10 November 2007
Friday night with Mike McGuff: Klein Oak vs. Klein!
KTRK-13's Mike McGuff hung out at Klein Stadium last night, taking pictures of the Klein Oak vs. Klein football game.
Klein Oak won, although it was a hard-fought game, and Klein Oak ends its regular season with only one loss -- last week's trouncing by Westfield. Now it's on to the playoffs.
Thanks, Mike, for the great pictures!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/10/07 08:58 AM |
09 November 2007
An Aggie joke that really misses the mark
Here's a line from Chron sports columnist Jerome Solomon's latest that literally made my jaw drop:
While the bratty Longhorns constantly rub A&M's nose in national championships — no matter how infrequently they come — the Aggies have to play with matches to get attention.
That's tacky and obnoxious even by Chron standards.
BLOGVERSATION: Houston's Clear Thinkers.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/09/07 11:27 AM |
We've got a better idea
The Chron's new reader rep, Steve Jetton, announced yesterday that the comics section will be reduced by one page Monday through Saturday, as a cost-cutting measure.
We have a better idea: Cut the editorial pages Monday through Saturday, and save twelve pages a week instead of just six. It would be a public service, too, as readers will lose fewer brain cells reading the comics than they would reading the editorial board's opinions.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/09/07 04:58 AM |
08 November 2007
KPRC: HPD response times continue to worsen
KPRC-2's Robert Arnold checks in with some hard numbers on HPD response times that continue to worsen (thanks to the manpower crunch that was neglected for too long by City Hall):
For the Houston police officers patrolling our streets, the most urgent calls for help are classified as "priority one." That means someone's life is in immediate danger, and that's why officers are supposed to respond to these "priority one" calls in five minutes or less.
"That is an important performance indicator for us. We try to keep an eye as closely on that as we can," Executive Assistant Chief Tim Oettmeier said.
But when Local 2 Investigates analyzed three years worth of police response times, breaking down Houston neighborhood by neighborhood, we discovered more and more parts of the city are waiting longer than five minutes for police to respond to these life-threatening, "priority one" calls.
"What I hear from officers is we are short and could we get some help out here," outgoing Houston Police Officers’ Union president Hans Marticiuc said.
In 2004, police were taking longer than 5 minutes to respond to a third of Houston's neighborhoods. Two years later it was 43%. Through the first quarter of this year it was half the city.
"Any given shift you probably don't have more than 200 to 250 officers out on the street," Marticiuc said.
"For the entire city?" Arnold asked.
"Uh, huh," Marticiuc said.
Large outlying areas are especially challenging. Neighborhoods on the backside of Lake Houston, around Bush Intercontinental Airport, off I-10 past the Beltway, off Highway 288 are all waiting anywhere from 6 to 9 minutes for officers to respond to life-threatening calls.
"Sixty seconds, 120 seconds, 180 seconds make all the difference in the world,” Marticiuc said.
But it's not just the suburbs. Some neighborhoods inside the Loop and near downtown are also seeing more than 6 minute wait times.
"I'd like to say it's alarming, but it's almost to be expected with the shortage of personnel that we have," Marticiuc said.
Here's the dilemma. The bulk of officers is deployed to neighborhoods with the highest crime rates. That leaves neighborhoods with traditionally lower crime rates thin, and that means it takes officers longer to get to those areas when you call for help. Factor in traffic and the number of calls for help officers are handling at the time, the wait gets even longer.
"It's really an allocation issue and it's a very tough challenge," Oettmeier said.
Mayor White has pledged action (finally) on bolstering HPD's manpower, and we hope after his big election victory that he will be focused on this problem.
RELATED COVERAGE: Local 2 Investigates Unanswered Call For Help (Robert Arnold, KPRC-2 News).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/08/07 05:35 PM |
A Harris County road expert?
Say you are a local media person writing on the topic of road-building, and you need to add an expert opinion to the story. Would your first choice be a light rail enthusiast?
It would be if you are the Chronicle's Rad Sallee. And the person chosen to offer an expert opinion would be the CTC's Christof Spieler:
Harris County will spend an unprecedented amount of its toll road profits next year to build and upgrade roads and streets, some of them miles from any toll booth.
[snip]
Architect Christof Spieler of the grass-roots Citizens Transportation Coalition said he has no problem with using money paid by toll road users to build free roads.
Gosh that's generous of him. It's unclear why anyone cares what Christof Spieler -- Metro's #1 light rail cheerleader -- thinks of Harris County's road-building decisions. You'll notice Rad didn't identify him as a light-rail advocate, but this Chron story clearly notes the CTC's light rail advocacy.
But if government is providing new roads to access new subdivisions in the Katy Prairie, he said, it is making that housing artificially cheap.
One could argue that Metro makes light rail transit artificially cheap, considering the per-rider subsidy is over $25, and a one-way fare costs $1. Oh, and don't forget Metro uses an honor system with occasional fare checks.
Spieler said that, although he opposes suburban sprawl, he likes Radack's idea of having developers — and ultimately the homebuyers — take on that cost.
Some of us would like Inner Loopers and rail riders to take on more of the cost of light rail transit.
Still, he said he would like to see more of the connectivity money used for "infill" projects in Houston and other municipalities. These retard sprawl, and often are more cost-efficient, he said, since the street, drainage and utility infrastructure already may be in place.
"The county spends hardly any of its road budget inside the city limit, although we in Houston pay the same county taxes," Spieler said.
Guess what? Metro spends hardly any of its budget outside the Inner Loop, although it collects taxes in many parts of Harris County, including areas where it provides absolutely no transit services at all!
Of course the biggest difference is that public transit serves a microscopic fraction of Houston-area residents, while roads serve an overwhelming majority of the local citizenry.
Maybe next time Rad can ask some people who actually use the roads!
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: As Anne alludes to above, there is a very interesting passage in this Chron story by Betty Martin:
The University Corridor's approval by Metro as a Locally Preferred Alignment was good news for the grass-roots Citizens' Transportation Coalition, according to the group's Oct. 17 letter to Metro president Frank Wilson.
"Since early 2006, Metro has worked with the community to identify and evaluate options for the University line, the 10-mile line that will form the east-west backbone of Metro's 2012 urban transit system," the letter begins.
The University Corridor would run from west of Main Street down Richmond to Cummins and then Westpark, and east of Main from Wheeler to Ennis and Alabama and then to the University of Houston at Scott Street, with a possible extension north on Scott and east on Elgin to the Eastwood Transit Center in the future.
With the inclusion of the Scott-to-Eastwood-Transit segment, it is the "very alignments that CTC has pushed for," the letter states.
It is worth noting that Rad Sallee has previously -- erroneously -- characterized the CTC as merely a group that pushes for community participation in transit policy formation, when in reality the CTC is a policy advocacy interest group that has long worked with METRO to promote certain rail alignments (even as it was telling gullible reporters otherwise). After being called on that misleading characterization previously, Sallee tried to spin the reporting in a way that didn't seem entirely consistent with a clear reading of the text of his reporting. That instance, the instance highlighted today by Anne, and this week's unusual broadside of various citizen/activists who have taken on a METRO watchdog role seemingly abdicated by the Chronicle years ago suggest that Sallee may have become a little too cozy with certain sources, and that their agenda may be getting undue play in his reporting (intentionally or unintentionally).
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/08/07 04:54 AM |
07 November 2007
Cooley, DeBakey put "feud" to rest
Clear Thinker Tom Kirkendall calls attention to this story by the Chronicle's Todd Ackerman, on the rapprochement of two Houston and medical giants:
It's considered one of medicine's best-known feuds: two brilliant and egotistical doctors on the frontiers of cardiovascular surgery, whose falling-out divided a community and became the stuff of legend.
Immortalized in a Life magazine cover story, the rift persisted for decades. Although the competition spurred them to achievements that transformed the Texas Medical Center into the world's heart treatment center, the former collaborators avoided each other and barely spoke.
But recently, Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley buried the hatchet.
"I'm glad the rivalry may have passed by," Cooley said on Oct. 27, presenting DeBakey with a lifetime achievement award at a meeting of Cooley's Cardiovascular Surgical Society. "I hope this is not just a temporary truce or cease-fire (but) ... a permanent treaty between us."
DeBakey, 99, responded that he was glad to be there for two reasons: "One is, I'm alive. And the other, of course, is to get this award. Denton, I am really touched by it."
DeBakey downplayed the idea of a rivalry — he called it "the concoction of a journalist" — and said he has the highest respect for Cooley and what he has done. He said he would "treasure" the award and find a place for it in his library.
At the ceremony's end, he motioned for Cooley to come closer to him for the photos.
DeBakey and Cooley helped to build the Texas Medical Center into one of the best medical complexes in the world. Ackerman's account of their reconciliation is a fine read.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/07/07 11:13 PM |
Did the residency issue contribute to Tahir, Christie losses?
There are several good, comprehensive roundups of yesterday's elections posted on local blogs, but this post from Bayou City Madman made one particularly interesting point:
On Tuesday, Houston, or at least a slim representative sample speaking on behalf of a couple million folks, said No to lying carpetbaggers running for the only open at-large seat on city council.
Liberal Republican former school board member Jack Christie, a resident of Bunker Hill, scored 4th despite spending over 70k trying to convince Houston voters that he gave a crap about the city. We didn’t like Christie when he was on the State Board of Education pushing a ludicrous vendor-driven scheme to replace textbooks with laptops, and we hope this latest failure represents the end of his public career.
The greater pleasure was in seeing gas station owner and Fort Bend County Democratic Party officer Zaf Tahir spend close to $200,000 trying to convince Houston voters that he lives in Houston, only to finish 5th.
It's hard to say if the questionable residency status of Tahir and Christie played a role in their losses (maybe voters just thought they were bad candidates in general), but we second the Madman's conclusion: "Kudos (whatever those are) to the Chron for exposing the attempted fraud in this race." At least Houston voters had that information as they decided whom to support.
PREVIOUSLY: Council candidates follow the lead of Harold "Arizona" Hurtt.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/07/07 10:54 PM |
06 November 2007
Chris Baker axed at KTRH/KPRC
Word reaches us that Clear Channel Houston has axed popular KTRH-740 and KPRC-950 talker Chris Baker, effective as of last night.
Baker's information has already been completely scrubbed from the KTRH website, although in typically clumsy fashion, Clear Channel still has references to the Baker and Hunt program on the KPRC website.
Baker has long been the talk radio king of Houston, both in terms of ratings and revenues, so this move clearly seems more in line with Clear Channel's cost-cutting in nearby markets (rather than a decline in performance). We should note that Baker has long been a favorite of the blog, because we've appreciated his perspective on politics, sense of humor, and willingness to play rabble-rouser on local affairs (even when it ruffles feathers at City Hall). While we are sad to see Baker get dumped -- and replaced by the far less talented Michael "Babe Pages" Berry -- we're fairly sure he will land on his feet, and probably move on to bigger and better things.
Unfortunately, Houston radio is hardly moving on to bigger and better things since Michael "Babe Pages" Berry deposed Ken Charles and took over as programming guru (despite a lack of qualifications and experience). Instead, onetime political powerhouse KPRC has been remade into an incoherent "guy talk" combination of mostly syndicated personalities, unlistenable local personalities, and "babe pages." And onetime news leader KTRH has been remade into a collection of mostly syndicated shows, a "local" personality based in San Antonio, and a local personality who doesn't produce ratings but apparently has all the right political/business connections.
None of that makes for good local radio, which almost certainly will be reflected in the ratings down the line -- when Michael "Babe Pages" Berry will move on to his next endeavor, and someone else will try to figure out what happened to two great radio stations. It's unfortunate that a city the size of Houston can't do better than this. It's also somewhat shocking that talk radio at Clear Channel Houston seems to be bleeding more than the local newspaper these days. We certainly didn't think we'd ever write that when we started this little blog!
In any case, here's a shout out to our friend Baker, who's given Houston some darn good radio over the years. Thanks Chris!
UPDATE (11-08-2007): KHCW ran a nice story on Baker last night.
BLOGVERSATION: Mike McGuff, TBIFOC, Four DVRs, No Waiting, Radio-Info, Lone Star Times.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/07 10:37 AM |
05 November 2007
Hole opens in freeway near Galleria
Various media outlets have reported on the large hole that opened on the West Loop near Richmond today, creating a hazard for traffic on the freeway and below.
Here is an excerpt from KHOU-11's Lee McGuire:
Drivers on the ramp from the southbound West Loop to Highway 59 got a scary surprise Monday when a chunk of freeway fell to the ground.
The hole, about 2-3 feet in diameter, mysteriously opened up in the road and went crashing onto Richmond below around 1 p.m.
Two of the three lanes on the ramp were closed until it was patched up.
Monday evening, the center lane remained blocked off, even though the hole was patched by 7 p.m. Traffic was backed up for miles well past rush hour.
“That’s kind of scary. Hope it doesn’t happen while I’m going under it,” driver Myron Blalock said.
For a while after the collapse, only orange cones marked the trouble spot.
“We are not sure what happened. We’re going to have to investigate that,” said Karen Olthon of TxDOT. “Our maintenance supervisor just happened to be in that area today at 11 o’clock this morning and drove over that lane and did not notice anything.”
That doesn't inspire much confidence.
Here's more from KTRK-13's Kevin Quinn:
Wayne Dolcefino and 13 Undercover happened to be on assignment nearby. They called police as they watched the pile of concrete on Richmond get larger and larger. They worried that someone might get hurt. It took a full 30 minutes for police to arrive and shut the street down.
"It's a little unnerving, particularly when I was walking over there to put the cones out," admitted wrecker driver Matthew Chernow. "I didn't know just how structurally sound that is."It wasn't police, though, that diverted traffic on the road above. A Safe Clear wrecker driver took it upon himself to come put out cones, to help people avoid what could have been a dangerous situation.
"If we can contribute to the safety of the citizens, that's what we're out here for," Chernow said.
No one was hurt. Richmond was completely closed to traffic for a time.
The 30-minute response time doesn't inspire much confidence either. Where was the Mayor's Elite Traffic Mobility Scooter Corps?
I cross under that stretch on Richmond on the way to work, and am thankful I wasn't greeted with a chunk of falling concrete today.
RELATED COVERAGE: KPRC-2, Chronicle.
BLOGVERSATION: Isiah Carey's InSite.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/07 11:40 PM |
Houston, It's Worth It: The Book
Over the weekend, the Chronicle's Rick Casey wrote about the new book from the crew at ttweak, the group behind the "Houston: It's Worth It" marketing:
The opening photo spreads give the first clue that this is not a typical wet-kiss coffee-table romanticization of your hometown.
On the right side, cropped at the upper thigh, are the shapely bare legs of a woman reclining on a chaise lounge.
Facing the camera on her left calf is a large tattoo of a skimpily-clad woman in dominatrix gear.
On the left side of the spread is the bottom half of a barefoot man in denim shorts cooking something on a Weber barbecue grill.
Turn the page and you get more of the photo: He is a good-looking young man, shirtless, smiling, holding a Shiner Bock by the neck. The two are on a backyard deck, festooned with an artificial Christmas tree right behind the tattooed leg.
The message: This is a Houston Christmas — warm, unselfconscious and raw.
More information about the book is available here (pdf). I've skimmed through the book, and think it's suitably Houston-funky and typically ttweak -- both good things.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/07 10:52 PM |
Bazan responds to unusual broadside by Chron transportation columnist
The Houston Chronicle today ran an unusual broadside by transportation columnist Rad Sallee against a number of citizen activist/watchdog types who dare question METRO (and the ethically-challenged Frank Wilson), a task seemingly abdicated by the leadership of Sallee's newspaper years ago. Tom Bazan responded to Sallee's unusual broadside, and we're posting his comments below (since it seems unlikely the Chronicle plans to offer Bazan or other citizen activist/watchdog types named in the story any chance to respond in print).
To: Rad Sallee, et. al.,
There is the impression left by your column that I am or have been wrong in voicing my concerns and criticism of METRO and the electrified boondoggle legacy of Lee. P. Brown, named METRORail.
Stray Current:
FACT - The system was shoddily built, and not properly tested for stray current leakage prior to service start-up. It took three years, and a significant expenditure of taxpayer funds to identify and attempt to cure the sources of stray current leakage. The system still operates outside the design specifications. Stray current still exists, and no one knows the extent of cumulative damage to the infrastructure in the three years METRORail operated prior to the repairs and modifications, which has brought the stray current leakage down to where METRO claims is "manageable." No one at METRO can state the stray current leakage has been stopped, and that infrastructure will not be damaged in the future.
The industry forms Corrosion Committees, as METRO has, to manage the expense of future damage resulting from stray current. I am not convinced that there was NO cumulative damage, and that there is no danger of premature failure of city infrastructure and the 40+ year old substructures of the expressway bridges which span the METRORail.
I presented evidence of City-owned infrastructure damage, I contend from stray current corrosion, to the METRO board last month. From METRO's own stray current reports, there was a significant level of stray current detected in the vicinity of the Museum District platform situated on San Jacinto, just north of Hermann Drive. There was a premature failure of an 8-inch steel-reinforced concrete water line pipe, situated at San Jacinto and Herrman Drive, around February 26, 2006, which interrupted the METRORail operation. The city claims there was no record of any failure analysis of this pipeline. The intersection was rebuilt during the construction of METRORail, and infrastructure was being worked on in this vicinity around March of 2002. There was no contractor daily work report referencing that this pipeline was ever protected from stray current.
Regarding the recent speech made by Mr. Marcotte concerned FY2008, one might be curious if you asked Mr. Marcotte if the words "Stray Current" and METRO or, the corridor where METRORail operates, ever rolled off his lips during that presentation when the $2 million for corrosion control out of the CIP allocations was being discussed?
Is this the same Mr. Marcotte who was running the water system in Washington, D. C. back in 2004 when the EPA started enforcement action over unsafe levels of Lead in the drinking water? Didn't he claim he had no knowledge that the Lead levels were too high? This denial seemed reminiscent of the "I Know Nothing!" denial from the Sgt. Schultz character in the 1960's era TV Comedy series "Hogan's Heroes."
General Mobility Funds:
FACT: When I did sit down with the Mayor's staff, the first item mentioned was $44+ million which seemingly was not collected by the prior administration. Why did METRO refuse to disclose the information, seeking a TXOAG opinion so as to "stonewall" the information. According to the few documents "pried" from METRO, when compared with other agency documents, a huge discrepancy was observed. In my view $44 million is a huge amount.
The Mayor stated publicly that he had hired people to try and unravel METRO's financial statements and failed. There are still significant discrepancies that METRO will not explain in writing. Further, the City, also flush with sales tax revenue, does not seem to be anxious to invoice METRO for these funds. In April 2007, there was about $109 million unbilled, and that was reduced to $90+ million four months later. At that rate, METRO can sit on the GMP funds for years before distributing it, while METRO collects interest on the hoarded funds, and City taxpayers pay the project interest on the bonds.
Defeased Leases:
FACT: The actual data is detailed in the METRO annual financial statements, anyone who looks will likely be startled at the amount of payments, for decades! The facilities were already paid for, and METRO entered into these "finance" agreements so as to get a lump sum payment necessary to have enough cash to start building the METRORail boondoggle. Tax credits to investors still "short changes" federal taxpayers and are egregious!
The U.S. Congress BANNED the use of Defeased Leases by transit agencies in 2004.
=========
Excerpt from WSJ
Civic Duties
How Big Tax Shelter With Cities
Shortchanges Federal Treasury
Use of Sale, Leaseback Deals,
Worth Billions Each Year,
Is a Target of a New Bill
Chicago Sells Its 911 System
By JOHN D. MCKINNON
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 7, 2004:
"The essence of the deals -- which the Internal Revenue Service dubs SILO, for "sale in, lease out" -- is a sale of depreciation rights. If a city builds, say, a subway system, it can't deduct the cost from its income taxes over future years, for a simple reason: Cities don't owe income taxes. So the city sells the subway to someone who does.
The buyers, typically financial firms, then can depreciate the subway -- that is, deduct a portion of its cost from their income each year for several years running. In a final step, the buyers, having no use for a subway, immediately lease it back to the city. The terms of the deals are structured to leave the city with a packet of cash. (The city often conveys the property to the investors in a long-term lease, which is treated for tax purposes as a sale.)"
========
Might I suggest that each day that passes we learn that I was not wrong in my overall criticism of METRO, and I am confident the facts that emerge over time will support my contention that METRORail is an unsafe boondoggle.
-- Tom Bazan
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/07 10:27 PM |
Metro: Keeping focused on light rail...and little else
At the end of KPRC-2's story about a handicapped man whose wheelchair got caught in a light rail track, thereby causing the double amputee to tumble to the asphalt, Robert Arnold mentioned that a follow-up story the next day would explain why the wheelchair-bound man didn't use the nearby crosswalk. I didn't see the story posted to KPRC's website, so I sent an email inquiring about the piece.
KPRC's Investigative Producer Robert Sasser replied that the follow-up story noted that the man was likely unable to cross at the nearby crosswalk because the pedestrian signals didn't work. The signal always stayed on "Don't Walk," and those who worked in the area said the signal had been that way for about six months.
Apparently the signal is one that Metro's responsible for, so after KPRC asked about it, Metro said they'd get it fixed. As of Thursday, the signal had not been fixed, but maybe that's been remedied by now.
Anyway, it's always good to see Metro's priorities so publicly on display.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/05/07 01:39 PM |
E&P: Chron circulation holds fairly steady
Editor & Publisher reports on the latest circulation figures (for the past six months), released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations today, and the Chronicle fared surprisingly well compared to other large newspapers.
Total Monday-Friday circulation dropped only 0.13% for the period (from 508,091 to 507,437).
Sunday circulation increased 0.09% (from 507,437 to 508,091).
Expect a glowing, press-release story featuring Jack Sweeney from the newspaper shortly. Maybe he can also explain the most recent downsizing, which seems extreme considering the fairly steady circulation numbers this time around.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/07 09:43 AM |
04 November 2007
Metro ignores problems for the handicapped
Last week, KPRC-2's Robert Arnold told viewers of two problem situations for handicapped folks that Metro has known about for years, but ignored:
Watch closely as a double amputee in a wheelchair gets caught, falls and then becomes stranded on the METRORail tracks. Surveillance cameras from a wheelchair store near the Museum District catch it all on tape.
For two long minutes, the man is stranded on and near the tracks, unable to get back in his wheelchair. Finally, a passing car stops, and employees inside the store come out to help.
Less than three minutes later, METRO's train passes by.
"I figured something like that would happen," said Randy Burris, who owns Wheelchair & Scooter Express.
Burris says METRO knew about the potential problem, but ignored it. He says before METRO even began rail construction, he warned them about the gap between the rails.
"I said that wouldn't work because the gap is too wide and the standard wheelchair -- the wheels will get caught," Burris said.
One day after the accident, Burris -- who's clearly an outspoken opponent of rail -- sent a letter asking METRO to look at the video. Three months later, no one from METRO has responded.
"It falls on deaf ears," Burris said.
"We tracked down the man who fell on the tracks, but the proud veteran didn't want to talk with us on camera," said investigative reporter Robert Arnold. "However, he did say the accident you saw was the second time the gap in the rail caused him to fall."
"We hope the customer is OK," said Art Jackson, manager of METRO's paratransit services. "We appreciate Channel 2 and your reporting for bringing this to our attention."
We showed the accident video to METRO's Art Jackson. In a wheelchair himself, he says METRO worked hard to make rail accessible and safe. Despite no action after the previous warnings and letters, Jackson now promises METRO will take a closer look.
"Perhaps we need to convene a meeting to discuss safety issues and make sure the rail system is operating in a safe manner," Jackson said.
The second problem is one that was even written up on Metro's own blog, and still Metro didn't do a thing to address it...until Robert Arnold brought a camera to Metro's headquarters:
The space reserved for her wheelchair looks like a regular seat. While the sign may say it's priority seating for the disabled, there's no sign letting anyone know the seat flips up so her wheelchair can fit in.
"They think I'm already sitting down, I don't need to sit in the seat," Wiens explained. "If it would say the seat flips up, then they would know it's a spot for the wheelchair to be."
So, for three years Wiens complained to METRO. She thought the solution was simple, so she even e-mailed a sign change that would clear up the confusion.
We found METRO's own blog highlighted the problem back in April.
Still, nothing changed.
"Based on the results that I've gotten, I'm not very confident they even understand what I'm facing," Wiens said.
"We appreciate Channel 2 bringing this to our attention," Jackson said. "We'll be more than happy to take a look at implementing some sort of simple signage to make sure that point is communicated."
Even though Wiens complained for three years, one day after our interview, METRO put up new signs on all the trains.
A METRO spokesperson tells us she's now looking to see what took so long to make those sign changes.
I'd say this is unbelievable, but it's Metro, and we have seen time and time again how Metro does only what it wants, and disregards any public input -- on anything.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/04/07 06:44 AM |
03 November 2007
Wayne Dolcefino takes on Jerry Eversole
This past week, KTRK-13 ran a 13 Undercover series into the work ethic of Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole:
How much time does Commissioner Jerry Eversole spend at the office?
What is County Commissioner Jerry Eversole buying with his campaign money?
13 Undercover follows the Jerry Eversole email trail
Harris Co. Republican party launches investigation into Commissioner Jerry Eversole
Unless there are some really good explanations for all this (better than the ones his spokesman offered), Commissioner Eversole has some 'splainin' to do.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/03/07 01:16 PM |
Cactus Music set to reopen
Yesterday, the Chronicle reported that the rumored resurrection of Cactus Music is nearly complete:
How appropriate today, Day of the Dead, to celebrate the resurrection of Cactus Music & Video. The venerable Houston store that died and was buried a year and a half ago is coming back to life.
[snip]
The store won't open until sometime next week — managing partner Quinn Bishop was purposely vague about the details — but those wanting a sneak peek are invited to an art opening tonight at the new incarnation, Cactus Music, at 2110 Portsmouth. That's across from the eclectic little shopping center that is home to everything from Amy's Ice Creams and the Stag's Head Pub to the Tuesday Morning discount retailer.[snip]
Next door to the Bookstop in the Alabama Shepherd Shopping Center, Cactus Music & Video was a community landmark for 30 years. In 2003, the community rallied around the store when the property manager and developer announced plans to remove the store's marquee — a green, 29-foot-tall, cactus-shaped sign that announced what was for sale or rent and who would be performing next inside the store.
The sign was allowed to stay, but the victory proved short-lived. The store closed in spring 2006.
Strangely, even though the old Cactus Music and Video closed in March 2006, the sign in front of the shopping center remained, even after Whole Earth expanded into the old Cactus store space. In the last few weeks, however, Whole Earth apparently decided to change the sign (as illustrated by the photo). The result is ... ugly.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/03/07 12:17 PM |
02 November 2007
Press release as news story?
The Houston Business Journal's Allison Wollam actually attached her name to this story:
Starbucks is aiming to raise awareness of World Kindness Week by rewarding local Good Samaritans.
From Nov. 12 through Nov. 18, Starbucks employees will attach magnetic versions of the company's signature red holiday cups to cars driving around Houston.
Each time someone stops the driver of a car with a magnetic cup to tell them about the cup, that person will be rewarded with a "Cheer Pass" and may also receive a beverage coupon or a Starbucks gift card.
Cheer Passes will also be distributed in Houston during the holiday season at events designed to spread good cheer.
When a recipient enters the unique number from his or her Cheer Pass on www.ItsRedAgain.com, the act of goodwill that has accompanied that card can be read, shared and visually tracked on a world map.
Huh?
Can anyone explain this (especially the bolded part with the confused grammar)?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/02/07 11:28 PM |
Houston ministers honor Chief Hurtt
KRIV-26's Isiah Carey posts that Chief Hurtt was the beneficiary of a big award today:
Houston Police Chief Harold L. Hurtt will receive the 2007 "Humanitarian of the Year" Award by the Houston Ministers Against Crime at a banquet TODAY (November 2). Local ministers are honoring Chief Hurtt for his dedicated service to their organization, and to the citizens of Houston.
The banquet will take place at The Power Center, 12401 South Post Oak, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Surely the Chief didn't stick around for the whole affair, because there can't be that many late-night flights from Houston to Phoenix.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/02/07 10:22 PM |
Haze
Does anybody know the source of the smoggy haze that has settled over Houston?
The air quality today seems like the worst in quite a while. *cough* *cough*
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/02/07 12:46 PM |
The Story Continues....
Harris County Pct.4's story continues to evolve. The latest story has the constable re-hiring the fired Captain in a civilian capacity. I have to admit this is the first time I've seen a police officer fired after being indicting by a grand jury, then re-hired as a civilian. A pretty bold move in my opinion. The other issue in the story is the search for the deputy who wrote the letter. The way I see it, if the captain is to be convicted of the offense he is charged with, the anonymous letter writer is going to have to step to the plate. Remember, we have a right to face our accusers in court. I'm sure the investigation spurred by the anonymous letter turned up evidence supporting it. However, it is only proper that the person who started the whole mess step up to the plate and testify under oath. In my opinion, it is hard to justify a felony conviction that started from an anonymous complaint (I'm sure there are exceptions somewhere). I'm sure that deputy is afraid of losing his/her job, but you can't defuse a bomb you just set off. Plus sometimes a man/woman has to make a choice about which is more important, looking in the mirror with pride or keeping a job.
On a side note, I was advised by Channel 13's Dave Strickland that the follow up story was aired four times that evening. Okay, I missed that. However I have an excuse. I work evenings (2P to 10P) and cannot catch any newscasts. I rely on the websites for the news stories. Usually those sites are updated. So, to be fair, the follow up story did air. Yet, as of 9:41AM today, their website still doesn't have the follow up story. Yes, I checked.
Posted by Jason @ 11/02/07 10:29 AM |
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