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17 November 2009

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES has posted interesting news for Continental and United frequent fliers: Elite members of the airlines' frequent-flier programs will be enjoying some nice new reciprocal benefits, which will start to roll out in mid-2010. Elites from both airlines will enjoy space-available, complimentary upgrades on the other company's metal (with a slight advantage to United elites in terms of pecking order), as well as reciprocal access to preferred seating (a definite advantage for Continental elites, since it gives them access to Economy Plus on United, a seating product that does not exist on Continental).

Unsurprisingly, the Chron business section doesn't have anything posted about this news (which, in my view, aligns the two airlines to re-enter merger talks by the end of 2010, which is reported -- by newspapers other than the Chron -- to interest Jeff Smisek).

UPDATE: Bill Montgomery, the Chron's frequent-flier blog guru, posts more at Houston Departures.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/17/09 12:08 PM | Comments (5)

THE CHRONICLE updates the latest mayoral campaign press-release charges and responses (with a poor headline as a bonus, but no input from Bob Stein, sadly).

Did the newspaper finally ask Gene Locke for his tax returns? If so, they apparently haven't gotten them either.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/17/09 08:18 AM | Comments (0)

16 November 2009

CLEAR THINKER TOM KIRKENDALL blogs that Tilman Fertitta is getting "a bit of his own medicine" about now.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/16/09 11:23 PM | Comments (0)

METRO's EXPENSIVE BLOGGER informs that it's time for another celebration:

You're invited to join us at an open house at Passenger Plaza, celebrating Airport Direct - a convenient and fast way to get from downtown to IAH.

The band Mango Punch will provide live salsa music. We'll also have refreshments and giveaways. The event is free and open to the public.

It all takes place this Thursday, Nov. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. at 815 Pierce, across the street from the Downtown Transit Center.

But... but.... but where are the scratch-off cards?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/16/09 11:03 PM | Comments (7)

SLAMPO posts more about that Sunday Chron story on the soccer stadium and mayoral candidates, noting several problems with the reporting:

1) Gene Locke was never chairman of the Sports Authority (an error that has not been corrected by the newspaper as of this morning).

2) The story didn't bother to report that Dynamo ownership have donated to Gene Locke's campaign.

3) Houston's expert-on-everything, Bob Stein, apparently must always be quoted by the newspaper.

Further to (3), here's a helpful hint to local journos/editors: When a sentence quoting a nonessential source begins, "As Rice University political science professor Robert Stein (who discloses that his son-in-law works for Locke) pointed out..," find another source. It really is that simple.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/16/09 08:16 AM | Comments (3)

Self-described "political insider" Nancy Sims blogs that the mayoral runoff "is a very close election." And that turnout will be important.

BH PSA: Don't try analysis like that at home, from the outside.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/16/09 07:36 AM | Comments (7)

15 November 2009

THE MOST INTERESTING PART of today's Chron story about the soccer stadium and the mayor's race is at the end:

At times, officials have declared that they're "in the home stretch" on a deal, but election season has all but stopped serious talks.

David Turkel, the county's point man on negotiations, said the city has lost several TIRZ experts in the past few months as White's staffers leave for new jobs in advance of the Dec. 31 expiration of his term.

And the two county commissioners whose precincts overlay the stadium area have endorsed one of White's opponents in the Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate in March.

"I personally feel nothing is going to happen until we have a new administration, and then we may have to start all over again. We don't even know who we'll be dealing with," Turkel said. "On Jan. 2, I'll be calling, saying, 'Who do I talk to?'"

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/15/09 03:45 PM | Comments (1)

IF WE FOLLOW THE RATIONALE, we may need another taxpayer-funded venue soon.

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/15/09 03:37 PM | Comments (0)

14 November 2009

THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE TODAY reported that some local social conservatives may make a big deal* about Annise Parker's sexuality. Rumors have swirled for a while that Gene Locke is courting the support of those same social conservatives. The next "story" will be**, of course, that Gene Locke has disavowed the divisive tactics. That way, Gene Locke gets the benefit (if any exists) of the negative attacks, AND gets the benefit (if any exists) of criticizing them. That's so nifty that it may have been the brainchild of an expensive political consultant!

During her 12 years of public service, Annise Parker has not pursued a "radical gay agenda" (whatever that is), and her campaign this time around has given no indication that it's suddenly become a priority for her. To her credit, however, Annise Parker has always been forthright about her domestic situation, including the release of her and her partner's tax returns earlier this week to Texas Watchdog (apparently the only media outlet to ask for and get them, which does not reflect well on other news outlets in town). Annise Parker has not tried to hide who she is over her political career.

In contrast, Gene Locke would seem to have numerous Houston Way connections that are hardly transparent, and unlike Parker he has thus far refused to release his tax returns or even return phone calls about them. Maybe THAT is a story for local media to pursue (instead of of getting played by Gene Locke, fringe social conservatives, and their slimy attack politics) -- because so far, only a nonprofit news startup has shown much interest in that story. Gene Locke's potential conflicts of interest and ties to various powerbrokers are hardly trivial matters for the unknown who would be mayor!

* Or at least as big a deal as a fringe minority in Houston can make.
** Seriously, how predictable was that? And yet, it works in this town.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/14/09 07:22 PM | Comments (6)

FINALLY, METRO posts Chairman David Wolff's State of METRO speech.

Here's an idea: If METRO is so determined to end the General Mobility Contract with local cities (and we don't even know if METRO has paid the millions it owes the city), why not put it to a vote? And while we're at it, since METRO completely changed the METRO Solutions that voters approved, let's put that to a vote again as well. Wouldn't it be interesting to see what voters think of METRO's plans and financial stewardship these days?

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/14/09 12:26 PM | Comments (3)

SAD NEWS FOR THE NEW URBANISTS: "It's not housing you're selling, it's a lifestyle," Borlenghi said. "And when you're selling a lifestyle, it's an even smaller market."

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/14/09 08:02 AM | Comments (3)

13 November 2009

IN RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK'S REQUEST, ANNISE PARKER has released her tax returns and those of her partner to Texas Watchdog.

Will fellow mayoral runoff candidate Gene Locke follow suit and release his joint tax returns?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/13/09 06:29 AM | Comments (3)

CITY COUNCIL is considering letting Liliana Rambo's parking enforcement employees and the Mobility Response Team authorize tows of illegally parked cars.

The genius who thought her expertise could get Houston a bargain price of $7,500 for each new smart parking meter (whoops -- they cost Houston $10,000 each), and who now complains that too many of the expensive meters are broken and her employees can't keep up with repairing them; the genius who decided to solve downtown's parking problem by eliminating free parking for people with legitimate handicapped placards; the genius who held town hall meetings with suburbanites to teach them how to park downtown correctly; the genius who handed out parking citation books to volunteer citizens with predictable results; and the genius whose department stopped monitoring the parking meters in a five block area around HPD headquarters...THAT genius's employees will now have the authority to tow vehicles.

What could go wrong?

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/13/09 04:43 AM | Comments (5)

12 November 2009

SHERIFF ADRIAN GARCIA will hold a press conference this morning with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Washington to discuss the (quiet) success of Harris County's participation in the 287(g) program over the past year.

The Washington Times has posted a nice story on the matter. Maybe the Chron D.C. bureau will cover it! (UPDATE: They did.)

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/12/09 09:50 AM | Comments (0)

SLAMPO blogs about John O'Quinn's post-mortem National Enquirer appearance.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/12/09 09:48 AM | Comments (0)

KRIV-26'S ISIAH CAREY reports* that crime has spiked in downtown Houston since the HPD overtime budget was cut, beats are going unprotected and cases are going uninvestigated, and Chief Hurtt contends (in a letter to the Chronicle that was not published) that HPD is still short 1,400 to 5,000 men. These problems will all be inherited by the next mayor (along with serious financial issues).

* Thanks to Rorschach for the link.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/12/09 07:44 AM | Comments (5)

THE CHRON'S CAUCASIAN THINK TANK is "furious." Oooooo, transportation planners and local pols beware!

KEVIN WHITED ADDS: So, the Chronicle follows Carolyn Feibel's typically dull, incurious reposting of advocacy group findings and quotes from favorite sources with.... an even more dull, incurious editorial? All that's missing now is a Dwight Bright inveighing similarly!

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/12/09 04:17 AM | Comments (0)

THE CHRON'S HOUSTON POLITICS BLOG notes that Mayor White's spokesman Frank Michel has himself a new gig.

Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/12/09 04:09 AM | Comments (0)

11 November 2009

KHOU-11'S SHERRY WILLIAMS posts a cheerleading-style report on a City of Houston program that paid roughly one-third of the cost of a $110,000 home for a new homeowner.

A Houston Hope executive tells Williams that "qualifying" candidates can obtain up to $50,000 in assistance in purchasing a home.

Those numbers are simply mind-boggling.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/11/09 07:43 AM | Comments (6)

TEXAS MONTHLY'S PAUL BURKA followed the lead of other bloggers in noting that Houston Mayor Bill White still has no plans to shift from his quest for a U.S. Senate seat to the Texas governor's race. Two things did make Burka's post interesting, though -- the fact that he relied upon Mimi Swartz (who is based in Houston, married to Chron opinion director John Wilburn, and generally plugged in) instead of picking up the phone himself, and the fact that it was the mayor's communications director Frank Michel who provided Swartz/Burka the information.

It's generous of City of Houston taxpayers to pick up the tab for Senate Candidate White's campaign communications, no?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/11/09 07:20 AM | Comments (0)

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Chron Caucasian Think Tank endorses Parker

Another example of Mayor White's lack of follow-through

Credit where due on McGrady reporting

One Texas Monthly column that should count as a political contribution

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