129,000
As of this morning, there are still close to 129,000 customers in the H-Town area without power. I feel for all of them. The featured photo is the headline of today’s Chron E-Board editorial. When the state of Texas passes GOP sponsored legislation that limits the power of local governments, then the GOP owns what happens in the aftermath of a hurricane.
I am good with this from the Chron:
The Buzbee Law Firm, representing a cohort of Houston restaurants, is filing a class action lawsuit against CenterPoint Energy.
Attorney Tony Buzbee released a statement on social media, stating the case makes claims of CenterPoint’s negligence and violations of the law. All of the restaurants suing lost power during Hurricane Beryl, and they are “fed up,” the statement reads.
The lawsuit will make a case that CenterPoint failed to invest in its infrastructure for years, maintain and upgrade equipment, and adequately train personnel, among other issues. Further, Buzbee asserts, CenterPoint has a monopoly by not giving residents a choice in their energy provider.
“As such, CenterPoint has a duty to act in a reasonable manner, not the grossly negligent and incompetent way it has conducted itself for years. Imagine, if the restaurants filing this case were to conduct their businesses in the way that CenterPoint has done, these restaurants would be out of business,” Buzbee said in his statement.
He states that the case is not about money, but about “forcing CenterPoint in court to do what the administrative, legislative and executive system has failed to require.”
Houston area restaurants were greatly affected by the power outages that resulted from Hurricane Beryl. Many were closed for multiple days on end, resulting in a loss of tens of thousands of dollars. Dandelion Cafe owner Sarah Lieberman estimated a loss of $40,000 as of Friday. The cafe is one of the restaurants still without power on Monday, a week after the storm.
Here is the Chron read: Tony Buzbee suing CenterPoint on behalf of Houston restaurants (houstonchronicle.com).
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In talking to a representative from my insurance company last week, it dawned on me that this is the first time I will ever file a home insurance claim – ever. I also found out I will have a high deductible. Oh, well.
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I think it is time to put the gloves back on. Commentary is talking about Donald Trump picking a running mate who put the blame on Saturday’s assassination attempt on President Joe Biden. Don’t forget, Trump is still a convicted felon. Start running the ads again.
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Only one Astro, Yordan Alvarez, will play in tonight’s MLB All Star Game.
