Energy matters.

There's a lot today from the Chron on energy.

1. Loren Steffy bemoans the fact that "energy" is not an issue in the current Presidential campaign...

The topic wasn't on the agenda, and it wasn't discussed on any of the panels. But in the convention center hallways and around the luncheon tables, everyone was asking the same thing: Why aren't they here?

"They" are the presidential candidates, only one of whom deigned to attend the "presidential summit" Thursday that was devoted to energy issues.

Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke Thursday after my deadline. Other than that, it was a presidential summit glaringly unencumbered by presidential candidates.

Their absence is a warning to the American people. Energy, in the presidential race, is a nonissue.

That could have dire economic consequences by the time the next president takes office in January.

To say that I agree with Steffy here is an understatement. The fact is, for the short term, we've got to open up drilling access to our domestic resveres while making sure that, long term, we keep doing whatever we can to develop renewables.


2. Clinton addresses energy conference...

(from David Ivanovich and Lindsay Wise of the Chron)

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday challenged the oil industry to lead the way to develop cleaner sources of energy to help tackle the nation's growing energy security problem.

"It is time for the oil companies to become energy companies," Clinton said.

Appearing before a crowd of more than 800 at the George R. Brown Convention Center just days ahead of Tuesday's Texas primary, Clinton likened the need to deal with the nation's energy security woes to the beginnings of the space race.

"We will get back to what we did so successfully after Sputnik went up," Clinton said.

Clinton was alone among the presidential hopefuls to join what was largely an energy industry crowd at the Greater Houston Partnership's America's Energy Future: Houston's Presidential Summit.

And despite that audience, she reiterated her pledge to end tax subsidies for the oil companies and to redirect that money to create new energy sources.

"I do not believe that now is the time when subsidies for the oil companies are necessary and appropriate," Clinton said. Instead, "it is now time to subsidize new forms of energy."

My question is this: Will "big oil" companies, many of whom are already doing great work in renewables, be eligible for the same subsidies that other, start-up, renewable energy companies are getting or are they just being asked to do "more with less"? Never mind the idiocy of asking companies to spend more money refining oil while you are telling them you're going to make it less profitable to do so.


3. Texas retail gas prices rising....

The average retail gasoline price in Texas is two cents shy of setting a record.

The current Texas average is $3.07 a gallon, and the all-time statewide record high is $3.09 a gallon, according to the weekly Triple-A Texas gas price survey released today.

Seven of the eleven Texas regions surveyed set new record highs for gas prices this week.

This just in: Water is wet. We now return you to your reguarly scheduled program.

4. Oil tops $103 per barrel...

Oil prices briefly surpassed $103 a barrel for the first time today as persistent weakness in the U.S. dollar and the prospect of lower interest rates attracted fresh money to the oil market.

Light, sweet crude for April delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange jumped to a new trading record of $103.05 a barrel in electronic trading before slipping back to $102.07 a barrel, down 52 cents, by midday in Europe.

On Thursday, the contract jumped $2.95 to a record settlement price of $102.59 a barrel.

Prices were supported by comments Thursday from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who said the American economy is not immediately threatened with stagflation, a combination of economic weakness and rising inflation.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, not really. Question: If the weakening dollar is the standard for oil prices then how are "certain Billionaires cashing in" if their relative wealth is sinking like Ben Affleck's box office appeal?

So much for that piece of political tripe.


5. Coal or natural gas, Natural gas or coal?

(from Kristen Hays of the Chron)

One's a natural gas producer. The other is pushing a way to clean up coal and turn it into gasoline and other fuels. Both fervently say their fuel is better as oil becomes tougher to reach.

Such was the spirited back-and-forth between Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon and DKRW Energy founding partner Robert Kelly during a panel discussion Thursday on the future of energy supply.

The two were among participants at the Greater Houston Partnership's daylong event called America's Energy Future: Houston's Presidential Summit.

The panel was one of several at the George R. Brown Convention Center preceding a speech by Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, the only presidential candidate to appear at the function.

McClendon said coal-to-liquids technology is expensive, difficult and unnecessary, and "that's why no one is doing it. No one is coalifying gas — they're gasifying coal. I don't understand the need to go through this dirty process to make it clean."

Here's an idea: Both. Provided some of the new "clean coal" technologies are more than smoke and mirrors (I believe that they are based on the information I've seen).

Sure, the Sierra Club and other enviro-nuts won't like it but, honestly, who gives a flip? The evniro-jobs are (for the most part) the Mensa members who put us on the Ethanol road. Coal may be bad, but Ethanol is complete and utter energy crap.


6. Press Group names Jeff Cohen "Editor of the Year"...

Houston Chronicle Editor Jeff Cohen accepted the National Press Foundation's Benjamin C. Bradlee Editor of the Year Award on Thursday, telling a group of fellow journalists that burgeoning competition from diverse Internet information sources is an opportunity for traditional newspapers to excel.

"The Web is a challenge, but it's not the enemy," Cohen told more than 1,200 people gathered at the Hilton Washington Hotel.

"As competitors increase, so does the importance of what we do best: hard-nosed, accurate and compelling reporting, superb research, full accountability for fairness and balance, and, on our best days, shedding light on things some would like to keep in the dark," he said.

Unless the things that keep us in the dark are City administrations whose ideas we agree with or quasi-governmental regional transportation agencies whose plans we accept uncritically, not those things. I'll just leave the superb research thing alone. There's not enough room in this blog post.

Oh, and how does this last item pertain to energy?

Geothermal. Hot Air.

Feeling the pain of the Texas Democrats

Sometimes you have to wonder if the Democratic party wants to win Texas. Stories like this make those questions even more salient...

(from R.G. Ratcliffe and Gary Scharrer of the Chron)

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama — they love Texas Democrats now that they're in a fight for the party's presidential nomination, but will they be back in the fall?

The excitement of their contest has driven up Democratic primary early voting to dramatic levels. But GOP spokesman Hans Klingler said he expects things to be Republican as usual in the November election.

"In the end, the important vote is obviously going to be cast in November. It is there that, empirically and historically, Democrats in Texas have a tough time turning their people back out to the polls and sustaining that level of excitement post-primary," Klingler said.

In fact, the national Democratic ticket has all but turned its back on Texas in almost every presidential general election since Jimmy Carter won the state in 1976. The Electoral College math was that Democrats could win without Texas, so why spend money in a very large state?

Neither Clinton nor Obama has said whether anything will be different this time.

Clinton, in an interview with Texas Monthly, already appeared to be writing Texas off in the fall: "I'd love to carry Texas, but it's usually not in the electoral calculation for the Democratic nominee."

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told the Houston Chronicle it is too early to know whether the campaign will make a concerted effort in Texas in the general election.

"If Senator Obama is the nominee, we think there's a lot of states that will be in play, and again what the final — you know — two weeks out from election in October, what the final set of states is, it's too early to tell," Plouffe said.

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, criticized Clinton for her statement, saying it was the same mindset that led her husband to give up on Texas in the 1990s during his campaigns. Coleman said he believes Obama, whom he has endorsed, will give serious consideration to making Texas a major part of his general election strategy.

"He'll start with Texas on the (electoral college) map. Whether we make it to full funding by the end of the campaign will be determined," Coleman said. "What the Clintons are saying is, it (Texas) is excluded from day one."

After the 2006 Democratic upset across the board in Dalls County the thought has been there that conditions were ripe in Harris County for a similar outcome in 2008. My prediction was that the Democrats would capture at least 1/2 of the major County-wide races and be competitive in all save one. That could change if the eventual Democratic nominee writes off Texas as a conceded defeat to John McCain.

I say this because, in a Presidential year, the top of the ballot is key. The Presidential race drives turnout, and it especially drives those straight party voters who walk into a polling place once every four years, check their preferred party, and then walk out with nary a thought as to what they are doing to the contested races down ballot. Both parties may claim (publically) to not count on those voters, but the fact is they can't win significant races without them.

It's also a fact that, historically, Republicans have done a better job in Texas of bringing in the casual voter than have the Democrats. Part of that has been due to perceived "Texas" candidates on the Republican side, and part is due to the fact that Texas is still a relatively conservative State.

A conservative State that's seen its share of conservative snafus this year. Tuition deregulation, partial deregulation of energy providers, the business "margins" tax, the Trans-Texas corridor and a host of other plans that just haven't worked out according to Republican plans. Yes, there has been some media piling on and some downright unfair assumptions made by opinion-makers, that's always the case in politics. For the most part, however, there's not a lot of policy success for (R) candidates to hang their hats on.

The main result of this (especially in Harris County) has been a split among Republicans into two camps: The High Order of the Knights of Dan Patrick, and the Austin wing of the Republican Party that's largely made up of former Democrats who switched over in the salad days and the long-time Party power structure that's struggling to maintian their grip.

In this environment the Democrats have a chance to thrive. Unless they shoot themselves in the foot.

You just have to wonder if they checked the gun for bullets before they started cleaning it?

The fight for Harris County Judge

Watch out candidates, the Chron's resident redhead is on the case...

(from Lisa Falkenberg of the Chron)

In a dark, foreboding tone, a press release from the campaign of Republican Harris County judge candidate Charles Bacarisse warns this week of his opponent's evil plot to unleash "a desperate last-second personal attack" against him.

Bacarisse, former Harris County district clerk, calls on County Judge Ed Emmett to "call off" the planned attack, which, according to somebody who allegedly told "sources" who told Bacarisse, will make things "very nasty" in the last days of primary voting.

All I can say is Emmett has earned the opportunity to take a swipe at Bacarisse.

I'm generally not a fan of negative campaign ads — neither the black-and-white, grainy-image ones on TV, nor the fact-distorting ones set to a dramatic orchestral crescendo on the radio.

But considering the nastiness, misinformation and hypocrisy that has been slung at Emmett by the Bacarisse camp, the county judge is within his rights to throw some back.

After all, we're talking about a campaign that hired self-described political hitman Stephen Marks, author of the book Confessions of a Political Hitman: My Secret Life of Scandal, Corruption, Hypocrisy and Dirty Attacks That Decide Who Gets Elected (And Who Doesn't).

The column goes onto detail several of the press releases sent out by the Bacarisse campaign, press releases that I've received, reviewed, and have decided not to run on every occasion because they didn't rise to my threshhold for "news". Interesting to me maybe? Well yeah, but news? No.

Because hyper-excited declarations that a candidate is appearing on Bill O'Reilly or that they have somehow uncovered "proof" that the other candidate kicks puppies* isn't my idea of an interesting blog post. Besides, there's already another blog that's carrying the water for these candidates, Lone Star Times.

Despite my (admittedly) many negative posts about L'il Red in her role as Chron Metro columnist, I have to admit I agree with her on one important part: Bacarisse has been throwing a lot of mud against the wall in hopes that some of it sticks.

It might work however because, from the rumblings that I'm hearing, internal polling is showing Bacarisse to be way ahead of Emmett in the polls.



Somewhere in the background David Mincberg is sharpening his knives and grinning at the prospect of taking on a damaged candidate and a fractured Republican Party no matter who emerges on the Republican side.

Taking a closer look at the Democrat's "oil tax roll-backs"*

The Democrats are trying again...

(from the AP via the Chron)

The House approved $18 billion in new taxes on the largest oil companies today as Democrats cited record oil prices and rising gasoline costs in a time of economic troubles.

The money collected over 10 years would provide tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy sources and for energy conservation. The legislation, approved 236-182, would cost the five largest oil companies an average of $1.8 billion a year over that period, according an analysis by the Ways and Means Committee. Those companies earned $123 billion last year.

Senate Democratic leaders said they would put the bill on a fast track and try to avoid a Republican filibuster. The White House said the bill unfairly takes aim at the oil industry. President Bush is expected to veto the legislation if it passes Congress.

Crude oil prices have topped and pump prices are more than $3 per gallon, with indications that $4 is not out of the picture as the summer driving season approaches.

During debate, Rep Jim McDermott, D-Wash., urged lawmakers to "stop the madness of subsidizing oil companies" when the industry earned $123 billion last year.

"Gas prices have been soaring," added Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass. He said many people are "struggling to pay energy costs that have skyrocketed in a harsh winter."

Republicans contended the tax proposals would cut investment in oil and gas development and lead to even higher prices. "This bill singles out one industry," complained Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.

For as long as I've been observing the workings of Congress I've been amazed that our Republic continues to function with leadership such as this. It'd be one thing to just retort here but I'm going to quote the Chron "reader" comments as well to provide some framework for the issues that society's least common denominator have missed again....

jachari wrote:
They can certainly afford it.

Yup, "they" can afford it, because "they" have enough business savvy to pass increase costs onto the customer. They also understand that, if there's no incentive to drill, then drilling isn't smart.

Let's think about this for a minute: The supposed goal of the Democrats is to "reduce our addiction to foreign oil". In order to do this we're going to raise taxes on domestic production because, you know, the oil companies are successful.

Brilliant!

Rugsi wrote:
"The bill would roll back two lucrative tax breaks for the largest U.S. oil companies."

This being the most important line in the entire article. This isn't a "new oil company tax" as the headline describes it. This isn't a "tax that singles out one industry" as Rep. Kevin Brady describes it. Instead, it does away with a tax break that singled out one industry. It's the elimination of a discriminatory credit, not the imposition of a discriminatory tax.

Actually, there's another important line in the article:

The money would go for tax incentives to support wind, solar and biofuel industries as well as energy efficiency programs.

What you're dealing with here is a shell game, moving the money from one pot to another. Of course, anytime you attempt to legislate a wealth transfer there are unintended consquences. Because taxation systems don't happen in a vacuum and oil companies are more than just "evil behemoths" who suck the planet dry so that a few secluded Billionaires can get even more rich.

Nope, Big oil is a big part of pension plans, of retirement income in the form of royalties, they are large employers and sustaining forces in many small towns. Raising taxes on oil companies force them to cut costs to meet earnings targets and to maintain the liquidity necessary to pay royalty payments to landowners. Because you did know that almost all U.S. on-shore leases pay significant royalties to the mineral rights owners and, for the most part, those royalty owners are small individuals and not big, faceless corporations? You knew that because you understand the "evil empire" right?

How about the platform workers, support staff, rig builders, chemists, engineers, accountants, managers, secretaries, geologists and other support employees that go into drilling a single hole in the ground? I'm guessing that the "renewables" industry has sufficient demand for employees that they will transition seamlessly to jobs that offer similar levels of pay and benefits correct?

Because, we're not talking about technological obselescence here, we're talking about a forced capture of profits from a private enterprise by our Government to give to other companies who haven't, as of yet, been able to duplicate the market success of big oil. Oh, I know what you say, that Big "evil" oil somehow "holds down" the little guy, that they put their foot on development and deserve to be raked over the coals. That, somehow, renewables companies are ideologically "pure" in their motives and wouldn't ever do the same thing if the roles were reversed right?


As my English friends would say: Bollocks.


But the Least Common Denominator has to convince us that "something is being done" about high energy prices. Nevermind the fact that there's little they can actually DO to change them. Having no clothes has never stopped the Emperor before, partly because his subjects are just as naked and are cheering him on.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Open up the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the ANWAR for drilling, offer tax incentives for conservation and clean energy production, and work with energy companies to bridge the gap from fossil fuels to whatever comes next keeping all options open and applying tax credits evenly.







*Dislaimer (nothing new to regular readers): Yes, I am a member of the so-called "evil empire of Big Oil". I'm proud of the company I work for and see, every day, what we are trying to do to not only increase oil and gas production, but to do it in a fair and honest way while protecting the environment as well as working to discover what energy source will come after oil. You can choose to believe that or not, I really don't care. I'm here witnessing the efforts of our employees every day and you're not. That being said I realize that we're not perfect and could do better, we talk every day about how to go about doing that. Sure, we'll never make the enviro-nuts happy because they won't be happy until fossil fuel production ceases and we are all ran out back and shot, but we're not trying to appease them. What we're trying to do is figure out a way to lower fuel prices for all of us. Contrary to your belief we pay at the same pumps as you do and our pocketbooks are just as strained. Because this is my personal blog I choose to leave my employer unnamed, but it is an Oil and Gas company which is, really, all you need to know.

A post mortem on the Repbulcian Primary Questionnaire

As you may, or may not, know, some local bloggers and I thought it might be interesting to submit some questionnaires to Republican primary candidates in the higher profile races in order to try and get out specific, issues based, information out to voters before the Tuesday Primary.

The results were less than I hoped for. Out of 20 submissions, I received two(2) responses in return.

Thanks to Robert Talton and Jim Leitner for taking the time to answer the questions and submit them to me for publication on this blog. As promised, their answers were posted here without qualification or comment as to their worth, and without regard to my feelings regarding their positions, agree or disagree. I made that promise then, and I hold to it now.

That being said I'm not going to mask my dissapointment of the fact that 90% of the candidates decided that answering issues related questions to be read by potential voters wasn't worth 15 minutes of their time. If you want to see the difference between the local Republican Party and the local Democratic Party then you need look no further than these responses, and the Dem response to a similar request by Off the Kuff and Charles Kuffner.

Two caveats:

1. I'm aware that my questions came out later. Probably a month later than Kuff's.

2. I also realize that my blog probably has a tenth of the traffic that the major blogs in Houston experience on a daily basis.

That being said I was really hoping to at least break the 50% response barrier and fill a void that I thought was present in the local election. I realize now that the void is there because the Party wants it to be there not because of some oversight or chance.

If any more responses come in before Tuesday's elections then I'll gladly run them, but at this point I'm not holding my breath.


Sometime this week I'm going to go vote, although I'm still not sure in which primary my votes will be cast. I hope that you'll do the same. For the general I'll fire this up again and try to capture more races and get feedback from both parties.

Until then good luck to all the candidates, even the ones that blew me off.

Metro clears a funding hurdle

And there was much rejoicing throughout the land...

(From Rad Sallee and Katherine Schmidt of the Chron)

The Federal Transit Administration is committed to helping the Metropolitan Transit Authority qualify for funding of two light rail lines by the end of the year, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Tuesday.

Hutchison's statement came after a closed-door meeting in her Washington office, where FTA Administrator James Simpson and Deputy Administrator Sherry Little talked with Mayor Bill White, Metro President and CEO Frank Wilson, board chairman David Wolff and a bipartisan congressional delegation from the Houston area.

Hutchison, R-Texas, said Simpson was committed to the same goal as the delegation, "and that is a full funding grant agreement by the end of the year."

Such an agreement would ensure that Metro could complete the two lines, provided it followed required federal procedures.

So far, Metro has pushed the projects forward with a series of small grants for preliminary studies.

Metro has applied for $500 million in federal aid to build the North and Southeast lines. Hutchison said the full funding agreement is important because "once that is committed to by the FTA, then it automatically goes into the budget and we don't have to fight for it."

FTA officials would not confirm statements from others that the agency had agreed to help Metro obtain $500 million, but the FTA did issue a brief statement of support.

"FTA remains committed to working closely with Houston Metro to move these projects forward as quickly as possible, and while doing so Houston Metro will need to continue meeting the requirements of our federal New Starts program," it said.

The New Starts program allocates funding, usually 50 percent of capital costs, for new mass transit projects. The two lines are estimated to cost $1 billion. Metro plans to build two other lines, East End and Uptown, using sales tax revenue, but expects to apply later for $1 billion in federal aid, largely for the controversial University line.

Of course, Metro would love to get funding in place for the so-called "Universities line" (which is now the proposed name for the former "Westpark line" in the ballot language for those of you not paying attention) but I'm guessing they will start building that and then go to the FTA with a variation of the Luke Skywalker excuse: "But we've done so much already" and hope that sways the board to fund the line that's got the shakiest financials and the most public dissent.

Which leads us to this:

Federal officials had questioned the level of public support for the light rail system, and the meeting was intended as a show of unity. Hutchison said the delegation "made quite an impression."

Only in the sordid, twisted, inside the Beltway world of the D.C. buearacracy does "meeting with officals" constitute and "accurate measurment of public support." That being said I would imagine that the Southeast and North lines probably have the support of the majority of the communities which they are scheduled to serve. Until Metro starts cutting bus service to prop up ridership numbers that is.

Odd ending to an otherwise entertaining column...

OK, so you're Rick Casey, writing a Metro column about Charlie Wilson's old campaign commercials and all is going well.

Then you end with this:

Footnote: I didn't steal "willing suspension of disbelief" from Hillary Clinton's challenge to Gen. David Petraeus during a Senate hearing. I stole it from my college professor in a course on humor in films. I don't remember from whom he stole it.

Whua?

Dome ideas venturing off to the land of make-believe

Have an idea to save the Astrodome? The County is ready to listen...

(from Bill Murphy of the Chron on the Local Politics blog)

The Astrodome was a stage for baseball and football prima donnas to strut their stuff, but it could become a forum for Hollywood stars.

At least that's what would happen if the Houston Association of Entertainment Professionals gets its way.

The association, a new, non-profit group representing film industry workers, has heard that not all county officials support the Astrodome convention hotel plan and has come up with an alternate proposal -- turning the Dome into a film production studio.

"It would bring an entire new economy to Houston," said association president Elise Hendrix. "We should make a home for the film-making industry."

Astroturf and stadium seating would give way to studio space where sets could be built, a film-processing operation that could produce dailies, a 100,000-square-foot, underground sound stage and offices.

Uh-Huh.


Oh, the article goes on to suggest that Hendrix and her "team" are uniquely unqualified to put something like this together, Hendrix being a College dropout and the "non-profit" not having a *gasp* website other than a MySpace page. Then they pretty much tear holes in the deal.

Oh, and then there's this:

But County Judge Ed Emmett and Commissioner Steve Radack should be happy. They've been saying they want alternate proposals to the convention hotel plan put forward. Now, they have one.

Which brings us to the real question: Is this the end of the forwarding of silly ideas by ARC to make their idea look better? Or are we just seeing the tip of the iceberg?


Secondary question: Should the Chron be playing the part of cheerleader for the ARC proposal or should they just report?


Disheartening item of the day: Some commenters are taking this seriously...

That's a great idea! This would be great for the local economy. - Commenter "alex"

Republicrats?

Bennett Roth of the Chron fills us in on the Texas Primary choices that some Republicans may make during what has been an admittedly odd election year....

At John's barber and styling shop in the historic downtown of this conservative community southeast of Austin, politics is clearly in the air these days.

What has particularly struck stylist Pete Campos is how many of his Republican customers are talking about voting for Barack Obama in the March 4 Democratic presidential primary, motivated more, he surmised, by a strong dislike of Hillary Clinton than a strong attachment to Obama.

"I think Hillary scares some people," said Campos, an independent who is leaning toward voting for the Illinois senator.

According to polling, as well as anecdotal evidence, an unusually large number of Republicans and independents may cast their votes in the Democratic contest next week, a prospect that could tip the outcome of what polls show is now a tight race. Such defections could also affect the many local and state legislative primaries around the state.

An American Research Group poll released Monday showed Obama leading Clinton, 71 percent to 25 percent, among Texas independents and Republicans who are likely to vote in the Democratic primary.

The article goes on to speculate about the reasons why Republicans are crossing over (at least for the primary) and then stumbles on what I think the reason really is:

Some Republicans doubt that most longtime party loyalists will actually cross over, in part because they would forfeit the right to participate in some competitive local primary contests, including the races for Harris County district attorney and the Houston suburban congressional seat formerly held by Tom DeLay.

"I think partisan voting is a lot like blood type, impossible to change," said Hans Klinger, spokesman for the Texas Republican Party.

That's a strategy that Texas Republicans have been relying on for the last several years, every since they took virtual control of the State and have done a fair job of running it into the ground. Not that everything that's wrong with the State right now is the "fault of Republicans" (as many Democrats would have you believe) but they have made their share of messes, especially over the last four years. (tuition deregulation, electricity deregulation, the business tax, etc.)

The consequences of some of these disasters has been that the Conservative wing of the Party is "taking back" what they consider to be the ideological heritage of the Party of Lincoln. Progressive Democrats have done the same since losing the majority, so what we have spit out of the sausage mill are two parties that are diametrically opposed on almost every issue. This has brought a return to name-calling, angry rhetoric and everthing fun about politics in general.

It's also led to an exodus of "moderates" from both parties. Over time this could turn out to be a good thing as the true "swing" voters, whose input into the system can vary from year to year between parties and whose ideologies are an amalgamation of certain aspects of both but are directly in line with none, return to the spotlight after being absorbed by "big tent" party policies for the past decade.

When you boil this entire election down I believe that two trends will emerge:

1. The Obama phenomenon will be credited with energizing previously inactive voters and enticing them to come to the polls for the first time in several years.

2. The "swing" vote has meaning again, as large swaths of the population find themselves outside of party thinking on several meaningful issues.


I, for one, welcome those changes. I just hope they last.

Famous boxer grabs Dynamo minority ownership

Breathless reporter terms deal a "sale"...

(from Bernardo Fallas of the Chron)

The Dynamo are about to have a Golden Boy in their corner.

Boxer/promoter Oscar De La Hoya and business associate Gabriel Brener are poised to enter into a partnership with team investor-operator Anschutz Entertainment Group that will give the soccer newcomers "major roles" in the ownership of the two-time defending MLS champion Dynamo, an AEG spokesman said Monday.

"We have been negotiating with Oscar and Gabriel, and those negotiations are quite far along," AEG spokesman Michael Roth said. "Negotiations have been progressing quite rapidly in the past few days, and we believe when Oscar comes to (Houston) to meet with us on Friday we could formalize and finalize the deal."

Roth declined to discuss how much control of the Dynamo AEG will retain. But a person with knowledge of the negotiations said the company will keep a 50 percent stake in the team, with De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, and Brener, a Mexican investor with ties to the real estate industry in the United States, each taking on 25 percent of ownership.

Dynamo president Oliver Luck withheld comment, but the team released a statement saying Luck will discuss the newly formed partnership at a media event today.

AEG entered into negotiations with De La Hoya and Brener last year, although the Dynamo did not disclose them until mid-November.

So, in effect, the Dynamo are taking on two minority partners with AEG maintaining the controlling stake as the owner with the largest percentage stake in the team. For those of you not familiar with this type of deal, AEG is striking the first blow in their PR battle to get the City of Houston to pay an increased share of stadium construction costs.

One thing's for sure, in their short time here AEG has figured out the pulse of Houston. With our inability as a community to prevent ourselves from devolving into municipal puddles of goo when a superstar pays us a modicum of attention. De La Hoya is on board to drive the Dynamo's narrative to the Hispanic community and he's a good choice for the job. He's photogenic, a big star, and well-spoken in two languages he'll have the crossover appeal that Oliver Luck lacked as the business face of the team.

Still, this isn't a "sale" of the team in the traditional sense. It could have enough star power however to drive the negotiations in favor of AEG. At least, if the taxpayers are going to get their hats handed to them again, do you think we could get some title fights here in Houston Mayor White?


OTHER EYES:

BlogHouston: Breaking down the $20 Million.

"What the World Eats"

Interesting slide show from Time Magazine today illustrating what 15 different families across the globe consume in a week's worth of food.

Two things from this:

1. Almost everyone drinks a Coca-Cola product. There goes that lawsuit theory.

2. Americans and Britons eat a LOT less fresh fruits and vegetables than the rest of the world, and a LOT more processed food.

Find the "Pit Bull"

There's been a lot of snark recently at Lone Star Times attempting to drum up support for a so-called "breed" ban that State Senator Dan Patrick has been bouncing around on his radio show. I'm going to ignore here the cognitive dissonance of a group of people who will fight tooth and nail for the right to own an AK-47 or an uzi sub-machine gun claiming that "guns don't kill people, people kill people" who then turn around and blame a dog for committing a crime instead of the owner of said dog, and want to instead play a little game.

I'm going to post some pictures of various dogs. You tell me which ones are Pit Bulls. I'll provide an answer in the comments and then you can tell me if you were right or not.

Here we go:


1.


2.



3.


4.


5.


6.

More details on the Dynamo dome

Carolyn Feibel expands the Dynamo stadium funding story with today's piece providing more insight into the financing of the deal.

The city is in negotiations with the Houston Dynamo about constructing a stadium for the two-time national champions, but it is far from clear how much public money will be used. But an item on this week's City Council agenda offered a clue as to how the city plans to finance the purchase of the land.

The first item on the agenda for Wednesday is a public hearing on a plan to have a downtown special taxing district — called a tax increment reinvestment zone — pay up to $20 million for "cultural and public facilities" related to a six-block tract being targeted for the stadium.

Which means, in effect, the city is looking to use property taxes to finance the purchase.

In the east part of downtown, those taxes are collected by a tax increment reinvestment zone, TIRZ 15, which includes the possible stadium tract.

Under a TIRZ, property tax revenues generated within the boundaries are frozen at a specified level. As development occurs and property values rise, tax revenue above the set level — known as the increment — is funneled back into the zone to pay for infrastructure and capital improvements to help attract further economic development.

TIRZ monies also could be used to secure bonds to pay off the purchase of the land.

Mayor Bill White has said the land the city intends to buy would be used for "economic development," which may or may not include a soccer stadium.

He said he preferred the Dynamo owners build a $70 million to $90 million stadium and give it to the city. But he has not ruled out using public funds.

White has been careful to point out that TIRZ money already is segregated from general city funds and cannot be used outside the zone.

That distinction is immaterial to Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt.

"This really is property tax revenue that's just being diverted into another account; it's public money," Bettencourt said. He said he would not be surprised if the city ends up investing far more than the $15.5 million offered for the land.

Bettencourt said having public input on a soccer stadium would be a good idea, even if it is not legally necessary.

"As the complexity and scope of the deal expands, the obligations of the city increase, and the need for having a public vote grows," he said.

White said that if public funds are used for the construction of the stadium itself, city leaders would be cautious.

"We're not going to just open up the wallet and do whatever," White said. "We won't use funds that could be used for providing essential city services, such as solid waste, and parks and libraries and things like that, public safety."

White did not rule out "event-related taxes," such as a levy on tickets or parking to pay for part of the stadium.

By establishing the TIRZ and diverting all property tax money from the area into it to finance the infrastructure development, land purchase and other needs, the city is basically using funds that could be used for "providing essential city services, such as solid waste, pakrs and libraries and things like that, public safety" to subsidize the building of a stadium whose best argument for existence is that "the Dynamo deserve it".

Here's a concept: If the Dynamo "deserve" a stadium and its viable then let them build it, run it, and earn profits from its operations. I mean, this is supposed to be a huge financial boon right?

I know what you're saying: "Well, you're just a racist because we paid for parts of the stadiums for the Texans, Astros and Rockets didn't we?"

Yes, we did, and I didn't think that was the correct thing to do either. That it's foolishness is being revealed in the current Astrodome fiasco only serves to strengthen my belief that throwing more good money after bad is the wrong way to go.

You retort: "Oh, but this will spur development downtown and we will have concerts and events that we couldn't have otherwise.

Really? You think a 30,000-40,000 seat soccer specific stadium would get International games away from Reliant? Or that more concerts would book there than at Toyota Center? Or that suddenly there will be development where there's been precious little surrounding Minute Maid and Toyota Center? (ignoring parking garages that is)

The argument is bollocks. The fact is there are already existing facilities in Houston that can do everything bigger and better than the proposed Downtown soccer stadium except give a few rich guys a ritzy Downtown office to impress other rich guys with.

There's plenty of City-owned land floating around that can be donated for the express purpose of building a stadium complete with an ajoining practice facility and youth soccer complex. This can even be done inside the City limits, just in a different part of the City than downtown on a tract of land that will have to be purchased with tax money, will cause severe mobility problems, and will do nothing to improve the area.

Sadly, we're not hearing anyone talk about that. For some odd reason this thing HAS to be downtown. Maybe, the next time it floods, the stadium can be used as temporary housing in tandem with George R. Brown and Minute Maid. Unless there's a game to be played of course.

The last stand of the "spend more" economy.

So, what do you do when your stock market gains aren't there to prop up your lifestlye, you've leveraged the full equity in your home, and your credit cards are maxed out?

Borrow against your retirement fund...

(from J.W. Elphinstone of the AP via the Chron)

Trent Charlton knew the risks when he borrowed $10,000 from his 401(k) and cut his retirement savings in half.
But Charlton, a 40-year-old account executive at an Irvine, Calif., trucking company, said he had little choice because he and his wife could not keep up with monthly expenses after American Express reduced the limits on three credit cards.

As home prices fall and banks tighten lending standards, more people are doing the same thing: raiding their retirement savings just to get by and spending their nest eggs to gas up SUVs, pay mortgages or put food on the table.

But dipping into 401(k) accounts can carry risks because defaulted loans and hardship withdrawals are taxed as income and are subject to a 10 percent penalty if the worker is under 59½ years old.

That means if the trend grows, many Americans will risk coming up short on retirement savings or may have to rely on an overburdened Social Security system.

“People who take out a loan or withdrawal are adding to a looming retirement crisis over the next 30 to 40 years,” said Eric Levy, a partner at global consulting firm Mercer. “And what implications will that have” for the economy?

It's stories like these that let you know just how bad the current economic downturn is going to be. Years of people spending more than they have earned and keeping a negative savings rate just to have the newest doo-dad is going to come back and bite us all in our collective behinds.

And then there's this:

Said Charlton: "We have to take care of ourselves now and put retirement on the back burner."

Translation: The next few generations are screwed.

Happy Monday.

Primary Questionnaire: Robert Talton

Robert Talton is one of ten Republicans vying for the primary nod in the 22nd Congressional District. The winner of the Republican primary will advance to face Democratic incumbent Nick Lampson in the November general election. The following questions were submitted to all candidates in this primary race, Rep. Talton's answers are reproduced below.


Who are you and what are your qualifications for this position?

State Representative Robert Talton. I have represented Pasadena in the State Legislature for the past 15 years. During this time I have maintained one of the most conservative voting records in the Texas State House of Representatives and have won the acclaim of the conservative community. I am the only candidate in the race with legislative experience and a consistent, conservative record.

My public service experiences have taken me from protecting the streets as a police officer to fighting criminals in the courtroom. Prior to serving in the Texas Legislature, I served as: a Pasadena police officer, a Police Legal Advisor in Port Arthur, Texas, a prosecutor for the City of Pasadena and a municipal judge for the City of Pasadena. Though the other candidates can only make political promises, I have already delivered.



Please find out more about my campaign at www.taltonforcongress.com


Seeking Tom Delay’s old Congressional seat brings with it an intense scrutiny of ethics. What are your plans to address ethics both in your office and as a member of Congress?

I am committed to restoring honor and integrity to our federal government. I will vote to impose full disclosure, tough compliance and new rules to prohibit the activities that have so severely damaged public faith in government. Public service should not serve as a road to riches, but as a means to serve the public.


One of the most contentious issues in America today is illegal immigration and its effects on society. What plan do you favor to address the handling of an estimated 16 Million illegal immigrants currently in America?

I believe that the first step to solving the problem of illegal immigration is for our government, at all levels, to enforce current law. Our federal government should immediately secure our borders. We should deport all the criminal illegal aliens. If cities cease to provide sanctuary status, and states cease to pay for social services for illegal aliens, those who should not be here will begin to self-deport. Only after our borders are secured and we know who is here can we begin a national discussion about what to do with those who remain.



Throughout the 2008 election a major topic of debate has been the spiraling costs of health care in America. As a member of Congress what type of plan would you propose/support to reign in costs and relieve the stress on our emergency care centers?

I would support a plan that implemented common sense market solutions to reduce our healthcare costs. Health Savings Accounts are a good start. The Government has been involved in medicine for over 30 years and things have only gotten worse. Socialized medicine is a disaster waiting to happen.



If elected, there is a high level of probability that, as a Republican member of Congress, you will be in the minority party. How do you plan to reach out to the majority party to get issues you champion passed?

As a legislator, I have always managed to work with members of the Democrat Party without compromising my conservative principles. The reason for this is quite simple; I am straightforward and honest with them, and I keep my word. As your Congressman, I will tell the Democrats exactly where I stand firm on core principles and reach out across the aisle when necessary for the good of the district.


“Economic stimulus” is a popular word in Washington D.C. these days. What do you feel is the number one thing the Government can do to guide the economy through rough times?

Reduce government spending, cut taxes, abolish the IRS, pass a constitutional amendment that bans the income tax, implement a National Consumption Tax (Fair Tax), and cut the corporate income tax.


Would you have supported the economic stimulus package recently signed into law by President Bush?

No.


Deficit spending is increasing the interest burden on the Country’s annual budget. As a member of Congress what will be your views regarding a balanced budget and decreased deficit spending?

Our current Government deficit and spending levels are outrageous. If a private business was as fiscally irresponsible as our government, it would be out of business in a matter of months.

As a member of the Texas House of Representatives, I have consistently voted against bloated state budgets and will continue to do so as your congressman.


Earmarks have almost sunk to four-letter word status in the media and with some in the public. In your opinion does earmark spending need to be curbed? (why/why not) And, if so, what will you propose as a tool to limit the practice?

Nothing promotes fiscal responsibility like the light of day. The process of secret earmarks has brought pork- barrel spending to unprecedented levels. I support a full committee hearing process, in which individual spending items are fully discussed and voted upon by members of Congress in plain view of the public. I understand that it is your money, not the government’s.


So called entitlement programs represent the second largest segment of the federal budget, surpassed only by the DOD budget. Recent trends and projections show that the percentage going to entitlement programs is outpacing the growth of all the other sectors of the budget. What should congress do, if anything, to address the growing percentage of the federal budget going towards entitlement programs?

Congress should address this problem by cutting spending in other areas so that they can reduce taxes and continue our economic growth. Because the life expectancy age has increased so much since the introduction of these programs, the congress must also work to gradually increase the age of eligibility for these programs. As your Congressman, I will also support the introduction of Personal and Health Savings Account pilot programs that explore the viability of these policies.


As a member of Congress, you will likely be asked to support a troop pullout from Iraq and/or Afghanistan, or possibly to support a financial ultimatum to force the administration to withdraw by holding DOD funding hostage. Would you support such a measure?

Absolutely Not


As a member of Congress, will you fight to make sure the border fence is built? Or do you favor a “Virtual” fence or none at all? Why?

I will fight every day to make sure that both a physical and virtual fence is built on our border, because nothing is more important than our national sovereignty.


What should the US response be to the possible fall of the Musharraf regime in Pakistan? What should the US response be if the Taliban takes over a country with Nuclear weapons and ICBM technology?

The United States must take whatever actions necessary to ensure that nuclear and ICBM technology does not get into the hands of the Taliban. I would never rule out the use of military force.


Do you support the use of military tribunals for enemy combatants or do you instead feel that they should be brought under the auspices of the US Judicial system for prosecution?

Military tribunals, because terrorists have no constitutional rights.


What is your position on the expansion of Nuclear Power generation in the US? Would you support the building of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities in the US to eliminate the need for long term waste storage? Would you support the building of Generation IV fast breeder reactors that convert thorium and depleted uranium into additional nuclear fuel?

I strongly support the expansion of nuclear power generation and the United States and would support the construction of reprocessing facilities and Generation IV reactors if they prove to be a viable and cost effective alternative to long term waste storage.


Would you support the elimination of drilling bans off the coast of the eastern and western US and in ANWAR?

Yes


Do you support additional capitol gains taxes on oil companies? Or oil price controls?

No


What are your feelings regarding NASA and their future funding needs?

Because Space Exploration is a service that a market economy fails to supply and a cause that our nation has decided to support, it is the government’s duty to supply NASA with adequate funding. We should increase NASA’s budget commensurate with the resources they need to accomplish their mission.


If elected/re-elected to Congress what will be the number one issue that you will work to accomplish during the term?

Illegal Immigration


Finally, there are ten candidates in this race all vying for the same position. There is a high probability that most of you will overlap in your approach to dealing with some or all of these issues. Why are you the correct choice in this race over the other nine candidates seeking the office?

Although every candidate in this race can promise to support conservative principles, I am the only candidate that has delivered upon them. I am the only candidate with the tested conservative leadership and legislative experience necessary to bring results to the gridlock of Washington D.C. Please see more about my campaign at www.taltonforcongress.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you to Robert Talton and his campaign for taking the time to answer our questions, we wish him the best of luck in the Republican primary.

Warning: Dizziness may occur

How many ways will this story be spun?

(from Bill Murphy of the Chron)

With county officials debating whether the proposed Astrodome convention hotel would make money, the city-built Hilton Americas hotel announced Wednesday that it made $23.5 million in profit last year.

The 1,200-room hotel next to the George R. Brown Convention Center set a record for earnings in its third year of operation.

(snip)

Leroy Shafer, chief operating officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, has scoffed at Astrodome Redevelopment's claims that a 1,300-room Dome hotel would make money.

PKF Consulting, which analyzes financial trends in the hotel industry, concluded last year that the Dome hotel could net $50 million in its fourth year.

At Commissioners Court Tuesday, County Judge Ed Emmett questioned the validity of the PKF report because Astrodome Redevelopment Co., which has proposed the Dome hotel, paid for it.

The Hilton Americas' profit in its third year would be only half of what PKF Consulting projects that the Dome hotel would make in its fourth year. But Houston officials are so convinced the Hilton has been successful that the city is considering whether to build a second convention hotel near the George R. Brown.

A profit is a good thing, but the important factor here, as it relates to the proposed Dome convention center/hotel and building another downtown hotel is how the actual realized profit relates to the projected profit estimates that were provided to the City by our friends at PKF consulting.

I tried to search for this in the Chron archives, but after about 20 minutes I threw my hands up in frustration and started looking around for a Tylenol. Sheesh.

Why is this important you ask?

Because the financing decisions for the second downtown hotel and the Astrodome Convention Center/hotel are going to be made with information using these projections as a guideline. As a County taxpayer I don't want to end up footing the bill for a hotel in default because future revenues were based on estimates that failed to take into consideration the worst-case economic scenario. You can be as liberal as you want in your social policy, but please, retain some conservatism in your fiscal policy.

Remember all of those "evil corporations" that filed for bankruptcy that have been demonized in the press recently? At heart, their failures were caused by an ignorance of the basic accounting principle of conservatism.

80's band Living Color as 2008 social commentary

First: The 2008 Presidential Race....



OTHER EYES:
Professor's R-squaredHouston's Obamathon.



Second: Houston's development debate...



Third: Houston's increasingly lame social scene...




Funny that, for all of our "progress" we're really just living in a late 80's early 90's re-run.

Protest!

Sierra Club is at it again. This time they've got Dynegy in their cross-hairs...

(From Brad Hem of the Chron)

An environmental group's protest in downtown Houston on Wednesday put a spotlight on the debate over coal — which generates half the nation's electricity but also contributes to climate change.

The Sierra Club said it is launching a national campaign against coal-fired plants by Houston-based Dynegy and punctuated the announcement with a rally outside the company's headquarters.

Dynegy, which has as many as six coal-fired plants in its construction plans, responded that it must meet the growing demand for electricity in the short term while long-term alternative energy sources are still being developed.

"It would take a lot of wind to meet those needs," Dynegy spokesman David Byford said. "This is really part of a larger national debate on the country's future and meeting its energy needs."

(snip)

Nearly a year ago, Dynegy was talking about building eight coal plants, and CEO Bruce Williamson met with environmentalists to discuss alternatives. Since then, the company dropped plans for two coal plants, Byford said.

Dynegy has two coal-fired plants under construction. One is near Waco, and the second is in Arkansas. Proposed plants in Georgia, Iowa, Michigan and Nevada are in various stages of planning and permitting, Byford said, but they ultimately might use other fuels.

"It's very flexible," he said. "It's dependent on what customers are asking for."

He said the company had planned to build a coal plant in New Jersey but switched it to natural gas because it could be built faster to meet an immediate demand for electricity.

Coal is central to discussion of U.S. energy and environmental policy, because coal-fired power plants emit air pollutants as well as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

(snip)

Expected legislation almost certainly will influence those decisions by Dynegy and others.

Congress is working on a cap-and-trade mechanism that would put limits on greenhouse emissions from coal plants and other facilities while allowing companies to trade emissions permits.

The top presidential candidates — Republican John McCain and Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama — all support versions of the cap-and-trade proposal.

Earlier this month, three major Wall Street banks — Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley — announced they will review more carefully financing requests for power plants that emit greenhouse gases because federal regulation could make them financially riskier.

That could make it more difficult to get financing for coal plants, said Rebecca Tarbotton, director of the Rainforest Action Network's Global Finance Campaign. Byford said the company already has secured financing for the Arkansas and Texas projects under construction but hasn't yet sought financing for the other four plants.

The industry, meanwhile, is developing technology that shrinks carbon dioxide emissions or stores the gas underground, speakers said at last week's Cambridge Energy Research Associates' conference in Houston.

Rice University energy economist Peter Hartley said the Sierra Club's campaign oversimplifies the problem and solution.

"Most sides in this debate want to shout one way or the other when it's really more nuanced," he said. "Nothing is a silver bullet."

(snip)

The extent to which carbon dioxide contributes to climate change is debatable, he said. Plus, solar, wind and geothermal power are years away from being viable and reliable large-scale energy sources, he said.

A better short-term fix would be to tax energy to encourage better efficiency and conservation, Hartley said, with the revenue devoted to research on clean energy production.

But Ron Hayden, a Sierra Club member who protested at Dynegy on Wednesday, said "clean coal is a disinformation campaign."

As is usual in any contentious energy-related article, there's a lot here that needs to be addressed. The first being the silly idea that we can tax our way to clean energy. We can't, because increased taxes on new fossil-energy development will just lead to companies stalling said development altogether, raising the price of energy even more and placing a terrible burden on the poor. The second fallacy is the idea that we are anywhere remotely close to possessing the technology needed to supply our fuel needs completely from renewables. That's a lie that's being forwarded, with great effectiveness, by environmental groups to a populace whose energy generation knowledge typically stops at the light switch.

It 'sounds' good doesn't it?

The third misnomer is the idea that clean-coal technolgy is a "disinformation campaign" code-speak for tin-foil hats and conspiracy theorists everywhere. It's not the pipe dream that many in the environmental movement would have you believe. I've seen the technology and its very real, and very promising. Since coal is present in America in such abundance it only makes sense to investigate the possibilities. Unless your goal is returning us all to subsistance farming.

Finally, the "cap and trade" shell game is the biggest environmental lie that's been foisted on America in quite some time. Thank you Al Gore, your need to establish a Government-funded industry to support your new business ventures has set back real progress on climate change and pollution abatement 20 years.

Conservation is the key, bundled with reducing pollution by using what we have in the cleanest manner possible while offering tax credits for those who are doing meaningful research in renewables. Sure, it's not "sexy" and you can't dress up as a "conservation monster" and protest to make yourself feel better, but its the series of solutions that would clean up this mess and get us moving toward a time when renewables are capable of providing more than 3% of our current energy needs.

Following the Sierra Club (and other environmental groups) recommendations would push us back to the dark ages where the select few rich (the Royalty) can afford energy and the poor (serfs) are left to make ends meet as best they can with the scraps.

Rail can be "adjusted" to accomodate Dynamo Stadium UPDATED!

Hold on to your wallets...

(from Rad Sallee of the Chron)

The proposed Houston Dynamo soccer stadium site straddles two blocks where Metro's maps now show future light rail tracks. But there are alternative routes that could serve the new stadium along with Minute Maid Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center, a downtown official says.

Bob Eury, president of Central Houston and executive director of the Houston Downtown Management District, said Tuesday that the probable front-running option being considered is to approach downtown's east side on Texas Avenue.

Currently, maps on the Metropolitan Transit Authority Web site show the East End and Southeast lines coming together on Capitol, a block south of Texas, and continuing into downtown on Capitol.

(snip)

Also on the site is a Final Environmental Impact Statement, completed when Metro still intended to use Bus Rapid Transit rather than light rail on the lines, which shows the route split between Capitol and Rusk. The new proposal employs that tactic, Eury said.

By approaching downtown on Texas, he said, the tracks would "pass by the front door" of the soccer stadium between Dowling and Hutchins. Then they would angle south under U.S. 59 toward Avenida de Las Americas.

From there, a westbound track would continue on Capitol, passing a block from Minute Maid Park, while an eastbound track would run on Rusk, passing the convention center. Each would follow the direction of street traffic and cross the current Red Line at Main.

Eury cautioned that "various options are available," and that "none of this is final." Metro, he said, "is going to make the determination." Metro spokeswoman Sandra Salazar would only say that Eury's description was correct "and most importantly, that the plan has not been finalized, as we are working through the Federal Transit Adminstration process."

(snip)

Eury said he did not know how much it would cost to change the rail route to accommodate the soccer stadium, but he said any likely increase might be offset by added ridership the facility could bring.

Anytime appointed "management district" officials start talking using "might" and "could" in their justifications for increasing the scope of a project you know that things are bad. "Not set in stone" and "looking at all of our options" are two more that typically mean that the spending crap is about to hit the proverbial fan. Bob Eury manages to use some variation of all three of those danger phrases which means that the Dynamo soccer specific stadium has now hit for the boondoggle cycle in terms of rhetoric.

And, remember this, the last time Metro made "adjustments" to their plan the FTA didn't approve. You wonder if another change would delay the project even more?

In the accounting and consulting world when a project starts growing wildly we call it "scope creep". That can alter a plan, increase costs and turn something doable (For instance: building the Dynamo a stadium complex in an outlying area using land already owned by the City) into a financial and logistical nightmare (For instance: building the Dynamo a downtown stadium to satisfy the egos and subsidize the incomes of team executives at the expense of the tax revenues, mobility needs, and welfare of the citizens).


UPDATE: The vote was delayed and "scope creep" has officially set in...

(from Carolyn Feibel of the Chron)

Mayor Bill White said he could not rule out the possibility of some public funds being used for the stadium's construction. But he will negotiate for the Dynamo's owners to absorb the entire cost, he said.

The Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the Dynamo, has said in the past it would bear most of the costs, but would like city assistance.

"I'm not saying we won't provide any public funds," White said. "What I am saying is we won't use funds that could be used for providing for essential city services, such as solid waste and parks and libraries and things like that, public safety."

Last spring, a mayoral spokesman said White had ruled out using property tax revenues to help finance the stadium, but sales and hotel occupancy taxes could be an option.

White said if public funds were used, they will not come out of the city's general fund or involve new taxes.

The mayor discussed a scenario that would involve property taxes collected by a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, a special district in which rising property tax revenues are funneled back into the zone for infrastructure improvements to attract further development.

For those of you not paying attention the TIRZ is basically a creative way to build something with property taxes without actually having to say you built it using property tax revenue. You see, the property tax revenue used by the TIRZ is effectively lost for use by the rest of the City. It goes OUT of the general fund and into a special fund.

I've said all along that I didn't believe the "tax free" claims even as they tried to sell them under the old funding arrangement. Now they're just using a different shell game to try and hide what it is they are doing.


OTHER EYES:

BlogHouston: Mayor White: Just give me $16 Million for the Soccer Stadium land and don't ask questions.

The Harris County District Attorney Debate

Alan Bernstein of the Chron provides a synopsis...

Republican candidates for Harris County district attorney differed Tuesday night about the value of political endorsements from law enforcement officers and the overall reason why prosecutors quit.

In a debate, they also agreed about a new issue: Whether a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by outgoing District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal. Yes, said defense lawyer and former prosecutor Jim Leitner, police Capt. Doug Perry, prosecutor Kelly Siegler and former judge Pat Lykos.

Lykos, a Houston police officer more than 25 years ago, said she has refrained from seeking campaign support from officers and police organizations because the next district attorney must be immune from any charges of favoritism when prosecuting misconduct cases against law enforcement.

"There's a saying, 'Who watches the watchmen?' " Lykos said.

Siegler, who has been endorsed by a variety of officers and law enforcement organizations, said she never asked for the backing either.

"They sought me out," she said, because she has been an advocate for victims in her 21 years of prosecuting.

The debate took place at the South Texas College of Law and was co-sponsored by the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and KHOU (Channel 11).

Or you can head over to KHOU.com and watch the entire debate there.

As is becoming his custom in this race, Democratic candidate for District Attorney C.O. Bradford chose not to participate, or comment.

As is to be expected the race focused mainly on ethics and whether or not there was a need to further investigate the doings of (almost) former D.A. Rosenthal by means of an Independent "special" investigator. Besides that there was a lot about qualifications and a sprinkling of 'gotcha' that garnished the procedings for good measure.


Nothing about the Harris County Jail overcrowding, very little about the HPD crime lab and surrounding issues. There was an interesting discussion on the grand jury selection process however.


Related: Jim Leitner's answers to the Primary Questionnaire.

The other candidates have not submitted their answers at this time.

Every time we get out, they pull us back in.

With apologies to Al Pacino....Harris County Commissioner's Court attempts to flex some muscle...

(from Bill Murphy of the Chron)

The on-again-off-again Astrodome convention hotel plan is on again after Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to seek a deal with the project's developers.

The court authorized county officials to mediate differences between Astrodome Redevelopment Co. and two opponents of the project, the Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

County Judge Ed Emmett said the vote was not needed because negotiations could continue without any action by the court.

But Commissioner Jerry Eversole urged the court to take a position.

"If we do absolutely nothing, that sends the message that we aren't supportive of what is happening," Eversole said. "I want to make sure that I vote today for us to continue looking at the project."

As part of the vote, the court agreed that the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp., which oversees Reliant Park, could entertain other proposals to redevelop the Dome.

Emmett has questioned whether Astrodome Redevelopment can obtain financing to carry out a $450 million transformation of the Dome into a 1,300-room upscale hotel.

The county's budget and financial analysts studied Astrodome Redevelopment's proposal and also retained First Southwest, an investment consulting company, to review it.

Michael Bartolotta, vice chairman of First Southwest, said Astrodome Redevelopment cannot obtain financing until the county agrees to lease the Dome to it.

PKF Consulting, which provides financial analysis for the hotel industry, concluded last year that a Dome convention hotel would net $50 million by its fourth year of operations.

Astrodome Redevelopment paid for the PKF's study.

I've already written about the potential problems with the PKF analysis so I won't re-hash that here. I've also outlined some of the falsehoods in the "Ed Emmett killed the Astrodome deal" argument as just being a lot of hysteria generated by people who are, for some unknown reason, enthralled by the idea of the Astrodome becoming a hotel and convention center.

So, basically, what the Commissioner's Court voted for was to keep things exactly as they are; allowing the County to negotiate with ARC while fielding other offers.

It was, in effect, a vote to change nothing. Well, except for the fact that now they can grandstand in front of the media and wash their hands of the whole "not going to be the person to tear down the dome" mess.


The "Dome" question was included in the primary interviews that were sent out to the Republican candidates for Harris County Judge. So far neither candidate has returned his questionnaire for public consumption. Here's hoping that changes soon.

Shhhh...be very, very quiet, its Primary season

Don't forget to vote if you're a self-identified Democrat or Republican. (In Texas you don't register as such)

And if you're not? Well....

*warning - blog navel gazing follows*

While its true that I've oft been accused of being either a Republican or a Democrat by some of the more, shall we say, partisan members of the blogosphere, the fact is that I am neither. Typically my M.O. is to skip the primaries, let those with partisan interests work it out, and then make my voting decision based on who they select to represent their party. Sometimes the result skews Republican, sometimes Democrat, it just depends who's running and their overall stance on the issues.

In most cases this is a good thing. It allows me the freedom to get a good feel for the candidates in the race, and then make a very informed decision in the General. Sadly in Texas however oft-times of late the election has been all but settled in the primary. Despite that, historically, I've stuck to my guns and avoided the primaries altogether. I typically don't like to play in the taxpayer-funded Party sand-box that are primaries, I've never been to a convention, and I've never actively stumped for any candidate. (although I did fly a Kinky Friedman banner on my old blog on a lark)

This year is different, this year I may have to break down and cast a vote in one of the two major primaries due to the importance that some of the races.

The problem now is that I don't know which one.

On a National Level the clear choice is the Democratic Primary. If you're a Democrat then you're giddy that your vote will most likely be one of the deciding factors in a Presidential race (well, if you ignore that sticky superdelegate situation that is). But on the local level, there are potentially more impactful choices to be made on the Republican side. There are big races at all levels where I would have favorites that I could see myself supporting in the general. There are also candidates that would take a back seat to some Democratic candidates, and some races where I favor the Democratic candidate outright so it really doesn't matter.

So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do at this point. I hope that you are having an easier time of it than am I.


Either way, just go vote.

The long, rambling road to ethics reform.

If you, like me, find it odd that elected officials are basically their own ethics police, then today's story by Matt Stiles regarding the slow path to ethics reform in Harris County contained few surprises.

Amid renewed attention to ethics in Harris County government, some elected officials appear open to closing a loophole that keeps secret senior employees' outside income, real estate holdings or business connections.

State law requires county judges, commissioners and county attorneys to file "personal financial statements" designed to reveal any potential conflicts of interest. But it does not apply to many of the other elected and appointed officials who make multimillion-dollar decisions with taxpayer funds.

Commissioners Court has the power to require disclosure for these officials, such as sheriffs, constables and clerks, yet the policy has remained the same for years.

In response to Houston Chronicle inquiries, some county leaders say they are willing to consider such a reform to increase transparency at the nation's third-largest county, and commissioners are expected to discuss the issue at their regular meeting today.

"I'm in favor of it," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, who supports the reform, along with Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, who put the issue on the court's agenda. "We live in a time now where public disclosure is a good thing."

If officials here were to make a change, they would be following their counterparts in Dallas, Travis and El Paso counties, who require all elected officers to make their basic financial information public.

They also would follow the city, which last year required 714 employees to file forms disclosing the information, including Mayor Bill White, City Council members and department heads, among others.

Only 49 county employees, including justices of the peace and some county court judges, had to file the disclosures.

My quibble with this would be that we always lived in a time when public disclosure was a good thing, there just hasn't been any public pressure placed on our elected officials to make it so.

This is also why ethics reform takes so long to fully realize. We put the foxes in charge of the hen-house and then wonder why the eggs are missing when spot-inspections are completed. Of course, the irony in all of this is that government ethics reform comes after a prolonged period where the body has been very concerned with legislating the ethics of private industry. The old saw about glass houses and big stones comes to mind, but I can't imagine why.

A bigger point that needs to be made is that today is the first day of early voting for the primaries. Because of this many voters are going to head to the booth to make their choices in a host of key elections. Part of the reason I made the decision to send out the questionnaires to some candidates in the Republican primary was because these issues need a full vetting before an informed choice can be made.

When you cast your vote however think about this: Don't rely on campaign material and soundbyte quotes as a basis for your decision. There's still plenty of time for you to research and do the work that it takes to be an informed voter. Issues like ethics reform make it just that much easier to do so. If you can stand to watch the paint dry why the process winds down the road.

City makes $15.5 Million dollar offer for Dynamo Stadium land.

Carolyn Feibel lays out the details of the City's offer to purchase five blocks of land that's the cornerstone of the "non-taxpyer funded" Dynamo soccer stadium....

Houston has offered more than $15.5 million to buy five downtown blocks that could be a future site of a Dynamo soccer stadium.

The city council could vote on the deal this Wednesday. The purchase price assumes the land is worth $49 per square foot, almost quadruple the assessed value of $12.50 per square foot, according to Harris County Appraisal District records.

The five blocks are owned by various corporate entities controlled by former Councilman Louis Macey. To acquire a sixth block, owned by a different company, the city has offered to swap a block nearby that it already owns.

The six-block tract is between Texas and Walker streets on the north and south, and Bastrop and St. Emanuel streets, just east of 59 in the so-called "warehouse district." The area has recently undergone some loft-style residential development.

The city hired an outside assessor for the deal, who said the land is worth $50-55 per square foot.

The land would only be used for a Dynamo stadium if the city can reach a good agreement with the team owners, said Andy Icken, deputy director for Public Works and Engineering. Mayor Bill White has said that he does not want taxpayer money to be used in the stadium construction.

"They identified this tract of land as one in which they would be interested," Icken. Negotiations are still ongoing.

The official line is that the city is acquiring the land for a number of possible future uses, including multifamily residential development

Regardless of your opinion regarding the necessity of a Soccer stadium you have to admit that the deal requires anyone to suspend an awful lot of disbelief to accept it as its currently structured....


1. Mayor White: "No taxpayer funds will be used to build the stadium itself."

This is only true if you ignore the fact that you HAVE to have land upon which to build a stadium. Last I checked $15.5 Million is a lot of real money and is only going to be the beginning of what the City is going to have to pay out to make the stadium work. Not only is there going to be road improvement and flood abatement work to handle all of the run-off a stadium and surround parking generates, but there's also going to have to be massive infrastructure upgrades to the surrounding sewage and water systems. My assumption is that the City will assume the cost of the infrastructure upgrades to the point that the foundation is laid, then the Dynamo will cover the remaining plumbing/sewage costs in the stadium itself. This will allow for Mayor White to "keep" his promise. Ignoring, of course, that ample infrastructure under a stadium is a very important part OF a stadium.

So, just ignore that fact will you?


2. The "tax" question.

Owned by the City the stadium land will come off of the tax rolls. And not just the raw land either. Any calculation of sales tax will have to include the value of the improvements to the land to fully understand how much the City is potentially losing. If the land is valued at $15.5-$20 Million and the Stadium improvements are expected to cost in the neighborhood of $75-$80 Million dollars then you are potentially looking at lost property tax revenue, to the City, of a $100 Million dollar piece of property. At 2.25% that's $2.25 Million dollars in lost tax revenue annually.

What this means is that the City's lease to the Dynamo has to be at LEAST $2.25 Million per year in order for the City to "break even" versus what should be coming in from property tax collection. And I haven't even taken into consideration how to amatorize the $15.5 Million dollar purchase price yet. That would be determined based on the structure of the lease. In theory, based on several factors, "break even" for a lease number could be around $2.75-$3 Million per year.

Anyone want to make a bet the annual lease isn't NEAR that amount?


3. The whole Louis Macey angle...

(from Lynn Cook of Houston BizJournals June 18, 1999)

Former City Council member Louis Macey has been quietly blocking up downtown land east of U.S. Highway 59, with Enron Corp. snapping up the option to purchase part of the property.

Macey has assembled eight-and-a-half blocks in the shadow of Enron Field, with some of the parcels coming into his sights within recent weeks. Deals for another two-and-a-half blocks are underway and, apparently, Macey has an appetite for even more.

Beyond confirming the blocks he's gathered Macey would not reveal who he represents or what possibilities for development are.

Rumors are swirling within the local real estate community that the land is intended for such varied uses as a retail venture with The Mills Corp. or a basketball arena for the Houston Rockets.

Mark Palmer, Enron's vice president of public relations, confirms the energy giant has optioned to buy from Macey eight blocks that total 14 acres.

Enron's option on the Macey land accounts for half of the 16 blocks bounded by Highway 59, Texas, Dowling and McKinney. Six of those tracts are in three-block-long contiguous strips.

For nine years Macey has been trying to get a stadium (or something) built on his blocks of land. Now it appears that he's found an administration that's willing to pay him four times the appraised value for his land allowing them to do so.

Primary Questionnaire: Jim Leitner

Jim Leitner is a candidate in the Republican primary on March 4th for the position of Harris County District Attorney. The winner of this primary race will face presumptive Democratic nominee C.O. Bradford in the general election in November. Lose an Eye, in association with other area bloggers submitted a questionnaire to all candidates in this primary race. Here are Mr. Leitner's answers to those questions:


Who are you and what are your qualifications for this position?

I am Jim Leitner. I am 57 years old, married to Michelle Leitner a lawyer, and have 8 children. I became a lawyer in 1975, and have practiced criminal law since 1975. I am Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and have been so continuously since 1983. I have 9 years of prosecution experience. I have prosecuted everything from a class c misdemeanor to several death cases. I have defended the same. I know what it takes to prosecute, and to defend. I have a complete view of the system. I have first chaired over 300 jury trials, and I have written over 300 appellate briefs. I know what it takes to be a trial lawyer. I have been in the trenches, and that is important to winning over the respect of the staff.
This is an office that requires much more than just being a great trial lawyer. I also have administrative experience in that I was the First Assistant District Attorney in Bell and Lampasas Counties for 4 years. In that position I was in charge of the day to day administration of the entire office, and the experience gained in that position is very valuable.
Even more important, this office needs a leader. This is a time that a tried and proven leader is absolutely necessary. I have 26 years leadership experience in the military. I have served as a line officer doing the day to day tasks of our mission. I have served as an administrative officer being in charge of all of the administrative requirements for our unit. I have served as a training officer in charge of ensuring that all the unit was properly trained for the mission. A tour as an executive officer, and two tours as commanding officer of two different units. I know what it is like to have absolute responsibility and accountability for the actions of the unit. I will treat the office in the same manner. There will be no passing the buck, and making claims that I do not know or am not responsible any and all that happens.

In the wake of the Chuck Rosenthal resignation, the ethics of the District Attorney’s office have come under increased scrutiny. What are the main points of your plan to ensure compliance to ethical standards should you win the election?

So many bad things stem from ethics violations. Everytime a prosecutor lies it is an ethics violation. The lie itself may cause very little to happen, and at times it has huge effects. Everyone makes mistakes, but lies are not mistakes. I would make sure that it was clear that lies would not be tolerated. I have already said that I would put the polices and procedures manual “on line” so that everyone could see the general policies that are to be employed. If ones child was charged with an offense and someone wanted to know if they were being treated unfairly I would hope they would look to the manual to see if they are being treated the way we have set out in writing that we would generally treat such offenses. If there is special treatment being given, then that too should be much easier to see. I have always felt that it is much harder to do things in the open, then it is in the shadows. I would also publish our ethics manual. For example, Brady violations are also ethical violations. People try to get around Brady materials by just changing the definition of what is Brady. One prosecutor told me that if he didn’t believe the materials then it wasn’t Brady. Therefore, I would make sure that the definition of Brady be put “on line” and all disclosures of Brady be in writing, filed with the court. Then there would never be a question as to whether the office complied or not. There would be continuous training in ethics. I would utilize the ethics programs available from the National College of District Attorney’s, the State Bar of Texas, and like sources.

The Houston Police Department Crime Lab recently faced another scandal. Many of the cases tried in the past were based, in large part, from a lab whose results are questioned by many. What steps would you take as DA to ensure the evidence you received from the crime lab was valid, and how should past convictions using crime lab evidence be addressed?

I would push for a regional crime lab that had no ties to law enforcement. I am aware of the problems when crime lab personnel feel that they are members of one team or another. I would demand that when a lab report is rendered, that it state the type of testing that was done. In the past reports were rendered when complete testing was never done. That is intolerable. If the defense wanted to conduct independent testing, then I would always work to make the evidence available so that they could also test the evidence.
Anytime past evidence is questioned, then it should be retested. The policy that was put into place that all evidence is destroyed upon conviction should be rescinded. If there are errors, then those errors have to be brought to light, even if it hurts the organization.


Would you support the appointment of an “innocence commission” to review the cases in question?

I would support anything that ensures that the right results were reached. The right results can be reached by doing the right things, there is no need or excuse for cutting corners.

In the last election Harris County voters defeated a bond issue that would fund the construction of new prison space. With prisoner overcrowding and staff shortages leading to certification issues what, if any, options would you support as District Attorney to address these problems?

I do not take the position that it is the job of the District Attorney to legislate. I will enforce the laws that are given to me. I believe that the District Attorney should have a legislative program and work towards passing laws that protect society, and also alleviate problems such as prison overcrowding. Working hand in hand with the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association in this endeavor would be a high priority.

Under former District Attorney Rosenthal, there was some criticism that he applied the death penalty statute more liberally than it was originally intended. Do you agree/disagree with this assessment? And as DA what would be your approach to seeking the death penalty?

I have always felt that there were no real guidelines on when they sought death, and when they did not. I would form a commission of persons inside and outside the office to review aggravating and mitigating evidence in each case. I would ensure that there were specific guidelines to follow in rendering the decision, and then I would keep statistics on when it was sought and when it was not. And more important, why. I would do this so that uniformity in the selection process would be apparent. The disparity on when it is sought now, from when it is not would change.

In your estimation, are the issues at the Harris County DA’s office limited to the top, or have they “trickled down” to the rank and file?

I feel that the real problem is within the “inner circle” of Chuck’s regime. Most of the personnel in the office are fine hard workers. Those who believe the end justifies the means just cannot be in a leadership role. That will ultimately trickle down to everyone. Young and impressionable lawyers cannot be taught to do their job any other way, than the right way. You can get the right results, by doing the right things.

Finally, why are you the best candidate for this job?

I believe in the positions that I take. I will demand that this office be an office that serves all of the public. I know the criminal justice system, I know all sides of these issues, and I can bring an approach that builds on all that was good for so many years, and I can eliminate those things that have brought the office down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Leitner's campaign site: jimleitner4da.org.


Thank you to Mr. Leitner for taking time out of his schedule to answer our questionnaire.

The Comedy of the Politically Marginal.

Otherwise known as Mrs. White's endorsements...

The Democratic and Republican parties of Texas hold their primary elections on Tuesday, March 4. Early voting begins tomorrow, Feb. 19.

The Chronicle recommends a vote for the following candidates:

• U.S. Senate, Republican John Cornyn — The incumbent junior senator from Texas has showed courage and reason in supporting President Bush's call for immigration reform that would meet U.S. labor needs and offer undocumented residents an avenue to legal status. He faces only token opposition in the GOP primary.
• U.S. Senate, Democrat Rick Noriega — A lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard, Noriega is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He served with distinction in the Texas Legislature for nine years and helped to manage the care of Hurricane Katrina victims evacuated to Houston.

No surprises here, there really weren't any surprises in any of Mrs. White's endorsements, there never are. Sunday she endorsed Barack Obama and McCain in the Presidential primaries, has endorsed Pat Lykos in the Republican Primary for Harris County D.A. and Ed Emmett and David Mincburg in the Republican and Democratic primaries for Harris County Judge.

Will any of this matter? Arguably no. There are as many voters who automatically vote against any candidate the Chronicle recommends as there are people who rely on them for voting guidance. Plus, I would argue that most voters in Houston couldn't identify who has been endorsed by the Chron period. Still, as Kuff notes, she's still got a ways to go before all local endorsements are completed. Considering that early voting starts tomorrow, we're either going to be flooded with a laundry list of endorsements with little backup rationale, or Mrs. White is just going to leave the job undone.


The question remains: Will that matter?

Trashy

More proof that they'll steal anything these days...

(from Dane Schiller of the Chron)

Some thieves snatch luxury sedans, diamond bracelets or plasma televisions. Then there's the bottom-feeding breed that is rarely caught but has no bragging rights among criminals.

Trash can rustlers.

As many as 4,400 times a year, the black, 96-gallon plastic containers issued to Houston homes are reported missing or stolen.

And they're almost never found.

"You know it is not a trash can collector," said Richard Alderman, an associate dean at the University of Houston Law Center. "Trash cans are worth something. Somebody is trying to make or save money."

The city buys about 20,000 of them annually for $44 apiece — that's $880,000 a year — and provides one for each residence along a public roadway.

All of the city's trash containers are uniform so they can be emptied by trash trucks with giant automated claws.

While having an extra can costs a $7.50 monthly fee, replacing a stolen one is free, but it requires a police report for what is considered a misdemeanor theft of city property and is in the same grouping as first-offense prostitution and indecent exposure.

"Gosh, somebody has got to be really bad off," said Douglas Baucum, 67, whose trash can of 10 years recently went missing. "If they are going to steal something, I think they would have gotten a newer one."

Police reports include notations such as the neighborhood where the trash can was taken as well as the weather at the time and the name, sex, age, birth date, phone number, address and race of the person filing the complaint.

One thing that doesn't vary is the outlook for solving the caper.


(snip)

Given the time and challenges of telling one can from another — even if each comes with a serial number — trash can thefts are rarely solved, let alone investigated with the vigor of other crimes, he said.

Cases are kept in a computer database, said Moore, who added that he is not aware of anyone who has ever been arrested for can theft.

"We need to know because, in order for us to identify crime trends and to do some proactive work, we need that information," he said. "It could be somebody is developing a market for something stolen."

Marina Joseph, spokeswoman for Houston's solid waste management department, said replacing a "stolen" can requires a police report, but replacing a "missing" one just requires a call to the city's 311 phone system.

Although there likely is some overlap, last year 2,486 cans were reported stolen and 2,031 were reported missing to 311, she said. Data revealing which neighborhoods are most prone to trash can problems wasn't immediately available.

While getting a new trash can starts with a phone call, it ends with one of a handful of city employees such as EL Pleasant pulling up to your house in a pickup, pulling a trailer loaded with cans.

I'm not sure what's worse, stealing someone's funky trash can or requiring the police to file a police report regarding said funky trash can being stolen. Either way, that's 22% of the annual can allotment that's rolling away. If you view it monetarily you have around $200K "missing" every year.

I'm not blaming anyone here but that's quite a hefty expense. I'm also not sure what, if anything, can be done to "curb" the thefts outside of enhanced neighborhood watch and increased police patrols.

Except that, Houston doesn't have the manpower to ensure neighborhood patrols so you can take that option off the table.

Until then, keep an eye on your can.

John Keeling stumps for local hotels again.

The Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation rolled out their expert today who revealed that (shocker!) he thinks an Astrodome hotel and convention center would be the bee's knees....

(from Bill Murphy of the Chron)

A convention hotel at the Reliant Astrodome could net nearly $50 million annually four years after opening, a consultant said in a report released by Harris County Friday.

"Reliant Park is transforming into one of the largest, most versatile sports, entertainment and conversion complexes in the United States," hotel consultant John Keeling, vice president of PKF Consulting, wrote. "To our knowledge, there are no other hotels like the proposed (hotel) adjacent to" a major stadium and convention center.

Astrodome Redevelopment Co., which has proposed reinventing the Dome as a convention hotel, hired PKF to do the study last year.

A consulting firm hired by the county, Convention Sports & Leisure, found that PKF's study conformed with analyses of financial prospects for large hotels.

Dick Raycraft, county budget and management services director, said the PKF report sheds light on whether hotel analysts believe that a Dome hotel would be profitable.

Raycraft's office included it as part of an analysis of financial and legal issues related to the convention hotel plan.

The analyses were given to Commissioners Court as it prepares to discuss next week whether the county should continue pursuing the Dome hotel plan.

PKF estimated that the Dome hotel would have a 72 percent occupancy rate in its third year.

Reports like this are paid to drive excitement for the project. The analysts are always encouraged to present the best case scenario. I've previously outlined the tendencies of Keeling's estimates to be on the high side and I don't see any reason that this will change now. As a matter of fact, a search of the Chron archives reveals a pattern of overly optimistic predictions from Keeling as well as a misidentification of several trends pertaining to downtown.


An expert like John Keeling, who has a history of overestimating in his estimates, is hardly proof of case when Millions of Dollars are on the line. I expect ARC to rely on these numbers because they're losses are hedged by the taxpayers interest in the Dome. If the County accepts these suspect numbers as proof of concept viability then I would think the voters of Harris County would have a lot about which to be upset.

The end of an era

So, Chuck's out and in the Republican Party there was much rejoicing....

(from Brian Rogers and Peggy O'Hare of the Chron)

Chuck Rosenthal stepped down as Harris County district attorney Friday after six weeks of mounting pressure and intense scrutiny brought by the exposure of embarrassing e-mails that prompted calls for his resignation from all but his closest allies.

His announcement came just hours after his political enemy, attorney Lloyd Kelley, filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Rosenthal from office on the grounds of official misconduct, incompetency or intoxication.

Rosenthal's decision marked a change of heart from his previous vows to finish out the remainder of his term even though he had abandoned his re-election plans because of the e-mail controversy. It was not immediately known Friday how quickly Gov. Rick Perry would appoint an interim replacement to lead the district attorney's office until Rosenthal's term expires Dec. 31.

Rosenthal, 62, said a combination of prescription drugs had impaired his judgment, and constant media coverage of his controversial e-mails — which included some sexually explicit and racist content, along with affectionate notes to his executive assistant — had taken its toll on his family.

As you can imagine, the blogosphere is going bonkers over the story some somber, some less so almost all with a sense of personal attachment to the situation either from up close, or from a distance.

That was the thing that made the Rosenthal situation so compelling. Not only was he one of those larger than life personalities Texas politics are known for, but he was also in a position that had a lot of sway over the lives of Harris County residents, whether they knew it or not. Since most bloggers are politically active, and tied in with their respective parties, then it makes sense that Rosenthal probably had a direct impact on their lives or the lives of someone they know personally. When you're personally attached, political happenings become personal happenings which are seen as being much more black and white than they actually are.


So, the election for Harris County District Attorney will be conducted absent the background drama that is Rosenthal. He'll still be a part of the election, for sure, but maybe, just maybe we can return our focus to the other problems facing the office and spend less time on who's kissing who behind whose right ear.

Houston's new flood control plan

Oh sure, you laugh now, but someone in Houston is going to think that the sQuba is something that Houston NEEDS as part of their flood control program....

(from Bradley S. Klapper of the AP via the Chron)

OK, so the Swiss have invented a car that runs on land and underwater. But did they REALLY have to make it a convertible?

It's called the "sQuba," and conjures up memories of James Bond's amphibious Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me. That fictional vehicle traveled on land and, when chased by bad guys in a helicopter, plunged into the water and became an airtight submarine — complete with "torpedoes" and "depth charges."

But "Q" isn't responsible for this one.

The concept car — which unlike Bond's is not armed — was developed by Swiss designer Rinspeed Inc. and is set to make a splash at the Geneva Auto Show next month.

Company CEO Frank Rinderknecht, a self-professed Bond fan, said he has been waiting 30 years to re-create the car he saw Roger Moore drive off a dock.

The sQuba can plow through the water at a depth of 30 feet and has electrical motors to turn the underwater screw.

You'll have to break out the wetsuit, however.

(snip)

The sQuba's top speed on land is about 77 mph, but it slows down to 3 mph on the surface of the water, and 1.8 mph underwater.

Working with engineering specialists, Rinspeed removed the combustion engine from a sports car and replaced it with several electrical motors. Three are located in the rear — er, aft — with one providing propulsion on land and the other two driving the screw for underwater driving.

You think I'm sounding far fetched? Consider its similarities to MetroRail


1. It's green - the sQuba is a zero emissions vehicle
2. It would only help a small percentage of people. - Light Rail only is projected to move .5% of total passengers.
3. It's 'big' in Europe - Hey, this is Houston, we like bad European ideas.

and finally.....

It's not practical. - And as we know, our City and County leaders LOVE big, expensive "solutions" to problems that don't really address the problem. (see. Light rail, The downtown redevelopment initiative, HPD Acronyms, and Discovery Green.)

Primary Interviews

Yesterday I received an invitation from a campaign strategist for some local Republican candidates to interview said individuals regarding the issues that are likely to affect their primaries. After thinking about this I decided that interviews of that type would be in line with my public cries on this blog for candidates to focus more on specific issues in campaigning, and less on the politics of personality.

Because of this I am preparing questions to submit to candidates in the following primary races.

U.S. Representative District 14
- Chris Peden
- Ron Paul

U.S. Representative District 22
- Kevyn Bazzy
- Cynthia Dunbar
- Dean Hrbacek
- Brian Klock
- John Manlove
- Pete Olsen
- Ryan Rowley
- Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
- Jim Squier
- Robert Talton

State Representative 130
- Alan Fletcher
- Corbin Van Arsdale

Harris County DA
- Jim Leitner
- Pat Lykos
- Doug Perry
- Kelly Siegler

Harris County Judge
- Charles Bacarisse
- Ed Emmett


I'd like to do more of the races, including some of the judgeships but I just won't have the time. As it is I'm going to be pressed to fit this in before the primary, but there's time if the candidates cooperate.

Charles Kuffner has been doing the same thing on his blog on the Democratic side for a while now, so if you're wondering why I'm not asking questions of Democrats now you know. If Kuff doesn't object I'll probably link to his Interviews in a summary post near the primary.

For the General election I plan to ask issues-related questions to both Democrats and Republicans.


As usual this blog will make no endorsements, and will make no comment on the answers. They will be submitted with only minimal editing for form and increased ease of readibility.

If you have an issue question that you want raised in a particular race, please comment on this post. But remember, I've got to get these questions out this weekend so I have to have any submissions before Sunday.

"The line must be drawn here. This far! No further!!"

I admit to not being all that interested in Major League Soccer. But there are some things that are going on in Houston that are just too far across the line for this soccer traditionalist to take....Dynamo Girls?

I'm sorry, these are not soccer cheerleaders:



THESE are soccer cheerleaders:


The best "cheers" in soccer are the chants, songs and general goings-on in the crowd. And while I appreciate the NFL cheerleaders as much as the next guy, there are some things in soccer we don't need to change.

C'mon Dynamo, quit Americanizing-down the game.

"We named the Dog Indiana"

Just hearing the music again makes me want to see this.

Happy "Institutionalized Guilt Trip" day.

You might know it as Valentine's Day...


I'm one of those fortunate men whose partner despises the holiday, and its surrounding traditions, on prinicple. My wife hates V-day with a passion typically reserved for those who harm puppies. I don't blame her. The entire Valentine's Day concept seems somehow wrong.

St. Valentines is a day to remember those who were martyred in the name of Christianity, primarily in the early days of the Church. If you're a Pagan then the day is a fertility festival signifying the approach of Spring, new life, crops and (yes) babies. That being said remembering dead people and planting crops are hardly the benchmarks upon which I choose to honor my relationship with my wife. Then there's the vapidity of the gifts we choose. According to custom the "appropriate" gifts are cards (which you will eventually throw away), flowers (which eventually die) and candy (which will rot your teeth). None of these seem to be a very good sign of "neverending love" to me, how about you?

St. Valentine's Day is an institutionalized guilt trip to prop up sales for the greeting card, floral, candy and jewelry industries. The thought being that you can buy your way out of a year of indifference by opening up your wallet and blowing your bonus on one really nice gift. It's a catchy idea, even for devout feminists. I've seen women that would have a seizure if someone held a door open for them throw a hissy fit on February 15th because hapless hubby didn't remember to purchase that $2,000 tennis bracelet as a token of his affection. I've seen men on the verge of breaking down because they can't find "the right gift" that will ensure peace in the household and buy them three hundred and sixty-four (five in a leap-year) days of solace before their ulcers act up again next year. I've seen kids crying because Mommy and Daddy are fighting over the love pebble that wasn't round enough, or shiny enough, or had enough doo-dads attached to make the lady penguin want to keep the male penguin. There have been divorces that have occured because of Valentine's day gifts.


All so certain retailers can avoid a post holiday sales slump.


So as you take your significant other out to over-booked restaurants tonight to eat "Valentine's Day specials" that have been prepared with profit maximization and taste minimization in mind, and you look around and see all of the other poor schleps pull out their jewelry boxes with hands trembling in hopes of not spending a night on the sofa think about this.....Only 315 shopping days until Christmas.

The Congressional Dog and Pony show

Ladies and Gentlemen, Children of all ages....

Come watch in amazement as your tax dollars are squandered in an obvious ploy by a few of society's Least Common Denominator to get some name ID.

Yuck...

(from Phil Rogers of the Chicago Trib)

Maybe we're all wrong. Maybe Andy Pettitte really did "misremember" about Clemens telling him he had used human growth hormone. Maybe Clemens is truly overpersecuted and underbelieved.

But that sure didn't come across Wednesday, when like a whole bunch of other people I was listening to Clemens and accuser Brian McNamee testify in front of Congress when I should have been doing something better.

There were no watershed events during the public testimony, although that was probably only because Pettitte wasn't on hand to reprise the damning statement in a recent deposition. And when it was over, I was like Rep. Mark Souter (R-Ind.), who told ESPN he comes down on the side of the guy who has no real reason to lie.

Souter compared McNamee's pained, and sometimes flawed, retelling of the story to that of a drug dealer who parcels out the truth one fact at a time.

"They lie often in the early stages [of an investigation], then give you a little more evidence," Souter said. "You get a little more truth. They're not honest people or they wouldn't be doing what they're doing. [McNamee's] story has more confirmations than Clemens' story. I tend to believe McNamee more than Clemens."

Here's what we learned from the "hearings"...

1. Henry Waxman is legislative furniture.

If there was any doubt that Rep. Waxman didn't have a clue about steroids, the administration of steroids, or what (exactly) hGH is and how it effects the body, it was put to rest in yesterday's hearings. Instead of asking salient questions, Waxman seemed to view this hearing as his own personal fashion show, taking long, wandering walks down the runway of nonsense, strutting about like his fly was open, and generally allowing four hours to be filled with bloviating nonsense. My only plea to Californians is that, when he comes up for re-election, a suitable replacement is found. The pony in the picture above would be an improvement, the dog would be a lateral move.

2. It's really not about "the children" is it?

I'm thinking we can put that canard to bed right now. Keeping kids from taking performance enhancing drugs (PED's) sounds noble, but when you juxtapose it against the televised soapbox that was on display yesterday it really wasn't the focus of the hearings. There was more "tut-tutting" that went on and more "you sir, are a LIAR" moments than anything that would, you know, keep PED's out of the hands of children. Congress is more interested in getting soundbytes to play in campaign ads then they are ridding us of the "scourge" of PED's.

3. People don't know what it is that steroids "do".

Steroids don't make your muscles grow. There's no medical evidence that steroids lead to "roid-rage". There's no medical evidence that steroids cause brain cancer. There's no medical evidence that they lead to increased risk of heart attack. There is medical evidence that they affect blood pressure. There is medical evidence that they shrink the testes. There's medical evidence that these side effects are reversible. There's increasing medical evidence that steroids, administered under the advice and consent of a Doctor, may be less harmful, on a long term basis, than some of the drugs that are currently widely prescribed.

In short, steroids are vilified precisely because they seem to work as advertised. They are compounds that, if used correctly, allow the body to recuperate from physical exhaustion more rapidly than would otherwise be possible which, in turn, leads to increased muscle growth due to a raised ceiling in respect to possible physical workload. In other words, if you were to inject yourself with steroids and then take a nap, you're not going to wake up with the physique of a professional athlete. Odds are you don't have the genetic make-up to 'bulk-up' even IF you were to go to the gym and work out religiously. If that were the case there'd be a LOT more elite-level bodybuilders walking the streets today.

Steroids are also VERY dangerous for kids, and for people with cancer and pre-cancerous cells. For kids they can mess with their natural hormone balance, leading to developmental problems, and taking steroids if you have cancer is like throwing gasoline on a fire.




If your Congressperson was on that panel, you might want to consider backing their primary opponent. These staged rooster preenings are nothing more than creative ways for politicians to get free publicity on the taxpayer dime.


OTHER EYES:

Grits for Breakfast: Congressional Steroid Hearings an abuse of power.

About those issues....

County Republicans rip a page out of the Democratic election playbook.

I admit it, I've been very critical toward some of the Democratic candidates of late for running races that are focused more on those "eeeevil Republicans" and their lapses than they have on issues. And rightly so because, leading up to the election, we've heard rhetoric from them saying the majority of Americans are with them on the important issues facing us today.

Oddly enough, you constantly hear the same mantra from County Tax Assessor/Collector Paul Bettencourt when he hosts on KSEV.

So why is he trying to keep this issues from the public?

(from Alan Bernstein of the Chron Local Politics blog)

hundreds of Harris County Republican Party precinct chairmen tonight decided that the answers the party elicited from its candidates about their loyalty to the state party platform will not see the light of day, at least for now.

The decision came with some drama in the auditorium of the Houston Community College West Loop campus. Perhaps lulled by the mundane nature of some official party business, precinct chairs appeared to have voted to adopt a committee report that might have led to the publication of candidates' responses to the 100 or so questions on the quiz.

Then Paul Bettencourt, a de facto party leader as well as the county tax assessor-collector, delivered a stemwinder of a speech as he paced with the microphone in his hand like a cross between Dr. Phil and a sales motivation speaker.

Bettencourt's message: If we let the answers out, we'll be giving the Democrats and the press ammunition with which to define the Republican candidates right down to which house of worship they attend (which was one of the questions).

If the Republicans are going to be competative in this election cycle then its going to have to come down to the issues. For the last few election cycles they've been winning mainly by default due to the incompetence of the State Democratic Party and its inability to field strong candidates.

That's all changed this year, as Republicans are swamped in a sea of corruption allegations and the perception of faulty, ineffective leadership. The Democrats have tried to capatilize on this at the expense of the issues. That the Republicans seem to be wanting to make their issues "obscure" has to be troubling to party loyalists and observers.

OTHER EYES:
Harry Lime's Houston: Harris County GOP eats its own.

Uno!!

Snoopy would be proud...

(from Ben Walker of the AP via the Chron)

Start dancin', Snoopy. You're out of the Westminster doghouse.

At long last, a beagle is America's top dog. Baying and barking to his heart's delight, Uno lived up every bit to his name Tuesday night, as the dog with Texas ties became the first of his breed to win best in show at the nation's biggest canine competition.

"He's a people's dog, a merry little hound," said handler Aaron Wilkerson, who grew up in Austin the Austin American-Statesman reported..

A sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden that called and chanted Uno's name stood and roared when he was picked as numero uno. He got right into the act, jumping on Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show.

Years from now, it'll be known as the "ah-roo!" heard 'round the ring.

The only breed consistently among the nation's most popular dogs for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times the Westminster Kennel Club had chosen a winner. That changed when judge J. Donald Jones pointed to this nearly 3-year-old package of personality.

Every July the wife and I pack up our donation dollars and head over to the Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows and spend hours walking around, petting dogs, watching agility and flyball, and generally just having a good time. It's very hard not to stop and pet a Beagle when they are right next to you.

That being said I'm a dog person, but I'm not a "DOG" person, if you get my meaning. I appreciate the dog shows but take issue with the AKC's cold shoulder tactics toward the non-pure bred dog. I'm the proud guardian of three dogs, two mutts and one pure bred (not registered). I "adopted" all of three of them either through the pound, friends or happenstance and wouldn't trade them for the world. I like the pure bred dog as well, but could not buy on when there are so many good dogs in pounds needing adoption before they get put down.

This year Pedigree Dog Food started up Dogsrule.com in an effort to raise awareness (and funds) for sheltered dogs. I understand that this is a hotly contested political season, and most blog readers are donating to their candidates of choice, but I ask that, if you can or are of the inclination, you take the time and throw a few bucks the way of some animals that don't have a voice, don't have the ability to make fund-raising calls or go block-walking for dollars and who need the money for simple things like food, water and basic medicine.

And, if you want a dog, consider adoption. Who knows, you might wind up finding a pure bred puppy in the pound that turns out to be the next Dallas a German Shepherd Dog Champion that was found chained to a tree before his show career started.

You never know.

Some clear-headed thinking on the energy debate

As a member of the oil and gas industry, you can imagine my shock when I read Scott Tinker's treatiste on future energy and economic stimulus and found it more concerned with fact and practicality than filled with hyperbole and foolish conclusion:

With the country facing a possible recession, President Bush and Congress quickly agreed on an "economic stimulus" package (i.e. borrowing from ourselves) that is likely to stimulate precious little.

Congress missed a major opportunity with the stimulus package. They could have invested in something that would have been good for the consumer (encouraging energy savings), the environment (reducing emissions) and the economy (stimulating development of products that represent our future).

The magic elixir?

Energy efficiency is the best thing we can do for our economy and environment right now. Instead of $600 once for every consumer, how about $100 to every family that replaces incandescent bulbs with florescent? Or $1,000 to every family that buys a car that meets future CAFE standards today? Or perhaps $500 to every family that improves its home insulation by 20 percent?

These investments would cost no more than the present stimulus and save consumers at least as much (probably more in future electricity, heating and fuel bills) while stimulating industries that lead toward a better long-term economic future.

It's time for lawmakers to wake up to the connections between energy policy and economic reality. The last three U.S. recessions (mid-'70s, early '80s and early '90s) were each preceded by rapid rises in oil prices. Likewise, the recession we may be entering now. The economy and energy are inextricably linked.

Does this mean oil is "bad" and we should attack what's left of the publicly traded and SEC-regulated energy industry?

If you would like to be in the hands of the nation-states that control more than 90 percent of the world's conventional oil reserves (in order: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates and Libya) then continue down this misguided path. Remember 1973? It seems our political leaders, and presidential aspirants, do not.

Based on a career of thinking about energy, I believe someday the world will depend on solar energy to power our lives. The sooner we make the necessary adjustments in economic policy and research and technology to solve the major issues involved with solar energy, the better off we will all be. In the meantime, everything else is a bridge to our energy future.

The bridge is being built with the energy we have today. In order of global consumption percentage, these comprise oil (36 percent and declining), coal (27 percent and rising), natural gas (24 percent and rising), hydro (6 percent and declining), nuclear (6 percent and flat but soon to be rising), and everything else combined (biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, and others approaching 2 percent and rising).

The fact is that currently, almost every major oil and gas corporation either has an entire business unit dedicated to renewables, or they are planning to start one up in the near future. Exxon (the Worlds largest energy company) has just found a way to extend the life of lithium batteries (the type used in hybrid automobiles) and Chevron has finished work on the first phase of the largest solar power project in North America. Just two examples of how "big oil" can be part of the solution.

These are the steps that need to be taken to get us to the renewable tipping point our politicians claim to want to lead us toward. It won't happen overnight, and it won't happen by taxing the oil and gas industry out of existence to please a base on constituents who don't know the first thing about supply and demand, who want to have energy available when they reach for the light switch, and don't want to contemplate the International implications of shutting down big projects in Africa and other Countries.

There are those that want Oil and Gas companies to shut themselves down, laying off thousands and destroying the economy, which they somehow feel will "make right" some transgressions of the industry in the past. These people naively feel that "renewables" is already a robust enough industry that all of those unemployed by the Oil and Gas industry would find jobs in this brave new "zero-imapct" economy. That is neither practical, nor realistic and its just as damaging to our long-term energy needs as are those who think the answer is to stick our heads in the sand as if this issue will go away.

The problem is not going away anytime soon. Energy, and many other problems, are going to take clear-headed solutions that focus on real, attainable, practical solutions that are far removed from the inflammatory rhetoric of the political fringe. Here's hoping that everyone reads Mr. Tinker's essay, and takes a lot of it to heart.

It's a lot tougher to build something right than it is to tear something down. Let's focus on building.

Name-calling as International Diplomacy (part II)

Over the weekend I poked some fun at Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatening to reduce oil sales to the US in retaliation for Exxon winning in International Court. Perhaps you remember his comments:

"If you end up freezing (Venezuelan assets) and it harms us, we're going to harm you," Chavez said. "Do you know how? We aren't going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger."

*snicker*

I focused on the petulance and immaturity of Chavez, but Kevin Whited from BlogHouston made a canny observation in the comments:

And he's going to ship his heavy crude to what other country's refineries?

He can't just sit on it, since he needs money to prop up his regime...

I agreed with Kevin (and to be honest, I should have mentioned that in my post) and it seems that others do as well...

(from Dan Cateriniccia of the AP via the Chron)

If Chavez actually cuts off supplies to the U.S., the effect would be mostly symbolic, said oil analyst Peter Beutel of Cameron Hanover in New Canaan, Conn. Any short-term supply disruption would dissipate as other nations make arrangements to take the Venezuelan crude and the U.S. makes up its shortfall by purchasing additional barrels from the Middle East, Africa and other regions.

"It makes no sense for Mr. Chavez to follow through on his threats" because the U.S. refining industry's plants — some of which are owned by Venezuela — are customized to handle much of Venezuela's high-sulfur crude oil, said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service in Wall, N.J. If Venezuela's crude was low in sulfur content — making it more valuable on the global market — he might have a better hand to play, Kloza said.

Indeed, the U.S. remains the No. 1 buyer of Venezuelan oil, purchasing more than 41 million barrels in November, accounting for roughly 10 percent of all crude oil imports that month, according to the most recent Energy Department data.

With oil prices hovering above $90 a barrel, Chavez relies largely on U.S. oil money to stimulate his economy and bankroll social programs that have traditionally boosted his popularity. Nevertheless, Chavez in December lost a vote on constitutional changes that would have let him run for re-election indefinitely.

"It would be the worst time politically for Chavez to cut oil shipments to the U.S.," said Patrick Esteruelas, Latin America analyst at the Eurasia Group in New York.

It should also be noted that the US could replace Venezuela's 41 Million barrels and "reduce our dependence on foreign oil" by simply opening up the East Gulf for exploration and production. I'm not talking about ANWAR, I'm referring to the Gulf of Mexico. Where we're already drilling and where there are billions of barrels of oil just waiting to be extracted.


Keep that in mind next time a politician forwards a plan to "reduce our reliance on foreign oil" that doesn't include opening up drilling off of the inner coast of Florida.

It was more of a 'guideline' than an actual 'rule'.

Remember all those increased security measures that the Department of Homeland Security rolled out (with much fanfare) as the "first step" to border security?

Eh, never mind...

(from Susan Carroll of the Chron)

To ease an application backlog, the federal government plans to issue green cards to about 47,000 immigrants before the FBI finishes a complete background check — a move that critics warned could compromise national security.

The policy change is designed to address a mounting backlog of green card applicants who have met other requirements for permanent residence and have passed an automated fingerprint check, yet are waiting more than six months for FBI "name check" clearance, said Chris Bentley, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service spokesman.

The green card holders will still be expected to eventually pass the "name check" portion of the background check process, which in some cases takes the FBI more than two years to complete. If U.S. officials find serious problems after issuing a green card, the permanent resident could be deported, Bentley said.

"This maintains national security," Bentley said. "It doesn't compromise the system, but at the same time it allows us to get benefits to people who deserve them."

The decision was outlined in a Feb. 4 USCIS memo. Bentley said officials are still reviewing how to implement the new policy and could not say when they will start issuing green cards from the backlog.

Before applicants are approved for a green card, they must pass an FBI fingerprint check and be screened against a law enforcement database.

Unless its shown that some of these people have criminal backgrounds right? Because then what are the chances, do you think, of them happily turning themselves in as a sort of residency "my bad" symbol of good faith?

Just another example of the Government placing the cart before the horse, and implementing a plan before they have any idea whether they can handle the logistics of it or not.

But, remember, we're told that single-payer, Gov't administered health care wouldn't result in "backlogs" right?


Eeesh.

Weekend humor aside....

Saturday the wife and I stopped by the Little Bitty Burger Barn on Pinemont to sample their burgers and fries. My wife works in the area and had seen this place while driving home.

We were a little hesitant in regards to our timing due to the fact that Chron food & restaurant critic Allison Cook had paid homage to the Barn's french fries in a recent blog post. Nevertheless, it was Saturday, we were hungry, so we stopped pretty early.

Lucky us.

About five minutes after our arrival the place was packed. We're talking "line out the front door and down the steps" packed. For a restaurant that only seats around 15-20 the resulting carnage was going to be a sight to behold. Being of some foresight and with abundant casual dining experience, the wife and I moved to the patio to dine outside, away from the line of people and to provide us with a better view of the goings on in the queue.

Here's a sample of what we heard:

(From the sixty-something couple in the convertible) "I'm writing Allison Cook to complain."

(From the fifty-something couple in the F350) "I'm not waiting 45 minutes to eat."

(From the group of fourty-something ladies in multiple vehicles) "I can't believe they let the line get that long." Commenter #2:"Let's just go to McDonalds"

(From the 30 something man with multiple UT-Austin Longhorn stickers on his Explorer, and an "OU sucks" tattoo on his arm) "{expletive}. {on cell phone} "You ain't getting a burger from here (name redacted), {expletive} place is {expletive} packed!! {expletive} this!!!" -gets in car, revs engine.


*aside: Me (after he left speaking to my wife) "I'll bet you he was the third string long snapper for Coach Mackevich in College and those two years were "the best years of his life." (the next two minutes are drowned out in mine and my wife's laughing.)


(20 something man and women in a Camero) "I didn't think there'd be this many people here." "Screw it. Let's go to McDonalds" (I kid you not)


The food took a little while, but it was ultimately worth the wait. I had the bacon double cheeseburger and french fries and my wife had the 1/2 lb burger sans bun (remember: no gluten) and fries. The service was nice and the weather was absolutely beautiful. We plan to make a return, but after the newness of the Allison Cook blog post wears off.

Still, if you're not in a hurry and like to people watch, well.....

A stacked deck....

I'm not sure about you, but no way would I agree to this debate...

(from Clay Robison of the Chron)

It may be an exaggeration to say that the debate scheduled this week between Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Rick Noriega and Ray McMurrey will be a stacked deck.

But if McMurrey, a Corpus Christi schoolteacher and political rookie, feels a tingle between his shoulder blades, much like what a speeding motorist from the big city may feel while standing before a small-town judge, who can blame him?

The debate, set for 8:15 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Texas at Austin, may end up being an open exchange of views between political opponents. But preparations indicate Noriega will find himself in comfortable, friendly surroundings.

The debate organizer is Austin political activist Trey McAtee, whose McBlogger blog has endorsed Noriega and, in a posting several weeks ago, called McMurrey a "lousy candidate" and an "idiot."

(snip)

The event will be co-hosted by the University Democrats, who also have endorsed Noriega. The other host will be Keep Austin Blue, a Democratic group that hasn't endorsed anyone but has members with ties to organizations supporting Noriega.

The state representative from Houston is the overwhelming favorite to win his party's nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. He is highly popular among Democratic activists, most of whom are annoyed that McMurrey and two other minor candidates — Rhett Smith and Gene Kelly (the perennial candidate, not the deceased dancer) — even entered the race.

McAtee said the debate was his idea, and he insisted it will be "nothing but fair."

He said Democratic activists — including supporters of both candidates — were invited to submit questions in advance, although Noriega clearly has an edge in the Democratic blogosphere, which is where most of the questions will originate.

But the handful of questions that will be posed, McAtee said, will be selected by moderators Eileen Smith, blogger for Texas Monthly, and Karen Brooks, a Capitol reporter for The Dallas Morning News. McAtee said he won't be involved in question screening.

The article goes on to say that the debate (which many feel will be the start of Rick Noriega's netroots revolution) will NOT be televised. This means that we'll probably have to rely on the Democratic Blogosphere to provide us with a play by play.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that EVERY member of the Texas progressive blogger alliance is going to declare Noriega as the run away "winner" of a debate that will be seen by few. There will be no questions focusing on policy, but a lot of questions that allow Mr. Noriega to continue his attacks on Cornyn, while allowing him to dodge other issues (such as taxation, health care, etc.) that he has, to this point, refused to discuss. Maybe we'll get lucky enough to have a few name-callin' sessions against Mr. McMurrey thrown in for good measure.

I understand that debates like this are designed to appeal to the base, and that those of us in the middle of the spectrum politically aren't the designated recepticles for the message. It sure would be nice to get SOME policy questions answered before the primary however. I'm not holding my breath here.

One trend I'm noticing, in three of the races with the highest local profile (two County, one Statewide), there has been a paucity of issues related discussion coming from the Democratic candidates other than talk of "corruption" and bogeyman politics*. I know that some activists on the left have been frustrated by that and I don't blame them.

At the end of it all a majority of people are NOT going to pull the lever for Democrats because the Republicans have done a bad job. They're going to pull the lever if they think the Democrats will do a better job representing them. Polls consistently show that both parties have low public approval numbers from those outside of the lathered up political base.



*NOTE: In fairness, I should mention that Rick Noriega has finally updated his site with an issues page. That's a step that I criticized his site for lacking in the past.

"Trinket" Government

Harvey Rice of the Chron lets us know that Galveston is the latest community to get stung by the "trinket" bug and its going to cost residents (many of whom are already struggling) plenty...

An effort to transform a tract of wetlands on the east end of Galveston Island into a world-class ecotourism park is one of several projects expected to make the city more attractive to tourists.

Other projects include a skateboard park with a distinctive feature that is expected to attract skateboarders nationally, a new beachside gymnasium, a new tourism information center and a rebuilt city golf course.

Each plan came about for its own set of reasons rather than as part of a master plan, but together they may give Houstonians and others a new set of reasons to spend a weekend on the island.

(snip)

In addition, the city broke ground last month for an 11,000-square-foot skateboard park in Menard Park at 27th Street and Seawall Boulevard that is expected to open in April. The park will have a one-of-a-kind feature, known as a cradle, that will allow skateboarders to perform a loop in which they would be upside down for a moment, said Rhonda Gregg, project manager for an engineering company and a skateboarding enthusiast.

The cradle is similar in shape to a tennis ball sliced in half and one of the halves placed on its side, said Micah Shapiro, lead designer for Grindline, the Seattle company that is building the park.

Shapiro said Grindline, whose only business is building skateboard parks, designed the Galveston cradle with a distinctive V-shape that flares to the outside.

"There is nothing like it in the world," Shapiro said.

He predicted that Houston skateboarders, along with skateboarders from the region and the nation, would be drawn to the park because of its exclusive design. The beachside location should make it a draw for combination skateboard and surfing contests and demonstrations, Gregg said.

Gregg, who says she is "over 40," helped convince the city to find money to help finance the skateboard park. The city is paying about $285,000 toward the $350,000 cost and the remainder is being paid through donations.

(snip)

Meanwhile, beachgoers will have access to the new $3.6 million McGuire-Dent Recreation Center in Menard Park at 27th Street and Seawall Boulevard that is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The center will have a full-service basketball court, two racquetball courts, a fitness center, locker room, showers, game rooms and a computer room.

"It's an open area for anyone to come in," said Assistant City Manager Lloyd Rinderer. "We don't really ask for residency requirements."

Not that I have a problem with Galveston taking steps to increase their tourism revenue. When you consider that tourism is the number one driver of their economy its makes sense. But what you don't hear coming out of Galveston Government are noises regarding infrastructure improvement, drainage, traffic flow ideas (especially along 61st street and a host of other, quality of life issues, that need to be addressed first.

A skateboard park is nice, but how about spending some money developing a local trolley system that will move tourists (and residents) from place to place on the island. Moody Gardens could probably do a lot better spending $14 Million on efforts to clean up the neighborhoods leading into Galveston then by refurbishing a golf course that's under-utilized. How about some refuse-abatement projects, grants to poor Galveston residents to encourage them to clean up their neighborhoods?

As a long-time Houstonian, I have to admit to an attraction for Galveston. I love heading down there during the Summer, I love walking along the seawall, and I enjoy strolling along the Strand. I go down there and buy seafood from the docks, I eat seafood at Mom and Pop restaurants, I head over to Boliver and fish etc. Galveston is easy to get to, and relatively inexpensive.

It'd be even better if traffic wasn't so bad, if I could hop a trolley and get from the Strand to the Seawall, and if some of the neighborhoods didn't look like they had been turned inside out and upside down recently. I'd take all of those fixes before I'd even consider any of the things mentioned here.

Unfortunately, that's local Government these days. Houston started the trend by spending foolishly on a Wi-Fi network that never got off the ground, looking to spend Millions for land to house a soccer team that few will follow, spending Millions to complete a downtown park that few will use and by backing a transit plan that was designed to spur development rather than move people from residential areas to work centers. Considering that Houston sets the local example, is it any wonder other municipalities are following suit?

OK, but what will he DO?

In a story that reads more like a campaign press release than an actual candidate overview, the Chron's Alan Bernstein provides today's overview of Democratic candidate for Harris County Judge, David Mincberg...

David Mincberg considers immigration and economic development important issues for special reasons.

The Nazis killed many of his Jewish forebears in Poland in World War II. His mother was enslaved in a labor camp, he said. His parents met in a refugee center. They married in 1949 and immigrated to Houston.

Mincberg was born the following year and grew up hearing Polish, German and Yiddish at home as his father developed a construction company. After working in the firm, Mincberg founded Flagship Properties and sister companies that, at their peak about seven years ago, employed 750 people involved with hundreds of thousands of housing units in several states, he said.

The Bellaire resident and former local Democratic Party chairman sold most of his operations for financial advantage and more recently, he said, to campaign for Harris County judge after serving as Mayor Bill White's $1-a-year czar to improve public housing programs.

Now, Mincberg is in one of many political contests that have illegal immigration as a raging issue. But he approaches the topic only in brief as he campaigns for the March 4 Democratic nomination.

He said the partly taxpayer-funded Harris County Hospital District, which treats county residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status, "is doing what it ought to be doing by taking care of the least able among us."

He added, "I don't know of a broader perspective at this time that the county could bring to the immigration issue."

Instead, Mincberg's campaign pitch is that he can apply hefty experience in business and charity causes to the daily administration of county government and craft long-range plans for what he calls quality-of-life issues, such as mass transit and the environment.

"It's absolutely essential," he said, "that the leader of the county have a vision for where they want the county to be in 20 or 30 years."

He said Commissioners Court's reduction of the property tax rate by 1 cent for $100 of value obscured problems with the operations of the Harris County Appraisal District, which sets the taxable values of properties. He called the appraisal agency "totally out of touch" with the public.

All of that is great, and it provides the reader with a lot of sound bites and empty rhetoric, but what is it that Mincberg plans actually accomplish if elected to the position of Harris County Judge?

Unfortunately, there's not much out there on his website that tells us what his plans are, there's nothing in this story and, since he's only facing token opposition in the Democratic primary (his opponent, Ahmad Hassan ran as a Republican in 2006 in an unsuccessful bid for Congress against Democratic stalwart Sheila Jackson Lee) we really don't know how Mincberg plans to tackle some of the County's largest problems.

How does he plan to address the prison overcrowding issue? What about he problems brewing at the DA's office? Or the issues now facing the Sheriff's office? Does he support Adrian Garcia's (wrong-headed) plan to increase Deputy patrols within the City, at the expense of unincorporated County areas, to compensate for HPD's current leadership crises? What does Mincberg want to do with the Astrodome?

Articles like these are fluff pieces, full of personal information to make you "identify" with the candidate but which tell people precious little about what the candidate would do once in office. They are OK on a limited scope, but are disturbing considering the Chron's increased reliance on more "features" style, local reporting rather than 'hard news' and political coverage.

There's evidence that Mincberg will work to run the County much like Mayor White runs Houston. There's good in that AND some bad. Because Mayor White has made many political missteps along the way that have damaged Houston's ability to fund basic infrastructure. The County doesn't need a government that's going to be focused on frilly, "legacy-building" policy at the expense of the non-glamorous nuts and bolts of infrastructure maintenance. But the average voter doesn't know whether or not Mincberg considers infrastructure of any importance. All we know is that his company had some issues with the BBB that were a surprise to him.


Hardly the in-depth political journalism that this race deserves.

Name-calling as International diplomacy

This is what happens when you elect a petulant child to run your country...

(from the AP via the Chron)

President Hugo Chavez on Sunday threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States if Exxon Mobil Corp. wins court judgments to seize his government's assets.

"If you end up freezing (Venezuelan assets) and it harms us, we're going to harm you," Chavez said. "Do you know how? We aren't going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger."

Exxon Mobil has gone after the assets of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA in U.S., British and Dutch courts as it challenges the nationalization of a multibillion dollar oil project by Chavez's government.

A British court has issued an injunction "freezing" as much as $12 billion in assets.

"The outlaws of Exxon Mobil will never again rob us," Chavez said, saying the Irving, Texas-based oil major acts in concert with "the imperialist government of the United States" and is part of corporate "worldwide mafias."

So lets recap: Chavez gets elected and invalidates a number of legally enacted contracts. Then, when International courts are on the verge of declaring he acted in violation of International law...his defense is to call President Bush "Mr. Poopy Pants".


You stay classy Venezuela.

Earthlink to sell municipal wi-fi division

The end of City wide municipal wi-fi (for now)....

(from Alexis Grant of the Chron)

EarthLink Inc., the company hired by the city of Houston to build a wireless network, plans to sell its municipal WiFi business, effectively pulling the plug on its project here.

While city officials will not say they are abandoning hope of eventually having a citywide network, they are moving ahead with an alternative plan to build free WiFi hotspots in 10 low-income neighborhoods.

The hotspot project will be funded with the $5 million that EarthLink paid the city months ago as a penalty for missing its initial deadline to begin the buildout. That payment bought EarthLink nine months to decide how to proceed and allows the company to back out altogether without further penalty.

The first neighborhood to benefit from free WiFi will be Gulfton, just outside the West Loop and south of the Southwest Freeway. It could be completed as early as this spring, said Nicole Robinson, the city's digital inclusion project director.

The city has not decided which other neighborhoods may also get free WiFi, she said.

"(Gulfton) is really kind of our pilot," Robinson said. "That may impact (which) neighborhoods that we implement it in."

The original plan was rolled out with much fanfare, news coverage and live on-line chats by a then-enthusiastic Mayor White and his administration. As is typical, the death-throes of a campaign issue goes away with a whimper.

Mrs. White and the kiss of death

There are rumors circling among those who pay attention to Harris County Politics that an endorsement for political office by Mrs. White is somewhat akin to the kiss of death politically.

If that's the case, then Ed Emmett might be worried this morning...

Emmett, who currently holds this seat, was appointed last year to fill the unexpired county judge term of Robert Eckels, who left the position for the private sector. He faces a strong political challenge in former District Clerk Charles Bacarisse for the Republican nomination, but the Chronicle believes Emmett is the better candidate.

Emmett is a former four-term state representative (1979 to 1987) and was a George H.W. Bush appointee to the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission. In addition to his extensive government service, Emmett has strong private sector business experience in the transportation industry.

As an internationally recognized expert on transportation policy and issues, Emmett is well-qualified to deal with this region's thorny traffic congestion and mobility issues. He intends to continue working regionally to find solutions — both mass transit and road projects — to abet Houston's traffic woes. Also, the Chronicle believes that Emmett's support of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's plan to put light rail along Richmond Avenue is the correct stance on this controversial issue.

"That's where the people are, that's where the businesses are," Emmett told members of the Chronicle editorial board this week.

Emmett sees good judgment as one of his strongest suits, which will put county residents in good stead in any emergency scenario, from a natural disaster to a terrorist attack. And he touts the fact that under his administration, commissioners approved the largest tax-rate cut in Harris County history. He promises to make crafting a stronger county ethics policy a high priority of his tenure.

Having endeavored over the past year to earn a reputation as a consensus builder on Commissioner's Court, Emmett pledges to work hard to support his party while recognizing that the county judge must serve the diverse needs of this dense, urban/suburban and growing county.

Mrs. White also endorsed David Mincberg in the Democratic primary, although he is running against token opposition. Since Mincberg is a friend of her man I'm fulling expecting a full endorsement of Mincberg in the general. I also think it won't matter much, as most people will have already made up their minds by the time the general rolls around.

In the primary however there are some Republicans who vote against Mrs. White's recommendation on principle. There's also a strong-anti Metro contingent that's not going to like Emmett's support of Light Rail on Richmond.


All of which leads us to the real question: Would Mrs. White be happy to see a Bacarrise win so that Mincberg has a better path in the general?


Or is that giving her too much credit?

The beginning of the end of one of the Big Three?

Ominous news for Chysler today...

(From the AP via the Chron)

Chrysler plans to significantly reduce its product lineup and number of dealerships as the automaker rolls out a new corporate initiative, a Chrysler dealer in Houston said today.

The automaker has told dealers as it outlines its Project Genesis plan that it could cut its number of models by as much as half and reduce the number of dealerships selling its cars by as much as a third in an effort to boost efficiency, according to Alan Helfman, vice president of River Oaks Chrysler Jeep in Houston.

"I think they're trying to get a little leaner, a little more efficient," he said.

Chrysler spokeswoman Lori McTavish declined to comment, but the company said in a statement that it plans to align Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge product offerings under one roof.

"At this point, we have not made any final decisions regarding our dealer optimization or future product plans, nor has the company set any firm timelines," Jim Press, president and vice chairman, said in the statement.

There's a lot of debate regarding exactly why Detroit has suffered and sales have dropped. From excessive retirement cost burdens which cause prices to be inflated to lack of innovation and a failure to properly adapt to the market. What most forget is that, for the most part, the products just aren't as good as International competitors.

Look at Jeep. For years Jeep built husky 4x4's that had a reputation for being tough, rugged and durable. Today's Jeeps are shadows of their former selves with mor plastic than metal, car based and lacking the off-road muscle of their predecessors. Dodge trucks are gas guzzlers that place more focus on style than substance, and Chrysler's automobiles are no longer the symbol of quality that they once were.

If you went to the Houston Auto Show recently you saw a stark comparison between the high quality, low cost, practical Japanese autos, and the low quality, high cost, frilly domestic models.

Nevermind the fact that more and more "domestic" cars are being built in other countries, while Japan continues to build more and more plants Stateside.


The result of this could be that one of the former "big three" Detroit automakers is on its last legs.

Rich men, posh hotels, strippers

and a new crime wave in Dallas....

(from the AP via the Chron)

Well-dressed men at posh Dallas hotels and bars are being targeted by a ring of flirtatious women who may be drugging them before swiping their watches and other expensive items, police said.

One man was hurt after possibly being beaten with a high-heeled shoe, police said. Another lost his wallet while in his car with his pants around his ankles.

About a half-dozen men have reported falling victim to the scheme, Dallas police detective Mark Jenkins said. Many were business travelers, and Jenkins suspects there are others too embarrassed to file police reports.

"I don't know if so much it's that the men are being attracted to them, as that (the suspects) are more or less forcing themselves on the men," Jenkins said.

The stylish W hotel in downtown Dallas is among the places where the alleged thefts began. Authorities said the women knew what were looking for; several of the victims wore Rolex watches.

The women have histories as prostitutes, Jenkins said.

Anyone claiming we are not in recession need only read this story to realize that times are tough. If high dollar prostitutes are resorting to the date rape drug and violence then what's next?

A different view of Houston's Superstar Pastor

60 Minutes aired a special last night on Houston Superstar Pastor Joel Osteen casting doubt on the "Christian" content in Joel's message and ministry. It's a far sight from what Houstonians typically see from the media in Houston, and its already causing some extreme online reactions both good and not so good.

At heart with some is whether Mr. Osteen is a "life coach" or a "pastor", with many leaning now toward "life coach" who uses vaguely scriptural principles with most of the icky Christian principles stripped out for mass consumption. That its working goes without question. It's also making him a very wealthy man.

In light of the screwballs and nuts controversy surrounding Kelly Seigler and the DA's office it is important to remember that, whatever its faults, the message broadcast from the building formerly known as the Summit is decidedly mainstream.

Positive thoughts and life outlooks with a smattering of Scripture thrown in for good measure. Joel's mission is not to bring the world to Christ, but to tell them how to think happy thoughts and live in the now. It's more of the humanist school than it is Religious in nature, but its hardly "screwball" when compared to today's conventional wisdom.

After all is said and done I imagine that Mr. Osteen will continue to sell many books and broadcast many sermons. He doesn't seem to have the inclination to say anything controversial enough to put him on the outs with mainstream America.

Still, the 60 Minutes series was more honest and fair than most discussions regarding Mr. Osteen that you see in Houston. His devotees might not believe that, but its true.

The question that some will have to ask themselves is whether or not his message is too new-age, too self-help, too self-focused to really be considered "Christian"

Important race, narrow focus

There are a lot of important issues that need to be vetted in the race for Harris County District Attorney, so far, The Chron's coverage isn't hitting any of those...

(from Alan Bernstein of the Chron)

Republican candidates for Harris County district attorney clashed Wednesday about perceptions of racism and widespread injustice in the criminal courts, with prosecutor Kelly Siegler saying there was virtually no proof of either.

Also, candidate and defense lawyer Jim Leitner said he would suspend for three months the right of prosecutors to block potential jurors because of their backgrounds or beliefs.

And Siegler said that, at the risk of riling police officers, she would make their crime reports more accessible to defense attorneys before each trial.

Leitner and Siegler said the new procedures would make the local justice system more balanced and transparent as the prosecutor's agency suffers from an image crisis.

Former Judge Pat Lykos and police Capt. Doug Perry, the other contenders in the March 4 GOP primary, offered their own reform ideas as the candidates looked beyond the administration of outgoing District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal.

They spoke in a meeting with the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle. Democrat C.O. Bradford, the former Houston police chief, will face the Republican nominee in the November general election.

The rest of the article focuses on whether or not there is a systemic racism within the prosecutor's office. With the release of the Chuck Rosenthal e-mails its certainly a question that should be asked, but not to the exclusion of other issues currently facing the County.

1. What about the HPD crime lab? Many of the cases tried by these same prosecutors are going to rely, at least partially, on evidence processed by a crime lab that's increasingly looking like it pulls some results out of a hat. While the DA's office doesn't have control over the lab, they are certainly stakeholder's in its performance.

2. What can be done about Harris County jail overcrowding? Because the voters have made it very clear they don't want to spend bond money to build a new prison. With this in mind the new DA is going to have to take steps to reduce the burden on an overcrowded jail system. What that means is that how they choose to prosecute certain cases will be key.

3. What about the death penalty? Whether you are pro- or anti-death penalty there are certainly huge questions surrounding its application. There are observers who feel that Rosenthal was too aggressive in pursuing the statute.

4. What of C.O. Bradford? I realize that the Chron is viewing this as a "primary" story now and that they are focusing on the Republican candidates as much as possible, but they are performing a disservice to both the voters and all of the candidates by not asking Bradford his views on these issues. Not only does it place a larger microscope on the Republican candidates (giving Bradford time to fine tune his message in private) but it also keeps his name out of the public eye.


November 2008 is going to be on us before we know it. At this pace all we are going to really know about the DA candidates are how they feel about "Canadians" and that the Chron's resident red-head is attending conferences....

And I think I know some of what she might hear.

A couple weeks ago, I attended an informal support group of 10 current and former black Harris County prosecutors. As we sat around a shiny black table in the dining room of veteran defense attorney Vivian King's historic Third Ward home, I listened as the prosecutors talked about what it feels like to be black in the DA's office these days.

It's great that she's taking an interest, but Ms. Falkenberg's not on the ballot. Neither is her hair.

8-0-2

A tie is a tie is a tie...

(from Bernardo Fallas of the Chron)

Reliant Stadium management might want to play it safe and hire a couple of architects and engineers to make sure the imposing structure is structurally sound.

After the way the place rocked Wednesday night, there is bound to be a screw loose somewhere.

A sellout crowd of 70,103 watched as the men's national teams of Mexico and the United States played out the latest installment of what has become one of the best soccer rivalries this side of the globe.

Chant-screaming, drum-beating diehard American fans stood shoulder-to-shoulder with green-clad El Tri fanaticos sporting luchador masks to witness the 54th meeting of regional powers in a showdown that, as always, was anything but a friendly.

(snip)

The teams battled to a nail-biting, nerve-wracking 2-2 tie in which the Americans twice went ahead in the score only to see defender Jonny Magallon twice bring Mexico back to life with nearly identical goals that tasted of déjà vu.

(snip)

It wasn't the best soccer. The Americans looked imprecise at times, giving up both goals on set pieces. The Mexicans lacked a good finishing touch.

And there had to be controversy, which came late in the first half when a potential game-winning goal by Clint Dempsey was called back because of an offsides that preceded the play.

"I didn't see the play, but I was told the flag was up for a long time," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said.

(snip)

Reliant seemed to light up like the ball in New York's Times Square on New Year's Eve every time 18-year-old Mexican forward Giovani Dos Santos touched the ball. Dos Santos, who plays for Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona, came in as a second-half sub.

U.S. fans couldn't celebrate Josmer Altidore's goal to give the Americans a 2-1 edge into halftime on a textbook header from the penalty-kick spot. It was the 18-year-old MLS phenom's first international goal in three appearances.

OK, the first thing you need to understand is that Mr. Fallas is a dyed-in-the-wool fan of El Tri. He'll deny it, claiming that he's a fan of both the U.S. and Mexico (which is like being a fan of both the Longhorns and Sooners) but its just the truth.

With that being said the "offsides" call that took away Dempsey's goal was bogus. Repeated replays using the same "yellow line" technology that's used for the NFL proved as much. Not that this mean's the US would have won the game, because Mexico certainly could have scored again, but its just another in a series of dodgy calls by FIFA officials who don't seem to have the ability to call ANY game down the middle.

What the reporting missed was that the game was essentially a game of two halves. The first half, dominated by Mexico except for two goals by the US that went against the run of play, and the second half, dominated by tired legs and sloppy transitions which made it far less entertaining. It wasn't the "epic" matchup that the local soccer bloviators are making it out to be.

It was a spirited friendly that had flashes of brilliance braketed by sketchy defense and shaky passing.

In the end American and Mexican Soccer fans got a small taste of the future when Josmer Altidore, Freddy Edu and Giovani Dos Santos were all on the field at the same time.

Oh, and Team USA held onto their homecourt advantage against a Mexican team that desperately wanted a win. A tie is a tie is a win, for US Soccer.

A shopping lesson for HPD

Jeff McShan of KHOU highlighted the terrible conditions in the City's jail and at HPD headquarters yesterday and today he tells us how HPD is dealing with the problem...

Just a day after 11 News exposed the dilapidated conditions inside HPD’s central police station, the department said they’re working on improvements.

The station was full of stained ceilings with exposed wiring, leaking pipes, worn out chairs and old, outdated electronic equipment where investigators videotape suspect interviews.

“Yes, it’s an issue that is known to the department, and we have been taking steps to resolve the problems at the jail,” Assistant Chief Michael Dirden said.

Dirden said new digital video recorders have been purchased and should be installed by the end of the month.

He also provided a list of furniture the department ordered to upgrade the central station and the headquarters on Travis.

That includes two Park Avenue sofas for $8,528, one high-back chair for $1,443, and 37 other chairs for a total price of $26,650.

Wow. $8,528 for two Park Avenue sofas.

Let me say that again: Wow.


I think its safe to say that, unlike many of the citizens of Houston, the Houston Police Department isn't watching Design on a Dime to learn how to stretch a buck.

For those of you not counting that's $36,621 for 40 pieces of furniture, or almost $1,000 per item. I'm wondering if they could have done better.

For comparison purposes I went to IKEA.com to see if I could do just a little better.

Sofas: For my sofa's I chose IKEA's "TYLÖSAND design in the basic sand color. It's a nice neutral color with a contemporary design and wasn't the cheapest option available. (just to be fair)

Total Cost: $1,298

Total Savings over HPD: $7,230


High backed chair: I'm assuming that the "high back" chair that HPD purchased was of the leather variety and probably custom embossed with the HPD logo. While I can't match that I might recommend IKEA's KLÄPPE design for improved ergonomic performance. Let's face it, those old high back chairs are terrible for working, they don't provide lumbar support and, quite frankly, they're just too dang expensive. My chair comes in a variety of colors and would have saved the department a chunk of change.

Total Cost: $299.00

Total Savings over HPD: $1,144


Other chairs: I've got to admit I was torn on this item. There's not a lot of detail to see what type of chairs HPD purchased, whether they were work chairs or visitors chairs. I'm assuming that, since they purchased 37 of them they were either desk chairs or visitors chairs so I'm pricing both.

Visitors chairs: I went with a pretty basic option here, the chairs would be in black and silver and they're the normal sliding chairs that you see everywhere. I chose the ALEXANDER visitor's chair which appears sturdy and easy to maintain.

Total Cost: $1,849.63

Total Savings over HPD: $24,800.37

Office chairs: IF HPD purchsed 37 office chairs with their money then I would go with the KARSTEN work chair which has a mesh back and is height adjustable for better ergonomic support.

Total Cost: $2,959.63

Total Savings over HPD: $23,690.37


And, here's the final damage:

Total Cost (with the visitor's chairs): $3,446.63

Total Savings over HPD: $33,174.37


And with the office chairs:

Total Cost: $4,556.63

Total Savings over HPD: $32,064.37


Now granted, it could be that I'm totally wrong and HPD purchased very different furniture with the money. I'm not sure how a sofa could be different from a sofa, nor how spending over $8,000 for two sofa's when there are many different (and less expensive) options available on the market is justified. I also don't understand why chairs are so expensive for HPD.

I'm not suggesting that HPD value shop to the point that they bring in inferior products. The examples I used were for illustration purposes and I know that there are "approved" vendors that departments use and all of that. I also know that there are cheaper options available for office furniture.

All I'm saying is that Chief Hurtt should spend less time attacking the credibility of reporters on his blog, and more time looking at the spending habits of the department that he's running, a department that constantly informs us it doesn't have enough money to hire enough new officers to keep patrols at desired levels.


OTHER EYES:

BlogHouston: HPD gives reporters tour of dilapidated facility.

Mincberg makes an appearance

So far, we haven't heard much from Friend of Bill and presumed Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge David Mincberg as it pertains to what he might do if given the opportunity come election day. That all changed yesterday as Mincberg criticized current County Judge Ed Emmett for not pushing the Astrodome Redevelopment Company's plan for the Dome hard enough:

(from Bill Murphy of the Chron Local Politics blog)

County Judge Ed Emmett should use the "bully pulpit'' of his office to assist a company trying to turn the Astrodome into a convention hotel and should try to convince Texans and rodeo officials to welcome a new neighbor, said David Mincberg, Democrat candidate for county judge.

Mincberg chided Emmett for not taking on a leadership role and aiding Astrodome Redevelopment Co.'s attempt to gain financing for the $450-million project.

"A responsibility of the county judge is to occupy the bully pulpit,'' Mincberg said. "This is an instance where it is necessary to bring the Texans and the rodeo to the table. That is part of leadership.''

The Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have opposed the 1,300-room hotel, saying it would hurt their operations and siphon off revenue. Emmett said Astrodome Redevelopment has failed to meet a milestone and gain financing for the 1,300-room hotel. It's not his job, he said, to help Astrodome Redevelopment secure financing.

"I'm not going to do their work for them,'' Emmett said. "Either come forward with a plan or don't. Frankly, I'm tired of responding to them. As I said, I get real worried when things start dragging along.''

Emmett appeared to be using the bully pulpit of his office to hurt Astrodome Redevelopment's proposal when he made a rare appearance for a Commissioners Court member before the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp.'s board last month.

On his urging, the board denied Astrodome Redevelopment's request for a 90-day extension of its letter-of-intent pact, which gave it the exclusive right to find a second life for the Dome.

Emmett said Astrodome Redevelopment hasn't secured financing and has no true proposal before the county.

I'm guessing that the ARC approached Mincberg with the specifics of the plan to a point that he's ready to sign off on it and to declare that he'll make converting the aging husk of a stadium to a hotel in convention center if elected?

That being said, it would seem to me that it's the job of the ARC to convince the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show and Bob McNair that the project will be of benefit to them. One would imagine, had they done a good enough job of persuading them, that they could have signed them up as development partners in this whole affair.

Either way it seems that the former "Eigth wonder of the World" is going to be pivotal in determining who will be the next Harris County Judge.


OTHER EYES:

Houston's Clear Thinkers: Pro-Dome or Anti-Emmett?

Super Tuesday: A horserace on one side, wailing and gnashing of teeth on the other.

Regardless of what happens today, Super (duper, tsunami with a cherry on top) Tuesday, in terms of boring things like electoral delegates and vote tallies, two main themes are already emerging.

Republicans: Anyone but McCain.

The Professors predict that it will happen but there are signs the movement has already reached a crescendo ahead of any actual votes being cast.

So, for now, questions regarding the relative strength of the "right" wing of the Republican party remain on hold. Was this election just an anomoly where no good candidates were out there and they took a pass? Or have they done all they can only to have the political pendulum move the other way?


Democrats: A horserace to the end?

In contrast to the Republicans, most Democrats don't seem to have deep misgivings in regards to their remaining two finalists. Sure there are some disagreements regarding who is the better candidate, there doesn't seem to be the level of animosity toward one finalist among the Dems that the Repubs are working through. The means the likelihood of a more united Democratic Party come election day in November should have Republicans using that clinical strength anti-perspirant as they have to start wondering just how "safe" those pink districts are likely to be.


I said it before today's balloting and I'll say it again: THIS is the first day that matters in the Presidential election. All of the other votes just served to weed out the candidates that didn't have the staying power or a refined enough message to win the office before the serious selecting process could begin. I'd still like to see all of it done on one day (an actual National Primary) to avoid giving States that are not representative of the rest of the Union undue influence over the process, but you take what you get in a Republic, a form of Government that's messier than a dictatorship, and a heck of a lot more fun to observe.



One thing's almost a certainty: Texas will be in play for at least on party on March 4th.

Oh that wacky Mrs. White!!!

In case you missed it, today is super (duper, tsunami with a cherry on top) Tuesday.

I bring this up because it seems that Mrs. White has forgotten this fact. On arguably the most important electoral day in the 2008 Presidential election cycle the editorial board of the newspaper of record in the nations fourth largest city chooses to opine on an equal pay issue that's been on the back burner since last June and wolf slaughter in Wyoming.

Maybe its just me, and maybe I'm naive when it comes to the nuances regarding the intelligence, wit and insight that's required to maintain the editorial page of major daily. As a humble blogger with a small readership I'm willing to cede that point. I'd make a terrible Mrs. White. I'd have never thought to juxtapose wolves with the Presidential election for example.

I would have editorialized about the process that got us to this front loaded mess and offered up suggestions how to fix it in the future.


Silly, short-sighted me.

Texas votes on Super Tuesday

Sorta...

(from Terri Langford of the Chron)

Texans can't wait to give the Texas license plate an extreme makeover.

On Monday at noon, the Texas Department of Transportation opened online voting for the new 2009 license plate.

So many people hit the agency's site in the first 30 minutes, it crashed, according to Kim Sue Lia Perkes, spokeswoman for TxDOT's Vehicles, Title and Registration division.

"We're really excited people want to vote. It tells us we've done the right thing to put it out there," Perkes said. "However, not all of the more than 20 million registered Texans can vote at once. So we've had a few glitches, people have slowed down the system."

By 6:45 p.m., more than 75,000 people cast votes for their favorite new plate design.

The good news is that Texans have a whole week to visit TxDOT and vote for one of five designs, including the current plate.

"You can vote until next Monday," Perkes said.

Here's the Chron's rundown of the four "new" options:

• New Texas: This red, white and blue design features a composite of Texas urban skylines at the bottom, and the word "Texas" in black at the top. Sharp-eyed Houston Chronicle readers pointed out that the online image of this plate omitted the Houston skyline. TxDOT officials quickly posted a corrected version, with Houston's skyline intact by late afternoon. Perkes explained the agency accidentally posted an earlier version of the plate design before the Houston skyline was added.

• Traditional Texas. This plate features blue highlights and a stark, white background with a gold Lone Star at the bottom and a bold, red "TEXAS" at the top.

• Lone Star Texas. A white Lone Star stands out in the top, left-hand corner of the plate against a large Texas sky along the top of the plate. A low-lying mountain range is pictured across the bottom of the plate.

• Natural Texas. The plate is covered with a picture of wildflowers.

For the purposes of the vote, TxDOT named the current design "My Texas" and Texans can certainly vote for that one if it is their favorite.

I voted for Lone Star Texas. It's got around a 2-1 lead at this point so if you don't like it you should go to the website and vote. Don't let this important matter pass you by.


Aside: Anyone wonder why Houston was ommitted from the original "New Texas" design?

My theory is that Austin, Dallas and San Antonio are done with our overly self-concious butts and just kind of want our whining and constant griping about "world class" to go away. Either that or they're punishing us for Dan Patrick and KSEV...

Other eyes:

Lone Star Times: Don't skip the box.
Off the Kuff: TXDOT gives Texans a say in new license plate design.

Saturday Brunch

The Egg and I, Hwy 249 @ Louetta. (there's a second location in "the" Woodlands.)

Stopped by on Saturday to the Houston version of a very popular Colorado-based breakfast and lunch eatery for a little brunch before grocery shopping for the "Big football game that cannot be named (for fear of a lawsuit) and was pleasently surprised. Decidedly more upscale in feel than Denny's or IHOP (the ambiance was French Country with chamber music playing low in the background) the food was several steps up from the the typical breakfast fare as well.

Case in point: Crabcakes benedict...


Yes, the crabcakes were pre-made and the hollandaise sauce probably came from a mix, but despite all that the dish wasn't bad. This is probably due to the fact that it didn't try to do too much. It wasn't trying to be the best crabcakes benedict that I've ever tasted, it was just striving to be a workable version. Hollandaise sauce, when done correctly, is a good balance of flavors with just enough citrus to cut through the heavy flavors. Bad hollandaise sauce tastes like a lemon curd whose soul has been sucked out by a heavy handed chef. This hollandaise sauce was too bland to be classified as "really good" but it wasn't overpowered by lemony sickness either. It also wasn't broken, and overly oily, another bad characteristic that can pop its head up from time to time. The poached eggs were cooked to the point where cutting into them meant that you got a mess of runny yoke that melded with the sauce and the crabcake and tomato.

The best crabcakes benedict I've ever had was at a small diner in New Orlean's French Quarter called Oscar's which is sadly no longer in business. The best version I've had in Houston is at J's Bistro on the Northwest side. This was nowhere close to either of those, but it was a bargain at around $8 when paired with the excellent "fried" potatoes and an english muffin to scoop up all of the sauce and excess egg yolk.

Egg White omelette with spinach and mushrooms:


Those of you on a diet need not fear that you'll be left out. My wife ordered the egg white omelette and was very impressed. The spinach and mushrooms were fresh and tasty, the cheese was fairly sharp for a chain-type omelette and the fresh fruit presneted as a side was just that. Since my wife has the gluten intolerance she ordered her dish sans the bread choice that's offered with every omelette entree (english muffin, toast etc.). One important omelette item: The eggs were not overcooked. If you've ever eaten an overcooked omelette at a breakfast restaurant you know what I mean.

Overall I was impressed with the Egg and I and hope to return soon to try other things on the menu. The place is a nice, casual option for breakfast in a Houston landscape that's sadly lacking said options. I like breakfast tacos probably more than the next guy, but sometimes I want something different. Besides, who can be upset at an establishment that offers Arnold Palmers as a drink option?

From the Houston Auto Show

Audi R8 - Robb Report's Car of the Year.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

I'm not sure why local leaders are all worked up over turning the Astrodome into a Convention Center and hotel but they are.

(from Bill Murphy of the Chron)

A majority of Commissioners Court says Harris County should continue to explore turning the Reliant Astrodome into a convention hotel, despite County Judge Ed Emmett's doubts about whether project developers can obtain financing.

Commissioners El Franco Lee, Sylvia Garcia and Jerry Eversole said they are awaiting reports from county financial analysts and the county attorney's office on the proposed 1,300-room hotel.

Lee said he does not want the county to walk away too quickly from a project that could create as many as 1,500 jobs, create more convention business for Reliant Center and generate tax revenue.

"If you are going to be in the convention business, you have to have a large hotel to accommodate these people," he said. "Anytime you can stimulate your local economy with job creation is a plus. Hotel taxes and retail taxes help relieve the overall tax burden."

At Emmett's urging, the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. voted last month not to extend Astrodome Redevelopment Co.'s letter of intent by 90 days. The letter of intent granted the company exclusive rights to negotiate a deal to find a second life for the Dome.

Commissioner Garcia said the judge was not speaking for the court and had not informed other members that he would try to influence the sports corporation's decision.

"I felt totally blindsided by that," she said.

Or, maybe I DO know why certain County Commissioners are raising a stink....


Maybe they're just following the long-help County politics tradition of power politics?


Under the "facts are messy details" catagory it should be noted that Ed Emmett is not advocating "walking away" from the proposed deal. All they did was end the exclusivity clause that the Astrodome Redevelopment Company was given allowing them to entertain a host of other options instead of being tunnelled into a single option that seems to be constructed on dodgy financial projections.


Hmm.....open bidding and competative plans. Nope, that kind of stuff never goes over well in Harris County Gov't.

That local touch

I don't know about you, but the furthest thing from my mind right now is how New Jersey's Latino voters feel about Hillary Clinton...

(from Katherine Schmidt of the Chron D.C. Bureau)

Along French Street, a heavily Hispanic enclave near Rutgers University, the mention of Barack Obama's name brings blank stares from most people. But Hillary Rodham Clinton's name evokes broad smiles and unwavering enthusiasm from most Spanish-speaking residents of this central New Jersey city.

"I think she'll win and she'll give Hispanics a lot of help," said Jose Manuel, who was washing the windows of a jewelry store.

Trinidad Galvez, who works in a shop that sells first-communion dresses and other gifts, said the New York senator would defend the rights of immigrants and Hispanics.

Julian Fernando, 48, remembered Bill Clinton's presidency well. "Her husband sympathized with the middle and lower classes," he said in the small grocery store where he works, which is packed with Goya canned goods and brightly colored sodas. "He helped the lower classes out a lot."

Nothing against the Hispanic population in New Jersey mind you, but doesn't that lede strike you as random from a D.C. Bureau that's ostensibly reporting on National politics from a Houston perspective? After all, Jeff Cohen has let us know, in no uncertain terms, that the daily is named The Houston Chronicle right? Or maybe a name change to the Hoboken Chronicle is in the works?

I realize the Giants won the "Football game that cannot be named (for fear of a lawsuit)" but c'mon. A study of New Jersey from all of the possible Super Tuesday States as one that could peak local interest seems a bit random.

Your weekend 80's flashback

Front 242 - Welcome to Paradise live.

Immigration training.

Sometimes you read a story and you think "Those who are already fans of the guy are going to like this and those that don't like him won't like this at all."

Exhibit A.

(from James Pinkerton of the Chron)

While a growing number of police agencies across the country have received federal training to enforce immigration laws, Houston's police chief maintained a strong stance Thursday against joining this trend.

At least 28 state, county and local law enforcement departments have taken training to make immigration arrests and process illegal immigrants for deportation. More than 70 others are on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement waiting list for training.

But Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt made it clear Thursday that his department won't be taking on ICE duties any time soon. Hurtt said enforcing immigration law in Houston would tie up officers and add long delays to police response times.

"Local police don't want to be immigration officers, they want to be able to enforce (local) laws," Hurtt told a state legislative committee.

Hurtt was the lead-off witness in a Thursday morning hearing by the Texas Border Security Task Force that focused on terrorism, illegal immigration and port and border security.

The chief told the task force, chaired by Houston state Rep. Rick Noriega, that Houston is not a sanctuary city, and he cited cooperative agreements the department has with ICE and the Justice Department. ICE agents are allowed into county and city jail facilities to question non-citizens who are arrested.

As he left the hearing, Hurtt said police don't know the actual number of illegal immigrants in Houston or the Harris County area but said estimates range from 250,000 to 500,000.

"That's a major city in itself," Hurtt said. "If we had to enforce immigration laws the response time to emergency calls — which now we have around five-minute response time — could possibly go, with our present resources, go to 30 or 45 minutes. And I don't think that's acceptable to citizens of Houston." He added that the longer response time would put people at risk.

(snip)

The ICE training program is known as 287 (g) for the section of a 1996 immigration law that created it. The program has trained state police in Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, and sheriff's departments in California's Los Angeles and Orange counties and in Maricopa County, Ariz., which is similar in size to Harris County.

The number of law enforcement departments receiving the ICE training in 2007 was a fivefold increase over the previous year. Hurtt, however, said Houston can't spare the time for officers to receive the five-week training.

"If you're going to train all your officers that means they're going to be off the streets for a certain period of time for training," he said after the hearing. "Again, that's an additional burden on the city, as well as the citizens. We just think it's a federal responsibility, and we're asking them to step up to the plate."

(snip)

Meanwhile, a top Harris County law official expressed a similar view of the pitfalls of immigration enforcement.

Major Juan Jorge of the Harris County Sheriff's Office, who spoke before the task force Thursday, said afterward that local immigration enforcement could "darn near cripple" his department.

"It probably could lessen your response time by 10, 15, or 20 percent," Jorge said.

He questioned how deputies could enforce immigration without racial profiling.

"I don't think we have the time to do that. Any arrest is very time-consuming, especially when we have a limited amount of people on patrol," he said. "Anytime you do something like that, it takes people off the street and that keeps you from answering calls."

Jorge asked how officers would determine who to question about their citizenship.

Reaction against is Is already starting to bubble up to the surface while reaction for is already there. The point is that those opposed aren't fans of Hurtt already, while those in support of this policy are on record as being in support of Police Chief Hurtt and his policies.

Here's what you don't want to see: You don't want to see HPD trying to do the job of Immigration and Customs Enfocement. Not only is HPD not equipped to do that, but because of a string of ineffective leaders and poor decision-making by the City's executive team there aren't enough officers employed to fully satisfy basic coverage needs.

Here's what you do want to see: If an illegal alien commits a "local" crime, then you want to see their status checked and deportation processes started as soon as they've paid their debt to society.

I'm not talking about "selective law enforcement" as some would term it, nor am I suggesting a crack down on an individual because "they lack a piece of paper". What I'm suggesting is that there are compelling reasons to ensure that Mexican citizens who are here illegally and are committing other crimes are not allowed to stay on American soil.

What the immigration debate has been missing of late is any semblance of reason. On the one side you have the "deport them all" group who thinks that rounding up 12-14 Million people is something that can be done in black and white terms with no shades of gray. On the other side you have the "Atzlan" crowd who has no respect for American rule of law and views large swaths of the Southwestern United States as being the rightful property of Mexico. (hint: look up the historical right of conquest and the UN doctrine of "territorial integrity" before falling for that line of bull) Both of these groups advocate viewpoints at the opposite end of the spectrum.

How about "pay a fine and get in line"? That's the most reasonable compromise and its fair to people who are here doing laundry, building structures and cooking food. And no, they don't need to get on a "pathway to citizenship" provided they are willing to register with the system and pay taxes just like the rest of us. If they choose to remain proud Mexican citizens then fine. The other part of the solution involves getting Mexico to clean up their corrupt business and political system and start running the Country in a manner that's beneficial to a large part of the population. Part B is definitely more difficult than Part A, but the Mexicans are pretty smart people, I'm sure they could figure it out if they had to.

Your new district rivals are...

Every two years the University Interscholastic League, in all of their wisdom, decides that what State High Schools really need is a big, hearty jolt of realignment to make everyone feel all warm and fuzzy.

(from Jenny Dial of the Chron)

Coaches representing area high schools in the University Interscholastic League will crowd into a room at the Region IV Center this morning.

At the front of the room — and in rooms like it across the state — sit several overstuffed cardboard boxes — the type of boxes one might find loaded into a moving van. And while the boxes aren't filled with household belongings, they provide a sure sign that a move is in store.

At 9 a.m. today, the UIL will unveil its biennial realignment, opening those boxes to reveal the new district lists for the 2008-10 school years. The announcement will be televised live on Fox Sports Southwest.

"It's nuts in that room," Terry coach Tim Teykl said. "And when the districts are released, things get really crazy."

For most schools, it simply will be a matter of confirming the status quo.

Some schools, like Dickinson and Westbury, have seen such dramatic shifts in enrollment that a change in classification could be in order for their athletic teams.

Then there's Strake Jesuit, which figures to continue its nomadic ways since joining the UIL five years ago.

Strake Jesuit, one of two private schools in the state competing in the UIL, is expected to move into its third district. The Crusaders' sports teams currently compete with the Cy-Fair schools in District 17-5A. But new Cy-Fair ISD school Cypress Woods joins the UIL in all sports next school year.

I was hoping to get an article about the politics and inner workings of the realignment system which, over the years, have been legend. I and many others remember the controversies involving some of the traditional Dallas powerhouse high schools who were able to stay in districts tenuously drawn to ensure they had a steady feast of cupcakes on which to mature into the playoffs. One sticking point that the UIL suffers through every year is what to do with the teams from West Texas. Neutral observers argue that there is at least one school which is being retained in 5A despite not coming near the attendance threshold for inclusion. It's always a mess that generates a lot of discussion among High School fans statewide.

With that in mind it was a little dissapointing to see that the entire article focused on the trials of Strake Jesuit ignoring, for the most part, some of the struggles that other schools are going to experience due to the biennial shift in districts.

Of much interest on the West side of town is what will happen to Katy - Seven Lakes High School which is right on the cusp of moving up to 5A, which could put them in a much more local district.