H-Town Trash

Have you ever run across a word for the first time ever and realize you had never heard of the word? Usually, I just keep it to myself.  I was watching “Today” this morning and it happened. This time “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie had never heard of the word. The word is “mentating” and it was used in describing symptoms of heat exhaustion. Savannah straight-up just asked Dr. Natalie Azar what the word meant because she had never heard it before, like Commentary. Mentating has to do with being able to think properly and kind of the opposite of being confused.

Now you know, if you didn’t.

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On “What’s Your Point” yesterday, they asked the two GOPers, the former Harris County GOP Chair and the Urban fella, about the latest January 6 Committee hearing and they both downplayed the hearings. They actually were running from the hearings.  I guess I would be running from them too if I supported the arsehole who tried to overturn an election in broad daylight. They know they can’t defend the case that GOPers, allies, advisors and key staff of the arsehole are building against the arsehole, traitorous Donald Trump. It is a solid, slam dunk case.

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This is from Saturday’s Chron:

Huey German-Wilson and her Trinity Gardens and Houston Gardens neighbors kept finding tires, medical waste and other trash in their streets. So they took charge. They sought to log each instance with the city’s 311 system, hoping the complaints would inspire the city to clean up the debris. 

Their efforts beginning six years ago went nowhere, German-Wilson said. The Super Neighborhood president watched as the illegally dumped items piled up so much they blocked people from driving down the streets. Residents told her they stopped calling 311 because they didn’t think the city would do anything.

But on Friday, people in the Gardens learned they may get help: The Justice Department announced it is investigating whether the city violated residents’ civil rights by responding differently to illegal dumping complaints in areas where the majority of the population is Black and Latino. The investigation developed out of a complaint Lone Star Legal Aid filed on behalf of Gardens residents.

And this:

“This investigation is absurd, baseless, and without merit,” (Houston Mayor Sylvester) Turner said, adding that it is “a slap in the face to the City and the many people who diligently work to address illegal dumping daily and prevent environmental injustice.”

And finally, this:

The response time to the 311 calls was nearly twice as long in German-Wilson’s neighborhood as in more white, wealthy areas, according to the complaint. Workers hurried to address junk vehicles in River Oaks within a day or two, on average, the attorneys found. The timetable for Trinity and Houston Gardens extended out to a week.

Here is the entire read: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/environment/article/DOJ-investigating-city-of-Houston-for-alleged-17322399.php.

It is a fact that these neighborhoods get dumped on. I have seen it. I know where it happens. They obviously documented – using the city’s own data – to make their case that they are discriminated against.

Why would these neighborhood leaders concoct or make up a crisis like this?

Their issues aren’t news. What is news is that the feds are now involved.

Commentary has said it before. I live in the Heights. We have issues, but ours are addressed more quickly.

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Former Astros closer Billy Wagner is 51 today. Happy Birthday, Billy Wagner!

Astros rookie catcher Korey Lee is 24 today. Happy Birthday, Korey!

We swept the Mariners in their ballpark.  We are 5-0 since the MLB All Star break. 64-32 with a 13-game lead in the AL West.  The Yankees, Dodgers and Astros are all vying for the best record in MLB. The homefield advantage for the playoffs thing.

Our players are not cocky or run with swagger. They just handle and take care of business.  They are a very good team. I would say the best team in MLB right now.

Last Thursday they took 2 from the team with the best record in baseball.  This past weekend they swept a hot team that was riding on a 14-game winning streak.

We are in Oakland for three starting this evening.