Guess who’s paying for your neighbors school voucher?

March 19, 2025

SURPRISE!

It is almost funny. The bill in Austin concerning vouchers will give parents $10,000 to apply towards tuition to a private school. Let’s say your neighbor pays $1000 a year in school taxes and has 2 kids in private school. This bill will give your neighbor $19,000 MORE than what they put in to the public school system. Who is going to pay for that? You. Us.

There are many reasons to stop this voucher stupidity and there are many examples where vouchers have failed in other states. Abbott claims it will improve education in the State, although his party has been in control for over 20 years and Texas ranks 43rd in education. We ain’t the sharpest bowling ball in the tool shed. Under 20+ years of republican rule Texas sucks in almost every category except for job growth. Just look at our electricity grid, home insurance, cost of education, healthcare, and more.

But this issue of giving your money to your neighbor so their snot nosed, uppity, kids can attend a private school should really piss off conservatives in the Clear Lake area. This is nothing but welfare for the wealthy and you are going to pay for it. If vouchers are going to pass then parents should get what they put in. Nothing more. Nothing less. Period.

As I said, Texans suck at education.

You can voice your opinion on House Bill 3 to our State Representative Dennis.Paul@house.texas.gov and call him at (512) 463-0734.

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Posted by johncoby

Judicial Ethics Under Scrutiny: Judge Seth Jones and Sheriff Fullen

March 19, 2025

You can’t make this stuff up.

The Houston Chronicle published an investigative article about Galveston County Judge Seth Jones and Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen. Jones and Fullen are buddies. Jones donated to Fullen for his campaign. Fullen appeared in campaign videos for Jones. They pal around with each other. They probably go fishing together and attend local crawfish boils hosted by Commissioner Hank Dugie. Jones was Fullen’s best man. (ok. that’s not true but you get the idea. They are buds.)

So guess who the Judge is for Fullen’s lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement? Yep. Judge Seth Jones. (Background here) According to the article:

“Whenever you’re looking at judicial ethics, the first thing you want to decide is, does it pass the smell test?” Teachey said. “Most of the time, if it feels like it’s stinky, it probably isn’t appropriate for a judge.”

This stinks as bad as the garbage cans at the League City Park after Hank Dugie’s crawfish boil. (Seriously 3 days after the event the smell was horrible for those going to the dog park.) Jones should recuse himself in this trial. It just stinks. Lucky for Fullen Jones is a republican whose party has shredded law and order. They will do anything, pardon anyone, and look the other way for all MAGA republicans no matter what the crime is.

Fullen is in good hands.

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Posted by johncoby

Harris County Trustee Eric Dick Faces Assault Charge

March 18, 2025

As I said earlier today Harris County Department of Education Trustee Eric Dick had a really bad couple of years.

Dick was fined $40,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission. A formal complaint was filed against him as a HCDE Trustee. Two judges in Harris and Galveston County sanctioned him in two different lawsuits. A judge recently questioned the signature of a dead inspector. Another judge in San Antonio dismissed a suit against USAA because Dick claimed his client had died. (He didn’t) And his wife filed for divorce. But that isn’t all.

According to The Houston Landing Dick has been charged with assault of a family member. From The Houston Landing:

The Houston Police Department arrested Dick on March 7 for hitting a female family member with his hand, according to a criminal complaint. Publicly available court records do not provide details about evidence obtained by police, statements made by witnesses and any injuries sustained by the alleged victim. 

There isn’t much filed except for the document below. I wish him and his family luck.

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Posted by johncoby

HCDE Trustee Eric Dick: Legal Trouble over another dead man?

March 18, 2025

I’m beginning to feel sorry for him.

Eric Dick was fined $40,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission. A formal complaint was filed against him as a HCDE Trustee. Two judges in Harris and Galveston County sanctioned him in two different lawsuits. A judge recently questioned the signature of a dead inspector. And his wife filed for divorce. And now another case has surfaced.

Last month, a judge ordered Eric Dick, an insurance attorney and HCDE Trustee, to clarify how an inspector could have signed a document he submitted to the court after having died nearly a year earlier. Dick responded as did the attorneys for the insurance company Dick sued. Dick claimed it was the inspectors son that signed the documents, not the dead guy. I have my doubts about Dick’s response but that is for later. The Judge has yet to make a ruling on this.

But according to My San Antonio, Dick did it in 2023 with a lawsuit against USAA. According to the article Dick’s client claimed damage to his home from an explosion and filed suit. From My San Antonio:

Then, a series of peculiar incidents happened, primarily centered around everyone’s inability to get ahold of Mitchell. A court-ordered inspection and appraisal of damage was cancelled after nobody could get ahold of Mitchell. Then, his attorney said it’s because he died. Mitchell had, in fact, not died, and his attorney withdrew the death notification shortly before a hearing on the matter.

The response, by the attorneys representing USAA, is almost funny.

“Thus, based simply on the record, it appears that Mr. Dick expired the Plaintiff, revived him to answer interrogatories, and expired him once more,” a USAA Insurance motion fighting Mitchell’s claims states – an unusually candid response in a public document from the company.

The case was dismissed.

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Posted by johncoby

Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen’s Legal Battle Update

March 18, 2025

If you can’t follow the law how can you enforce it? Remember that if one of your family members is arrested in Galveston County.

Yesterday a hearing was set concerning Sheriff Jimmy Fullen’s lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. (See Galveston County Sheriff’s lawsuit against state licensing agency) The TCOLE had recommended pulling Fullen’s law enforcement license making him ineligible to serve as Sheriff. Fullen successfully challenged the recommendation claiming the Commission had no authority to revoke the license of a sitting Sheriff. So the TCOLE instead recommended a 10 year suspension. Fullen sued. The hearing was set. The hearing was cancelled.

Fullen’s lawyer, Toni Buzbee, and the Attorney General’s office will meet in mediation to resolve the issue. Yesterday Fullen was able to hide the results of his ethics violation for padding his campaign account with a fake $100,000 personal loan. Usually a complaint like this would end with a large fine but we will never know since he successfully lobbied to have the details of the investigation and the fine confidential. He eventually erased the personal loan off his campaign report as if it never happened.

So much for transparency. Or law and order.

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Posted by johncoby

CCISD Candidate Forums Scheduled

March 17, 2025

These forums will give you the opportunity to meet the candidates. You can keep track of of all election information at the CCISD Elections Webpage.

South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce
CCISD Trustee Candidates Forum – At-Large Position B
Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Sageglen HOA Facility (11610 Sageyork Drive, Houston, TX 77089)
Visit www.southbeltchamber.com


Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
CCISD Trustee Candidates Forum – District 1 and At-Large Position B
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: City of Nassau Bay City Hall (1800 Space Park Dr #200, Houston, TX 77058)
Forum will be livestreamed. Visit www.clearlakearea.com


League City Regional Chamber of Commerce
CCISD Trustee Candidates Forum – District 1 and At-Large Position B
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Living at Tuscan Lakes (1850 E League City Pkwy, League City, TX 77573)
Forum will be livestreamed. Visit www.leaguecitychamber.com

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Posted by johncoby

Rally In support of NASA employees. 3/17/2025

March 17, 2025

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CCISD Candidate Joe Machol: Yet another fumble

March 16, 2025

This is embarrassing. As a reminder Joe Machol was a high school football referee hence the football analogies and boy did he fumble this one! Again. You can read about Joe’s first fumble at “CCISD Candidate Joe Machol’s Campaign: Fumbling the Kick Off“.

Candidates for CCISD Trustee provided answers to a recent questionnaire covering the issues affecting our school district including funding, retention of teachers, plans for the future and more. The answers, by most candidates, were detailed and based upon their extensive knowledge of the public education system. Seabrook Council Member Joe Machol stood out above the rest, but not in a good way.

His answer to almost every single question focused on the 3 Rs, Reading, Riting, and Rithmetic. Here are some excerpts:

  • Help students become efficient in reading, writing and arithmetic.
  • Help the teachers instruct the students in reading, writing and arithmetic.
  • Getting the Student efficient in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. 
  • Getting the students the help they need in reading, writing and arithmetic. 
  • Go back to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. 
  • Incentives to Teachers when the students achieve the best scores in reading, writing and arithmetic
  • Go back to the basics Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. 
  • Teachers who are focused on reading, writing and arithmetic. 
  • I didn’t create the issue of schools going away from reading, writing and arithmetic, 
  • Help each and every student become the best that they can be in reading, writing and arithmetic. 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Seriously that is his answer to almost every question. While other candidates have thoughtful, detailed, explanations on why they are best for the job Machol is focused on the 3 Rs as if CCISD students are dumber than a rock and teachers are incapable of instruction. His answers are not only embarrassing it is insulting to students, teachers, parents, and taxpayers. His comments about cutting waste is laughable. CCISD, as well as every school district in Texas, has been stretched to the limit due to cuts to education.

I don’t know why Trustee Bowen recruited Machol. He is clearly unqualified for the job especially when a very capable Trustee is already serving the district. I do not believe Machol’s heart is in this race. Based upon his answers to the detailed questionnaire I wonder if he would advocate for cutting out life lessons being taught in CCISD like band, music, theatre, culinary skills, and auto mechanics.

Or football.

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Posted by johncoby

Report: Meeting with Texas Representatives on Insurance Issues

March 15, 2025

A Report from Austin 
(BTW halfway through my visit I received my renewal notice. My home insurance increased from $6000 to $9000) 

Last week I was joined by another homeowner from the Bay Area at the Capitol (Thanks Doug). We were able to talk with the staff of most of the members of the House Insurance Committee concerning the rising cost of home insurance in our area. The bottom line? I don’t think they understand the severity of the situation here in the Bay Area..

We were able to meet with our State Representative Dennis Paul and his Chief of Staff. As you may know Representative Paul lives two blocks from me and he had his roof replaced after the hail in May so he must know what we are going through but our conversation was not what I expected. He had a lot of excuses for the rising cost of insurance including inflation, supply chain issues, and lawsuit abuse. All of these combined could not account for excessive rates in our area. These are  talking points used by the insurance industry. They also talked very briefly about “climate change” or as they call it “frequency and intensity of storms)

We made sure they were aware of the excessive cost of repairs which directly affect our premiums. Roofs replacements after a storm should not  cost $32,000 in our area especially when that roof would cost only $8000 under normal conditions. (My estimate was $24,000 and was submitted as $40,000 to my insurance company)

We discussed the fact that the “Free market” is letting the insurance industry free to leave the market. The top 6 companies in Texas will NOT write policies in our area. We are now being pushed into a socialized market run by the State, the Texas Fair Plan, which is not fair.

We provided some solutions like using better building materials, automatic cutoff valves for water pipes, the use of metal roofs. 

I have provided the letter we left with them below. I will have a list of bills affecting our insurance premiums early next week.

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Posted by johncoby

Join the Fight Against High Insurance Costs in the Bay Area.

March 14, 2025

Stand up and make your damn voice heard.

Property owners in the Bay Area are being hit with the highest premiums in the State affecting homeowners, businesses, realtors, taxpayers, home buyers and sellers, and even insurance agents. What can you do about it? For a start do this:

  • Join our newsletter and keep up with what is going on in Austin concerning the rising cost of insurance. We have over 850 signed up! Sign up here: tinyurl.com/BayAreaHouston. I will send a periodic email to keep you informed. No spam and I will NOT share your information with anyone.
  • Contact our elected officials:
  • Feel free to call me or email me. johncoby@sbcglobal.net 281-536-2457

There is no simple solution to this issue. There are no knights in shining armor that will swoop in to help. We are on our own on this issue. In the short future I will try to suggest alternatives for those looking for help.

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Bay Area Houston

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