Temper Tantrum

It looks like City Controller Ron Green is throwing a little temper tantrum because The Mayor won’t show him the bond numbers.  Here is from Chron.com:

 Green, the city’s second-highest elected official, said he has repeatedly asked for and been denied information on the measures.

“If it’s that secretive, it can’t possibly be good for the city,” Green said. ”Until such time as I get more information, I’m not supporting any bond referendum that the city puts forward.”

Oh, brother!  Settle down and wait to see the numbers like everybody else this morning then you can pronounce them good or evil.  Don’t worry – the world won’t come to an end.  And also from Chron.com:

 Green said he has heard that the package of bond measures will total approximately $400 million.

“I still believe we need to go out for more bond authorization. I think $400 million is not adequate to meet the needs of the city,” Green said.  “If you’re going to ask somebody to vote for bond referendums, you need to be realistic about what it’s going to take to meet a major CIP (capital improvement project) initiative.”

The city should take advantage of low interest rates and ask for $600 million to $800 million, even if that requires a tax increase, Green said.

In 2006, then-Mayor Bill White also did not consult with then-Controller Parker before rolling out a series of bond measures, according to Parker’s office.

If you ask me and thanks for asking, the City Controller is looking and sounding a little silly.  BTW:  The Mayor will unveil the bond program this morning at City Council.

 Here is the rest of the story.

 Last night the NL All Stars had 10 base hits and the AL All Stars had 6 base hits.  Name the league division that had the most base hits?

 One of the best lines of the 2012 Campaign comes from Vice-President Joe Biden yesterday before the National Council of La Raza:

 “Mitt Romney wants you to show your papers, but he won’t show us his,” Biden said. “So many questions…”

Keep hammering! 

 FLASH!!!!!  Chris Moran of the Chron just put this out:

 Mayor Annise Parker is unveiling a $410 million package of proposed bond measures for the November ballot that will not require a tax increase.

She proposes five bond measures. The purposes and amounts:

1. Public safety: $144 million

2. Health, sanitation and general government: $63 million

3. Affordable housing: $15 million

4. Library: $28 million

5. Parks: $160 million

“I realize many Houstonians are still recovering from the economic downturn,” Parker said in a press release. “That is why it was important to me to present a plan that does not require a tax increase. It is also the smallest bond proposal in more than 30 years. It is a fiscally responsible approach that will create jobs and improve public safety, infrastructure and quality of life.”

Let the games begin!

 A couple of days ago I got an Alan Rosen for Precinct 1 Constable mail piece and his campaign went door-to-door in my ‘hood last week.

 In my book, if you shell out a couple of hundred bucks to attend the dinger derby, you are entitled to boo players.  The other night KC fans booed Yankee Robinson Cano because he’s a Yankee and he didn’t let KC All Star Billy Butler participate in the dinger derby.  Cano was the AL derby dinger captain that picked his fellow dinger derby participants.  When Cano came up to bat during the dinger derby he was booed mercilessly and he ended up not getting a single dinger.   A few prominent baseball columnists called out the KC fans for booing Cano.  SHUT UP!!  KC fans have every right to boo.  I’m glad they did because it made the dinger derby slightly less boring.

 Well it looks the NL Pennant Champ will have World Serious home field advantage in October.   I know.  Some so called “purists” don’t like that the league that wins the All Star Game gets home field Serious advantage.  It makes the game a lot more interesting. 

 What is a baseball “purist” anyway?  They don’t like the DH?  They want to go back to day games?  They don’t like the Wild Card?  They don’t like the Kiss Kam?  Oh, well.

 The NL Central of course led all other divisions last night with five base hits (Braun 2, Furcal, Holliday, and McCutchcen.

 My favorite moment of last night was watching Chipper Jones get a base hit in his final All Star at-bat. 

 A few more days off then the roadie begins in San Fran on Friday.

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Dems’ Favorite Columnist

The Chron’s Lisa Falkenberg, the columnist local Dems love, put it on Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee today.  Of course, you only get to read the column this morning if you are old school like Commentary and have to go to your front yard to pick up the fish wrap.  Cong. Jackson Lee is portrayed in the column as being mean spirited toward a staffer with a disability.  Here is a taste:

(Chron columnist Rick) Casey once interviewed an aide who said Jackson Lee told him he was so stupid his son should be embarrassed to have him as a father.

And:

Before the congresswoman takes to the podium again, perhaps she should spend some time with a smaller audience:  the mirror.

 

Yikes!

Kuffer has a bit to say on SD 6.  Here is a taste:

Sen. (Mario) Gallegos has done a lot of good representing this district; he’s certainly voted as I would want him to most of the time. I have no doubt that (former County Commissioner Syliva) Garcia would also do an excellent job if she were to be elected. Having said that, let me say this: Whether by his choice or not, if it is time for new blood in SD06, what I would prefer to see is some actual new blood.

Check out all of Kuffer here.

Commentary will continue to say that this one isn’t over until the filing deadline sings and beyond.

Numero 45 hit his seventh grand salami as a ‘Stro last night.  That is the most ever as a ‘Stro.  Jeff Bagwell and Bob Aspromonte have six.  Two others had five each.  Name the two?

The DREAMERS put the pressure on The President yesterday at NCLR.  Here is from an AP piece today:

But Obama faced a roomful of activists eager for him to do more. Speaking about the high number of deportations that are troubling the Latino community, Obama said he had to enforce the laws that exist and couldn’t change them on his own.

The crowd disagreed and shouted, “Yes you can, Yes you can!”

In face of that reaction – and with an election year approaching and the Hispanic vote ever more important – Obama emphasized that inaction on immigration is not his fault.

“Feel free to keep the heat on me and keep the heat on Democrats, but here’s the only thing you should know – the Democrats and your president are with you, are with you. Don’t get confused about that. Remember who it is we need to move in order to actually change the laws,” he said.

Well actually there were some U.S. Senate Dems that turned their backs on The DREAMERS last fall. 

The Big Puma and Bob Watson of course had five grand salamis apiece as ‘Stros.

We got U2ed last night – sort of.  After a U2 concert at Busch Stadium this past weekend, the team laid out some new turf that tripped up Michael Bourn, Hunter Pence, and Jose Altuve.   Excuses, excuses!

 

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