TEXAS TRIBUNE is running an email exchange this week between local bloggers David Benzion and Charles Kuffner. The topic: How good a mayor was Bill White?
Readers here probably have some thoughts on that topic, so be sure to drop in on Texas Tribu... [...]
PUBLIC POLICY PUNDIT BILL KING writes that an undermanned Houston Police Department needs more of the right "boots on the ground" in an op-ed that appeared in Sunday's Chronicle. He also favors smarter policing and better metrics (and gives a too-... [...]
LAST WEEK, WE noted the faith-based global-warming paradigm that continues to prevail at the Chron's Caucasian Think Tank, which apparently missed the ClimateGate scandal.
The Newsbusters site mocks the editorial further, highlighting some of the ... [...]
TOOTHLESS PARKING MANAGEMENT REGULATION:
Liliana Rambo issues permits to valet companies and says the city has never received a complaint against Courtesy Parking Service, the valet company responsible for parking Zambas' car. Rambo said, "We ha...' [...]
HOUSTON HAS TIGHTENED UP RULES FOR BOOTING CARS, according to KHOU-11's Lee McGuire, and look who is quoted in the story:
Joe Martin, who operates the parking lot enforcement company Equipark, said most lot owners allow drivers some time to move t... [...]
THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that the Houston Downtown Management District will be sponsoring free trolley rides around downtown destinations this shopping weekend.
The old, free downtown trolleys were once a helpful downtown amenity, but ... [...]
HEADLINE from the print and e-edition versions of today's Chronicle: "Rivals agree on key points"
HEADLINE from the same story on Chron.com: "District A rivals agree on few points"
The Chronicle headline writers do seem to have the possibilities c... [...]
VILLAGE VOICE HOUSTON mocks Toyota for its recent announcement that pedals on some vehicles would be reshaped in response to recent reports of "sudden acceleration" (caused most frequently by drivers stomping the wrong pedal).
The publication ran ... [...]
VILLAGE VOICE HOUSTON announced their 2009 "turkeys of the year" awards this week.
They might have considered giving one to themselves for the ongoing amateurization of a publication that once produced interesting journalism from real journalists. [...]
SINCE CANDIDATE GENE LOCKE'S STAFF wouldn't return Texas Watchdog's calls about his tax returns, Texas Watchdog dropped by a campaign event to get candidate Locke on the record. Locke tells the nonprofit journos he will release his tax returns "so... [...]
KTRK-13's WAYNE DOLCEFINO CHECKS BACK IN with the Houston Arts Alliance:
Last November we questioned why the city had spent $69,000 on city art and then put it inside a poop plant. One piece of art was near the coke machine in the employee breakro... [...]
AT THE END OF THIS CHRON STORY about how local ISDs are having to face new economic realities, is this eye-opening sentence: "Besides delaying school construction, Cy-Fair cut $41 million by eliminating 450 positions primarily through attrition la... [...]
HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PR MAN (AND FORMER CHRONSTER) ALAN BERNSTEIN and Grits for Breakfast blogger Scott Henson have an interesting back-and-forth on the proposed Harris County jail booking facility expansion.' [...]
Houston Mayor Bill White: "I'm running for the U.S. Senate.... Yeah, I'm running for the U.S. Senate" (KVUE News, 20 November 2009).
Houston Mayor Bill White: "Today I agree to consider running for Governor, and shall make a decision by Friday, De... [...]
TEXAS WATCHDOG reports interesting details on the vague "conflict of interest" aside raised by the KPRC-2 story on the Parking Commission that Anne Linehan posted about yesterday:
Joe Martin and Bruce LaPree were on the appointed parking commissio... [...]
SELF-DESCRIBED "POLITICAL INSIDER" NANCY SIMS admits confusion on a local campaign topic:
Texas Watchdog is calling out Locke for not releasing his income tax returns. Parker has released hers. Locke might as well. This issue has always confuse... [...]
THE CHRON CAUCASIAN THINK TANK warns ominously today that "evidence continues to accumulate that the threat [of man-made global warming] is accelerating," and something must be done!
Apparently, the CCTT took a cue from faith-based man-made global... [...]
The Chronicle ran an embarrassing correction last week: "The Mega Millions lottery numbers were incorrect in Wednesday's editions. The correct numbers are in today's lottery information on this page."
It's not the first time the newspaper has mana... [...]
LAST WEDNESDAY, a dog managed to strangle itself at BARC while an employee cleaned its cage. Unsurprisingly, White administration flacks delayed releasing any info until Friday, typically the day where news goes to die in this town. Craig Malisow ... [...]
THE CITIZEN-LED PARKING COMMISSION: KPRC-2 recently ran a story about drivers complaining how their cars were being booted even though they had paid to park. Color us unsurprised; after all, Liliana Rambo's Parking Commission has been a disaster... [...]
VOTERS WHO SUPPORTED Klein ISD's bond referendum last year are now dismayed to learn the district has begun rethinking how to spend the bond money:
Klein ISD says the new scenarios are being presented because the economics of the original bond pla... [...]
THIS BLOG POST by Chron basketball writer Jonathan Feigen (he of the sometimes tortured prose) explains the latest Tracy McGrady controversy in detail, from an informed perspective. In contrast, here's a blog post from KTRK-13 sportsreader Tim Mel... [...]
THE ANNISE PARKER CAMPAIGN emails that they've secured the endorsement of the Chron Caucasian Think Tank*.
We're disappointed. We were hoping for another lame dual endorsement that we could mock.
* Cory Crow's moniker for the current iteration of ... [...]
WE HAVE A NEW DANGEROUS TIME/PLACE/BEHAVIOR UPDATE, via KPRC-2: Weekends, Eleanor Tinsley Park, visiting a park.
Remember Chief Hurtt's motto -- you're pretty safe in Houston, except when you aren't. [...]
REMEMBER ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO when the Chron's Matt Stiles investigated dangerous apartment buildings, and the city began "in earnest" to crack down on slum-like properties? You'll recall state Rep. Hubert Vo was exposed as a serial slumlord,... [...]
BEST EXCUSE FOR A CRASH we've seen in a while: "'She told the officer and the officer relayed to me that she was coming home and was eating cake and that she lost control of her car,' said Stidham" (KTRK-13 News).' [...]
TEXAS WATCHDOG can't get a response from the Gene Locke campaign about the candidate's tax returns, but apparently "sources" have told KPRC-2's Mary Benton that they will be released in a few days.
We're expecting them to come out about 4:30 pm ne... [...]
KTRK-13'S MIYA SHAY blogs about the big meeting between Roy Morales, Allen Blakemore, and Christian Archer.
We LOVE reading stories about Gene Locke power brokers groveling for the support of the guy who finished fourth AND loaned his campaign mon...' [...]
DAVID BENZION blogs that Texas voters should not allow Houston's Barbara Ann Radnofsky "anywhere near the AG's office."
We don't expect there's much chance of that.' [...]
THE CHRON'S "SCIGUY" blogs about the "disconnect between TV meteorologists and climate scientists on the issue of global warming."
For our part, we are frequently amused by the disconnect between faith-based global-warming enthusiasts who play met...' [...]
THE CHRON (and other media outlets) love the "Muslim backlash" meme.
When the backlash never materializes, the natural followup is "[LATEST NEWS EVENT] raised fears."
Why does the newspaper waste its ever-shrinking print space with this? [...]
If you like your storytelling exaggerated and are a fan of Mayor Bill White, then you're probably going to love the latest Texas Monthly tribute to the man.
On the other hand, fans of high-quality Texas journalism may question the outright, unbala...' [...]
NEW CHRON POLITICAL WRITER JOE HOLLEY blogs about... speculation that Mayor Bill White might run for governor instead of Senate.
Count us underwhelmed by this sort of thing. If the Chron is even going to bother with a "political writer" when the ... [...]
THE CHRON'S BRADLEY OLSON reports on Mayor Bill White's latest boondoggle: a $600,000 payoff to developers to build 10 single-family homes as part of the "Houston Hope" program. The story has slightly more balance than the Chron's more typical che...' [...]
MIKE MCGUFF posts a mini-review of the new ABC13.com layout (a subject he certainly knows something about).
It's definitely an improvement over the old site, although the recent KHOU web redesign appeals to me more (as TV news sites go). What do y... [...]
METRO quietly announced yesterday (via press release) that it now has a presence on Facebook and Twitter.
Back when the Houston Press was mainly the work of professional journalists, those journalists dug up interesting facts, like the exorbitant ... [...]
One Chron diarist is out for three months on maternity leave, apparently not to be replaced during that time. And an editorial in today's Chron offered readers a note that it was *ahem* recycled content:
EDITOR'S NOTE: This editorial also appeared...' [...]
DAVID "BIG JOLLY" JENNINGS posts about Jerry Eversole, ethics violations, and the Harris County Republican Party (here, here, here, here, and here). [...]
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES has posted interesting news for Continental and United frequent fliers: Elite members of the airlines' frequent-flier programs will be enjoying some nice new reciprocal benefits, which will start to roll out in mid-2010. Elite...' [...]
THE CHRONICLE updates the latest mayoral campaign press-release charges and responses (with a poor headline as a bonus, but no input from Bob Stein, sadly).
Did the newspaper finally ask Gene Locke for his tax returns? If so, they apparently haven... [...]
METRO's EXPENSIVE BLOGGER informs that it's time for another celebration:
You're invited to join us at an open house at Passenger Plaza, celebrating Airport Direct - a convenient and fast way to get from downtown to IAH.
The band Mango Punch will ...' [...]
SLAMPO posts more about that Sunday Chron story on the soccer stadium and mayoral candidates, noting several problems with the reporting:
1) Gene Locke was never chairman of the Sports Authority (an error that has not been corrected by the newspap... [...]
Self-described "political insider" Nancy Sims blogs that the mayoral runoff "is a very close election." And that turnout will be important.
BH PSA: Don't try analysis like that at home, from the outside.' [...]
THE MOST INTERESTING PART of today's Chron story about the soccer stadium and the mayor's race is at the end:
At times, officials have declared that they're "in the home stretch" on a deal, but election season has all but stopped serious talks.
Da...' [...]
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE TODAY reported that some local social conservatives may make a big deal* about Annise Parker's sexuality. Rumors have swirled for a while that Gene Locke is courting the support of those same social conservatives. The next "s... [...]
FINALLY, METRO posts Chairman David Wolff's State of METRO speech.
Here's an idea: If METRO is so determined to end the General Mobility Contract with local cities (and we don't even know if METRO has paid the millions it owes the city), why no...' [...]
SAD NEWS FOR THE NEW URBANISTS: "It's not housing you're selling, it's a lifestyle," Borlenghi said. "And when you're selling a lifestyle, it's an even smaller market." [...]
IN RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK'S REQUEST, ANNISE PARKER has released her tax returns and those of her partner to Texas Watchdog.
Will fellow mayoral runoff candidate Gene Locke follow suit and release his joint tax returns?' [...]
CITY COUNCIL is considering letting Liliana Rambo's parking enforcement employees and the Mobility Response Team authorize tows of illegally parked cars.
The genius who thought her expertise could get Houston a bargain price of $7,500 for each ...' [...]
SHERIFF ADRIAN GARCIA will hold a press conference this morning with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Washington to discuss the (quiet) success of Harris County's participation in the 287(g) program over the past year.
The Washingto... [...]
KRIV-26'S ISIAH CAREY reports* that crime has spiked in downtown Houston since the HPD overtime budget was cut, beats are going unprotected and cases are going uninvestigated, and Chief Hurtt contends (in a letter to the Chronicle that was not pub...' [...]
THE CHRON'S CAUCASIAN THINK TANK is "furious." Oooooo, transportation planners and local pols beware!
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: So, the Chronicle follows Carolyn Feibel's typically dull, incurious reposting of advocacy group findings and quotes from favo... [...]
KHOU-11'S SHERRY WILLIAMS posts a cheerleading-style report on a City of Houston program that paid roughly one-third of the cost of a $110,000 home for a new homeowner.
A Houston Hope executive tells Williams that "qualifying" candidates can obtai...' [...]
TEXAS MONTHLY'S PAUL BURKA followed the lead of other bloggers in noting that Houston Mayor Bill White still has no plans to shift from his quest for a U.S. Senate seat to the Texas governor's race. Two things did make Burka's post interesting, th...' [...]
THE CHRON'S HOUSTON POLITICS BLOG reports that Harris County Commissioners Court yesterday questioned County Attorney Vince Ryan's decision to assist the City of Houston with its air pollution prosecutions (which apparently came without input from...' [...]
A CONVICTED MURDERER is set to be executed in Huntsville tonight. Even with its depleted local newsroom, the area newspaper of record was able to put together a new Chron Eye for the Death Row Killer Guy several days ago. [...]
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 ...' [...]
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 i... [...]
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 "orga... [...]
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 pre... [...]
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 in... [...]
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 li...' [...]
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 t... [...]
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 general...' [...]
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 se... [...]
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 registrat... [...]
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 Texa... [...]
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 su...' [...]
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 tur...' [...]
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 appearance... [...]
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....' [...]
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... [...]
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, bu... [...]
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...' [...]
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 ...' [...]
THE FEISTY JOURNOS at Texas Watchdog have wasted no time in asking for the tax returns of mayoral runoff candidates Annise Parker and Gene Locke. This could prove interesting. [...]
DWIGHT SILVERMAN posts a roundup of liberal blogger commentary on yesterday's local elections. The tech columnist had promised daily poliblogger roundups, then neglected to post one since 23 October. Some people are easily distracted.
Now, what el... [...]
KTRK-13 REPORTED YESTERDAY that a pregnant woman fatally shot a man after observing several men breaking into a neighbor's car, then turning to hers. "The man still had a screwdriver in his hand when the woman opened fire with a shotgun," reports ... [...]
MURRAY NEWMAN blogs about budget difficulties and broken promises in the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
UPDATE: Newman posts more on Budgeting, Lykos style. [...]
TORY GATTIS calls attention to a Dallas Observer blog post on the congestion that rail expansion may produce in downtown Dallas. "My understanding is that Houston may face the same risk when the east-west line opens downtown," writes Gattis, "It w... [...]
THE CHRONICLE was forced to issue a lengthy correction to both a news story and staff editorial today:
An Oct. 24 story about a settlement reached in a federal lawsuit against former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt quoted Har... [...]
SINCE HOUSTON-BASED CONTINENTAL AIRLINES switched alliances a few days ago, newspapers in Continental's other hub cities (Newark/NYC and Cleveland) have reporting interesting news from President Jeff Smisek, who takes over for CEO Larry Kellner ne... [...]
FOLLOWING THE LEAD of Nancy Sims and her Sams (awarded to all three major mayoral candidates -- no need to offend a potential future client after all!), Cory Crow has posted his own Significant Houston Internet Triumph awards. Well played, sir! [...]
