Month: June 2011

Pension deal costs city $17 million more than budgeted – Chris Moran, Chron Houston Politics The city of Houston has made a deal with its municipal employee union pension system to pay about $34.5 million

Texas Vets Told Not to Use 'God' During Services – Nik Rajkovic, KTRH News A trio of Houston area veterans groups is suing Veterans Affairs and the director of the local National Cemetery claiming they’re

City, county work to minimize visibility of budget cuts – Chris Moran and Mike Morris, Houston Chronicle The city of Houston just cut spending by $100 million in the budget that begins next month. The

Economic impact studies: instruments for political shenanigans – Eric Dexheimer, Austin American-Statesman In the mid-1990s, the City of Galveston hired John Crompton to assess the economic benefit the city received from its Mardi Gras festival.

Houston to acquire, re-sell blighted properties through eminent domain – Gabe Gutierrez, KHOU-11 News Despite skepticism over increased government control, the Texas Legislature passed a bill that would make it easier for cities like Houston

Harris County, others paying $500,000 for another Dome study “We have to make a decision” on the Dome, County Judge Ed Emmett said. “I wanted us to make our decision this year. They’re going to

We’re pleased to see local Democratic thinking on what to do about the red-light cameras coming around to blogHOUSTON’s perspective. Just a few days ago, Dem consultant Marc Campos was floating the notion that perhaps

Metro strikes a blow for something or other.

Red-light camera company wants Houston to clear the air – James Pinkerton, Houston Chronicle Houston Mayor Annise Parker, when asked if the city could afford to break its contract with ATS, said, “We believe that

HISD windfall has its share of winners, losers – Ericka Mellon, Houston Chronicle Taxpayers in the Houston Independent School District can relax for now…. We’ll just truncate the lede and call it a win. We