Houston Democrats

Jay Aiyer and George Hittner have joined Charles Kuffner, Greg Wythe, Lyn Wall, Keir Murray, Kyle Johnston and others and the disucussion is free-wheeling, from Jay's law enforcement academy idea to municipal Wi-Fi to George's great cousins second bar mitzvah.

District C contains some of the area of Kirby near Rice Village that's currently under constrution (serious infrastructure work; undeground sewer remediation) and George Hittner is talking about some of the traffic flow ideas he has for that. That's stimulating some animated discussion, as that particular project affects several of us in attendance...

Ann Clutterbuck who is also running in District C just joined us.

And for you Gentiles, the second Bar Mitzah is at 86 .

Anne's primary concern is the city's debt, and she's especially worried that the city took $81 million from the municipal employees pension fund...

John Elford (at Large, Position 2) and Mark Lee (District C) have joined us.

Keir threw out a question about building the Houston tax base. All of the candidates agreed that the permitting process discourages builders. Jay brought up Mayor White's plan to license private individuals to certify plans. From what I've seen recently in my own job, the permit process, even for renovations of existing locations leaves a lot to be desired.

John Elford wants to encourage medical conventions to come to Houston to utilize the vacancies in the Medical Center.

Mark Lee and Jay Aiyer have also elaborated on the permitting processes at City Hall.

Growing the tax base and encouraging corporate relocation (while minimizing tax incentives to do so) are the current topics, and every candidate's giving input...

Environmental concerns in the wake of the latest BP explosion, and particularly the ongoing concern about emissions, are a hot topic. Jay Aiyer believes that legal action to compel the offending plants to heed the law needs to be an option. Mark Lee considers that a last resort and prefers the bully pulpit.

John Elford and Jay Aiyer (as those who may be familiar with both men might imagine) don't agree on the topic of legal action agaisnt the polluters.

We need to start highlighting environmental regulations violators. Speaking of pollution, again traffic issues are brought up by Jay. Reducing gridlock, mandating more trees. John pointed out that the energy bill passed Friday included $800k for additional trees and landscaping that will help improve Houston's air.

Mark Lee pointed out that improving our air will require a partnership with the city and business. Encouraging flex time and telecommuting, van pooling, etc.

Peter Brown has arrived

Peter Brown cited the lack of comprehensive planning of our transportation facilities for the entire region.

Denver Regional Council of Governments is the model for the type of planning Peter is advocating.

Mobility and transportation issues being kicked around now. Waiting for complaints/solutuions regarding Metro and light rail. None so far...

John Elford points out that Metro's planning has been pressure and crisis driven.

Marguerite arrived just as the discussion was splintering off into groups.

Brian Cweren and Herman Litt are latecomers but are here joining us for the later rounds; several candidates have departed at this point. Robin Holzer is posing a question for Peter Brown and Herman and Brian...

We're back to chatting in a big group. Herman Litt, Brian Cweren and Peter Brown are all here. Robin Holzer with the Citizens' Transportation Commission www.ct asked the group about the Council's role in transportation issues and the impact on business development for the city.

Herman Litt brought up the issues that directly affect economic viability. Mobility, education, flooding all need to be coordinated.

Brian Cweren says we need to look at all quality of life issues, without penalizing the less advantaged. Peter Brown would like to see a coalition of council members to speak with one voice on these issues.

We revisited the topic of legal action against the emissions violators in the region. Herman wants to keep the legal option on the table; Pter Brown would like to see a local version of the Kyoto protocol under consideration.

Peter Brown suggests our version of the Kyoto protocol, and advocates having Houston sign on to the Kyoto protocol in order to send a message to industrial polluters.

Herman pointed out that regional agencies need to work together for comprehensive protocols to work.

Brian is critical of the flood control efforts that have been put into place since the Allison floods, he finds them ineffective at best. Braes Bayou is more at risk than at the time of Allison in District C.

Peter Brown complained as a Distric C constituent about Shepherd flooding in even a light rain.

Brian Cweren has concerns regarding the past history of flooding in district C and specifically how little he thinks has been accomplished in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison.

Robin asked the candidates about addressing "sheet flooding" which causes more localized flooding than bayous overflowing. Brian finds it critical to address these problems.

Herman is on the board of the Willow Waterhole, which is not yet complete and gave us an update on its status. http://www.projectbrays.org/willow.html.

Sue Lovell has arrived.

Economic development is the topic. Sue Lovell has an idea to hire locally the unskilled labor that will be necessary when Metro executes its light rail line expansion.

Herman Litt adds that consideration of this kind of 'welfare to work' -- not affirmative action, not a quota -- would do much to stimulate the local economy.

Sue Lovell agrees with Herman Litt that we must find regional solutions that bring everyone together on problems like flooding. Brian Cweren says people in Meyerland cannot wait that long ... working with current system won't do the job.

Cweren says city government must give info even if answers at state, federal level, etc. - direct people to the right place. He adds we have found money for sports stadiums, but not for flooding issues and police, etc.

Peter Brown says no need for panic button; engineerng team working on it.

Sue Lovell is concerned if engineering is considering new conditions affecting flooding.

Cweren says we are leaving citizens exposed when our fire fighters do not have equipment to get to fires in flood conditions, or to rescue elderly people who are stranded in their homes. He adds there is a lot of work to do on basic health and safety issues.

Sue Lovell tells her ideas on economic development: e.g., East End could benefit from public works project - if Metro would make commitment to hire from neighborhoods like this - so that economic development would be shared - workers take money back to neighborhoods and spend it - not a quota or affirmative action, but a good business plan.

Litt says we need to look at what we are doing now - who pays fair share for city government.

Brown worried about bureaucracy of hospital district and Metro and HISD, etc. Where is all the money going?

Cweren expresses concern about management districts - another layer of bureaucracy - How much can we tax people?

Sue Lovell talks about how Houston was losing businesses to North Carolina, where they were paying to train workers. Businesses want an educated workforce, quality of life, and affordable housing. She says traffic is a problem where City council members should be leaders. she tells about the problems in Montrose with parking and space for pedestrians. She asks Robin about Transit Corridor Planning - a group oriented toward "people mobility."

Litt says this is a critical issues for visitors to Houston, too, pleasant space outside to explore city - if only we could add air-conditioning to city!

Cweren says growth in far suburbia due to limits on housing size, etc. within city.

Sue Lovell thinks it is about affordable housing. Most people don't think of moving back into city while they have children at home - not affordable.

All candidates agreed that today's forum was terrific for facilitating discussion about the affairs of the city, and expressed an interest in attending future gatherings, with the possibility suggested of municipal access TV (and perhaps other informal media participation).

A shout-out to the right-wing H-Town blogosphere, which was invited but went unrepresented: show up next time.

Litt says Community college is going to build site near downton on east end. There is an opportunity to build housing near there.

Cweren asks why HCC does not use HISD buildings. Litt says HISD did not want HCC there. Also, HCC needed to be able to offer night classes. Litt talks about importance of integrity and transparency. Cweren says it should not be a partisan race when Litt expresses concerns about Bettencourt. Litt points out discrepancies in property valuations. Litt says he wanted more access to education for community, but without throwing away money.

Litt says he has been working since 1999 on constituent services. He says we need to educate people and have an advocate for them. Cweren says Mayor white asked him to serve on Ethics Commission - must be able to go to City Council without hands tied - to represent constituents and not just those to whom you are beholden for contributions - must get community leaders involved, must live in area,walk the area, have meeetings in community, etc. - can't be sold out to interest groups before you get to City Hall.

Sue Lovell says you must be able to work with other people on Council and other places - must keep promises to voters; she talks about successes with putting together coalitions on difficult projects for Community College - must work with mayor, but can do great things with Council members working together, also.

The Citizens' Transportation Coalition site is at http://www.ctchouston.org/. Keep checking it as they are developing new content all the time. They do a great job of advocating for transit solutions for all Houstonians.