9/11 25

I have been watching coverage of the 9/11 ceremony, 25 years later. See the featured photo.

At the ceremony this morning at Ground Zero, during the annual reading of the names of those who were murdered, a family member called out government leaders, including some in attendance, for not holding Saudi Arabia accountable for their role in supporting the hijackers.

Terry Strada, who lost her husband Tom on 9/11 said this:

“For 25 years, administration after administration, including leaders in front of us here today, chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families.”

Way to go, Terry. Those in attendance included JD Vance, and former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. Former president Bill Clinton was also in attendance, but he served before 9/11.

“Let’s roll.” We will always remember.

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I finally completed my bank accounts transition from Comerica to Fifth Third. I had to go to the new Fifth Third location in the Heights to get squared away. Done.

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Check this out from the Chron:

City Controller Chris Hollins sent the strongest signal yet on Wednesday that he could launch a challenge against Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s bid for a second term in 2027.

Hollins, the city’s second-highest-ranking elected official, swiped at Whitmire during remarks at a press event in Dallas, where he appeared with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as part of Democrats’ pushback against the ongoing midterm Republican National Convention.

While much of Hollins’ short speech was aimed at boosting statewide Democratic candidates, including James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, he named Whitmire, who he has long clashed with over city finances and other issues, on a list of officials he hoped would be soon unseated. 

“We have folks who will do anything that they can to be the lapdog or the doormat of this demented, incompetent tyrant,” Hollins said, referring to President Donald Trump. “We’re stuck for now, for just a couple more days, with Greg Abbott, with Ken Paxton. 

“We’re stuck for a little bit longer with Ted Cruz, with (Dallas Mayor) Eric Johnson, with John Whitmire,” Hollins continued. “But the day for change is coming.”

Hollins did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. In a statement, Whitmire called the controller’s remarks “silly politics that I do not have time for.”

Here is the entire read: Houston controller Chris Hollins could challenge Mayor John Whitmire.

Nice response from the mayor. Let’s not forget the Labor Day piece in the Chron opinion page on the mayor’s solid support of workers and unions. I am also reminded that the last time the Hollins fella got into a race for mayor, he ended up chickening out.

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We won in Philly yesterday and now have a 3-game AL West lead with 15 games left to play. We are Tampa Bay for 3 this weekend.