713 To 214

IMO, the Sports Authority HAS served its purpose. At this point, the people in its ranks are now looking for a purpose to serve. . .at the taxpayers' expense.

The reality that I noticed about New Orleans, while I was going to school there (2 years at Xavier), was that the city basically supports the whole state. Louisiana is a relatively "poor" state. That's no diss on Louisianans. But as long as the state continues to rely on N.O. for tax revenue, the city will never have the money it needs to adequately reinvest in its infrastructure. Just my opinion though. I'm sure some here have a more enlightened opinion.

Thanks for the correction. I guess what I should have said was Hartsfield has consistently maintained its position as one of the top two U.S. airports since the Olympics (I think it even held the #1 spot a couple of years ago). DJ V, do you think that is an accurate statement? . . I'm too lazy to research it tonight.

Thanks for the Kudos. I like your plan, and I'm all for it. However, #1 on your list will take beaucoup mobilization of voters, statewide, to accomplish. This is true IMO for two reasons: 1. Texas is on the buckle of the "Bible Belt" and 2. MADD has a very powerful lobby here in Texas.

I think much of this can be associated with TX State ban on alcohol sales after 2:00 a.m. When the drinks dry up. . .people go home.

What do you think about the dissolution of the Houston Sports Authority?. . .After all, it's your money. _____________________________ April 4, 2005, 6:52AM Fight brews on dissolving sports authority Its impressive r

April 4, 2005, 12:01PM DeLay spokesman rebuffs critical poll Nearly 40% of likely voters in sample have a less favorable view of him, survey says By SAMANTHA LEVINE Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has earned support in his Houston-area district because of his principles, a spokesman said Sunday in a terse response to a Houston Chronicle poll about the Republican congressman and his constituents. In the Chronicle poll, conducted late last week and published Sunday, nearly 40 percent of 501 likely voters in his district said their opinion of DeLay is less favorable than last year, compared with 11 percent who said their view of him has improved. A DeLay aide pointed out that the congressman from Sugar Land has been elected with solid support for two decades. "(Voters) do that because he's getting things done for the area. He's also earned their support because they know he's guided by principles, not polls," spokesman Dan Allen said. But Republican DeLay's constituents seem to be rebuffing his frequent assertion that they support his actions leading Congress to intervene in the Terri Schiavo controversy. The brain-damaged Florida woman died last week. Nearly 69 percent of people in the poll, including substantial majorities of Democrats and Republicans, said they opposed the government's intervention in the case. Nearly 58 percent were critical of DeLay's leading role in spurring Congress to pass a special law to get a federal court review of Schiavo's parents' attempts to have her feeding tube kept in place. It was removed at the request of her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo, and judges, including those on the U.S. Supreme Court, declined to intervene despite the new law. Allen said DeLay would not be available Sunday to comment on the poll, in which 45 percent of respondents said they would vote for someone other than DeLay if the 22nd Congressional District election were to be held soon. DeLay was re-elected to an 11th two-year term in November 2004. Half of the respondents gave DeLay a somewhat or very favorable rating, and 38 percent said they would vote for him again. DeLay is in the midst of a difficult year. He was admonished three times by the House ethics committee and faces questions about the financial backing for some of his overseas trips. Also, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, is investigating the political fund-raising tactics of a political action committee that DeLay helped set up. In the survey, conducted by Zogby International, 53 percent of the respondents said they are Republicans, a third identified themselves as Democrats and the rest are independents, except for one Libertarian. DeLay has argued that his morals guided him in the case of Schiavo. But nearly half of those polled said he intervened in the case for political gain. Party affiliation played a significant role in this result, with an overwhelming majority of Democrats doubting his motives. DeLay has said the media have treated him unfairly. However, slightly more of his constituents, 46 percent, said the news coverage has been fair. Forty percent said that reports about DeLay have been unfair. Poll respondents split along party lines on the issue of DeLay's ethics, with about one in 10 Republicans and nearly seven in 10 Democrats considering him unethical. samantha.levine@chron.com

You're right.

^I appreciate your thoughtful reply to my post 27. I agree that Mr. Schiavo is not an angel in this matter. . .and if I were in his shoes, I would have allowed Teri's family to be present during her last minutes on earth, and at her upcomming funeral. But, I understand human nature. And at the most basic level, I can understand (not identify with) what disdain he feels for Teri's biological family right now after years of emotionally-charged legal wrangling. I can understand that he wouldn't want a media spectacle to occur at Teri's funeral, because Teri's parents want to draw this thing out. I can unsderstand that he is probably damn mad for being villified by conservative attack dogs, called a murderer, and someone trying to take advantage of the weak. That's all human nature. Can you honestly say for certain that your knee-jerk reactions wouldn't be the same? having said that, I wish that Mr. Schiavo and Teri's parents can work something out regarding the upcomming funeral services. You're right in that she will always be her parents' daughter, and because of that, her parents deserve the right to see her laid to rest.

That's why we have courts with supposedly impartial fact finders (Juries or Judges). No one can be in a better position to accumulate all of the pertinent facts, and make a ruling after applying the facts to the law. Now, certain individuals want to question that. What happened to the respect for RULE OF LAW? The Courts, from day 1 (before all of the media hoopla and right-wing agenda campaigning) looked at the facts and believed what Mr. Schiavo and Medical Professionals were saying was true. Teri's parents had their day in court. . .and my day, and yours, and. . .well you get the picture. The point is they lost every time. So, when the facts are subjective as you stated, I submit there is no better fact finder than an impartial judge or jury. . .not emotionally-charged individuals pushing an agenda.

Forcing someone in a vegetative state to cling to life (if you can even call it a life at that point), by way of feeding tubes, against her wishes, for years on end, to make a right wing political statement, is inhumane.

Technically, you're right. However, the effect is still the same.

How can you blame just 1 judge? There were many judges that ruled against Schiavo's parents, including the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Do you want them removed from the bench too? If so, on what grounds?

How do forum participants feel about this issue? I want to disclose that I am the attorney representing Texans Shuttle.

March 29, 2005, 6:45AM Airport shuttle contract disputed By RON NISSIMOV Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle After some City Council members balked at a surprise proposal to award an exclusive contract for a new shuttle service to Houston's airports, airport officials relented Monday and said they would hire two companies. Houston Aviation Director Richard Vacar had proposed in August to hire two companies through competitive bidding to provide door-to-door, shared shuttle service to and from Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. But on Monday, Vacar said a recent analysis shows the Houston market can support only one shared-ride service during the initial years because of the large start-up costs involved. A consultant hired by the city said in September that Houston could support two companies. The service would pick up passengers at locations of their choosing rather than at fixed stations and transport them to the airports. Primarily because of long-standing opposition from the city's taxicab industry, Houston is the largest city in the country that does not have such a service, which typically costs half of what taxis charge. Raymond Mbala, a lawyer for the Texans Shuttle firm that likely would be forced out of business if it did not get a shuttle contract, accused Vacar of caving in to the demands of Houston's Yellow Cab. Through its various sister companies, Yellow Cab owns 63 percent of the city's taxi permits. Yellow Cab officials have lobbied the city to allow only one shared-ride service to operate in Houston, and the company is believed to have the best shot at getting the contract because of its size and sophisticated dispatching equipment. "This is a move to force my clients out of the market and award an exclusive contract to Yellow Cab," Mbala told two City Council committees. Several owners of small cab companies said the city should not start a shared-ride service because it would drive them out of business. Vacar said several other major cities have only one shuttle provider. Texans Shuttle now is authorized to provide a "fixed point" shuttle service between the airports and major areas in Houston such as the Galleria and Texas Medical Center. Under the proposal to create door-to-door shuttle service, the city would eliminate fixed-point airport transportation. After a few council members said they were concerned that the proposal to hire one company would benefit Yellow Cab at the expense of others, Vacar agreed to seek two "viable" vendors for the shared-ride service, which he hopes to start by the beginning of next year. Yellow Cab officials attended the committee meeting but did not speak. After the meeting, Raymond Turner, one of three investors who bought Yellow Cab in 2003 for $28 million, said he is not sure Yellow Cab would want the shuttle contract if it were not exclusive. He said his company likely will bid on the contract but will continue to lobby for an exclusive contract. Turner said the turn of events Monday shows that Yellow Cab does not have as much pull at City Hall as some competitors claim. The city estimates that a shared-ride service would decrease taxi business 20 percent at Intercontinental and 12 percent at Hobby. Turner said he now believes that a shared shuttle service would not affect taxi business at airports, although Yellow Cab officials have said it would. ron.nissimov@chron.com

DeLay holds head high at home But Texas no escape from pressure of ethics questions 07:28 AM CST on Thursday, March 31, 2005 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News PEARLAND, Texas

I think Pimip C (and Bun of UGK (Undaground Kingz) are from Port Arthur. However, 27, you surprise me with your knowledge of rap. Don't forget the Getto Boys and Scarface, who still live here. Actually, in the rap world, Houston is recognized as a major city for talent.

Huh?? Could you explain please?

SpaceCity, don't worry. There are individuals on this board that continuously damage their individual credibility, to the point where they rarely, if ever, are taken seriously. Their posts (and these people know who they are) are nothing more than "filler" commentary. They rarely add substantive information to the discussions here. If other forumers would ignore their posts, in due time they WILL BE rendered irrelevant.

Well, that's an answer. Just not a very good one. I can hardley believe that your education in College Station provided you with detailed construction and design specs for specific buildings in midtown Houston and Uptown Dallas. What I think you'r trying to say is that it IS YOUR OPINION based upon those things listed that these apartment complexes (and condos) are "poorly designed and constructed. Unless you spoke with either the actual developers and construction firms responsible for erecting these structures, residents who live in them, or some government or other agency responsible for providing oversight and assesment of these sorts of things, I find it hard to believe that you have the uncanny ability to just look at a building and determine that it is "poorly designed and constructed." I think we should just agree that your statement was YOUR OPINION as opposed to fact.

I am curious. What is the source of information that you relied on to draw the conclusion that these apartment complexes (and condos) are "poorly designed and constructed?"

Thank you "Father Time" for your anthology of thoughts on this issue. I found it quite entertaining.