14 February 2008
Dolcefino: Who built the sheriff's fence (and why does it matter)?
KTRK-13's Wayne Dolcefino has paid another visit to the ranch of Sheriff Tommy Thomas. This time, Dolcefino is checking out the fence at the ranch and trying to figure out if the county's inmate labor program assisted in its construction. The stories are here and here.
The clips from The Shawshank Redemption were a nice touch.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/14/08 10:24 PM |
Second METRO online chat set for lunchtime Friday
Mary Sit announced that METRO's ready to take another stab at an online chat:
This Friday, February 15, you'll have a chance to chat with METRO during your lunchtime.
We promised you monthly Web chats - and exactly one month ago today, we launched Transit Talk, where 64 of you logged on to the conversation.
Our second monthly Web chat is slated for Friday from noon to 1 p.m. - and once again, our CEO and president, Frank J. Wilson, is scheduled to be our host.
Last month, the conversation ranged from Q Cards to sleepy bus drivers. This time, we are focusing on one subject: METRO Solutions. We are also using another generation of the chat software, which should make it easier for you to read when you log on.
All questions will be moderated, and only those that stay on topic will be posted.
Frank J. Wilson prefers a theme, not a free-for-all.
So if one wanted to get in a question about the Danger Train driver who hit a cyclist last week by not minding his/her stop sign, one would have to frame it in a Metro Solutions way.
Hopefully, the glitches that prevented some folks from participating last time have been addressed this time.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/14/08 05:11 AM |
13 February 2008
Clear Channel to sell two Houston stations
The Chronicle's David Barron posts that Clear Channel will be selling two of its Houston radio stations:
Under an agreement with the Department of Justice, Clear Channel Communications agreed today to sell two of its Houston radio stations to comply with anti-trust requirements associated with Clear Channel's pending acquisition by two private equity investment firms.
According to the agreement, Clear Channel will sell KLOL (101.1 FM), the heritage rock-and-roll station that now airs Spanish contemporary hits, and either KHMX (96.5 FM) or KTBZ (94.5 FM).
Houston is one of four markets -- the others being San Francisco, Cincinnati and Las Vegas -- where Clear Channel must sell stations to meet government anti-trust requirements.
It's unfortunate that none of the Clear Channel AM stations will be going on the block. But perhaps new ownership will bring improvements to the mostly dismal Clear Channel AM lineups.
BLOGVERSATION: Mike McGuff.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/13/08 09:36 PM |
"Simple human error" shortchanges METRO customers
Did you see this KHOU-11 story earlier in the week, about METRO's fare boxes overcharging customers?
Anita Hamilton said her Q card was getting charged double to ride the 108 North Shepherd Park-and-Ride. She said she pays $1 in the morning, but then she noticed in evening commute that she was being charged $3.
"I was told that there were other people who were experiencing the same problem, the same bus I was riding, they were also being charged three dollars," Hamilton said.
Hamilton contacted Metro, and she said they're refunding the overcharges and giving her an extra $5 for her troubles.
"What we discovered is it wasn't actually her Q card that was the problem -- it was that the fare box hadn't been reset, which was simple human error," Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts said.
As usual, Laurence Simon called it perfectly: Bandit boxes on the buses.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/13/08 08:22 PM |
Klein ISD's bond proposal includes a boondoggle
Klein ISD has been working on a bond proposal since last fall, and while the district desperately needs to address over-crowding, the proposal the district is trying to promote has a major boondoggle project in it: Instead of building two new high schools (#5 and #6), the district has now decided to build one new high school, then raze and rebuild Klein High School.
Raze and rebuild an existing high school? What an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars!
Initially, the bond proposal was upwards of $720 million, but currently has been tweaked down to $640 million, $130 million of which would go toward demolishing, then rebuilding Klein High School. And after the new high school (#5) is built, it would be used for Klein High students while their school is rebuilt! The new high school (#5) wouldn't actually begin relieving any of the overcrowding at other high schools until 2013!
Klein High is 45 years old and could use some remodeling, but it's not one of the district's overcrowded high schools. In order to best serve the community, Klein ISD needs to build two new high schools, and those schools need to be built where the new residential growth is. Currently Klein Oak and Klein Collins have the most serious overcrowding issues, because the schools that feed into them are in high growth areas. Building only one new high school will be not be sufficient to handle the continued booming growth in the district.
There is one other questionable item in the proposal -- $38 million to buy laptops for high school students. This is an exorbitant amount of money to spend with a highly doubtful return on investment. Laptops don't have a very long lifespan, and the district will face extra costs associated with firewalls, filters, repairs, etc. Or will parents be responsible for any damages to the laptops?
The bond proposal does appear to otherwise address sensible needs for the district (no $80 million Berry Center in this one!), but if the district persists with the plan to use 20% of the entire bond money on rebuilding an existing high school, the district could end up with a rejection similar to what Spring ISD experienced a couple of years ago.
Klein ISD superintendent Dr. Jim Cain and the Klein ISD board are seeking input from voters. Word is they have heard only from folks who live around Klein High School and who are overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal that gives them a rebuilt Klein High. If you live within Klein ISD, I encourage you to browse the links at the end of this post, and then let Dr. Cain and all the board members know where you stand on the bond proposal -- and do it soon. By March 1st, the district will be ready to move forward.
Houston Architecture Info Forum: Klein ISD Bond Plan 2008
Houston Architecture Info Forum: Klein High School #5
Klein ISD Bond Proposal (pdf; district overview -- light on specifics)
Klein For All website
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/13/08 08:21 AM |
Note to Chron: Houston agency is not the same as Harris County agency
Having been late to the story, the Chron's Mike Snyder has now written a follow-up to the news that the Harris County Housing Authority has taken national responsibility for most folks still displaced by Katrina.
The only problem is Snyder is still referring to the Harris County agency as a Houston agency:
Houstonians hit ground running in New Orleans
[snip]
About a dozen staff, contractors and board members of the small Houston agency traveled to New Orleans on Friday to review the enormous task confronting them. Here in the city that embodies all that went wrong after the nation's worst natural disaster, they are preparing to oversee the final chapter in a long, contentious effort to house thousands of displaced storm victims.
[snip]
Here, Rankin and his staff have duplicated procedures they created in Houston for enrolling and counseling clients, ensuring that landlords are paid on time and apartments are in decent condition.
Why the nit-picking? Because Harris County's agency worked hard (and displayed competence!) to achieve success dealing with what has turned into a long-term situation. As Snyder notes about halfway through, Houston's agency hasn't been "given" the same responsibility:
Even before the Harris County Housing Authority was assigned to the New Orleans project, it had been given a greater share of the Houston program than the much larger Houston Housing Authority, which is assisting about 2,400 families.
Would the Chronicle appreciate it if we just started calling it the Press whenever we felt like it? They are two separate agencies, and a professional journalist should be able to make that distinction.
But just to take the weirdness one step further, Snyder then gets a reaction from Houston's Mayor White, not Harris County's Judge Emmett:
Mayor Bill White, who appoints the Houston Housing Authority's board, said the county authority's decision to take on the New Orleans program and others around the country required political courage.
Yes, the Harris County agency took on the program, but the feds first had to ask the HC agency to take it! And that offer wasn't extended to Houston's Housing Authority, for reasons we can guess.
UPDATE: A reader notes that the last link, which is an audit of the Department of Housing, does not relate to the Houston Housing Authority. Apologies for the confusion. There's no confusion, however, that the Houston Housing Authority is a different entity than the Harris County Housing Authority, and the HC agency should be credited for the capable job it has done.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/13/08 04:37 AM |
12 February 2008
KPRC: Danger Train driver who struck bicyclist ignored stop signal
Remember that bicyclist who was hit by the Danger Train a few days ago, dragged 50 feet, and trapped under the train?
The original notion here was that cycling, iPods, and the Danger Train are a bad combination -- but as KPRC-2's Elizabeth Scarborough reports, one should add "METRO driver error" to that mix:
A METRORail driver may have been responsible for a collision between a train and a cyclist, KPRC Local 2 reported.
A source close to the investigation said the on-board camera video was played at a high level post-incident meeting Monday afternoon. The source said the video showed the rail operator ran the light, while pedestrians in the crosswalk had a walk signal.
"Until we've come to a total conclusion on that, I'm not prepared to say what actually transpired," METRO Police Chief Tom Lambert said.
The cyclist was hit as she crossed the tracks on Fannin Street near Macgregor Drive shortly before 5 p.m. Friday.
Rail operators follow their own set of lights, which are white lines. Vertical means go and horizontal means stop.
The video showed the rail approaching the intersection with the light already horizontal. The cyclist was seen looking up at the train just before she disappeared under it. She was trapped until rescuers cut her bike apart.
Just after the collision, police said the 29-year-old physician riding her bike appeared to be at fault.
"We know that she was wearing headphones," Lambert said, "She was riding bike, not looking to what happened."
Lambert said Monday that he was no longer positive that the cyclist was at fault.
"Honestly, I don't know the answer to that," he said.
The METRO footage shown in the video version of the story posted on the KPRC website clearly shows a horizontal bar (the signal to stop), the bicyclist beginning to cross on what she probably assumed was a valid crossing signal, and the bicyclist disappearing under the train. The Danger Train driver seems clearly to be at fault for ignoring the stop signal.
And this brings us to a point that we emphasize frequently here: When you lay at-grade rail down already congested and busy streets, you leave little room for operator error (by pedestrians and by drivers of trains, auto vehicles, wheelchairs, and bikes -- as we've seen frequently). In contrast, rail that is segregated from vehicular and pedestrian traffic is going to be safer than rail that is not. We're not sure why pointing this out tends to agitate some people so much -- but we are pretty sure that we'll be posting similar sorts of stories when the same at-grade-rail mistakes are repeated down busy Richmond.
UPDATE: Well, what do you know -- the Chronicle decided to do its job and cover this story too (and there's even some additional information):
A video of the accident, taken from cameras on the train and released by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, shows the track signal displaying a horizontal line, which means the operator is not to proceed. Metro released a statement Monday saying the accident was "preventable" and that investigation is continuing.
The Chronicle has filed an open records request for the identities of the cyclist and the train operator — information Metro has routinely released in the past but declined to reveal about this accident.
The passenger, Mark Vance, said he was in the second seat from the front left of the train and could see both the cyclist and several pedestrians in the crosswalk ahead as the train edged forward.
"There were a lot of people, and I also saw this girl on the bicycle and keeping up with the people in the crosswalk," Vance said.
"The train was not stopping," he said. "Never did she (the operator) toot her horn, and never applied the brakes."
[snip]
Vance said he offered to give information after the accident to a police officer at the scene but was told that would not be necessary because police had witnessed it. Vance said he could not recall the officer's name or department.
[snip]
Early reports said the woman was wearing headphones and not paying attention as the train approached, but Vance said it appeared that she and the pedestrians had the right of way.
He said he did not see any headphones.
METRO's not releasing information? That doesn't seem consistent with Frank "Procurement Disaster" Wilson's pronouncement about running the organization in a "in a completely transparent manner."
ANNE LINEHAN ADDS: What an incredible display of arrogance by METRO in handling this accident. METRO Police Chief Lambert immediately blamed the victim, then was forced to backtrack when local media pursued the tapes. Now we learn there was a witness who wanted to tell METRO Police what he saw, but he was turned down! Have you EVER heard of a police department that refuses to take an eyewitness report?? Unless there was something to hide, of course.
THEN Sallee's story notes that wasn't the first accident of the day! How many accidents are still occurring? Good grief. What a mess. Just wait 'til that at-grade rail is running up and down Richmond.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/12/08 12:04 PM |
11 February 2008
Thinking about Houston's future... with the Urban Land Institute
Last week, the Center for Houston's Future convened a meeting of Urban Land Institute experts, who proceeded to discuss their vision of... Houston's future.
The Chronicle's Carolyn Feibel reported on the meetings. And as one might have expected, local blogger Tory Gattis was at the meeting, and has blogged extensively about it here and here.
Who says bloggers don't sometimes report news?
UPDATE (02-12-2008): Neal Meyer offers more analysis.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/11/08 11:30 PM |
Former Kemah mayor proposes METRO transit giveaway
In Sunday's Chronicle, Bill King, the former mayor mayor of Kemah and a pol said to be planning a run for Houston mayor, put forth one of the more entertaining local transit proposals we've seen lately:
Just about everyone involved in Houston's mobility dialogue agrees that an increase in transit ridership would be a good thing. Yet, for years our transit programs have been trapped in the box of a "rail versus freeway" debate that has left motorists facing ever rising congestion and transit riders with few options. I believe that one way out of this box may be to get rid of the fare box.
One need not go much further than this -- and certainly one doesn't need to spend this much time debunking the particulars and then correcting the errors in the original debunking -- before dismissing the premise behind this article, which seems to be: The direct, fare-box cost to passengers using transit in Houston significantly dampens utilization.
Until the recent Q-Card "service improvements," METRO's fare structure had been flat for years. Yet despite our area's phenomenal growth, there has been no accompanying growth in system utilization even with fares that have been flat -- and extremely low, compared to the base fares charged by many transit systems across the country. We would suggest that it is not the fare structure that is responsible for METRO's declining transit system utilization (relative to the population), but the fact that the system as currently designed isn't USEFUL to more potential riders.
But hey, if the former mayor of Kemah is all excited about a transit giveaway, we urge him to think locally (since we're told all politics is local) -- how about talking Tilman and associates (or even Kemah taxpayers!) into giving free train rides at the Boardwalk! The kiddies will love it (which has to be worth something), and we suspect it will have about the same (negligible) impact on mass transit utilization in the METRO service area.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/11/08 10:46 PM |
KHOU: METRO, City close to Richmond/utilities consent agreement
Back in October 2007, Richmond-rail opponents held a press conference to raise concerns over a water main located under Richmond, and the problem that might result if the proposed Richmond line were to have the same stray-current issues as the Main Street line. METRO and even one public works official downplayed the concerns.
We haven't heard much about this topic lately, which is why this snippet from a KHOU-11 story by Lee McGuire tonight caught my eye:
Under Richmond, there’s a 60 inch high-pressure water main.
There’s also a 12-inch gas line.
Metro says neither would be affected by a rail line, but city leaders have worried if they ever broke, there’d be no way to repair them.
Now sources close to the negotiations tell 11 News the two sides are close to a so-called consent agreement.
It would involve Metro moving the gas line and giving the city access if the water line ever needed repairs.
If the water line ever needs repairs, it's going to be a mess for METRO's "transit backbone" (which doesn't much like water).
Presumably, this is a topic that will be taken up by City Council's Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee tomorrow. Here's the agenda:
AGENDA
February 12, 2008
10:00 a.m.
City Council Chambers
901 Bagby, 2nd Floor
Houston, TexasI. Welcome – Council Member Sue Lovell, Chair
II. Discussion of the METRO Consent Agreement
III. Public CommentsAction may be taken on any of the above items. For special needs or information about this committee, please contact Ryan Leach 713-247-2013.
Perhaps the local media should cover this meeting. It sounds kind of important.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/11/08 10:08 PM |
Former TX Supreme Court Chief Justice corrects Editorial LiveJournalists
A little over a week ago, the Chronicle Editorial LiveJournalists blasted Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jefferson Wallace for pushing through a change in the official workflow that has allegedly contributed to a backlog of cases.
Today, Wallace's predecessor writes that the Editorial LiveJournalists got it wrong (the shock!):
Ordinarily, I don't question favorable references to me in the press, such as that contained in the Jan. 31 editorial, "Backlog." But the intimation that my successor as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, Wallace Jefferson, has adopted new procedures that have slowed the court's work is so wrong that I feel compelled to set the record straight.
The court's practice of conferencing about cases on a monthly, rather than a weekly, basis originated with me, not Chief Justice Jefferson. In 1993, concerned about our court's backlog under the then-existing weekly calendar, I surveyed judicial procedures nationwide. I found that no other state conferences every week, nor does the U.S. Supreme Court. I convinced the Texas Supreme Court to adopt a practice similar to the other states, and the results were quite beneficial. Our backlog at the end of each term was cut from an average of more than 44 cases during the previous five years to less than 18 cases during the next six.
In 1999, however, the court decided, over my objection, to return to a weekly conference schedule. As I feared, the backlog slowly accumulated over the next few years. In 2004, just before I left the court, the justices adopted my motion to reinstate the monthly schedule. If that decision was wrong, you should blame me, not Jefferson.
Another criticism the editorial leveled at the court's procedures is also wrong, in my opinion. The random assignment of majority opinions does not cause any significant delay. If the assigned justice is not in the majority, the case is simply reassigned, often within days. Random assignments assure that each justice has an equal chance to author all types of cases, thus preventing the danger of various justices holding forth as "specialists" in particular areas of the law. The court has used this system for at least 60 years, perhaps longer.
The common phrase that "justice delayed is justice denied" is often true. The Texas Supreme Court produces scholarly and widely respected opinions, but it has for many years been too slow in its work. The court can surely benefit from public discussion about its procedures, but only if the public has accurate information about what it is now doing and why.
THOMAS R. PHILLIPS
retired chief justice, Supreme Court of Texas, Austin
That was certainly a thorough correction!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/11/08 09:40 PM |
10 February 2008
GOP County Judge candidates meet with Editorial LiveJournalists; Endorsement offered
Several days ago, Chronicle political reporter Alan Bernstein reported on part of the conversation among GOP Harris County Judge candidates Charles Bacarisse and Ed Emmett and the Chronicle Editorial Board. This excerpt sums up the coverage:
The Republican contenders for Harris County judge disagreed Thursday over Metro's plan to put a light rail line along Richmond Avenue near southwest Houston.
"Unless the courts overturn it, I think the logical place to put it is down Richmond," said incumbent Ed Emmett, a transportation consultant. "That's where the people are, that's where the businesses are."
Challenger Charles Bacarisse, the former district clerk, took the opposite side.
"The county judge should listen to the people of Harris County," he said. "There has been a loud and long call for no rail on Richmond, and not only because it would destroy the neighborhoods it would run through."
Agreeing with opponents of the transit project, Bacarisse said the route plan does not conform to Metro's 2003 ballot referendum, which mentioned the nearby Westpark corridor.
"The word 'Richmond' is never mentioned in the ballot language," Bacarisse added, "and if they want to change it they should just go back to the voters and ask for permission."
Emmett countered that the voice of the public has been expressed by neighborhood associations along the transit route, which he said support the light rail line as a bloc.
"If these people don't speak for the people, then I don't know who does," the county government chief said.
The candidates in the March 4 primary made the remarks to the Houston Chronicle editorial board.
Now, some of us share Bacarisse's view of METRO's Westpark corridor bait-and-switch, and think the transit organization should follow through on promises made (or go back to the voters with a revamped transit plan -- an idea I could definitely get behind).
That being said, it would have been nice to know more about the conversation that took place between the candidates and the Editorial LiveJournalists. In the internet age, it would be much more useful and informative for the Editorial LiveJournalists to record video of these meetings, so we can see what questions were asked, what answers were given, and judge the candidates for ourselves.
We especially would have been interested in knowing the candidates' views more generally on the county's role in oversight of the transit organization, and would have been interested in knowing the candidates' views on Harris County residents who pay taxes to METRO, but aren't really able to take advantage of METRO services. Maybe those topics were covered; maybe they weren't. It would be nice to pull up a video or podcast of the meeting and find out.
Instead, we have the Editorial LiveJournalists, whose misadventures include creating a new treaty and a new radioactive isotope, "screening" candidates for us -- not terribly helpful.
PREVIOUSLY: GOP DA candidates meet with Editorial LiveJournalists.
ANNE ADDS: Kevin makes a great point here:
[...]and would have been interested in knowing the candidates' views on Harris County residents who pay taxes to METRO, but aren't really able to take advantage of METRO services.
If I have my information correct, I believe Fort Bend County protested something like this, where Metro was collecting some taxes out there, but providing no transit services. The money now goes to Fort Bend County's roads fund, or something like that.
So why should Metro collect the tax revenue from areas of Harris County that have no transit services for many, many miles? That money should go into Harris County's roads funds, since that's the transit we use. It's clear where Metro's priorities are, so let Metro officials collect the revenue from areas where they have placed their priorities.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/10/08 11:13 PM |
New skate park is "epic," "world-class"
The Chronicle's Robert Crowe reports that two thirty-somethings are proud of our world-class city:
Standing near the construction site like a couple of eager 13-year-old boys, Jason Kendall and Richard Sellers could not contain their excitement upon glimpsing the epic skate park developing near downtown.
"It's absolutely incredible; it defies description. It has so many features," Kendall, a 37-year-old Houston native, said Wednesday while his buddy used a cell phone to snap photos of the smooth concrete bowls, ramps and pipes.
These old-school skaters, with a sprinkling of gray hair, stopped by the site Wednesday to sneak a peek after hearing that the 30,000-square-foot park, one of the country's largest, is starting to take shape. Houston already has six public skate parks, but the seventh will be in a league all its own.
"I'll be here opening day," said Sellers, 36. "This is world-class without a doubt. ... This is what Houston needs."
This thirty-something is delighted that we have another example of world-classness to share.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/10/08 10:33 PM |
Metro's transparency in action (cont'd)
In January, Tom Bazan filed a TxPIA request with Metro for the FY2007 report. When he made this request, he informed Metro that he was unlikely to be as patient this year as he was last year. In that case, Metro made Tom wait four months to see the FY2006 report.
This past Friday, Tom sent out an emergency email blast noting that Metro had notified him that he could view the report on February 21st at 4 p.m. The problem? Metro's monthly board meeting (where the report would be presented) is scheduled for February 21st at 1 p.m.
That's right: Metro wasn't going to show Tom the report until after the board meeting so he could not comment on the report at the meeting. Talk about transparency in action!
Three hours after Tom sent the email notifying everyone on his list that Metro was stonewalling him, he received another email from Metro's legal department, telling him that he could view the report Monday (tomorrow!) at 10 a.m. That was a fast stand-down!
Why the change? I don't know, but Tom has received favorable rulings from the Texas Attorney General's office on TxPIA requests. The latest is a request that Metro still refuses to release to him -- all information relating to Metro PD's light rail fare blitzes, something Mary Sit publicized on her blog. Texas AG Greg Abbott ruled in Tom's favor that Metro must release the information, but he's still waiting.
Maybe a local media person got wind of Metro's refusal to let the report be viewed -- and it is public information -- and put in a request to see the report. Who knows?
Anyway, remember this as another example of Frank "Procurement Disaster" Wilson's transparency.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/10/08 04:41 PM |
Continental enhances mobile website
Several days ago, Scott O'Leary (aka CO Insider), a customer service exec with Continental Airlines, posted some information on a nice (beta) addition to Continental's mobile website:
Starting today, we’re proud to offer our FlyerTalk community a preview of our new Gate Information product, which will first be introduced via our mobile site using the link above and will ultimately be available via continental.com and LCDs installed in our gate areas starting later this year. Like our current Flight Status functionality, this feature will be available for flights scheduled to depart current day, yesterday and tomorrow.
New features include:
* Expanded Flight Status, including the aircraft number (that’s for you, rkkwan) and a new “Where is this aircraft coming from” feature (great idea, cigarman)
* Seat Maps, including a full aircraft view
* Upgrade Standby Lists, including real-time booking totals, the list of customers who have been upgraded (including via our Elite Upgrade Automation), and the list of those who have been added to the upgrade standby list. In the future we plan to add an “estimated upgrade rank” for those customers standing by, but that piece is still in development
* Flight Standby Lists, including high-level availability information, the list of customers who have been cleared, and the list of customers who are still standing by
* Inflight Amenity Information, including flight and aircraft-specific information about what food, beverages, inflight entertainment and in-seat power (no need to keep memorizing those aircraft numbers)
I hope you’ll agree this is a good start, and we’re proud to be the first airline to offer this information beyond the gate area. We look forward to your feedback, and to our public launch later this Spring. You’re welcome to post your feedback here, or via email to [email protected].
This addition may not seem that exciting to casual travelers, but frequent travelers (and especially those who are elite members of the airline's OnePass program) CRAVE this sort of information. The working preview site has been very well received on the FlyerTalk forum. For some time, fellow SkyTeam member Delta has posted this sort of information on some gate displays, but Continental's adding it to the mobile website is a nice step forward -- and should result in an improvement in customer service, since travelers can check more information themselves and free gate agents to handle more complicated requests. It's a nice move by the hometown airline.
UPDATE (02-12-2008): The Chronicle finally decided to cover this news. Readers of FlyerTalk and this blog had the news several days sooner.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/10/08 02:05 PM |
09 February 2008
Local media expose dismal state of HPD's leadership
In one fell swoop yesterday, three local media stories demonstrated the woeful state of Chief Hurtt's leadership at HPD.
First, KHOU-11's Vicente Arenas reported on HPD's efforts to attract quality cadet recruits, especially critical now with the department's severe manpower shortage. Unfortunately, it's not going so well, even after HPD lowered "tweaked" standards:
Starting pay for cadets is about $30,000 dollars a year.
Many people have applied for jobs as police officers, 300 last Fall alone. But only 11 got the job at a time when about 1,000 officers are needed to fill HPD’s ranks.
HPD said, despite the shortage of officers, it would not lower its standards to get new cops on the streets.
But 11 News has learned some of the academy's physical requirements have changed. Cadets are not required to do as many pushups and they no longer have to climb walls.
HPD says it only "tweaked" the requirements and they still meet national guidelines. Still Ramos worries the academy's standards may not be strict enough.
And six cadets have been let go recently due to criminal activity.
Next, KHOU's Jeremy Desel snagged an interview with HPD Crime Lab Director Irma Rios, who said that while times are tough, and morale is low, the department really is a good steward of the public's money:
The Bromwich Report into the old lab’s troubles cost the city $5.1 million.
The new lab has received $3.4 million in grants for DNA testing, instruments, training and consultants.
The budget for the crime lab doubled.
All told, more than $10 million was spent to get the new DNA lab up and running.
Still, the lab is not testing all the cases that come to HPD.
"They estimate there are over 2,000 unsolved murders,” said Rios. “Can we do that? We can't. We are building up the lab.”
Breaking down the spending a little further 11 News discovered that in 2005, while the DNA section of the lab was closed, the city spent $725,704 on testing at three outside labs.
In 2006, the lab reopened in July. As you might expect the spending dropped considerably to $258,597.
But last year, with the new lab up and running, the city still spent $336,230.24 on outside testing. And so far this year, even before the lab shut down again, the city had spent $205,446.04.
[snip]
So, despite spending millions, it’s back to the beginning at HPD.
"Going forward I can tell you that we are being good stewards of the public's money,” said Rios. “And that we want that the work that is issued or reports that are issued are the best.
What KHOU's transcript doesn't include is what Rios said right after that sentence (it's on the video): "and that cost not be an objective on that." Even if the end product doesn't match those high standards, Ms. Rios? You'll recall cost was an objective when it came to the Bromwich investigation, with city officials initially balking at the rising cost of sorting out the crime lab's mess.
And then get a load of this: KTRK-13's Gene Apodaca reports that Chief Hurtt thinks HPD needs a new place to call home...and it's going to cost at least a quarter of a billion dollars. Hang on to your wallet for this one:
The plan consolidates several HPD buildings, including those on Travis and Reisner. And it replaces the troubled crime lab and property room. We've been telling you about problems there for months.
It's an expensive plan, $250 million. But the city has been working on this project since last March and they're hoping to complete the new facility as early as 2011 with a $250 million price tag.
[snip]
Under the current proposal, five existing HPD buildings would be sold -- 1200 Travis, which houses administration and investigations, three facilities on Reisner, which house the city jail, central patrol, and transportation, along with 33 Artesia, which houses maintenance and communication.
The city is hoping to make more than $70 million on sale. The general services department would have to come up with the rest.
"Not only is it a nice place to work, it's a place where we can be more effective and efficient in providing services," said Chief Hurtt.
[snip]
Among the benefits, the chief says, would be a new crime lab and property room, replacing the troubled ones HPD currently has.
"The crime lab is going to be in there," said Chief Hurtt. "We're going to be able to have a top notch crime lab center."
Wow. So the soccer stadium and the new convention center hotel aren't the only big budget projects the city's been working on below the radar.
Here's a question for Chief Hurtt: Since HPD's leadership hasn't been a good steward of the public's money for quite a while now (spending money on all the latest techno gadgetry, while not maintaining facilities, ignoring manpower issues until it was too late, not budgeting for a $150 million digital emergency radio system that is long overdue, and throwing money away on a second incarnation of the crime lab), how is this going to be any different?
They may not have enough police officers, their radio network may be out of date, and their crime lab findings may be unreliable, but boy, HPD officials will have mighty fine digs to call home. Image, baby.
RELATED NEWS: 2 shot outside Reliant Stadium after U.S.-Mexico match (Chron.com); HPD: Businessman killed burglar in self-defense (Chron.com); Girl's unfinished oatmeal leads to school bus shooting (KHOU-11)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/09/08 04:30 PM |
08 February 2008
Chief Hurtt unveils latest crimefighting acronym
Bad guys are, without doubt, huddling nervously around the city tonight, after the unveiling of Chief Hurtt's latest crimefighting acronym.
Here is the press release sent out by HPD in advance of today's big press event:
MEDIA ALERT: HPD "BAT" STRIKES OUT AT BURGLARS
At 10 a.m. TODAY (Friday, February 8), Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt and Southwest Patrol Division Captain Darrell Schindler, accompanied by Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright, will announce results from an ongoing Burglary Reduction Initiative aimed at targeting burglaries in far southwest Houston and Fort Bend County (16E40s beat).
The Southwest Burglary Apprehension Team (B.A.T) is a component of the Burglary Reduction Initiative. Other participating agencies include the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Precinct, Five and Seven Constables’ Offices, Fort Bend County Precinct Two Constables Office, Missouri City, Pearland, Sugar Land, Stafford and Metro Police Departments. Fort Bend and Houston Independent School District Police Departments, as well as the Texas Department of Public Safety, have also assisted with this initiative.
Those 10 a.m. Friday press conferences conveniently leave plenty of time to catch a later flight out west, for those who might be inclined to do so.
We are hopeful that next week, the Chief will boost the acronym crimefighting force even more with the addition of the B.A.T. Signal. Surely the Williams Tower spotlight could be modified for emergency use by the B.A.T. forces!
NEWS COVERAGE: KPRC-2, KHOU-11, KTRK-13, Chronicle.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/08/08 09:42 PM |
Danger Train hits, drags cyclist
Unbeknownst to one Houstonian, it's unwise to ride a bike near the Danger Train while listening to an Ipod (via KHOU-11):
The victim for a time was stuck under the train in the 6400 block of Fannin in front of Memorial Hermann Hospital. The victim is a female bicyclist whose leg was caught under the train, emergency officials told 11 News.
Houston fire emergency crews had to pull the woman from under the train and treated her for unknown injuries. An emergency official said was dragged about 50 feet after being struck by the train.
Investigators on scene said it appeared that the woman was unaware the train was approaching because she was wearing headphones and couldn't hear the train's warning horn.
The woman, who is in her late 20s, was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital where she was in serious, but stable condition.
Operation of the light rail was suspended, but service resumed about 5:15 p.m.
Bicyclists should note that the train will not impede their Saturday morning ride between the Fannin South and Wheeler stations as Metro's transit backbone will be shut down for repairs. However, buses will (as always) pick up the train's slack, so a watchful eye (and ear!) is still warranted.
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: Do cities with rail lines that are segregated from vehicular and pedestrian traffic have nearly so many instances of their trains striking cars, wheelchairs, pedestrians, and bicyclists?
RELATED: KTRK-13
UPDATE (02-12-2008): KPRC-2 reports that METRO video clearly shows that the Danger Train driver ignored a stop signal before hitting the bicyclist (a 29-year-old physician). Details here.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/08/08 07:45 PM |
07 February 2008
GOP DA candidates meet with Editorial LiveJournalists
The GOP candidates for Harris County District Attorney apparently met with the Chronicle Editorial LiveJournalists on Wednesday.
The only accounts of the meeting come in separate articles from Alan Bernstein and Lisa Falkenberg -- a poor substitute for actual audio/video of the entire meeting. It is beyond strange that the Chronicle has embraced audio/video in so many areas of the newspaper -- except for meetings between the Editorial LiveJournalists and opinionmakers.
Voters will get a chance to see the GOP candidates debate on February 19. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of attorney Mark Bennett, KHOU-11 will not pre-empt network programming to show the debate, but will only be webcasting it on KHOU.com. So much for using the public airwaves to promote the public good.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport, Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center (I, II).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/07/08 10:29 PM |
Chron covers three week old news
On January 18th, KUHF-88.7's Jim Bell reported that the Harris County Housing Authority was taking on national responsibility for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Yesterday, almost three weeks later, the Chron's Mike Snyder filed a story on the subject:
Tiny Houston housing agency takes on national job
11,000 Katrina families across U.S. will be helped by group noted for its expertiseA small, Houston-based agency with 25 employees has been chosen to administer housing assistance for about 11,000 families around the country who were displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Except that it's not Houston's Housing Authority that is administering the national program; it's Harris County's Housing Authority, which is noted in the second paragraph. There is a difference.
It's questionable whether Houston's Housing Authority would be up to the task, but then again, Houston's Daily Information Source isn't up to its task either.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/07/08 08:27 PM |
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