It’s likely been a suspicion to residents that Houston has some of the nation’s worst drivers. As a flat city with several incredibly wide streets, some motorists like to pretend that every thruway is their own personal drag strip. Sadly, this wild accusation may not be too far from reality, as Katy Fowler of the Sun Times Network reports…
In the past year, several Texas cities have installed red light cameras to discourage motorists from running red lights, but the efficacy of red light cameras is iffy.
After a successful petition led in part by attorney (now At-Large City Council Member) Michael Kubosh, Houston voters repealed use of the cameras by a decisive margin.
But new Houston city data provides evidence to strengthen the case for the use of cameras, and may even encourage their use across the nation. Here’s more on that from Angie Schmitt from StreetsBlog USA…
The HPD data contrasted crash figures from 2006 to 2010 — when the cameras were in operation — and from 2010 to 2014, after they were banned and removed. At the intersections that formerly had cameras, fatal crashes jumped 30 percent. Meanwhile, total crashes were up 116 percent. And DWI crashes nearly tripled, increasing by 186 percent.
Statistics like these should alarm anyone, even those that may have originally supported the repeal of red light cameras. As other Texas cities have done, maybe it is time for Houston to re-visit this issue. No matter the inconvenience, if these cameras save lives and critical damage from additional accidents, they might be worth the time and effort to be restored.
The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks that big GOP candidate debate needed more balloon animals and seltzer bottles as it brings you this week’s roundup.
Off the Kuff gives his campaign strategy for defending Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance.
Harold Cook presents the GOP Presidential Debate Drinking Game, which will come in handy for the next debate, if you ever recover from the first one.
A blogger started a petition to have the NFL relocate the 2017 Super Bowl away from Houston if the HERO is defeated by the voters in November. And then a Houston television station picked up the story. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs is in wonderment at how things can snowball — or go viral, as the kids say these days — so quickly.
Over 40 years strong, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus has emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the state’s most powerful political organizations. Whether Houston candidates run seeking the group’s endorsement, or specifically try to run against it, when “The Caucus” makes a move, everyone pays attention. As Rebecca Elliott of the Houston Chronicle reports, this year’s annual endorsement meeting was no exception…
A raucous municipal endorsement meeting brought mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner the coveted backing of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus on Saturday, positioning the 26-year state representative to broaden his coalition to include the city’s progressive voting bloc.
Caucus members voted 142-85 to endorse Turner after more than an hour of insult-laden discussion in which they rejected the recommendation of the group’s screening committee to endorse former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
Turner also beat out former Congressman Chris Bell, a longtime ally of the gay community who had been considered a likely pick for the group’s endorsement.
Once-shunned, the caucus’ [support] is now highly sought-after by candidates aiming to win over left-wing voters, known for reliably showing up at the polls.
The Caucus’ backing carries particular weight in municipal elections, which have often proven a more progressive electorate than Harris County or (obviously) the deep red state of Texas. A fact made all the more important this year, as candidates on both sides will vie for attention against the Goliath of the 2015– the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. To be sure, candidate positions for and against HERO were vetted to the utmost extent during this endorsement cycle.
Houston City Council District B – Jerry Davis District C – Ellen Cohen District F – Richard A. Nguyen District H – Roland Chavez District I – Robert Gallegos District J – Mike Laster District K – Larry Green At Large 1 – Lane Lewis At Large 2 – David Robinson At Large 3 – Doug Peterson At Large 4 – Amanda K. Edwards At Large 5 – Phillipe Nassif
Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees (HISD)
District 2 – Rhonda Skillern Jones District 3 – Ramiro Fonseca District 4 – Jolanda Jones District 8 – Juliet Katherine Stipeche
Houston Community College District Board of Trustees
District 3 – Adriana Tamez District 8 – Eva Loredo
For candidates like impressive newcomer Philippe Nassif, the influential recognition provides visibility and greatly increases his chances of a position in the run-off with Jack Christie, incumbent Council Member of At-Large position 5. Some voters may recall that Christie, who was once himself endorsed by The Caucus after saying that he supported a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance, went on to vote against HERO in 2014 and in 2015. Meanwhile Nassif has been a constant ally in the fight for equality, and leaves little doubt for voters where he would stand if elected to represent all Houstonians.
It will be quite interesting to see how these candidates fair on November 3rd. For the sake of HERO and progress for all Houstonians, let’s hope they do quite well.
Stay tuned for more candidate information via the TLCQ in the coming weeks.
That onslaught of lawsuits mentioned earlier this week?? Well here it comes, right on schedule.
Equality opponents really are throwing yet another lawsuit into the mix, even after they achieved their long-fought goal of getting the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance placed on the November ballot. As Katherine Driessen of the Houston Chronicle reports, this time their anger stems from the chosen ballot language…
Equal rights ordinance opponents on Friday sued Mayor Annise Parker for the second time this week, challenging the ballot language that will go to voters in November.
At issue is whether the ballot item should ask voters if they favor repealing the law or not, or if they support implementing the law or not. City Council approved sending the equal rights ordinance to voters on Wednesday, under order from the Texas Supreme Court to either repeal the law or affirm it and place it on the November ballot.
Then, City Council tackled the ballot language. Attorney Andy Taylor, who represents the opponents, told City Council he believed City Charter does not allow for a suspended ordinance — the law has been tabled, under court order — to be voted on by repeal.
The current ballot language asks “shall the city of Houston repeal the Equal Rights Ordinance” — so a supporter of the law would vote against it, and an opponent would vote in favor. In a press release, Taylor said the “Mayor decided to play games with the language in an effort to confuse voters on the effect of a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote.”
Taylor has submitted an emergency mandamus relief request to the Texas Supreme Court. In order to meet a late August deadline for ballot items, City Council has only one meeting left to re-vote on the language if ordered to do so.
Mayor Annise Parker did not respond to a request for comment but on the Houston Matters radio show Friday afternoon she said the lawsuit lacked merit. The language, she noted, was taken from a repeal referendum petition opponents submitted last summer.
At issue is careful semantics that are embedded into the Houston City Charter. On Wednesday, City Council approved the following language, based on the repeal petition’s original request…
“Shall the City of Houston repeal the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, Ord. No. 2014-530, which prohibits discrimination in city employment and city services, city contracts, public accommodations, private employment, and housing based on an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy?”
But plaintiffs filed the latest lawsuit because they contend the chosen ballot language does not satisfy rules set by Charter Article VII-b., Section 3. Here is an excerpt of that…
…Immediately upon the filing of such petition the City Secretary shall do all things required by section 2(b) of this Article. Thereupon the Council shall immediately reconsider such ordinance or resolution and, if it does not entirely repeal the same, shall submit it to popular vote at the next city general election, or the Council may, in its discretion, call a special election for that purpose; and such ordinance or resolution shall not take effect unless a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon at such election shall vote in favor thereof.
In agreement with the Charter, the ordinance has been submitted immediately for reconsideration, and for popular vote. But while the Charter does say that a vote must be in favor, it does not specify clearly if all votes must be in favor of the ordinance, or in favor of repeal.
On this point, there was vigorous disagreement even among the Council table. C.O. Bradford, who supports the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, sided with the plaintiffs on the ballot language, warning that it left City officials open for such a lawsuit as filed today.
So there you have the legal wrangling, but here’s the real reason that HERO opponents (A.K.A. the Houston Area Pastor Council/ Texas Pastor Council/ US Pastor Council) want ballot language for a vote in favor of the ordinance. The entirety of their campaign has already been constructed around their side voting against the ordinance. Remember the original slogan they employed was “NO Unequal Rights”
According to sources which cannot yet be revealed by Texas Leftist, the Pastor Council has stockpiled mailers, posters, other campaign materials and possibly even media spots that they are ready to unleash against HERO. It’s likely to be an onslaught never before seen at for a local election. So taking away the ability to tell their side to “Vote NO!” foils much of those plans, and forces them to reverse course and spend money on a whole new campaign.
The “Vote NO!” arena has already been tested, and victorious. Last fall, the US Pastor Council produced a battle to defeat the Non-Discrimination Ordinance in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and won that battle with 53 percent of the vote. Repeal 119was one of the “test markets” for persecution of local non-discrimination ordinances across the United States. Make no mistake… this is a national fight against equal rights, with Houston currently taking center stage.
Lest we forget, the persecution of equality is much more than a religious conviction for the US Pastor Council. It also puts them on the fast track to fame and fortune across the United States. Like any group that has been suddenly cast into the spotlight, they will do and say whatever they can to gain more power, money and influence. For those that support equality, this is a necessary factor to keep in mind.
Whatever the final ballot language, this November’s election just got a lot more complicated.
Say whatever you want about the one and only Taylor Swift. No seriously go ahead, because she’s probably heard it all before.
At the definitive age of 25, the pop star has become a music industry titan to rival that of the very best in record sales, fan armies influence and almost every other metric. Though she first hit the main stage in the Country genre, Taylor Swift has managed a crossover so successful that it can only be compared to those with last names like Jackson, Carey, or… Swift.
With all these facts out there, I still have to make a confession… I’m not the biggest Taylor Swift fan. Though I have respect for her songwriting skills, her albums are generally not my kind of music. You’re probably not going to find me screaming “I’m feeling twenty-twooooo” at the concert.
So how you ask does Taylor Swift land a fair-weather fan like me?? By landing epic rap phenom Kendrick Lamar as a feature on the song Bad Blood. Again, there’s those uncanny song construction skills on full display. Take a great hook, and combine it with one of the best rappers in music today? You get summer jam that pleases every audience.
After all the Bad Blood spilled in yesterday’s first GOP Primary debate, the song seems especially appropriate. So yeah, I’m gonna let this jam on my summer playlist.
Anyone with a credible amount of theater experience can tell you… whether it’s costumes, staging, learning lines, orchestra cues, piano tuning or scene direction, the work leading up to a show seems like it will never get completely done. That is, until the seats start filling on opening night. Eventually, you have to lift the curtain, get on stage and show ’em what you’ve got.
For the city of Houston however, August 16th isn’t just “another show”. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is about to completely transfigure the city’s local bus system, and they’re not going back. The stage is set, and early on that Sunday morning, over 10,000 “curtains” will be lifted across the METRO service area.
With so much to do, it’s no surprise that METRO is still getting ready. According to officials, the vast majority of stops have now been replaced and bagged, with the main exception being Downtown Houston. Anticipating the need for additional staff, the agency has held several job fairs. And of course, there are still routing adjustments being made. Here’s more on those last-minute changes from Dug Begley of the Houston Chronicle…
Officials spent more than a year discussing and refining the plan, but as opening day for the new system nears, they are still reshaping some of the routes to correct problems riders have identified.
Among those worried about the new network are senior citizens who live east of Texas 288 near Loop 610, who face a long walk to a bus stop, and patients of the Harris Health System’s Thomas Street Health Center, which serves a large number of HIV-positive Houston residents. The clinic, off Main Street near Interstate 45 on Houston’s near north side, essentially loses front-door access under the new system.
For months, Metro officials have said the new bus system will require some to adjust their riding habits, but it will benefit most riders. The new system also is expected to lure more people to the bus system, which has seen ridership remain below 300,000 passengers per weekday for the past six years, after a decade of higher daily averages.
Most can be assured that the issues will continue, but for good or ill the prep work for these is basically done. If you’re a bus rider, or interested in giving the new network a try,
METRO has a bevy of resources to help you plan new routes on the website. Chief among them is the new dual trip planner… a side-by-side comparison for old and new bus routes. There are YouTube videos which walk users through alternatives for several routes Or if you just want to focus on new routes, use the updated and much improved interactive service map. For the tech savvy, ultra-hip patrons the transit agency hopes to attract, there is much to love about the new bus network.
As part of the New Bus Network, Houston METRO will institute drastic changes to local bus service. Some bus routes, even popular ones like the 81 Westheimer Sharpstown, will be eliminated and replaced.
But an important question remains… has METRO done all it can to prepare and educate its current ridership about the new system? As we know, there are many patrons that do not have access to all of these high-tech tools.
To address those patrons and any others riding the system, METRO has just announced that the new print version System Maps will bereleased to the public next week. Even in 2015, the system map and route maps truly are the cornerstone information pieces for current riders, and will likely prove critical to a successful transition of the network.
If you haven’t heard yet, METRO is also doing one more thing to help riders learn the new system. For the week of August 16th through August 22nd, all METRO local bus service will be free for all riders. It’s an extraordinary step, but again one that is needed. This time frame also happens to be the week before most Houston-area public schools start classes for the fall semester. Families need at least one week to figure out the particulars of their new transit routes, perhaps even more time.
In just over a week, Houston’s regional transit system will be forever affected by the New Bus Network. The stage is set, and the nation is watching. Let’s all hope for a good show.
Just over 1 year ago, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance faced a contentious vote to be approved by City Council. At that time, opponents questioned the need for local protections against discrimination, and even promoted blatant lies about the law regarding restroom usage. After hours of debate and impassioned stories, HERO was passed.
But the drama and legal challenges continued, all of which (thus far) have now lead up to today’s Council meeting. As Katherine Driessen of the Houston Chronicle reports, HERO now faces voters for the 2015 election…
City Council voted to affirm Houston’s equal rights ordinance Wednesday, a move that will send the law to voters in November per a Texas Supreme Court ruling.
City Council voted 12-5 to leave the law in place, with Councilmen Dave Martin, Oliver Pennington, Michael Kubosh, Jack Christie and Councilwoman Brenda Stardig voting to repeal the ordinance. A Texas Supreme Court ruling issued last month ordered the city to either repeal the ordinance or put it on the November ballot.
“All we’re saying by this is that everyone should have an equal opportunity to equal rights,” Councilwoman Ellen Cohen said.
City Council approved the equal rights ordinance 11-6 in May 2014. The ordinance bans discrimination based not just on sexual orientation and gender identity – the flash points for opponents – but also, as federal laws do, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy and genetic information, as well as family, marital or military status. The ordinance applies to businesses that serve the public, private employers, housing, city employment and city contracting. Religious institutions are exempt. Violators can be fined up to $5,000.
“Let the people vote!” was the unending battle cry and singular for HERO opponents, as was evidenced at I Stand Sunday— the worldwide telecast which thrust the Houston Area/Texas/US Pastor Council into international fame and almost certain fortune. In today’s vote by City Hall to place HERO on the ballot, it’s safe to assume that anti-equality leaders have gotten what they want.
But if one assumes as much, they probably little the need for fame and attention… once you get it, you only want more. So it’s no surprise that the Pastor Council has planned an onslaught of lawsuits against the city, including suing for the legal fees they chose to incur thus far.
Texas Leftist will have more on the Pastor Council(s) soon.
