[WB1] For whatever reason, the Houston Police Department still hasn’t provided an update on how many officers (if any) hit each other with friendly fire as they gunned down two citizens and their dog in the botched raid at 7815 Harding Street. However, another drug case involving supervising officer Gerald Goines was dismissed.
[WB2] Per findings from special prosecutor John Raley, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg declared this week that Alfred Dewayne Brown is innocent (after he has spent 12 years on death row following a conviction for killing a Houston police officer). Raley also urged further investigation of possible prosecutorial misconduct by ADA Daniel Rizzo in the case. Rizzo’s attorney and HPOU criticized the move.
[WB3] Last week, Neal Meyer commented on reporting by KRIV-26’s Greg Groogan on Harris County Commissioners Court’s plan to consider re-prioritizing flood bond money. Groogan’s report provoked some strange tweets from a Houston Chronicle reporter asserting that the reporting was misleading. Interestingly, the mighty newspaper followed up with its own report that effectively confirmed Groogan’s original reporting (while also formally sharing Harris County Judge Linda Hidalgo’s complaints that Groogan’s reporting was misleading AND that the new plan would no longer include some of the things that he accurately reported were being considered). Groogan has since done additional reporting, and Reduce Flooding has published a recap.
[WB4] Mayor Sylvester Turner has apparently snapped to the patronage possibilities of County Judge Hidalgo’s efforts to introduce “equity” to spending considerations moving forward. His new chief resilience officer will be tasked with preparing Houston for “slow-moving disasters like aging infrastructure, homelessness, and economic inequality” (and maybe flooding – but that almost seems like an aside).
[WB5] The Houston Federation of Teachers rescinded its support of Mayor Sylvester Turner based on the mayor’s ongoing litigation over Proposition B, prompting a flurry of activity from the mayor’s communications staffers (including a bizarre ramble of an “open letter.”)
[WB6] Meanwhile, more trained firefighters are now sitting on the sidelines thanks to Mayor Turner’s decisions, effectively waiting for other locales to hire them (courtesy of training provided by Houston taxpayers).
[WB7] Mayoral candidate Bill King commented on Mayor Sylvester Turner’s “pothole misinformation campaign.” Apparently, part of that campaign involves mayoral communications staffers being nasty to critics on twitter.
[WB8] New U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher thinks Congressional regulation of private sales of guns has overwhelming support in her district. While this is apparently Fletcher’s idea of “common sense” it does come with some potential unintended consequences.
[WB9] Not to be outdone by the dysfunctional HISD board, the Harris County Department of Education board made news this week. Consider this the latest evidence in the strong case for finally shutting down the Harris County Department of Education. It’s really overdue.
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