A lawsuit by Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle and their supporters that sought to overturn a redistricting plan devised by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis has been dismissed by an Ellis-backed judge, Dedra Davis.
In the Ellis-3 Redistricting plan, almost all of the Lake Houston Area including Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, Huffman and Crosby will change from Precinct 4 to Precinct 3. Tom Ramsey will remain the Commissioner of Precinct 3, and will not be up for re-election in 2022.
Details of Redistricting Plan
The Ellis redistricting plan swapped the numbers of Precincts 3 and 4. It also redrew the boundaries of Precincts 3 and 4 so that Ramsey’s home and Cagle’s home changed precincts. The Ellis plan has two immediate effects.
It forces Cagle and Ramsey, both Republicans, to run in each others’ precincts because commissioners must live in the precincts they represent.
The number swap will deny voters in the new precinct 3 the right to vote for commissioner in the next election. That’s because only even-numbered precincts will vote in the next election cycle for commissioners. So the Lake Houston Area will not be able to vote for commissioners next year as it normally would have.
In addition, the plan redraws boundaries of the new Precinct 4 so that it becomes more Democratic. That jeopardizes Cagle’s chances of re-election and could shift the balance of power in Commissioners Court. Four Democrats could create a super-majority, enabling them to raise taxes at will.
Judge Davis, who was supported in her election bid by Rodney Ellis, a key player in this drama, did not recuse herself. Nor did she cite any reasons for dismissing the case in her terse ruling.
Rodney Ellis and Judge Dedra Davis during her election bid.
Stage Set for Appeal
A spokesperson for Commissioner Jack Cagle’s office responded that the plaintiffs intend to file an appeal. However, because of the holidays, no other details were immediately available.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/23/2021
1577 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/20211117-Screen-Shot-2021-11-17-at-9.12.02-PM.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=17981200adminadmin2021-12-23 11:32:432021-12-23 11:49:51Redistricting Lawsuit Dismissed by Ellis-Backed Judge
The San Jacinto Regional Flood-Planning Group is soliciting nominations for a voting member position in the Small Business Category. The primary responsibility: to assist in the development of a regional flood plan for the San Jacinto Watershed.
The San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group meets monthly and is one of 15 such groups in Texas.
Nominees who have a strong affiliation or interest with small businesses are encouraged to apply. As the Small Business voting-member, this individual will represent all small businesses within the San Jacinto Flood Planning Group region, and act in their best interests.
Nominations may be made to the Region 6 – San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group Sponsor, Harris County Engineering Department, until Jan. 3, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
Find the solicitation and application form on the SJRFPG website or at the link below:
Please complete the nomination form and email it to SanJacFldPG@eng.hctx.net or mail to the Harris County Engineering Department to:
ATTN: SJRFPG – Fatima Berrios
10555 Northwest Fwy, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77092.
For further information, please email SanJacFldPG@eng.hctx.net or call Fatima Berrios at (713)-274-3914.
Posted By Bob Rehak on December 22, 2021
1576 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20211222-Screen-Shot-2021-12-22-at-3.15.56-PM.jpg?fit=973%2C1200&ssl=11200973adminadmin2021-12-22 15:40:292021-12-22 15:40:33Regional Flood-Planning Group Seeks Small-Business Member
At the last meeting of Harris County Commissioners Court, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) released a flood-bond update that shows spending through the end of November 2021. It provides a quick and easy way to see what your money is being spent on and where it is going. This differs from data reported recently from my FOIA Request. That data goes back to 2000 and looks at data pre- and post-Harvey, not just the start of the flood bond.
November Highlights
Below, some of the highlights from the November spending update:
Professional services invoices paid to date total $296 million. In November, payments totaled $338 thousand. Three quarters of that amount went to minority- or women-owned businesses.
HCFCD has awarded $354 million in construction contracts. Five more were awarded last month totaling $335 thousand.
Total spending since the approval of the flood bond through the end of November totaled $885 million. Of that, $447 million came directly from bond funds. Another $321 million came from grants. Other local funds totaled $117 million.
Three years into a ten year bond program, we’ve expended 17.9% of the anticipated total.
Home buyouts continue to drag out. HCFCD has completed 676, but 613 remain in the pipeline.
Brays Bayou still leads the dollar derby by a factor of two compared to the next three contenders. Brays has received $162 million flood-bond dollars to date. Cypress Creek, Addicks, and Greens Bayou have each received approximately half that. Then there are all others.
Where your flood-bond dollars have gone through the end of Nov 21..
Dollars spent in each watershed through the end of November.
Dollars funded in each watershed through the end of November.
Active maintenance projects and their values in December.
Active capital projects and their values in December.
The visual nature of this report makes it easy to see where your money is going at a glance.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/2021
1574 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20211220-Funding-by-Watershed-through-Nov-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C916&ssl=19161200adminadmin2021-12-20 21:23:122021-12-20 21:40:09Flood-Bond Update through End of November 2021
Redistricting Lawsuit Dismissed by Ellis-Backed Judge
A lawsuit by Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle and their supporters that sought to overturn a redistricting plan devised by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis has been dismissed by an Ellis-backed judge, Dedra Davis.
Details of Redistricting Plan
The Ellis redistricting plan swapped the numbers of Precincts 3 and 4. It also redrew the boundaries of Precincts 3 and 4 so that Ramsey’s home and Cagle’s home changed precincts. The Ellis plan has two immediate effects.
In addition, the plan redraws boundaries of the new Precinct 4 so that it becomes more Democratic. That jeopardizes Cagle’s chances of re-election and could shift the balance of power in Commissioners Court. Four Democrats could create a super-majority, enabling them to raise taxes at will.
TRO Denied, Then Lawsuit Dismissed on Plea to Jurisdiction
The plaintiffs sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block preparations for redistricting until the lawsuit could be resolved.
Judge Brittanye Morris (acting as an ancillary judge for Davis) denied the TRO on November 29 without explanation.
Hidalgo then filed a Plea to the Jurisdiction on December 13. In it, she pled that:
Yesterday, December 22, 2021, Judge Dedra Davis of the 270th District Court upheld Hidalgo’s plea to the jurisdiction and dismissed the lawsuit.
Judge Davis, who was supported in her election bid by Rodney Ellis, a key player in this drama, did not recuse herself. Nor did she cite any reasons for dismissing the case in her terse ruling.
Stage Set for Appeal
A spokesperson for Commissioner Jack Cagle’s office responded that the plaintiffs intend to file an appeal. However, because of the holidays, no other details were immediately available.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/23/2021
1577 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Regional Flood-Planning Group Seeks Small-Business Member
The San Jacinto Regional Flood-Planning Group is soliciting nominations for a voting member position in the Small Business Category. The primary responsibility: to assist in the development of a regional flood plan for the San Jacinto Watershed.
Nominees who have a strong affiliation or interest with small businesses are encouraged to apply. As the Small Business voting-member, this individual will represent all small businesses within the San Jacinto Flood Planning Group region, and act in their best interests.
Fifteen regional flood-planning groups representing each of the major watersheds in Texas were formed after Hurricane Harvey to develop flood plans by January 2023. Jenna Armstrong, former president of the Lake Houston Area Chamber was the first small business representative to the Region 6 Flood-Planning group. She resigned her position with the Chamber last month to take a position with Waste Management.
How to Submit an Application/Nomination
Nominations may be made to the Region 6 – San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group Sponsor, Harris County Engineering Department, until Jan. 3, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
Find the solicitation and application form on the SJRFPG website or at the link below:
Small Business Voting Member Solicitation and Application Form
Please complete the nomination form and email it to SanJacFldPG@eng.hctx.net or mail to the Harris County Engineering Department to:
ATTN: SJRFPG – Fatima Berrios
10555 Northwest Fwy, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77092.
For further information, please email SanJacFldPG@eng.hctx.net or call Fatima Berrios at (713)-274-3914.
Posted By Bob Rehak on December 22, 2021
1576 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Flood-Bond Update through End of November 2021
At the last meeting of Harris County Commissioners Court, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) released a flood-bond update that shows spending through the end of November 2021. It provides a quick and easy way to see what your money is being spent on and where it is going. This differs from data reported recently from my FOIA Request. That data goes back to 2000 and looks at data pre- and post-Harvey, not just the start of the flood bond.
November Highlights
Below, some of the highlights from the November spending update:
GANNT Charts Show Progress in All Watersheds
The San Jacinto River Basin has 10 active projects in various stages of development. Cypress Creek has 10. And Spring Creek has 4. To see what stage they are at, see the GANNT Charts on Pages 4 through 9.
Brays Leads Dollar Derby By Wide Margin
Brays Bayou still leads the dollar derby by a factor of two compared to the next three contenders. Brays has received $162 million flood-bond dollars to date. Cypress Creek, Addicks, and Greens Bayou have each received approximately half that. Then there are all others.
This report PDF also contains maps that show:
The visual nature of this report makes it easy to see where your money is going at a glance.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/2021
1574 Days since Hurricane Harvey