august948

3 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

GO ASTROS!!!!

Something we can always agree on!!😃

5 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

 

 

Is Violent Crime Increasing? | Department of Criminology (upenn.edu)

Even though the increases in violent crime tend to be concentrated in neighborhoods that already had substantial crime problems, the violent crime increases appear to be quite common throughout the county. Some local district attorneys are progressive, and some are not. Some local mayors and governors are Republicans, and some are Democrats. Some state legislatures lean left, and some lean right. Political finger pointing at the state, county and city level will not likely be persuasive. Blaming individuals or institutions at the federal level probably will not work either because most crimes are not federal crimes, and federal actions can only have local effects at the margins.

One is left with several conclusions. First, the recent violent crime increases, even if they are not just noise, are dwarfed by the amount of violent crime in the 1990s. We have not returned to the bad old days. Second, the speculative explanations commonly proposed must fit the timing of the recent violent crime increases. Conjectures revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic and pent-up frustrations, at least as usually formulated, do not seem to get it right. Third, explanations based on more passive police practices, real and imagined, coupled with the perceptions of reduced risk among individuals already predisposed toward violence, may have some merit, but the existing data range from weak to nonexistent. It is very difficult to bring facts to bear. Fourth, if one takes the solid black curves in the two graphs at face value, we have been on a time path that is bottoming out. Sadly, this may be about as good as it gets under the existing conditions that affect violent crime. Variation in violent crime over the past few years may be nothing more than a bit of bouncing off the bottom. Fifth, with the passage of time, and the accumulation of better data, we may understand more about what drives violent crime. But we have a long way to go.

News flash!!!   Liberal commentator at liberal newspaper complains about Fox news!

On 10/18/2022 at 6:48 AM, Texasota said:

More trees before parking please.

Why not both?  One of the things I have to (begrudgingly) praise Austin for is that they tend to plant and/or leave trees scattered through their parking lots.  We have that some here but I seem to see more of it in Austin.  We should especially be doing that in our parks.

We were there this weekend for homecoming and University Parks was torn up a few blocks west of I35.  Lot's of new construction going on there as well with the underpasses on I35.  The circle seems to be a sad ghost of itself, though, compared to the '80s when we were in school.

ROFLMAO...Judge Hidalgo gets Hanoi Jane to campaign for her!!!  🤣🤣🤣

In a city filled with people who fled the communist regime in Vietnam, I'm not sure whether inviting Hanoi Jane to campaign shows a complete lack of judgement or if Hidalgo and staff are just too young and clueless to know who this elderly white California liberal is.  I can't wait to see how this gets written up in the local Vietnamese newspaper.

On 10/22/2022 at 9:40 AM, trymahjong said:

Wow

i just saw a political ad with Mattress Mac and Dave Ward-

Mac said Harris County Crime rate was up 24%
 

I was caught off guard... most of the stat numbers associated with all the yadayada talk on crime going up or down were in single digits.

It all depends on what you are measuring and over what time periods.  Both can be true but you can't get a real picture on it unless you know the parameters.

Here's a little bit from the Chronicle...https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/violent-crime-in-houston-numbers-17431491.php

Quote

Still, Houston has seen a sharp rise in homicides each of the last two years, starting with a 43 percent surge from 2019 to 2020 — similar to the increase measured across all of Harris County, including Houston and the other incorporated cities. Murders across the country spiked by 29 percent that year, as a number of large cities — including Chicago and New York — recorded increases north of 50 percent.

I haven't vetted this in any way and am assuming the Chronicle wouldn't have printed it without checking it first (a big assumption, perhaps?)  This measurement over the stated time periods is higher than what Mac said.  I'd bet that if you measured a different crime or set of crimes over a different period (ytd 2022, maybe?) you'd get a different, perhaps single-digit result.

Read this little gem and you won't get caught off guard...

8 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Schizophrenia is a terrible disease.  

Beto O'Rourke for Texas governor: Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

Since @Blue Dogs is such a fan of endorsements (who has the time these days to think for one's self, really?!), I suppose he'll just have to hold his nose and vote for Beto.  

(Also in today's edition, a great photo of Lily Munster with short hair here.  Maybe she should get props for none of that caked-on makeup running off her face from sweat during the hot Houston summer.  Also, where's her gun?)

The Houston Chronicle endorsement of Beto proves they've totally lost their minds so any endorsements they make can be safely discounted.

As for her gun, perhaps just her presence reduces crime in whatever part of Harris county she happens to be at the moment? 

Or could be there's a 30.05 sign posted at the entrance to the establishment she's pictured at.  Could be her holster is in the 6 o'clock position.  And, of course, you can't see either of her hands.

2 hours ago, hindesky said:

It's open, kind of surprising they didn't put hand railings over the culvert.

 

I wonder if that was to prevent debris from catching in a flood event.

Karl's at the Riverbend.  Only went once but the food was excellent and was served by Karl himself.  I had heard they were going to try to open somewhere else but don't know if that happened or not.

48 minutes ago, mattyt36 said:

And, IIRC, guns don’t work against those, so you must really find that confounding there, Augie.

Not at all...as I understand it, shotguns are very effective so I'm well covered there.  I've also heard that wearing one of these will make their heads explode...

14 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Indeed, consider me TRIGGERED.

Always good to get the endorsement of zombies.  Will definitely mobilize that burgeoning population.  Hope they have Voter ID.

11 hours ago, BEES?! said:

Wow, these are some really hot takes on interior decorating. Got any more for us? 🙃

Beer cans...lots of them...

8 hours ago, BEES?! said:

I used to be in team “Tear down pierce” until I got to go to POST and spend time on the rooftop. It really gives a unique perspective besides simply being on the ground (or being inside an office building).
 

I’m now on “Team Skypark” because I think it would bring something totally unique to Houston, and I feel like it’s a very “Houston” thing to do. If there were some way to utilize the areas underneath Pierce as well (maybe somehow put in some retail spaces?) that would be really cool. Or even cut holes into the structure to allow natural light through (or both?!?) so it’s less creepy to walk under, that’d make it feel less like a barrier between Downtown and Midtown imho. (You could also expand the sidewalks, too! Win

I'm torn between the two.  While a skypark would be super cool, it still creates a perceived barrier at street level.  Maybe there's a good solution for that, I just don't know.  If not, then a ground level park would also be good as that (and the skypark as well) would serve as an extension of Buffalo Bayou Park through downtown.  It'd be a nice connector either way.
 

6 minutes ago, rechlin said:

About 7-8 years ago, I was (slowly) riding my bike for about 300 feet on the sidewalk downtown, just trying to get from the front door of my office to the parking garage entrance so I could park my bike (taking the street would mean either going the wrong way on a one-way or going all the way around the block), and a bicycle cop, who amusingly was also riding on the sidewalk, told me I was not allowed to ride on the sidewalk.  At another time, maybe a couple years before that, I was riding my bike on Edloe Street through Greenway Plaza and a cop told me I should ride on the sidewalk instead, even though that would have been illegal since it was a business district.  So no, I haven't been ticketed, but I've experienced both hypocrisy and incompetence from HPD on the matter.  In my more than 2 decades of living as an adult in Houston, both HPD, and HFD as well for that matter, have both disappointed me immensely.

I honestly think that you only experienced hypocrisy.  Regardless of the exact wording of the city code, I suspect HPD takes a pragmatic approach outside downtown.  Even then, the crackdown that I recall was sparked by messenger bikes riding recklessly in downtown because they had to do their jobs quickly.  I don't think HPD will stop you unless there have been complaints in the area or you are obviously doing something stupid and dangerous in front of them.  The cop that told you to ride on the sidewalk was most likely looking out for your safety.

1 hour ago, BEES?! said:

Real talk, has anyone here ever been ticketed for cycling on the sidewalks? 🤨

If I had to choose between cycling in mixed traffic or cycling on sidewalks…it’s sidewalks for me, laws be damned. I’m sure a sympathetic HAIFer would be so kind as to help bail me out hahaha 😁

Never.  And I cycle on the sidewalks down Richmond near the westside police station all the time.  Cops pass me coming and going from the station.  I've only ever heard of tickets being given out downtown, and that was some time ago when bicycle messengers were all over there.

4 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

This is par for the course as to how discussions about crime typically work.

Am I wrong to assume that the worst of the worst would already be a top priority?

2 hours ago, tigereye said:

Avenida De Las Americas is a mouthful. Could rename it to Richard Kinder Blvd.

Or you rename the Downtown portion of Dallas Street too to avoid confusion with W Dallas St. But that might more work with changing addresses than renaming ADLA. 

Given our current zeitgeist, I don't think renaming a road from Spanish to honor a white guy is going to fly.

5 hours ago, rechlin said:

From § 45-2:

So unfortunately the law is still what I described.

I think I'm destined to remain an outlaw then.

7 hours ago, rechlin said:

Bicycling on sidewalks is prohibited in Houston in any area considered to be a "commercial area", which basically means an area with a lot of businesses around.  So not just Downtown, but also much of Uptown, the TMC, Greenway Plaza, most of Westheimer, and any other street with a block or so of continuous businesses.  So cyclists are forced onto major roads in these areas where motorists often are none-too-happy to see a cyclist taking "their road".

In Houston, outside of residential neighborhoods, cyclists are generally required to be in the street, and when the lane is under 14 feet wide (which is most places, as standard lanes are 10 to 12 feet wide), they may (and honestly, for safety's sake, *should*) take the entire lane.

Actually, the city code says "No person shall ride a bicycle or motor assisted scooter upon a sidewalk within a business district. "

The only reference I've found so far to a business district is the Central Business District, otherwise known as downtown.

16 minutes ago, trymahjong said:

one of my friends sent me this....2022 seems a banner year for addition (unexpected) monies to come to HPD- But what is the result? What is the impact on crime?
 

Houston and Harris County will get $2 million as part of a nationwide grant program to help communities reduce gun crime and other serious violence.

On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite and U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery joined leaders from federal and local law enforcement agencies to announce a first-of-its-kind initiative targeting violent crimes in the Houston area.

"We will employ a data driven approach to first identify and then prosecute the worst of the worst gangs and gang members who are disproportionately responsible for the violent crime gripping this community," Polite said. "Everyone should feel safe in their homes, in their neighborhoods. Unfortunately, violent crime deprives too many of our communities of that fundamental security."

The new initiative will include prosecutors from the Criminal Division's organized Crime and Gang section, investigative agents, analyst, forensic experts from the FBI, HPD, HCSO and more.

The Department of Justice is awarding $100 million worth of similar grants across the United States.

"Together we will work coordinated, targeted, intelligence driven efforts with our law enforcement partners," U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery said. "As a team, we will develop strong cases where the defendants who possess the greatest danger to threats to the community will be arrested, will not be released, and will receive significant prison sentences. But second, we’re going to educate, train and support the citizen."

Programs include the Chance program, reentry programs, community policing and de-escalation training, as well as safeguarding communities and mentoring programs.

There are also initiatives to help prevent school violence.

"We as a school district are taking steps to prepare for a variety of situations concerning safety. We’ve already upgraded fencing, added cameras, invested in police equipment and so much more that that’s on the horizon as well," Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II explained. "Now, as a district, we are always collaborating with our schools and community to assess what we have in place and really plan for the future as well. The work never stops because our environment continuously changes. Today, we take another step further in meeting the moment by continuing to collaborate with safety leaders and partners nationwide."

"Know that we will be part of this community going forward. Far after any single prosecution ends," added Polite. "We are not above, we are not below, we are not outside of this community. We are part of this community."

 

 

So, were we not already identifying and prosecuting the worst of the worst? 

1 hour ago, Luminare said:

Exactly this. If this was a thread on the theoretical, I'm all game to have fun spit-balling ideas, even far reaching that could only be achieved with top-down control (play Cities Skylines maybe?), but its just that a thought experiment. Implementation and execution is another story, and in this thread we are talking about a project that requires actual execution. Not to mention anytime I see anyone talk about these types of ideas in the theoretical, one seems to always forget that at the end of the day the execution is going to be done by a human being. We are fallible, we can be easily corrupted, and easily lose control over ideas and systems we propose, construct, or run. Any time I see this play out I remember in my teens and 20's when I thought I knew everything, and my response in my head would be "well you failed because its you, but when I get power I'll know better." Talk about a recipe for disaster.

From living in Germany then coming back to Houston, and then now living in Salt Lake City and revisiting Houston recently our highway system is actually really great. The problem isn't organization, its just the load its subjected too, as you pointed, in peak hours. Banning, replacing, or taking away isn't the answer. The answer is multiplicity. Each transport has its use, right? Can Houston become more flexible, and precise in its transportation structure? I think so, but we need to move away from these two radial "do or die" factions. I guess you can call one MassTransitstan, and Autostan? haha. There is a compromise in the middle, and we can get there without thinking the world is a zero-sum game.

You hit the nail on the head.  The compromise is in the middle.  Make each highway like the Katy and then run transit in the middle.  We can call it Saudi Amsterdam.

21 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

P.S. @Luminare's response is much better than mine (great application of a meme!), as always, although I must take issue with his taking issue with your recommendation #6.  We absolutely should be planting as many trees as possible.  (Houston having plenty of trees?!  I know it feels that way if you live on the east side, but let's spread the wealth westward!  Have you ever been to Atlanta . . . they may have not done "investing heavily in transit right," but they can say without irony that they have plenty of trees.)

Here on the west side we've got plenty of trees, unless perhaps you are referring to the Katy Prairie.  We can always use more, though.  Completely agree with you on Atlanta.  Lived there for ten years and they've got the tree thing down.  Of course, the Atlanta area was heavily forested even before it was known as Terminus.  We started with wide open coastal plains so, all things considered, we haven't done too badly.

18 hours ago, 004n063 said:

I think my comment about collapse may have been unclear. Traffic will continue to increase, almost no matter how much new land we devote to it. One more lane won't fix it, and five more lanes won't fix it for long. The only thing that fixes traffic problems long-term is fewer drivers.

You can get to fewer drivers either by creating more viable options besides driving, or by losing population. The latter would presumably spell economic collapse. 

 

There's a third option, the development of edge cities.  I think we are well into this trend already.  Bear in mind that the primary traffic issue occurs mornings and evenings during the working week.  Outside those times, the current highway infrastructure runs fairly smoothly. 

23 hours ago, Stew said:

I see that they have torn away the ceiling with precise accuracy to leave the columns with rebar sticking out of the top of them.

Are they going to reuse the existing foundation and columns for the new building? This is interesting but I assume they would save money not buying concrete since construction material cost has gone way up.

I'm no engineer, but the way this demo has progressed leads me to believe that this is just how the process works and we're seeing it in the middle stage right now.  I would also think that it would be safer to rebuild the foundation from scratch rather rely on existing structures not built for the purpose.

2 hours ago, steve1363 said:

I’m praying for Kinder Astrodome.

2 hours ago, Amlaham said:

Bush Kinder Airport sounds like a dirty chocolate bar 

Kinder Bush, then?