Dark of Night
I don’t know about this. See this from the Chron:
Concerned the University Corridor rapid transit line project could be delayed for years, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis on Friday called on Metro to move forward with the voter-approved project and hold a formal vote to make clear which board members support shelving it.
The request comes a few days after Metropolitan Transit Authority announced it planned to not seek a federal grant this year for the 25-mile bus rapid transit project, designed to be the east-west backbone of Metro’s long-term plans.
“Voters overwhelmingly approved this project and the board itself endorsed the concept last November,” Ellis said in a statement. “Countless working families would benefit from the BRT project, yet the board is poised to try to kill the initiative in the dark of night.”
In a statement, Metro chair Elizabeth Brock said a vote or further discussion amongst officials is unlikely.
“The University Corridor Project will not be placed on the agenda at this time based on staff’s financial review,” she said.
Here is the entire Chron read: Ellis urges Metro board to rethink University Corridor BRT delay (houstonchronicle.com).
I get that there is a big public debate on this issue, but this wasn’t a deal done in the dark of night – hardly. Maybe there wasn’t extensive debate beforehand.
Let’s see. The H-Town Mayor appoints five out of the nine Metro Board members. Harris County Commissioners Court appoints two, and the 14 small cities serviced by Metro appoints the other two.
A record vote was requested, and a record vote was denied.
I am guessing Commissioner Ellis could personally call all the Board members and get their position on this then let everyone know what he found out. Oh, well.
Commentary will say it again. The City of H-Town has a very strong mayor form of government. Maybe the strongest in the country. The H-Town Mayor appointed the Metro Board Chair. The city has five appointments. I really don’t get the point of Commissioner Ellis’s request.
I have not talked to the Mayor about this. I am pretty sure he set a bit of direction though. Oh, well.
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On a sort of related note, this is from a Chron Op-Ed today by former Chron reporter Mike Snyder:
“City controller” is not a sexy job title for an ambitious politician. It summons an image of a bean-counter in green eyeshades, poring over endless columns of figures, clutching a red pencil poised to slash at any perceived error.
If the title is uncool, the office can be deceptively powerful, both politically and in policy terms. Just last week, a dynamic young controller — former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who gained attention for election innovations during the pandemic — engaged in a high-profile clash with Mayor John Whitmire. The dispute ended more or less amicably, but history shows that such episodes can bear fruit in future elections.
Here is the entire Op-Ed: Mayor Whitmire and Controller Hollins have clashed. It’s a tradition. (houstonchronicle.com).
I am a tad baffled by this dynamic thing. He certainly didn’t stop the certification of the deal with the Houston Firefighters. He was a minor obstruction at times.
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This is how it is done. Commentary is talking about GOPers who won’t vote for Donlad Trump. Go all the way and endorse President Joe Biden. See this from the Associated Press:
Republican former congressman Adam Kinzinger endorsed President Joe Biden on Wednesday, giving the Democrat a prominent new ally in his high-stakes campaign to win over moderate Republicans and independents this fall.
Kinzinger, a military pilot who emerged as a fierce critic of former President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection, described Trump as “a direct threat to every fundamental American value” in a video announcing the endorsement.
“While I certainly don’t agree with President Biden on everything, and I never thought I’d be endorsing a Democrat for president, I know that he will always protect the very thing that makes America the best country in the world: our democracy,” said Kinzinger, who voted for Trump in 2020.
We need more GOPers to follow former Cong. Kinzinger.
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The last time the Astros were one game under .500 was on March 28 when we lost on Opening Day and were 0-1. After last night’s win, we are 39-40 and close the homie this afternoon against the Rockies.
Maybe we are finally getting to play like what is said in the featured photo.
