Results tagged “jarvisjohnson”

Good morning, Houston. Suppose you're trying to keep up with piles and piles of government reports. How can you tell when there are too many? Simple: You ask for a report, of course. That's what the Texas State Library and Archives Commission did — and in a 668-page report, the commission has declared that the state is over-reported. The commission looked at more than 170 state agencies and universities and found more than 1,600...

Seems like everyone has a video on YouTube these days — even gang members in the Fifth Ward. KHOU found the video made by self-professed gang members, who talk about crime, life on the streets and grills (which cost $1,500 cash, apparently). As you might expect, city leaders aren't too happy about the video: "They can't be the voice of the Fifth Ward," City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, whose district includes the neighborhood, said. "I'm...

The Chronicle's Matt Stiles and KTRK's Miya Shay reported earlier this week on the "courtesy" program that allows certain local elected officials to park free at Houston's airports, noting that more than 100 city officials, state legislators and members of Congress have racked up around $100,000 in free parking under the perk. Officials have been offered the free parking since the 1980s; it's intended for use during official business, but some of the instances were...

If you've got an opinion, city council wants to hear it. Starting tonight with M.J. Khan, city council members will be hosting public meetings to garner comments on the city's budget for 2008, the 2008-2013 Capital Improvement Plan, and the 2007 Annual Consolidated Plan. Houstonist highly encourages participation in local politics.

A 4-year-old boy was killed Wednesday afternoon when a gate at his apartment complex fell on top of him, a freak accident for which officials are still searching for a cause today. It happened at about 5 p.m. yesterday at the Las Palmas Apartments at ; according to reports, 4-year-old Ronkeith Leroy Andrews and his 5-year-old sister were walking past the gate when the gate suddenly fell, crushing Ronkeith.

As expected, City Council delayed a vote on expanding the city's smoking ban at its meeting yesterday — and with councilmembers divided between a variety of proposals, it's anyone's guess how the vote will go when it's actually taken. Mayor Bill White, who supports a smoking ban at all enclosed workplaces with exceptions for cigar shops, certain meeting rooms, private functions and a handful of other situations, said things are close:

A couple of City Councilmembers have come up with 11th-hour alternatives to the city's proposed smoking ban, which council is supposed to take up tomorrow. The proposal would ban smoking at all workplaces in Houston, including restaurants and bars; exceptions would be patio areas and businesses designated as tobacconists or cigar bars.