04 May 2005
Fiddling while Houston burns?
KUHF-88.7's Laurie Johnson reports that city council has postponed a vote on banning "pocket bikes."
Councilmember Ron Green wants the pocket bikes banned within city limits. Councilmember M.J. Kahn wants children to be banned from the bikes. Councilmember Green says age isn't the issue.
Michael Berry perhaps put it best:
Councilmember Michael Berry told his colleagues they shouldn't pass a law that city council doesn't even understand.
That's comedic.
It's good to see some of our elected officials working so hard on the real problems of the city.
RELATED: City council proposal could ban pocket bikes on streets (Deborah Wrigley, KTRK-13)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/05 08:26 PM |
03 May 2005
International brouhaha in stink-free Houston?
Who knew that addressing the issue of Houston's stinky libraries could cause an international crisis?
Civil rights groups and the French government were outraged today after the Houston City Council voted to pass a law banning offensive odors in all public libraries. French President, Jacques Chirac, threatened to boycott all products exported from Texas unless the law was changed.
"This is all a big misunderstanding," said one City Council representative. "I thought the people who were the target of the complaints about bad odor were homeless. I had no idea they were just French. This wasn't meant as a slight against the French." Another Houston resident wasn't as understanding. "Hey, if you stink, I don't want you funkifying the public library where my children read books," she said. "Deodorant is not a four-letter word, Frenchy."
Houston libraries will begin checking passports as early as next week and deny entry to people holding French passports or to citizens of French Canadian provinces. France is considering adopting a "deodorant-free zone" in its own libraries to discriminate against all non-French citizens as retaliation for the perceived insult.
That's pretty funny.
via ChronWatch
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/03/05 08:30 PM |
02 May 2005
Will the new parking meters always have babysitters?
Filling in for the now-departed Lucas Wall is Juan Alanis who today tells us how the downtown parking meter try-outs are going:
The jury is still out on which one of the seven vendors will win a contract to install new parking meters near the downtown courthouse complex. But as the five-week trial period comes to an end, the public's verdict appears favorable.
At least that's the consensus of people monitoring the use of the meters.
So, let's check out the public's view:
"I think it's wonderful," he said after having another driver explain to him how the Rhino model parking meter works.
[snip]
Lisa Vincent, one of the meter pollsters for the district, said most of the people who've come across the devices on her shift have been confused. Vincent has spent 16 hours in the last two weeks asking users about the meters.
[snip]
Eddie Kaplan, a downtown courier, is hopeful that the new technology will be easier to use, but he's not counting on it. Struggling with parking devices is an everyday part of his daily routine and one that has him skeptical of the machines.
[snip]
Wilbanks was more hopeful, even after having to resort back to coins. He tried inserting his credit card into the parking meter several times unsuccessfully before going back to his truck to get change.
"I think it's going to be a lot better when the credit card works," he said.
Sounds like everything's going swell. What happens when the helpful "meter pollsters" are gone and folks who are unfamiliar with downtown parking meters have to figure them out on their own?
And there's this gem:
The firm awarded the contract eventually will install 600 meters downtown by the fall and an additional 1,400 in the near future in the rest of the city, said Liliana Rambo, the newly appointed assistant director of the Municipal Courts Parking Management Division. She said determining factors in awarding the contract include cost, how the meter works and ease of repair service.
Before coming to Houston, Rambo negotiated the purchase of 89 meters at $8,000 each for the city of Hollywood, Fla. She hopes that experience will help her purchase the devices here for no more than $7,500 each.
We do too! It's very nice of Hollywood, FL to let Rambo practice her parking meter-negotiation-skills before coming to Houston.
And last, but definitely not least, Alanis' story mentions that Cubic Corp. is one of the companies whose meters are being tested, but doesn't mention that Metro is currently suing Cubic for failing to produce a functioning "smart card" fare system.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/02/05 01:58 PM |
Slow the red light running "epidemic" by lengthening yellow light times
KHOU-11 shows Mayor White a little love with this story on the "epidemic" of red light running:
Mayor Bill White says drivers who run red lights are "an epidemic".
If you're looking for lawbreakers who don't like to wait for lights, you don't have to wait long to find them in Houston. "The light is red now. One, two, three four. They just keep coming," says HPD officer Cedric Nickerson.
Apparently, too many Houston drivers ignore red lights when it comes to scooting through an intersection.
For now, officers pull over violators when they can. "You slowed down but you didn't stop," Nickerson says to one driver. Mayor White wants to see more of that., which is why he wants a concerted effort at problem intersections
"We've got to have more tickets. For people running red lights. There has to be a consequence to it. And when there is, people will adapt," says White.
[snip]
That's why Mayor White and the city council want to use cameras to catch violators.
But for now it will have to be the old fashioned way and, unfortunately, officer Nickerson could do it all day.
The city's red light camera proposal is currently stalled in the state legislature, where there is an effort to block the city's ability to have them. Mayor White expects that to be rectified one way or the other by the end of the session.
The story includes a list of the most dangerous intersections.
We've addressed this before: if the city was serious about reducing red light runners, it would lengthen yellow light times first, to curb the "epidemic." What's so strange is that KHOU had a story a while back about yellow light times, yet it's never mentioned in today's story.
Also, it's interesting to remember that HPD's manpower situation is not optimal right now, and yet the mayor wants to focus on this "epidemic." Of course, the focus would be a nice revenue stream for the city.
We recommend the city try lengthening yellow light times by a couple of seconds at the worst intersections, if it's truly all about safety.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/02/05 01:10 PM |
27 April 2005
Is the Toll Road Authority feeling a bit defensive?
The Harris County Toll Road Authority has sent out a press release trying to temper the idea that it is taking over the Spring segment of the Grand Parkway. I'll reprint the entire release in the extended entry and highlight one paragraph here:
The Harris County Toll Road Authority has no plans to circumvent the right of the public to be heard in this matter, and restates that the Grand Parkway project is still under the state’s jurisdiction and is subject to their public hearing guidelines. As HCTRA is a department under the authority of Harris County Commissioners’ Court, the public does have the opportunity to address their comments and concerns on this or any other issue directly to Commissioners at regularly scheduled Commissioners’ Court meetings. Dates and times for these meetings are available on the internet, as is the contact number to schedule appearances before the Court.
Right. The current spate of publicity pointing out that HCTRA can do practically whatever it wants, whenever it wants must be unwelcome.
But since HCTRA says it is open to public input, let's put that to the test: HCTRA should begin holding monthly, evening meetings at Klein Oak High School which is in the path of one proposed Grand Parkway alignment, so the local citizens who would be most affected by the Grand Parkway can voice their opinions. And don't tell Spring residents to go to Commissioners Court. Spring isn't right around the corner from 1001 Preston, Suite 938, Houston TX, and holding meetings on a weekday morning is NOT what I would call constituent-friendly.
Let's get those county commissioners, including Jerry Eversole who represents Spring, to the area that would be wiped out by the Grand Parkway. Let's get the commissioners face-to-face with the many people whose homes would be razed and otherwise affected.
And if HCTRA is really all for public input, then I would expect it to come out against state Sen. Jon Lindsay's proposed bill that would allow some road building regulations to be circumvented.
And if HCTRA wants to know why folks in Spring are so concerned about being run over by a bunch of bulldozers, think Hardy Toll Road. Here's one excerpt from Houston Freeways that makes it all crystal clear:
If any major transportation facility in Houston can be attributed to the efforts of one individual, it is the Hardy Toll Road. Jon Lindsay made this project happen. Not only did then Harris County Judge Lindsay make the Hardy Toll Road happen, but he did it in the face of substantial opposition to the project. Building an all-new, limited-access transportation facility is a big accomplishment in the modern era. Doing it nearly single-handedly is even more impressive.
Ugh. And who is the Number One Champion of the Grand Parkway being built through Spring? Yep:
Lindsay said he is doing what it takes to get the Grand Parkway built expeditiously through the Spring area, and it may mean taking the state transportation department out of the equation.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/27/05 04:21 PM |
25 April 2005
Downtown entities study need for multi-purpose transit center
MSNBC is running a Houston Business Journal article on a study being conducted to determine if Houston needs an "intermodal transit center":
The Houston Downtown Management District is taking the lead in an inter-governmental agency project to study the feasibility of an intermodal center, which is also referred to as a multimodal center. The 32-member steering committee that will analyze the resulting data is co-chaired by Mark Cover of Hines, Bill Franks of Spire Realty Group and Houston City Councilmember Adrian Garcia.
[snip]
The downtown district is spearheading the intermodal center study with several sponsoring entities: The Main Street Coalition, Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) and the Midtown Management District/Midtown Redevelopment Authority.
A total of $430,000 has been raised to pay for the feasibility study, but officials say not all of that may be spent on the process.
The Texas Department of Transportation is contributing $200,000 in grant money earmarked for intercity bus service; the Houston City Council voted this week to allocate $150,000 in federal funds that are designated for Main Street work; the downtown district is paying $40,000; Metro is throwing in $20,000; and the Midtown district and Main Street Coalition are each putting up $10,000.
The consultants will help determine whether Houston needs one large intermodal transit center or whether the area might be better served by several smaller sites throughout the city.
[snip]
As the consultants begin their work, they will likely look to the success of Mockingbird Station in Dallas. The 10-acre, pedestrian-friendly development adjoins the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Mockingbird Station. Commercial development includes more than 90 shops and restaurants, office space, parking, 216 loft apartments and an eight-screen Angelika Film Center and Cafe.
Consultant John Stainback, Stainback's managing partner, says a transit-oriented development that typically includes housing and retail is funded in such a way that does not require voter approval.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/25/05 09:49 AM |
23 April 2005
Spring residents meet with HCTRA officials -- finally
Grand Parkway opponents in Spring had a chance to meet with some Harris County Toll Road Authority officials last week -- for the first time. The meeting was prompted by residents receiving survey notices from a HCTRA-contracted company:
For the first time since announcing their opposition four years ago, members of a coalition opposed to the Grand Parkway running through Spring met with transportation officials to resolve issues on the proposed highway projects.
United to Save Our Spring coalition member Connie O'Donnell said the coalition pushed for this meeting because several residents who live in the study area were sent letters last week from a Harris County Toll Road Authority consultant seeking access to their properties for a right-of-way study.
"It was time to get all of the issues on the table with all of the people involved in the project," O'Donnell said.
Remember, HCTRA officials LOVE to tell local media that HCTRA invites public input:
The Toll Road Authority said even though it doesn't have open forums, it has never gone against public outcry to build a project.
And:
Eckels goes on to say the public has a chance to give input on these toll roads at the county commissioners' meeting every two weeks.
And:
Jonnie Bryant, public information officer for the Harris County Toll Road Authority, said that while the toll road authority is not required to hold public hearings, it invites public comment.
"We always welcome comments," Bryant said. "We have an open-door policy, and individuals or groups can meet with our director, Mike Strech."
But this was the first time Spring residents and others interested in the Grand Parkway had been able to meet with HCTRA officials, and according to a first hand account, Art Storey and Mike Strech of HCTRA weren't thrilled at having the meeting. AND state Sen. Jon Lindsay has never met with Grand Parkway opponents, even though they are his constituents.
More of the Chronicle's story is in the extended entry. I get the feeling that HCTRA is a bit defensive and is attempting to keep the focus on TxDOT -- by continuing to say that the project remains in the hands of TxDOT and that no decisions have been made. Of course, opponents aren't buying that. Why else would HCTRA be spending $5.6 million to study the Grand Parkway if it didn't have a good idea that it wants to build the segment through Spring?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/23/05 02:52 PM |
22 April 2005
LULAC releases complaint to the media but not the city
LULAC is getting some media attention this morning with its claims that the City of Houston discriminates against Hispanic employees:
"LULAC has received numerous complaints of discrimination against Hispanics who have been subjected to a hostile working environment," Johnny Mata, District VIII spokesman for the League of United Latin American Citizens, said Thursday.
The complaint, which was also sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation and distributed to the media on Thursday, details numerous incidents of alleged mistreatment of Latino city employees. These include allegations of ethnic and sexual harassment and discriminatory hiring, firing and promotions.
However, the city says LULAC wouldn't let it see the complaint:
Frank Michel, Mayor Bill White's spokesman, said LULAC leaders would not release a copy of the complaint to the city legal department...
And:
LULAC officials have advised City Attorney Arturo Michel they were not yet authorized to release a copy of their complaint to us...
LULAC releases its complaint to the media, but not to the city? Why? Maybe LULAC didn't want the city to have a response for the morning news cycle. And since the Friday afternoon news cycle is the beginning of the weekend news tune-out, LULAC gets to have its talking points in the public's mind all weekend, without a city response.
RELATED: KPRC-2, KHOU-11, KTRK-13
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/22/05 08:53 AM |
21 April 2005
White and Lee oppose ending sports authority
Nearly two weeks ago, Jack Rains appeared on the Dan Patrick show on KSEV-700 to talk about disbanding the Houston Sports Authority, then Billy Burge called in, and finally all sorts of hilarity ensued, as described on various blogs.
Last week, the Chronicle's Rick Casey commented on part of the conversation that took place, although he didn't bother to interview Rains.
This week, Rich Connelly also comments on the Patrick/Rains/Burge exchange for the Houston Press.
It's good to see all the print publications are finally up to speed now on a two-week old story.
In the last election, Bill White ran as a fiscally sensible businessman who would be mindful of the city's purse strings. In office, however, he's overseen a significant expansion of long-term municipal debt, he's opposed Proposition 2's effort to control the growth of municipal revenues (to the tune of being forced by a court to report the outcome of the election), and now we find him in alliance with perennial tax-and-spender El Franco Lee, who seems to support transforming a sports authority that's served its purpose into a perpetual boondoogle authority.
Interestingly, Mack reports that Mayor White claimed to be speaking for council, even though council has not taken a position on dissolving the Sports Authority. Perhaps it's time for Jared Woodfill to encourage certain members of council to express their opinions on the matter.
ANNE ADDS: The story also points out that Oliver Luck is busy trying to secure new sports teams for Houston and specifically mentions Major League Soccer. Well, take a look at what is going on in San Antonio:
The proposal to bring Major League Soccer to San Antonio continues to balloon, with the price tag of the proposal San Antonio City Council is set to vote on today in excess of $22 million, 1200 WOAI news reported today.
That's three times higher than the $6.2 million dollar price tag which was placed on the deal just one week ago.
ONE WEEK! The price of a MLS team went from $6 million to $22 million in ONE WEEK! This is what happens when these governmental authorities get their grimy mitts on taxpayer dollars.
The Aeros need to buy their own ice, Les Alexander needs to pay for his own parking garage (or give up the money he's currently pocketing), El Franco Lee needs to find a Parks and Rec Department to build his pool and youth center, and the Sports Authority needs to close up shop. No more endless boondoggles!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 04/21/05 06:10 PM |
20 April 2005
HPD gets serious...about jaywalking
MS 13 is running amok in Houston. We've got home invasions, carjackings, murders and rapes.
So, what's HPD doing? Cracking down on jaywalkers.
Yep. The city's gotta pay for Prop. 2 somehow.
RELATED: HPD's "productivity policy" begins (blogHOUSTON)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/20/05 07:55 PM |
Chronicle finally reports on Monday's Prop. 2 legal decision
On Monday, a court ruled that the City of Houston must certify passage of Proposition 2, the revenue limitation major that won a slightly smaller majority than Mayor White's competing, less stringent Proposition 1 measure.
The Houston Business Journal posted the news shortly after the ruling on Monday.
The Chronicle finally got around to reporting on it today.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 04/20/05 07:58 AM |
18 April 2005
Proposition 2 backers win legal victory
Backers of Houston's Proposition 2 initiative to limit municipal revenues won a legal victory today.
As reported by the Houston Business Journal's Jenna Colley, a U.S. appeals court ruled today that the city of Houston must report election results related to the proposition, which voters approved. Mayor Bill White's competing Proposition 1 won more votes, and he has long contended that it takes precedence over the "conflicting" Proposition 2.
Colley notes that the court ruling avoided any substantive judgment of conflicts between the two propositions. Mayor White issued a press release characterizing the decision as "ministerial."
A second, district court case related to implementation of Proposition 2 remains active, and is scheduled for trial in February 2006.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 04/18/05 06:54 PM |
We want Billy Burge as a speaker!
The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority's website isn't terribly exciting or interactive, but I still check it periodically in case something catches my eye. Well, now the Sports Authority has placed a notice about Oliver Luck being available for speaking engagements in a big blue box:
Harris County-Houston Sports Authority CEO Oliver Luck is available to speak to Houston-area organizations on a number of sports in business topics. Topics he is comfortable addressing include:
* The Sports Authority -- past, present and future
* Mission Accomplished--Where do we go from here?
* Sports Venues -- The changes in security since 9/11
* Houston as a sports destination
* Will Houston support professional soccer?
* Economic Impact of 3 major new sports venues in Houston and more.
(emphasis added)
Forget Oliver Luck -- we want Billy Burge as a speaker!
RELATED: Billy Burge: THE best reason to shut down the Sports Authority! (blogHOUSTON)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/18/05 10:03 AM |
17 April 2005
Taxpayer-funded Hilton Americas not living up to expectations
Here's an Orlando Sentinel story about taxpayer-funded, convention center-hotels that highlights the Hilton Americas-Houston:
This south Texas metropolis has what Orange County wants: a new, upscale hotel attached to an expanded convention center.
Built at a taxpayer cost of $250 million, the Hilton Americas-Houston is a luxurious 24-story hotel sporting 1,200 nicely appointed rooms, a glass-enclosed rooftop pool and a magnificent view of the city skyline.
Connected by an enclosed walkway to the 862,000-square-foot George R. Brown Convention Center, the Hilton is the cornerstone of Houston's efforts to revitalize its slumping convention business.
But the city, which also spent $165 million doubling the size of the Brown center, did not buy itself a quick fix, at least according to 2004 results.
Attendance at the center actually dropped a bit to fewer than 150,000, if events open to the public -- which typically attract many local residents -- are excluded. And the Hilton Americas on average had almost as many empty rooms as filled ones -- just like the rest of the hotels downtown.
[snip]
After a dozen years seeking a private developer, the Houston City Council finally agreed in 2001 to use a variety of taxes to pay for the Hilton Americas. It opened in late 2003.
Both the hotel and convention center have struggled much of the time, reflecting the plight of many smaller centers. That also has happened in places such as Myrtle Beach and St. Louis, each of which put tens of millions of tax dollars into convention hotels. Myrtle Beach had to refinance its debt because of poor performance, while St. Louis saw its bond rating drop.
The number of people traveling to Houston for trade shows and conventions has dropped almost 70 percent from 1999 to 2003, from 503,796 to 156,699. The 2004 count, excluding events open to the public, was 146,057.
"It's tough," said Ric Booth, the center's assistant general manager. "We don't have Disney. We don't have gambling. We don't have the French Quarter."
What Houston does have is thousands of new hotel rooms, nearby professional-sports facilities, a large theater district and a newly expanded convention center.
All that's lacking is more delegates.
That last part is depressing, since Houston's "benefits," as cited by the reporter, are largely taxpayer-funded. All the reporter left out was light rail.
Tom Bazan recently examined the state comptroller's quarterly room revenue report and discovered that the Hilton Americas' daily average room rate for the first quarter of 2005 was $31.33. As Bazan noted, that's an average room rate more akin to a Motel 6 than a $200 million luxury hotel with rack rates ranging from $159 to $244 per night.
RELATED: Was expanding the GRB Convention Center worth it? (blogHOUSTON), Fitch downgrades Houston bond rating (blogHOUSTON), Does downtown's growth need to slow down? (blogHOUSTON), Hyatt Regency in foreclosure (blogHOUSTON), Jordy Tollett, special hunter with very special shoes (blogHOUSTON)
UPDATE (5-28-2005): Tom Bazan says there is a revised room revenue report that shows an average daily room rate of $88.75 for the first quarter of 2005. That's still not an impressive showing for an almost $300 million, 1200 room hotel, with rack rates of around $200 per night.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/17/05 10:50 AM |
15 April 2005
Senate takes first look at red light camera bill
The issue of cities installing red light cameras is getting some attention in the state Senate:
After being stalled for nearly a month, a bill that would thwart a Houston initiative to catch red-light violators by placing cameras at intersections finally got a hearing Thursday in the state Senate.
The bill received overwhelming approval in February in the House, where sentiment has run strongly against red-light cameras for several years.
Sen. Frank Madla, D-San Antonio, who chairs the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, said the panel appears split on the bill. Madla was the only one of the five committee members who listened to testimony Thursday, as senators attended other meetings. He said he hopes the committee will vote on the bill next week.
The bill would prohibit cities from issuing civil citations against the owners of cars photographed running red lights. That is the approach planned in Houston and other cities.
[snip]
Houston and several other cities are fighting the bill, as are companies that want contracts to provide camera systems.
The cities are promoting camera enforcement as a safety measure. Opponents contend the cities' real motivation is increasing fine revenue. They also raise privacy concerns.
Since Mayor White/Chief Hurtt have been thwarted on another revenue stream (SAFEclear) and the city keeps announcing new spending ideas, red light camera revenue would come in very handy to pay for shiny new police badges and graffiti removal.
Someday perhaps their to-do list will include hiring some police officers.
RELATED: Do red light cameras reduce accidents or generate revenue? (blogHOUSTON)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/15/05 08:39 AM |
12 April 2005
Another manifestation of HPD's manpower shortage
If you think you've seen more graffiti around Houston lately, you're probably not imagining it.
Now, the only graffiti abatement program in the fourth largest city in the country is available exclusively to East End residents and businesses, under the auspices of the Greater East End Management District:
The Greater East End Management District has the only mobile unit created to wipe out illegal aerosol art.
[snip]
"We're here to clean graffiti. We're the only graffiti abatement here in the City of Houston, right now," [Martin] Chavez explained. He said his team is the only weapon against the crime since HPD stopped its graffiti abatement program more than a year ago.
Every day, private citizens and property owners who have been tagged call Chavez' team for help. So do HPD and the city's neighborhood protection office.
"The unique thing about the program is we color match the colors of the buildings," Chavez said.
And it doesn't matter where in the East End the crime was committed. The modern day "Mr. Cleans" armed with paint brushes and power wash equipment are committed to wiping slates clean.
Chavez said his team is always up for the job. "It doesn't matter if it's 100 degrees or 50 degrees, we're out here."
The driving force -- Restoring surfaces back to the original style and bringing prestige back to one of Houston's oldest neighborhoods.
"As far as our area goes, which is the East End, graffiti has really gone down," said Chavez.
There were 700 sites abated when the program started five years ago, 526 in 2002, 528 in 2003 and 520 last year.
The crew is also spending less time on the streets. It used to take four days a week. Now they're down to two.
"We've seen graffiti spread out of the East End and more into Midtown and downtown and other areas of town," Chavez said.
Chavez said the mayor's anti-gang office and a city council member have approached his group wanting to copy the program.
HPD used to have such a program! And as we learned from Mayor Giuliani in New York, such programs are not as trivial as they might seem.
But, Mayor White and Chief Hurtt seem to have some very different priorities for the city.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 04/12/05 10:48 PM |
HCTRA fulfilling developers' dreams with Grand Parkway
Some Spring residents who are in the path of the proposed Grand Parkway are receiving survey notices from the Harris County Toll Road Authority:
Homes in north Harris County could soon be up for sale without their owners consent. That's because the properties may be in the path of the expanded Grand Parkway, Houston's proposed super loop.
[snip]
"They're ruining the whole landscape of Spring," said Sheryl Badoni, homeowner.
Badoni fears the potential path of the Grand Parkway will take what has been home to her family for seven years. "They're supposed to take our whole property, come right though our house and right through our property," she said.
Badoni and several of her neighbors are upset about the letters from the Harris County Toll Road Authority, requesting permission to survey their property.
"It says they want to conduct a survey for the acquisition of right-of-way and design of the Grand Parkway," Badoni said as she read part of the letter.
But the Grand Parkway Association said the final decision on where the road will go has not been made.
"If I can find a route that doesn't take anybody's home, that doesn't take any wetlands, that's the route I'm going to pick," said Robin Sterry, Grand Parkway Association. "I don't like having impacts if I can avoid them."
"I think we can't believe a word they say," said Badoni.
With state Sen. Jon Lindsay pushing the project and the HCTRA trying to take it over from TxDOT, residents have good reason not to trust what the Grand Parkway Association says. Also, Lindsay has introduced a bill that would appear to allow the HCTRA (which has the power to build at will) to build this segment of the Grand Parkway and then transfer it back to the state when completed. Follow this link to read commenter Bill F's interpretation of Lindsay's bill.
(Billy Burge is the president of the Grand Parkway Association and his over-the-top performance the other day doesn't give me any confidence that he'll be looking out for the best interests of Spring residents.)
The Grand Parkway Association said some subdivisions didn't exist when the project first started. And that's why many homeowners in those areas said they want the Grand Parkway moved a lot farther north, where there are fewer people to impact.
Proponents of the Grand Parkway like to say that the road was proposed back in the 1960's. What they fail to add is that the plan was basically dropped until a group of developers revived it in the 1980's, as a Chronicle story from last year describes:
The concept for the parkway route has been around for 40 years. In the early 1960s, planners envisioned an expressway extending from the southwest corner of Loop 610 all the way to Matagorda County. The huge South Post Oak off-ramps that cross Brays Bayou stand as testament to that plan.
It was never realized. The state, with money tight, had bigger freeway priorities. Planners anticipated resident opposition to an alignment slightly west of South Post Oak through Westbury.
The issue was dead until the early 1980s, when a different set of landowners in a different part of town came up with a master stroke.
West Houston interests convinced the state to allow them to assemble and donate land for the state to build a highway - in this case, the Grand Parkway - and pump up the value of their property. The state would get a route it wanted anyway, but much more quickly and without any right-of-way costs.
Not one to beat around the bush, future Houston Mayor Bob Lanier said "avarice and greed" were the most natural and effective ways to get the project done. When he said it, he was chairman of the state highway commission and a landowner on the proposed route.
So when Commissioner Jerry Eversole says the Grand Parkway "has nothing to do with selling homes or building shopping centers," I respectfully have to reply that he's full of you-know-what.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/12/05 04:57 PM |
11 April 2005
Billy Burge mp3 available at LST; Oliver Luck on damage control duty
Lone Star Times has posted the mp3 of the Billy Burge call-in from last Friday.
Also, Oliver Luck will be appearing on KSEV-700 at 4:40 this afternoon with Dan Patrick -- no doubt doing some damage control. We can guess Billy Burge is in the Sports Authority dog house.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/11/05 04:28 PM |
10 April 2005
Jack Rains' letter in the Chronicle (Updated)
I am a day behind, but Saturday's Chronicle ran a letter from Jack Rains:
Time's up for Sports Authority
In response to the April 7 Chronicle editorial "Lease on life," the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority has outlived its purpose.
It was authorized by the Legislature and narrowly empowered by local voters to complete two venues — baseball and football.
A third venue was added after two referendums, narrowly passing on the second attempt.
The authority's purposes were limited to authorized venues approved by the voters, all of which have now been completed.
Without voter approval, the Sports Authority should not take on any new projects, and certainly not on a politician's whim!
The city efficiently operated the Summit, and Harris County operated the Astrodome, for years without the Sports Authority.
The leases for the three new venues give all the promotion rights to the lessees — the team owners who are the lead tenants. These are who should take the promotion risks, as they are the ones who will reap the rewards if successful.
Further, we have in place tax-supported city and county convention and visitors bureaus charged with promotion.
We have tax-supported city and county auditors and legal staffers who handle other public properties. We clearly do not need to squander another $3 million in overhead for the superfluous Sports Authority; it is just a bureaucracy looking for a new purpose.
Finally, the authority exceeded its original budgets on the Reliant and Toyota venues, and was forced to issue additional bonds to prevent a downgrade to junk bonds. Today, it is out of money.
The $3 million now being wasted could better be applied to shoring up the financial base on the existing debt.
The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority's time has come and gone.
JACK RAINS
founding chair, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority
And after Friday's scary display of entrenched, arrogant bureaucrat-itis courtesy of Billy Burge, I think it's clear why the Sports Authority needs to be shut down.
RELATED: Shut down the Sports Authority and save $40 million (blogHOUSTON)
UPDATE: David Benzion from Lone Star Times says the Jack Rains/Billy Burge/Dan Patrick interview should rerun Monday morning between 7 and 8 on KSEV-700 (you can listen online). Also, the interview will repeat Monday afternoon during Patrick's show beginning at 4. And Benzion says the MP3 should be posted on Lone Star Times some time tomorrow.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/10/05 05:00 PM |
08 April 2005
Billy Burge: THE best reason to shut down the Sports Authority!
--Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park) came in on time and under budget, although about $20 million worth of extras that Astros' owner Drayton McLane was supposed to pay for, the Sports Authority let him get out of (that was after Rains had left the Authority).
--Reliant was supposed to come in at around $300 million but ended up coming in at around $500 million. Rains said some of those extras were due to Rodeo needs and the Rodeo paid for its extras, but those didn't total $200 million.
--Rockets' owner Les Alexander got a nice deal on the Toyota Center at about $100 million more than what the Sports Authority had been authorized to approve. (I think Rains said Lee Brown negotiated the deal, but I could be wrong.)
--Reliant Stadium has already been handed over to Harris County, and the Toyota Center to the City of Houston. So, as Rains said, Minute Maid Park needs to be handed over to the city or the county, and then that will relieve the Sports Authority of any further oversight.
--Regarding the idea that Oliver Luck is busy promoting Houston's professional sports teams (an idea furthered by the Chronicle's editorial board), Rains said that's nonsense. He said the owners of the teams would never hand over promotion of their teams to Luck. And in the off-chance that they did want Oliver Luck to handle promotional duties, then Rains said the team owners need to be paying Luck's salary, not taxpayers. (Amen and hallelujah!)
--Rains said he thinks the $3 million operating budget for the Sports Authority is steep for what the Authority currently has to do. He said that the city and county should WANT to dissolve the Authority and get control of the money, if the Authority isn't handling the finances as well as it should be (think last summer's near-miss with junk bond status.)
--Rains thinks governmental entities like the Sports Authority should have a sunset-clause built in.
--Rains said the Sports Authority is a "creature that has outlived its usefulness."
When Patrick and Rains questioned Burge about the $3 million Sports Authority operating budget, Burge let slip that the taxpayers (you and me) are subsidizing a parking garage and the ice for Aeros games.
Really! $100,000 worth of ice for Aeros' players to skate on is paid for by the taxpayers!
And Burge couldn't figure out why Rains and Patrick found that astonishing. Rains had said earlier that when he was in charge of the Sports Authority, he knew that he was representing and looking out for the taxpayers. Burge appears to take the exact opposite view -- he made it clear that his mission is to look out for the teams and the owners. He said it was small-minded of Patrick to think that the Aeros should pay for their ice, he had no idea if the Aeros make money or lose money, and he didn't appear to care. Plus, while he was berating Patrick and Rains, Burge was confirming his dinner reservations!
It was an amazing call-in from Billy Burge, who is also the former chairman of Metro's board of directors and the current chairman of the Grand Parkway Association. (Uh oh, Grand Parkway...)
Patrick said that Lone Star Times would have an MP3 of the interview/call-in later this weekend. If they do, I will post an update and I would encourage everyone to listen to the entire show. Rains' information was invaluable and Burge's display...well, mere words cannot convey what an ass he made of himself. You really need to hear it.
He is a disturbing example of someone who has access to taxpayer money, and the mayor and county commissioners would be wise to get rid of him, after that display of unbelievable bureaucratic arrogance.
And then they can get to work shutting down the Sports Authority. The Aeros need to pay for their own damn ice.
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: If that's not a post worthy of the designation #1000 for our little experiment in hyperlocal blogging, I can't imagine how one would look. Thanks Anne!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 04/08/05 06:32 PM |
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