I try to be understanding of workers in labor disputes because they are usually getting the shaft. I don’t know about bus drivers not showing up for work and leaving a number of kids out in the very cold weather this morning. I hope they have a good reason and I hope all the kids are OK. Here is from the Chron:
Hundreds of Houston ISD students had their school bus service interrupted Thursday morning after numerous bus drivers refused to drive their routes over a pay dispute.
The Houston Independent School District had substitute drivers on hand but still was unable to staff about 40 routes, said chief of staff Jason Spencer. The staffing shortage forced some drivers to cover double routes, which meant students were left waiting in sub-freezing weather and arrived late for school.
Here is the entire piece – brrr: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/HISD-students-left-in-the-cold-by-bus-driver-pay-6001695.php.
Last night Commentary watched Letterman and sent out the following tweet on new Hall of Famers Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and John Smoltz doing the Top Ten. Here is the tweet:
Marc Campos@MarcCommentary 10h10 hours ago
#CraigBiggio on #LettermanTopTen. #MLBHallOfFame @astros.
https://twitter.com/MarcCommentary/status/553053589476634625/photo/1.
The ‘Stros retweeted me this morning and I got a lot of run, responses, and retweets – cool!
I was surprised though that the Big Unit went along with the mid-air bird explosion line.
What was Biggio’s career batting average versus Randy Johnson?
The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) court case got discussed some yesterday at the H-Town City Council meeting. Each side has to do what each side has to do. Here is a bit from the Chron:
(Mayor Annise) Parker and (City Attorney Dave) Feldman defended the city’s position Wednesday, describing the filing to prevent a jury trial as routine.
“If you’re afraid you’re not going to be able to win in court, you start trying to win in the court of public opinion,” Parker said. “Apparently, that’s what’s been going on here.”
“They were playing politics in the chamber and that is what happens in the council chamber,” Parker said of the members who raised objections.
And:
(Jared) Woodfill, (Council Member Michael) Kubosh and (City Council Member C.O.) Bradford all said the city would be wise to allow a jury trial in light of the recent controversy over the city’s subpoenaing of sermons and other materials belonging to certain pastors who helped organize the petition.
Amid a firestorm of national criticism, the city eventually withdrew those subpoenas.
On Wednesday, however, Parker responded to City Council comments by drawing a parallel between the recent jury trial motion and the subpoenas. Both are routine legal maneuvers, she said.
It’s “just like filing a subpoena request in response to people who are actually suing us,” the mayor said. “The other side does a really great job of PR.”
Well, in this case they do a good job of doing good PR because they were handed a juicy PR talking point on a silver platter. Stay tuned!
Here is the entire Chron article that is also behind the paywall: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/ERO-foes-push-for-jury-trial-6000759.php.
I guess after 14 years as Governor, the Chron E-Board thinks Guv Dude ought to get a shout out of sorts today. Here is how it ends:
We have our political differences with the man who’s been our governor for so many years, but we salute his service to the state he obviously loves.
Here is the entire E-Board take on Dude: http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/A-salute-to-Rick-Perry-6000333.php.
I have said before that I am always learning something like not knowing that we had a Texas Music Office. I learned yesterday we did when it was reported in the Statesman that the fella in charge was being replaced. Here is a bit from the Trib:
Since the Texas Music Office was established in 1990, the division housed in the Texas governor’s office has been run by Casey Monahan, a former music writer. After a quarter century, that’s about to change.
In a phone interview, Monahan said that he was recently informed by a member of Gov.-elect Greg Abbott’s transition team that he would not be kept in the $75,000-a-year post. His last day will be in February, he said.
The news of his departure was first reported by the Austin American-Statesman.
According to yesterday’s Chron, Craig Biggio was 0-14 against Randy Johnson of course.
Don’t forget the Biggio rally at The Yard tomorrow!
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