to give a formal statement and submit to a drug test.
Lab director Irma Rios said all of the cases Carpenter worked on in the last six months would be reviewed. That is about 200 narcotics cases HPD said.
It doesn't take much reading between the lines to conclude that Carpenter may have violated protocols by consuming the evidence rather than securing it.
The timing couldn't be worse for a crime lab trying to win back public confidence after recent scandals.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: Chronicle.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/07/07 11:54 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (14)
METRO spokesperson compares stray-current problem to graffiti
METRO spokesperson Raequel Roberts, who once tried to downplay her organization's ongoing light-rail stray-current issues with references to a nine-volt battery, has become even more entertaining on the topic. Here's a recent comment to KTRH-740 reporter Bill O'Neal:
“We consider the system safe; we consider it [stray current] a non-issue at this point," Roberts said. "You might as well ask taggers if graffiti can make a bridge fall down.”
Unfortunately, it's not a non-issue, as stakeholders such as the Medical Center discovered after spending their own money to research the matter.
Nor does it require a Ph.D. in physics to understand that stray current can cause structural damage by corroding metal.
If Ms. Roberts does not understand the science of stray-current leakage and the potential problems it poses, she and METRO would be better served if she simply defers such questions to experts instead of making a fool of herself with comparisons to nine-volt batteries and graffiti taggers.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/07/07 11:40 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (14)
Editorial LiveJournalists oppose Bolsover sale
Today, the Editorial LiveJournalists came out against the sale of a block of Bolsover street to a developer:
In the coming days City Council members should consider the following arguments, many voiced by nearby residents, against the sale....
They go on to list several arguments, but omit two big reasons that have come up over and over in the local print coverage of the issue: The assumptions behind two appraisals that seem to undervalue the land in question, and the lack of transparency in the process. We noted both in this earlier post.
Maybe the Editorial LiveJournalists don't read the Examiner newspapers. Or the neighborhood section of their own newspaper.
It's not at all clear (from this editorial or anything else that's been printed) that the proposed sale of Bolsover is a "bad thing." However, if the sale is deemed a good idea by city leaders, we'd like those leaders to be at least as diligent in getting full value for city property as Mayor White was when he squeezed the caretakers of retarded children for millions of dollars by threatening to void their valid lease.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/07/07 10:19 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (1)
06 August 2007
The sacrifice needed to make room for the University rail line
KHOU-11 has the first look at what the University Line DEIS report says and it's not pretty:
For 30 years, Francisco Valle has owned one block in Richmond, but now new rail could be coming.
That could affect all four of Valle’s properties.
In fact, he says three of them could be taken in full, “That is what they always emphasized in every meeting. Not to worry about it. It is not going to effect anything. It will only be a few feet from the front. That’s all it’s gonna take.”
In all 13 homes and about one dozen businesses would be lost on the Richmond option.
About 24 homes and one dozen businesses would be lost on the Westpark option and another 10 to 14 homes, depending on the alignment, of the University of Houston section of the line.
Take the area around Richmond and Montrose as an example.
In either option the buildings between Roseland and Stanford are affected.
About four buildings would be completely taken and five more partially affected.
Other buildings also affected as the line continues down Richmond.
If the Westpark option is chosen, the impact turns with the line adding all of the buildings on the west side of Montrose to those completely taken.
Oh, and:
There is a 45 day comment period which ends September 17.
Comment can also be made in person at any of the three public hearings scheduled.
Right. The only comments that will matter to Metro are the ones are in favor of its preferred alignment. Will the CTC stand up for property owners? Don't hold your breath!
Just remember, when a government agency takes private property for mass transit, that's good. When a government agency takes private property for expanding highways, that's bad.
And all this for a boondoggle that will do nothing to reduce congestion. But a rail line down the middle of a street should add to it!
BLOGVERSATION: HouStoned, Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/06/07 07:49 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (16)
05 August 2007
Editorial LiveJournalists tackle higher ed: Part two
On Saturday, the Editorial LiveJournalists offered their insight on academic governance to TSU.
Today, the Editorial LiveJournalists moved on to UH, presenting their candidate for UH's open position of chancellor/president:
With the unexpected resignation of Jay Gouge in March to take the helm of his alma mater, Auburn University, the University of Houston again finds itself in search of a leader who can chart the course of the four-campus system.
The outcome of UH's headhunting could decide whether the city's flagship of public higher education achieves ambitious goals or stagnates in mediocrity. With UH aspiring to the status of a top-tier Texas research campus, portents point in both directions.
[snip]
Members of the search committee have been issued guidelines. Mostly predictable, these call for a person with vision and leadership skills, political savvy and fund-raising expertise, a respected educator with integrity, common sense and a sense of humor.
The guidelines do not put a premium on a leader with Texas or Houston roots, despite UH's chronic problems amassing support in local communities and competing with other state universities in Austin for state dollars. A UH rival, Texas Tech, chose a former Texas politician from that area, Kent Hance, as its top executive.
[Search committee head Leroy] Hermes says a person with homegrown credentials, Houston connections and the savvy to run an academic institution would be the ideal candidate. Unfortunately, he said, "the likelihood of our being able to find that person is pretty far-fetched."
UH's main campus has had only one woman or minority as president in its 80-year history in the person of Marguerite Barnett, an African-American whose tenure was cut short by a fatal brain tumor. Hermes said no preference is being given to gender or minority status, and he has notified members of the search committee that he would remove anyone who used those categories as criteria for the selection.
That shouldn't be a problem, because the Chronicle's editorial board, which includes four UH alumni, thinks the best qualified potential candidate is a University of Houston graduate, as well as the highest ranking federal education official. She is Margaret Spellings, the Bush administration's secretary of education and the architect of the president's No Child Left Behind Act. She also helped to make the landmark public school reforms in Texas during the Bush governorship.
Apparently, the four UH alumni among the Editorial LiveJournalists are so plugged in to the goings on at their alma mater that they got the name of former chancellor Jay Gogue wrong in a Sunday editorial. That's impressive.
Unfortunately, much of the Chronicle's coverage of UH has failed to appreciate the impact of Gogue in his short time heading up the University of Houston (although most, but not all, of the Chron's reporting has at least managed to get his name right). Under Gogue -- someone not from the Houston area, we might add -- the university developed and published its detailed Master Plan, highlighting a vision to upgrade the institution from one regarded even by many here in town as a second-tier commuter school to one of the nation's premier urban research institutions (replete with a significant campus residential community).
Dr. Gogue seemed committed to implementing that vision, which is why his departure for Auburn (his alma mater) was so untimely.
Rather than recommend any single candidate to the UH Board of Regents, we would suggest to them that they and Dr. Gogue were on exactly the right track with the UH Master Plan. Their priority should be continuing to fill in the details of the UH Master Plan, and to find a highly qualified candidate who will commit to implementing that plan, and possesses the appropriate skills to do so. That leader could be a local person (perhaps even Margaret Spellings) with political skills, but it might just as well be a visionary outsider with proven academic-governance skills -- like Dr. Gogue -- who is willing to see UH as it might be, instead of as it always has been.
We hope that the search committee, under the capable leadership of Leroy Hermes, gets this important decision right. As the Editorial LiveJournalists rightly point out, it comes at a critical time for UH.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/05/07 02:54 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
Editorial LiveJournalists tackle higher ed: Part one
Last week, the Chronicle posted two stories by Matthew Tresaugue reporting that Texas Southern's board of regents was agitating to replace current interim president General J. Timothy Boddie with another interim president drawn from the board of regents.
Oddly, no substantive reason for the proposed change was forthcoming in either story. Rather, the stories just offered praise of General Boddie accompanied by vague assertions that another interim president would do a better job.
Here are the purported reasons for change in the first story:
State Rep. Garnet Coleman, a Houston Democrat, praised Boddie for getting "the tools" the university needs to move forward but said someone else should finish the job.
"The baton needs to be passed," said Coleman, whose district includes the campus. "This is a different stage, and there is a need for someone to prepare the way for a permanent president."
The next interim president, he said, must hire a strong chief academic officer, restore the confidence of students and their parents, and dig the university out of a financial hole created by the unauthorized construction of two new parking garages.
Actually, an informed and involved board of regents (NOT the interim president) should make that hiring decision and provide guidance. That's how university governance usually works.
"General Boddie restored some credibility, but we need a different set of skills now," Bledsoe said. "We need to give the new (permanent) president every chance to excel, and so we have to do some heavy lifting first."
If General Boddie has done a good job restoring credibility, why not let him remain as the interim president while the board of regents conducts a search for a president who meets criteria set by the regents? Again, that's how university governance usually works.
Here is a dissenting view in the same story:
"It's not just unwise, but stupid to trade one interim for another," [Rev. Bill] Lawson said. "It sends a sign of internal conflict. It's best for the university to maintain constancy until a permanent replacement can be found. Right now TSU is very vulnerable."
Boddie's military-style leadership may have rubbed some people the wrong way, Lawson said, but he viewed it as firm.
"General Boddie was brought in to stabilize the school," Lawson said. "He's done that. ... I don't know what else it could be, but politics."
By all accounts, General Boddie has been a fine interim president. If he has somehow failed to fulfill the vision of the board of regents, however, then that should be part of the discussion. Absent that, it just looks like more parochial bickering at TSU, which is exactly what the university does not need.
Tresaugue's second story from last week offers no more enlightenment as to why (some) regents want to push Boddie out:
[Regents chair Glenn] Lewis has praised the performance of Boddie, a retired Air Force brigadier general who has led the chronically troubled university for nine months. But Lewis said a different set of skills may be needed to move the university forward now that Boddie has addressed the immediate problems exposed by the spending scandal that led to the ouster and indictment of former President Priscilla Slade.
Boddie came to campus "in an emergency situation, when the university needed stability," Lewis said. "Now we want to take a few more steps toward a permanent presidency."
How is appointing another interim president (with the learning curve that entails) a step toward a permanent presidency? Wouldn't it be more of a step for the regents to lay out a vision for TSU and its next president, and to put their search for a new leader in high gear, instead of simply booting an interim president they praise and replacing him with one of their own?
From the outside, it looks more of the parochial politicking and bickering that has hurt TSU over the years, as Rev. Lawson suggested in the first story.
Unsurprisingly, the Chronicle's Editorial LiveJournalists found all of the vague, unsubstantiated assertions about booting General Boddie entirely convincing. From their Saturday editorial on the topic:
Actually, there are several sound reasons for new leadership at this time. The most important is that a change in management could place Texas Southern University on a path toward solutions to its chronic mismanagement and low graduation rate. With its house in order, it could build a reputation that would attract top students and faculty.
People familiar with TSU's problems are careful to point out that no failure on Boddie's part initiated discussion of replacing him. "He did an excellent job in a tough situation," said state Rep. Garnet Coleman, whose district includes the university. "Now it's time to clear the decks and get TSU ready for someone else (to fill the seat permanently)."
[snip]
A search committee developed a list of 12 candidates for the post. Of those, sources say, at least a handful are well-qualified people who might make a good fit for the university's top job. Had TSU not been operating under its cloud of scandal, that pool of qualified candidates undoubtedly would have been larger. Apparently, enough stakeholders believe the candidate pool is too shallow and that it would be better to take time to attract more applicants.
And that's where a new and impressive interim president could make the crucial difference. An effective interim would be a person who, as Coleman put it, could "clear the decks" — of the taint of scandal and the perception that many faculty members and administrators long ago should have been shown the door.
An "effective interim?" It looks as if this one wasn't proofed very carefully. Nor does it seem that the matter at hand was considered very carefully. If General Boddie has done an excellent job on an interim basis, then why does he need to be replaced with another "interim" (as the Editorial LiveJournalists put it), an "interim" who would serve the university best by focusing on his current job as chair of the regents (i.e. crafting the regents' vision for TSU and finding the right permanent president to execute that vision).
If someone can point to any solid reasons that General Boddie shouldn't continue to serve as interim president while a search is conducted for his permanent replacement, it would be great if those became part of the conversation about TSU's future. But the vague assertions from people who want to dump him -- which apparently include the Editorial Board of the area's newspaper of record -- thus far haven't been convincing.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/05/07 02:43 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (7)
04 August 2007
Will Metro save the trees along MLK?
Last week Kevin Whited noted this KHOU-11 story on the displeasure of some residents with Metro's plan to run BRT/light rail down MLK:
The trees so carefully placed along the MLK median could soon give way to trains.
Metro’s plan to improve mobility calls for new lanes in the center of MLK, first for new guided buses, and eventually for light rail.
Dee Simon is having none of it. “We’re not willing to see our boulevard, named after one of our heroes, torn up. Look at the damage light rail construction has caused downtown, and it still hasn’t recovered.”
[snip]
Simon says she’ll fight on, to preserve the tree-lined MLK.
Does Metro plan on saving the trees that line MLK? UH is currently relocating 25 big oak trees that are in the way of a housing project, according to the Chron's East End/Third Ward Community News section.
Metro needs to do the same.
MORE: UT recently moved 16 oak trees, as part of the Memorial Stadium expansion project. See, Metro, it can be done!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/04/07 09:29 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (0)
Let's see a report on the yellow light times at these intersections
On the Chron's City Hall blog, Matt Stiles posts the latest information on the city's red light cameras:
The department has issued 89,000 citations, and about 57 percent of the cited motorists have paid. This rate, however, is skewed by the fact that motorists have about three months to pay. The payment rate from the earliest months of the program is much higher. Seventy-four percent of those cited in October have paid, for example.
There have been an average of 442 citations issued per day.
The busiest intersection is West Road at the North Freeway (1,066 citations, on average, per month). The slowest is North Shepherd at the North Loop (19 citations, on average, per month).
It could be true that the cameras (and publicity about them) have achieved the "behavior modifications" Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo wants. Monthly citations have declined from a height of 15,293 in April, when only 40 intersections were monitored, to 14,201 in May and 13,512 in June. All 50 cameras were operating during those two months, of course, so the decline is even more significant. We'll see whether this trend continues.
It still boggles my mind that Council didn't force the city to make sure all these intersections were functioning properly; specifically, that lights were timed properly and intersections were well-engineered. Recall that Chron columnist Lisa Falkenberg caught herself running red lights because of downtown's "synchronized" traffic signals. Also recall that, back when red light cameras were being debated, Mayor White balked at the suggestion of increasing yellow light times because he thought that would reduce mobility.
The behavior modification should have begun with city and HPD officials and how they opted for the most punishing "solution" to the problem of red-light running, a problem that might well have its roots in how the city manages its intersections.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 08/04/07 07:48 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (0)
02 August 2007
The Insite tells "the rest of the story"
The Chronicle's Mike Glenn has a sanitized account of an HPD press conference earlier today:
A group of ministers appealed for people to remain calm Thursday in the wake of the fatal shooting of an armed southeast Houston man who held police at bay for more than an hour on Tuesday.
During an impromptu press conference in the parking lot at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 8309 Brandon, the Rev. C.E. Smith urged residents to withhold judgment until the investigation into the death of Reginald Sumbler, 21, is concluded.
"We want the neighborhood to be quiet. Don't get excited (and) don't get nervous," said Smith, of the Houston Ministers Against Crime. "When we find out what's going on after this goes through the proper channels, then we'll talk."
Well, isn't that nice?
KRIV-26's Isiah Carey notes that the press conference actually turned into something of a fiasco for HPD. Carey also reproduces the HPD press alert about the press conference, which indicates that it was not quite as "impromptu" as the Chronicle reporter indicated.
Advantage: Insite!
UPDATE: Carey has updated his post with a response from HPD someone, who doesn't like his characterization of the press conference. Frankly, it sounds like HPD overreached with its press alert. But that's just our view from afar. We link, you decide!
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: KPRC-2.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/02/07 10:43 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (2)
MOJO radio, or just BAD radio?
KPRC-950's big format flip took place earlier this week (for the most part), and as the Chronicle's Andrew Guy reports for the Chronicle, that means Walton and Johnson are now back on Clear Channel. They're on in the mornings, and they've been doing double duty in the afternoons until the new Chris Baker/Cynthia Hunt show launches later this month.
I listened to them twice today (the things I do for the blog!), and can report they are as unfunny and grating as ever. Mancow was... so-so, for the first time I've ever listened to him, and predictably less interesting during the "Mancow Happy Hour." It's possible he could be an acquired taste, but probably not one that I will acquire. Dave Ramsey seems out of place. Baker/Hunt can't be judged yet, since Walton and Johnson are filling that slot temporarily (and just as obnoxious in it as the earlier slot), but Baker's a genuine talent and should be fine. I didn't listen to any of the evening programs, some (maybe all?) of which are taped.
Indeed, it's really strange to see the once-great talk station running so much taped content, which means people in the Houston radio market (not some rural backwater) can't actually call in during the taped shows. But hey, they have a "Babe Pages" pictures link on the new website, so who needs interactivity on the radio side, right?
Maybe it will all turn out to be a stroke of genius for Michael "Babe Pages" Berry, if he manages to attract a previously untapped radio audience. But it will have to be a new audience, if some of the emails we have received are any indication, because quite a few listeners (especially female listeners) were probably shocked by the changes on Monday. We're guessing many of those listeners wound up discovering that KNTH and KSEV are pretty decent alternatives for political talk. We're also guessing John Granato is smiling about now, since the lineup he's built for KGOW's launch next month seems so much stronger than what KPRC (sorry, but I won't refer to it as 9 5 0 MOJO) is offering.
The ratings in a few months ought to be very interesting. In the meantime, it's probably worth noting the passing of a once-great talk radio station in Houston. Who knows -- maybe it will be again.
OTHER THOUGHTS: Radio-Info.
BLOGVERSATION: Off the Kuff, HouStoned.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/02/07 09:51 PM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (16)
01 August 2007
But everybody was a winner before the shakedown
The Chronicle's Melanie Markley reports that Council could vote as soon as next week to approve Mayor White's multimillion-dollar shakedown of the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation:
The Houston City Council is expected to vote as early as next week to sell the 6.7-acre tract where the center is to the facility's Foundation for the Retarded. The center offers an array of services to about 600 mentally retarded people, including 200 who live in a six-story dormitory.
The vote would all but cap the center's hard-fought battle to remain on the land it has occupied for more than 40 years under a 99-year lease that city attorneys recently declared invalid.
Officials with the center said they are looking forward to closing on the property, which could occur within weeks.
"Everybody at the center will be thrilled to be focusing on our clients and adding value to our services instead of worrying about our survival," said David Baldwin, president of the Foundation for the Retarded.
Attorneys with the city and the center have been negotiating the final contract ever since Mayor Bill White announced the proposed sale in late April, calling it "an agreement where everyone wins."
Everybody "won" under the previous arrangement, which didn't raise legal questions for any previous mayoral administration. It remains a shameful moment for the White Administration that this shakedown ever took place. Thankfully, the Center's leaders were able to raise the money for the shakedown, so it did not come to the city evicting a group of retarded people to make room for developers.
Here's hoping that Mayor White is just as diligent about securing full value for city property in the proposed sale of Bolsover street.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/01/07 11:02 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (0)
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