12 May 2007
Maybe we should post about our parents more on blogHOUSTON?
New Chronicle metro columnist Lisa Falkenberg followed up Friday on an earlier column about her father's views on President Bush with... yet another column about her father's views on President Bush.
So far, a full 25% of her columns (two of eight) have been about her father's views on President Bush.
It's really a shame there aren't more Houston-area topics to be covered in the metro column (apparently), but hey, the editorial page is sometimes like LiveJournal, so why not the metro pages?
In somewhat related news, we noticed that Rick Casey's mug, which had seemingly disappeared from the columnists page online, reappeared this week at the very top of the page! And with this note:
Casey is currently on sabbatical.
Perhaps The Plagiarist isn't quite ready to be forgotten?
Here's hoping he comes back with lots of stories about his family! Because that sort of thing makes for compelling urban journalism.
ANNE LINEHAN ADDS: As strange as it may seem, the Chron found a way to make us long for Rick Casey's return. Better yet, how about turning over the Metro columnist duties to Slampo?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/12/07 12:56 PM |
Astrodome Hotel developers seek projected tax revenue to secure funding
Kristen Mack reports on the latest idea to help developers of the Astrodome Hotel get financing for the boondoggle:
Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, amended a House bill to qualify the project for hotel and sales tax rebates, which could total $150 million over 10 years.
"We have a national icon sitting unused," Janek said. "They want the ability to convert the Astrodome into something useful. If you build a hotel, it lets you keep the taxes you generate. The money wouldn't be there, but for the existence of that hotel."
Astrodome Redevelopment Corp., the private entity seeking to transform the so-called "Eighth Wonder of the World" into a luxury hotel, is counting on the future rebates to help it secure financing for the $450 million project.
"This could be the critical piece that puts them over the top, that allows this to work," County Judge Ed Emmett said. "If it's something that will help make it work, I'm willing to throw that in the mix."
Emmett noted that the county won't receive any money until the hotel is up and operating, and says it is a "long shot" such rebates would make a big difference in the overall scheme of things. "We're not putting the money into it, it's the people who choose to stay there," he said. "The county should not put any taxpayer dollars into it."
There you have two competing sentences from appointed County Judge Ed Emmett: the plan to let developers count on potential tax revenues could put them over the top for financing, but it's a long shot the tax rebates would make a difference. Well, which is it, Judge?
Getting financing based on projected revenues would be fine if this were a completely private enterprise. But it's not. The fact that developers are having problems getting private financing, even with a supposedly rosy feasibilty study in hand, does not bode well for Harris County taxpayers.
The good news is that not everyone is sold on the plan:
Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack said the county should not be in the hotel business.
"They couldn't put a deal together in a timely fashion. Now they want these tax incentives," Radack said of Astrodome Redevelopment. "If this project could stand alone, we wouldn't have this conversation. You have people who want to see the county help fund a hotel and I disagree."
Neither Radack nor Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia knew the county was pursuing the rebates. Garcia said it was premature to count on the estimates. She supports redevelopment, but not at the expense of the county.
"This whole venture, from the beginning, has been to try and get the private sector to come up with its own financing," she said. "I'm not for spending any tax dollars on this project."
Let's not forget that the chairman of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. said it has ALWAYS been an option for Harris County to develop the boondoggle:
"From day one, we have always known that it is an option to do this as a publicly developed program," said Mike Surface, chairman of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., which manages Reliant Park.
Kristen Mack's story notes that there is precedent for this:
The city of Houston used the same approach, known as the Texas Enterprise Zone program, as a vehicle to help develop the Hilton Americas next to the George R. Brown Convention Center. The program is being updated this session with House Bill 3694, which already has passed the House.
Janek changed the bill's language to qualify a county-sponsored hotel. His amendment passed out of the subcommittee on Emerging Technologies & Economic Development, which he chairs. It must now go to the Business & Commerce Committee before heading to the full Senate for a vote.
As explained here, the Hilton Americas was built with bonds secured by the city's hotel occupancy tax:
In a uniquely unusual financing strategy, the board raised development funds through the sale of AAA rated tax-free bonds secured by the city’s hotel occupancy tax. This strategy enabled the corporation to raise the significant amount of revenue needed to build a first class hotel. Even more importantly, the plan ensured that the project would be free and clear of a mortgage on the day the Hilton Americas-Houston opened.
Then Mayor White used the hotel to prop up the city's underfunded municipal pension plan, and a glut of hotel rooms in Houston kept the Hilton Americas from meeting projections.
So Astrodome Hotel developers are counting on future, potential tax revenue to secure funding. And when things don't pan out, Harris County taxpayers will be stuck with the mess.
BLOGVERSATION: Houston's Clear Thinkers.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/12/07 09:22 AM |
11 May 2007
U.S. Attorney visits with Houston media on Compean/Ramos affair
The Chronicle's Anne Marie Kilday reports on U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's swing by the editorial offices at 801 Texas Avenue this week. Sutton's successful prosecution of border agents who shot an alleged Mexican drug smuggler and then engaged in a coverup of the affair has set off a firestorm among some critics of U.S. immigration policies (mostly conservatives), and Sutton has apparently decided to undertake a public awareness campaign in defense of his actions.
Here's an excerpt from Kilday's reporting:
Despite months of criticism from the media and members of Congress, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western District of Texas has stepped up his defense in a decision to prosecute two former Border Patrol agents who shot an illegal immigrant and suspected drug smuggler two years ago.
Sutton told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday that "the rule of law" required him to prosecute former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean who are appealing their March 2006 convictions on federal charges stemming from the February 2005 shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila. Aldrete-Davila was unarmed and fleeing the Border Patrol when he was wounded by one of 15 shots fired at him by the two agents.
The case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration reform, with immigration-control advocates and conservative House Republicans hailing Compean and Ramos as heroes unfairly prosecuted by the government.
"The facts have been misrepresented as 'These guys are American heroes doing their job, and a drug dealer has been set free,'" Sutton said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle editorial board.
"All I want to do is get the truth out, and I think the way to get the truth out is to duke it out in the public sphere," Sutton said. "That's what I am trying to do now, is to get the facts out."
The former Harris County prosecutor said he came to Houston to appear on the Edd Henry talk radio show, where the host has taken to calling him "Johnny Satan."
"I'm giving him the benefit of a doubt," Sutton said. He added: "I try not to take it personally. I went on that show because I grew up on the west side. I know Edd doesn't have many listeners, but the listeners he does have are on the west side of Houston."
It's actually the Edd Hendee show. The reporter might have gotten the name right if she or her editors had thought that perhaps a comment from Hendee was in order after that unnecessary slam from Sutton, but at least the error wasn't as bad as the following one that was recently corrected:
Houstonian Nancy Kinder, who was on the invitation list for the White House state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, is president of the Kinder Foundation. The foundation's name was listed incorrectly on Page A11 Tuesday.
You have to love those vaunted layers of editing and fact-checking!
The Edd Hendee/Pat Gray exchange with Johnny Sutton on KSEV-700 is available for download on Pat Gray's website here, and an interesting discussion has emerged on the Chron.com website.
We're going to follow David Benzion's lead on this one, and suggest that the Chron.com forum is actually the best place for what is likely to be a discussion of immigration policy, a subject that strays from our usual focus here. That's where I'll be leaving a few non-Houston-ish thoughts on the matter.
BLOGVERSATION: Cigars, Donuts, and Coffee, Lone Star Times.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/11/07 11:18 AM |
10 May 2007
This rain sponsored by.... Frank Billingsley?
Did anyone notice Frank Billingsley constantly breaking in to tonight's programming on NBC?
As Frank kindly reminded us as he was telling us about the rain and lightning (in Houston! In the springtime! Who knew?!), no programming was interrupted. Just the commercials.
The advertisers must love that.
At one point, he ran a viewer photo of a piece of hail, describing it first as lemon-sized, then as golf-ball sized.
In case anyone is wondering, it's still raining at the time of posting. And I just heard a little thunder.
UPDATE: Not to be outdone, KTRK-13 had Jessica Willey reporting from a flooded intersection. She was running around out of breath. Really. Goodness.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/10/07 09:22 PM |
09 May 2007
Cab drivers protest new airport security requirements, Mayor suspends
The Chronicle's Matt Stiles reports on an unusual protest that took place downtown yesterday and forced a (temporary) suspension of a previously approved change in security screening of airport cab drivers:
Mayor Bill White held up new security rules Tuesday aimed at taxicabs serving Houston's airports, after hundreds of frustrated drivers descended on City Hall to protest.
Toting handmade signs and loudly chanting demands for "justice," the drivers marched around the reflecting pool at 901 Bagby before filing inside to vent their concerns in front of White and the City Council.
At issue for the drivers are new rules requiring them to get photographic identification badges and submit to more stringent federal background checks in order to pickup passengers at George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.
[snip]
"We don't believe that they've done anything to deserve what's being heaped upon them by these new rules," said Deric Muhammad, of the Millions More Movement Ministry of Justice, a group helping represent the drivers.
[snip]
The city has for years required a seven-year background check through Houston police for drivers seeking a license. But the council changed the rules in February, substituting the airport system's existing 10-year check by the FBI's automated fingerprint-identification system.
Airport-system officials said the badge plan was driven by a desire to boost security, noting that everyone else doing business in their facilities is required to wear a badge and undergo a criminal background check.
There's no word on how much (if anything) Mr. Muhammad's group was paid to "represent" the drivers.
One of the most important entities in the making of policy in this town -- especially airport policy -- was quoted at the end of the story:
Robert Rugg, president of Yellow Cab, said the company supports the airport system's plan. He said it actually is an easier, faster method for getting a cab license.
"Not one driver has come to me and told me what the problem they have with it is. I really don't understand what the concern is," Rugg said. "Again, background checks have been a part of getting a cab license forever."
If Yellow Cab is on board, it's hard to foresee the new policy being scrapped, even after a second debate. And it's not entirely clear to me what is wrong with the new policy (aside from the fact that it's a new policy, and changes in bureaucratic procedures always involve some degree of hassle).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/09/07 08:37 AM |
07 May 2007
Community activism, for fun and profit!
KRIV-26's Isiah Carey has an interesting post up about community activists allegedly arranging media coverage for their constituents/clients -- for a few grand a pop.
Here's Carey's advice to anyone approached by a community activist/shakedown artist:
People: You don't have to pay for news coverage. Just pick up the phone yourself and call KRIV, KHOU, KTRK, KPRC, KTRH, The Houston Chronicle, Houston Press, Houston Defender or CW39 yourself. We all will take your call and if you have a legitimate issue - you will get news coverage without costing you a penny.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 10:57 PM |
METRO blogger laments late bus
After several days without posting, METRO blogger Mary Sit returned today with a story about running late for a meeting, courtesy of a METRO bus fiasco:
To make an 8 a.m. meeting, I had to arrange for a friend to come spend the night Sunday to manage the early-morning household routine, freeing me to walk out the door precisely at 7 a.m.
I was on time. The 7:07 bus never came.
[snip]
I called the general phone number on the bus stop sign, and got customer service who called dispatch. At least customer service was efficient and informative. Within seconds she told me the 7:07 a.m. bus had broken down, and the 7:25 was late due to passenger overflow.
I boarded it at 7:34 a.m., knowing I would be late. For the past three weeks or so, I had been driving into the office because I could never make the bus on time. The one day I chose to rely on the bus to make an important meeting, the bus system failed me.
For people who don't have the option of driving, this can be a pretty big problem (one that Laurence Simon documents frequently on his blog).
It would be nice if someone in operations could explain on the official METRO blog what contingency plans METRO has for such occasions, since mechanical breakdowns are to be expected from time to time. We won't be holding our breath waiting on that explanation, however.
BLOGVERSATION: TBIFOC.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 10:35 PM |
Union Pacific criticizes METRO commuter rail/terminal proposal
The Chronicle's Rad Sallee reports that Union Pacific Railroad has serious doubts about METRO's grand commuter-rail/intermodal-terminal plans:
A Union Pacific Railroad official says the Metropolitan Transit Authority's plans to run commuter trains between the suburbs and a large intermodal terminal planned for the Near Northside probably won't work.
"We feel it is not feasible to operate commuter rail at this location," Joe Adams told the regional Transportation Policy Council last week. "We have made this clear in discussions with Metro."
METRO's John Sedlak disagrees:
Sedlak told the council that Metro's commuter rail plans are being studied for feasibility, and until the results are in, he said, "We'll have to agree to disagree."
"This is a situation where there are a number of studies under way — freight studies, relocation studies, freight examinations, line volumes, looks at various movements across the region," Sedlak said. "All that is essential. At the same time, you must examine the plans, and if you never put a plan together, you'll never accomplish any long-term objectives. This is an approach to carry forward a long-term vision, and we believe it is feasible."
So, we really need to wait for the studies, according to Sedlak, who also says the plan is feasible even though the studies aren't yet in. Gee, I wonder what the outcome of METRO's studies will be?
The conclusion of Sallee's story sounds a bit ominous:
However, Adams said an engineering solution may be possible. "If you have a very significant amount of money to devote, you can probably solve any problem," he said.
If firing the money catapult is the approach, METRO will likely prove adept at problem-solving.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 10:10 PM |
Smash-and-grab burglar hits five area restaurants
KPRC-2 reports on five brazen smash-and-grab burglaries that occurred overnight:
Five southwest Houston restaurants were broken into within a 30-minute span early Monday, officials told KPRC Local 2.
Houston police said a Hispanic man broke into Berryhill Baja Grill, Tokyohana, Buffalo Grille, Chez Beignets and Molina's Cantina on Buffalo Speedway near Bissonnet Street at about 3 a.m.
The burglar broke windows and stole an unknown amount of cash from the restaurants, police said. Investigators said the burglar used either a mallet or a foot to break the glass.
Detectives said the burglar was last seen wearing a light blue shirt.
Police searched for fingerprints and are using surveillance video to try to determine the burglar's identity.
The burglar got away from the scenes on a bicycle, police said.
Unlike the Chronicle, KPRC is apparently not worried about encouraging those who would engage in shirt-color scorekeeping!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/07/07 09:46 PM |
05 May 2007
Chief Hurtt wants trash dumping cameras
Let's see if we have this correct: the city wants to reduce the frequency of heavy trash pickup, so now HPD needs cameras to catch trash dumpers (via Matt Stiles on the City Hall blog):
City Council next week will consider spending $59,000 in grant money for a big truck featuring a 36-foot "manlift" device. The department needs the vehicle so its Neighborhood Protection Corps can "install and service cameras that are used to deter illegal dumping."
Er, wait. HPD wants trash dumping cameras, or it already has trash dumping cameras?
Whichever it is, HPD wants this "manlift" truck thing fast-tracked, with minimal input:
If council members and their staffs have questions, they'd better ask them quickly. The department is requesting no tags [free reg.] on the item. How convenient.
Yep, that's the way Chief Hurtt likes it.
Do you think Chief Hurtt will put some "trash dumping" cameras near apartment complexes and homes that have "too many calls for service"? That's one way for Houston's police chief to get more surveillance cameras!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/05/07 06:56 PM |
Dynamo and Astros could be neighbors
KTRK-13's Miya Shay reports the Dynamo are looking at property east of Minute Maid park, currently used for Astros parking:
Officially, the Dynamo say they are still looking at building a new stadium either in Sugar Land or Houston. But I've learned there's been a strong push by city and sports leaders in town to keep the team in Houston. And while the final decision is still weeks away, there's been lots of scouting for a potential location.
[snip]
Luck would not go into specifics, but multiple sources say the Dynamo is seriously considering a stretch of parking lot located just east of Minute Maid Park. Owned by the Houston Sports Authority, the large surface parking lot is under a 30-year lease by the Astros. But Pam Gardner says the team's willing to share.
[snip]
The city says it's been in some intense discussions with the Dynamo. You can expect an announcement of whether the team will stay in Houston or go to the suburbs within six to eight weeks.
Which means the only question left is how much will this cost taxpayers?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/05/07 04:29 PM |
What was the shirt's color again?
A Chronicle report on Houston's latest murder contains this less-than-useful description of the suspect:
The shooter is described as a 19-year-old male, who is about 6 foot 2 with a short fade haircut. He was last seen wearing a white multi-colored pullover shirt.
The second teen, possibly a juvenile, was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.
So, was the shirt white, or was the shirt multi-colored?
We know the Chronicle frequently declines to post descriptive information about suspects because of concerns over "racial scorekeeping." Is the newspaper now also working to discourage the intolerant practice of shirt-color scorekeeping?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/05/07 08:56 AM |
04 May 2007
KHOU reports on problems with HPD crime reporting
KHOU-11's Mark Greenblatt has broken an important story on problems with HPD's crime reporting.
Here are some excerpts (although the story should really be read in its entirety):
Is the Houston Police Department telling you the truth about crime in our city?
A six-month 11 News investigation reveals that the answer is no.
And some experts are now saying the problems 11 News Investigates uncovered at the department are as bad as the Houston Crime Lab.
[snip]
So what’s going on?
Well police everywhere compile and keep statistics to help them fight crime.
What arrests are up and which are down and where to help them keep you safe. But 11 News has discovered the Houston Police Department has gotten things so mixed up for so long that they may actually be putting you in danger.
“It looks worse than the Houston Crime Lab,” said renowned criminologist Dr. James Fox.
11 News shared what we found with him, and he’s worried.
“You can’t trust the accuracy,” he said.
Because he sees big problems in HPD’s crime reporting.
“It really is giving an impression of the situation in Houston that is wrong,” Dr. Fox said.
Greenblatt goes into much more detail on the discrepancies he found. The response from Assistant Police Chief Charles McClelland was, to put it mildly, unimpressive.
We look forward to hearing what Chief Hurtt has to say, but of course it's the weekend, and he has no doubt headed off to his home in Arizona. Maybe next week someone can track him down for comment.
UPDATE (05-05-2007): HPD sent out a press release (which a reader was kind enough to forward) on Greenblatt's story. It's reproduced below:
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/07 11:42 PM |
Orange Show, Art Car Parade plugged on popular travel blog
Houston is more of a business destination than a tourist destination, so Houston attractions aren't always featured heavily in newspaper travel sections or on travel websites.
Earlier in the week, though, the Orange Show and the Art Car Parade both got a nice plug on Gadling, a popular travel weblog. Here's an excerpt:
McKissack created The Orange Show in honor of his favorite fruit -- um, the orange -- and today, his organization focuses on making art tangible and accessible. One of its early makin'-it-accessible endeavors was the Fruitmobile, an art car that led to the annual Art Car Parade, which is scheduled for the weekend of May 11-13. If you're in the area, check out the parade.
That's good advice!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/07 10:37 PM |
Editorial LiveJournalists confused over guns, METRO
On Wednesday, a Chronicle editorial on guns (oh my!) contained an embarrassing error:
Texas law prohibits guns in bars, schools and most areas of courthouses and college campuses. Local governments and churches have the right to prohibit firearms from buildings and meetings. Private employers can ban employees from bringing weapons into the workplace. Most mass transit agencies, including Metro, do not allow passengers to bring firearms aboard buses and trains.
METRO, of course, does allow passengers with concealed-carry licenses to bring concealed weapons aboard its vehicles, a policy change that the Chronicle reported in 2005.
The Chronicle did issue a correction:
An editorial on Page B10 Tuesday misstated Houston Metro's policy on firearms. Texans licensed to carry concealed handguns can board Metro buses and trains.
Texans licensed to carry concealed handguns have always been able to board METRO vehicles! The issue was whether they could board the vehicles with their weapons (an issue that was misstated by the original editorial).
While it's a pleasant departure from the norm that the Chronicle issued a correction to an error in an editorial (and did it quickly!), the language could have been more precise. It's odd that professional writers/editors have such problems writing a precise correction.
BLOGVERSATION: Lone Star Times.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/04/07 10:31 PM |
03 May 2007
More importantly, does Syria have slime in the ice machines?
Here's a headline from KTRK-13's Marvin Zindler, who is, for some reason, reporting from Syria:
Hmm, well, that's probably a question best left to intelligence analysts and such.
But we're sure if there are any Syrian chicken ranches or ice machines with *ahem* any irregularities, Marvin will be right on top of it!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/03/07 10:55 PM |
McGuff scores Berry interview
Mike McGuff posts a lengthy interview with Michael Berry, the new operations manager for Clear Channel Houston.
In the post, Berry elaborates on some of the changes he plans for Clear Channel's talk stations, and mentions several Clear Channel web initiatives.
Here's hoping the web strategy includes some real Clear Channel blogs, instead of those non-interactive webpages they insist on calling blogs. I've long thought that local talk radio and blogging were a natural combination, but it hasn't really worked out that way in Houston (so far).
BLOGVERSATION: TBIFOC.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/03/07 09:31 AM |
02 May 2007
Final days for MET Masterpieces at MFAH
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's exhibit "The Masterpieces of French Painting from The Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1800-1920" is just about to end its run here in town.
The exhibition runs through May 6. Tickets may be purchased online and printed out, to save a little time at the museum.
I caught the thing late this afternoon, and it was well worth it.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/02/07 11:28 PM |
01 May 2007
Council to discuss curfew Wednesday
City Council will again take up the pressing issue of tightening the city's curfew tomorrow.
Here is earlier Chronicle coverage of the matter:
Children under 17 would have to be off the streets an hour earlier on weeknights under proposed changes to the curfew ordinance discussed by the City Council on Wednesday.
The earlier curfew would help deter juvenile crime, including graffiti and gang violence, Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Mike Thaler told the council Wednesday.
[snip]
Mayor Bill White, who has two teenagers at home, said he supports the stricter curfew.
"Eleven o'clock is late enough," he said. "(It) will reduce the risk to those young people, reduce the risk to the community and give new tools to law enforcement and to parents."
But some council members have their doubts.
Councilman Michael Berry said he would vote against any curfew ordinance.
"It should never be illegal to be outside your house," Berry said.
You wouldn't think so, but the nanny mayor and a majority of nannies on Council seem to think otherwise.
It's good that they have solved all of the other problems in the city -- including the overall crime problem -- and they have time for this.
RELATED COVERAGE: KUHF-88.7.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/01/07 11:56 PM |
Immigration rally fizzles
Headline on KHOU.com this morning:
Headline on KHOU.com this evening:
In related news, Rorschach noticed something interesting about a recent anti-immigration rally held in town.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/01/07 11:35 PM |
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