On The Spot Blog

Happy 232nd Birthday America!  As I write this, I am recently back from the "Freedom over Texas" display in Downtown Houston.  While I've never attended the actual events at Eleanor Tinsley Park, I can take in the fireworks from a nearby venue that's within walking distance of my apartment.

This was the first time in 5 years I decided to try my hand at photographing fireworks, to see if it could be easily done with the digital camera I upgraded to earlier this year.  I have found that it was not as easy as my previous camera was, partially due to the city lights creating a back light and making the long exposures I have done in the past difficult.  As this sample taken in 2003 at Shawnee Mission Park in Lenexa, Kansas shows:

Continue Reading »

I happened to catch one of the maintenance staff members over the weekend, and was talking to him about the redevelopment.

According to him, it looks like the wrecking ball will hit the three buildings I identified previously around the first of May.

Don’t worry though, there’s plenty of other "prep" work going on in other parts of the complex.  I’ll have an update on that soon.

Editor’s Note: This is the final of three parts outlining the beginning of the redevelopment of the Archstone Memorial Heights Apartment Complex, the first two parts can be found here and here.

It all started simple enough, a rent increase.  After living in the complex 2 1/2 years (and reportedly longer for others) Archstone increased rents across the board in December, 2006. Not a typical rent increase, rents shot up 25%.

With the onslaught that followed, many tenants moved on as their leases expired, leaving huge vacancys.  Archstone was able to fill most of those units in the months after.  I renegotiated, and got a more reasonable increase, staying for "one more year".

In December 2007, I was greeted with another across the board 20% increase.  Again tenants moved out in droves.  I had hoped to be ready to move on, but other constraints made me stay for yet another year.  I again renegotiated the lease, reducing the increase slightly.

The complex is not the best I’ve seen, but it’s not the worst.  With single pane windows and poor insulation, noise is always a problem (Particularly if you’re on the "street" side of the complex).  The units, by comparison with other complexes in the area, are what you could consider "basic", and small by comparison as well.

Continue Reading »

Editor's Note: This is the second of three parts outlining the beginning of the redevelopment of the Archstone Memorial Heights Apartment Complex, the first part is posted here, and the final part will be posted in the near future.

At the May 30, 2007 city council meeting, a request to abandon three fire hydrant easements was on the city council agenda:

RECOMMENDATION from Director Department of Public Works & Engineering,
reviewed and approved by the Joint Referral Committee, on request from
Ronnie D. Harris of Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc., on behalf of ASN Multifamily
Limited Partnership [SCA-North Carolina (1) LLC, a Delaware limited partnership
{Archstone-Smith Operating Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust,
(Peter Grimm, Vice President), sole member}, General Partner], for
abandonment and sale of three fire hydrant easements and a 10-foot-wide
water line easement in exchange for the conveyance to the City of a fire
hydrant easement, all located within Memorial Heights, Section One Replat,
out of the John Austin Survey, A-1, Parcels SY7-082A through D and
KY7-248 - APPRAISERS - DISTRICT H - GARCIA

A look at the agenda backup quickly shows the areas of the property in question.  This motion was quickly rubber stamped through the council.

Continue Reading »

Editor's Note:  This is the first of three parts outlining the beginning of the redevelopment of the Archstone Memorial Heights Apartment Complex, the remaining two parts will be posted in the coming days, time permitting.

As reported recently on Off the Kuff and SwampLot Archstone Memorial Heights is on the verge of a complete redevelopment of it's complex at Heights and Washington Boulevards.  I have personal insight into the situation, as I have lived in the complex for the last four years.

One of the first signs of emminent changes coming was when the trash compactor failed in July 2007, and it wasn't repaired for weeks leaving piles of trash spilling out into common areas, leaving a stench for residents to smell anywhere in the area.

Continue Reading »

Isiah Carey at FOX 26 tonight gives us the Insite on a report that the Houston Police Department is wanting to invest in handheld metal detectors and bulletproof partitions for patrol cars.

In my line of work (Information Technology), I frequently get requests from someone who wants technology to do a 'big-brother' type control over an employees actions.  The technology I work with does not have that kind of function for good reasons.  My response is, and always will be that the technology will not fix the problem, but it may help Human Resources in documenting the problem (and at that point, let Human Resources deal with it).

HPD seems to be in that mode, but Mayor White and Chief Hurtt seem to not have the word "NO" in their vocabulary.  We've seen money pumped out for red light cameras, tazers, cameras on tazers, and now the metal detectors and bulletproof partitions.

First, how much more room does an officer have on his belt?  All these gadgets can not be good for the officer to have to carry, along with his nightstick (they do still carry them don't they?) gun, bullets, handcuffs, etc.

Second, where is the money going to come from to fund these programs?  My bet, like always will be to slow the backfill of the already understaffed department.

That leads back to my point earlier.  The problem with HPD today is it is hundreds of officers short of what it needs.  Throwing more technology at the problem is not going to fix it - only hiring more officers will.

I challenge anyone from city council to respond to the question of where the funding is going to come from for this, and I ask them why a mandate to rebuild HPD's staffing levels has not been brought before the council.

This week, a man was arrested on the charge of interfering with police communications here in Houston.

As someone who spent seven years around the newspaper business, I spent time in the newsrooms of a couple of newspapers in Kansas.  The one thing that was always present in those newsrooms was a police scanner, usually calling out officers, paramedics and fire fighters to handle citizens in need.

I was hooked, and personally enjoy listening to the scanner more than other forms of entertainment.  It is, in fact, the ultimate reality show.  Granted, these days much of the routine stuff is now handled electronically via computers in the vehicles, there is still much to be heard.  In fact, as I write this I am listening to several Houston Police channels, as well as Houston Fire.

Houston has previously reported that the system that is being used is old.  This in itself makes it prone to interference.  Houston needs to upgrade the system, but not without much forethought and planning.  Other cities were quick to convert, and end up with difficulties and incompatibilities.  Others end up with huge gaps in the system, putting the people who swore to protect and to serve in jeopardy themselves.

The improper use of radio equipment by the foul-mouthed practical joker is not just a local offense, but will likely have him facing federal charges as well.  The Federal Communications Commission does not take interference lightly.

Let’s just hope that this event does not force them down the road of a system that can’t be monitored by those who wish to monitor it - much like what San Antonio has done. 

Being able to talk amongst user groups is a must in this post 9/11 world, and the city needs to stick to a system that ultimately will talk to other agencies in the area, including Metro, Harris County, Galveston County and Fort Bend County.

Only time will tell if Houston will be able to address the citywide communications issue. 

We’ve all seen them, along a freeway or on a street.  Four or five tow trucks lined up to try and get a piece of the business at a scene of an accident.  We’ve seen the drivers of those trucks snake their way down the emergency lane past the backed up traffic just to get in on it.

Could the days of the cowboy tow truck driver be numbered?

In a bill filed today in Austin, Senator Hegar offered:

Senate Bill 500: Relating to the establishment of a tow truck rotation list in certain counties; providing a penalty.

Let’s look at an example of this working.  The city of Olathe, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City, implemented just such a program 15 years ago.  Tow truck drivers argued it’s unfair, but the city proved them wrong.  While it thinned out the number of renegade drivers (those that only have a truck or two), and gave better opportunities to the larger organized tow companies.

The tow companies realized that they now had a guaranteed tow once out of every so many incidents - a sure bet, when compared to the current Texas method of selection.  Renegade drivers banded together to form larger companies, and everyone won.  Best of all, the trucks themselves weren’t creating additional hazards by weaving through traffic to get to the call.

I saw this in action last fall, when I was visiting family near Olathe.  The car I was riding in was rear-ended, pushing us into a vehicle in front of us.  Olathe Police were called, and informed of at least one wrecker needed.  Within a few minutes, both an officer and a single wrecker arrived.  We were in the left turn lane on a very busy street, yet traffic continued to flow fairly smooth around the accident.  Fortunately, we were able to drive away, but the wrecker driver offered to assist us with the trip home if we had further problems.

Here in Houston, of course we not only have the renegade drivers, we have SafeCLEAR.  While the text of the bill is not as clear as I wish it was, it is possible that this could bear impact on it as well.   

I guess we’ll just have to watch this and see, but if implemented in Harris County, it could make the roads much safer then they are today.  It would also be much more fair to the tow companies then the current SafeCLEAR program is.

We’ll keep you posted. 

Phoenix suburb Scottsdale, Arizona recently conducted a 9 month test of a "Photo Radar" system on loop 101 (Phoenix's version of 610).  The city has now passed a resolution to turn the cameras back on full time, considering the system a success.

In the ZDNet and Arizona Republic stories, it says that the cameras activate when speed is 11 miles per hour over the speed limit. The Arizona Daily Star reports that the fight may not yet be over, not without a statewide ballot issue on the November 2008 ballot.

As most Houstonian's know, Police Chief Harold Hurtt still maintains a home in Phoenix, and travels there most weekends.  We know that Phoenix uses red light enforcement, much like what is now being deployed throughout Houston.

Could photo speed enforcement be the next cash cow the city of Houston tries to cash in on?  I suspect it will come up for discussion.

Would it make Houstonians slow down from the blazing fast speeds that we travel on area roads?

Or, will the state legislature put the brakes on another of the city's misdirected ideas before it takes off?

Only time will tell.

I was reading the story about Pearland Police Officers receiving their Taser training when a important note about Houston’s Taser Training came to light:

Being shocked is not required in every department.

Houston Police Department officers do not get shocked during Taser training, but deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department have the option during their training. Deputies are not required to participate, Lt. John Martin said.

Yes, you read that right.  Houston does not actually have each officer stand on the receiving end of their Taser when being trained.

If you search any of the online video sites for “Taser” (Not linked since most have language not suitable for minors) you will find many videos of officers taking one.

While I, personally have no desire to be a living target for one of these, I certainly understand why many agencies would expect their officers to understand the power and capabilities of the device.  It makes the officer think when acting, since they know exactly what the person that’s at the other end of those barbs is feeling.  It also makes them think to release the trigger before more harm is done.

That, in itself is exactly why it should be done.  The fatalities and lawsuits that are appearing more and more frequently here in Houston says that the already overworked officers are quick to deploy, and quick to use the taser, but don’t know when to stop.

I believe it’s time that HPD require mandatory refresher training, and every officer is certified only after taking the juice.

UPDATE:
KHOU is reporting that the city controller is now reviewing the HPD Taser policy. Watch this space for further updates.

Ok, so there’s a rapper out there that has the same name as me.  He seasons his rhymes with his name.

I used to be joked at when talking about football in High School, since there was a NFL player with the name Mike Jones as well.

I laughed with co-workers who see my identification badge,  I let the jokes roll other places (although not my primary ringer, I have the “Who’s Mike Jones” ringtone in my cell phone).

I spoke to another co-worker, who shares the same name as “Fresh Prince” Will Smith.  He said in the hey-day of the performer, he was joked at as well.

A former manager of mine was named Tim Taylor, and during the run of the Tim Allen hit series “Home Improvement” he was frequently referred to as the “Toolman” - I even would occasionally throw a “I don’t think so, Tim.” to have fun with it.

But, it comes to a point of disrespect after a certain point in time.  A co-worker, routinely tries to impersonate the rapper, calling out my name for no reason but to annoy me.

Being that Mike Jones, the rapper, and myself both live in Houston, it has compounded the problem.  By my count, there are 123 telephone listings for Michael or Mike Jones in the Houston area. 

Despite the fact that he mentions his phone number (and according to the stories I heard, it is legitimately his phone number) in a rhyme, I have had phone calls from several teenagers from all over the country, at all hours of the day and night, wanting to talk to the performer.  I’ve shunned most away, but still, getting the phone calls at 2am and 3am that pushes it over the line.

My question is, why is it that those of us virtual unknowns must suffer because one person with a common name rises to fame? 

In the pre-Internet days, if I wanted to look up a phone number in another town, I made the trip to the local library, and looked it up in the phone books of major cities they had there. 

I also was taught to respect privacy of those celebrities.  If I see a celebrity (even a local celebrity) I will say hello, but not create a scene.  I’m reminded of a story told by a sci-fi convention promoter, when he was at the airport picking up William Shatner.  Mr. Shatner had just arrived, and needed to take care of “business”.  He entered the nearest men’s room, and another patron came running out exclaiming that he just did his “business” next to Captain Kirk!  The resulting mob scene created a nightmare for the promoter and Mr. Shatner, since they were on a tight schedule. 

I had an opportunity to see a performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee a few years ago, and Bill Anderson, an Opry regular, made an appearance that evening,  at one point inviting his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson out on stage.  He commented that if anyone gets a good picture, he would like a copy.  The following year, he performed at an event in my hometown, and I obliged by taking him two 8×10 prints that I took of it.  He offered to autograph one for me, but I declined, asking if I could get a picture with him, to which he obliged.

In these days of school curriculums being crowded with much more than the old reading, writing and arithmetic, certain social things like respect seem to be getting forgotten.  It’s time for schools to remember that social skills need to be taught as well, and respect should be at the top of the list.

I just finished watching “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” redo the East Bernard home of the Kubena Family.  I have been a fan of the show since it’s inception three years ago, and seen many families lives touched by the program.

Last year, the design team rolled into my birthplace, Kansas City, Missouri, and redid the home of a firefighter who saved the life of a fallen comrade, and then took in two orphaned brothers who were going to be sent to separate foster homes. 

KMBC-TV, the local ABC affiliate, aired many live remotes on newscasts during the construction, as well as the weekend of the show’s airing on ABC.  They filmed countless hours of video, and on the Sunday night of the show’s airing, showed an hour long special prior to the network program.  The show was funded by all the organizations who pulled together to make this dream come true, including the smaller local companies who couldn’t afford a traditional commercial.  Everyone was mentioned during the course of the program.

I had hoped for something similar with the DeAeth family of Washington, Texas (which aired 2 weeks ago), or on the Kubena family.  KTRK was surprisingly absent through this project, but other local Radio Stations as well as the Chronicle mentioned it.  Royce Builders and Gallery Furniture both had commercials air during the telecast tonight, certainly marking a revenue stream to the station.

So, as a way for saying thanks (and I had the opportunity to visit the site of the Kubena family) I would like to mention a couple of companies from both builds.  These companies stepped up to the plate, and make the dreams of two deserving families come true.

Stylecraft Builders, Fingers Furniture, Royce Builders, and Gallery Furniture.

To support the DeAeth Family’s True Blue Animal Resuce, visit their website.  (And remember as Bob Barker says, help control the pet population, have your pet Spayed or Neutered).

To donate to the Kubena’s medical fund, visit Royce Builders “Extreme” website.

UPDATE: KTRK-TV is now reporting that Brandi Ward, a cancer patient from East Bernard that was featured on the show, lost her fight with the disease.  Our sympathies go out to her family.

According to KHOU, The City of Houston has started to persuit a change in city ordinances that prevents any minor under the age of 16 from being able to solicit on public right of way.  Councilmember Michael Berry also solicited input from my friends over at BlogHouston to find a way to look at the bigger problem; homeless asking for handouts on every corner.

I wanted to really start an in-depth look at the issues, and why, in my post on BlogHouston, I came to a four-point process for addressing the problem and why each of these points should be considered valid.

• Enforce no camping laws already on books.  I have seen them sleeping many times underneath the Montrose bridge that crosses Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Drive.  Same with in the park areas nearby, yet there is clearly signs that say “no camping”.  By doing the same under freeway overpasses, and enforcing it, this will encourage them to move on.

Reason:  It’s a law already on the books locally for city parks:

32-28: Camping - It shall be unlawful for any person to establish a campsite upon or use any area of the parks as a campsite.

There are signs posted on most freeway bridges (at least on the Katy Freeway) that indicate camping is forbidden there by state law.  At the time of writing, I was unable to find reference to it.  Many of these homeless are camping out there at night.  By making those areas inhospitable (by night-shift police waking them up to cite them for camping) the people will move on.

• Create an all out ban on sales of merchandise and services from the public right of way.  This includes window washers, flower sellers, newspaper vendors and the like.  If the street-side seller is working for a commercial enterprise, then a fine needs to be put on the commercial enterprise (Chronicle?) for violating the ordinance.  And exemption could be written to allow sign holders for one-time events to stand on the public sidewalk (still part of the public right of way, which is why the exemption needs to be spelled out) and advertise their one time event that is being held on private property.  This will allow carwash fundraisers and the like.

Reason: Most of these businesses do not collect sales tax, do not pay income tax, and if they’re homeless, they are unlikely to pay property tax.  As an honest taxpayer, should these people be allowed to use the taxpayer paid for right of way to make money?  Legitimate enterprise doing the same should be banned for safety purposes - see my next bullet.

If a business holder grants a not-for-profit group permission to have a car wash, adopt a pet or other event on their property, then the group should have the right to stand on the sidewalk and advertise their event, not in the median.

State statute already exists to deal with people walking in the street to do their selling:

§ 42.03.  OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY. 

• (a) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: 
  1. obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, regardless of the means of creating the obstruction and whether the obstruction arises from his acts alone or from his acts and the acts of others;  or 
  2. disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person the actor knows to be or is informed is a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises:
     • (A) to prevent obstruction of a highway or any of those areas mentioned in Subdivision (1);  or 
     • (B) to maintain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or other hazard.
• (b) For purposes of this section, “obstruct” means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.
• (c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

If I read this correctly, that says that anyone who can be considered to make passage in a public right of way hazardous - and these street soliciters are every time they walk into the traffic - can be charged with a misdemeanor.  I think this hits a good portion of the discussion. 

The part it doesn’t cover are the ones who are constantly sitting on the median or curb only collecting from those in the left most lane.  I would guess that there is probably existing laws that could deal with those for unlawful use of city property.

• Require that anyone soliciting donations cannot occupy a curb-protected space that is less than 24 inches (or better yet, 36 inches) between traffic lanes.  This would address the biggest part of the safety issue, while also getting them out of the moving lane of traffic.  To allow for special events like the MDA firefighter boot-blocks, create and exemption that allows uniformed public safety officials or other charity groups to perform one-time events as long as non-uniformed participants are wearing orange safety vests.  One consideration should be if the charity carries a specified amount of insurance protecting the participants.

Reason: This is safety pure and simple.  If I’m standing an a median that is 12 inches wide, I’m going to be exposed unless I’m standing sideways.  If a vehicle loses control, or, heaven forbid, is involved in a red-light running accident, that person in the narrow median is not going to fare too well if hit.  Even a car hugging the inside of the lane could easily hit the person with a side mirror.  Legitimate organizations have been trained in safety procedures (like firefighters) and can safely do so should be allowed to.  If not in an official uniform, they can wear a safety vest.  Mr. Homeless Hungry and Ms. News Seller are just out there for the money, and have probably never been told about safely working around or in traffic.

You think it’s not possible.  I have seen a number of videos where innocent bystanders have been hit by vehicles - a six inch high curb will not stop them.

• Ban all street solicitations from sunset to sunrise.  Again, this is a safety issue.

Reason: If it’s dark outside, and I’m wearing a dark colored outfit, I am not easily visible.  Again, if someone in a dark outfit is standing on a street corner and darts out to collect money or clean a windshield.  They quickly become a target of vehicles approaching in the intermediate lanes.  Also, at night is when more people are tired, or under the influence and do not have the attention/reaction times they do during the daylight hours, making the risks of an accident even greater.  The exceptions in the above rules are only exceptions sunrise to sunset.  Again, at night, all soliciation stops.

In summary, the changes are needed, and I believe they are enforceable (I’m not a lawyer, so don’t constitute this author’s opinion as a legal one).  As I was researching this piece, I found the above state law reference.  I have forwarded it to Councilmember Berry, and it is being reviewed, and may be discussed at a future council meeting.

UPDATE November 30: City council has postponed it’s vote on the current proposal, at the request of Councilmember Michael Berry.  Watch this space for more details.

UPDATE 2: The city council did pass an ordinance prohibiting solicitation by charities in the roadways.  It does not specifically address the homeless or The Chronicle merchants.  The ordinance should take effect in the coming weeks.  We will continue to monitor the situation to see if things improve.