Astros Opener

I woke up this morning and had on the flat screen when NBC News came on with breaking news. It was the devastating collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Unbelievable tragedy. 

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The Chron E-Board today addresses the Harris County constable contract deputy program. If your neighborhood has the dough, you can hire constable deputies for added security. Here is the headline of the E-Board take:

Love your Harris County contract deputy constable? Then pay up. 

Here is from the take:

So what exactly are taxpayers getting from the deputy constable program? Supporters might call it “community policing.” We’d call it glorified neighborhood security. The Chronicle’s analysis found that deputy constables spend most of their time making traffic stops and dealing with minor disturbances. Roughly 94% of the charges constables filed over the past five years have been misdemeanors. Contract deputies mostly cruise neighborhoods responding to mundane calls for tripped security alarms, or visiting with residents at meet-and-greet events. Some even conduct “vacation watches,” checking on residents’ homes while they’re out of town. 

Here is the entire take: Love your Harris County contract deputy constable? Pay up. (Editorial) (houstonchronicle.com).

Fair? Unfair? I really don’t expect to see any changes to the current policy. If you are a poor neighborhood, you are out of luck.

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See this from ABC Channel 13 news:

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — You heard it straight from Mayor John Whitmire at last week’s city council meeting: “Houston is broke.”

“On an annual basis, we are spending somewhere between $150 million and $200 million more than is coming in,” City Controller Chris Hollins said.

One way or another, you’ll have to pay for it.

The upcoming firefighter settlement will cost Houstonians $650 million over the next 25 to 30 years if the mayor gets the council approval he’s asking for.

This week, council members will discuss two more possible bonds, one for utilities and another totaling nearly $2 billion for the airport system.

“That’s very likely what we’re looking at, going to the voters this November and saying, ‘Here’s the plan, here’s what it’s going to cost, and we’re asking you to chip in.’ Potentially a trash fee. We’re the only major city in the state of Texas that doesn’t have a trash fee. It may be coming to the voters and asking for an exception to the revenue cap so we can pay our firefighters,” Hollins said.

Here is the entire story: Houston budget shortfall 2024: Baker Institute expert foresees 5-10 years of major rate, fee hikes to make up deficit – ABC13 Houston.

Stay tuned and get ready to pay up.

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MSNBC didn’t shy away yesterday from discussing the NBC News hiring of former RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel as a paid contributor. Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, and Jen Psaki all addressed the hiring during their shows yesterday. Good.

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The featured photo is an Astros shirt that has been added to this year’s gear collection. My best friend gave it to me.

The home opener is just a couple of days away.