Endorsement Watch: Houston Police Officer’s Union

September 28, 2023

I’ve had my doubts about the Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU) ever since their former President, Joey Gamaldi, made a fool out of himself after a botched raid. That raid resulted in criminal charges filed against the involved police, but their endorsements this year seems to be pretty good.

They have released their endorsements for the 2023 Houston City races. On top of the list are Senator Whitmire for Mayor and Dave Martin for Controller. I’m glad they are supporting Martina Lemond for District E, the Clear Lake area. The other guy in that race is just a right wing nut job.

Unlike other organizations that endorse, the HPOU will support their candidates with mailers and manpower. Personally I would have endorsed Cantu over Carter. Melanie Miles is a good candidate, although I would have endorsed Conchita Reyes. They also endorsed Mary Nan Huffman over Tony Buzbee. That in itself is a good sign! Here are their endorsements:

Mayor: John Whitmire

Controller: Dave Martin

At-Large 1: Melanie Miles

At-Large 2: Nick Hellyar

At-Large 3: Twila Carter

At-Large 4: Letitia Plummer

At-Large 5: Sallie Alcorn

District A: Amy Peck

District B: Tarsha Jackson

District C: Abbie Kamin

District D: Carolyn Evans-Shabazz

District E: Martina Lemond Dixon

District F: Tiffany Thomas

District G: Mary Nan Huffman

District H: Mario Castillo

District I: Joaquin Martinez

District J: Edward Pollard

District K: Martha Castex-Tatum

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Posted by johncoby

Will CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen testify in favor of vouchers?

September 28, 2023

Bet on it.

CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen got his nose bloodied after being caught testifying against public education during the last legislation session. He was able to wiggle out of being held accountable for his actions but it was clear what he was doing and who he claimed he was speaking on behalf. (you and I)

So it should come as no surprise if he is preparing to testify in support of vouchers at the upcoming special session. Scott is the young upcoming conservative [sic] in the Harris County Republican Party. He has recruited extreme white wing candidates to run in the CCISD elections, including some who have no experience in education. He has found funding for these candidates from the extreme white wing PACs funded by billionaires, Defend Texas Liberty. This is the same PAC that worked to pardon Ken Paxton. This is the same PAC that funded Representative Bryan Slaton, who was recently removed from the House after providing alcohol to an underaged staff member and having all night sex with her.

These are Scott’s “conservative” buddies. Luckily CCISD voters have rejected Bowen’s Billionaires and their unqualified candidates. Bowen’s Billionaires will be pushing for vouchers in the upcoming special session. Look for Scott to be front and center at the microphone.

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Posted by johncoby

Your electricity bill just increased without notice. Suckers.

September 27, 2023

Just remember who did this to you.

You might have noticed your electricity bill was about 20% higher. I didn’t until the Houston Chronicle posted an article about it. Turns out my bill was higher than I expected. I expected about $120 for the month of Aug. (I have solar panels) Instead it was about $148. What happened?

I actually used about the same kWh than the previous month but this bill had a TDU Surcharge of $21.74. According to the Chronicle:

This charge, also known as the transmission and distribution utility or TDU charge, is paid to companies like CenterPoint that manage the power lines, poles and meters that deliver electricity from generators to homes and businesses. 

If you want to try to understand why you are getting screwed go read the article. For those of you who weren’t around in the late 1990’s here is a recap of how we got here. Prior to 2003 Houston Light and Power provided our electricity. It was a regulated market. We paid just under 8 cents/kWh and had long term contracts which started the day you signed the contract and ended the day you cancelled. It was easy, cheap, and reliable.

Then Ken Lay and Enron lobbied the State for deregulation with promises of lower rates, consumer choice, reliable, free market electricity. LOL. (Key Lay died as did Enron) The rest is history. Now contracts are short term. Contracts are so complicated even the Public Utilities Commissioner agreed. Contracts are expensive! Deregulation failed so miserably the east Texas Senator filed a bill to stop deregulation in his area due to the failed promises. That bill passed.

So there you have it. You are getting screwed. Enjoy.

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Posted by johncoby

CliffsNotes: Judges summary judgement against Trump properties in New York

September 27, 2023
Someone is not happy

I took another one for the team and read the 39 page summary judgement issue by the Judge in the New York case against Trump and Trump properties.

Background.
Trump is being sued by the New York Attorney General Leticia James. The suit has been on going for a year. Yesterday the Judge issued a summary judgement, ie the Judge concluded that the evidence was so overwhelming, that a jury trial was not necessary. [based upon my vast legal experience from Facebook U.] The trial will continue to determine how much Trump will have to pay to New York State. Here are the Cliff Notes of the ruling:

  • The Judge was not happy with Trump’s lawyers: Defendants’ conduct in reiterating these frivolous arguments is egregious. We are way beyond the point of “sophisticated counsel should have known better”; we are at the point of intentional and blatant disregard of controlling authority and law of the case.
  • Judge sanctioned his attorney’s for their frivolous arguments of $7500 each.
  • OAG has submitted conclusive evidence that between 2014 and 2021, defendants overvalued the assets reported in the SFCs [Statements of Financial Condition] between 17.27-38.51%; this amounts to a discrepancy of between $812 million and $2.2 billion dollars.
  • Accordingly, defendants” motion for summary judgment dismissing every cause of action is denied in its entirety.
  • The Trump Tower apartment in which Donald Trump resided for decades (the “TriplexTM) is 10,996 square feet. Between 2012- 2016, Donald Trump submitted SFCs [Statements of Financial Condition] falsely claiming that the Triplex was 30,000 square feet, resulting in an overvaluation of between $114-207 million dollars. “A discrepancy of this order of magnitude, by a real estate developer sizing up his own living space of decades, can only be considered fraud.'”
  • OAG demonstrates that as of 2012, no apartment sold in New York City had ever approached the price at which defendants valued the Triplex, noting that the highest overall sale at that time was $88 million for a Central Park West penthouse. The SFCs valued the Triplex at a staggering $180,000,000- $327,000,000fortheyears2012-2016.
  • Notwithstanding receiving market values from professional appraisals in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2014 valuing Seven Springs at or below $30 million, Donald Trump’s 2011 SFC reported the value to be $261 million, and his 2012, 2013 and 2014 SFCs reported the value to be $291 million.
  • Trump Organization submitted SFCs that valued these rent-restricted units [Trump Park Avenue ] as if they were unencumbered, inflating the value of each unit between as much 700% (in 2014) and 64% (in 2021).
  • Despite these appraisals, the 2011 and 2012 SFCs valued the Trump Organization’s interest in the property [40 Wall Street] at $524.7 million and $527.2 million, respectively, an overvaluation of more than $300 million each year.!
  • Donald Trump’s SFCs for 2011-2021 value Mar-a-Lago at between $426,529,614 million and $612,110,496, an overvaluation of at least 2,300%, compared to the assessor’s appraisal. 
  • AnApril2014appraisalvaluedthegolfclubportionofTNGC Briarcliffat$16,500,000;later that same year, Donald Trump valued the golf club portion of TNGC Briarcliff at $73,430,217, an inflation of more than 300%, in his SFC.
  • Cushman & Wakefield appraised the value of 1290 AOA at $2 billion However, Donald Trump’s 2014 SFC calculated his 30% share based on a purported value of $3,078,338,462; his 2015 SFC was based on a purported value of $2,985,819,936; and his 2016 SFC was based on a purported value of $3,055,000,000. This resulted in overvaluations of Donald Trump’s 30% interest in 1290 AOA of between $205-$233 million dollars for those years.
  • Improperly including these intra-organization deals [Real Estate Licensing Deals] resulted in an overvaluation of up to $224 million in 2014, $110 million in 2015, $120 million in 2016, $113 million in 2017, $115 million in 2018, $97 million in 2020, and $106 million in 2021.
  • Defendants have continued to disseminate false and misleading information while conducting business. This ongoing flouting of this Court’s prior order, combined with the persistent nature of the false SFCs year after year, have demonstrated the necessity of canceling the certificates filed under GBL § 130, as the statute provides.
  • The Trump Organization has been cancelled in New York

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Posted by johncoby

Houston elite private school ranked #5 in the US. The $35,000 tuition proves it.

September 27, 2023

The Houston Chronicle seems to be advocating for private schools via a voucher system.

Yesterday the Chronicle reported on a number of highly rated Houston private schools in the State as well as in the United States. What they forgot to report is how much these schools charge for tuition. This tuition, for those who can afford it, could be reduced by Greg Abbott’s voucher system. I’ll fill in the gaps in the Chronicle’s article. From the Chronicle:

Greater Houston has four of the top five best private schools in Texas, three of the top five largest public high schools, Texas’ most diverse private high school and some of the best schools for various religions in the state.

St. John’s School. At No. 1 in the state and No. 5 in America, St. John’s School is one of the highest-rated K-12 schools in the country. Tuition: $35,000/year. (that is not a typo)

The Woodlands’ John Cooper School. Third in the state and No. 27 in the U.S. Tuition: Prekindergarten: $25,460. Kindergarten: $25,460. Grades 1-5: $28,030

Awty International School. Fourth-best private high school in Texas and the 15th-most diverse private high school in America. Tuition: $33,000/year

The Village School. Fifth-ranked private school in Texas, the most diverse private high school in the state and Texas’ highest-rated boarding school. Tuition: $74,000/year

Strake Jesuit was rated the best in Texas [$25,000/year] , trailed by St. Agnes Academy (3rd,) [$25,000/year] Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart (5th,) [$26,000/year] Incarnate Word Academy (6th) [$18,000/year], St. Pius X. High School (7th) [$19,000/year] and St. Thomas High School (8th.) [$24,000/year]

So you can see how much Greg Abbott’s voucher system is needed for those who can afford to pay $25,000/year for a private elite education.

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Posted by johncoby

What happens during a government shutdown?

September 26, 2023

Nothing good. At all.

It looks like the republican controlled House of Representatives is going to shutdown the government due their inability and unwillingness to govern. I’ve been through a few shutdowns with NASA beginning with Newt Gingrich. So how will that affect you?

  • Generally all federal employees cannot work. They can’t go to work and they can’t work from home. They can’t work offsite. They can’t Zoom or conference call. Nothing. Unless you are considered an “essential” employee you are not working. It is literally against the law. Space Station Mission Control personnel are an example of essential employees. They will continue coming to work or other essential employees can work from home.
  • Other essential employees are the military, Federal Marshalls, other Homeland and Defense department employees. They will be able to work but not get paid.
  • All federal employee’s paychecks will stop including the military. Eventually they will receive backpay but that also is not guaranteed. I can see the argument: “Why should they get paid if they didn’t work?”
  • Federal parks are closed as well as all federal properties.
  • Social Security checks will continue.
  • Medicare will continuing paying medical providers
  • FAA will continue as well as travel.
  • IRS will stop
  • Your local congressional office will close.
  • Members of Congress can continue to work.
  • The affects on Federal contractors varies. Some contractors that the opportunity to cut costs and furlough their employees without pay or back pay.

To some a shutdown is a free vacation. To others it is a needless hardship on their families. To the country it is an embarrassment. Look for the Republicans in the House to deny backpay. It just might happen this time.

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Posted by johncoby

Houston Chronicle endorsement watch: Houston District E

September 25, 2023

I couldn’t have said it better, although I tried. From the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board:

Flickinger, 60, who helps lead his family’s hydraulic equipment company, seems to view problems (and solutions) through more of a partisan lens than Dixon, and we worry he’d function more as an obstructionist rather than a constructive coalition builder. 

A vote for Dixon is a vote for a government where Democrats and Republicans can work together to improve citizens’ lives. Houston needs that. And so does the rest of America.

Seriously. I said it this way: “Unfortunately one candidate is an extreme right wing republican. He is self financing his campaign and endorsed by some of the most right wing of the area including CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen, the Texas GOP, Harris County Republican Party, and State Representative “Little Baby” Briscoe Cain. Much like Bowen, he will bring his extreme politics into city council.”

Personally I am just tired of the white wing lies, disruption, and stupidity of the far right candidates. We need someone who will put their political background in the background. Flickinger will not do that.

So far I am 1-0 with the Chronicles endorsements.

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Posted by johncoby

It’s time to sanction Alexandra del Moral Mealer and her attorneys

September 25, 2023

As with the other lawsuits it was frivolous.

Alexandra Mealer finally dropped her lawsuit against Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo after realizing it was a baseless, frivolous case. According to the Houston Chronicle:
“The lawsuit was frivolous when she filed it, and she has wasted a tremendous amount of the County’s and the Court’s time before finally acknowledging tonight that there is no evidence to support her outlandish claims,” Manne said in a statement. 

It was frivolous just like the other 22 cases against Democratic judges who won their elections. Mealer could not identify one single voter that could not vote in the 2022 election as she alleged. She then wanted to amend her suit to claim thousands of votes were illegally counted, a claim even her own attorneys did not support.

Hidalgo was represented by an attorney who donated his services. Unfortunately by law the Democratic Judges could not receive pro bono work. They had to fundraise to pay attorney fees, funds that could not be used for re-election. It was a brilliant plan by the Harris County Republican Party and now they need to pay for it.

Mealer and her attorneys need to be sanctioned and all legal fees should be paid not only for Hidalgo’s attorneys but for all of the attorneys representation the 22 Democratic Judges. Frivolous lawsuits cannot go unpunished.

Now quit fucking whining Mealer.

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Posted by johncoby

Was Lt Governor Dan Patrick paid off to tank the Paxton trial?

September 25, 2023

Yes.

What kind of idiot thinks a $3 Million donation to a judge prior to an impeachment trial is proper? Patrick was acting (seriously) as the judge in the Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment trial. He isn’t a judge. He isn’t an attorney. He has no law experience. He had to depend on his legal staff to rule on motions, objections, and other legal matters during the trial. But, nevertheless, he was the judge in the trial.

Just prior to the trial he received a $3 Million donation from an extreme right wing PAC, Defend Texas Liberty. This is the same group featured on a CNN investigation. It is funded by two Texas billionaires. Their goal is to transform Texas into a christian nationalist state by funding extreme white wing candidates against republican elected officials. As an example they funded the campaign for State Representative Bryan Slaton and won. (Slaton was eventually the 1st representative in 100 years to be removed from office for providing alcohol to an under aged staffer, porking her, and then trying to cover it up.) They have financed State Representative Tony Tinderholt. (He has been married 5 times!) You get the idea. They are just massive christian hypocrites.

So prior to the trial they just bribed the shit out of Patrick and it worked. After the cowards of the Senate refused to remove Paxton, Patrick took to the microphone. He could have thanked the Senators, said another fucking prayer, then adjourn. Instead he berated the House investigators, demanded an investigation of the investigators, and acted like the giant dick he is. All for $3 Million.

The billionaires are now setting their sights on the House Members who voted to impeach Paxton. They have unlimited money and they are going to spend it. It’s happening now.

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Posted by johncoby

Who is running for Houston City Council At-Large 5?

September 24, 2023

Council Member Sallie Alcorn is running.

The other two candidates have no idea what they are doing. Sallie does. She is one of the best Council Members on city council if not the best. Take a few minutes to review her website. She has served the City very well and should get another 4 years.

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Posted by johncoby

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