Debate Thoughts

I watched the debate last night between Cong. Colin Allred and Cancun Cruz.

The abortion issue took up the first ten minutes of the hour-long debate. Good.

Here is what the Quorum Report’s Scott Braddock tweeted:

Some Texas Republicans already privately saying Allred’s hit on Cruz about Jan 6 was the Congressman’s best moment.

Here is what the Chron VP/Editor of Opinion Lisa Falkenberg tweeted:

Yep. Should be interesting. Allred is no match for Cruz in terms of debating skills and Cruz is no match for Allred in terms of sincerity.

Then this from Lisa:

Actually, scratch what I said about debate skills. Allred is kicking ass. He’s unflappable. It’s annoying how he won’t directly address questions about his record. But of course Cruz is avoiding too. And Cruz actually looks nervous with all his smiling and laughing. Great debate.

I like when Cong. Allred told Cancun:

“No, you can’t have my time.”

Allred also threw in the angertainment term.

Commentary stays informed on issues, including local, state and national. Transgender girls and sports are only an issue in the three ads that Cancun has been running against Cong. Allred. This issue was brought up last night. I guess Cancun thinks this issue will get him reelected.

When Cancun threw in that Cong. Allred would be supporting statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico, you know Cancun was playing to the lowest of the lowlife racists.

Cancun came across as a worm, but you know that.

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Early Voting in Person starts in five days.

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KPRC Channel 2 investigative/consumer reporter Amy Davis is the featured photo because she keeps finding corruption at H-Town City Hall. The latest that she will report on tomorrow is a clothing company out of Chicago that got a Housing Authority gig replacing AC units. This ought to be a doozy and I will stay tuned.

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Commentary has said it before. I voted for the 2024 HISD bonds. I am not going to start voting against HISD school bonds in 2024. The Chron E-Board came out and opposed the HISD bonds yesterday. Here is the end of the E-Board take on opposing the bonds:

This bond isn’t about (HISD Superintendent) Miles. But it is.

“I get blamed for every bad decision and every bad thing,” Miles told us.

And he’s right. Every field trip canceled. Every classroom party pooped. Every worksheet typo. Another controversy, another yard staked with a “Go Away Miles” sign.

“Whether you believe it or not, I have a team of people,” he told us. “I cannot make all the decisions by myself. I only make the big decisions and sometimes I don’t even make those.” 

We tend to think Miles also deflects blame on more substantive missteps and seems to stubbornly resist reflection. But the point remains that nothing happens in this district without his name coming up. Why would he expect a $4.4 billion bond to be any different?

There are harms to voting no. Kids will remain in potentially unhealthy settings longer. Although the lead issue has been largely mitigated, no band-aid is foolproof, and vulnerable school entrances need extra vigilance to keep out potential threats. The costs of needed projects could rise as time passes, even as interest rates are mercifully declining. The community could be banking on a hypothetically better bond that never materializes.

As Miles told us, the need doesn’t go away. And his desire to help students shouldn’t, either.

We can’t get behind a massive bond that’s been rushed through without sufficient transparency and without real assurances that the community has been, and will be, heard.

We get little satisfaction in writing this. The last thing we want to do is inadvertently send a message to kids, parents and teachers that we don’t support them or recognize their needs. There’s no question they deserve better.

We hope voting down the current bond will, ultimately, lead to something better. We hope it will compel Miles and other district leadership to listen to the concerns of so many in our community — about the bond, yes, but also about the direction of this district and how to fix what’s broken while preserving what’s effective, precious and unique. Miles and his staff should take notes and return soon with a more transparent, inclusive process and a bond that reflects the level of trust earned. 

For the time being at least, the yard signs have it right: no trust, no bond. We hope to support a better plan soon.

Here is the entire E-Board take: HISD has a $4.4 billion bond on the ballot. What about trust? (houstonchronicle.com).

This being a presidential election, I have no idea if the HISD bonds will pass. If they do pass, Mike Miles will give a big F-you to those that opposed the bonds.

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From the Chron:

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and center fielder Jake Meyers were named finalists for the American League Gold Glove awards at their respective positions on Tuesday, while Mauricio Dubón was named a finalist for the utility award.

Good luck!