This was originally posted on Live Oaks on October 20, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. The headline for Monday’s lead article in the Chronicle blares: “Tough Land-Use Law Supported”. The headline implies that a specific law has been proposed and is generating support. But in fact, the headline refers to a poll conducted by…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on November 5, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. We are often told that infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water, and sanitation must be provided by government. Private individuals and businesses we are also told, cannot and would not provide such crucial facilities. Houstonians can find ample evidence…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on October 19, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. A big topic on the mayoral campaign trail has been crime. The candidates agree that we need more police on the streets, but have offered few details on how they will accomplish this. I have previously suggested that one…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on October 13, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. The American Planning Association recently named Houston’s Montrose one of its “10 Great Neighborhoods” for 2009. The Chronicle laments this award, because the planning that has occurred in Montrose was conducted privately, rather than by the city: As the…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on September 29, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Last week the Chronicle reported that Mayor White offered some advice to the city’s voters (HT: blogHouston): White, who has shied away from endorsing or even offering tacit support to those vying to replace him, weighed in last week…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on August 20, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. During the debate over zoning in Houston in the early 1990s I sponsored a booth at a convention on Houston development. Among the literature we distributed was a pamphlet that described how zoning operates in other cities. One of…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on July 12, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. In keeping with its unstated policy of supporting any idea or policy that increases government control, on Saturday the Chronicle editorial supported the city’s new restrictions on signs: Houston brings out the nagging mother in us: She’d be such…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on June 26, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. On Wednesday a federal judge declared Houston’s 1993 sign ordinance unconstitutional. The ruling concluded a trial in which Houston Balloons & Promotions sued the city. The company was awarded damages of $927,841 with an additional $187,000 for expenses and…
This was originally posted as a series on Live Oaks in June 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Introduction Politicians love to listen to citizen complaints. Complaints give the politician both a purpose and a justification. Solving the problem is the purpose, and the fact that the complaint was voiced to a government official provides…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on May 20, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I have previously argued that the city of Houston should begin selling off assets, such as parks and libraries, in an effort to reduce spending, cut taxes, and return to its proper function of protecting individual rights. An editorial…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 22, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I previously wrote about the use of eminent domain by the Texas Medical Center to seize land for an expansion. Now, the Texas legislature is considering a bill that will strip Houston’s largest employer of most of its eminent…
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 15 and April 16, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. Since announcing my virtual candidacy for mayor of Houston, I have patiently waited for the media to interview me on the issues facing the city. Since that is not occurring, I will take it upon myself…