Even as the months drag on, many across the country are still trying to make sense of acts of unspeakable violence committed against American citizens. Perhaps none of those incidents was more disturbing than the killing of a 12-year old child last November.
But some confounding news out of Cleveland, Ohio today is only serving to further trouble the water. Here’s the main story from Evelyn Diaz at BET.com…
The police shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice made headlines last year and incited the anger of the Black Lives Matter movement, but two experts are now reporting that the action was reasonable and justified.
In reports prepared for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, the action taken against Rice, who was holding a pellet gun at the time of his death, has been labeled “objectively reasonable.”
One report concludes, “There can be no doubt that Rice’s death was tragic and, indeed, when one considers his age, heartbreaking. However, for all of the reasons discussed herein, I conclude that Officer [Timothy] Loehmann’s belief that Rice posed a threat of serious physical harm or death was objectively reasonable as was his response to that perceived threat.”
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said a grand jury will decide whether Loehmann and his partner, Frank Garmback, will face charges.
Prior to joining the Cleveland Police Department, Officer Loehmann had been found unfit to serve by a previous law enforcement institution, citing an inability to follow directions, and poor handgun performance. The reports have already come under heavy criticismfor failing to take the officer’s past actions into account.
As we’ve seen in Texas, there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety of all Americans. But these reports serve as a reminder that policing is only one part of a very complicated justice system. If standards within the law can find a heinous situation such as this one reasonable, then it’s time for Americans to start changing the law.
In the Eighteenth installment of the 2015 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire we hear from Hon. Bill King, former Mayor of the city of Kenah, Texas and candidate for Mayor of Houston.
Please note: Responses are directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but may be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
BK: Bill King
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
BK: I served two terms on the Kemah City Council and two terms as Mayor of Kemah.
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
BK: I believe that municipal government is constituted to provide certain basic services—like streets, sewers, police, and fire protection—and to provide them well.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
BK: Addressing Houston’s financial problems is a necessary predicate to any other objectives one may have for the city. I will implement zero-based budgets and independent audits of departments, stop relying on overtime work from city employees that costs the City more than it spends on parks, convert heavy city vehicles to natural gas, and other necessary steps to bring spending under control without compromising essential city services.
TL: After decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, Houston’s infrastructure is in a critical state of disrepair. Ask any driver, cyclist or pedestrian, and they can readily tell you that city streets and sidewalks are crumbling… some to the extent that they pose significant danger to those that would traverse them. The Parker Administration has attempted to address the problem by the voter-approved ReBuild Houston program. Knowing that the next Mayor has no choice but to invest in city infrastructure, do you support the continuation of ReBuild Houston? If yes, please explain why. If no, please explain how you would address our copious infrastructure needs differently.
BK: I have consistently opposed ReBuild Houston. The pay-as-you-go scheme costs taxpayers more money than traditional infrastructure bonds, and it also means that citizens have to wait years for critical projects and lose the value of having roads and culverts completed when they are needed. Also, it is very un-democratic to have city bureaucrats and engineers making the decisions on which projects get priority. Infrastructure bonds give the voters a say.
TL: At present the city of Houston has one of the strongest forms of “strong-Mayor governance” in the state of Texas, to the point that the Mayor alone decides what business comes before City Council. If elected, would you support an amendment to the City Charter that would allow any coalition of 6 Council Members to place items on the Council Agenda without prior approval from the Mayor? Whether yes or no, please explain your answer.
BK: I support a mechanism for Council Members to set agenda items without the Mayor’s approval. In a more general sense, I think that Houston needs to work on de-centralizing some authority. The super-neighborhood system, for instance, has been deteriorating in many areas of town, depriving the mayor of valuable input on the needs of specific neighborhoods.
TL: If elected, would you support and seek to continue the current administration’s Complete Streets policy, which establishes that any new or significant re-build of city streets will work to prioritize and incorporate safe access for all road users, including pedestrians, persons with disabilities and cyclists?
BK: I am all for providing safe, dedicated infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians. But the Complete Streets policy is not what we need right now: Complete Streets can costs as much as 3 times what a regular street costs, and Houston is full of disadvantaged, largely minority neighborhoods where streets are impassible and sidewalks are nonexistent. We can’t get economic opportunity to the areas of town that need it most if we keep spending down our budget on amenities that always seem to find their way to wealthier neighborhoods first.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
BK: Running the City of Houston is a bit like being the CEO of a $5 billion corporation. Taxpayers have not been getting their money’s worth from municipal government, and I want to use my 40 years of experience in business and public service to deliver what the voters expect from City Hall.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
BK: I enjoy dining out in Houston and spending time with my grandchildren.
Thanks to Mr. King for the responses.
Election Day 2015 is Tuesday November 3rd, and Early Voting runs from October 19th through October 30th. Check out this year’s Harris County Early Voting informationfor locations and times.
In the Seventeenth installment of the 2015 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire we hear from Tom McCasland, candidate for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 1.
Please note: Responses are directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but may be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
TM: Tom McCasland
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
TM: No.
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
TM: Government, at its best, can accomplish those goals and activities which we have set for our society and which the free market either cannot accomplish or as a society we have chosen not to entrust to the free market. Properly construed, I believe the work of government is too important to be done badly. Thus, I believe the best defense of the continued role of government at any level will be government that is thoroughly competent, fiscally responsible and effective.
At the municipal level, city government should ensure the effective delivery of core services such as ensuring safe neighborhoods (including both safety from crime and safety from traffic collisions due to poorly designed or managed streets), delivering water and waste water services, maintaining streets and proper drainage, and picking up the trash. These core services reflect what our residents should expect from a minimally competent city government.
However, there are many other quality of life indicators that make our shared, compact existence as a city far more enjoyable, healthy and economical that residents should expect the City to deliver or assist in delivering. These include a robust arts community, revitalized parks, recreational venues, economic opportunity through job training for middle skills jobs, a welcoming environment for small businesses (e.g. reforming the Permitting Office), creating a beautiful and interesting streetscape for all street users, and supporting (while not replacing) the local public school system as it attempts to deliver a quality public education to every child in Houston.
I will work to make Houston a city that does not simply deliver the minimal services (although that must be the first task), but instead is striving also to be a great place to live, play and raise a family in addition to being a great place to work.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
TM: While I have important goals relating to quality of life concerns and economic opportunity to address income disparity, the top priority for the next mayor and city council must be resolving the serious financial challenges faced by the city. Every other goal discussed above and below requires a strong financial footing for the city. Thus, resolving the pension issues, ensuring a secure source of funding to rebuild our streets, drainage & sewer lines, and rebuilding the trust between the taxpayers and the city government that is (hopefully wisely) spending the taxpayers’ money will be my first priority.
TL: After decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, Houston’s infrastructure is in a critical state of disrepair. Ask any driver, cyclist or pedestrian, and they can readily tell you that city streets and sidewalks are crumbling… some to the extent that they pose significant danger to those that would traverse them. The Parker Administration has attempted to address the problem by the voter-approved ReBuild Houston program. Knowing that the next Mayor has no choice but to invest in city infrastructure, do you support the continuation of ReBuild Houston? If yes, please explain why. If no, please explain how you would address our copious infrastructure needs differently.
TM: I support ReBuild. While ReBuild is back to the trial court and I cannot predict what the outcome will be, Houston’s streets and stormwater sewer system need immediate and extensive work. I support the pay-as-you-go model of ReBuild, but I believe that the City needs both more transparency and better communication about its “worst first” approach to streets. Regardless of whether the source of funds is ReBuild or some other mechanism, City taxpayers must be prepared to pay for streets, and City officials must be prepared to answer publicly and transparently for the way they administers those funds.
TL: At present, the city of Houston has one of the strongest forms of “strong-Mayor governance” in the state of Texas, to the point that the Mayor alone decides what business comes before City Council. If elected, would you support an amendment to the City Charter that would allow any coalition of 6 Council Members to place items on the Council Agenda without prior approval from the Mayor? Whether yes or no, please explain your answer.
TM: I have not yet decided whether allowing a certain number of council members to place items on the council agenda would be beneficial in the long run for the City.
TL: If elected, would you support and seek to continue the current administration’s Complete Streets policy, which establishes that any new or significant re-build of city streets will work to prioritize and incorporate safe access for all road users, including pedestrians, persons with disabilities and cyclists?
TM: As a regular pedestrian, cyclists and transit rider, I will support and aggressively push to ensure that every street is designed to be safely used by every likely user of that street. Specifically, I will work to ensure that every street funded through Rebuild Houston is built in a way that accommodates all users of that street, that we swiftly implement the Houston Bike Plan currently being developed, and that we fund a pilot Neighborhood Greenway program, with a rollout for at least one major Neighborhood Greenway in every District in the City. I will also support Complete Streets by working to build connected off-street infrastructure, including swiftly completing ParksByYou and beginning to build important North/South connectors along the Centerpoint easements.
Finally, I believe that complete street design provides Houston with great options for creating landscape that both slows and cleans stormwater runoff rather than pushing it downstream as quickly as possible, negatively impacting downstream neighborhoods. With a complete streets design, bioswales, planters, and street trees that can be planted in traffic calming curb extensions or as an additional barrier along a sidewalk can provide reduced flooding, cleaner water and safer mobility.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
TM: I work hard. I make sure I understand the issues. I seek input from all sides. I practice transparency in government. I try to make the best decision I can based on the information I have. And if I’m wrong, I work quickly to mitigate any damage done by my wrongheaded decision. This is how I’ve run the housing authority, it is how I attempt to live my life generally, and it is also how I will serve as your City Councilmember.
While I believe the qualifications above are the most important qualifications for the office sought, the qualifications from my resume include nearly four years working for Vinson & Elkins representing corporations and local governmental entities, one year running Bill White’s research department for his gubernatorial campaign, one year working to fund the trails and parks being built along the bayous, and 3.5 years reforming and running a local governmental entity called the Harris County Housing Authority. This experience provides significant background for addressing the legal, financial and political issues facing the City.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
TM: I deeply believe in the importance of recharging through soulful activity and practices. My preferred methods to recharge include gardening, dancing (mostly blues, fusion or lindy hop), cooking, and wilderness hiking, canoeing or backpacking. I am also a cyclist and runner, although most of my cycling is done primarily for transportation.
Thanks to Mr. McCasland for the responses.
Election Day 2015 is Tuesday November 3rd, and Early Voting runs from October 19th through October 30th. Check out this year’s Harris County Early Voting informationfor locations and times.
Last weekend against a backdrop of near perfect weather, the city of Houston cut the ribbon on a years-long project, and a dream come true for Mayor Annise Parker and many others in the city. The newly-renovated Buffalo Bayou Park made its official debut to the world. And if initial impressions hold up, it may be on its to becoming a world-class destination.
Here’s more on the big reveal from Leo Flores of the Memorial Examiner…
Buffalo Bayou Park is officially opened. After a $58 million renovation, the 160-acre and 2.3 mile green space that stretches along Buffalo Bayou features two pedestrian bridges, a picnic pavilion, one of the city’s largest dog parks, a skate park, and children’s play area.
The park was made possible through a public and private partnership led by Buffalo Bayou Partnership, The City of Houston Parks Department, Harris County Flood Control District and the Kinder Foundation.
[…]
“As Houston’s population grows, so will the desire for the quality of life amenities like parks and green spaces,” said Nancy Kinder, president of the Kinder Foundation.
“As a foundation, we saw an opportunity to work collaboratively to develop the urban jewel that is Buffalo Bayou Park, which will be enjoyed by individuals from all parts of the world.”
The park’s renovation project took just four years to complete, and was open throughout the construction. The vast improvements have taken the park from an empty grassy field to a vibrant green space where families can picnic, exercise, pontoon boat tours and even enjoy live entertainment.
The October 3rd grand opening was actually rescheduled from June 20th, due to the recent Memorial Day flood which heavily affected the park as it neared completion. But even in that situation, designers were mostly impressed with how well the design coped with the event, and recovered in the weeks that followed.
Not only is the transfiguration gaining attention and envy from our in-state sibling cities, but it’s also garnering some national news coverage, especially from the architecture and design community.
The 2.3 mile stretch represents the first phase in a series of projects, the next of which will focus on the downtown section of the bayou. If you haven’t been out to see the new Buffalo Bayou yet, be sure to do so in the coming days. As of October 3rd’s grand opening, users can now rent bicycles, canoes and kayaks at various stations within the park. Visit the Buffalo Bayou Partnership to learn about all the cool new amenities before you go.
In the Sixteenth installment of the 2015 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire we hear from Hon. Adrian Garcia, former Harris County Sheriff and candidate for Mayor of Houston.
Please note: Responses are directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but may be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
AG: Adrian Garcia
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
AG: Houston City Council; Harris County Sheriff
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
AG: I am living proof of the promise of Houston, where if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get anywhere you are bold enough to dream. My career has taught me the importance of listening to the needs of all communities and how we can make our City government work efficiently to serve Houstonians with a great quality of life today, while building our infrastructure for tomorrow. Government is important to ensure that all Houstonians have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. This city has been very good to me, and I want to make sure it remains as the city of opportunity to the next generation of Houstonians. I am uniquely qualified and passionate to be the next great mayor of this great city.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
AG: Our most significant challenge is our overall city finances. We have been operating a structurally unbalanced system for too long. The biggest driver of this issue is our unpaid pension obligations. While I strongly believe that we must keep our promises to current retirees and employees so that they know their retirement is secure, I believe we need to take a holistic look at all of the city finances, including pensions, to find an efficient Houston solution going forward. Some people approach the pensions as three silos outside of the city’s finances, but I feel that such an approach misses the opportunity to redefine how our pension obligations play a role in our overall city finances. Local control, reduction of the COLA adjustment, a realistic rate of return, review of the DROP and balancing representation on the pension boards will all be explored in a plan for reform.
My whole career has been committed to public safety, and, as an HPOPS retiree, I have personal skin in the game when it comes to any pension negotiations. I am committed to bringing all parties to the table to craft a local solution that allows for the City to keep its promises to public employees while still maintaining critical infrastructure and the hiring of the public safety personnel we need to keep Houston safe.
TL: After decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, Houston’s infrastructure is in a critical state of disrepair. Ask any driver, cyclist or pedestrian, and they can readily tell you that city streets and sidewalks are crumbling… some to the extent that they pose significant danger to those that would traverse them. The Parker Administration has attempted to address the problem by the voter-approved ReBuild Houston program. Knowing that the next Mayor has no choice but to invest in city infrastructure, do you support the continuation of ReBuild Houston? If yes, please explain why. If no, please explain how you would address our copious infrastructure needs differently.
AG: I believe the ReBuild Houston program is an important part of our city’s approach to addressing our street and drainage infrastructure issues. It is a good program that has been poorly managed. I believe there is unnecessary confusion among stakeholders and the public regarding the program. If elected, I would implement a number of reforms including, but not limited to:
● More transparency in how the money is being used
● More frequent updates on the financials of the program
● Allow for more flexibility in our CIP/needs-based evaluation process for projects
● Incorporate regional detention into the program if possible
● Public meetings and access for the project decision meetings process so staff can justify the “worst first” approach findings that the ordinance requires.
Additionally, I believe there are efficiencies to be gained and savings to be had in a comprehensive review of the Public Works & Engineering (PWE) department. Savings could then be reprogrammed into more projects that are sorely needed across the city.
TL: At present, the city of Houston has one of the strongest forms of “strong-Mayor governance” in the state of Texas, to the point that the Mayor alone decides what business comes before City Council. If elected, would you support an amendment to the City Charter that would allow any coalition of 6 Council Members to place items on the Council Agenda without prior approval from the Mayor? Whether yes or no, please explain your answer.
AG: I am someone who strongly believes in a participatory system. The City of Houston and its departments provide needed services for our residents, and the residents should therefore have a voice. If there is a more effective and efficient way to make this happen than the current structure than I will be happy to consider it. I am open to hearing and working on suggestions for how we can make processes work better, so that the voices of our all residents can be heard in City Council.
TL: If elected, would you support and seek to continue the current administration’s Complete Streets policy, which establishes that any new or significant re-build of city streets will work to prioritize and incorporate safe access for all road users, including pedestrians, persons with disabilities and cyclists?
AG: I am strong supporter of “Complete Streets” policy. As we make continued investments in multi-modal transportation, we must also effectively market and promote the use of those investments we have already made. I am confident that once an individual uses a safe and convenient alternative means of transportation, they will use it again. For those that already use alternative forms of transportation, we must ensure that we are able to keep them safe by building an infrastructure that embraces vision zero and by educating the public about operating along “complete streets,” parks and trails.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
AG: As the only native-born American in my family, and as a lifelong Houstonian, I am asking for the privilege of becoming the mayor of my great hometown. This city has been very good to me, and I want to make sure it remains as the city of opportunity to the next generation of Houstonians. I believe I am uniquely qualified to lead the City of Houston because I’m the only candidate in this race with executive experience. I lead, managed, and reformed a major organization, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, into savings of over $200 million dollars while keeping the streets of America’s 3rd -largest county safe. Throughout my entire tenure at the HCSO, I promoted diversity in hiring and a professional environment of mutual respect and trust, so that the Sheriff’s Department could best protect all residents in the most diverse and culturally rich county in America.
My nearly 35 years in public service, starting as a patrol officer with the Houston Police Department, taught me a great deal about our government. From the front seat of a patrol car, you get a first-hand look at where our City is serving its residents and where it is failing to provide the services it should. My efforts to decrease gang involvement, a major national issue at that time, prompted Mayor Bob Lanier to appoint me to the Mayor’s Anti-Gang Office in 1994, and within 5 years I was promoted to be the director of the program. Our efforts were tremendously successful in decreasing the gang violence plaguing Houston neighborhoods through employing creative community policing initiatives, which were centered on building trusting relationships between the patrolling officers and the community.
I then took the skills that I learned as a police officer and directed them towards addressing the broader needs of our community by being elected to a seat on the Houston City Council, where I served three terms. Serving on the Council as Bill White’s Mayor Pro tem, I helped develop and pass initiatives expanding senior homestead exemptions and making homeownership more affordable because experience had taught me that neighborhoods are stronger when people can own their own homes. I had also learned from my experience as an officer that more crime could be prevented with a greater focus on timely data collection and analysis. This led me to work on creating HPD’s Real Time Crime Center, which produced immediate results in lowering crime rates. While I was an ardent supporter of METRO lightrail expansion as a councilmember, I listened carefully to the concerns of many residents about the new rail lines. Hearing concerns about the rail construction impact on longtime area businesses, I created the city’s Construction Mitigation Program to extend low interest loans to existing micro businesses who needed a little help to get through the disruptive construction period of a major infrastructure project. Throughout my tenure on City Council, I worked tirelessly and collaboratively to tackle major issues like crime prevention while also supporting the kinds of smart infrastructure and economic development initiatives that helped make Houston even greater.
Voters then awarded me the honor of leading a Sheriff’s Office of almost 5,000 personnel and a budget of roughly $500 million, and in dire need of new leadership and reform. When I arrived on my first day, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office was $60 million over- budget, and the county jail so overcrowded that taxpayers were paying over $10 million annually to house prisoners in Louisiana. By demonstrating leadership and establishing reforms aimed at progressive community policing, I was able to keep a lid on crime while delivering four straight fiscal years under-budget. I was also able to dramatically lower our jail population and stop sending prisoners out of state by developing programs and partnerships to make sure that our mentally-ill Houstonians began receiving the treatment they needed.
I am living proof of the promise of Houston, where if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get anywhere you are bold enough to dream. My career has taught me the importance of listening to the needs of all communities and how we can make our City government work efficiently to serve Houstonians with a great quality of life today, while building our infrastructure for tomorrow.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
AG: I really enjoy being in the community and get immense satisfaction from volunteering. When I’m not doing that you’ll find me with my family and likely running or biking through our beautiful parks and bayous.
Thanks to Sheriff Garcia for the responses.
Election Day 2015 is Tuesday November 3rd, and Early Voting runs from October 19th through October 30th. Check out this year’s Harris County Early Voting informationfor locations and times.
In the Fifteenth installment of the 2015 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire we hear from Doug Peterson, candidate for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 3.
Please note: Responses are directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but may be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
DP: Doug Peterson
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
DP: This is my first campaign for elected public office after serving many political and environmental leadership positions.
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
DP: Government is the main promoter of important public values, such as justice, that are essential to a good society. Without a strong public sector, life would be less just, less free, more unequal, and more insecure. Government is often the only institution that can make these kinds of core political values a reality. Finally, government is the great equalizer, facilitator and supporter for the diverse peoples that form it and guide it.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
DP: A key provision of my platform is to ensure equality for all people and equity across all Houston communities. Speaking to diverse communities across the city of Houston, it becomes quite apparent that some communities receive abundantly greater investment than others. As a city council member, I will not sit silently and watch these types of measures take place. I will work with the mayor’s office and communities across the city to ensure better distribution of resources. If HERO fails at the polls, it should become a major initiative to modify and reconsider it in order to get it approved. Additionally, I aim to advance the city’s economic development function to facilitate development of the 16th different economic communities across Houston. I will work with NASA and other technical organizations to share technologies and build technical communities that can make Houston a technology hub equal to Silicon Valley. Ultimately, I’m running as a progressive, with support from a variety of membership organizations focused on winning this election to take this seat away from a classic tea party conservative, and replace it with a progressive vote to advance important issues and initiatives.
TL: After decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, Houston’s infrastructure is in a critical state of disrepair. Ask any driver, cyclist or pedestrian, and they can readily tell you that city streets and sidewalks are crumbling… some to the extent that they pose significant danger to those that would traverse them. The Parker Administration has attempted to address the problem by the voter-approved ReBuild Houston program. Knowing that the next Mayor has no choice but to invest in city infrastructure, do you support the continuation of ReBuild Houston? If yes, please explain why. If no, please explain how you would address our copious infrastructure needs differently.
DP: Rebuild is a good concept but has fallen short on implementation. I, like many residents of our great city, voted in favor of Rebuild Houston. I believed that the concept was ahead of its time and would accomplish more in a significantly less amount of time. The ReBuild Houston business model emphasizes Pay‐As‐You‐Go Funding. In this manner, no new debt is incurred and cash payment means there are no more interest payments on new projects. As a result, the City gets twice the product for the same dollars. This moves us away from decades of neglect and the failed patch and repair mindset that has plagued our city. Since its implementation, this initiative has failed in a number of ways and I plan to set it on the right track. Vastly improved transparency and publicized criteria for prioritizing project is necessary to help city communities understand the the schedule. It is essential to not stop ReBuild Houston, just fix it, because its work is essential to improved transportation AND sorely needed flood control.
TL: At present, the city of Houston has one of the strongest forms of “strong-Mayor governance” in the state of Texas, to the point that the Mayor alone decides what business comes before City Council. If elected, would you support an amendment to the City Charter that would allow any coalition of 6 Council Members to place items on the Council Agenda without prior approval from the Mayor? Whether yes or no, please explain your answer.
DP: Yes. While I believe that our city will fare better if the distribution of power is more equally spread and I believe that a democracy works best when more people are included in the decision making process, I do have some concerns about the ability of the city council to collaborate well enough to move forward on key projects. A simple majority of six council members should help the council better find agreement to move forward. In my opinion, six is a fair figure that should help to council not become stuck with a variety opinions without a working majority.
TL: If elected, would you support and seek to continue the current administration’s Complete Streets policy, which establishes that any new or significant re-build of city streets will work to prioritize and incorporate safe access for all road users, including pedestrians, persons with disabilities and cyclists?
DP: Yes, absolutely. The Complete Streets and Transportation Plan is meant to provide safe, accessible and convenient use of streets by all users including motorists, public transit riders, pedestrians, people of all abilities and bicyclists. The new policy, detailed in a draft executive order from the mayor, will be achieved over time as improvements to existing roadways and redevelopment occur. The Complete Streets and Transportation Plan recognizes that all streets are different. The function of the road, current and projected adjacent land use and travel demands, availability of right-of-way, community input and the level of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic must all be considered in decisions regarding enhancements. The ultimate goal, where appropriate, is walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods with amenities such as trees and landscaping, public art and street furniture
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
DP: I believe that anyone who runs for office cares a great deal about our city. However, what makes you uniquely the best candidate for this is the combination of professional experience combined with community activism. I am a progressive candidate that understands the issues facing our city moving forward, and I will be a very strong voice of the people, working for all Houstonians, not just a few who make major contributions and/or are major business leaders with agendas contrary to those that support lower and middle class citizens.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
DP: I am a husband and proud father of three daughters, two have graduated from college and worked/ing with Teach for America, and a third in her final year as political science major at Emory University. When I’m not spending time with them, I enjoy outdoor activities including running and cycling, volunteer work for environmental and green space, reading and playing guitar.
Thanks to Mr. Peterson for the responses.
Election Day 2015 is Tuesday November 3rd, and Early Voting runs from October 19th through October 30th. Check out this year’s Harris County Early Voting informationfor locations and times.
In the Fourteenth installment of the 2015 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire we hear from Joe Ferreira, candidate for Mayor of Houston.
Please note: Responses are directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but may be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
JF: Joe Ferreira
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
JF: No
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
JF: The reason we even need government is to provide people a safe and civilized life. Government meant to be a servant of the people, not the people a servant of the government.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
JF: Provide a flame to the public to heat their food, not hand them the food. Everyone should have opportunity to live a healthy life and provide for their families by pushing the need of a honest day’s work for an honest days pay. Houston budget is in the red and it must be fixed.
TL: After decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, Houston’s infrastructure is in a critical state of disrepair. Ask any driver, cyclist or pedestrian, and they can readily tell you that city streets and sidewalks are crumbling… some to the extent that they pose significant danger to those that would traverse them. The Parker Administration has attempted to address the problem by the voter-approved ReBuild Houston program. Knowing that the next Mayor has no choice but to invest in city infrastructure, do you support the continuation of ReBuild Houston? If yes, please explain why. If no, please explain how you would address our copious infrastructure needs differently.
JF: This subject is much like the drainage problem. The tax payers are paying a drainage fee today and the money is not being used for what it was suppose to.
TL: At present, the city of Houston has one of the strongest forms of “strong-Mayor governance” in the state of Texas, to the point that the Mayor alone decides what business comes before City Council. If elected, would you support an amendment to the City Charter that would allow any coalition of 6 Council Members to place items on the Council Agenda without prior approval from the Mayor? Whether yes or no, please explain your answer.
JF: Yes, I have always believed in managing with a strong support staff. I don’t think one individual has all the answers, however the individual should always be able to reach out and touch a subject matter expert on his or her staff.
TL: If elected, would you support and seek to continue the current administration’s Complete Streets policy, which establishes that any new or significant re-build of city streets will work to prioritize and incorporate safe access for all road users, including pedestrians, persons with disabilities and cyclists?
JF: I would support that and believe it is long overdue.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
JF: I am a retired executive and have managed a huge budget and over eight thousand employees. I am an outsider that believes in fixing it right the first time.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
JF: I enjoy people and have always participated in team sports like playing soccer and basketball.
Thanks to Mr. Ferreira for the responses.
Election Day 2015 is Tuesday November 3rd, and Early Voting runs from October 19th through October 30th. Check out this year’s Harris County Early Voting informationfor locations and times.
(Note: Texas Leftist could not locate a clear picture of this candidate)
