Asia House gets underway... finally

Okay, so I've heard about Asia House basically since I've been in Houston.  Today.. I finally saw the beginning of the real Asia House.  No doubt, for members of Asia Society Texas who have worked on this project for more than a decade, today was truly a day worth waiting for.  Sure there was some rain, and Houston's famous humidity, but hey... Yao Ming was there!  For any politician who might have a slightly expanded cranium of self importance, just stand next to the big guy... there's real celebrity for you.  Still, a number of politicos did make the rounds, including Mayor Bill White, Judge Ed Emmett, Peter Brown, MJ Khan, a nd a few others.

The star (other than Yao Ming) was architect Yoshio Taniguchi.  He's  been commissioned to build his first free standing structure in the U.S.  And, believe it or not.. it will be here.. in Houston, as Asia House.  A few politicians spoke for a little too long.. and we did get into the rain a little bit.. but those goofy hard hats protected the most.  By the way, if you drive by the Southmore location, the building you see up isn't the real museum, it's a full-sized mock up.

Edwards, Obama.. on old turf

After months of lobbying by both candidates, former Sen. John Edwards endorsed Obama today.  Perfect timing and place in Michigan, the endorsement came at a rally in Grand Rapids.  Having worked in Grand Rapids before moving to Houston, I know the Van Andel Arena well.  It's the largest venue in Michigan's second largest city.  However, it's a very different place than the rest of the state.

Grand Rapids is a world away from the Detroit auto plants, and the much talked about blue collar workers.  Grand Rapids is conservative, and it votes that way.  It's interesting to watch the Democratic front runner receive a pivotal endorsement in one of the most Republican dominated areas in the state.  When I lived there.. the only county on the West side of the state that voted Republican is Muskegon.

The Earthquake Relief

To the folks who dropped me an email knowing I have family in China, thanks!  They are in Beijing, more than 1,000 miles from the where the earthquake took place... so everyone's doing great.  If you are interested in helping out, Houstonian Grace Li has started a non-profit organization aimed at sending aide to China.  Grace is one of the first people I met when I came to Houston, she's always working way too much.  Her Giving China organization is just getting started.. but click over if you're interested in seeing what she's doing.

City Council: quandary over HPD Lawsuit

Today at council, your various elected officials engaged in a lively discussion over whether to spend $150,000 in hiring outside legal counsel over a lawsuit brought on by several HPD officers over the no facial hair policy.  The controversy began back in 2005, when Chief Harold Hurtt issued a dept. dress code that included requiring officers to be clean shaven.

A lawsuit was filed last year by several officers who alleged the policy was discriminatory.  Now, the City wants to hire outside counsel.  Should it spend the money? Depend on which council member you asked.  Just about everyone had an opinion, ranging from supporting the chief to getting rid of the policy so the lawsuit could disappear.

But, perhaps the most interesting comment came from Council Member Jarvis Johnson.  In speaking about the public safety aspect of a clean shaven face, Johnson didn't really buy the fact that this is a public safety issue.  Saying something to the effect:  "I'm thinking the health of some of the police officers are a bigger issue.  Maybe we need to institute a physical fitness policy.  There are some really big guys on the force."

Okay. Now.. back to the counsel payment debate, we are set set to vote on it next week.

The METRO promise: We'll start in June!

Today's METRO consent presentation at City Council brought its usual set of happy and angry people.  Even former council member Martha Wong made an appearance.  The Greenway High Rise resident voiced her concerns about stray currents and other worries to the governing body she used to serve on.

Other highlights? Two hours of question and answer over all the METRO Solutions stuff you heard before.  What else got done in front of the Council Committee? The promise of one more meeting! Yea!  So, we got two hours down, there's another two hours to go.  Only after that, will the consent agenda go to the full City Council for a vote.

METRO can't start building the new light rail lines until then.  It's targetting a June start date, will City Council play along? We shall see...

Mayor wants half cent tax cut in property tax rates

Mayor Bill White unveiled his 2008-2009 budget proposal today, and it includes a half-cent tax cut in property tax rates.

The senior and disabled exemption will increase from $64,420 to $70,862.

The combined budget for police, fire and EMS will increase by $105 million.  That includes increasing officers by 150, and fire pay increase of 4.5 percent.

The number of Mobility Response Team officers (guys and gals on scooters) will increase from 24 civilian officers.

Now.. let the ohh-so-exciting council budget workshopts begin!

Fun at City Council.. METRO's riding in!

Expect a lot of fireworks tomorrow morning at 10 a.m... when METRO will be at City Council for a committee meeting about the Consent Agenda.  What can we expect?  A lot of Anti-and-Pro METRO folks sitting in the audience.. Maybe somebody will have matching t-shirts.  Seriously,  the light rail stuff has been extremely controversial, and as one City Council Member told me today.... "Two hours won't be enough!"

The meeting starts at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, followed by public session with City Council tomorrow afternoon.. bring some coffee!

On a different City Council note, it promises to be an interesting Wednesday there, as well.

9. ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, relating to the transfer of Parking Management duties from the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department to the Public Works & Engineering Department

10.  ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 4620 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON BUILDING CODE, (“The Houston Sign Code”), to expand and revise the application of the provisions thereof currently applying to the East Side Sports and Convention Complex District and the Theater District to include a Retail and Entertainment District; containing other provisions relating to the foregoing subject; providing for severability; providing an effective date - DISTRICT I ‑ RODRIGUEZ

Number nine is interesting mainly for our City Hall insider types.  I guess we'll all be seeing a lot more of Alvin Wright as the parking spokesperson!  Number 10 is relating to the new Houston Pavilions that's going up.  The ordinance will allong the Pavilions people to have giant signs that advertise "House of Blues" or whatever...

Happy Birthday polliticos!

On a humid Houston Thursday, the politically connected, upwardly mobile, young (and young at heart) sort came out for the annual birthday celebration of two successful City politicians.  I can say this is aimed at a younger crowd because it .. well.. wasn't at Tony's.

Council member James Rodriguez, and City insider Jose Soto held their birthday party at the Red Door. It was all to benefit a good cause, and there were a plenty of people willing to celebrate.  My apologies for losing the battery charger for my usual camera, so I was only able to snap a few with my phone.  Besides James and Jose, the party brought out their significant others, and family.  It was light on attendence from fellow elected officials (several of them are in China, more on that later.)  But State Sen. Mario Gallegos did make the rounds, as did Chris Brown, Giovani Garibay, Marta Crinejo, and about 100 others that I'm failing to mention. 

Sinkhole, Day 2 ....

Um...  For those of you wondering, and I doubt that you are.. I'm now on day two of Sinkhole Patrol.  There is a gigantic sinkhole in the down of Daisetta.  It began opening up yesterday, and is now the size of six football fieds.  This town of 1,034 is not used to being besieged by media, EVER.  And yet, we have all the TV, radio, newspapers here.  Even the New York Times and World News Tonight sent people.  So what do we get?  Take a look at the photo I snapped.  It's a handwritten sign that says Command Post.  The little square in the corner says "No Media."  Yet, the guy standing in front is an ABC News audio man.  Go figure.

And in case you are wondering, one of our photographers coined this little phrase in the hot Texas Sun:

Monday:  Cinco de Mayo

Weds. & Thurs: Sinkhole de Miya

Sorry... long days!

Council members tired of hearing each other!

Well... I guess I'm not the only one who thinks these City Council members talk a little too much.. apparently, some City Council members think so as well.  Every Wednesday after all the official business is finished, council members take turns talking for up to 10 minutes about whatever they would like.  As you can imagine, sometimes these things drone on forever!  Today, during her time to speak, newly elected council member Wanda Adams wanted to Mayor to look into a five minute pop-off session!  So far, Jolanda Jones and James Rodriguez, and Mike Sullivan also supports the idea.

A little zinger from Rodriguez, "We are here to do the public's business, and not use this platform to run for office."  Ouch! Who could he possibly talking about?  Let's see, looking around the council table, Adrian Garcia is running for Sheriff, and Peter Brown has made it plain that he wants to run for Mayor.  Surely, Rodriguez wasn't talking about them... or was he?