Politics & Policy
December 14, 2021
The Best Things in Texas 2022: Tom McCasland
Houston housing director Tom McCasland bravely spoke out against suspicious city hall deals—and paid the price.
Sylvester Turner
Latest
1-26 of 26 Articles
Politics & Policy
November 24, 2021
Who’s To Blame for Astroworld? Anybody but Us, Say Houston Officials.
In the wake of the deadly Travis Scott concert, Bayou City and Harris County politicians have formed a circular firing squad.
Politics & Policy
August 24, 2020
Lina Hidalgo and Sylvester Turner Appear United. But Behind the Scenes Their Styles Clash.
The Harris County judge has frequently pushed for bolder pandemic policy than Houston’s mayor, adopting a new style of politics her critics say Texans aren’t ready for.
Health
July 1, 2020
What Pandemic? Houstonians Party, Shop, and Ice-skate as COVID-19 Surges.
As public health experts warn that ICUs in the city might soon be overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, shops and restaurants remain packed.
Politics & Policy
November 26, 2019
Tony Buzbee Ran as a Trumpian Shark in the First Round of the Houston Mayoral Race. Now He Appears to Be Dead in the Water.
To beat Sylvester Turner in the runoff, the flamboyant millionaire needs to be aggressive and smart. Instead, Buzbee’s campaign is lackluster.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2019
Let’s All Hope Tony Buzbee Drank a Lot of Water Last Night
The eccentric megalawyer’s unpredictable and at times unintelligible speech claiming victory in Houston’s mayoral election has to be seen to be believed.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2019
The Crowded Houston Mayoral Race Has Shaken Up Traditional Bayou City Politics
Despite, or maybe because of, Mayor Sylvester Turner’s business-as-usual approach, the race is surprisingly contentious.
Music
February 15, 2019
Travis Scott May Manifest His ‘Astroworld’ Dreams Into an Actual Amusement Park
Houston mayor Sylvester Turner appeared onstage at the Toyota Center to present the rapper with the key to the city—and teased the promise of roller coasters.
Politics & Policy
November 18, 2018
The Power Issue: Sylvester Turner Is Reaching Across the Aisle to Save Texas’s Biggest City
The Houston mayor understands the wisdom of maintaining good relations even with people you disagree with again and again.
Border & Immigration
June 29, 2018
Battle Over Houston Child Detention Facility Heats Up
Austin nonprofit Southwest Key wants to open a facility for immigrant children in Houston’s East End. Mayor Sylvester Turner has other ideas.
Business
January 25, 2017
Towering Debts
in a state known for austerity, how can Texas's largest cities be nearly broke?
Politics & Policy
January 27, 2016
Hail to the Chief?
Houston greets its new mayor, Sylvester Turner, with a host of big-city problems.
Politics & Policy
October 2, 2015
Why No One Seems to Care About Houston’s Mayoral Race
The election only determines who will lead the nation's fourth-largest city, no big deal.
Politics & Policy
May 31, 2015
Sylvester Turner’s Tearful Farewell
With eyes filled with tears, state Representative Sylvester Turner bid his House colleagues farewell today after 26 years of service.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Lingering Redistricting Objections From Black Caucus
The Texas Legislative Black Caucus is not happy with proposed interim House map, but some argue that African Americans are fairly represented.
Politics & Policy
February 23, 2012
Perry: We Don’t Need No Education Special Session
The governor rejected calls to revisit school finance issues during his Tuesday media blitz, but his critics say he also overstated current funding levels.
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2011
House budget shocks and awes
If the purpose of the House budget bill was Shock-and-Awe, it achieved maximum success: House Democrats wasted no time identifying the many, many Doomsday scenarios that would result if state programs are cut to fit available revenue. No room for grandma at the nursing home. No financial aid for worthy
Politics & Policy
July 3, 2009
Turner in Wonderland: Sentence First, Verdict Afterwards
Sylvester Turner went to the Public Utility Commission yesterday to argue for a petition he had filed asking the PUC to declare a moratorium on electricity disconnections for certain customers for the remainder of the summer. The customers that would be covered included low-income seniors (up to 125% of the
Politics & Policy
April 19, 2009
The Cold War
The House budget debate had a lot in common with the Cold War. The two sides came to the battlefield fully armed, but they engaged in frequent diplomacy that avoided a nuclear conflagration. Jessica Farrar, for the Democratic caucus, and various Republicans, Phil King among them, held a summit on
Politics & Policy
January 30, 2009
The rules debate: The way it’s supposed to be
It was an amazing thing to be in the House for Wednesday’s rules debate. It was as if someone had taken a giant vaccuum cleaner and sucked all the tension out of the air. The House went about the business of adopting its rules without dramatics. Speakers come and speakers
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2009
PROPOSED NEW HOUSE RULES
The highlights: 1. A process is established for removal of the speaker following the refusal to recognize a member for a question of privilege. (The Tom Craddick Rule) This had to be done. The Craddick/Keel/Wilson ruling that the speaker was an officer of the state and could not be removed
Politics & Policy
January 7, 2009
The Liberation
I have covered the Texas House of Representatives since 1975. What I love about the place is that, traditionally, it is has been an open shop. The culture of the House is that you can do what you are big enough to do, whether you are on the team or
Politics & Policy
December 29, 2008
No Time for Tom
Everyone wants to attend Craddick’s funeral, but the corpse is still breathing—barely. One more nail in the awaiting coffin: The Democrats published their names. It’s vital, as January 13 approaches, that the insurgents do everything possible to bolster their credibility, and the best way to do that was lay out
Politics & Policy
November 19, 2008
Smaller Talk
Honorably Mentioned: Burt Solomons, Jim Keffer, Craig Eiland, Brian McCall, Rafael Anchia, Charlie Geren, Warren Chisum, Phil King, and Rob Junell (naturally). If you do not see your name on the list, you have given us no reason to talk about you. (Go watch it on our homepage so I
Politics & Policy
November 13, 2008
Everyone’s a Speaker!
11/14 Update: Peer Pressure works again! Now we have eight of the nine. (Delwin Jones, please report to me.) So who’s your favorite? Naturally, in the interest of bipartisanship and journalistic ethics, I will not be revealing my choice. 11/14 Update #2: Delwin Jones’s statement was lost in Evan Smith’s
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2008
The Democratic Pledge: why it won’t work
Why is it that the Democrats insist on trying to act bossy? Is it genetic? Can’t they help themselves? The demand upon party discipline before they have won a majority is foolish. My last post on this subject was, I have to admit, a bit on the hysterical side, and