mattyt36

Three cheers (and by three I mean six) to the only true ideology!

Lumnaire: Decentralize permitting for efficiency. Cuz … things? Still not sure on the rationale for that one. But what a privileged position to think you know better … it’s easier that way, after all 🤔

Now you’re talking, Augie! I’d say I converted you but I know you are talking from experience! Love ya brother! I’ll be your Vice President on a mixed ticket.

I actually prefer vanilla, Augie, oh the irony!

First off, it’s milquetoast, so work harder. Second, just read what you wrote. “Oh no, a amicus brief in support of overturning an election, what could possibly go wrong, conduct totally becoming of the CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.” Third, you left out a hell of a lot. I seriously don’t know if that is intentional, because you just don’t know on a factual basis, or you know on a factual basis but somehow think that’s inconsequential and “all in a day’s work.” Fourth, if you’re younger than I am and the above passes for any sort of analysis when it comes to voting choices, God help us.

Freeways … me gustan!

Well that web site sure doesn't inspire much confidence!

That would be my guess!

Hey @Blue Dogs, as one so concerned with indictments for people up for reelection, what say you in re Ken Paxton?

This editorial from the Chronicle last week makes it seem there's a great likelihood this was all a political hit job, which should surprise . . . nobody, considering Harris County is enemy number 1. With criminal Ken Paxton at the helm, I sure as hell wouldn't put anything past him. But let the process work itself out, I guess. Editorial: Did Texas Rangers miss a key fact in probe of Lina Hidalgo’s office? (houstonchronicle.com)

Just put two and two together, it’s the same as the rename of the Alessandra, presumably with the same namesake. I guess that could not be very friendly for visitors!

Great question actually, 800 languages spoken? Do these include languages spoken in one's head?! Yes, I know there are more than 3,000 spoken languages in the world . . . Wiki lists the number of speakers for the top 100 (that being Konkani, which has 7.4 million native speakers, or 0.11% of the world's population). If Houston has ALL of those along with ALL of the next 48, well quite a remarkable achievement in the history of human civilization in terms of global "melting pots." Since we're a little bit newer than NYC and LA, I'll just assume numbers 149-192 must be speakers of Ancient Konkani and Middle Konkani. 🤣 A full 800?! Well, maybe they are referring to the number of paranoid schizophrenics in NYC and LA. List of languages by number of native speakers - Wikipedia

Shout out back at you, Sammy. I know it must be painful to have the absurdity and shallowness of your thoughts on the matter repeatedly pointed out . . . by multiple people, no less. You must be, er, a resident of Dallas who wants the $9 billion to be spent in North Texas?

Whoa boy, you are way out there. You "characterize" me as "mischaracterizing" in my "characterizing" without realizing that you are also "characterizing" his comments a certain way and thereby are running the same risk of "mischaracterization"? Surely you see how circular that is. It's as circular as being so certain of what his comments meant by essentially stating, "Because that was my interpretation . . . QED." The truth of the matter is neither of us knows what he really meant. But he can chime in whenever with his view of benefits accruing "only to residents of The Woodlands" that are not related to the NHHIP "north" or "east" of downtown.

JC, for someone who seems concerned with the possibility of mischaracterizing others' statements, let me just say it's quite a leap to jump from these words: "There are no benefits from the proposed work from North of Downtown to Beltway 8. There are no benefits to rerouting the freeway East of Downtown. In fact, I view loss of the Pierce Elevated as a major bad result. There will also never, ever be parks on the caps over the underground portions. That's pie in the sky thinking with no basis in reality." to They see no benefits to specific segments of the project (northside/east end), but not all. There's still the 59 segment and so forth. I mean if you want to talk about the risk of putting words into peoples' mouths, I'd say you're guilty on that count. (Not to mention, the 59 segment literally IS the rerouting the freeway East of Downtown to which he explicitly says there are no benefits.) There are literally 3 segments of this project: 2 north of downtown to Beltway 8 and the rerouting of the downtown segment east of downtown. He literally said there is no value to anything north of downtown and no value in rerouting the highway east of downtown. In any case, what benefits exactly are accruing to drivers from The Woodlands if there are no benefits to the north or east of downtown? The I-10 segment? That seems to be the only thing not explicitly covered. Um, you can't have the I-10 segment without the 59 segment. And, he loves the Pierce Elevated to boot . . . which means he probably ain't a fan of the I-10 segment, either. I'd say Occam's Razor here says my interpretation is probably closer to reality i.e., he's talking purely based on emotions, which generates the entirely inconsistent logic. Regardless, I'm sure it was intended as a throwaway comment anyway, as most on this forum are, not as some window into his conception of the few hidden benefits to the project.

My eyes are still going cross over this one . . . was not trying to be disingenuous . . . I don't understand how benefits can accrue to people in The Woodlands (or anybody for that matter), if there are supposedly no benefits to the project? How can anyone benefit if there are no benefits?! Anyway, if it makes sense to others, then I must be missing something!

Color me confused 🤔 . . . the entirety of the project is downtown to Beltway 8. How can benefits accrue to people from The Woodlands if there are no benefits from north of downtown to Beltway 8? The benefits to The Woodlands people are only from the downtown segment? Headache starting to set in again . . . !

Good faith would sure go a long way. People either don't know what they're talking about--they have this idea "freeway bad" and "freeway construction in 2022 means the same thing it did in 1962" Or they are (IMHO) true bad actors and disingenuously choose certain points with a high level of emotional response . . . no different than the whole conservative media machine . . . I'm surprised they haven't come out and said "Pedophiles love freeways," as that seems to be the issue du jour. Or they are professionals/transit "junkies" who may indeed have a fully formed concept . . . but they never think through all of the conditions that would have to be controlled (or, better stated, conditions that alone have low probability, yet need to all be true together to achieve the outcome (e.g., people will move from The Woodlands to the City, paying more for something they value less, accepting worse schools, etc., etc. if only they sit in constant traffic long enough, instead of the most likely outcome in this situation being businesses moving to The Woodlands, Huntsville becoming Conroe, and Madisonville becoming Huntsville). Or they are like most of us and say, yep, it's certainly not ideal, but there just isn't a better way, so make sure you add facilities for improved transit operations and make it look as good as you can. There aren't many histories of the world's great cities out there that include the line, "And what really made them "great" was they deliberately made it more difficult for citizens to move around." If you add the qualifier "based on the personal tastes of a relatively small, but vocal minority," I think it's clear how ridiculous it sounds.

You do realize what seems to be stated here is that instead of relocated people getting subsidized housing, they should get totally free housing altogether? Is this a policy position for which you are in favor, while also creating a new national precedent? "Way less than the CoH requested," well quelle surprise is all I have to say. Anyone ever lowball a request for free money to the federal government? No, I know you're not . . . you're "just asking questions," as always.

"most of the benefits from this work" "There are no benefits from the proposed work" Pick one! I find it always reduces headaches if I think consistently. "I don't really care if their commutes suck, they should be taking park and ride or car pooling." I certainly won't pretend you're alone in this regard, but have you ever really listened to what you're saying there? I'm sure the THOUSANDS who use I-45 every day have some choice words for what they think about your preferences. "In fact, I view loss of the Pierce Elevated as a major bad result." In that case, then . . . "There will also never, ever be parks on the caps over the underground portions. That's pie in the sky thinking with no basis in reality." Is this another royal decree with "no basis in reality" like Pierce Elevated loss="major bad result"? Do you think if you continually chant "There will never, ever be cap parks" it somehow makes it true? P.S. Liked you on Friends.

No, a "letter to the editor," which is about as indicative as what we write on here. From the letter: "Think of all the mass transit projects that could be funded with that kind of money. Think of all the neighborhood homes, schools and churches that will be negatively impacted (and many destroyed)." Hey, how about instead of "thinking" about it, why not try to put a number on it? $9 billion for mass transit ain't much (not to mention that $9 billion includes mass transit, but let's not pretend we can be reasonable here). And then we have all the homes, schools, and churches (someone doesn't like businesses, I guess) that will move from being 1 block away from the freeway to on it, I guess? Not to mention a potential implication of his "piece" is that it's A-OK to level them for a mass transit project? Since everyone seems to think this is such an "easy" decision, please list all of the mass transit projects that increased transit ride share to, say, Chicago levels (~25%?) because we're talking about the need to move a lot of people going to destinations all across the city here. There's been plenty of investment in LA and Dallas, not to mention a long list of "pet projects" that, if you ask me at least, are now poster children for urban decay. How soon we all forget that mass transit lines were the original drivers of sprawl! I know freeways are "bad" because people use them (Shocker! That's always presented as some sort of argument against them) . . . how about all of the investment in mass transit projects that are relatively unused? That won't be a short list!

“Thousands”?

Hey great question. Google says 20 year deal beginning 2003. That would mean it’s up next year. Rockets get the money, so I guess good chance it’ll be a Tilman brand? Golden Nugget Arena? Yikes.

Well I guess I hope Tilman isn't successful in becoming a "football" club owner.

Boo