Smoke if you got 'em....

Dollars that is...

[Richard Connelly, Hair Balls @ Houston Press]

Two years ago, Houston City Council approved a smoking ban for local bars. This week, it was announced that the city had spent $12,000 to measure the impact of the ban.

Their conclusion? It had no impact on bar sales whatsoever.

"It's reassuring that we did the right thing. We protected workers who often don't have a say in where they can work," Mayor Bill White told KHOU.

(snip)

Many local bars have accommodated nicotine fiends by building outdoor decks. At Warren's, Wenglar is not sure if she is allowed to build one. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission told her she could, the City of Houston told her she could not. Even if she is allowed to build one, she would have to buy a sidewalk café permit for $1400 a year. (She says she has sidewalk seating at La Carafe because she had bought her permit there long ago, when the permit was much cheaper.)

Remember: Even when something seems, on the surface, to be related to public health there's always a way that a politician at some level will find a way to make money off of the law. (For the Government that is)

Here's the link to the original KHOU story the press is referencing. I sure would like to see that study, who conducted it, and what methodology they used.

Rapid Eye Movement (02/27/09)

The "give me all your money" edition...

Cash Strapped Lawmakers consider "skin tax". [Curt Woodward, AP via Chron.com] - Moneyshot(pun intended) quote: "Why do they do it? Because they can". Yup.

Violence between Repo Men, car owners on the rise. [Jay Reeves, AP via Chron.com] - Why not, groups like ACORN are telling us that personal responsibility is an antiquated concept after all...

Shuttle program, Engery will take a hit in new budget. [Richard S. Dunham & Jennifer Dlouhy, Chron.com] - Tough days ahead for Houston. Oil and gas companies knew it was going to be bad, we were hoping it wouldn't be this bad. The budget is fairly close to what was projected in 'worst case' planning scenarios.

Government to take increased stake in Citigroup. [Stephen Bernard, AP via Chron.com] - 40%, but don't call it Nationalization mmmkay?

Panel: Raise Gas Tax, Charge Drivers by the Mile. [Joan Lowy, AP via Yahoo! News] - Two terrible ideas: tax increases during a depression and the Government putting tracking devices in our vehicles. Hope/Change?

The Obama Revolution [WSJ] - The largest expansion of Government, the largest expansion of the Federal Deficeit, ever.

An Inconvenient Tax. [WSJ] - Carbon 'offsets' are going to strangle the economy in new, creative ways. Think there's enought 'new energy economy' jobs out there to compensate? Nah, I don't either.

Britain's Economy will Pull Through. [Peter Mandelson, WSJ] - I'm glad someone's will.

Obama: The CliffsNotes. [Kimberley Strassel, WSJ] - What Obama's really saying.

Do Americans want a new era of big Government?[Chuck Raasch, USA Today] - Some do. Those that believe a bigger government will mean less work for them. A majority? Time will tell.

Fast Break Obama. [Howard Fineman, Newsweek]

Obama's claim to be centrist, pragmatic, looks false. [Clive Crook, Financial Times]

Obama Proposes a European U.S. [Charles Krauthammer, RCP] - For years the U.S. has outpaced the Europeans...just sayin.

This budget looks very, very good. [Paul Krugman, NYT] - You expected the Dems' economic water carrier to say anything different? When this fails (and, due to the deficiets alone, it probably will) will they revoke his Nobel Prize?

A Bold Plan sweeps away Reagan Ideas. [David Leonhartdt, NYT] - Those ideas have been dormant for quite some time. It should be remembered though that they kicked off a long run of prosperity, that fact is undeniable. (OK, some can deny it, but they'd be wrong)

European Airline mulls charging fee for using bathroom. [Steve Rothwell, Bloomberg via Chron.com] - This is where I draw the line. Right here, no further.

Obama administration drink of choice Coke, not Pepsi. [Michael Scherer, Time via Yahoo!] - Crap! After all those boycott calls for Pepsi from the far Right because of the logo now we find out Obama's drinking Coca-cola. Are we supposed to boycott that now too? You'll have to grab my Dr. Pepper from my dead, cold hand.

A Nugget of Truth All too Often Ignored....

Mayor White, Judge Kent and Public Service Journalism. [James Newkirk, About.Chron]:

Two front page stories this week exemplify the value of skilled reporters providing readers with stories vital to our community.

City hall reporter Carolyn Feibel was the first to report Houston Mayor Bill White's proposal to spend taxpayer dollars to pay debts of potential first-time homebuyers to help boost their credit scores.

(snip)

On Monday, Kent pled guilty to felony obstruction of justice charges for lying to federal judges who in 2007 were secretly investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against him. It was the first time in more than a decade that a federal judge had pled guilty to a felony - and the first time in U.S. history that a federal judge had been charged with a sex crime. But Kent might never have been criminally investigated at all if it weren't for earlier work by the Chronicle.

(snip)

Even in a severely challenging business environment for big-city dailies, including the Houston Chronicle, public service journalism is still essential to a community, whether it's in print or online.
*Emphasis Mine*

There's a nugget of wisdom in the bolded text that's all too often ignored by the editors at the Chron. Unfortunately good, solid "public interest" stories are often few and far between in the pages of the Chronicle where features style fluff (often from sources outside of Houston) are given prominence over hard-nosed reporting all too often.

I would argue that "public service" reporting should be the main function of any local news-gathering organization, not just an important piece as its described here. Many large political organizations in the Houston region, who spend Millions of tax dollars (although, granted, a Million ain't what it used to be) go for months without receiving any media scrutiny whatsoever. The reason given is resources or, more specifically, a lack of them during a time when newspapers are struggling. That explenation is only half right.

Resources are the problem, but its a matter of resource allocation rather than a lack per se. More and more, the Chron's resources are being deployed in areas that don't lend themselves to public service reporting.

Finally, in today's moment of unintentional Irony....

This is the same reader's representative speaking of 'public service' who doesn't have a stellar track record in providing the same.

Missing a Skeptical Media.

Bias, in media, very rarely breaks down along Party lines. The truth is most reporters would give their eye's teeth to break a negative (true) story on major political figures from either party without prejudice.

When bias does appear it typically shows up in varying degrees of skepticism.

Take, Eric Berger, science reporter for the Houston Chronicle...

The media underplays climate change...

So says a British communications professor:

(snip)

new dire warnings of climate change are not news. That ground has already been mined by Jim Hansen, Al Gore, Kevin Trenberth, Jim Lovelock and others who have described the planet in high peril. When you've already said the world is doomed, it's hard to trump that.

In other words, it is no longer "news" that the planet is in serious jeopardy because of climate change, especially when that information comes from computer models.

It is very difficult for me to envision the science of climate change rising back up the media agenda unless something really dramatic happens, like the Arctic sea ice disappearing altogether this summer; or definitive evidence that Antarctica is rapidly melting.

Or some new evidence suggesting that human activity isn't responsible for the change in climate? How about skepticism regarding the programming of the computer models, anything there?

The reason you don't see these questions asked is because Berger believes that Global climate change is caused primarily by human activity. Because of this he's incapable, or unwilling, to report or suggest anything different. This is not to accuse him of not telling, or reporting, the truth, but to suggest that he's guilty of that most human of traits: selective bias.

And before you get all haughty about "the bias of the MSM" consider this: We all have our biases, no matter how much we like to deny it. (Yes, including me)

All that being said, it's long been said that the key to a healthy democracy is a free and unfettered media. On the flip-side the public is owed a healthy level of skepticism from journalists in return for giving them their trust. Part of the reason the media is facing rough times is due to the fact that the public feels the media has given up that skepticism in lieu of boosterism for pet causes, such reporting is neither beneficial nor informative.

Today's media and (to be quite honest) today's hobby bloggers could stand to approach issues with a much larger dose of skepticism. By 'hobby bloggers' it's important to note that I'm exempting those that are hyper-partisan, those bloggers are not 'news' sources, in the traditional sense, but are closer to propaganda house-organs for their respective parties.

If the media wants to make a comeback, and bloggers don't want to lose their influence, they'd all do well to recapture that skeptical nature that's been lost.

It's Official: Irony is dead

(image courtesy of Dave Rossman of the Chron.)


I wonder if anyone at this party had enough neurons firing to draw the parallels?

It's obvious that for Marie dressed-alike Carolyn Farb and Chron Writer (and sometimes funeral crasher) Shelby Hodge the answer is no.

What is it we're about to lose again? Surely they're not talking about dreck like this?

The Chron.commons Reader Reply of the Day....

Continuing on our fun-filled journey into the minds of the everyday Houstonian.

Today's Entrant: DewardBoles responding to a post by Something Different regarding the "Losers" in the Mortgage mess....

First, from the post:

So before Mr. Santelli and others label all those facing foreclosure as "losers" who bought too much house, or took out an ARM instead of a fixed-rate mortgage, maybe they should take a minute or two to find out just who it is they are painting with their broad brush.

And now...the comment:

Very easy to fall into the trap of finding a scapegoat.

A careful evaluation of the facts to form a rational conclusion are quite another matter.

The facts are this is a confidence crisis brought on by poor management of our financial system.

If you want to blame somebody blame Bernanke and Greenspan. Their policies are at the root of the systemic failure we are witnessing.

Yes, it's very easy to fall into the trap of finding scapegoats. Very easy indeed.

Peter "Plan" Wants to be YOUR Mayor.

Well, sort of...If "your" means a small group of developers and 20-somethings with no children who are proponents of "new urban" living....

[Alan Bernstein, Chron.com]

Brown, an architect and urban planner, on Thursday plans to serve rhetoric and lunch to supporters at the Houston Garden Center in Hermann Park, which he helped re-design and from which can be heard the Main Street Corridor light rail line he championed.

Brown, an advocate of “smart growth,” bemoans a Houston essence: “Sterile, cookie-cutter homogenous subdivisions which dominate the sprawled margins of our cities, lack the basic elements and character essential to healthy community life.”

The criticism hits parts of Houston where many voters live.

(snip)

Brown said the city needs to do more to prevent crimes and to catch up with other cities with environmental programs, such as recycling.

He proposes to create an economic development team for the city that competes with suburban cities for business development. The city should work with Metro and developers to buy land for planned urban growth and parking around light rail stations, he said.

“We need to be city with a vision and a city that plans for its future,” he added. “There’s no invisible hand out there that’s going to guarantee the continued success of Houston.”

Some politicians wish to govern, Peter Brown wants to change the way you live your life and he makes no bones about it. He's also proposing that Houston become significantly more hostile in terms of pushing for development within the City limits. Where, previously, Houston seemed to be a regional partner, under Brown's proposal Houston would seek to be a Regional power player, leeching jobs from the surrounding communities to drive more people into 'mixed-use' developments (You know, the kind that hasn't seen much success in Houston as of yet) inside the City Limits. This would be a relatively new posture for Houston, and one that would take some initial getting-used-to by residents.

For his part Brown is very open about his goals for Houston. If he were elected people couldn't legitimately feign ignorance when he started planning to plan to plan to plan to develop plans to plan to make the changes he's championing.

Oh, and did I mention plans? Brown's answer to every issues is to plan to create plans. He loves planning. After four years of a 2nd Brown administration Houston might not have much to show for it, but it could have some of the best plans in the Country. Again, he makes no secret that he's a planner.

Living (for now) in unincorporated Harris County just a stone's throw from the Houston City Limits I don't have a vote in the Mayor's race. Despite the fact that I'm in an ETJ which is, in all practicality, controlled by the City. Because of this who's elected is of great interest to me.

My early choice for Mayor, my thinly-veiled misogyny not-withstanding, is Annise Parker. Yes, she's been flawed as a "watchdog" City Controller but I believe she has good management skills and is more level-headed than the other candidates in the race. The early front-runner in the race has to be Gene Locke who, despite not even developing a campaign website as of yet, reportedly has the backing of former Mayor (and Houston political king-maker) Bob Lanier.

The way I see it is that Brown and Parker will be battling it out to see who faces off with Locke in the run-off. At that point the eventual winner will seek to consolidate the other's base and eek out a win against Locke, who has the largest natural voter base. Morales, for his part, is going to try and parlay strong support from the West Side of Houston into a run-off where he hopes to garner enough support from those groups not happy with the long-time power structure to carry him to victory. Stranger things have happened in Houston, but I don't think this will be the case.

Does Peter Plan have a chance? You bet. He's carrying a lot of negative baggage into this race because of his developer-friendly vision, but he's going to be well-funded and will have the support of Northeastern Progressives who grew up in cities that were heavily zoned and are unhappy that Houston is not.

Pit Bulls: Here we go again...

Lawmakers go after the animals. [David Saleh Rauf, Chron.com]

Cockfighting crackdowns. Pet protective orders. Hog hunts from helicopters.

More than two-dozen animal-related bills have been filed this session. Among the lengthy list are tougher laws for participating — or watching — cockfighting, efforts to include pets in familial protective orders, and a bill allowing sportsmen to hunt feral hogs from a helicopter.

Not to mention pit bull proposals.

State Rep. Harold Dutton, a Houston Democrat, has filed legislation that would make it a crime for Texans younger than 16 to “handle or care” for a pit bull without adult supervision.

He also doesn’t want teens walking the block with the pit bulls and intimidating neighbors — something he says is akin to allowing them to carry a gun.

“It may well never go off. It may never hurt anybody,” he said, “but the potential there is so great that we need to look at it and prevent it.”

The Houston Democrat’s proposal also forbids leaving a child alone with any of the three bully breeds, which includes pit bulls, or “any mix breed” that exhibits pit bull characteristics. A violation would become a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.

Pit bull defenders say the dog is no more dangerous than any other; animal groups charge the measure is unfair because it targets specifics breeds.

Currently, state law prohibits local government from passing breed-specific measures.

“Teenagers could use any kind of large dog to scare people, so where do you draw the line and start addressing the problem?” asked Laura Dapkus, spokeswoman for the Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club. “This is up to the parents.”

Yes, its nanny statism and yes, these are laws that won't do much good but my main objection to them is that they single out certain breeds while giving other (equally dangerous) breeds a free pass. The breeds targeted aren't even among the most aggressive, but they're big, have large mouths and (some) are owned by people who try to use these dogs to be "street".

To be fair, Pit Bull types, Rottweilers, Dobermans etc. are not "no more dangerous than other breeds". As much as I appreciate the work the Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club is doing, any frank discussion of big-dog policy has to begin and end with the realization that these dogs possess the potential for greater harm simply because of their size. An aggressive Dauchsund (the most aggressive breed btw)can typically be diverted from his target with ease. An aggressive large-dog is often harder to physically dominate. That being said all dogs can bite, cause infections (or worse) and do serious damage to young children if not properly trained and supervised.

The last thing I take issue with is Rep. Harold Dutton's equating Pit Bull types to a gun. That's so far from the truth that it's almost not worth addressing. Guns are inantimate hunks of metal, they are tools. They have one job and its to kill. Pit Bull types have to be trained to be fierce, either intentionally or unintentionally through poor ownership. When trained properly a Pit-Bull type dog is loyal to their family and is a good companion dog. I know from first-hand experience. I'm willing to bet you that very few of the people who are demonizing these breeds have ever spent substantial time around them, they're legislating from a position of ignorance instead of getting themselves educated on the types and breeds they are attempting to outlaw.

My final point is this: It was man who domesticated the dog, removing him from the wild, and it's now man who is primarily responsible for maintaining the species. Anti-walking laws and anti-children laws retard the normal socialization process that bully breeds need to undergo in order to be properly socialized, and socialization is key to having a healthy, happy dog. If you want to put restrictions on owning all dogs that's fine. Requirements for training and treatment help all dog owners treat these animals humanely and can prevent aggression in all breeds. A well-trained dog is a happy dog after all.

Passing laws to increase the isolation of certain breeds doesn't do anything to help the animals co-exist with neighbors and children. If anything, these proposals are going to make the situation worse.


OTHER EYES: Lone Star Times


RELATED: Vick to be Released to Home Confinement. [AP via Chron.com]

Oh Goodie.

Former Houston Police Chief Announces Run for City Council. [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com]:

Less than four months after losing a close race for Harris County district attorney, former Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford announced today that he is running for an at-large seat on the city council.

Bradford is aiming for the at-large #4 seat being vacated by Ronald Green, who is running for controller. Other candidates for the council job include Noel Freeman, an administrator for the city engineer. The election is Nov. 3, and candidates have until late September to sign up.

Bradford, a lawyer and security consultant, indicated in a written statement to news media that he is launching his second candidacy in two years because he wants to serve the public again.

“It is certainly an honor to serve in the public sector. Making a difference for the greater good of all is a tremendous reward,” he said. “As Houston moves forward, we must get better prepared to deal with issues such as public safety, budget restraints, critical infrastructure repairs, representation via council redistricting and many others.”

Having trouble finding work in the private sector eh C.O.?

Early returns on the Chron.comments section are not good. Any time you're being compared to Chris Bell (perennial candidate) immediately after your announcement things are not starting off well.

My question centers around support. Presumeably Bradford is banking on garnering a large portion of the African-American vote, and possibly grabbing some of the Hispanic vote as well. This problem that I think he's going to have is securing enough of the caucasian middle/liberal vote, many of whom are getting excited about Noel Freeman.

In a City-wide election the Conservative/moderate vote is important as well. Whether he likes it or not Bradford is still firmly attached to the K-mart raids, staffing shortages, the HPD crime lab fiasco and the disasterous Lee Brown administration. That's a death knell for one's election chances if you ask me.

One thing Bradford probably doesn't have to worry about in this race is another Democrat (Freeman) making a big issue of his HPD tenure. My guess is that Bradford is going to hope to ride out the campaign season with a low profile, and then sneak into the office on name recognition alone. That was his strategy for the DA's race after all and he almost won that.

It'd be nice if he had to campaign, and answer questions about his leadership of the HPD. Ah well, one can hope right?


OTHER EYES: KTRK 13 Local Politics

Future Cars

If you read transportation posts in the Mainstream Media and in the Blogosphere, you might be under the impression that the 'age of the car' is coming to an end. Doomsayers and mass-transit proponents would all have you believe that the single-family mode of transportation is a relic who's time has passed. The future, they say, will consist of huge mass-transit projects that people will access through walking and riding bicycles. In other words the future, as envisioned by 'new urbanists' involves a return to the past.

My view is that all the car nay-sayers are wrong. There will always be a need, and demand, for an induvidualized mode of transit that recognizes the individual nature of travel patterns. People will still want to go places that a mass-transit system can't comfortably take them. "Road trips" are as ingrained into society as is television. Owning a car is still considered a 'rite of passage' for the American Youth.

What I do believe is going to change is how cars are powered, and how they are used, in the future. What follows are a few, key, technological advances (some of which are already realized) that will change the way we view the car, but which will keep it very much central to the transit mix.

1. Self-driving cars. - Most of the technology for these cars is already available, yet (admittedly) in crude form. Further advances in Global Positioning Technology and Laser Object Avoidance Systems will eventually result in cars that navigate themselves, safer and with more power efficiency than can be done by humans.

2. The car as productivity center. - Head Up Display technology is already available in some vehicles as a safety tool. Once the need to keep your eyes on the road is removed (due to the computer driver) the 'head-up' explosion will really begin. The same satellites that are beaming your GPS signal can also beam broadband Internet access directly to your windshield where you'll be able to read the day's news, send e-mails, pay bills, schedule appointments, make video phone calls or a host of other tasks from the comfort of your car.

3. Power: The Plug-in Hybrid - The main thing holding back the plug-in from being a viable option currently is battery capacity. Personal storage of electic charge will be the biggest growth industry over the next 20 years as companies are forced to ramp-up alternative fuel options in the face of declining oil profitability. The second option will be Liquefied Natural Gas, a clean-burning fuel option that's currently in limited use. Gone will be the folly of ethanol and other 'bio-fuels' replaced with a reliable electric option that will be charged at home daily but that can hold a charge for up to a week under normal driving conditions.
4. Charge: Personal Solar Panels and personal wind turbines. - Personal power generation is going to be another area that explodes due to increases in battery storage technology. I first heard this idea for future home and auto power from The Mighty Wizard and it made so much sense that I've been following the technology with interest. Neal's initial scenario involved the aftermath of a Hurricane or other natural disaster such as Hurricane Ike. Instead of being without power for days, Neal outlined a scenario where people would remove their personal solar panels and wind turbines from their house pre-storm, and then replace them after the storm has passed, charged up their plug-in hybrids and be back in the swing of things fairly quickly.

I've often stated my firm belief that its folly to continue to try and design a transit system that's punitive to the personal automobile instead of working with it to increase auto options. I also believe that those who are declaring the car to be dead are themselves whistling past the graveyard of their own close-minded thinking. Personal transport isn't going anywhere, it will still be a vital part of the transportation mix going forward, any denial of this is a denial of reality of the same vein as those who deny the need for mass transit. By 'mass tranist' I'm referring to all of its various forms, from commuter rail to rail connecting points within the city center to trolley's to shuttle busses and circulator bus routes designed to get people to disperate points within a neighborhood.

All of these options have to be designed with all of the other transit options in mind however. That includes pedestrian and bicycle traffic which, I believe, will become even more prominent in the future as America moves away from a largely credit-based society to a society where cash is king. As the credit markets contract, more and more people will lack the ability to make big-ticket purchases, so they will choose to avail themselves of the other transit options available. Granted, I'm not predicting a Houston walking boom but I am suggesting that non-automated transportation options have to be included into the mix.

As do automobiles. They will, most-certainly, look and sound different in the future. We might use, and view them differently than we do today, but they have to remain the central focus of our transportation mix because there's a higher than average probability that they are not going away.

Houston Area Asides (02/25/09)

The "nationalized banking system" edition...

Hidalgo Street. [Andrew Burleson, neoHouston] - The latest installment in what has been an interesting series of transit-related posts.

Houston vs. how Americans want to Live. [Tory Gattis, Houston Strategies] - An interesting article made all the better by the (now typical) stream of anecdotal examples cited in the comments.

Size Matters, the Death of Relationship Marketing in the Wine Business. [Christopher, Cepage Noir] - Christopher should be the poster child for the 'new urban' movement gurus who speak fondly of 'boutique shops' etc. Instead I'm betting most of them get their wine from a chain. Practice what you preach and all that....

O Brv New Wrld LOLOL :) [John, By the Bayou] - I'm a fan of public officials twittering. Granted, not all of it is groundbreaking stuff, but any time the question is access and openness put me firmly in the 'more' camp.

Declined. [Crystal, Dissonance] - An interesting mental snapshot of troubles during a recession.

Sheila Jackson Lee Doesn't Disappoint.[Banjo, The Brazosport News] - Houston's bestest comedic sideshow just keeps on churning them out. SJL's aisle jockeying is legendary.

John Culberson, Obama, Twitter. [Alan Bernstein, Chron Local Politics] - Nothing too controversial in the comments, yet its driven some of the more unbalanced members of the InterLeft into histrionics in the comments. Funny.

New study: Obesity as bad for you as Smoking? [Eric Berger, Chron SciGuy] - If only the Chron's science scribe applied the same healthy dose of skepticism to all issues. Maybe then all issues would get a full public reporting?

Lawmakers take aim at 22-1 school standard. [Gary Scharrar, Chron Texas Politics] -

Richard Kouri of the Texas State Teachers Association recalled the 1984 battle over education reforms and House Bill 72 resulting in the 22-1 ratio.

"It's discouraging to be back here having that same debate," he said.

Except that, during the time 22-1 has been in place, Texas schools have back-slid to near-crisis levels. Given that information it's discouraging that so-called teacher's advocates "education groups" aren't willing to explore all options to make funds go further. Rank & File teachers have a tough job, its too bad the teacher's unions don't seem to be working very hard to make it easier. (or increasing the chances of their success). I don't know if this is a good or a bad idea, but I do know that it should be debated, instead of being dismissed out of hand.

Good Lord. The Chronicle's Owner is on a Paper Killing Rampage. [Richard Connelly, Houston Press HairBalls] - Hearst on a rampage.

Impact Players: Jay Propes [Elise Hu, KVUE Political Junkie] - Some of the best reporting out of Austin is coming from this blog. You should be reading it daily.

Austin Mayoral Candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn says the City can't Afford to Pay High-Priced Lobbyists any more. [Matt Pulle, Texas Watchdog] - I wish more municipalities, and more serious candidates, would come to this conclusion.

World-Class Folly. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - When you've lost the Chron Ed Board...you know you're dealing with a bad idea.

Solving Houston Downtown Parking Woes.

I give you the Peel 50....

World's Smallest Car @ Yahoo! Video

I sooo want one.


(Oh, and it was raining just like that the Day I was on that street in London.)

Houston Area Asides (02/24/09)

The "depression blues" edition...

Is Kent Getting Off Easy? [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - Plea deals are part and parcel of the American Justice System. Kent is taking a plea deal. That's justice. What Falkenberg and others are calling for is vengance.

Lawmakers consider driver cell phone limits. [Clay Robison and R.G. Ratcliffe, Chron.com] - As logical as hands-free devices sound, there's little evidence out there to prove they work @ reducing accidents. The problem that I have with all of this is that 'distracted driving' is already illegal. Do we really need more laws when we're not enforcing the ones we already have?

Bailout's Billions may not be enough. [Edmund Andrews, Andrew Sorkin & Mary Williams-Walsh, NYT via Chron.com] - Nationalization (the "N" word) has been masterfully sold to a majority of Americans by Socialists in D.C. Of course, they assure us that they will lay aside these new powers once order is restored. Sadly, once Government gets their hooks in order never seems to be, fully, restored.

Bonus Pay for Texas Employees topped $25 Million in 2008. [Matt Stiles and Peggy Fikac, Chron.com] - Bonuses for 2008 performance doesn't bother me, 2008 wasn't that bad of a year on balance. But if 2009 bonuses are high then we have a problem.

NASA's Attempt to Launch a Global Warming Satellite Fails. [AP via Chron.com] - How appropriate.

Federal Control Urged over Revamp of Electrical Grid. [Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Chron.com] - Some folks aren't going to like this, but it makes sense to Federalize the energy grid.

How Well do you know Houston? [J.R. Gonzales, Bayou City History]

Third Time a Charm for County Ethics Reform? [Liz Austin-Peterson, Chron.com] - Not if (Democratic) County Commissioner El Franco Lee has anything to say about it.

Gambling Poll. [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - There's a big casino bill being filed in the Lege this session, we'll see what happens.

I'm a PC...At least in this video. [Dwight Silverman, Chron.com] - Someone's caught the acting bug.

New Poll: Hutchison has huge lead over Perry in Governor's race. [Richard Dunham, Chron.com] - Way, way too early to read anything into this. Heck, both sides are just beginning to say nasty things about the other.

A Monumentally BAD idea (UPDATED)

Public Funds to Pay for Private Debt. [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com]:

Houston taxpayers could start footing the bill to help first-time homebuyers pay off debts and improve their credit scores, under a proposal before City Council this week.

The “Credit Score Enhancement Program” will give up to $3,000 in grants to individuals who are trying to qualify for mortgages through the city’s homebuyers assistance program. City officials say some applicants fall short of eligibility by only 10 or 20 points on their credit scores, and paying off some debt balances can quickly improve their numbers.

The proposal has aroused critics who say the city should not use public funds to help people pay down car loans, credit card balances, or other debts — even if the slight credit bump would help them realize the dream of home- ownership.

“We just can’t give away government money to help people with their credit scores,” Councilman Mike Sullivan said Monday. “You’re giving them other taxpayers’ money to pay off the bills.”

Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck called the program well intentioned but said it would go too far.

“If this credit crisis has taught us anything, we need to focus on paying off our debts and saving more,” she said. “Using government money to help someone pay off their debts is not the same as asking them to pay off their debts themselves.”

The $444,000 for the program is leftover money from a $1.5 million appropriation the city made for emergency home and roof repairs after Hurricane Ike.

The city has three programs that provide grants for down payments and closing costs for qualified homebuyers. The most generous one offers a $37,500 grant to buy a home that costs $135,000 or less, but only in certain disadvantaged Houston neighborhoods the city is trying to revitalize. Participants cannot earn more than 80 percent of the Houston median income.

The justification for this is going to be that 'it's leftover money' and might as well be used to 'help the poor'. My argument against it is three-fold.

1. It's arguable that giving people money to 'pay off' their debts is really going to help them in the first place. All you're doing is reinforcing the idea that there are no consequences to being fiscally irresponsible. Odds are, once they have credit card debt paid off, people are going to spend themselves right up to the limits again and will be in even deeper trouble than they already find themselves. Sadly, they're now going to have the burden of a mortgage they can't afford added to the pile of monthly bills.

2. Wasn't it the idea that 'everyone' (even those who couldn't otherwise qualify) for homeownership had the 'right' to own a home what got us (partially) into this mess in the first place? If the definition of insanity is to continually perform the same actions while expecting different results then its possible that that someone in the City is quietly going insane.

3. Considering the City's current financial situation, aren't there much better uses for $440K out there than this?

Unfortunately, the Houston Municipal leadership has shown a proclivity for supporting flashy, feel good, trinkets at the expense of nuts & bolts projects that do something to improve the quality of life and general mobility. The main problem with the latter is that no one wants to affix their name to a drainage ditch.

All of this brings us back to short-sightedness, and I don't mean the reverse definition being parroted by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. There might be a short-term benefit to paying off people's debt who otherwise don't qualify for a home loan due to excessive debt-load and a low credit score. You might succeed in getting them placed in a home. Short-term gain, news media on-site with public officials glad-handing and people crying about how 'they are realizing a dream'. Good television.

What happens 5 years down the line however when they're maxxed out on their credit cards again and the foreclosure notices are starting to roll in? Where will the news media be then?

And then, there's this:

“We wanted to be conservative in this case and concentrate only on those folks who have overextended as opposed to somebody who needed a lot of hand-holding to repair their credit.”

The success of the progam apparently is going to be reliant on Government officials using their discretion to be conservative with the loans and not just hand them out to anyone.

What do you think the odds are of that happening?

UPDATE: That didn't take long....

[Carolyn Feibel, Chron,com]

Mayor Bill White this afternoon announced that a plan for the city to pay off some debts for first-time home buyers has been pulled from tomorrow's City Council agenda.

Council members are now professing their "embarrassment" about the proposal, which has hit the national news circuit, including drudgereport.com., which picked up this morning's Houston Chronicle story about the plan

"This issue has hit a nerve across this country," said Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck. "Not just here in the city of Houston. Giving people the ability to increase their credit score artificially because we're allowing them to pay off their credit cards is exactly what got us into this (national economic) crisis in the first place."

Councilman Jarvis Johnson said the city should continue to help people move from renting to owning.

"But I do believe we can do it in a better way, a more thoughtful way," he said. "But we don't want to become enablers, where people count on the city to be the cure-all."

Well (at least) Councilwoman Clutterbuck 'gets it'...you know, the whole 'putting people into homes they can't afford is a bad thing' principle? Better late than never I guess. Too bad Councilman Johnson doesn't. I guess a hearty round of National laughter brought Mayor White to his senses. However, based on Councilman Johnson's comment you can expect to see this come back in a form that's just slightly less an obvious giveaway. Bad ideas in Houston Government hang around like a hair in a biscuit after all.




OTHER EYES:

BlogHouston, Lone Star Times, Brent's Blog, Texas Watchdog (and here)

Verbiage

More curious word choices from the Chron.

[Clay Robison, Chron.com]

Although a lifelong Republican of the traditional, country club genre (as opposed to the more-rabid social conservatives who now control the Texas GOP), Straus has in the past voted for Democrats for selected offices and presumably will do so in the future.

There are two interesting points in the Chron.comments regarding definitions and their use.

One (from Drew101):

I'm not a social conservative, but to dismiss social conservatives as "rabid" - referring gleefully to those suffering from a painful and deadly neuroinvasive disease, and to dismiss fiscal conservatives as being of the "country club genre" is as typical as it is sad. It would be interesting to see the reaction to a Chronicle article that referred to liberal Democrats as "retarded," as opposed to the more mainstream "union goon" Democrats, or maybe "poverty pimp" Democrats. That, of course, would never make it past the editors.

Two: (from Pootysfriend):

You right wingers will complain even if you have to make up offenses. "Country club genre" refers to the Republican corporate big shots and the very rich Texans, and not their conservative fiscal (i.e., "help us and screw you") values. And when used as Robison did, "rabid" is defined as "Extremely zealous or enthusiastic". It does not refer to the disease.
But I guess we all understand, the whining use of factoids is considered an acceptable debating technique among right wingers.

Both make interesting points, and both are partially wrong.

First off, word choice MATTERS. Pootysfriend's contention that 'rabid' is just a benign word and writing the complaints off as a 'factoid' is 100% wrong. It's no different than Rush Limbaugh or other Republicans attempting to discredit Liberal Democrats by using terms such as "The Messiah" or "Limosine Liberal".

You've heard the hue and cry over Republican use of those terms, and you've heard Pachyderms raspberries when Democrats grouse about their use. When the shoe's placed on the other partisan foot the field tilts the other way and previously important issues of 'truth' and 'facts' are reduced to 'debating tactics' and 'factoids' that are used to 'obscure' the real points in the debate.

None of the above should suggest to you that I'm advocating against the use of loaded language in political discourse. I often use 'socialist' and 'corporatist' on this blog to describe progressives and neo-conservatives, especially if I feel they're hiding behind labels in items I'm commenting on. Loaded language serves a valid role in political commentary. My question is whether or not it deserves such a prominent role in what is, ostensibly, an "Austin insiders" column written by the man in charge of the hard news coming out of the Chron Austin Bureau?

On blogs there's an immediate feedback mechanism to post authors where readers can ask for a clarification if a words definition is unknown, it's called a comment. On this blog, provided you don't curse and you aren't an idiot, I'll typically respond to your comment if I feel it needs addressing. Most bloggers do a good job of interatcing with readers. In almost 2 1/2 years of Lose an Eye I've only had to purge a handful of comments (not counting SPAM) for violating either the profanity, idiot or stupid blather clauses. This despite writing about, and debating several highly charged issues.

This is not an issue of bias (Robison was wearing his "commentary hat" here after all) but a question of professional standards and watchdog reporting. Did Robison's use of the term 'rabid' do anything to forward the discussion regarding single punch balloting? (i.e. straight ticket)

No, all it did was poison the water.


Words matter.

2009 Mutt Strut Bleg

My wife has informed me that I will be participating in the 2009 Mutt Strut, March 7, 2009 @ 8 AM. We've joined the Cork Cafe team because...well...we enjoy drinking wine there.

I seem to remember volunteering for this a while ago, one of those things happening way in the future that I agreed to without really thinking about it. Oh well, at least I get a t-shirt out of the deal.


As you might have guessed....here comes the bleg.

I've been assigned a fund-raising goal of $250.00 by the computer system. My personal donation to the cause was an initial $25.00 so that means I have $225.00 left to go before I hit my goal. That's 45 people making a one-time (tax deductible) donation of $5 a piece. I'm averaging over 200 readers per day on this blog.

In order to assuage your fears about the money not being put to its specific use (which has been rumored to happen from time to time) I'm providing a direct link to my personal donation page on the SPCA website here:

My Mutt Strut page.

Just click on "Support Cory!" and the system will walk you through the donation process. You can donate any amount you want, from a penny on up. I'm requesting at least $5 per person to make it easy. Dog's like Sly will thank you for it.


All donations are greatly appreciated, just please give what's comfortable in order to help the Houston SPCA and the animals that are housed there.

Of specks and beams and eyes

...and inflammatory language...[Paul Knight, Houston Press HairBalls]

Some important things could have been resolved at today's Metro board meeting, particularly the absence of a contract between Metro and an outside company to design and build four proposed light-rail lines, the cornerstone of future mass transit in Houston.

Instead, we got wife-beating.

It started when anti-Metro-zealot Tom Bazan told the board that he thought it was discriminating against poor people and minorities by minimizing bus routes in favor of rail. Board member Bishop James Dixon told Bazan that Metro would continue bus services, and he also asked Bazan and all citizens to address the board with a gentler tone.

Inflammatory language is inflammatory language regardless of side...Bazan's comments:

"I can handle my wife inquiring, but the accusation shuts me down. I don't accuse her, I inquire," Dixon said, drawing laughs with his domestic metaphor. "We want to see you as allies, not adversaries. That's all I'm saying."

"Have you stopped abusing your wife?" Bazan asked. The laughing stopped.

"I've never abused my wife, never," Dixon said as Chairman David Wolff tried to interrupt. "Hold on, hold on, hold on. You crossed the line. No, no, no, I need to retract that. I'll never abuse my wife and don't ever say that."

Bazan was in the wrong for asking the 'wife-beating' question, even in jest and in abstract form. Yes, Bishop Dixon brought up the analogy, but spousal-abuse is a serious matter that should never be used in jest to make a point. From what I understand (and judging by his comments on the post, Mr. Bazan regretted his comments and has publically, and privately retracted them and acknowledged his error. For his part Bishop Dixon has stated forgiveness toward Mr. Bazan and the matter is settled.

That's more than can be said for the Houston Press who, instead of referring to Mr. Bazan with the more neutral term 'activist', has allowed 'zealot' to remain on their website as a desriptor for Mr. Bazan despite all of the negative connotations the word holds.

A more suitable description of Mr. Bazan would be a "committed anti-rail activist". I'm sure Mr. Bazan would agree with this description, and would welcome it. It would also be non-judgemental, something zealot certainly is not.

I may disagree with some of the things Mr. Bazan is advocating, (for example, I've always been in favor of (properly designed) rail-based public transportation in Houston, Mr. Bazan favors a bus-only approach.) and, I too, may find some of his rhetoric grating, but he's no more a 'zealot' than David Crossley, Christof Spieler or any number of other committed pro-Metro activists.

The Houston Press would do well to remember that.

Pushing the Stimulus bill.

Stimulus Could Provide Boost for Higher Education. [Jeannie Kever, Chron.com]:

Higher education executives still may be trying to determine what the federal stimulus package will mean for their schools. But students like Ulises Frias have a pretty good idea.

“It helps me stay in school,” said Frias, a senior at the University of Houston-Downtown who pieced together a work-study job and a grant to help cover tuition.

Details about how the $787 billion stimulus package will help colleges and universities — and even how much they might receive — haven’t been worked out.

But a $30 billion increase in financial aid will begin with grants made this summer. Campus researchers also expect to receive a share of the $17 billion in federal research money included in the bill.

The new financial aid money means more students will receive Pell Grants and jobs through campus work-study programs. The maximum Pell Grant, generally reserved for students from families earning less than $30,000 a year, will increase, too.

The extra money will help pay for textbooks and other supplies, said Maria Hernandez, a UH-Downtown sophomore who says she couldn’t go to college without her Pell Grant and other financial aid.

“The textbooks are going up now,” she said. “They’re so expensive.”

Someone at the Chron has a bee in their bonnet about the Federal Stimulus, this is either the fourth or fifth article in the last couple of weeks about the 'benefits' that the stimulus could bring to Texas. What's notably lacking from any of these stories is a dissenting voice.

From AP pieces to stories with a local angle to State issues the editorial line of the Chronicle seems to be that if the Stimulus funds are not accepted, then all is certainly lost.

Yup, the Chron has even gone so far as to remind readers that it's for the children dammit. Don't let those poor children go without food, heaters in the winter, A/C in the summer, good text-books and laptop computers. How can some people be so cold-hearted?

The stimulus item causing State budget-writers the most heartburn is the planned boost in unemployment funds. So far its unclear, and underreported, what additional long-term expenditures the State will have to commit to in order to receive additional Federal funding in the short-term. Of course, concerns for the long-term financial health of the State are being derided as "short-sighted" by local politicians who are pleading with Texans to accept the 'stimulas' regardless of the long-term ramifacations.

Given the state of the stimulus debate I'm not sure State elected officials are going to have any option but to accept the funds and hope that the changing rules don't come back to bite them in the ass 5-10 years from now. Obama promised "Hope" and "Change" in his campaigning, I'm not sure States had this in mind.

A second issue is the way Federal Funding is explained in the media. Too often Federal dollars are portrayed as 'free cash' flooding into the coffers of States by well-meaning journalists who don't have a firm grasp on how Government taxation/finance works. This is not 'free-candy' to be gobbled up without a second thought, at least 10% of Federal revenue comes from Texas sources. Unless Texas is getting a payout of greater than 10% of the total cost of the Bill, the net result is a loss for Texas taxpayers...eventually.

There will come a time that all of these Federally backed IOU's come due. It will probably be sometime on the watch of our children or children's children but the bond-holders will line up and demand payment. Whoever is in charge of America then will have the unenviable task of generating the funds to pay the bonds, or opting to default.

Neither option sounds very good to me.

Unfortunately there's no urgency within the stimulus debate to ask the correct questions of our Government. And no, for those of you who get all aflutter about such things, I'm not making a 'bias' claim as much as I am an ignorance claim. The ability to attempt to forecast policy ramifications 30 years down the line is outside of the scope of common society. In short, its just not done. In part because almost no-one has the patience to do it, and also because most Americans really don't care much beyond what's happening today.

High-minded rhetoric to the contrary, the 'free' media is nothing more than another profit-center on the financial statements of rather large, multi-national corporations. There's little profit to be made in long-range financial forecasting. Many readers have a tendency to tune out during editorials and news stories dealing with these subjects. People like to hear what's in it for them, not what its going to cost. Newspapers know this and run articles that focus primarily on the benefits of the legislation but fail to count the cost, especially any long-term costs that won't be readily observable.

When things really come full circle is when a media organization runs and 'expose' report on budget short-falls or Government failures on programs that they initially provided to offer full analysis on. Those types of reports are typically full of cliches such as "connect the dots" or "lacking oversight" which (ironically) are many of the same failures of the original reporting.

In 30 years will Americans be bemoaning the 'lack of foresight' of the current generation?

More importantly, will the media then (in whatever form) learn anything from the critical analysis errors being made by the media today?

I think the answer to that question will provide a better insight into the condition of the Country 30 years from now than just about any other.

Houston Area Asides (02/22/2009)

The "did I tell you about the time I played poker for 11 hours straight" edition...

One GOP Speaker's gone, but Dem's still complaining. [Jay Root, AP via Chron.com] - Democrats complaining about Republicans? Say it ain't so Joe.

UH tops K-State, Noble gets 500th win. [M.K. Bower, Chron.com] - Congrats to Coach Noble on his big win.

GOP Senator: U.S. must rethink Cuba embargo. [Anne Flaherty, AP via Chron.com] - Just lift the dang thing already. After all these years there's no shame in just admitting that it didn't work. Besides, I want my Cuban cigars.

Jackson Lee encourages Texas to take all Federal Stimulus money. [Jennifer Latson, Chron.com]

Jackson Lee described Perry’s position as shortsighted

Ummm...If Perry's concerns about increased costs down the line are true then it's Jackson's pleas that are shortsighted. Unless she doesn't have a good grasp on the meaning of the word?

Rescue deal leaves Houston with Huge debt to Harris County. [Bradley Olson, Chron.com] - The City's financial ship be sinking. Hey, let's spend more money on special interest projects!

Official, Obama wants to halve budget deficit by 2012. [Liz Sidoti, AP via Chron.com] - That means rather large tax cuts during a recession, good luck with that.

Ellis and Crownover on the smoking ban. [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - I've admitted to a healthy level of hypocrisy on the smoking ban before. I believe trying to enforce it while tying so many revenues to a tobacco tax to be the height of irresponsible government. That being said I love no smoke in bars. My sinuses love it for sure and its allowed Linda and I to go out to see live bands, etc. again.

Road Trip Thoughts.

Spent the weekend in Durant, OK at the Choctaw Casino & Resort playing poker. Said trips, and the resulting solo drives, provide some time for random thoughts. Here are a few I had time to mull over during the six and a half hour (including one and a half hours getting through Dallas) drive to the resort.

1. Houston Oddities:

- A Chevy Tahoe with a "Proud Texas Democrat" bumper sticker: Houstonians LOVE their big, bulky vehicles. Even Democrats who support positions that support making the unaffordable to own.

- The "Lone Star" Autobahn: Sam Houston Tollway from I-45 to Hwy 59 on the Northwest side of Houston is the only place you can be doing 80 and get passed on the Right like your standing still. Of course, on the real Autobahn drivers are courteous enough to not pass on the right.

- A Single driver in a Ford Excursion, pulling into a farmer's market: Hey, it's Houston after all. You have to shop at the farmer's market to offset that 6MPG average you're getting.


2. Funny Stuff from Texas:

- At the Texas/Oklahoma border on Hwy 75 heading into OK: End Road Construction.: I'm not sure if this says more about TX DOT or about OK DOT. You?

- The North Texas Billboard Conspiracy: Seen just south of Dallas, two billboards, one for Corsicana, one for Orange TX, same message: Where Country meets Culture. Both prominently featured cowboys, not the football kind.

- Passing on the Right: No-one is worse at passing on the right than Texans, they'll even veer right when the left lane is open. I'm not sure if there's a political statement to be made here but it sure is annoying.

3. Misc.:

- No alcohol is served in OK casinos, just soft drinks, tea, water etc: It takes a little getting used to. The downside is people arrived at the casino already smashed. Witnessed two young men get arrested for PI on my first night out.

- No dice games at OK casinos: It was part of a deal the casinos made with the gaming commission to allow them to bring in advanced slot machines.

- There are some angry people out there: I got some message updates from friends about some general unhinging of some of my online counterparts. I've long held the theory that being unhappy with one's self makes one overly angry with others and retards reading comprehension. I'm rarely surprised with the results when the hypothesis is tested.*

- Private blogs are not open forums: I don't know why people believe them to be. If your only reactions to others are bitter and dripping with acrimony why in the world would you expect them to invite your input?*

- There's nothing funnier than seeing a guy in overalls, with a mullet and dark sunglasses at the poker table: Especially when all they've learned about playing poker is from ESPN. I'd like to thank whoever that was for the repeated contributions.

- 11 hours is a long time to play poker: I played from 7 PM Friday until 6 AM Saturday and was washed by the time I got back to the hotel. That being said, World Series of Poker sessions are 10 hours each, I proved to myself I can do it. Still, it felt like I was playing forever.




* OK, I'll admit, I didn't spend too long contemplating those last two, I just threw them in for fun.

Today's Metro Moment

Random dispatches from the most inept public agency in America....

Multiple Vehicle Break-ins at Kingwood Park n' Ride. [Courtney Zubowski, KHOU]:

Commuters were in for a nasty surprise when they got off the bus at the Kingwood Park & Ride Thursday afternoon.

Thieves reportedly broke into multiple cars there, leaving lots of broken glass and busted windows.

Many of the cars that were hit were SUVs.

The thieves swiped GPS systems, purses, credit cards and money.

(snip)

The facility is equipped with surveillance cameras, but there were questions as to whether they were on at the time of the crimes.

So, Chief Lambert, "What part of safety do you not understand?

It's not like this is the first time ineffective cameras failed to stop car break-ins. It could be the first time they weren't turned on however.

Wow.

Houston Area Asides (02/20/09)

The "Ho Hum" Edition....

Two Mayoral candidates tout endorsement by same person. [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - When there's little difference between the candidates does it really matter who endorses who?

Candidates get back to the Land. [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - All four in favor of increasing the scope and size of government. Parker wants to work with satellite cities while Brown wants to work against them. Locke is a fighter. (of course) Morales...well, who knows really how he's going to cast himself this time?

Death Row case could cost Judge her career. [R.G. Ratcliffe and Janet Elliott, Chron.com] - You saw this coming. Her actions were disgraceful at the time and are an embarrassment now.

Judge Keller should hope for Mercy. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - The accuser becomes the accused? Bad columnists live for this type of thing.

Suspects in Baytown death "just trying to have some fun" [Cindy Horswell, Chron.com] - By beating a man? That's some definition of "fun" of which I'm not familiar.

Regarding the matter of making absolutely no sense.

Noriega Says he turned Down Position in Obama Administration. [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com]

Former state Rep. Rick Noriega’s private meeting with President Barack Obama last year apparently led to a recent job offer — that Noriega says he has rejected.

(snip)

“I was contacted and asked if I would consider a post as assistant secretary of defense (Reserve Affairs) with the secretary of the Air Force. I declined the position,” Noriega wrote supporters in a recent e-mail. “I remain open to a position in President Obama’s administration, one that is aligned with my core competencies.”

Huh?

Rick Noriega is a man who ran a large portion of his campaign using military terminology and imagery ("Draft" Rick, Fill Rick's boots, etc.), made a huge issue of his Lt. Col. ranking in the Army Reserve, and now he turns down a position in Reserve affairs?

How much more in one's expertise wheelhouse could you get?

Is there an Undersecretary of Ineffective Campaigns slot now?


My opinion is that Noriega was hoping for something more high-profile (like Director of FEMA) and grew offended when the offer was only for an assistant secretary's position. I don't know that for sure, but given his proclivity to overestimate his public stature outside his core of support in the InterLeft echo-chamber (where, to be fair, he's viewed in very high regard) it wouldn't surprise me. The "core competencies" reasoning doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

The Spin Will be Interesting.

Metro Gets Half of Stimulus Expected. [Rosanna Ruiz, Chron.com] $92 million is the Number.

Metro’s share of the federal economic stimulus package is $92 million, about half of what was anticipated, the agency’s CEO and President Frank J. Wilson said this morning.

(snip)

Wilson and other Metro leaders recently met with Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., who heads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who afterward said the agency’s North and Southeast rail line project was “very high-rated.”

Metro had requested $410 million in stimulus funding to begin those two lines in addition to $70 million to convert High Occupancy Vehicle lanes into toll lanes.

The transit agency previously announced that the stimulus and other federal funds would be sufficient to begin construction on the North and Southeast lines this year.

Metro’s board will meet at 2 p.m. today.

Can't wait for the statements that come out of that 2 P.M. meeting can you?

Looking at the amount it seems that the Federal Government felt that the H.O.V. into toll lanes were "very high-rated" projects as opposed to the rail line construction doesn't it?

Either Metro was only hearing what they wanted to hear from the Feds regarding the potential funding or they haven't been forthright with the public regarding how favorably the LRT expansion is being received outside of Houston.


I'm sure they'll have a different spin on things but this can't be good news as far as the LRT expansion goes.

The air we breathe.

Six Groups: Add Houston to Bad Air List. [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com]

Environmental and public health groups have called for federal regulators to declare that Houston’s air is too full of soot and must be cleaned up.

The groups’ petition comes seven weeks after the federal Environmental Protection Agency declined to add Houston to its sooty air list even though the region violates annual limits for the pollutant.

Houston’s concentrations of soot — a piercing mix of airborne matter from diesel exhaust, industrial flares and road grit, among other sources — exceeded the EPA’s yearly standards from 2005 to 2007, according to the most recent federal data available.

The agency’s position isn’t legally incorrect, but it is irresponsible to the millions breathing the sooty air, the groups wrote in a letter to new EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

(snip)

Soot has been a special concern near the Houston Ship Channel, which is home to heavy industry and a busy port. It’s the only place in Texas where the particulate-matter levels exceed the annual standard.

State regulators have said the soot problem is isolated and that any designation of “nonattainment,” in the federal Clean Air Act’s language, should be limited to the Ship Channel.

The area is unique for several reasons, including the amount of road dust from Port of Houston traffic. At times, the problem is aggravated by crop-clearing fires in Mexico or dust storms in the Sahara, according to state and local officials.

To reduce soot, state and local officials have introduced several pollution controls, including paving gravel parking lots and reducing engine idling of diesel trucks.

Karl Pepple, city of Houston’s director of environmental programming, said that soot concentrations have been in decline for six months at the Clinton Drive monitor near the Ship Channel.

“I’m hopeful that we can continue to make progress without being placed in nonattainment because it’s an onerous process,” Pepple said.

But Matthew Tejada, executive director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention, said the current effort isn’t enough.

“It’s about achieving a good number at one monitor instead of achieving healthy air for the region,” he said.

I'm all for clean air. As an allergy sufferer living in Houston is difficult for me, at best, during Spring and Summer when the plants are in bloom and the ozone is high. However, I'm also pro-reality, and understand that some level of pollution is a necessary trade-off for living in a city with...well...jobs and an economy that, while suffering some from the recent economic downturn, hasn't yet faced the full effects of it.

The problem that I have with some environmental groups is that, no matter what signs of improvement, it's never enough. It says in the article that the levels are improving. What that means is that businesses are working to mitigate particulate matter, they're just not doing it fast enough to make the enviro-groups happy. Unfortunately, given some of the rhetoric that's coming from the 'save the planet' faction of late you wonder if there's a level of industry that is acceptable to them?

What environmentalists often forget is that there's a human cost to excessive pollution mitigation that could outweigh the benefits of total mitigation. Conservation seeks to strike a happy balance, protecting the environment while ensuring people's livelihoods aren't permanently damaged. I've said on here countless times that its the conservationist message that's missing from the debate. Democrats have embraced the environmentalists' agenda, while Republicans, for the most part, have mainly punted.

What the debate needs right now is a little more Teddy Roosevelt and a little less Ronald Reagan.

Homogenized Elections

I spotted something this morning during my daily blog read that I found to be interesting and enlightening.

Shady Acres Candidate Forum. [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff]:

I attended the District H candidate forum that was presented by the Shady Acres Civic Club last night. Eight candidates were in attendance: Gonzalo Camacho, Karen Derr, Yolanda Navarro Flores, Lupe Garcia, Ed Gonzalez, Hugo Mojica, Rick Rodriguez, and Maverick Welsh. That makes the logistics a bit unwieldy, but the Shady Acres folks and moderator Nancy Wilcox did a good job of keeping things on track and moving. You can see photos of all the participants here along with a list of questions they were all asked; the questions were sent to them in advance, and some of them have submitted written answers as well - there are links on the sidebar to those answers.

I'm just going to give general impressions here. I thought the candidates generally came off pretty well. Nobody made me cringe or wonder what they were doing up there, as was the case with a couple of non-entity candidates (neither of whom was ultimately on the ballot) at a Mayoral forum our neighborhood association hosted back in 2003. There was a lot of agreement among them as they answered the questions that were posed to them. This was partly an artifact of the limited time they had to answer the questions (90 seconds each), and partly because the candidates are not too far apart in outlook and ideology. There is a broad range of backgrounds and experiences among them - the candidates include cops, lawyers, teachers, realtors, civil engineers, and business owners - and it's clear they have different priorities and approaches. But at this stage of the game, there wasn't that much dissonance among them. I assume that will change for the runoff, at least to some extent, but for now things were very civil and pleasant.

Is it really a good thing that all the candidates in a race share many of the same positions on the issues? Has Houston simply punted in terms of representation in Government to a point where open, honest debate on issues is now a distant memory?

One would figure, in an ostensibly non-partisan election, that the range of ideas and solutions, especially in a City as diverse as Houston, would be very wide indeed. Instead of creative, new solutions to problems Houston is stuck with much of the same tired rhetoric that sounds good to uninformed voters, but which actually equates to very little in the way of getting things done.

I'm not suggesting that Charles Kuffner or the rest of the blogosphere is at fault here. I wouldn't expect Kuffner to take issue with every candidate basically agreeing with him. Neither would I take issue with a Republican blogger seeing no problem with the fact that many candidates in Suburban Houston view the issues in much the same manner as they. The fault lies with decaying Urban cores surrounded by extremely high-priced neighborhoods that have served to drive the middle and low-upper class residents to the suburbs. The segregation of Republican and Democratic voting blocks has reduced the City of Houtson Municipal election ballot to a glorified slate of me-too candidates all parroting the talking points of the entrenched ruling class. In short, Houston has become a dictatorship whose leadership is under the sway of powerful municipal lobbying groups that don't necessarily have the Regions' best interest at heart.

By contrast, suburban Houston has long been under sway of Conservative groups who's interests did not include bettering Central Houston. They openly acknowledged that fact and pushed for State and Federal funding priorities that abandoned the City core and focused instead on adding to the outer layers of the City.

The end result of this is that "Inner Loop Houston" and "Outer Loop Houston" are at loggerheads when it comes to policy priorities. This leads to the dichotomy in local debates which turns Regional problems into zero-sum games where a win by one faction has to mean a resulting punishment for the losing faction, construction of a rail-line has to mean the cancellation of a highway project or something along those lines. The reality is that Houston is Houston, whether we are talking about inside the Loop or out, and even some people in Extra-territorial Jurisdictions that don't have a vote, but who's lives are affected daily by decisions made by the ruling elite.

The resulting short-comings in this situation are reflected in both the Houston media and in the blogosphere. The local newspaper of record provides scant coverage of many local races because, quite often, it really doesn't matter who wins. In the upcoming Mayoral election the one "Right-wing" (Republican) candidate has already been written-off as a 'kook' or a 'joke candidate' by almost 100% of the Interleft. Quite often the verbiage was more blue then that. On the side of the Bloggers O' the Right the language has devolved to even more crass levels. Witty banter in Houston has devolved to the point that 'dumbocrats' & 'repukelicans' is often considered the high-point of verbal wit by local partisans. Even more childish is the on-going practice by some on both sides of calling for, or threatening physical violence against one's political opposites as a substitute for any meaningful policy discussion.

My view is that, at least part of, the reason engaged citizens have lost the ability to participate in a working political dialogue and respectfully disagree is that we have so little practice watching our elected leaders do so. If everyone elected is parroting the same ideas, then anyone who suggests something different will sound heretical. They might not be but, in today's 'gotcha' media/blogger environment its enough that a few political hacks are portraying them to be. On the flip-side of this coin is when bad candidates are given credibility because they are willing to champion the prevailing orthodoxy. Neither of these situations are desireable in a functioning Democracy yet both are prevelent in local politics.

Does this mean that Houston's democratic system is breaking down?

You tell me.

Houston Area Asides (02/18/2008)

The 'end of an age' edition....


ACORN demands an end to resident's evictions. [David Ellison & Moises Mendoza, Chron.com] - Given the state of the current housing market, keeping the existing owner in the home and renegotiating terms could be preferable to a fire sale. Unfortunately a zero-credibility group like ACORN is leading the charge.

Panel OK's new Houston-area Ike relief Allocation. [Mike Snyder, Chron.com]

Texas may Refuse Federal Stimulus. [Peggy Fikac & Clay Robison, Chron.com] - the usual suspects will howl in protest, but this could be a good idea.

Obama unveils $75 Billion Dollar Foreclosure Crisis Package. [Mark S. Smith & Alan Zibel, Chron.com] - If there's no penalty for foolish investments and purchases, then all citizens will become foolish investors and purchasors.

Kelsey-Seybold Group Drops out of Medicare. [Cindy George, Chron.com] - Government payments won't even cover costs. If you're a Kelsey-Seybold customer hopefully you'll see a cost benefit from this down the road. If K-S doesn't just pocket profits that is.

SEC Files Fraud Charges against Stanford. [Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal] - How "world class" Houston is that they now have a 'local link' to the economic meltdown eh? I wonder if he'll be referred to in newscasts as "Houston's own"?

Carl's Jr Signs another agreement in Texas [Allison Wollam, Houston Business Journal] - That's right, the $6 burger is coming to Houston....mmmmm...

Does Bill White hate Puppies? (con't)[Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - I can tell you from personal experience that taking care of strays is HARD. Unfortunately since its humans that are the cause of (most) of the problem, we're also on the hook for the responsibility. Those who say killing dogs is the answer are putting their heads in the sand and hoping the problem goes away. That being said, some dogs need to be put down, there has to be a happy medium. No one in Houston seems to have any interest in working to find that. Much like most policy debates in Houston there's only one extreme (kill mills) or another (100% no-kill). The portrayal of anyone who disagrees with either of these sides as "extremists" by the other side only destroys the fertile middle ground where compromise can be found.

Calamity: Government officials are putting off some purchases! [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston] - Not 'cancelling projects' mind you, 'putting off' puchases.

Sly update (02/17/2009)

Last night with Sly was a good start in our budding 'dog resuce' career. He's still very scared and a little skittish, but he hasn't growled at anything and he hasn't snapped at anyone so that's a good start. Last night, after our evening walk, he even came beside where I was sitting on the floor and laid down. If you know dogs this means I was petting for about an hour before I went to bed.

This morning the wife took Sly out for a walk and when they got home we saw our first genuine tail wag! Hopefully the trauma of being thrown out of a pickup truck is starting to fade into the recesses of his memory.

One good thing is that he still has his flop ears and a full tail. What this tells me is that this dog was not bred and trained to be a fighter. He has no scarring and has demonstrated zero signs of aggression. He understands the command 'sit' and last night got a pretty good idea of 'heel'. Even before that however he didn't fight the leash, so he's an easy dog to walk. When other dogs in the neighborhood barked at him, it did get his attention but we were able to break the fixation with a tug on the lead and soft verbal command.

For now Sly is staying in our guest bathroom with a baby gate across the doorway to allow him to see out, but to keep him out of the rest of the house. He'll remain segregated from our other dogs until I can take him to the Vet on Thursday for a once-over, if he's still in our care. As you can see this is hardly the ideal situation, but it's what we've got for now. I'm leaving for Oklahoma on Friday and have been trying to get in touch with various Pit-Bull rescue associations across the State of Texas. If need be Sly and I could make a road trip if it means finding him a good forever home with an owner who understands the requirements of the breed.

Here are some other pictures, and I apologize for the quality, the battery is out on my camera so these are taken with my cell phone, and Sly is not a dog that likes to stay still and pose for camera shots all that much.

Reading Between the Lines.

Today was one of those mornings where I'm driving to work, The Game's transponder hadn't kicked in yet, so while I'm channel surfing I run across this: Bettencourt Tax Advisors.

Hearing this got me thinking. Is this a tacit admission by Mssr. Bettencourt that this is never going to happen?

Which led me to notice that the C.L.O.U.T. website hadn't been updated since November 9, 2007, Lone Star Times is primarily focusing on National Issues and Sen. Dan Patrick removed property tax reform from the lead spot in his recent newsletter. Add to that the change in focus on KSEV from local to National matters and I believe we're seeing the end of a movement.

Sure, there will still be bills filed, debates held and other things done for campaign purposes but when 33% of the reform group's leadership team starts a company in the private sector making money off the old system you can pretty much be assured that he doesn't think said system is going anywhere anytime soon.

So Paul is making money off appraisals, Dan has (predictably) shifted focus to other 'pet' issues and Edd has joined forces with Pat to become the world's most annoying rebuttal to the Obama Presidency.

Just goes to show you that a movement dies, not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Houston Area Asides (02/17/09)

Mexico tells U.S. firm to stay off sunken ship in Gulf [Mark Stevenson, AP via Chron.com] - The International equivilent of 'You kids get off my lawn!'

Lawmakers Hope Rebate Spurs more Hybrid Sales. [David Saleh Rauf, Chron.com] - Hybrids are rapidly losing ground as the 'it' vehicles for 'going green'. You can get better mileage now out of a clean diesel. What Texas should be doing is offering tax credits to businesses that are doing work on battery storage. Full-on electrics show more long-term promise than do hybrid vehicles.

Activists rally around Quannell X [Dale Lezon, Chron.com] - Group says HPD is trying to 'silence' criticism. Since when is outright lying catagorized as 'criticism'?

Changes of terms of service on Facebook cause a stir. [Wailin Wong, Chicago Trib via Chron.com] - If you're putting sensitive information on Facebook there's not much I can say.

That grocery store card can warn you if you purchased tainted food. [David Ellison, Chron.com] - That's great, it can also provide stores with your purchasing habits, which is why I shop at H.E.B. where there's no membership card required to get the sale price.

Houston Going back to court in drilling dispute. [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com] - In a case that dates back to 1991.

Texas Watchdog is looking for a Metro Reporter. [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - In a City that needs an increased Metro reporting presence.

Polling the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. [William Sidney, The County Seat] - If you poll historians who make their money writing about Lincoln is it really any surprise that they list the best U.S. President as *gasp* Lincoln? Too bad the National media missed this. (or, more accurately, didn't even think to ask the proper question)

The Allure of Federal Money

For some the Federal Pot o' Gold at the End of the Rainbow Means Ignoring all Other Factors.

[L.M. Sixel, Chron.com]

The federal stimulus bill expected to be signed today by the president has $555.7  million on the table for the Texas unemployment system, but only if the state makes it easier for more out-of-work residents to become eligible.

Some business and political leaders are concerned that taking the money would exchange short-term gain for long-term pain.

Advocates for the changes, however, say adopting the new guidelines would modernize the state’s unemployment system, allowing more low-wage workers to collect benefits.

The debate comes at a time when the state’s unemployment trust fund is facing an October deficit of $749.5 million that’s been projected by the Texas Workforce Commission.

“It’s a bad deal,” said Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business in Austin.

For Texas to get its share of the $7 billion in federal unemployment funds, the Lone Star State would have to change several state laws, which he estimates would cost employers at least $100  million more a year in payroll taxes.

Larry Temple, executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission, said officials will study the pros and cons.

“Part of that analysis will be if, when and how much taxes would have to be raised to continue these expansions once the initial funding is gone,” according to Temple. “As to ‘modernization,’ these are really not new ideas. These very issues have been debated in the Texas Legislature for many years.”

Texas would immediately get one-third of the money if it changes the way it calculates unemployment benefits.

Currently, the state bases benefits on wages paid more than a year before a job loss. The new federal rules would base benefits on more recent work history, according to the National Employment Law Project.

That would make more low-wage workers who cycle in and out of the work force eligible for benefits.

Part of the folly of every 'treasure story' is the tragicomic single mindedness that the hero endures in his quest for the treasure trove, only to be left contemplating the costs at the end of the journey. Federal dollars are much the same. There's typically a sizable reward, but there are also sizable costs that have to be paid along the way.

Here's the other steps that Texas would need to take in order to fully qualify:

To get the remaining two-thirds, the state would have to choose two out of four options:

• Allow recipients to look for part-time work, which would change the full-time job-search requirement currently in place.

• Speed up benefits to “trailing spouses,” or those who quit because a husband or wife had to move for work. Now the spouse has to wait six weeks to become eligible.

• Pay workers who have already exhausted their unemployment benefits but are attending training programs, something the state doesn’t currently do.

• Pay a weekly stipend to workers who support dependents — again, something the state doesn’t currently do.

Richard Levy, Legal director for the local AFL-CIO, disputes the 'ATM-like' reputation of the program but then focuses on the cash-payout 'opportunities' that the plan offers.

Also of concern is that there are currently only four States whose unemployment programs would qualify them for full funding. Each of those State's is currently facing unprecedented budgetary woes and are among the loudest voices calling for a Federal 'bailout' of their Governments.

All of this works toward a central point, one that often gets lost in the 'conservative vs. liberal' cat-fight that echoes around the blogosphere: There could be a case made where some of the reforms make sense and some do not. It'd be better for Texas to take the time to work out unemployment reform that's in the best long-term interest of the State, rather than rigging a system designed to attract Federal dollars to the detriment of long-term funding.

It's the same type of thinking that leads people to believe that they get a "deal" if they only buy $40 more in clothing so they can get the 25% off they're 'entitled to' if they spend $100 or more.

Financial literacy is lacking in Austin, Washington D.C. and the media these days it seems.

Meet Sly

If these are the things that are going to happen when I decide to take a break from blogging I'm never going to stop again.

Above you'll find a picture of Sly. (The name I gave him) What follows is Sly's story....

My wife was off work today due to Presidents Day and decided to go to the gym. On her way home from working out she saw this guy running along the side of the street. Being a dog lover, Linda stopped and Sly came right up to her and let her pet him. There was a lady living in a house nearby who came outside and told my wife that earlier some moron in a pick-up truck had driven down the road, stopped, opened the door, threw Sly out and then sped up and drove away, leaving Sly chasing him down the road after him. For the next few hours a scared and confused Sly tried to jump into the back of several pick-up trucks as they slowed down at a stop sign. This went on for hours until my wife came by and picked him up.

After petting him for a bit my wife opened up the back of the Forester and Sly jumped straight in.

Sly's now temporarily taking up residence in our garage as we work to find him a new home. Unfortunately I can't keep a dog like Sly full time, my Rottweiler and he won't mix. What I'm determined not to have happen is for Sly to end up in another bad home or in a kill shelter where his fate is sealed. He's too good of a dog for that.

For now he's a garage puppy who's very, very scared but getting better all the time. Tonight after our walk he was comfortable enough to lay down beside me on the floor where I was sitting.

If you know somebody who cares for Pit Bulls, is in the market to give one a good home, or knows of someone who deals with rescue organizations please have them contact me via the e-mail in my profile. I'll be sure to get in contact with them and try to find this good dog a new home.

Back to sleep

(Photo courtesy of Psychology Today)

I hadn't planned on blogging today but the 'Cancer Diva' announcement temporarily altered my plans. The blog is going back to sleep for the near future. Regular posting will resume whenever I feel there's something worthwhile to post reguarly about. Until then....ciao.

Your gasoline, their oil, not a linear price relationship.

As good an explenation as I've seen in a while....

[Chris Kahn & John Porretto, AP via Chron.com]

Crude oil prices have fallen to new lows for this year. So you'd think gas prices would sink right along with them.

Not so.

On Thursday, for example, crude oil closed just under $34 a barrel, its lowest point for 2009. But the national average price of a gallon of gas rose to $1.95 on the same day, its peak for the year. On Friday gas went a penny higher.

To drivers once again grimacing as they tank up, it sounds like a conspiracy. But it has more to do with an energy market turned upside-down that has left gas cut off from its usual economic moorings.

The price of gas is indeed tied to oil. It's just a matter of which oil.

The benchmark for crude oil prices is West Texas Intermediate, drilled exactly where you would imagine. That's the price, set at the New York Mercantile Exchange, that you see quoted on business channels and in the morning paper.

Right now, in an unusual market trend, West Texas crude is selling for much less than inferior grades of crude from other places around the world. A severe economic downturn has left U.S. storage facilities brimming with it, sending prices for the premium crude to five-year lows.

But it is the overseas crude that goes into most of the gas made in the United States. So prices at the pump will probably keep going up no matter what happens to the benchmark price of crude oil.

Some of this is due to market forces, West Texas Intermediate Crude being historically more expensive, as the article states but a lot of it is due to short-sighted regulatory hold-ups and good, old-fashioned NIMBYism hamstringing pipe-line construction in America as well. Ironically, the same people who howl like banshees whenever someone wants to build a pipeline or expand a refinery are the first people to cry that there's a 'grand conspiracy' by 'big oil' designed to keep us all down.

We're currently in the process of getting the America we've been asking for since the 1970's. The hold-up is that we are too ashamed to really admit that we've done this to ourselves. The Baby-Boomer generation has spent their entire lives evangalizing a 'spend at all costs' materialism to the World and is now brazen enough to try and slough this off on her children, grandchildren and their descendents. In return reams of articles, books and dissertation have been printed bsmirching Generation X (my generation), Y and the Millenials before they could even grasp the levers of power. When Gen-X decided they weren't going to play the 'rat-race' game, we were derided as lazy, Gen-Y was cast as perpetually stricken by ADD, and the Millenials are having to endure the 'generation me' label. Ironically, the most self-centered, irresponsible generation in history is the one throwing those labels around. It's almost as if an entire generation has decided to project.


Meanwhile, why all of this is going on right under our noses, our society of self-proclaimed experts is wasting no time poking holes in this arguement (which makes the fatal mistake in todays society of not casting sufficient blame on the 'correct' sources) and forwarding their own arguments which, fortunately for them, let them off the hook for any of the markets shortcomings.

Maybe its no surprise that the politicians we currently elect in America are the ones that do the best job assuring us its not our fault?

Remembering the 'Cancer Diva'

Chron Reporter Matt Stiles announced on Twitter last night that the Chron's Cancer Diva, Terry Hayes, finally succumbed to the disease Sunday Evening. Ms. Hayes was 42.

As someone who's family is also being affected by cancer there's some extent that I understand the extent that Ms. Hayes' family and friends are experiencing right now. To them I can only offer my thoughts and condolances, and prayers.

To anyone else reading may I remind you that the best gift you can give to cancer patients is the gift of a blood/platelet donation. I've asked this before and I'll ask it again, if anyone gives blood via MD Anderson, please remember my sister and give to account 646944 if you are so inclined.

Even if you aren't inclined then please consider going and giving blood if you are able. Given Cancer's proclivity to strike without prejudice or warning, the life you aid may be someone closer to you than you think.

A fitting tribute to Ms. Hayes would be to donate blood in her name. It's the least we can do.

Hearted out.

I will be off-line for a time so have a happy whatever. Comments are going on moderation until I get back so don't be surprised if your hard work and eloquently written logical fallacy doesn't appear after you submit it. You can try e-mailing but the truth is I'll probably just delete it.

Houston Area Asides (02/12/09)

The "typing from a train" edition...

Computer virus keeps Houston courts closed until Friday. [Dale Lezon, Chron.com] - Free advice: automatic upadate software.

Tinsley Memorial Set for Saturday. [Chron.com] - Saying goodbye to a revered public figure.

Texas Urged to do More on its Own in Ike Recovery. [Mike Snyder, Chron.com] - "Don't wait for Feds" is probably good advice regardless of the situation.

A Busy Signal for the Jobless. [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - And these are the people we want running our health care?

Fix Minority Business Program, Council Critics Say. [Bradley Olson, Chron.com] - Is this "certification program" an additional layer of crap that minority businesses have to go through? And, if so, wouldn't they be better off without the red tape? The article makes it sound as if the program is either a) additional red tape that minority businesses must cut through or b) a program designed to allow only 'preferred' minority businesses access to the money trough. Either way it seems it needs to go.

All Creatures...[tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - The Religion of Science continues its argument against the Religion of Fundamentalist Christianity.

What Liberal Means to Me. [Sean Stoner, Maslow Forgot About Beer] - Given today's bloated, inefficient, dogmatic progressives it's easy to forget that liberalism grew from lean roots focused on looking out for the little guy. Sadly, through years of mis-mismanagement and failure to strengthen the brand, classical liberalism is as dead today as is classical conservatism. America could use a heady dose of both right about now.

Downtown building gets new designation. [Jennifer Dawson, Houston Business Journal] - The first Downtown LEED certified building. Congrats.

More on Schieffer [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - I'm fully expecting a 'netroots approved' candidate to appear from obscurity soon. Will that be a better option than Schieffer? Of that I'm not so sure.

More Transit discussion (sort of)

Kuff replied to my post on the interesting transportation discussion occuring in the Houston Blogosphere here which continued the discussion and made some good arguments but which I felt the need to clarify in his comments here

Also in the comments are a couple of responses to my comments, one of which I think deserves a closer look.

The commenter "Temple" forwards the idea that the "age of the car" is coming to an end. Yes, he gets in all the 'evil stereotypes' about hegemony and gas guzzling behemoths which lessens the effectiveness of his comment, (the airy, hard to follow prose doesn't help either) but his central belief, I feel is based on two faulty assumptions.

1. That the "age of the car" is done.
2. That the best transportation solution is to limit options.

Stating that the car has reached the end of its life cycle assumes technological stagnation. Already we're seeing signs that this is not true. From exotic cars to practical vehicles already in the pipeline, its possible that the future of transportation will be measured by volts instead of by miles per gallon. When you add America's robust vehicle infrastructure into the mix as well as State and Local infrastructure you have a sizable investment into American travel that it would be foolish to abandon just to satisfy the needs of a minority of people who don't like to drive.

At its heart, public transit is about increasing the options for travelling from A to B not lessening them. Transportation activists who are rooting for a punitive solution have allowed themselves to be fooled by a local transportation lobby whose (admitted) goal is not mobility, but land speculation and development. The result of this is a tram system from Downtown to the Medical Center that's been very full, but which has done very little to reduce the amount of congestion in Houston. If anything the train has caused more congestion in the areas that it is operating due to its removal of an available traffic lane where it operates.

For residents living inside the Loop in Houston its quite possible that this arrangement is preferred. Metro already has the plans drawn up to extend this at-grade network to disperate points inside the Loop. For many this is a good thing. Those who prefer this option have won the debate regarding Metro transit inside the Loop. Houstonians are going to get an expanded system of at-grade rail whether opponents accept it or not. My concern during the debate over the expansion was to ensure the best possible system was built under the limitations of the plan. (which I view to be extreme) For others, the debate is about getting the system built as rapidly as possible. For them its easy to dismiss the train's dismal safety record as nothing more than bad Houston drivers rather than a design flaw. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. There's not much arguing that Houston drivers are pretty bad but, putting train tracks in the middle of the road, installing poor signs and restrictions on car access that frustrate drivers (leading to many illegal left-turns which in turn cause accidents) only serve to add to the problem.

These are the 'lessons that Metro should have learned' from the original Red Line of Houston's LRT system: That personal vehicles will always be with us (although the technology will change) and that any good transit system must be designed to co-exist with them. People who aren't willing to acknowledge those basic facts are really not active participants in a transportation discussion, they're just screaming at the walls.

This would be an example of having a discussion, honestly answering a question without snark or personally aggrandizing statements. Just a nice, simple back n' forth without the vitriol that too often occurs amongst the shouting class.

Again, I just wish more people were participating.

$3 Million Needed to Repair Westpark Tollway

Reaction to this news should be fun to follow...

[Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com]

Harris County is going to pay an estimated $3 million and close part of the Westpark Tollway for two months to fix a drainage problem that cropped up shortly after the five-year-old highway opened, officials said Wednesday.

Commissioners Court voted to seek bids for the project Tuesday, just a month after agreeing to pay a construction firm $2 million to fix large cracks in the pavement on another section of the toll road.

Peter Key, deputy director of the Harris County Toll Road Authority, attributed the latest problems in the Westpark’s short lifespan to bad luck and the challenge of building a highway in a densely populated urban area.

Asked why the highway’s designers would not have anticipated the drainage issue, Key said it was possible the water table had risen in the year between the completion of a geotechnical report and the beginning of construction.

“We can spend three million dollars investigating what went wrong or we can spend three million dollars fixing it,” added Lisa Castaneda, the head of HCTRA’s engineering group for existing infrastructure.

The drainage problem is occurring on the section of the tollway that passes under the Southwest Freeway, Key said. That part of the highway is depressed, or below ground level. Another part of the road near Highway 6 is built the same way but is not having issues with water, he said.

Cue the "road construction is bad" crowd in 5...4...3...2...

While the I-10 expansion was in the construction phase I drove this section of Westpark quite often and know, first hand, where the problem area is and why this fix needs to occur. The area in question always has standing water no matter how dry or hot its been outside. Finally they just gave up and put temporary signs out cautioning motorists about the wet road.

Now that I-10 is open and runs freely, I don't use Westpark any longer so I don't know if it's gotten worse or not. I imagine it has however since it's going to cost $3 Million to fix it.

Hopefully the HCTRA looks at this and learns from their mistakes. $3 Million may not seem like much in this age of multi-Billion dollar bailout packages but its still a sizable amount of money in my eyes. Something we don't want to be throwing away due to lack of prior planning.

Southwest now A-OK with Bikini's on planes

(Image courtesy of BlogSouthwest.)

Above is SI One a Southwest Airlines plane with a giant image of bikini clad model Bar Rafaeli proudly affixed to the fuselage.

Here at LaE there's only one thing to say about this...."Can you request a breast or buttocks seat now?" Well, two things....."Why didn't anyone think of this before?"

For Southwest Airlines this is being viewed as the greatest affront to morals since...well..since EVER!!!

From the Southwest Airlines Blog comments:

Tacky. Would one be able to wear those clothes inside the plane?

(Next)

Does anyone else find this kind of trashy for Southwest? Having a woman in a bikini on the side of the plane hardly seems like the epitome of the friendly, down-home airline I've grown accustomed to. This seems like something Spirit Airlines would do.

(Next)

Very tacky. I know Southwest is notorious for it's fun, but this is simply in bad taste. I'm very surprised at their decision especially in an economic time that loss of customers is crucial.
I suppose it could go the other way, but how many teen-age boys are fare paying customers?

The last comment is probably most humorous, since it's 20-30 something men that are the SI Swimsuit issues biggest customers. I'm pretty sure a LOT of them fly SWA.

If anything the most legitimate criticism against Southwest would be that the girl pictured ON the plane, wouldn't be allowed IN the plane. Maybe the LUV airline is trying to shed their stodgy image and return to their fun filled ways of years gone by?

One thing's for sure, some Americans need to remove their permenant wedgies and lighten up. The SI One 737 is a good marketing move to kick off their much anticipated service to LaGuardia. After all, what better way to say hello to New York City than with a 50 ft woman in a bikini?




Oh a hot 50ft woman in a bikini at that. Bar Rafaeli fits the bill.

Houston Area Asides (02/11/09)

The "training day" edition...

Houston Dog Takes Westminster Crown [Ben Walker, AP via Chron.com] - Congrats to Stump. I thought the Giant Schnauzer was the best dog but quite often dog shows aren't all about that.

Geithner or Paulson, Not much has changed [Desperado, Something Different] - Krugman as Commerce Secretary? Yikes. That would be 'something different'. Something disasterously different FWIW. The best political humor in Houston is often found on these, highly partisan 'non-partisan' Chron.commons blogs.

Why Perry gave a Pass to Cornyn [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - Not really the type of "digging deep" that we were promised from Casey but this is one of the rare times I think his analysis is correct. That's something I guess. Still, just another column recapping what's been said and written elsewhere.

Mentally Disabled Workers Found in Squalor. [Terri Langford, Chron.com] - Terrible story. In lieu of Government officials grandstanding I hope (for a change) something real is done to reform the TRC in light of this. {I'm not holding out hope}

School Cheif Saavedra may Exit HISD with $1 Million [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com] - The complaining about this should have occured when the contract was drafted. If they're following the letter of the agreement (and it appears that they are) then good for him.

Bailiff's Mistake Lead's to Mistrial in Murder Case. [Brian Rogers, Chron.com] - Somehow "Oops" just doesn't seem sufficient does it?

Jeremy Desel back on the air tonight. [David Barron, Chron.com] - Welcome back Jeremy! Good reporter and a great story.

AG Charges Sealy Hotel with Price Gouging During Ike. [David Ellison, Chron.com] - I've said it before and I'll say it again: There's a special circle reserved in Dante's Viking Oven for folks who take advantage of others during times of tragedy. It's right next to the heating element and across the street from those who take advantage of children and those with special needs. If these hotel owners are guilty then I say throw the book at them.

Love those Live Oaks. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Is it really such a travesty that you can't plant a live oak under a power line? In typical Chron editorial fashion, the rhetoric is baseless, needlessly inflammatory and overstates the effect of the proposed regulation:

The committee seems to envision Houston as a city of shrubs.

. I'll say it again: Close down the Ed board, run citizen editorials and outside information and redeploy the resources to area beats.

District H Candidate Forum in Shady Acres. [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - If you live in District H you might want to attend.

Telling an untruth once could be a mistake. [Unca Darrell] - Continuing his campaign against dodgy facts in the Chron editorial page.

County to seek new Outside Auditor. [Liz Peterson, Chron.com]

Does our Science Education make Science and Religion Indistinguishable to Students? [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - Any time you have devotees who view acceptance of their ideals as being the only "truth" then you run the risk of butting against religious fervor. Science is definitely there for some people.

County Ethics Plan Stalled Again

This time by a Democrat...[Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com]

Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday postponed action again on ethics reform proposals championed by County Judge Ed Emmett, complicating his efforts to make good on a campaign pledge to seek the Legislature’s approval of the most stringent changes.

In a report submitted Tuesday, the County Attorney’s Office said lawmakers would have to sign off on plans to require lobbyists to register with the county and make former employees wait a year before benefiting financially from a county contract.

Commissioner El Franco Lee asked the County Attorney’s Office to review the recommendations again because the analysis presented Tuesday was based on research conducted by former County Attorney Mike Stafford. He was defeated in November by Democrat Vince Ryan.

Lee denied trying to kill the proposal, saying the county has plenty of time to forward a plan to Austin.

But First Assistant County Attorney Marc Hill said it could take him two to three months to thoroughly analyze the task force’s recommendations.

By then it could be difficult to build momentum for a bill before the Legislature adjourns on June 1.

The move puts Emmett in a difficult position as he looks toward a 2010 re-election campaign. Failing to implement the promised reforms could become a liability, but former County Judge Robert Eckels earned the commissioners’ wrath for advancing his own agenda in Austin. Court members generally only lobby for bills they all agree to support.

That last paragraph suggests, without actually saying, that County Commissioner Lee is acting on partisan, rather than public, interests. Whether that's the case or not I don't know. What I am pretty sure of, despite Commissioner Lee's assertions to the contrary, is that this delay is very close to a death blow for this legislation.

Even more disturbing is the Commissioner Court's seemingly lack of enthusiasm to draft and submit even the most basic of ethics reform legislation. Asking lobbyists to register and requiring a waiting period is kids in the sandbox stuff that most governing bodies have long since adopted. If there are County elected officials that oppose even these small ethics measures, imagine how impossible its going to be to enact meaningful reforms?

It's yet to be seen whether or not the local chattering class will run with this or no. Some members of the InterLeft have made a cottage industry out of blasting the Republicans for their ethical shortcomings, while the Bloggers O' the Right have been jumping up and down insisting that everyone has ethics issues, not just candidates with an (R) behind their name. Since each side tends to trumpet the ethical short-comings of the other party I'm expecting to see "shock and disbelief" from the Right and crickets from the Left. I could be wrong however and I freely admit that. After all, I'm not on either of the blogging memo mailing lists.

The secret of NIMBY

Just blame those pesky constituents. [Jeff McShan, KHOU]:

Houston police don't keep statistics on crimes committed against the homeless, but detectives say it seems they are happening more and more often.

Because of the growing crime, social workers are becoming worried about the safety of the people living on our streets.

“Some people feel that because the homeless are there, they can beat them up or jump on them. They think that no one is going to care about it. I've heard about several people who have actually been murdered,” said Robert Jackson, caseworker.

The latest murder happened at a bus stop at the University of Houston over the weekend. Early Saturday morning, an unidentified homeless man in his 50s or 60s was found shot to death.

Police believe he may have been killed while he slept.

Ironically, the bus stop is very close to an old hotel at Cullen and the Gulf Freeway that the homeless coalition and others want to turn into permanent housing for people like the man who was killed.

But the project, called Magnolia Glen, is now on life support because Council Member James Rodriguez says his constituents don't want it there.

“I am not against homeless initiatives. I do support them. I just think this area and this part of my district has enough on its plate right now,” said Rodriguez.

Congratulations to first-term Houston Council Member James Rodriguez, he rapidly learned the first rule of municipal politics...You can be for anything provided you can blame the constituents when you oppose it.

What I can't get around is the fact that this location makes sense. We're talking about an old hotel, on a major freeway. It's not like we're plopping the homeless down in the middle of a neighborhood. Opponents could point out the close proximety of the University of Houston. But wouldn't they benefit from the opportunity to volunteer in a facility close to class? This could be especially beneficial to the Psychology and Sociology departments who are training students to be counselors and community activists. What better training than on-the-job training right? The University should be interested in this, if nothing else for the positive community relations it would provide.

The point of sheltering the homeless is to get them off the streets. In order to do this successfully you have to build shelters in a close proximety to where they are. Thinking you are going to farm out the problem to low-population density areas all in the name of constituent services is naive and doesn't do anything to solve the problem. Were Mr. Rodriguez really for homeless initiatives he'd offer up alternative locations that are acceptable to his constituents rather than just killing an existing project in order to garner votes.

Which brings us back to the fallacy that our elected representatives (at any level) are 'fighting' for us in any way. For them NIMBY is translated to mean: "Not in close proxemity to those who are voting for me".

The Best Transit Discussion in Houston

Is taking place amongst the hobby bloggers.

In case you've been missing it here's a taste of what's been going on:

I-10 [Andrew Burleson, neoHouston]

Has anyone else noticed that traffic on I-10 is still not great?

I have a ‘reverse’ commute on I-10 every day. Before the expansion traffic was fine inside the loop outbound in the morning, slow outside the loop. Inbound in the evening it was slow outside the loop, fine inside, except near the 10-45 interchange.

Now things are much smoother outbound, no delay at all. Inbound, however, is a nightmare. Traffic comes to nearly a complete stop approaching the 10-45 interchange, and is usually very slow all the way back to Shepherd / Durham.

Observing the ‘regular’ commuters across the median, things are of course worse. In the mornings the backup to get onto the loop or through the 10-45 interchange is insane, it’s bad in the evenings as well.

I don’t experience traffic outside the beltway, but my co-worker at the next desk does. He claims that there has been no improvement for him coming from Katy to the I-10 / Voss area.

(snip)
This $2.8 Billion dollar project appears to have somewhat improved conditions between the loop and the beltway, seems to have been a minor improvement outside the beltway, and has definitely made things worse on the loop and inside the loop.

Keep the price, 2.8 BILLION dollars, fresh in your mind. We have some really relevant discussions upcoming about how to spend money in this town, and there are better places we can put it if we’re going to spend that much again.

I had the following question to raise in the comments:

Curious here: Is your argument that all road spending is folly and that every dollar should go to trains and other mass transit, or that we need to do a better job on road design in addition to mass transit?

To which Mr. Buleson answered here...

Good question!

My argument is certainly not that all road spending is folly.

I’ll probably post a more elaborate argument along these lines later, but here is my philosophy in a nutshell:

The paradigm for the last generation of transportation planning has been to try and find a way to build bigger ‘pipes’ for traffic to flow through, i.e. mega-highways.

You run into physical limits here, where increasing lanes becomes both exponentially more expensive and less effective.

However, you CAN increase network capacity and reduce traffic congestion by building MORE ROUTES instead of MORE LANES. Each route has a certain capacity beyond which the return on investment is increasingly not worthwhile. Often, building a better local street network would reduce congestion much more effectively than arterial widening projects.

There’s a great parallel to this in the computer world. Processor speeds have pretty much peaked around 3GHz. Will they get faster? Sure. But it’s clear within the industry that the future is no longer in a race to the maximum processor speed, but rather how many processor cores can be fit on a chip.

Transit is an important addition because it not only adds new routes, it adds a whole new network layer. It’s like adding a graphics card to a computer. It serves a different need and functions in a complementary but somewhat independent way.

At the end of the day, though, what’s most important is maximizing freedom of choice. We need a diversified transportation system that seeks first to provide the most freedom and flexibility. That includes freedom not to drive.

Charles Kuffner then weighed in on this issue here.

The reason for this is pretty simple. The interchange from I-10 to I-45 is one lane for each direction. It's the exit to I-45 south, which is the way into downtown and points south like the Medical Center (via 288) and Greenway Plaza (via 59), that's the biggest mess, and with more traffic being brought in thanks to the out expansion of the freeway, the bottleneck is that much worse at this point. I can confirm Andrew's observation, because one way I have to get to work after I drop the girls off at preschool is I-10 to I-45 to SH-288. In theory, it's the fastest way for me to get to where I work by the Astrodome, even though it's a longer-distance drive. But just about every day as I approach I-10 from Height Blvd, and I can see that traffic is basically at a crawl from before there onward, I say the hell with it, and I take my chances on the surface roads instead. It's not really any faster, but I find it to be less stressful, and it offers me the chance to take an alternate route if it turns out there's a real obstruction beyond just the sheer number of vehicles.

That's kind of the dirty secret of all the highway construction we've had in Houston over the past two decades or so. We can spend billions of dollars to improve the drive out to the burbs - and we have! - but driving in town is still hell. This is just one example.

(snip)

So what can we do about this? We can do what I've been agitating for over and over again around here, which is to create transportation alternatives for the inside-the-loop traveller that gets them where they need to be without the need for these hot spots. Yes, I'm talking about more light rail. In particular, I say my Kirby Drive route would do a lot to keep the 59/45 problems from getting even worse, since it would provide a north-south alternative for a very dense part of town. I proposed that route mostly because I think it's the best answer to the increasing congestion on the surface roads, but let's face it, one reason for that increasing congestion on the surface roads is because of people like me who are turning to them as alternate routes to the highways. It may not be an alternative for that guy who needs to get from Greenway to the Woodlands or Humble, but if it keeps a few Greenway to Heights commuters off the road he's traveling, it still benefits him.

The bottom line is simply this: We cannot add capacity to the highways inside the Loop the way we can outside it. Just as we cannot add capacity to the surface roads, our only viable option for ameliorating the greater volume of traffic in Houston's inner core is to add transit. I've made these points before, and I'll keep making them because it's everywhere you look. Either we add transit, or we're doomed to lousy mobility in Houston's densest areas.

It's an interesting back n' forth that, at least in part, deviates from the Metro Solutions plan and explores different ways of developing a transportation network in Houston. My transportation proclivities lie in a direction opposite of at-grade rail that's intentionally designed to be punitive to automobile transportation. I think Houston should (and could) accomplish the same goals by re-designing and expanding the bus system and building grade-seperated guideways for Bus Rapid Transit using clean diesel busses as a build up to deploying either a solar or electric fleet when those options become available. Not only would that option be cheaper, it would also be more visually appealing. Why is it that the same people who are opposed to this visual clutter:
Take no issue with this visual clutter? A BRT system, built at separated grade from automobile traffic, fed by a strong commuter rail system and supported by a robust circulator bus system would be far more efficient, multi-modal and aesthetically pleasing than would any other option. Sadly, this idea has not received much, if any, play in a land where a return to the light rail past is seen as the key to the future of transportation.

I will concede two points in my arguments that are flaws.

1. Building a BRT system in anticipation of new power sources for vehicles that might not come is risky. However, the technology for electric and solar cars is available, the only thing currently lacking is battery capacity. Could it not happen? You bet. But I'm banking on it happening.

2. I've got no answer for those who believe that Houston needs Light Rail in order to provide them with another bullet in their 'world class' cachet. BRT is decidedly unsexy, it's not 'cool' and it doesn't address the problem of those who 'just won't ride a bus'. If you truly believe that light rail, and only light rail, will solve Houston's needs, or if you feel the die has already been cast then I'm not going to disagree.

I also concede that, when Metro tried to transition to BRT on some lines in 2008, the PR results were a disaster. To be fair however Metro's defense of the system was half-hearted at best, and the whole thing seemed to be an attempt to bolster the 'see Houstonians want light rail' argument than it did a serious effort to truly install something new.

I agree with Andrew and Charles when they say Houston needs to add new routes and new travel options that make it possible for people to choose to not drive a car. I also agree with those on the other side who say that the City should not make it impossible to drive a car. The disagreement comes in how the Houston region should go about building a system that will provide these options.


One last thing I'll concede: Since I wasn't actively blogging in 2003 I missed an important input window and those who support light rail won an important election authorizing light rail. Because of this I believe that Metro has the authority to construct a light-rail network that is consistent with what the voters approved. I believe the current fights over this network should be to get the best system possible given the limitations of the plan passed. What I'm advocating for today is for Metro to not make the same mistakes on the next phase of their proposal. Whatever comes next needs to be regional in scope, flexible in nature, and possess the ability to up-convert to new technological advances rapidly.

Houston Area Asides (02/10/09)

The "don't ask questions" edition....

Pay TV becomes a little costlier. [Brad Hem, Chron.com] - And you're surprised by this why?

Facilities for Texas Disabled Youths Come Under Scrutiny. [Janet Elliot, Chron.com] - My guess would be total closure, but you never know what the Lege is going to do.

Perry, Hutchison Exchange Bitter Words in Governor's Race. [R.G. Ratcliffe, Chron.com] - I'm still amazed that, despite all that's going on in Austin right now, a race two years away is being given the most print space.

Plan to Divide Ike Aid Across Region Leaves Few Happy. [Mike Snyder, Chron.com] - Houston receives as much as Galveston, other, County areas receive less. Brilliant!

Audubon Study Ties Migration Shift to Climate Change. [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com] - Climate Friendly is the next "green" movement that will come from Madison Ave. Watch.

Houston Firefighters to get 10% raises over next two years. [Bradley Olson, Chron.com] - Good for them. If anyone deserves a raise its the guys who run into burning buildings to pull people out.

Searching for a Ray of Hope. [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - The '09 Recession gets the Teen treatment. Yay!

HISD approves Saavedra Resignation Deal. [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com] - And where's the angry editorialzing on this golden parachute?

The (New) Houston Political Dictionary (Revised)

R

Radar the Weather Dog - The product of a marketing department unrestrained by common sense.

Rail - The Holy Grail of future transportation ironically built on the technology of the 19th Century.

There was a time that we were promised flying cars, then Vietnam happened and America lost confidence in herself. What we're left with is a group of true believers who feel the best way to solve a problem is to look backwards in time to a problem that's already been solved.

Rain - Nature's way of reminding us Houstonians are terrible drivers.

Reclamation - A concept that's better in theory than in actual application.

Everyone, it seems, likes the idea of reclamation, but no one wishes to be reclaimed items, houses etc. The main problem of course being that, quite often, reclaimed items are ugly as sin and often smell like old feet.

Recycle - Something everyone other than you should do regardless of expense.

Red Light Cameras - The traffic equivilent of a slot machine with a 100% House advantage.

Regurgitate - After the elimination of one's concience, the 2nd most important skill required of a municipal politician is the ability to bring into the public dialogue an idea from the past that's been wholly discredited yet decorated up so as to be unrecognizable and (this time) certain to gain public acceptance. (See: Stadiums, Dynamo Soccer for more)

R.E.I.T. money- Manna from political heaven, especially when the T.I.R.Z. (see entry under "T") director is beholden unto municipal leadership for his/her position.

Renewal, Urban - An idea pushed by, primarily wealthy, primarily caucasian, political leaders living just outside of the urban core to entice people to forget why it is they wanted so desperately to move out of said area to begin with.

Request (political) - To demand, but in the form of a question.

Revitalize - The urban renewal equivilent of dressing up the body for a funeral.

Revolution - Worthless marketing term, since adapted by politicians, that used to have some transformational meaning but is now thoughtlessly slapped on any idea, program or product for which no real benefit can be applied.

At one time in the world revolutions were powerful movements or ideas that spawned true change. Unfortunately over time the ambitions of our leaders has diminished to the point that a new database to allow the public access to campaign finance information is deemed revolutionary by the politicians who cribbed the idea from a low-level programmer in the first place.

Rice (Houston) - A source of municipal pride that UT-Austin and aTm-College Station alums pretend doesn't exist.

River Oaks 1. The largest geographical concentration of wealth in Houston. 2. The real seat of City and County Government. 3. The cosmetic surgery capital of Texas.

It's been said that two things come out of River Oaks, political ideas for how to improve everyone else and 60 year old women who's body composition is closer to a blow up doll than a human being. The sad thing is, both are as equally full of bull.

Road Construction - (To Rail Activists) A colossal waste of money that could be spent building trains to run through other people's neighborhoods. (To car activists) The only true solution for solving the Nation's transportation woes.

Rodeo, Houston Livestock Show & - What passes in Houston for a political machine.

So powerful is the influence of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that even perfunctury media glances into their finances is met with dark stares and secrative phone calls made to nervous news editors. When ABC13's Wayne Dolcefino went fishing in the Rodeo's pond his story was cancelled and he disappeared from the airwaves for a time

Roller Coasters - The method through which Tillman Fertita hopes to conquer Houston after the coming of the American financial collapse.

Rotten Eggs - The smell in that residents promise you'll get used to if you move to certain parts of Houston.

Rove, Karl - A hated of whom is the minimum requirement for entrance into the local order of the Knights of the InterLeft.

Run - A term once describing physical movement whose only current application best described by sitting at a computer and pushing the 'enter' key.

Rapid Eye Movement (02/09/2009)

Another stimulating edition...

The President is a conciliator and a fighter. [E.J. Dionne, RCP] - All this based entirely on two speeches and no action. Brilliant!

Barack Obama is a Novice, and it Shows. [Toby Harnden, UK Telegraph] - Ah the clarity of distance.

The Destructive Center. [Paul Krugman, NYT] - Beware economists trying to use their recently acquired Nobel Prize in Economics to position themselves as the 'new economist' for a 'new American economy'. Yikes.

Politics is Destroying the Credibility of Economics [Clive Cook, Financial Times] - Or the theories of economists who are abandoning their beliefs to forward a political agenda.

The Bailout isn't a morality play. [Robert Samuelson, RCP] - Don't tell Chris Bell that.


Obama's Most Dire Warning. [Mark S. Smith, AP via the Chron] Good Lord tell me he didn't say that:

Campaigning for action in the most dire terms, President Barack Obama said today that if Congress does not quickly pass an economic stimulus package, the nation will slip into a crisis so deep that "we may be unable to reverse" it.

To quote a friend: Oh my.

President shouldn't use doom to try and sell a flawed bill. [Rick Moran, RCP] - Too late.

This can't be what Obama, Peolsi and Reid expected. [Stuart Rothenburg, RCP] - It's quite possible they did not expect this considering they seem to be the only three who weren't harboring reservations about their ability to govern.

Obama and the Permanent Campaign. [Jay Cost, RCP] - Might as well, the whole 'leadership' thing isn't working out very well.

Serving since 1955, a House Institution. [John Harwood, NYT]

The What and How of Obama. [Kimberley Strassel, WSJ]

Obama's Missle Test [WSJ]

How Government Created the Financial Crisis. [John B. Taylor, WSJ]

That feeling of impending doom.

Woke up this morning with an odd twinge of dread in my chest. At first I thought it was just something I had eaten, maybe too much gelato or one too many glasses of red wine so the histemines were getting to me. Had to be something small like that because I wasn't feeling bad, just tight.

Suddenly it hit me....my cellphone contract is up next week which means a whole new round of negotiations, idiot salespersons who try to fit you in a user box, and inflexible, overly long plans designed to suck the life out of you by the third billing cycle.

In short, I was having a reaction to the horrors of cell-phone service in America.

OK, I'm kidding, a little.

The reality is cell service in the U.S. of A. lags behind cell service in Europe and Japan for reasons that would take a mountain of blog posts to answer. For some odd reason the American consumer is still willing to commit to two years of service in return for a free prices on cheap phones a practice that triples the price of a cell phone without the standard service agreement. For their part the service companies are quite content to trade two-years of projected revenue for the cost of a one-time phone purchase. And no, I'm not blaming the cell-phone companies here, I'm blaming the U.S. consumer (self included) who goes along with this silly plan.

My current contract is with AT&T wireless. They have some good points working for them and some (very bad) points working against them.

First, the bad....

Too many dropped calls - You know the 'fewest dropped calls' commercial? If that's true then other plans must drop almost every other call made. There are two places on my ride home where I can guarantee the call will drop, every time. Westpark Tollway @ Sam Houston Parkway, or I-10 @ 610. It doesn't matter who I'm talking to, whether I'm on my hands-free or not (I almost always am however) I'll drop whatever call I'm on when driving past these areas.

Expensive Data - AT&T's data plans are horribly expensive.

Corporate reputation - It's no secret that AT&T doesn't have the best reputation as a corporate citizen, and their customer service is dodgy even on the good days.


Now, the good....

Devices - I'm currently using a Samsung BlackJack and I love it. Supposedly the BlackJack II has better software which allows for more supported applications via Twitter (which I'm still finding a niche for) and mobile GPS. Oh yeah, they also have the iPhone, which Apple fanboys tell me I'm crazy for not lusting after. Which illustrates the difference between tech me and the fanboys. I can get a BlackJack II for $49.99 with a new contract and it will do everything I want it to do or I can pay at least $199.99 and get an iPhone with a new contract and, if it doesn't do what I want it to do, I can pay extra at an "app store" and download programs.

Good texting plans - My wife, more so than I, is a texting machine. She loves Instant messaging moreso than talking on the phone. I'm getting there and I've finally embraced it fully since moving to a full QWERTY keyboard on the BlackJack. My wife is smitten with the Pantech Duo due to its ability to convert to a full QWERTY keyboard config, which I'll admit is an attractive feature. My one complaint about my blackjack is having to dial a number on this keyboard: (photo courtesy of WMExperts.com)


I'm also considering Verizon Wireless which probably has the strongest network but, once you get passed the SMT 5800 is lacking in the device catagory, Sprint which has a great Data and Voice plan but currently offers a rather weak range of devices while they wait for Palm to get off their tails.

Eliminated from contention are T-Mobile who has the Android phone and little else, AllTell which merged with Verizon and doesn't provide service to the Houston area.


What I wish I could do is get Verizon's coverage with AT&T's devices and Sprint's rate plan.

Fat chance of that happening.

Houston Area Asides (02/09/09)

The "transitional phase" edition...

Rice Professor's discovery may save your iPhone Battery. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - Or, like 95% of Houston Chronicle readers, your cell phone battery. How editors allow blatent advertising of this sort to sneak throuh in headlines is beyond me.

Huge Ike Debris under water [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com] - $39 Million dollar price tag to clean up the Bay.

Houston coaches want kids to win, but not by 100 pts. [Jenny Dial, Chron.com] - This article could have been less timely, but I'm not sure how.

Cinco Ranch community keeps eye out for Bobcats. [Jennifer Latson, Chron.com] - Guess what my wife wants to try and get a picture of?

Jury Selection to begin in Trial of Democratic Donor. [AP via Chron.com]

Ambassador returns to Texas and his party. [Clay Robison, Chron.com] - The roster be thin if a former Bush appointee is considering a Democratic run for Governor.

Stimulus provides a chance to restructure health care. [Drs. Clifford M. Dasco & Matthew Dasco, Chron.com] - How that would stimulate the economy isn't clear but, as we've learned by now, the pork to forward pet projects 'stimulus' bill isn't all that much about the economy.

Mayor's race. 1+1=1 [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - Hall is out, Locke is in. I wonder what Hall was promised in return for pulling out?

KTRH continues to try and out-Fox Fox. [Richard Connelly, Houston Press Hairballs] - KTRH hasn't been a serious news resource for many years now. It's only listenable in the morning. Why Connelly suddenly has a case of journalism rabies about this is beyond me.

Comprehenseviely addressing graffiti [Tory Gattis, Houston Strategies] - not as sexy as 'wham-bam' trains and legacy building bridges so it's not discussed by City Government much (see: potholes, sidewalks, sewage et al), but it's probably more relevent to quality of life than anything the current and recent administrations have decided are 'priorities'.

A couple of questions regarding the proposed soccer stadium. [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Beyond all of the talk as to whether or not the Dynamo "deserve" a Soccer-specific stadium lies the un-asked question as to whether or not their balance sheet could support it sans government financing. It's a legit question.

When the economy is built on housing. [Andrew Burelson, neoHouston] - Solid argument, although I still think something has to be done to keep 20% of the population from losing their homes. Yes, it sucks for those who did nothing wrong, but so would letting those houses hit the foreclosure market.

Bandwidth bandits Beware! [Jay Lee, The Bald Heretic] - Don't mess with Jay Lee's bandwidth man.

More on the East End Overpass

The residents they aren't happy...[Rosanna Ruiz, Chron.com]

David Mansker sees dark skies from the office window of his East End used-car lot.

Metro’s plans for light rail include land right in front of Harrisburg Auto Sales, which Mansker and his brother Donald have owned for more than 30 years. The brothers already have given up 40 feet of their lot at Harrisburg and Linwood for the new rail line, but are not sure the business will survive the construction.

“If (customers) can’t get into our place,” Mansker said, “then they’ll go down the road instead.”

The brothers are not the only ones wringing their hands over the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Harrisburg rail project. Many in the area worry what will happen to the predominantly Hispanic community if Metro proceeds with its plans.

(snip)

The tension was evident two weeks ago when some community residents and leaders implored City Council and Mayor Bill White to “stop this preposterous overpass.”

“I love the East End and that’s where I’m going to die,” said Marilu De La Fuente, chairwoman of the Harrisburg Heritage Society. “We have to be stewards for future generations.”

Thoroughfares like Harrisburg, Canal and Navigation are lifelines for the community of Hispanics, who settled generations ago along the rail lines they worked.

The area is now welcoming new residents who are restoring the neighborhood’s modest homes.

Some now worry that redevelopment will be in vain if Metro builds the 2,000-foot overpass and sprawling rail car maintenance facility. And they say the agency has done little to assuage those concerns.

“Metro has never said ‘OK, these are the numbers, let’s discuss them. Let’s show you some pictures,’” said Sylvia Medina, the East End Chamber of Commerce’s economic development director. “It hasn’t worked that way.”

Metro’s board voted on the Harrisburg line in June 2006 after more than 70 community meetings, agency spokesman George Smalley said.

Many argue that the overpass would shut off a portion of the boulevard and increase noise throughout the neighborhood.

The proposed overpass, planned to span from Cowling to 66th, would rise 26 feet above a rail line, tall enough to allow a double-stacked rail car to pass below. It would accommodate light rail trains, two traffic lanes and sidewalks.

East End support was vital to the passage of the 2003 Metro Solutions referendum. In return for that support Metro's poised to reward those who use transit the most with an industrial facility and an overpass that nobody seems to want. Can you imagine the outrage if the rail car facility was scheduled to be constructed in the Heights?

Or, River Oaks?

This is how Metro is thanking their supporters. Maybe those who voted against the referendum (the suburbs) should be thankful that Metro's future plans don't include expanding into their areas?

Metro's defense is that they conducted over 60 'public-input' sessions before finalizing the plans. If only they had listened to what residents are saying. Don't expect Metro booster 'transit activists' to get too up in arms about this, unless they live in the East End that is. Ignoring a plans hurts to others for assurance it does good for 'me' is all part of the Houston Way.

Ironically, here's one of the chron.comments:

I want us to have a system as great as the DART in Dallas

It should be noted that the DART system has routes that cover most of the Metro area, including non-trendy areas, something Metro Solutions was never designed to do. Their Rail system extends from Plano to Ledbetter, with expansions planned from Carrollton to Pleasant Grove. That would be the equivalent of running Metro Rail from Katy to downtown and from The Woodlands to South Houston.

Granted, it's what Houston transit should be, but not what's planned.

Meanwhile the East End is just hoping their neighborhood doesn't get bisected in the name of progress.

That's too bad.

The Problem with Boosterism

Funny math.

It's been a concept the media has latched onto in order to publicly harangue big business and mock them for their business failings. Executives of bailed out businesses receiving large bonuses, critiques of stadium deals and scathing columns addressing the gall of those who received bonuses.

Yup, funny math is on the outs of late, unless said bad math is applied to a admitted pet program?

[tAFKAMW, Chron.com]

As Congress debates the fate of the massive stimulus package, Metro officials in Houston are banking on a share of the funds to facilitate the timely construction of new light rail lines. It's a strong reason for the Texas congressional delegation to get behind the final version of the legislation.

So far that incentive has failed to breach partisan barriers. The House passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan with the Harris County delegation split on party lines, Democrats for, Republicans against.

(snip)

If the stimulus legislation passes with the current $12 billion proposed funding for transportation infrastructure intact, the Houston projects could get an immediate infusion of $180 million in the next year with an overall total of $410 million for Metro projects.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and rates the Houston projects highly. He met with a Houston delegation that included Metro president and CEO Frank J. Wilson, and Houston Democratic Reps. Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee. Afterward, he promised "to work with the Houston delegation and the Federal Transit Administration to process this project along."

(snip)

It would be a shame if Texas misses out on its fair share of stimulus dollars because its lawmakers opposed federal expenditures that will boost the state's infrastructure and provide additional support for thousands of workers who find themselves victims of the economic storm of a lifetime. If ever there was a moment when the well-being of state and constituents should trump ideology, it is now.

Today's column by Charles Krauthammer provides Texans with a little more detail on "what's good for the State" in tAFKAMW's mind....

It's not just pages and pages of special-interest tax breaks, giveaways and protections, one of which would set off a ruinous Smoot-Hawley trade war. It's not just the waste, such as the $88.6 million for new construction for Milwaukee Public Schools, which, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, have shrinking enrollment, 15 vacant schools and, quite logically, no plans for new construction.

This CNN article outlines some additional line-items which I'm guessing tAFKAMW would consider to be "in the best interest" of Houstonians and Texans...

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

According to my math that's approximately $3.6 Billion dollars in spending. Given that Federal funding is 10% based on Texas funds then the Chronicle's "good for Texas" logic is as follows....


Total "Texas Share" of $3.6 Billion spent on selected projects outside of Texas: $360 Million.

Total "Metro benefit" of $410 Million Metro funding (assuming 10% from Texas sources): $369 Million.


It's also important to remember that the programs I selected were done so with the intent of equaling the 'benefit' that Houston is supposed to receive. I could have included items such as $850 Million for AMTRAK, $6 Billion to convert Federal buildings to green buildings and $1 Billion dollars for the 2010 Census. If you add in these items then Texans can expect to contribute an additional $785 Million dollars added making the cost/benefit ratio of the "Metro portion" of the stimulus weigh in at three to one, against. ($1.45 Billion in proportional Texas expenditures)


In the drive for MetroRail local opinion-makers are asking Texans (and Houstonians) to ignore logic and support a bill that will result in large regional contribution with reduced regional benefit, that will do little to 'stimulate' the immediate economy, but whose passage will mean Houston starts building less than 12 miles of rail.

Houston would be better served allowing Metro's requests to go through the normal FTC vetting and funding process.

Smoking bans

They're all about public health...err...Aw geez they're going to kill revenue generation....[Kristen Wyatt, AP via Chron.com]

In this economy, lawmakers are more willing to let people smoke 'em if they got 'em.

As recently as last year, many states and major cities seemed ready to adopt complete indoor smoking bans. But the movement to kick all smokers outdoors has stalled as the recession worsens and lawmakers fear hurting business at bars, restaurants and casinos.

"This economy, it creates a little more sympathy for the business person. So when we say this is going to put us out of business, believe me, they're listening," said Mike Moser, executive director of the Wyoming State Liquor Association.

Twenty-three states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have indoor smoking bans covering bars and restaurants. No one else has adopted a ban in the early weeks of this year's legislative sessions.

In Colorado, lawmakers are considering easing the rules after they banned smoking in most bars, restaurants and casinos.

New Jersey put off a smoking ban for Atlantic City casinos after five of 11 casinos warned they could file for bankruptcy by year's end. In Virginia, a proposed statewide ban stalled this year after lawmakers expressed concern about the economy.

Moser's group opposes an indoor smoking ban that has been offered in Wyoming. After businesses raised objections, state lawmakers last month exempted bars from the legislation.

In cities that have banned smoking in bars, "it's just killing them," said Mike Reid, owner of a wine bar in Casper. Reid voluntarily banned smoking in his bar, but opposes the forced ban as president of the liquor association.

"When someone builds a business with a clientele that smokes, they should be able to go in there and smoke," Reid said.

Health advocates are citing the economy to argue their side, too. With state budgets burdened by rising health care costs, banning smoking saves the government money in the long run, they say.

Congrats to Mike Reid for the most ironic statement of the new year.

I admit to a little bit of hypocrisy on the smoking ban issue. On the one hand I believe that the market was starting to do a good job reacting to the call for smoke-free establishments, on the other hand, as an allergy sufferer, I'm very happy to be able to head out to local bars without having to feel like I need an iron lung the next morning. It's also nice to not have your clothes smell of stale cigarette smoke for two washings after you go to a bar.

That being said the entire way the Country approaches cigarettes is hypocritical so maybe the only way to be consistent is to either call for an outright tobacco ban or oppose restrictions on its use? I do find it amusing that many of the biggest anti-tobacco advocates are often the first people to propose funding new spending legislation by raising the tobacco tax. Quite often these politicians are described as "fighting" for whatever "little man" group is addressed in the bill.

Small Stumbling block for Houston Pavilions

Lucky Strike lanes facing funding woes. [David Kaplan, Chron.com]

A key tenant’s opening in the Houston Pavilions downtown has been put on hold indefinitely.

Lucky Strike, a retro-chic bowling alley, bar and cafe, was to open in December but is still looking for funding with about half its space built out.

“At the moment we are seeking financing to complete the project and are having meaningful conversations with potential Houston-based partners as well as investors from elsewhere in the country,” Lucky Strike President Dolf Berle said. “We are still dedicated and committed to opening in Houston.”

Overall, the Pavilions, a vast entertainment, dining, retail and office project spanning three blocks, is moving ahead gradually as it deals with a rough economy.

Sixty percent of the Pavilions, which opened in the fall, is tied up under lease or other agreements, said Geoff Jones, its co-developer. While only about a third of the space is occupied, several restaurants and bars are set to open this spring.

That's too bad. While losing an 'upscale' *snicker* bowling alley doesn't sound like too big a deal on first glance, it raises the question as to whether or not other pending businesses will have the same problem.

It's no secret that the Bill White administration considers the Pavilions development to be a Houston priority, this is the area where Bill White suggested more Houstonians should buy and rent residences via a personal letter on city stationary.

One wonders what action news such as this will spur from our City Government?

From the "Hello Pot, meet Kettle" files.

At Dem Retreat, a partisan love-fest [Glenn Thrush, Patrick O'Connor, Politico via Yahoo! News]

A fired-up Barack Obama ditched his TelePrompter to rally House Democrats and rip Republican opponents of his recovery package Thursday night – at one point openly mocking the GOP for failing to follow through on promises of bipartisanship.

In what was the most pointedly partisan speech of his young presidency, Obama rejected Republican arguments that massive spending in the $819 billion stimulus bill that passed the House should be replaced by a new round of massive tax cuts.

“I welcome this debate, but we are not going to get relief by turning back to the same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin,” said President Obama – sounding more like Candidate Obama than at any time since he took the oath of office less than a month ago.

Obama, speaking to about 200 House Democrats at their annual retreat at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, dismissed Republican attacks against the massive spending in the stimulus.

Ummm...

No bonuses with bailout [Muskogee Phoenix]

According to reports, Wall Street firms paid out more than $18 billion in 2008 in executive bonuses even though the firms were losing money. Some of the troubled firms continue, too, to hold expensive retreats for their executives and managers.

But those retreats and bonuses should come to an end if the firms receive taxpayer money.

Banks struggle to cut back on perks [Chris Serres, Kara McGuire, Minneapolis Star-Tribune]

Bill Cooper, chief executive officer of TCF Financial Corp., says he expected criticism when word leaked out that he had invited 180 of his bank managers and vice presidents on a corporate outing last weekend to a ski resort near Aspen, Colo.

Never mind that the Wayzata bank has held the team-building event at Snowmass Village nearly every year since the early 1990s. Never mind that employees who attend must foot part of the bill. And never mind that, according to Cooper, the trip cost TCF just $200,000 -- less than what the bank makes in a single day.

In the current environment, in which hundreds of thousands of people are losing their jobs each month and Wall Street executives are getting slammed for fat bonuses, a corporate retreat to a ski resort was bound to raise eyebrows -- particularly when TCF is receiving $361 million in taxpayer assistance.

Wells Fargo Responds to Criticism, Cancels Event. [Successful Meetings]

On the defensive following a report filed by the Associated Press this week that criticized it for moving forward with an employee recognition event taking place this month in Las Vegas, San Francisco-based Wells Fargo has cancelled the four-day meeting for its mortgage division, it announced on Tuesday. The national banking giant, which has received $25 billion in taxpayer money as part of the country's federal banking bailout, called the Associated Press report "intentionally misleading" and suggested that recognition events play a critical role in motivating and rewarding its employees.

None of these rules apply to our politicians however

House Retreats During Econ Crisis. [Patrick O'Connor, Politico]

In the midst of an economic crisis, House Republicans spent three days last week at The Homestead, a sprawling centuries-old resort where robber barons once arrived in private railcars for golf, fly-fishing and lavish relaxation.

On Thursday, House Democrats will decamp to the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, which boasts of “unforgettable golf, luxurious accommodations, first-class dining, a premier spa and an abundance of recreational opportunities both at the retreat and nearby Williamburg.”

You wonder between all of the golf, massages, cigars, expensive brandies and glasses of wine and whatever other distractions they decide to take advantage of....was there anyone in our Government that maybe stopped for a minute and wondered whether or not this was the right thing to do?


Maybe just a twinge of guilt?


Nah, I don't think so either.


If there was ever any doubt that moral fiber and intellectual brilliance of those we elect to Govern us I think this just about settles it. I've long been of the opinion that America is governed by an Idiocracy that somehow, through either inattention or just plain ignorance on our part, we've let societies' least common denominator wriggle a grip around the Nation's purse strings that they are now unwilling to relinquish. In the face of this there will still be some that defend this sorry lot as 'doing the people's business'. Partisans on both sides will gleefully reproduce press releases from office holders for their chosen party speaking of the passion with which they are "fighting for you every day". These, unfortunately, are your enablers.

Truly the Government we deserve.

OTHER EYES:

Obama's Vox Populi [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Praising Obama for his anger, suggesting physical violence towards one's political adversaries (which, even in jest, is sophomoric) and ignoring the obvious hypocricy displayed by our Gov't. Yup, that's wit, insight and intelligence.

More Bodice-Ripping at the Chroncile [Unca Darrell] - This blog is a great running prosecution for shuttering the Chron Editorial Board.

What was good for Louisiana

Should be good for Texas as well. That's what Galveston is saying...[Stewart M. Powell, Chron.com]

A delegation of Galveston officials came away from Capitol Hill meetings with high hopes that the federal government would foot the entire bill to repair the hurricane-damaged city’s infrastructure and government buildings, lawmakers said Friday.

The Galveston officials also sought congressional support for more than $25 million in the massive economic stimulus package working its way through Congress. The money, officials said, would go toward “shovel-ready” construction projects.

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn said he believed that lawmakers could persuade Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano to waive a requirement that the community must pay a share of recovery costs, just as the Bush administration forgave Louisiana communities’ share following Hurricane Katrina.

“Our primary goal is to treat Texas no better and certainly no worse than other states hit by hurricanes recently,” Cornyn said. “I believe it’s only appropriate to have the federal government step up again.”

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who also met with Galveston-area officials, promised to continue to help the city recover from Hurricane Ike. “As much as we’ve been able to do in the months since the hurricane, we know there is much more we can and will do to rebuild our Gulf Coast communities,” she said.

Whatever your political opinion of them, It's good to see both of Texas Senators out in the front on this issue working with the administration to push this through. Earlier, the question was raised whether or not Galveston recovery would be a priority. It seems that, at least for some, it will be. Unless you are acting from pure partisan motives I don't see how you can say its not. Hopefully the Texas delegation can push this through for Galveston.

Houston Area Asides (02/05/09)

The "not as bad as it sounds" edition...

Bill King: Who Wants That Job? [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com] - King's letter is poorly worded, but the bottom line is he doesn't think he can win and doesn't want to politicize his hurricane message for a losing effort. I guess a better option would be to go all Chris Bell?

Craddick Spent Freely Just Hours Before Losing Post. [Jay Root, AP via Chron.com] - More fuel on the fire, but what this article doesn't mention is how long these purchases were in the works before they were "approved"? Sounds as if the Texas Historical Commission just drug their feet on final approval.

Agency Defends Records Deletion in House Speaker's Office. [Jay Root, AP via Chron.com] - Sounds to me as if The Texas Legislative Council was following the laws that were passed in 2003 and 2007 and now the Lege, with fresh egg on their faces, are looking for a scapegoat.

On another note: Both of the State stories linked to currently are articles penned by AP reporter Jay Root. Where was the Austin bureau on these stories and why expense a full bureau if you rely on AP coverage for the big stories. I've still had no reply from Reader's Representative James Newkirk on my previous requests for further information regarding how they've covered (or, more accurately not covered) previous issues in the Lege.

Capital Metro Tax Revenue, Ridership Falling. [Ben Wear, Austin American-Statesman] - Read and notice how different Capital's reaction to a decrease is from Houston Metro's reaction to the same situation.

UTIMCO Chair formerly resigns. [Jason Embry, Austin American-Statesman] - Move bonuses, more resignations.

Digg yourself?

(Wink & a nod to: Alison Cook)

Is it ok to Digg yourself in secret but not tell anyone about it? According to allegations by The Deets at least one local publication thinks so...[Ed Kohler, The Deets.com]

This is the story about a girl that’s actually a dude who’s brought in 3.8 - 19.4 million visitors* to Village Voice Media websites by gaming Digg.

Village Voice Media appears to be running an organized reciprocal Digg campaign using staff at their network of alt-weekly newspapers across the United States. Two Digg users, Ivanb and Philostrato, are responsible for the vast majority of that traffic:

(snip)

Just for fun, I’m going state the obvious: The Digg user Philostrato is NOT a she, but a he (pictured on the right here and left here). Philostrato is a he by the name of Keith Plocek, whose work titles are:

* Social Media Manager at Village Voice Media
* Web Editor at Houston Press

Exactly the kind of roles a person would have who obsesses over Village Voice Media’s web traffic.

It's a name you know and a fairly persuasive bit of citizen journalism which, ironically, turns the tabels on the new media ethics of the Houston Press who recently did some fantastic reporting on the ethics of the (now defunct) Montgomery County Bulletin.

Kohler does a good job connecting the dots and asking the correct questions in what's sure to be an interesting case study in the nascent field of electronic media ethics.

At the bare minimum its dishonest, at worst its fraudulent to advertisers, many of whom typically pay online rates due, in large part, to click-through formulas based on visits. The other way to look at is as follows: Regardless of HOW they're getting the visits they say they're getting, the reality is they're getting them. My personal ethics lead me to say "no, I won't do that". From a business and new media standpoint however (where profit maximization is key) it could be that they've done nothing wrong.

Thoughts?

HPD Considering Additional Red Light Cameras.

If this were April 1st I'd think this was a joke...[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]

The Houston Police Department is considering changes — possibly even expansion — to its red-light camera program after a city-commissioned study showed that crashes went up at intersections where the devices have been installed.

“What we’re concerned about is safety, safety, safety at these intersections,” said Executive Assistant Chief Timothy Oettmeier, whose command includes the camera system. “We want fewer injuries, we certainly don’t want any death, and we want a reduction in accidents.”

To meet those aims, the department will evaluate over the next few months whether existing cameras might be redeployed to intersections that continue to see a high volume of crashes and red-light running. They also could add to the 70 cameras now placed at 50 intersections around the city. The evaluation of the program and any options for updating it would be presented to City Council by June 30, Oettmeier said.

Critics said such options are not the best response to the controversial study, which the city released last month.

“If you’re putting more cameras at some intersections, what you’re going to do is make the intersections more dangerous,” said Paul Kubosh, an attorney who represents ticketed drivers in court and unsuccessfully sued to end the program. “That’s what’s going to be proven out by this.”

As you can imagine, Anne from BlogHouston is already all over this.

I'm interested in the logical process that led HPD to determine that, in the face of evidence revealing accidents increased at intersections where RLC's were installed, that there's somehow a pro-safety agenda to be realized by installing more?

At the very least any go-forward decision-making should be deferred until further studies can be done regarding the efficacy of the program. Even study author (and local expert on almost everything) Bob Stein agrees further research is needed.

Not the intrepid bean counters safety experts at HPD however. They've seen all they need to see and what they are seeing is a future where Houston streets are shrouded in a big-ol' RLC safety net.

If crashes continue to rise because of the net well you'll at least be safe in the knowledge that the trauma center you're being sent to is (on paper anyway) well funded.

Joy.

On a related note: we're going to need that funding if Metro continues to expand the scope and milage of the Wham-Bam train using at-grade engineering.

It's going to get to the point that, if you get in a Metro train collision, you're going to have to ask all of your family to suck it up and run three red-lights each to fund the trauma center you'll eventually be sent to. Imagine the commercials that would generate: "What part of revenue generation do you not understand?"

Saavedra Given the Teen Columnist Treatment

On his way out the door. [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com]

Abe Saavedra’s announced departure from Houston ISD came from the same place as many of his proposals: left field.

After seemingly clinging to his well-compensated gig as superintendent of the state’s largest school district, Saavedra dropped the bombshell of his upcoming retirement at a press conference Wednesday.

Long-standing tension with school board members was no secret, but Saavedra had survived a serious review of his contract and told reporters as recently as October that he intended to stay “as long as the relationship remains strong and we’re making a difference in the lives of kids.”

(snip)

The news came nearly as abruptly as, say, his $800 million bond package in 2007 or his plan to scale back on magnet school transportation a few months ago.

But the response was quite different: There was little blowback and almost complete buy-in.

Even Trustee Greg Meyers, one of Saavedra’s prominent critics, shied away from harsh analysis, saying Saavedra simply “recognized that it was time for him to move on.”

(snip)

It’s not that Saavedra didn’t bring fresh ideas or dedication. He seemed to be a hard worker who wasn’t afraid to try new things.

And test scores and school ratings have generally improved, following a statewide upward trend, even if Houston students still lag state averages in many areas.

Saavedra had one very big problem: poor political skills.

(snip)

Gayle Fallon, spokeswoman for the Houston Federation of Teachers, put it this way: Houston’s schools chief has to work with a strong internal and citywide African-American political structure to run a district that’s 60 percent Hispanic on a tax base that’s largely white. Not to mention the fact that many of those white folks don’t send their children to HISD schools.

White folks? Really?

And is Gayle Fallon really implying that part of the reason HISD is failing lies at the feet of African-Americans? (and their 'power structure')

I'll give you that Saavedra was politically tone-deaf, I'll give you that he did a poor job communicating with the board and the community. What the last eight years have taught us, if they've taught us anything, its the importance of good communication from our political leaders, especially those in executive positions. This communication is necessary to spell out the reasoning behind broad, sweeping changes that need to be enacted. It's necessary to create an air of participation in decision-making and not dictation. At the most basic of levels good communication is necessary so people like the person standing behind the lectern and trust their decision making. In those aspects Saavedra was lacking. He had a vision, but was never able (or willing) to articulate it properly.

A flawed education system, mis-placed spending priorities, and Leadership from the Teacher's Union who long ago stopped trying to work for solutions are much bigger problems for HISD than a few "white folks" sending their kids to public schools. After all, those "white folks" still pay taxes to the District correct?

So I guess you could say that clumsily, and obviously without realizing it, Falkenberg revealed one of the main problems HISD is currently facing. It's too bad she can't see that and won't follow up (or 'dig deep' which is what Chron.columnists are supposed to be doing) on it.

Time to play Jeopardy! (Texas Style)

Your Answer: The Texas Legislature.

*remember: please state your answer in the form of a question....

"What is awash with gifts from lobbyist groups Alex?"

Correct.

[Matt Stiles, Chron.com]

For the men, it’s pistols and venison. For the women, flowers and spa treatments. Around the Texas Capitol, gifts are a custom — and lobbyists are buying.

Food baskets and golf balls. Pocket knives and saddles. One lawmaker got a stuffed goose; others cookies, books and circus tickets.

Gifts to lawmakers and other state officials, legal under state law, have cost lobbyists and their clients more than $1.6 million over the last decade, according to a Houston Chronicle review of ethics records.

For lobbyists, the gifts are harmless forms of advocacy, part of getting lawmakers to hear their political agendas. For Capitol watchdogs and critics, it’s the granting of small favors in an effort to influence policy.

“Most of the time people are giving gifts, especially the small stuff, really as a courtesy,” said Jack Gullahorn, president of the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas, a lobbying trade group.

Included among gifts, records show, were computer disks, glass decanters, coffee mugs and jewelry. Lobbyists also gave frames, clothes and shaving kits (complete with the state seal).

“Lobbyists like to say that they prevail by having the best command of the facts,” said Andrew Wheat, research director with the watchdog group Texans for Public Justice. “Yet this ‘marketplace of ideas’ is a bizarre bazaar. It’s overrun with such tribute payments as campaign cash, meals, drinks, trips and tchotchkes (trinkets).”

OF COURSE the Lobby are doling out gifts like crack at an addicts session to gain favor. In business there's no such thing as a useless expense. Lobbyists are paid good money by Governments, businesses, and other entities to represent their interests to our elected officials. Is it effective? Try and get an audience with your State Representative or State Senator right now. (Hint: good luck with that)

Lobbyists, however, are given unequal access to politicians decisions that directly impact your life moreso than the Least Common Denominator currently hashing out that stimulus bill in D.C. Maybe the funniest thing I've heard in a while was Sen. Dan Patrick attempting to justify why State elected officials can recieve gifts totaling thousands of dollars why Dr's can no longer receive those free label pens from drug manufacturers. Oh that KSEV had an archive system with downloadable podcasts. Truly funny stuff.

The Chron piece today is the second from new Austin bureau reporter Matt Stiles, who is obviously applying the same sense of doggedness and attention to detail to his Austin work as he did to his Houston work. Good for him. The Chronicle has needed this type of reporting for quite some time.

Our elected officials in Austin have needed this type of light shined on their inner working for a long time as well. Since they police themselves I have severe doubt that anything will change with this group in Austin, but maybe people will get outraged enough that, eventually, things will change?

Nah.

Rapid Eye Movement (02/04/09)

The "serious error" edition...

Obama wants to cap bailed-out executive's pay at $500,000 [Jim Kuhnhenn, AP via Chron.com] - Makes sense, be sure to attract fourth-tier talent to manage a company that's recieved a fourth-tier bailout.

Senate's stimulus bill at $900 Billion and climbing. [David Espo, AP via Chron.com] - Ain't no pork like Senate pork. Maybe Obama should try and cap their salary instead?

Obama concedes error as Daschle withdraws. [Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Shear of WaPo via Mercury News] - Error one: Picking an old-school partisan while assuring the public the 'tone is changing'. Ooops.

Obama's Dangerous Bank Bailout. [Holman Jenkins Jr., WSJ]

Florida's Unnatural Disaster. [WSJ] - A foreshadowing of Texas insurance fate?

We can do better than a 'bad bank' [George Soros, WSJ] - Off balance sheet accounts? Enron accounting as financial meltdown solution. Wouldn't it be ironic if we ended up owing the Enron folks an apology because the Nation decided their accounting practices were the key to digging out of the mess we're in?

Tom Daschle's Washington. [WSJ] - His case is more the rule than the exception. Which raises the question of whether or not, after 200 years, America traded in a legitimate monarchy for a stealth one?

Well, that certainly didn't take long. [Maureen Dowd, NYT] - One of Bush's finest critics re-sharpens the tines and pokes an Obama administration that's stumbling out of the gate.

Same Old Fudges and Loopholes in Obama's new era of Ethics. [Toby Harden, UK Telegraph] - Meet the new tone, same as the old tone. Hell hath no fury like the deflated masses.

District of Corruption. [Norman Ornstein, The New Republic] - It's become a parlour game in Government to snicker at Mexico for their corruption while ignoring the opulence and lobbyist-derived wealth that's clogging up DC.

Tax code needs a radical makeover. [Ken Hoagland, Chron.com] - Yes, it does. They could start with burning all 67,500 pages of the current code and locking the Congressional leadership out of the re-write.

Can the President work with Democrats? [Jay Newton-Small, Time] - Pelosi and Reid are terrible public citizens whose flaws were covered by the partisan rancour of the Bush years. Now that they don't have that partisanship to hide behind their flaws are on public display.

Americans still can't trust Congress. [Reuben Navarette, RCP] - There's a reason I call them societies' least common denominator.

The Importance of Being Sinless. [The Economist] - Foreshadows the difficulty Democrats could have in 2010. If you campaign on something, you better damn well hold up to it.

Watch out for that tree!

Don't play around with power lines...[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]

For years, utility companies admonished people to “look before you dig” when getting ready for a backyard project. City Council on Wednesday may add a little direction to that for those planting trees: Look up.

A proposed ordinance before council would prohibit the planting of tall trees, including live oaks, under power lines. The measure originally was intended to strengthen existing rules to protect trees in public rights of way from being cut down or hacked up by developers.

But the proposed ban on planting live oaks under electric lines — a last-minute addition to the measure — has a vocal group of tree lovers dismayed. Their main complaint centers on the live oak’s usefulness for hiding power lines.

“If this were to pass, we would have to look a lot more at the ugliest feature of our city: power lines,” said Hugh Kelly, a former general counsel for Houston Light & Power who advocated against the change on behalf of two neighborhood groups. “And we would not be able to look at one of the prettiest features: live oaks.”

(snip)

City officials and Council member Sue Lovell said the provision is important because it will ensure that tall trees that require costly pruning no longer will be planted under power lines. Those expensive pruning costs are passed on to electric ratepayers, Mayor Bill White noted.

Ensuring that only smaller trees are allowed to grow under power lines in the future is the right step, city officials said, recalling the weeks-long power outages caused by falling limbs and trees during Hurricane Ike.

“Power lines are not an appropriate place for a live oak,” Lovell said. “And I don’t think taking an incredibly majestic tree like a live oak and pruning it around power lines, is the right way to treat something so beautiful.”

Tree and nature advocates said they worked with the city and real estate officials for nearly two years on the ordinance, which would greatly increase the fees paid by developers or others who cut down trees in public rights of way. Those funds go into a tree replacement fund managed by the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

The live oak limitation comes from a provision designating which types of trees are appropriate for “street trees.” Some who participated in stakeholder meetings on the overall ordinance said they did not understand why the city made the list without their input.

Another defense for not planting tall trees near power lines was evidenced during Hurrican Ike. In short: tall trees knock down power lines leading to costly (and lengthy) repairs.

I wonder how many of the people griping about the restrictions were among the loudest complainers when the power was out last year because linemen had to spend days removing big trees from power lines?

Hugh Kelly was a vocal critic of Centerpoint during the immediate aftermath for one. At least one mayoral candidate thinks the answer is to plan to plan to plan to work up the plans for drafting a long-term tree plan.

It's good to know our municipal leaders are on the case.

Teachers get taste of zero tolerance, spit it out.

Critics decry drug charges against HISD Teachers. [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com]

More than a dozen Houston school district employees are getting a lesson in the zero-tolerance policies typically applied to students as they await court hearings on drug charges that could land them in jail.

While most of the teachers are charged with possessing pot in their cars at school, a few face time behind bars after police said they found unauthorized prescription drugs in their vehicles.

Some of the charges, particularly those involving prescription pills, are drawing criticism from lawyers, parents and teachers who say the Houston Independent School District and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office need a lesson in discretion.

Norm Uhl, an HISD spokesman, said the district is treating employees as it would students — arresting them for having drugs on campus and leaving it up to prosecutors to file charges.

“We do have discretion to accept charges or not accept charges, but as officers of the court, it’s our duty to see that justice is done,” said Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. “And if an officer calls us with a valid charge and probable cause, then we should accept that charge unless there is some extenuating circumstance.

“We don’t discriminate based on whether somebody is a teacher or not.”

(snip)

In December, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra ordered his police department to take drug-sniffing dogs to every employee parking lot. His order for the widespread sweep came after anonymous tips to HISD police led to drug arrests of 15 employees — two of them twice — from eight different campuses.

“I don’t have a problem with using the drug dogs,” said Shahriari, a fifth-grade teacher at Roberts Elementary. “What I have a problem with is using the zero-tolerance laws to make it zero compassion and zero common sense.”

One of Shahriari’s colleagues, a 59-year-old art teacher named Melinda Herrick, is suspended from the school and charged with drug possession in a drug-free zone. Herrick’s attorney, Kent Schaffer, said the former Teacher of the Year award recipient is accused of having two Xanax pills, typically prescribed for panic disorder, in her car.

“It wasn’t hers,” said Schaffer, who expects the grand jury to no-bill his client, meaning the case would be dropped

Hmmm....sounds like the same argument that's forwarded by students when they get into trouble all the time doesn't it? Maybe they should talk to Gayle Fallon, head of the Houston Federation of Teachers regarding her public stance on zero tolerance policies as applied to children:

Chapter 37 “makes our lives livable in an urban school district. We have great fear the Legislature will try and weaken Chapter 37, and that would be a shame because not only would you see an increase in campus crime… or acts of violence, you will see teachers leave” their jobs.

In case you're wondering...Chapter 37 is the zero tolerance policy for Texas schools:

Chapter 37 of the Education Code, which mandates removal of students for crimes like sexual assault and drug possession, provides school districts wide latitude in determining “discretionary” removal of students who violate a school’s code of conduct.

Hmmm...

OTHER EYES: Lone Star Times.

It's not easy selling green.

The Chron's Eric Berger doesn't think so at least, not any longer...

Is green no longer chic?
I'm not sure, but apparently it no longer moves product.

During past Super Bowls a number of advertisements have promoted "green" or environmental ideas. (For example, three years ago, hybrid vehicles were all the rage.) But this year? Not so much.

By my count there was one advertisement that pertained directly to the environment, GE's wind energy advertisement

(snip)

There was also an advertisement for smart-grid technology, but I'm not sure I'd consider that a "green" advertisement. It didn't openly call for conservation of energy, or the like. The general gist seemed to be that GE had smart ideas

(snip)

That's it. Meanwhile, sports cars were used for promotion of Jay Leno's new show. The environmental Web Site Treehugger, which live-blogged the Super Bowl in hopes of seeing green ads, was not amused:

Jay Leno driving down the road in a classic car. That's it. That's the house ad for NBC. It almost seems like NBC is going out of its way not to include a single environmentally conscious message.

Andy Revkin recently wrote about falling poll numbers in support of action on global warming, and to me the near complete absence of environmental messages from the Super Bowl suggests that being green is no longer as hip or cool as it was two or three years ago.

My guess is that what we're seeing is a natural (possibly temporary) backlash to the oversaturation of 'green' as a marketing tool. Add to that the tendency of obsessive devoted activists who use intimidation mocking advertising to 'guilt' people into their chosen religion lifestyle and you have all the makings of a message with a very short shelf life.

Part of the problem is self-generated, protesters dressing in costumes performing anti-industry acts are more comedy act that political statement. Attempting to shutter plants and cost people their livelihoods is never viewed kindly by the local workforce. Unfortunately, spurred on by the sales pitch warnings of the Goracle those born without the capacity for moderation in their actions have done more to hurt the public perception of environmentalism than any below normal cold temperatures ever could.

Then there's the small issue of the New Energy economy promise not equalling the New Energy economy reality. Most "green" technologies are still rather crude, flawed and expensive. This all ignores the fact that (for the most part) they are still impractical.

Another factor is that 'green' has gone from a fringe activity enjoyed by a few committed hipsters to a Mainstream activity casually enjoyed by aging Baby Boomers sipping organic, free-trade coffee while loading their upscale produce into the back of their Lexus Hybrids while on the phone to their financial advisors making sure they have the latest green investment in their portfolio. I don't care who you are, that's not hip. It's also debatable just how environmentally friendly those Boomer's really are.

Finally, green is facing the daunting uphill task of overcoming celebrity. From Harrison Ford championing the environment in his polluting helicopter, to Sheryl Crow's (no relation) poo paper limitation to Al Gore's energy sucking home the biggest problem 'green' currently faces is the support of a celebrity class that is blissfully self-unaware. Having a message of personal sacrifice and restriction rings pretty hollow when those with the bull-horn are jet-setting to the South of France every year.

All that being said, I still think there's a market for 'green' products and a definite market for 'green living'. It may be less in-your-face and crass than the previous campaign, it will be a lot more practical, it will probably be less expensive and way less chic than its predecessor. It will probably also be more effective at its intended purpose. I'll take clean air over 'cool' any day.

How about you?

Bus Ridership drops, Metro spins

There's less people riding the bus these days.

[Rosanna Ruiz, Chron.com]

If your bus seems less crowded these days, it probably is.

Metro has reported an across-the-board drop in total ridership for a fourth consecutive month, blaming cheaper gas prices and continued blow-back from last year’s fare increases. Officials had predicted that ridership would go down, but not by this much.

In the last three months of 2008, system-wide ridership fell by 12 percent, compared to the same period the year before, to 21 million from 24 million. Metro officials are confident riders will be back after a short cooling-off period.

Although the numbers show a consistent, downward trajectory over four months, Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts was reluctant to call it an outright trend.

Which raises the question: At what point does it become a trend? Six months? A year? And what, if anything, should be done about it?

Metro constantly tweaks its routes to “put the buses where the people are,” Roberts said.

Wholesale changes only happen a few times a year. Metro subtracts buses from what are called low-performing routes, or adds them when riders are stacked high. That’s what happened last year when gasoline prices reached $4 a gallon and buses were added to Park and Ride routes that were brimming with customers.

Trend or not, finding out why the numbers are down that much may prove more difficult.

Looking over Metro's News releases for 2009 and 2008 there's little on the website regarding 'service adjustments' either past or present. According their blog Write On: Metro route adjustments typically occur in January, May/June, August/September yet there's nothing regarding the same on Metro's website. A quick search of the Chronicle (and the Archives) reveals one adjustment on 06/19/08.

One assumes that those changes, coupled with the Q card roll-out were the massive changes that Metro is speaking of. If that's the case then it would seem that you can make some observations that are 'fair' regarding what Metro has done. Spin aside, preliminary results seem to indicate that people do not feel the new rates are a good transit bargain with gas prices somewhere South of $2/gal.

If that's the benchmark people are looking at then that's the target that Metro is going to have to make decisions on. Is it worth it to try and improve the service to a point where it remains a viable option when gas is under $2/gal? Or does Metro decide that they are willing to experience lower ridership at prices below that point? Should they put in a modifier on their rates to adjust with gas prices? Are there changes they could make to their service that would appeal to more people at a lower cost?

In cities where mass transit is faster and cheaper than car travel (due to congestion and parking fees as in New York City) these types of questions aren't of importance. People are going to ride transit provided its not priced out of their means. In regions like Houston where cars are attractive, faster and priced competitively to transit (relatively cheap parking, congestion etc.)these questions take on more importance. Unfortunately there's little evidence that anyone at Metro is asking the correct questions.

Which goes a long way to explaining why they don't seem to have the correct answers.

Public Transit: The ugly

(image courtesy of The London Daily Mail)


Before you transit advocates get all worked up, I love mass transit. If Houston had an adequate system of transit I'd ride to and from work on busses and trains every day. As much as I like to drive in the countryside, and on long trips, I dislike making that daily commute. Yes, I'm a critic of Houston Metro, and their "solutions" plan, because I think their transit system is bollocks moreso than I take issue with riding a train to work every day. I'd gladly make a one mile bike-ride to a Park n' Ride, hop the train to the Northwest Transit Center and then take a bus to my office every morning were that option available.

That being said, trusting others to get you there has its drawbacks.

[Sam Jones and Audrey Gillan, Guardian.co.uk]

The heaviest snowfall for 18 years paralysed swaths of the country today, bringing chaos to roads, railways and airports, closing thousands of schools and businesses, and costing the economy an estimated £1.2bn in lost working hours.

Although the snow had been forecast since last week, much of Britain was overwhelmed, with conditions forcing one in five workers to stay home and resulting in the closure of as many as 3,000 schools and the cancellation of many non-urgent hospital operations.

The south-east bore the brunt of the snow, which settled to a depth of 25cm (10in) in Kent and Surrey, and saw all flights cancelled at Heathrow and London City airports, leaving thousands stranded.

London's public transport system buckled under the stress, with all but a handful of bus routes cancelled today and 10 of the 11 underground lines either completely or partly suspended.

Rail passengers trying to travel in and out of London found services disrupted or cancelled, while motorists hoping to use snow-choked roads were warned they risked hypothermia if they failed to take reasonable precautions.

Replace 'snow' with 'rain' and you have Houston: (image courtesy of Petrified Truth)

Granted, when faced with something similar to a 100 year weather event there's not much of anything short of extreme transportation that's going to get you out of a municipal area. Having a car during an extreme blizzard or during an Allison-like flood event are equally useless. That's not the point.

The point is this: Even those who choose to live a totally car-free lifestyle will face a time when they need more than what local transit options can offer them. During times of extreme duress they need something that's off the public transportation grid entirely. When designing public transportation systems a region needs to address areas that will provide alternatives for the highest number of trips. In the current Metro Solutions plan there's evidence that some of the current rail lines were designed with this thought in mind. Others? Not so much.

What people need to realize is that there's only so far a public transit plan can go. At the end of the day it's typically the last 1/4 mile that's going to be up to you. Circulator bus routes branching off of transit trunks can shorten that personal responsibility, but by only so much. Metro can't run a streetcar or trolley to the doorstep of everyone who has a good idea and a Mac on which to present it. Some bloggers seem to have a good grasp of this reality, and understand what it takes for a public transportation system to work (public buy-in, useful routes, reliable schedule, stops within a reasonable walking distance etc.) Now if we can just get Metro to understand this basic principle we'd be onto something.

Houston Asides (02/02/09)

The 'trust but verify' edition...

Texas Ready for Stem Cells. [Todd Ackerman, Chron.com]

Harris County Judges seek diverse faces for Grand Jury. [Brian Rogers, Chron.com]

Houston's Al Edwards relishes return to State House. [Matt Stiles, Chron.com] - Texas Cheerleaders beware.

Report: Most stopped elected officials refuse DWI test. [AP via Chron.com] - If they refuse it, why shouldn't you?

Daschle apologizes for failure to pay $120K in taxes. [Kevin Freking AP, Chron.com] - Note to Dems: Your calls for Americans to 'sacrifice' mean more if you're willingly doing the same.

Mexico launches effort to teach its students English. [Marion Lloyd, Chron.com] - While America continues the debate over whether to teach them English at all.

Local angle on Governor's race [IJ Reilly, Bayou City Madman] - Clever, biting satire. Well done.

Mayor Bill White raised $640K in 15 days for Senate campaign.[R.G. Ratcliffe, Chron.com] - And that was before the garage sale.

Cheating site denied ad in SuperBowl game. [Darren Rovell, Cnbc] - Nope, the ad ran, making us wonder if we're to the point where America needs to hit the cultural reset button?

Ellis v. Texas SBOE

No, not a lawsuit, but a coming legal throw-down according to the Chron's Clay Robison...

The State Board of Education’s latest fight with scientists over how or whether evolutionary theory should be taught in the public schools was just about the last straw for Sen. Rodney Ellis.

If the Houston Democrat had his way, the board with its large bloc of conservative ideologues would be abolished and its duties transferred to the Texas Education Agency. He has filed a bill to accomplish much of that by stripping the board of its authority over textbooks, curriculum and graduation requirements. It would be left with only its narrow constitutional duties, including managing the Permanent School Fund.

But Ellis knows that measure won’t pass, mainly because of the influence of conservative Republican voters over many of his legislative colleagues and Gov. Rick Perry.

So he also has filed Plan B, a separate bill that would put the board under the periodic sunset review of the Legislature. That step would force more oversight of board members, several of whom, he believes, are more fixated on the three Rs of religion, religion and religion than on improving public school classrooms.

Ellis calls the first bill his “club” and the second his “stiletto.”

Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, has filed a similar sunset bill in the House.

Even with a stiletto, Ellis may have trouble puncturing the board, but he hopes to “have a dialogue,” as he puts it, about what the board should and shouldn’t be doing.

“While on the national level in America there is more emphasis on a healthy respect for science, our board is engaged in a debate on how to teach evolution,” he said.

At its last meeting, the board narrowly agreed to repeal a longtime curriculum requirement that Texas teachers instruct students in the weaknesses and strengths of evolution theory. But, the next day, it adopted another requirement that, some scientists say, will continue to undermine the state’s science standards.

Many readers may know that Feb. 12 will be the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, a day not likely to be celebrated by several Board of Education members.

But Ellis plans to mark the occasion, perhaps with a news conference discussing his “curriculum” for the panel.

Ellis' position sums up the frustration of Texas Democrats regarding (what they consider to be) one of the more grotesque and unrefined beliefs held by Evangelicals in the Republican Party. What's surprising, in this issue, is the level to which the rhetoric has been lowered. In responding to an attack on evolution by certain religious groups supporters have eleveated evolution and science to a quasi-religious level. Any questioning of the current scientific dogma is considered to be an uneducated jab relying on fairy tale lore. The only difference between the current defenders of modern science and the Catholic Church of old is the replacement of the word "heretic" with "Right-wing".

While I support strongly the exclusion of young-earth creation from science text-books I'm very concerned that evolution supporters are also throwing out the baby of critical thought and examination with the bathwather of YEC. If science is left unopen to criticism and doubt then we'd still be using leeches to bleed the sick, the earth would still be considered to be flat and Stephen Hawking would have never stood up recently and stated that he got black holes entirely wrong for 30 years.

Where's the campaign for skepticism that's historically served us well as Human beings?

Paker gets her Chron face time.

After much ado in the Chronicle regarding Locke & Hall (Lanier Party - Houston), some brief discussion of Peter "Plan" Brown (Plan to plan to forumulate a plan Party - Houston) today the newspaper of record in Houston turns its attention to the other candidate in the race, current City Controller Annise Parker...

[Alan Bernstein, Chron.com]

The Houston economy is drooping, which may be good for Annise Parker’s bid for mayor.

Parker, who makes her candidacy for mayor official Monday, is in her third term as controller, the city’s elected fiscal watchdog. Her experience, she calculates, makes her one of the best people for the job in one of the worst of times.

“Houstonians want a mayor who can lead the city through tough economic times, and a mayor who can continue our forward progress with jobs and neighborhoods,” she said in an interview last week.

“I have the skill set to do these things,” she added as she prepared her announcement — an e-mail blast referring voters to an online video of her speaking to voters.

Parker, 52, started thinking about running for mayor long before the nation’s economic picture grew dark. But now that, in her words, “the No. 1 issue is going to be the economy and jobs,” Parker is touting the ways she can cut city expenses. She’s also worked as an engineering technologist for an oil company and as co-owner several years ago of a feminist bookstore.

Of the four or five others being mentioned as potential candidates in the Nov. 3 election, Parker easily has the most experience running for and serving in office citywide. After losing two City Council races, she won an at-large seat in 1997, 1999 and 2001. She was elected controller in 2003 and was re-elected with no opponents in 2005 and 2007.

(snip)

As mayor, she would foster partnerships among energy companies, government and researchers to put Houston in the forefront of developing alternative energy sources, she said.

She cited neighborhood protection and preservation as a top concern, pointing out that on City Council, she spurred ordinances on minimum lot sizes and setback requirements for buildings.

There's not much from a policy perspective that really differentiates one of the current crop of Mayoral candidates from any of the others. Of the four current majors, it could be argued that Parker has the most electoral experience and administrative qualifications to handle the job. She's also likely to be the least reactionary of any of the current candidates which is probably a good thing. (unless, that is, you feel Houston needs a reactionary Mayor.) Given a choice between what's certain to be the bone-numbing paralysis spurred on by Brown's planning jones, or a return to the Bob Lanier super system that gave us former Mayor Lee P. Brown, I'd pick Parker any day of the week.

There's still some question regarding the final make-up of the ballot however. Specific to that are the questions surrounding Mark White and Roy Morales. Currently there is no major Hispanic candidate in the race so one would imagine someone would want to try and take advantage of that oversight.

We're a long way removed from the first opinion polls regarding the election, but I (for one) would be interesting to see where each candidates' base of support lies and where they have openings to try and grow that.