26 January 2011
KTRK-13's Tim Heller slams Chronicle weather "reporting"
KTRK-13 meteorologist Tim Heller cracks on some of the silly weather editorializing that has been published lately on the news pages of the Houston Chronicle:
Here we go again. The Houston Chronicle published another article today warning people about a big weather change coming next week, "plunging temperatures into the 20s." It's all hype.
The newspaper staff over there wrote a similar article a few weeks ago claiming we'd have "lows in the teens" and "sleet and snow." It didn't get that cold and I don't remember scraping any snow off my car. Do you?
An ABC13 viewer pointed out the article to me. "Where is this person at the Chronicle getting this information?" asked Patrick.
We don't know because the reporter didn't attribute any of his ideas, and that's all they are at this point. For all we know he consulted a crystal ball or used a dart board. The newspaper staff certainly hasn't been tracking the weather using real meteorological data or else they wouldn't have published the article. (Tim Heller, "Weather Hype in the Local Newspaper", KTRK-13 Weather Blog)
Heller goes on to explain that forecast models this winter have been extremely volatile. They haven't accounted well for the extreme northern cold that eventually affects us, and the models haven't always been consistent with each other. Heller's post is a good read.
It's also an illustration for the newspaper that if you're going to opine about the weather, it's probably a good idea to consult someone with training in meteorology who knows how to interpret the model results (or, as seems to be the case this winter, can speak knowledgeably about their volatility).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/26/11 12:37 PM |
25 January 2011
Clymer Wright, RIP
Barry Klein passes along word that Clymer Wright, a longtime local conservative political activist, has passed away.
Wright is perhaps best known for his efforts to impose term limits on elected municipal officials.
KHOU-11's Doug Miller has written an excellent obituary for Wright, posted here. May he Rest in Peace.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/25/11 07:09 PM |
24 January 2011
Rhapsody in Red: NEW METRO touts safety, boosts PR staff, plans expansion
Amidst last week's launch of METRO's latest and greatest effort to insist, contrary to accumulated evidence, that at-grade rail down somewhat busy Houston streets really IS safe (or Rhapsody in Red, for the Houtopian types) came news that Jerome Gray, formerly of KPRC-2 and KHOU-11, would be taking a post as Vice President and Senior Press Officer at the transit agency. He will make a cool $170,000 per year (we're still unclear how many times he or any other employee will have to actually use transit per month).
It's good to know that NEW METRO is awash in cash and their liquidity ratio has climbed above its previous precarious low. Err, wait, those things aren't really true (or at least nobody has reported them if they are -- and we have our doubts, since the new U.S. House leadership has already targeted New Starts Transit funding in a quest to curb the Obama Administration's spending binge -- not that we've seen this reported locally or Rep. Culberson consulted for that matter). Well, at least it's good that METRO is behaving confidently, anyway. Right?
Gray will join a media/communications staff that was described by previous VP George Smalley as a "90-person department." Perhaps the NEW agency has pared back on this bloated department, as a business with such a precarious liquidity ratio probably would. Then again, there's no bloat like taxpayer-funded bloat -- especially when it comes to this agency (which continues to pick up legal bills for some members of the BAD, OLD METRO team) -- so who really knows?
Interestingly, METRO itself seems to be making plans to proceed with some aspects of light-rail expansion even if FTA funding is not received. That scenario is laid out in a presentation made at the December 2010 Finance/Audit committee meeting (pdf posted here). Incidentally, some would argue that scenario is inconsistent with the 2003 referendum, a contract with voters that laid out certain requirements for the light-rail expansion. Aside from the Rhapsody in Red Danger SAFETY Train and other NEW METRO PR gimmicks, this behavior seems a lot like OLD METRO's!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/24/11 08:36 AM |
23 January 2011
What a little local media sunshine accomplished
Back in 2007, both KPRC-2 and KHOU-11 alerted viewers to MayorWhiteChiefHurtt's interest in unmanned aerial drones. KPRC's Stephen Dean even found the top-secret location in Waller County where HPD and Department of Homeland Security officials were doing a little test-flying. HPD's hapless Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo was so rattled by Dean's filming of the testing that she stammered an explanation:
"I wasn't ready to publicize this," Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo said. She and other department leaders hastily organized a news conference when they realized Local 2 Investigates had captured the entire event on camera.
"We still haven't even decided how we were going to go forward on this task, so it seemed premature to me to announce this to the media," Montalvo said. "But since, obviously, the media found out about it, then I don't see any reason why just not go forward with what we have so far."
Today we learn in a Washington Post story that KPRC's story effectively scuttled MayorWhiteChiefHurtt's drone dreams:
When KPRC-TV in Houston, which is owned by The Washington Post Co., discovered a secret drone air show for dozens of officers at a remote location 70 miles from Houston, police officials were forced to call a hasty news conference to explain their interest in the technology.
A senior officer in Houston then mentioned to reporters that drones might ultimately be used for recording traffic violations.
Federal officials said support for the program crashed.
Excellent work, KPRC and Stephen Dean! Chief Hurtt's been gone how long, and still we are discovering the depths of his leadership.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/23/11 02:50 PM |
20 January 2011
Bill King on muni pensions, part three
In today's Chronicle, Bill King continues his discussion of public pension woes. This time, King explains that the City of Houston's pension problems are much worse than a review of the various pensions' outdated financial reports would suggest. Here's the startling punch line:
[T]he total bond debt the city has accumulated in the course of its entire history for everything we have built, such as streets, water plants, airports, libraries, police and fire stations and parks, is only about $12 billion. In less than a generation, we will have run up half the debt on pension obligations it took our forefathers to incur in 175 years of building this city.
Be sure to read the whole thing. Also, this editorial from yesterday's Wall Street Journal is relevant. And be sure to check out King's previous op-eds via the links below.
PREVIOUSLY: Taxpayers facing huge bill for Houston pension debt, Bill King on muni pensions, part two.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/20/11 07:21 AM |
18 January 2011
It's an Orlando Sanchez sighting...
And he raises a very interesting question that probably isn't going to make the local tax-and-spend crowd very happy:
County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez has asked County Attorney Vince Ryan for an opinion on whether the county has to pay the city of Houston's new drainage fee.
Sanchez already has his own opinion.
"You're getting a government, the city of Houston, starting to dip into multiple jurisdictions' pots," Sanchez said. "At some point, you just have to say you have to be responsible for your own operations and not look to other taxing entities." (Chris Moran, Chron Houston Politics)
Wouldn't it have been nice to have answers to this question and many more BEFORE voters decided to enact the tax?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/18/11 08:15 PM |
Department of Unfortunate Ironies
Pedestrian hit by car shoved into moving Metro train: If only METRO had unveiled the safety-wrapped Danger Train yesterday, this accident might not have happened.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/18/11 04:29 PM |
17 January 2011
News roundup (01/17/2011 absurd government edition)
In addition to METRO's latest initiative, we found a few other area government *ahem* initiatives that have earned a little attention:
- Inside Houston’s Half-Million-Dollar Pothole Buggy (Swamplot)
Never, EVER underestimate your local government's ability to waste money, even at the same time it cries about tight budgets (and raises taxes/fees). It's too bad more of our Tea Party friends are less interested in local affairs than, say, Texas House Speaker Straus or former U.S. House Speaker Pelosi, but whatever. - Tree was free, but sculpture rates $10 fee (Amanda Casanova, Galveston County Daily News)
Absurd, much?Affected Galveston citizens trying to improve their city's appearance should probably be thankful that Annise Parker isn't in charge, or the silly fee might be double or triple by now -- you know, "to pay for itself." *eyeroll*
- Houston permit rule stops couple's effort to feed homeless (Bradley Olson, Houston Chronicle)
What was it that Ronald Reagan used to say about government getting out of the way? It would seem to apply here.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/17/11 08:03 AM |
15 January 2011
"Safety is one of the seven operating principles of the NEW METRO."
The NEW METRO will unveil a rail car wrapped in a bumper-to-bumper decal promoting safety along rail lines.
Genius! Give Houston drivers a big distracting mobile billboard to read as they are driving downtown!
As Hair Balls quips, "Try and hold your breath until Tuesday -- if you can."
Barely.
Danger sign by flickr user chego101, used via Creative Commons license.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/15/11 03:58 PM |
14 January 2011
Houston's Crime Lab is still a mess
Good news! According to KHOU-11, HPD's disastrous Crime Lab is finally, at long last, headed in the right direction:
HPD’s troubled crime labs could finally be on the right track. A new report presented in Houston City Hall Thursday shows that although things are getting better, there still is more progress needed.
Bad news! According to KPRC-2's Robert Arnold, HPD's disastrous Crime Lab is still facing many of the same problems:
Almost nine years after Houston's crime lab was rocked by revelations of bad science and rampant problems, Local 2 Investigates has uncovered backlogs, lengthy processing times and gaps in information still plague the department.
Okay! KUHF-88.7 contributes with this straddling-the-fence effort:
HPD's Crime Lab Making Improvements But Some Backlogs Still Growing
Growing backlogs demonstrate improvement. Got it.
Robert Arnold's story has much more depth, including some fine quotes from the (she's still there?) lab director Irma Rios. Here's a choice one:
Despite the lack of information, Rios said she still believes the more than 11,000 kits have at least been tested.
"I would anticipate, because they are at room temperature, that most of those have already been tested," said Rios.
Millions of dollars have been thrown at that lab, and the director "believes" 11,000 kits have been tested because why else would they be at room temperature?
Back in 2008 Rios assured KHOU-11's Jeremy Desel that the crime lab would be a good steward of the public's money, but in Arnold's story, Mayor Parker and Councilwoman Jolanda Jones are losing patience:
"I am certain I wouldn't be authorizing throwing more money into a system that doesn't work," said Jones. "It's like a money pit."
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/14/11 07:14 AM |
13 January 2011
Bill King on muni pensions, part two
In today's Chronicle, Bill King continues his discussion of public pension woes. This week, he offers this observation:
[A]lmost every government has some mechanism that is intended to limit politicians' power to incur public debt. Texas has historically been particularly strenuous in this regard. For most general obligation indebtedness (debt that is backed by property taxes) voter approval is required. However, over the last couple of decades politicians have pioneered a new way to borrow billions of dollars with almost no public scrutiny by chronically underfunding defined-benefit pension plans.
King continues with more detail, then proposes several reforms to address the problem. It's well worth a read.
PREVIOUSLY: Taxpayers facing huge bill for Houston pension debt.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/13/11 10:02 PM |
12 January 2011
New from Chron MomHouston: How to masturbate!
The Chron's Love and Relationship blogger at Mom Houston (and a Chron BRIGHT!) Mary Jo Rapini offered her deep thoughts on the problem of premature ejaculation a few days ago.
According to Rapini, "masturbation is very important" in overcoming the problem. And she goes into some detail (which we'll omit) as to the proper approach.
Just another day in the life of a Chron Bright/Mom Houston, we suppose!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/12/11 10:27 PM |
11 January 2011
HISD PR debacle fallout: Examiner News to beef up HISD coverage
The Examiner newspapers have added their voice to the criticism of the decision by HISD's inexperienced new PR staffer Jason Spencer to release an important audit to his old buddies at the Chronicle (and brief them on it) a half day before HISD briefed other local reporters at a press conference.
Indeed, the Examiner reports that the Chron got their *ahem* special report before it was actually seen by principals at the affected magnet schools, and apparently some or all members of the HISD Board.
To make matters worse, when the Examiner confirmed (via public information request and questioning) Spencer's selective release of the public's information to the newspaper that previously employed him, Spencer dug the hole even deeper:
Spencer demeaned both the Examiner and Houston Press as not having a high enough circulation for HISD to consider seriously, also making the point that the Chronicle has a full-time education reporter.
We suspect many more folks are getting their news from television, so even that flimsy rationale falls flat (where was their special briefing? Not that HISD should be in the business of playing media favorites at all). And Spencer's clumsy followup to his rookie mistake (it's a tough job for a pro, let alone a newbie) has produced the predictable backlash:
Starting this week, Examiner news editor Michael Reed is being assigned full time to cover HISD — not education in general, just HISD. Mike is an award-winning journalist with nearly three decades in the business. You probably recognize his byline from his reporting on Metro, which is widely credited for helping transform that troubled agency.
The assignment is especially fitting because Metro’s practices (since dismantled) included its virtual exclusion of all local media but the Chronicle to keep the public in the dark about what was going on at that agency. That strategy eventually contributed to the downfall of virtually every executive at Metro.
HISD might want to study those lessons. We intend to help tutor them.
Smooth move, HISD! As we hinted in the previous post, it's probably time for Terry Grier and/or the HISD Board to step in and give Mr. Spencer some guidance in handling the people's information in a more straightforward manner moving forward. Every inexperienced PR hand needs to learn the art of "walking back" a debacle at some point!
As the perfect footnote to all this, the Chronicle's Mike Snyder tweeted the following earlier, in response to some links to the Examiner news story:
@trentseibert whining about this is getting tiresome. U think press or examiner would have turned down same deal?
Did he just call the Press and Examiner whiners? Wow! It's not like we really needed further confirmation that the pro-establishment Chron (or pro-METRO Snyder) too often likes to be first in line to offer uncritical, PR coverage of local institutions, but there it is.
As news consumers (and taxpayers), we're very much looking forward to the unintended fallout from Jason Spencer's new "media strategery" -- more news coverage of HISD is good for the community.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/11/11 09:37 PM |
The New Mr. Positive
Watching Jason Spencer transition from Chron reporter/editor, to HISD spokesman could be fun. Recall his complaint about former HISD PR chief Terry Abbott:
I'd never been involved in covering a school district with a "press secretary" until I came to work in Houston. Most other school districts use "public information officers." There's a difference. Public information officers serve as a clearinghouse for information. Their job is to get pertinent information to the media in a timely fashion and set up interviews. Press secretaries try to orchestrate media coverage to make their school districts look as good as possible.
Yesterday the Houston Press' Hair Balls blog pointed out the new direction Spencer is taking HISD's PR department:
"It was part of our media strategy in the release of the report, and we decided that it would be in everyone's best interest for the report to go out for some reporter to have some time to analyze the report before it was released and to do a thorough examination of it, and we felt the Chronicle, because it has the largest reach, far and away the largest reach, in the city and because they have a reporter who's dedicated to covering education full time, that they would be the best ones to do it," he said.
This is regarding the report about HISD's magnet schools. Apparently, the Chron's Ericka Mellon got the report and had a story written before any other local media outlet. Heck, according to Hair Balls, Mellon was briefed on the report by Spencer hours before HISD principals were!
So, is that considered getting pertinent information to the media, or orchestrating media coverage for his new employer?
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: I have a fundamental problem with the way Jason Spencer -- who seems determined to bring that inept touch he demonstrated at the Chron over the years to HISD -- handled this important bit of public information. My problem is that this isn't Jason Spencer's information to hand out selectively like a little Happy Meal prize to a favorite pupil (namely, the one he thinks will write the most friendly story). It's not Terry Grier's information. It's our information -- purchased by the taxpayers and owned by the citizens.
Mr. Grier -- or perhaps the HISD Board if Grier isn't up to the task -- needs to issue some detailed guidelines for Mr. Spencer, whose inexperience in his new job really made his employer look bad (which he then compounded by defending the bad move). The last thing HISD needs is more debacles like this one involving important public information.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/11/11 06:02 PM |
10 January 2011
KRIV-26, Texas Watchdog follow Chron lead on Angry Lefty Blogger beat
Last week, two news organizations decided to follow the Chronicle's lead and deploy journalists on the Angry Lefty Blogger beat:
- Dem cries foul over free GOP turkeys (Ned Hibberd, KRIV-26 News)
- Local Democrat questions GOP turkey-and-bike give away at Houston public school (Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog)
Some area Democrats have been irked for years over the GOP charitable effort, although their turd-in-the-punchbowl ranting doesn't typically make it into professional news coverage.
Substantively, HISD says there's no problem with the Harris County GOP's charitable efforts, and we tend to share that view. Like the journos, Rhymes with Right probably gave the blogger in question more attention than deserved (although the links to the blogger's various rants and advocacy of political violence over time might explain why many journos have tended to steer clear).
Indeed, we're a little confused as to why Harris County Dems wouldn't get on board with the charitable effort and ensure it's bipartisan. Start a friendly charitable competition with your counterparts in the other party. Ensure some feel-good coverage for all pols. Oh, and help the children by celebrating achievement! It doesn't always take a government program, after all.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/10/11 07:42 AM |
08 January 2011
Right-blogger gathering Saturday
Pardon the short notice, but a few of us have decided we're overdue for a right-blogger get together.
We'll be descending upon the Stag's Head Pub at 2pm today (Saturday) until ????
Come on by and have a beer and some free wifi -- No secret handshake or partisan credentials required!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/08/11 08:26 AM |
Local Dems embrace voter ID?
The Harris County Democratic Party will be hosting a mini-conference today entitled "Blueprint for a Blue Harris County."
The mini-conference will begin with a panel discussion by Bicyclist Bob Stein, Keir Murray, Charles Kuffner, and Gerry Birnberg, to be followed by breakout sessions.
The event is billed as a "Democrats-only" event. So to get in, we presume one either has to know the secret handshake, or present some sort of partisan voting credentials. If it's the latter, we're pleased to see our friends on the Left coming around on the Voter ID issue (in their own way)!
As for Bicyclist Bob Stein, the go-to source for lazy journalists who want an easy quote on almost any topic, perhaps it's about time for journos to start identifying his leanings a little more clearly in their news stories.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/08/11 08:24 AM |
07 January 2011
King op-ed series to take on municipal pension woes
Yesterday, Bill King launched what he promises will be a series of op-eds on the significant problems facing the City of Houston's pension plans (massively underfunded, and threatening to become even more of a burden not that far into the future). The first op-ed lays out the problem, and defines the two different types of pension plans (defined-benefit versus defined-contribution) that he will be discussing in forthcoming articles.
It's good to see the Chronicle editorial page hosting this series from King, since the editorial board itself has no credibility on the issue.
It would be even better if the editorial page editor could solicit a similar series from former mayor Bill White (who has lately been writing on education for a statewide audience -- the Bill White for Texas dream lives on, apparently!). Since his gubernatorial campaign -- and gullible state media -- called his work on municipal pensions while mayor "a role model," it only seems appropriate to solicit White's counsel.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/07/11 08:02 AM |
Chron: Galveston/Houston rail proposal "off track"
The Chronicle reports that the Houston-Galveston rail project that had some folks so excited is now "infinitely delayed." The slow economy's impact on local coffers is cited as one reason, but this graf is perhaps most telling:
"I think it's somewhat unfortunate, but it's also foreseeable," Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said. Support remains high, he said, as long as local money isn't required. "The support rested on the fact that this is federal money," Henry said (Harvey Rice, Plans for Houston-Galveston passenger rail line fall off track, Houston Chronicle)
The federal government is even more financially strapped these days than local and state governments, a fact that figured prominently in the most recent elections, so the federal gravy train may not be dishing any time soon. Indeed, the threat to the gravy train already has special interests like the American Public Transportation Association issuing calls to arms.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/07/11 07:41 AM |
05 January 2011
News and views roundup (01/05/11 edition)
Since it's been something of a slow news day, we'll take the opportunity to clear out a few links:
- Metro bus, police car involved in downtown Houston wreck (Dale Lezon, Houston Chronicle)
When there's a downtown accident, why does it seem like METRO is always involved? - Mayor Parker on one potential 2011 opponent (Chron Houston Politics)
We don't pay much attention to Quitters in politics. - Cohen ponders run for City Council (Steve Mark, Examiner News)
- A very early look at the 2011 elections (Off the Kuff)
- Houston’s Historic Districts Will Remain as They Are (Swamplot)
- Rice Village project still upscale but downsized by new developer (Examiner News)
- Indicted County Commissioner Jerry Eversole to hold fundraiser despite running unopposed (Wayne Dolcefino, KTRK-13 News)
- 740 KTRH's Michael Berry comments on Houston TV news (Mike McGuff)
- Chris Baker off 950 KPRC schedule, new show times (Mike McGuff)
- Filibuster fuss: In support of Senate Democrats' effort to revise rules, reduce ugly partisanship (Houston Chronicle)
Think the Chron editorial board will similarly endorse Sen. Dan Patrick's (bad, not-conservative) ideas on revising the rules of the Texas Senate? - 2010 Bestus Prospectus: Restaurants of the Year (The Loop Scoop)
- Esquire admits Houston is a Top 10 restaurant city, the only one in Texas (Sarah Rufca, Culture Map)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/05/11 09:46 PM |
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