You appear to have good intentions in bringing the liberal segment of our population the news and opinion they want. It is unfortunate that you leave out information that is important to private citizens and businesses alike because it may impact those people you support. Have you considered what happens if the Houston City government becomes insolvent. In Nassau County New York, Jefferson County Alabama (Birmingham) among a number of other metropolitan areas with large populations the state governments have had to takeover their finances.
We may not be quite be at that point yet but some think we are. In the mid 1970′s New York City had to accept a large amount of cash from the Teachers Union Pension Fund to avoid default and it took that city 10 years to recover. We are borrowing from our government workers pensions now. You can be pro union but not want the unions to be our city bankers.
I am for the best public transportation possible but the cost and scope of the proposition we voted for early in the last decade has changed dramatically. The resistance of the Mayor and those connected to the light rail to questioning the wisdom of those changes and the costs increasing fourfold is unhealthy. Anyone who questions is attacked. There is a requirement for a new proposition to be on the ballot in 2012. It will address the stipulation in the original proposition in how much Metro gets from the city( 1% of the total revenue). Under the Law Metro is required to refund 25% of those revenues to the City’s infrastructure fund. Metro owes the city approx 100 million dollars for this purpose. Metro is keeping it so can raise its bond capacity (more borrowing). The Drainage Fee (Rebuild Houston) was born out of Metro shorting the city. Is this mismanagement or a contrived money grab. I think both.
Your blog should include some of these issues whether you dispute them or not. The Light Rail plans will cause gridlock in areas and we all know what happened during our Super Bowl with the Main Street line. We need another independent look about where we go from here.
I suggest you broaden your purview and opinion to keep your liberal audience more informed. I do not know you but I know where you are coming from. That is OK if you are able to look at the bigger picture as well.
