10 November 2009
Perspectives on Houston walkability
THE CHRON'S TRANSPORTATION REPORTER informs today that two advocacy groups have released a report that gives Houston poor marks for walkability. There's no link to the report or the organizations, minimal discussion of the methodology, and really only the vaguest of citations -- intelligent readers wouldn't want to have a look for themselves, after all. On the other hand, the story did serve as a vehicle to quote Robin Holzer, and that's a priority.
In contrast, Houston's ranking in the Walk Score Top 40 (#26) provides somewhat more fodder for discussion, given the interesting (and fairly compelling) methodology used. Indeed, the detailed, zoomable maps tend to illustrate the walkability of certain neighborhoods across our sprawling city (which, combined with the lack of zoning, allows citizens to choose neighborhoods based on walkability, if that's a priority, across varying price ranges).
Please discuss!
BLOGVERSATION: Harris County Almanac, TBIFOC, Swamplot.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/10/09 09:39 AM |
09 November 2009
Locke pushes soccer stadium
BREAKING ITS RECENT SILENCE, the Chron.com Houston Politics blog links to a post by a local lefty blogger on Gene Locke's support of the Houston Dynamo and its new stadium. The Locke campaign has apparently been trying to draw a contrast on this issue with fellow liberal Democrat Annise Parker, who has at least expressed skepticism about the city's role in funding stadium expansion boondoggles during the current economic crunch.
BLOGVERSATION: Red Ink: Texas.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/09/09 05:15 PM |
Sixel: Chicago "organizing" tactics extend to Houston
CHRON COLUMNIST L.M. SIXEL reports that all those SEIU employees that have been much more "organized" in Houston in recent years are "represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 1 in Chicago." Sixel also notes that Chicago "organizers" temporarily relocated to Houston three years ago when SEIU was making its big push here (by shipping in bodies to protest outside buildings and disrupt busy intersections).
Perhaps my memory is faulty, but I don't remember local media reporting the Chicago origins of SEIU's "local" organizing several years ago. Do you?
UPDATE (11/11/09): Unca Darrell posts on SEIU and the current Houston mayoral race.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/09/09 03:03 PM |
Tameez proposes mayoral candidate social-media days
LOCAL DEM POLITICAL CONSULTANT MUSTAFA TAMEEZ suggests the mayoral candidates devote one day per week to answering social-media questions personally in the leadup to the runoff.
I'm all for greater interaction with the public, but I'd honestly prefer more intelligent sit-down discussions like the one controller candidate Pam Holm sponsored on KCOH-1430 (not that it worked out so well for her).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/09/09 08:07 AM |
Chronically lazy
LAZY CHRON COLUMNIST RICK CASEY summarizes a forthcoming academic journal article on the death penalty and crime deterrence. That's apparently much easier than staying attuned to city news, working sources, making phone calls, requesting public information, and breaking real news or covering important local issues like a good, energetic metro columnist might.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/09/09 07:29 AM |
Does anybody edit Chron.com (cont'd)?
HERE IS THE LEDE for the Move It column currently on Chron.com:
Or "womyn" or "mneatr" or whatever strikes your fancy.
Obviously, something has been omitted. Does anybody edit Chron.com (aside from, you know, removing links to a blog they don't like yet still visit many times per day)?
UPDATE: A Chron.com editor apparently struck that erroneous lede (*wave* thanks for reading!), which means that the online version is now missing the first TWO grafs from the print edition. Since the online editors are having *ahem* difficulties, here are the missing two grafs:
VANITY (plate), thy name is woman.
Or "womyn" or "mneatr" or whatever strikes your fancy.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/09/09 07:19 AM |
07 November 2009
That's still better than running and resigning a week later...
KTRK-13 REPORTER MIYA SHAY blogs about Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman's efforts to boost deputy Kevin Mauzy's profile.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/07/09 12:15 PM |
Something for METRO's expensive blogger to do
HAS ANYONE seen the full text of METRO Chairman David Wolff's speech to the Greater Houston Partnership? I've looked but can't find it posted anywhere. Maybe the communications department is too busy dreaming up new bus line names or gardening themes.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/07/09 09:38 AM |
Bennett: Tyler Flood, the drunk driver's lawyer?
BLAWGGER MARK BENNETT, commenting on the recent Houston Press article featuring DWI attorney Tyler Flood, asks "why wouldn't Tyler want to tell the story of bad arrests and junk science, to the benefit of each of his clients and of society generally?"
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/07/09 07:14 AM |
06 November 2009
"The thing he attacked... is civilization itself"
HOUSTON CHRONICLE HEADLINE: Some Muslims fear backlash after rampage.
There was no mindless "backlash" after 9/11. There will be no mindless "backlash" after 11/5.
Why?
"Unca" Darrell Hancock has the answer.
And if the local newspaper had any sense, Unca Darrell would be a staff columnist (or at least a DwightBright).
UPDATE: KUHF-88.7 took a different approach with their story: Local Muslims don't expect any threats after Fort Hood.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/09 09:34 PM |
Harris County "voter suppression" meme takes another hit
IN AN OP-ED TODAY, FORMER HARRIS COUNTY TAX-ASSESSOR COLLECTOR Paul Bettencourt follows up on the Chron's recent correction of both a news story and an editorial with the account of how his office processed tens of thousands of new voter registrations (with 3,518 lawful rejections).
"Facts are stubborn things," writes the (former) Tax Man. Even for the reality-based community.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/09 06:16 PM |
Texas Watchdog on Council's shower follies
TEXAS WATCHDOG'S STEVE MILLER posts an entertaining story (on a slow news day) about Councilmember Jolanda Jones' efforts to install a shower at the City Hall Annex, and the reaction by Councilmember Mike Sullivan. Councilmember Sullivan told Texas Watchdog the proposed project is now dead.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/09 05:51 PM |
Barron: KILT retakes morning drive lead from KGOW
THE CHRON'S DAVID BARRON reports that KILT-610 has regained the sports talk radio lead during morning drive (men, 25-54) that had been held by KGOW-1560's John Granato and Lance Zierlein. The shift coincides with the addition of John Lopez (and subtraction of Andre Ware) from the KILT morning show.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/09 10:43 AM |
KHOU posts Top 20 hotspots for Houston tows
KHOU-11'S DAVE FEHLING reports on Houston's aggressive towing companies and some of the towing hotspots in town.
If you've lived in Houston for a while, you're probably aware that parking in a marked tow zone -- even a poorly marked one -- can turn into a costly error. This story is a good reminder, though, and also includes information on how to seek reimbursement for an improper tow.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/06/09 07:45 AM |
05 November 2009
Local home builder (and award winner) charged with drug trafficking
KPRC-2 reports that a local homebuilder and his wife have been arrested on drug trafficking charges (involving some 24 kilograms of cocaine confiscated by authorities). Here are two seemingly disconnected grafs:
Jerry Heaton said by all appearances, Adrian Mosley was a pillar of the community and a quiet neighbor.
"You'd just see cars going in, staying about 15 minutes, then they'd leave," he said. "It's not like you see running in there, a gang shooting, stuff like that. It was just -- they keep a low profile."
Perhaps he served a high-end clientele?
Here's one more tidbit from KPRC:
Adrian Mosley received a Pinnacle Award from the Houston Chronicle in 2003 for giving back.
Oh my!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/09 09:37 PM |
KUHF: METRO still doesn't like General Mobility obligations
KUHF-FM'S LAURIE JOHNSON reports that METRO chief David Wolff told the Greater Houston Partnership today that he favors abolition of the general mobility agreement that requires METRO to allocate 25% of sales tax revenues to area road maintenance. It's not clear if Wolff mentioned that it remains a disputed matter as to whether METRO has actually fulfilled its obligations to the City of Houston.
We look forward to hearing our remaining mayoral candidates further discuss their views on General Mobility funding before the runoff.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/09 09:29 PM |
Return of the Chron eye
AFTER THE MASSIVE LAYOFFS at the Chronicle this spring, some of the pet projects of the newspaper (or at least the newspaper's editor and his wife) were curtailed: the Chron Eye for the Death Row Killer Guy has appeared much less frequently.
Today, though, the Chron's arts columnist (and editorial board member) took up the old cause with a special "arts" edition of the Chron Eye. Nevertheless, the death-row killer guy departed this world earlier tonight.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/09 08:54 PM |
Chron Caucasian Think Tank covers for mayoral waffling on 287g
THE CHRON'S CAUCASIAN THINK TANK took some time, but they have finally found a defense for Mayor/Senate Candidate Bill White's waffling on the 287(g) program: He really had a better program in mind all along (which doesn't explain the waffling, but hey, it's ChronBlog). Here they are quoting their man:
"The Secure Communities program is faster and more automated because ICE computers make the identification instead of relying on local resources and the interview process," says the mayor. "We want something fast and complete that does not require us to take officers off the street who could be solving crimes."
They can stay on the street posing as vagrants along roadways and holding up "Please buckle up" signs!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/09 08:26 PM |
Lawrence won't challenge Eversole, can ditch the sham "residence"
THE CHRONICLE'S CHRIS MORAN reports that Councilmember Toni Lawrence will not be running against embattled County Commissioner Jerry Eversole, now that he has decided to run for re-election.
Councilmember Lawrence must be relieved that she can now "move out" of that 648 square-foot shack of hers, hmm? Because we're sure she's been living there like a real resident, right? *wink*
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/09 08:43 AM |
KHOU rolls out new website
MIKE MCGUFF posted yesterday that various Belo affiliates were rolling out new websites.
KHOU-11 has joined the party with a new site that is, on first impression, a nice improvement over the old one. Just don't forget to add the "www" to the web address, or you'll get an error page.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/05/09 08:33 AM |
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