Category: Houston

Discussion of things related to Houston

Houston’s Red Light Cameras run out of film, meanwhile…

I received word this afternoon that Houston’s City Council passed a settlement agreement with American Traffic Solutions to end the red light camera program. The city has been mired in a court battle for more than a year about a charter amendment passed in November 2010 mandating the city end the program. The battle was over …

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Obama Admin flushes Keystone XL Pipeline

Oil and gas pipeline

Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket… – Barack Obama, January 2008 The Obama administration today insured us that oil prices will also continue to skyrocket, by blocking the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas. As is typical of this Administration, they passed the blame to someone else, as the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/obama-admin-flushes-keystone-xl-pipeline/

So Long 2011 – Welcome 2012

Champagne

As we pop the cork to celebrate the new year, it’s time to reflect back on the past year, and the year to come. 2011 started off with the Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, with Campaigner-in-Chief Obama’s political grandstanding, along with the Democrat controlled Senate, gridlock was the order of business …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/so-long-2011-welcome-2012/

Red Light Cameras: Ok, we’re shutting them off again…

Update 2: (August 19th, 11pm): As expected, Council Member Lovell blocked the repeal bill from being voted on.  Since the procedural delay is a one-time option, both items will face a vote on Wednesday. Update (August 17th, 7pm): Council Member Sue Lovell used a procedural maneuver to delay the vote on shutting the cameras off.  It is expected she …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/red-light-cameras-ok-were-shutting-them-off-again/

Sheila Jackson Lee: Open mouth, insert foot, get sued

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX18)

Once again, “Queen Sheila” has proved how out of touch she really is. This time, a former legislative director, Mona Floyd, is suing the congresswoman, for refusing to recognize and accommodate for a disability in the work environment.

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/sheila-jackson-lee-open-mouth-insert-foot-get-sued/

Mayor Parker to voters: cameras back on, despite vote

Metro Bus runs a red light

Much as I predicted previously, the mayor has decided to ignore the voters and allow American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to turn the red light cameras back on. This comes despite the fact that the voters clearly said in November 2010 that they wanted the cameras turned off.  Of course, ATS took days to do so, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/mayor-parker-to-voters-cameras-back-on-despite-vote/

Houston’s Red Light Cameras to start clicking again?

Warning Sign for a Red Light Camera

As one of the frequent topics I discuss on this blog, I am not a fan of red light cameras. Continuing from the story I posted last month, American Traffic Solutions or ATS, filed a federal lawsuit over the charter amendment in the 2010 election that the voters told the city to shut the cameras off. The …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/houstons-red-light-cameras-to-start-clicking-again/

Red Light Cameras: The emotional and money trap

Red Light Camera Violations 2009-2011

As long time readers of my blog know, I am not a fan of Red Light Cameras or Speed Cameras.  That’s why I applauded the citizens of Houston when they passed a referendum last November, that effectively banned their use. Much as I predicted, the city’s vendor, ATS,  filed a lawsuit challenging the referendum and the legalities of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/red-light-cameras-the-emotional-and-money-trap/

TSA: Time for the curtain to fall on “Security Theatre”

I travel quite a bit on business, and have been through more TSA checkpoints than I wish to count, including here in Houston at Bush Intercontinental Airport. I, like most of the traveling public has put up with the ever-expanding security as we travel, but it seems that the TSA has reached the proverbial tipping …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/tsa-time-for-the-curtain-to-fall-on-security-theatre/

An Excursion of a Lifetime… Coming to Houston?

Union Pacific Railroad is the only surviving major railroad that still regularly operates Steam locomotives.  While other steam engines are operated through muesums and historical societies, and depend on donations and volunteers to keep operating, Union Pacific has a full time crew to maintain and operate two complete steam excursion trains. Earlier this year, Union Pacific’s 844 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://onthespotblog.com/an-excursion-of-a-lifetime-coming-to-houston/

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