bestofheights.com
SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER 2019
/ September + October 2019 Send comments, thoughts or ideas to intownmagazine@gmail.com
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17
ON THE COVER 22
14 22-23 THE GAME 24-25 HOUSTON BRASS BAND 26-27 INTERNET DEFAMATION GUIDE 28-28 FINANCIAL FOCUS 30 THE BUZZ
10-11 ARTS + EVENTS 12 ARTS PREVIEW 14-15 ROMANCE IN THE HEIGHTS 16 MAYOR TURNER’S FIRST FOUR YEARS 17-21 MAYORAL FORUM
PRODUCTION
PUBLISHER
M. A. Haines EDITOR
Lisa June
bestofheights.com
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Lindsay Mowad William Hanover Marene Gustin Evans Attwell Philip Berquist Minnie Payne
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Intown magazine is published bi-monthly by SNS Media. Articles are welcome and will be given careful consideration for possible publication. Intown magazine does not assume any responsibility for unsolicited materials. Materials submitted will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Box 980757 Houston, TX 77098. You can also e-mail intownmagazine@gmail.com. Copyright 2019 by Intown magazine. All rights reserved. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without permission from Intown magazine.
4 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
MARC GRINER
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| Tel: 713.980.5166 • Cell: 832-715-3377 May + June 2019 | HEIGHTS |5
Publisher’s Letter
Nonpartisan Leadership
n the last issue, we trumpeted the importance of supporting locally owned businesses that are paramount to a thriving community. Local business owners live, work, and pay taxes in their communities. They keep their profits local and invest in their neighborhoods. The same principle applies when understanding the critical role of “local” government and how it plays in our everyday lives. Sure, Presidents and Congress can make broad and sweeping changes such as war and abortion rights, but our traffic, crime, and the air we breathe mostly a result of local leaders. When Harvey hit, it was the local first responders, neighbors, schools, churches, and congregations pitching in to help get Houston back on its feet. When neighborhoods are selfpoliced by residents within their communities and work with local law enforcement, our neighborhoods become safer. Nonpartisan actions and ideas should rule our city. Our City of Houston’s elected officials may have a party affiliation but run on nonpartisan ballots that do not require affiliation with any party. Making Houston a cleaner, safer, and more attractive city is and should be bipartisan.
6 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
This year’s fall elections will determine if Mayor Turner returns for his final four years (due to being term-limited) as our mayor. Many feel Sylvester Turner is a proven leader and deserves a second term, while many are still undecided about their choice this fall. We have tried to outline what the other top contenders for mayor represent. We also give a synopsis of Turner’s first term. With Houston’s tremendous growth comes many challenges and the local leaders, not national politicians only intent on their reelections, should and thankfully do run our city. We, the voters, have the power of our local government. Be thankful for that. Get involved and vote on November 5. To register to vote to go to www.sos.texas.gov.
Val Arbona REALTOR, CLHMS, CRS RE/MAX Vintage (713) 562-4903 valarbona.com
Mariana Saldana Broker, CIPS Uptown Real Estate Group, Inc. (832) 338-4040 Mariana@uptownhouston.com
David Michael Young BROKER, CNE, CLHMS, GREEN John Daugherty, Realtors (713) 320-6453 www.youngrealtyhouston.com
Bree Knodel Business Development Officer Stewart Title - Kirby (281) 201-7261 bree.knodel@stewart.com stewart.com/houston
www.greaterhoustonluxury.com
Sima Dalvandi CLHMS, ABR, Realtor Keller Williams Southwest (832) 630-7605 www.ezhomerealestate.com
Paula Hagerman CRS, ABR, Realtor, GHLHC RE/MAX Vintage (713) 306-3557 www.har.com/paulahagerman
Weldon Rigby CRS, ABR Founding Member KW Luxury Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (713) 621-2555 www.weldonrigby.com
Joanne Naponic Broker/Owner Naponic Properties (713) 515-3805 JoanneNaponicProperties.com
Sharon Harris Realtor Keller Williams (832) 527-5240 sahhomes@gmail.com
Kasteena Parikh BROKER, CLHMS, LUXE Keller Williams Metropolitan (713) 581-0677 www.Kasteena.com
17910 Country Hills | Tomball
List Price $896,500 | MLS #15451121
Refined country living in The Town With a Heart. Custom built home on 7.43 acre lot in coveted Holly Creek Estates. Home has great floorplan. First floor huge master suite. Second floor 4 BRs, gameroom, extra room. Heated indoor lap pool. Barn with six stalls and plumbed workshop. Exemplary schools.
David M. Young | John Daugherty REALTORS | 713-320-6453
8 | Intown | May + June 2019
9358 Shady Lane Circle Circle | Shady Lane Estates List Price $839,000 | MLS# 10255936
This elegant home is meticulously maintained with hardwood floors, island kitchen. Large master bedroom downstairs with a huge closet. Family dinners with generous formal dining room. Large gameroom perfect for a home theatre. When submitting offer please include: 1) pre-approved letter or proof of funds 2) signed Seller's Disclosure 3) IABS & Signed Broker Notice to Buyer/Tenant.
Joanne Naponic | Naponic Properties | 713-515-3805
www.greaterhoustonluxury.com
Barbara Kobza Realtor, CLHMS, Million Dollar Guild Keller Williams Premier Realty (832) 215-7533 barbarakobza.com
Genevieve Rowland REALTOR, MCNE, CLHMS Multimillion Dollar Producer, ILHM Keller Williams Memorial 281-904-7014 www.rowland-properties.com
Beverly Smith CLHMS, Lake Conroe Specialist Coldwell Banker United, Realtors (713) 569-2113 www.lakeconroebeverlysmith.com
Barbara Alcamo Broker Associate RE/MAX Vintage 713.825.1732 www.BarbaraAlcamo.com
153 Promenade Street | Bentwater List Price $1,950,000 | MLS# 33868770
Fabulous Home in The Estates of Bentwater with 186 feet of water frontage & 196 feet on the signature hole of the highly acclaimed Weiskopf course. Fantastic Lake views from every room. Remodeled in 2017. All new Wolf appliances, Austin stone accents on the 2 fireplaces, and new wood tile floors. Two master bedrooms with golf course green and lake views. Large pool, new dock, lifts, and remote control boat cover.
Beverly Smith | Coldwell Banker | 713-569-2113
Wendy Cline Broker/Associate Wendy Cline Properties Group Keller Williams Memorial (281) 858-3451 www.WendyClineProperties.com
Carrie Ousley CIC, CISR Luxury Home Insurance (281) 224-0762 www.carrieousley.com
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May + June 2019 | Intown | 7 9
Arts + Events
EXPERIENCE THE
Bayou City Art Festival Downtown The Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA) has announced Bayou City Art Festival Downtown 2019, with featured artist Clifton Henri, an award-winning photographer and visual artist from Chicago. Henri, along with 300 artists from around the country, representing 19 different disciplines, will showcase their art at Bayou City Art Festival Downtown. The festival benefits Houston nonprofits, and will be held on Sat and Sun, October 12-13, 2019, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
DOWNTOWN
OCTOBER 12-13, 2019 DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL HOURS 10AM - 6PM
OCTOBER 12-13, 2019 PRODUCED BY ART COLONY ASSOCIATION INC. BENEFITING HOUSTON NON-PROFITS
10AM - 6PM
MUSEUMS Asia Society Texas Center
Thru Oct 20 SCRAPING THE SKY:
PHOTOGRAPHS BY VICKY ROY Thru Jan 20 TSURUYA KOKEI: MODERN KABUKI PRINTS REVISED & REVISITED
Museum Of Fine Arts Houston
Thru Dec 29 ARTS OF ISLAMIC
LANDS: SELECTIONS FROM THE AL-SABAH COLLECTION, KUWAIT
Jan 12
A VERY PRIVATE COLLECTION Oct 20 thru BERTHE MORISOT: Jan 12 IMPRESSIONIST ORIGINAL Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Thru Oct 14 STEVEN EVANS: IF I
CAN’T DANCE, IT’S NOT MY REVOLUTION!
Thru Dec 1
NARI WARD: WE THE PEOPLE
Holocaust Museum Houston
Thru Sept 15 OPERATION FINALE:
THE CAPTURE & TRIAL OF ADOLF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM EICHMANN THE MUSEUM’S Thru Oct 6 POINTS OF VIEW COLLECTION 50 Thru Sept 1 MENIL COLLECTION YEARS APOLLO RONI HORN: WHEN I Thru Sept 8 BETWEEN PLAY AND BREATHE, I DRAW, GRIEF: SELECTIONS PART II FROM THE LATINO CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN COLLECTION FOCUS: Thru Sept 15 WILLIAM FORSYTHE: MINEKO GRIMMER CHOREOGRAPHIC Thru Oct 13 COLLECTION CLOSE OBJECTS UP: THE GRAPHIC Thru Sept 15 A HISTORY OF WORK OF PHOTOGRAPHY: DOROTHEA TANNING SELECTIONS FROM Sept 13 thru MAPA WIYA (YOUR THE MUSEUM’S Feb 2 MAP’S NOT NEEDED): COLLECTION AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ART Thru Sept 22 RAGNAR KJARTANSSON: FROM THE THE VISITORS FOUNDATION OPALE Thru Sept 22 ICONS OF SYLE: A CENTURY OF Oct 4 thru JEAN-JACQUES LEQUEU: VISIONARY ARCHITECT, FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY Jan 5 DRAWINGS FROM THE Oct 20 thru MONET TO PICASSO:
Thru Sept 2 SHOOTING THE MOON:
“The High Road” by Clifton Henri
19 DISCIPLINES OF ART • 300 ARTISTS MUSIC • FOOD TRUCKS CHILDREN’S CREATIVE ZONE
TICKETS: $12 Online $15 Cash • $16 Credit at Gate PRODUCED BY ART COLONY ASSOCIATION, INC. BENEFITING HOUSTON NON-PROFITS
#HouArtFest • #BayouCityArtFest
www.bayoucityartfestival.com
10 - October 2018 | Intown | September 10 | HEIGHTS| September + October 2019
Artupdate houston published every two weeks by houstonintown. Go to website and sign up for newsletter to receive free update.
BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE
Houston Museum Of Natural Science
Heights Epicurean Farmers Market
1245 Heights Blvd
Every First Saturday of
PERMANENT EXHIBITS the Month ALFRED C. GLASSELL, JR. HALL CULLEN HALL OF GEMS AND MINERALS Urban Harvest Farmers Market EARTH FORUM FARISH HALL OF TEXAS WILDLIFE 2752 Buffalo Speedway FRENSLEY/GRAHAM HALL OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE Saturdays 8am - noon HALL OF ANCIENT EGYPT City Hall HAMMAN HALL OF TEXAS COASTAL ECOLOGY HERZSTEIN FOUCAULT PENDULUM Wednesdays JOHN MCGOVERN HALL OF THE AMERICAS 11am - 1:30pm LESTER & SUE SMITH GEM VAULT First Saturday Arts MORIAN HALL OF PALEONTOLOGY Market STARKE HALL OF MALACOLOGY WIESS ENERGY HALL 530 W. 19th St WELCH HALL OF CHEMISTRY SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS THE ENSEMBLE THEATER “MOON” BY LUKE JERRAM Sept thru SCHOOL GIRLS: OR, THE DEATH BY NATURAL CAUSES AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY INFOCUS: A MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE Oct 13 THEATRE UNDER THE STARS WILD BEES ART OF THE GUNSMITH: FROM COLUMBUS TO Sept 10-22 A CHORUS LINE NAPOLEON Oct 8-20 SPRING AWAKENING BIOPHILIA: A DIALOGUE OF NATURE, ART AND SCIENCE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 54 LIFE IN STONE Houston Astros - Minute Maid Park TOURMALINE TREASURES
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SPORTS
THEATER A.D. PLAYERS
Sept 13 thru Oct 12 THE HIDING PLACE ALLEY THEATRE
Sept 13 thru Oct 13 THE WINTER’S TALE Oct 4 thru Nov 3 VIETGONE
BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA Hobby Center
Oct 22 thru Oct 27 CATS
October 22 through 27 STAGES REPERTORY THEATER
Thru Sept 8 THE DOYLE AND DEBBIE SHOW Thru Oct 13 SISTER’S BACK TO SCHOOL
CATECHISM: THE HOLY GHOST AND OTHER TERRIFYING TALES
September 5- 8 SEATTLE 9-12 OAKLAND 17, 18 TEXAS
Houston Dynamo BBVA Compass Stadium
September 14 VANCOUVER 25 LAFC 29 REAL SALT LAKE
Houston Texans - Reliant Stadium
September JACKSONVILLE 15 29 CAROLINA October 6 ATLANTA
OAKLAND
3rd Annual Artist Empowerment Brunch Sunday, October 13th at The Chrysalis, 1218 Heights Blvd. Chairperson Carla Schraub with Allegiance Title will raise awareness and money for the costs of the Escapist art gallery and studios, entrepreneurial education, an artist retreat and a year’s worth of individualized coaching by Escapism Founder John Ross Palmer. The Escapist Mentorship Program is provided entirely for free to its accepted artists. Call 713-861-6726 for tickets or more information.
You know what you want.
We know Houston. Buying Selling
Leasing
Relocation
Property Management Escapists Lindsay Burck, Matthew Conway, MoNique LeRoux and Cynthia Miller are graduating from the yearlong mentorship program and will be selling their works.
713.932.1032 BernsteinRealty.com September + October 2019 |HEIGHTS |11
41st Houston Italian Festival The Italian Cultural & Community Center (ICCC) will host the 41st Houston Italian Festival from Thursday, October 10 to Sunday, October 13, 2019 on the grounds of the University of St. Thomas. Festa Italiana is an annual festival founded with the mission of celebrating Italian culture and heritage in the city of Houston. Recognized as a significant cultural event in the city, Festa Italiana has numerous activities to offer its guests. The theme for the 2019 Houston Italian Festival is “Experience Italy in the heart of Houston.” The festival welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life to gather for a weekend connected by a love for Italian culture, traditions, food and maybe a few glasses of wine.
Intown’s Classical Music Critic, the Hon. Philip Berquist Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia for Texas
Shines a Light on this Season’s Incredible Lineup “What our wonderful professional December 1, 2019 - conducted by Orozarts community has in store for us. The co-Estrada. following are just a few of the events that All performances at Jones Hall; I will be attending.” 713.224.7575; houstonsymphony.org Houston Symphony Orchestra
My personal symphonic needs will be quite satisfied by attending the following: • The Complete “Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky - September 19. 20, 21, 2019, conducted by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. • “An All-Strauss Thanksgiving” evening featuring four tone poems of Richard Strauss “Death and Transfiguration,” “Four Last Songs” with soprano Miah Persson, “Don Juan,” and “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks” - November 29, 30, and
Houston Grand Opera
Four classics are on my list: • “Rigoletto” - by Verdi - the classic opera of love, curses, revenge and murder - October 18 through November 1, 2019. • “Aida” - by Verdi - perhaps the epitome of grand opera, always done on a huge scale - January 31 through February 16, 2020 • “Salome” by Richard Strauss - opera in one act, in which Strauss, based on the tragedy by Oscar Wilde, created a revolutionary score, one that still is hard on many ears over one hundred years later spoiler - it does not end well for John the Baptist! - April 17 through May 1, 2020 All performances at the Wortham; 713.227.6737; houstongrandopera.org Houston Ballet
Besides the annual “The Nutcracker” during the holidays, these productions, in my opinion, beg not to be missed: • “The Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky. - February 27 through March 8, 2020. • “Romeo and Juliet” by Prokofiev. I would go this blindfolded just to hear the incredible score! - June 4 through June 14, 2020. Performances at the Wortham; 713.227.2787; houstonballet.org Society for the Performing Arts - “SPA”
Always reliable for a rounded cultural season, these are my picks: • “Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra” - seems I will have to attend just to find out who Mildred is / was! - September 20, 2019 - Jones Hall. • “Jay Leno” - Dec. 6, Jones Hall. Various venues; 713.227.4772; spahouston.org 12 | HEIGHTS | September + October
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11406 Chartreuse Court/Royal Oaks CC $1,495,000 MLS# 55197677
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720 E 27th St/Sunset Heights $580,000 MLS# 63044595
1917 Rosewood St/Museum District $548,900 MLS# 28998343
806 A Woodcrest Dr/Lowell Heights $375,000 MLS# 63044595
Proven Performance – Year After Year
Over 16 years experience working with buyers and sellers of residential real estate in the Greater Houston Area.
David Michael Young
713-320-6453 davidmy@johndaugherty.com www.youngrealtyhouston.com July + August 2019
| HEIGHTS |13
Romance in The Heights With Author Susannah Nix By Marene Gustin
P
enny froze at the sight of him. Six gorgeous feet of tanned skin and muscles topped by thick golden hair and a face so beautifully symmetrical it stopped you right in your tracks. Perfectly proportioned nose. Strong chin. Granite jaw. And then there was the matter of his eyes, which were a gold-tinged brown so striking it felt like they were looking straight into your soul. — Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix
14 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
It’s a romance novel. But not just any romance novel. Advanced Physical Chemistry is the winner of the Romance Writers of America 2019 RITA Awards, which recognize excellence in published romance fiction. It won for Contemporary Romance: MidLength. But that’s not all. The book, and the three others in the Chemistry series Susannah Nix has written, are breaking boundaries in the romance book business for two reasons. One, her heroines are not damsels in distress needing rescuing by hunky men, they are all smart, nerdy women involved in STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And the second reason Nix’s works are breaking new ground, is because they are self-published. “I go through a lot of revisions, then she (her Los Angeles editor) makes two passes and copy editing,” says Nix. “It’s not the same as a traditional publisher who has the final calls. I make the final call.” Gone are the days when it was called “vanity publishing” and authors spent thousands having a printer set their works on paper. Now authors can use Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) for free and make their works available to a worldwide audience. “The romance novel landscape is changing with indie authors moving beyond the template storyline to appeal to different audiences with more diverse story elements,” says Rachel Quinlan, who works with Ama-
New Heights listing
2019 Cortlandt St. (MLS#: 48138527)
$679,000
zon’s public relations team. “KDP empowers authors like Nix to reach readers worldwide while retaining their copyright and making up to 70 percent royalty on their work.” Nix, whose bio says she lives in The Heights with her husband, two ornery cats and a flatulent pit bull, writes romantic comedies for smart women. A stay at home mom for 18 years, Nix has always dabbled at writing. She tried writing a screen play once that “no one was going to buy.” After her daughter left for college she wrote a book and then found KDP and published her first work in 2016. “I always read fantasy and science fiction,” Nix explains. “Then I found the romance genre. I like reading about relationships.” But there just weren’t any characters like her and her friends, so-called geeks, in the romance genre. “I do take bits and pieces from people I know,” Nix says, “but the characters are not particularly about a person I know, but I base it on their jobs. I take inspiration and if they say something funny I’ll totally write it down. So all my friends are like ,if they see me typing on my phone they better look out! They may end up in the book.” And she certainly didn’t expect to be a finalist, much less win, a RITA award this year. “I’m still in shock!” she says. “I didn’t think I needed to write a speech but thank God I did! The Romance Writers of America National conference was in New York \ and it was live streamed and all my friends were watching with over 1,000 people. It was terrifying when they called my name, I think I blacked out!” So far the Chemistry romcom series has been set it Los Angeles. “But my next book will be Texas based, set in a fictional Texas beach town,” Nix says. We can hardly wait to read it. All of Nix’s books can be found on Amazon.com
Travel down one of the most beautiful streets of Houston Heights to your new home at 2019 Cortlandt St. This home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It has a beautifully landscaped front and back yard. It sits on a large lot and features great entertaining space. Original hardwood floors, recessed lighting in living room, a remodeled Master bathroom with double vanity, Granite counter tops, shower and large walk-in closet with builtin drawers. There is an added bonus of a nook. Highly desirable neighborhood and centrally located. Steps away from Halbert Park, shopping, dining, walking trails and so much more!
KELLY GUREVICH Expertise in Home Buying, Leasing and Selling
For an appointment, call 832-640-3550 kelly@rossdunnrealty.com
W W W.ROS S DU NNR EA LT Y.CO M September + October 2019
| HEIGHTS |15
Mayoral Forum
Mayor Turner’s
S
First Four Years
ylvester Turner is near the end of his first four-year term as mayor and is up for re-election for what would be his second and final term as Houston’s mayor. Intown Magazine is taking a look at the major issues Mayor Turner has faced and how he has dealt with them. We also conducted exclusive interviews with four of the top challengers Mayor Turner faces at the polls on November 5, 2019. Flooding Two of the three 500-year floods to hit Houston came during Mayor Turner’s administration. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 devastated the city. Over 50 inches of rain impacted more than 200,000 homes. Sixty thousand people had to be rescued from floodwaters. Damages totaled nearly $16 billion. After sheltering 10,000 people at the George R. Brown Convention Center, removing 575,000 tons of debris and setting up 14 Neighborhood Restoration Centers to provide assistance to residents, Mayor Turner moved to prevention and flood mitigation to build Houston stronger, more resilient and more sustainable. Though controversial with some developers, the Mayor won City Council approval for new construction standards requiring elevation of homes in flood plains, along with revising city building codes. He re-named the city’s ReBuild Houston infrastructure program; it’s now Build Houston Forward with accelerated plans to repair and rehabilitate drainage and streets. He fought for state and federal government funding after Hurricane Harvey, which is finally coming in, convincing FEMA to accept the many thousands of volunteer hours from Houstonians as part of the local match for federal funds. Mayor Turner won federal grant money for major flood mitigation projects and FEMA approval for the Corps of Engineers to dredge the San Jacinto River. He borrowed $46 million from the Texas Water Development Board and gave it to Harris County for work on Project Brays, with the city to be paid back when the federal government pays the county its portion. He supported the county’s flood bond referendum. Jobs and the Economy The biggest financial crisis facing the Mayor on his first day in office was the un16 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
funded liability of the city’s employee pension systems. Mayor Turner, with the help of the Texas Legislature, cut the unfunded liability and the city has fully paid its pension obligation for two years in a row. Mayor Turner formed an alliance with Microsoft, who will work with young Houstonians on STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) and digital coursework, as well as assisting the city with smart solutions to problems. Mayor Turner supported Rice University’s purchase of the old Sears building to start The Ion with academic programs created by local colleges and universities. Mayor Turner has traveled to multiple countries to bring jobs and business back to Houston. He recently helped secure Houston as the location for the 2020 World Petroleum Congress, which will bring approximately 10,000 attendees from around the world. Public Safety Turner acknowledges that Houston needs more police officers. With 5,200 officers, Houston trails other major cities in officers per 100,000 residents. In 2016, Turner’s first year in office, crime was on the rise with 301 murders. The Mayor put an additional $1.5 million in the Houston Police Department due to the murder rate increase.
In 2018 murders were at 279 up from 269 in 2017, while overall crime reported decreased 4.39 percent; violent crime dropped 10.4 percent. Robberies, rapes and aggravated assaults declined. Mayor Turner hired Art Acevedo as his police chief, the first Latino to lead HPD. Acevedo brought the concept of “relational policing,” to HPD—an attitude that every time a police officer interacts with a member of the public, it is an opportunity to build a relationship of trust with the community. After the shootings in Santa Fe, he appointed the Mayor’s Anti-Gun Violence Commission. The Commission made a number of recommendations and suggestions for changes in state law were sent to the Texas Legislature and the Mayor had his government relations team working to pass them. Mayor Turner made the fight against human trafficking a high priority. His Anti-Human Trafficking Strategic Plan focuses on the victims of trafficking and how to help them, as well as on law enforcement. City employees received special training to help them recognize human trafficking and assist victims. The Mayor’s Special Advisor on Human Trafficking, Minal Patel Davis, won the prestigious Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons, the highest U.S. award for this issue.
M ay o r a l F o r u m
DWIGHT A. BOYKINS
A
native Houstonian and lifelong resident of District D, Dwight attended and graduated from Houston Independent School District public schools including, Turner Elementary, Whidby Elementary, Cullen Jr. High, and Stephen F. Austin High School. He then went on to earn his BBA in Marketing from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University. Dwight was elected to city council in 2013 representing District D that includes the medical center and Museum District. Boykins has a background as a governmental affairs consultant and public advocate. He has also served in various positions through the City of Houston. In 2008, Dwight was appointed by former Houston Mayor Bill White to serve on the Hurricane Ike Relief Fund Board, overseeing the distribution of over $16 million in funding to the city’s most devastated areas. Dwight has also served on the Oversight Committee of ReBuild Houston – a citywide initiative aimed at renewing the city’s flooding and street infrastructure. Dwight and Genora, his wife of over 30 years, reside in the heart of District D. They thoroughly enjoy serving their community by working with organizations such as SHAPE Community Center, the NAACP, and several other non-profits.
What character traits and experience do you possess that you feel will make you an effective mayor? Commitment, Courage and Compassionate are my guiding characteristics. Commitment, I have been faithfully committed to my wife of 30 years holding true to my vow. I believe we need to keep the promises we make. Courage, it is not often you see a sitting Council Member with time left on the clock to run against an incumbent Mayor. I hold myself to the same standard I hold our city employees, if they stand on the line so will I. Compassion, it is my belief that we all have made mistakes, but it is by grace that we have come this far. I believe in order for our city to be inclusive of all its citizens we need to find constructive ways to engage everyone in the workforce. What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today? For years now, the city has faced a looming budget crisis and a solution often discussed but yet to be implement-
ed is Zero- based Budgeting. I believe in running the city like we operate our home, we go through all our bills together finding where we are spending our money. Implementing Zero-Based budgeting will help us face our second issue that of Improving and Enhancing the City’s aging infrastructure. Specifically, we need to respond immediately to Flood Control concerns in areas like mine in Sagemont. Additionally, Harvey Recovery is not moving fast enough, in the Boykins Administration we will work with our community and business partners to expedite real recovery. While every concern is valid Public Safety & Crime Reduction must stay as our primary issue. I will increase the number of Public Safety Officers and build stronger relationships in the community with them. What changes if any do you recommend for the city’s budget? I strongly recommend and would immediately implement zero-based budgeting. The zero-based budgeting process aligns the City’s needs with the funding resources available by requiring
expenditures to be justified. Additionally, it supports identifying past unnecessary and overspending problems. Zero-based budgeting is the right budget process to maximize providing resources to Houstonians. We all deserve our tax dollars to be utilized appropriately and responsibly. How do you propose to make our city safer? Crime Reduction, I will actively support raising the revenue cap to increase the number of officers on our streets. While continuously striving to increase the goal of community policing that builds relationships and understanding. Employment Opportunities, for five years now I have hosted my annual Second Chance Jobs Fair with the goal to help those who need help getting reintroduced into the workforce a chance. I will not only continue this tradition but also expand it, by giving a second chance to someone who may have made a mistake in their past encourages them not to make a third mistake reducing recidivism.
September + October 2019
| HEIGHTS | 17
M ay o r a l F o r u m
T
TONY BUZBEE
ony was born and raised in Atlanta, a small town with a population of 2,000 in East Texas. His mother was a bus driver and worked in the school cafeteria; his father was a union meat-cutter. He came from very humble beginnings. His parents did not have a lot of money, but they were rich in the things that matter. Tony has 3 siblings: Laura, Tim, and Jennifer. His older sister, Laura, still lives in Atlanta, along with his parents, where she owns a children’s boutique. His younger brother, Tim, lives in Australia where he is a professional musician with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. His younger sister, Jennifer, lives in Houston and runs Tony’s life - literally. Growing up, Tony worked multiple jobs in order to help out at home. He will never forget overhearing his parents’ quiet discussions at night over which bills they could afford to pay that month. It made him more determined to succeed.
What character traits and experience do you possess that you feel will make you an effective mayor? I have been a leader for over 20 years, starting in the Marines and then opening my own law practice. I have also opened and run restaurants, purchased, renovated and managed hotels, and owned and managed apartment buildings. My law firm is one of the most successful in Texas and I have tried cases before juries all over the United States. I have fought in court for working people for more than 20 years, attempting to restore families that were injured on the job. I served as the Galveston Party Democratic Party Chair and spent six years on the Board of Regents, Texas A&M University System managing 11 universities and 7 state agencies, with a budget of $4 billion. I am an independent thinker and a strong leader who will not be beholden to anyone other than the residents of Houston. What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today? 1. Public Safety: We need to change the way we police to a proactive method as opposed to reactionary. In addition, we need to put 2,000 more police on the streets over the next 8 years. 2. Government Spending: We need a full, independent, third party audit of monies. Not just the general fund, but all monies including the enterprise funds. 3. Corruption: Our city is broken. We have to stop the money that is corrupting our government and end the pay-to-play system that is rampant at City Hall.
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What changes if any do you recommend for the city’s budget? Please refer to #2 above. We also need to focus on zero based budgeting, which ties into why I believe a third-party audit is necessary. We need to analyze every department for its needs and costs and cut out all the excess. We shouldn’t be spending money we don’t have. How do you propose to make our city safer? One of the problems is we have too many officers on desk duty and not enough out on our streets. Houston has almost 5,200 police officers; only 2,300 patrol the streets. At any one time, if we are fortunate, we will have approximately 500 officers on patrol. That is far too few to adequately patrol the city of Houston. Houston is a horizontal city, 664 square miles. In Houston, we have 2.2 police officers per 1,000 citizens. We need even more officers. We must grow the force, but in the right way–with patrol officers on the streets providing deterrence, building relationships, and learning the communities. We must switch from reactive policing to proactive policing. As mayor, I know that I cannot solve all our problems alone. I have sought out experts to assist me in solving our most critical problems. With regard to crime, I have already put together a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to dealing with crime issues. These individuals are not and will not be on the city payroll, and none will ever do business with the city. The most important change the Houston Police Department can make is to adopt the proactive Crime Control or Compstat
(Computer Statistics/Comparable Statistics) style of policing. Books have been written on this completely different way of policing because of the dramatic reduction in all types of crime experienced when the Compstat model is fully implemented. Compstat contains four principles: 1. Accurate and timely information, clearly communicated to all, with a breakdown of those barriers that make it difficult to share information within the department and with other law enforcement entities; 2. Rapid deployment of forces that are coordinated, controlled, and trained; 3. Tactics that are moral, legal, and firm, but effective; 4. Relentless assessment and follow up, holding all persons accountable. What does this mean with regard to “boots on the ground?” It means that we use real-time, accessible data to know where crimes are likely to occur, and we rapidly respond and predict, thus deterring crime before it ever occurs. And, we need to consider a zero-tolerance policy with regard to “small crimes,” because we know from studies that those who commit lesser offenses will likely commit ones that are more serious in the future. The Compstat approach is a paradigm shift. It will take active and aggressive leadership from a mayor and a police chief who understand the successes it has had in other cities. I believe it is an approach we have to implement if we are going to be serious about making ALL areas of this city safe again. We must do better. The most important role of government is to keep our citizens safe and the current mayor is failing. Houston’s safety will be my top priority.
M ay o r a l F o r u m
BILL KING
A
lifelong resident of the Houston area, Bill grew up the son of a union pipefitter and worked his way through the University of Houston. He earned both his bachelor’s and law degree at U of H – becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. King started in 1979 in the savings and loan industry – a venture that succumbed to the severe economic downtown of the late 1980s. Picking himself up, Bill joined Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson where he became managing partner. While there, he helped lead Houston’s efforts to convert foreclosed properties into affordable housing and he initiated the first procedures to prevent Harris County seniors who fall behind on their taxes from facing foreclosure. Mr. King also practiced law at Bracewell & Guiliani and he served as president of Southwest Airport Services, the fixedbase operator at Ellington Air Force Base. King served two terms as mayor of Kemah
What character traits and experience do you possess that you feel will make you an effective mayor? We need change at Houston City Hall and there is no other candidate in this race who is more prepared to get it done. I have spent more than 40 years working in business in both the private and public sectors. I have studied the issues and problems Houston faces for a decade. I have looked down in our storm sewers. I have visited with the homeless. I have read every city audit and budget for the last ten years or more. I know what needs to be done to get our finances back in shape so we can get back to the business of fixing streets, improving public safety and reducing flooding. I want to give back to the city that has been so good to me. I have no agenda other than leaving the city better than what we have now. I am not running for any other office when I am done and, financially, I don’t need anything from anybody. What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today?
and he subsequently helped re-draw hurricane and disaster response plans for the Gulf Coast. He was awarded the Outstanding Service Award from the National Hurricane Conference in 2007. Bill also wrote a public policy column for the Houston Chronicle from 2010 to 2014. Mr. King was one of three co-founders of the Houston Fire Fighters Foundation to supply needed equipment and support to Houston’s first responders. In 2012, Bill cochaired the HISD bond campaign to rebuild dilapidated high schools throughout the city. The measure won nearly 79 percent voter approval. He has served on the board of Interfaith Ministries, Memorial Hermann Foundation, and Texas Southern University of Board of Regents.
The city is at a critical point. The state of city finances and the lack of action on flooding are threatening Houston’s future. Despite having more revenue, the city ran the largest operating budget deficit in its history last year. The inability to balance the books impacts our ability to maintain adequate city services. We’ve seen the impact of a lack of management and planning in erratic garbage collection, deteriorating streets and a declining number of police officers. As for flooding, it is inexcusable that the current administration is conceding we are no better prepared for the next big storm than we were before Harvey two years ago. I have a seven-point plan to reduce future flooding and ensure we have plans in place for pre- and post-storm response and recovery. I am the only candidate to put forth comprehensive, workable solutions to this problem. We will begin by stopping the diversion of city drainage fees, something the current administration promised to do four years ago. As a result, half of the approximately $100 million of drainage fees the city collects every year are being used to pay for things other than drainage.
What changes if any do you recommend for the city’s budget? I will implement zero-based budgeting. We will start from zero and every function will be analyzed for need and cost. This is a business-type approach to managing your tax dollars and it represents a major change from current practice which is to simply apply a percentage increase to the budget every year. We don’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. How do you propose to make our city safer? HPD is currently understaffed. I would like to see staffing increased by 10-15%. However, merely throwing money at the problem will not solve our crime issues entirely. We need a police department focused on clearance rates for crimes and proactive policing. Neighborhoods should be patrolled by officers who are acquainted with the areas they patrol and fully understand the cultural sensitivities and unique character of each neighborhood. And, police need to be equally accountable for their conduct regardless of what neighborhood in which they are working. September + October 2019
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M ay o r a l F o r u m
S
SUE LOVELL
ue Lovell moved to Houston in 1970 from Fresno, California with three suitcases, thirty five dollars, and two good friends. She was 19 years old. In the 49 years since, Sue has raised a family, owned a small business, started and led nonprofit organizations, worked in the corporate world and been a leader in politics. Sue served as Houston’s City Council Member At-Large for three terms and unanimously elected Vice Mayor Pro Tem by her City Council colleagues. She was appointed by two different mayors to serve on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, an 18-county council of government, as well as the Transportation Policy Council. Sue was successful in bringing millions of dollars in federal funding to the city for infrastructure investment. She also served as the Chair of the City Council’s Transportation, Aviation and Infrastructure Committee and Quality of Life Committee. She successfully passed the city’s first historic preservation ordinance and was the leader in transforming the city’s graffiti problem into a thriving network of public murals. Since leaving council, Sue has stayed active in the community, serving as a commissioner on the Houston Archaeological Historic Commission and a board member of the Houston Public Library Foundation. Her most important role has been as a grandmother, which is the reason why she wants to continue making this city a place of opportunity and equality.
What character traits and experience do you possess that you feel will make you an effective mayor? Houston is a city where we face tough challenges and where dreams are possible. But the current mayor’s lack of leadership is holding our city back. I served on City Council with Mayor White and Mayor Parker - I know what good government looks like. The current mayor’s answer to a budget crisis was to lay off first responders. We are now experiencing a crime wave. Our garbage is not being picked up on time. Our streets are full of potholes and are in need of repair. The city government has gotten out of touch with the everyday issues that matter most to the people of Houston. We need an experienced, proven leader who people can trust to get things done - I am that leader. What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today?
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The top three issues Houstonians are concerned about this election season are infrastructure, crime, and transportation. The city is still recovering from Hurricane Harvey and anticipating future extreme weather events, but the current city government has fallen behind on updating our infrastructure. As mayor, I plan to update the technologies used to study flooding, work with local organizing groups to promote flood prevention techniques, and empower communities to respond to flooding by decentralizing emergency shelters. To start tackling our public safety problem, I plan to establish a domestic violence crisis intervention center. Our current transportation debates center around potholes and the planned I-45 expansion - I will fight to amend the expansion plan to keep our low-income communities from being displaced and prioritize fixing our city streets so we can keep our neighborhoods active and connected.
What changes if any do you recommend for the city’s budget? Mayor Turner has not balanced the budget to protect employee pensions our liability is growing by about $160 million a year according to the Houston Chronicle. We need a balanced budget so everyone can plan more securely for their future. How do you propose to make our city safer? One of the biggest threats to our city right now is the lack of funding for our firefighters - they are driving out-of-date trucks without air conditioning and don’t have sufficient ambulances to meet community needs. As mayor, I plan to update our fleet in accordance with the recent studies conducted by Rice University and provide our city with the infrastructure it needs to handle emergency situations.
M ay o r a l F o r u m
T
SYLVESTER TURNER
urner grew up in the Acres Homes community in northwest Houston where he was born and raised as one of nine children in a modest two-bedroom home. His mother worked as a maid in the old Rice Hotel in Houston and his father worked as a painter. He and his sons cut yards to make extra money. Sylvester lost his father to cancer when he was 13 years old. With the help of his family, pastors and teachers, Sylvester went on to attend the University of Houston and Harvard Law School before joining the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski. He later founded the Houston law firm of Barnes & Turner in 1983. In 1988, Sylvester was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. In 2015, Sylvester Turner was elected as the 62nd Mayor of Houston.
What character traits and experience do you possess that you feel will make you an effective mayor? I work hard to solve problems by bringing people together, not tearing them apart or tearing them down. I strive for quiet competence, because I care more about making a difference than making noise. As an African American man who grew up in Houston during Jim Crow, I work every day to lift every voice in Houston. As for my experience, there’s a lot of it and I am proud of it. Since taking office as mayor, I have eliminated multi-million dollar budget shortfalls; led the city’s remarkable rebound from Hurricane Harvey; championed historic pension reform; expanded municipal investments in renewable energy, led the winning bid to host the World Petroleum Congress in 2020 – and filled more than 273,000 potholes. What are the two or three most important issues facing the city today? Flooding and drainage Jobs and economic development Public safety Street conditions and traffic Public transportation Infrastructure, neighborhoods and equitable distribution of projects Diversity, economic inequality and making the city work for all Houstonians
What changes if any do you recommend for the city’s budget? We need to repeal the city’s voter-imposed revenue cap. It is hurting our city’s ability to grow and thrive. We also need to make progress eliminating the city’s structural budget deficit. It’s been tough after Hurricane Harvey, but we are making progress. In fiscal year 2021, we will transition to a zero-based budgeting system, in which every dollar must be justified rather than be carried over from existing budgets. How do you propose to make our city safer at schools, events and in general? Ensuring Houston is safe is the most important responsibility I have as mayor. I have included five police cadet classes with 75 cadets each in all four of my budgets. I hired a proven crime fighter—Police Chief Art Acevedo— and I have worked to give him the resources he needs. Perhaps the most important members of our community that benefit from strong law enforcement are our children. And one of the best ways to fight crime is to prevent it from ever happening. The youth programs offered by the Houston Police Department reach out to young Houstonians in a positive way and strengthen our community. Chief Acevedo is a believer in “relational policing.” He knows that every
time a police officer interacts with someone, he or she has the ability to establish a good relationship with that person. And when you establish that good relationship with a child, you can impact that child’s life forever. Last year, Chief Acevedo revived the Greater Houston Police Activities League. Its mission is to reduce juvenile crime and violence. The program connects police officers with young people 8 to 18 and mentors them through activities such as athletics, education, homework assistance, character-building lessons and more. The last two years, GHPAL has held “field days,” where kids can come out and play games and engage with police officers in a positive way, building trust. Local professional athletes spend time with the young people in GHPAL. Recently, Houston Rocket James Harden treated some to a shopping spree at Academy Sports and Outdoors. The Houston Police Department has a number of other programs for young people. These are just one part of our efforts to keep our city safe – but as far as our kids are concerned, they are a very important part indeed.
September + October 2019
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THE
GAME
Meet Dana Holgorsen
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It was a huge coup when the University of Houston lured their new head coach from West Virginia University, and he talks about his team and where his concerns are in some of the difficulties in the latest recruiting and transfer rules. John Granato: So this is a tough one because I don’t want you to compare it (to West Virginia), but what’s the talent level here at the University of Houston? What did you walk into here? Dana Holgorsen: It’s very similar to when I walked into West Virginia. Honestly, there’s not a whole lot of difference in that football and with the University of Houston, with Central Florida, with Memphis, with Cincinnati, and with South Florida football. I mean it’s, it’s good football, you know, so it’s just a very similar situation. I think Houston recruited pretty well coming off that, that Peach Bowl, you know, when coach Herman was here the first time. I’m looking at some seniors on our, on our roster, like D’Eriq King and, and Josh Jones and Patrick Carr, Keith Corbin, uh, Courtney Lark. We have seniors due to the success that Tom had when we first got here. I think we got some depth issues just like I had at West Virginia when I first got there. And I think that’s what our goal is, is to make sure that we do a great job with recruiting on not just filling roster spots, but by getting the best local talent, we can get, and I feel like we can recruit against anybody here. Lance Zierlein: So the big concern used to be with heavily recruiting JUCO guys, and you relied too heavily on JUCO you’re not building from within. Dana Holgorsen: I think everyone’s different and you have to figure out what your needs are. We got a corner in Damarion Williams that is going to be a starting corner for us. He’s got a redshirt year, but he’s going to start so we get two good years out of him. Kyle Porter’s a grad transfer, but we’re getting two years out of him so, you know, he’s a smart kid that picks up things very well. Gio Pancotti from Episcopal is a grad transfer that has two years. So I view those guys no differently as a safer JUCO guy. John Granato: We’ve talked about your recruiting class before and the fact you’re never ranked as a top recruiting school, but nobody ever takes into consideration all the transfers that you bring in.
Dana Holgorsen: Yeah. They don’t count that, which I don’t care. I mean, I’m not one that’s ever really worried about what the recruiting rankings are. There are specific places there that need to dominate recruiting rankings, and their jobs depend on it, and we’re not one of them. The bottom line is you get guys that want to be at your place, and you get guys that want to develop into contributors and doing whatever they can do to be able to help the teams win. I was always very frustrated on signing day. And I’ve always been at a place, whether it was Texas Tech, University of Houston, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, where we were going to lose guys on signing days to some of these, quote-unquote more high profile places. Raheel Ramzanali: Are there any recommendations you would make to the NCAA about fixing the transfer portal? (College football’s offseason is now dominated by transfers and the NCAA’s transfer portal. Starting Oct. 15, 2018 student-athletes were allowed to enter their names into a transfer portal, which will enable schools to initiate contact with them. While a player entering their name in the transfer portal does not mean a player intends to transfer, the portal’s presence has given athletes options they didn’t have before. Athletes can pursue and talk to other schools without restriction, all the while remaining enrolled at their present school.) Dana Holgorsen: There’s continuous talk about immediate eligibility, and I think if we get to the point where there’s immediate eligibility, we’re going to have some issues. What I’m concerned about is guys are going to enter that portal, and they’re not going to have anywhere to go. Lance Zierlein: You’re giving a generation of players a chance to say, I’m not going to fight through the adversity, or if things get a little tough I’m onto the next, right, I’m onto the next program if you make me upset. And that’s the way it’s going to be. Dana Holgorsen: Yeah, and some of that happens right now. We had one guy in the portal since I’ve been here, you
know, so, you know, I think Houston is a place that people are going to want to be at, and they’re going to want to stay. I’ve got a coaching staff that cares about the guys. You know, I don’t see a lot of that right here right now. Obviously, it’s happening across the country. I worry about our youth and the young kids in general and having a copout mentality of just leaving when things get tough. Things are tough in college football; it’s hard to be a student-athlete. There’s a
lot of time restraints that are involved with it and a lot of pressure and, um, you know it’s a hard gig. Heck, if it were easy, there’d be a whole lot of people out there doing it, you know? But if there’s immediate eligibility at stake, then I worry about guys just like fleeing real quick. And that’s going to ruin a lot of people’s careers because there’s going to be a lot of places that they think they can go to and then those spots are not going to become available.
September + October 2019
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Adolph “Bud” Herseth
Houston’s Best Brass Secret By The Hon. Philip Berquist
I
t was a fall night in Houston, early to mid 1980’s, and I had just attended a concert of the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall. I was at my favorite watering hole at that time, The Brewery Tap, and I noticed that the entire trumpet section of HSO walked in with their tailed tuxedos and ordered a round of beer. I went over and complemented them on the concert and, showing off, mentioned how much I enjoyed the always stunning playing of the principal trumpet player of the Chicago Symphony, Adolph “Bud” Herseth. I had heard Bud perform with the CSO numerous times in both Chicago and New York. He was the principal player of Chicago for over 50 years - simply amazing. Apparently Bud’s name was the password into the MLOTP - “Mysterious League of Trumpet Players.” Year after year of laughs and mutual enjoyment of music continue to this very day with these guys because of the legendary Herseth. One of the trumpet players that evening was Bob Walp, the “Assistant Principal” of the section. It turns out that Bob had studied with Bud Herseth in Chicago while getting his degree from Northwestern. While two others, John DeWitt and James Wilt, have retired, Bob Walp remains with the HSO. Bob has also taken up an additional gig that I feel needs mentioning. He is the Music Director of the Houston Brass Band. Let’s begin with the basic q and a. What is a brass band? First of all, ironically, there are no trumpets. The instrumentation includes cornets of various names that most of us have never heard of - a “repiano” cornet anyone? Also included is a flugelhorn, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones and bass horns both e-flat and b-flat, along with percussion. 24 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia for Texas In the late 19th and up to the mid-20th centuries, brass bands were numerous in Great Britain, often called “collierly” bands as they were often made up of coal mine workers. Competitions would be held among these colliery bands and concerts were well attended. As the coal industry passed, so did many of the bands. The story of these mine closures and the colliery bands is brilliantly told in the 1996 film, “Brassed Off” concerning the closure of the Grimethorpe mine and its brass band. The Houston Brass Band, which calls itself a “British Style Brass Band,” was actually organized by local brass musicians inspired by “Brassed Off” in 2000. In 2006 the HBB asked Bob Walp to coach the cornet section. Impressed by the depth of his musicianship and enthusiasm, Bob was soon asked to be the Music Director. Membership in HBB is strictly volunteer. This is a 501(c)(3) organization, and it not only performs for the public, but is very active in the education of young brass players in our area. For example, HBB recently held its Fifth Annual Young Brass Soloist competition. There are two categories, “Junior”, 7th and 8th grade, and “Senior”, 9th grade through 12th. The judges of these players is very impressive - the principal trumpet, horn, trombone and tuba players of the Houston Symphony - Mark Hughes, William VerMeulen, Allen Barnhill and David Kirk. The top three competitors of each group receive cash awards and the winner perform solos with the Houston Brass Band. Continuing with their help with the young brass players, HBB just completed its three day “BOB” - Brass Only Band camp, held each June for three days and concluding with a concert with HBB. I love what they say in the flier to get students to sign up -
“No more sitting around counting measures while the woodwinds play...” I reached out to two members of the Houston Brass Band to discuss their musicianship and involvement. Anne Wertz is a euphonium player and just recently joined Houston Brass Band. Anne is an elementary teacher teaching music, K-5. She grew up with two older sisters, both of whom were accomplished euphonium players. She had to prove herself to them and to the family and became the most accomplished of the brood. She has a masters degree in euphonium performance. Anne loves the fact that with the band she is able to play transcriptions of all sorts of music that are not originally written for euphonium. Ryan Rongone has been Principal Trombone for the Houston Brass Band for about three years. Originally from Pennsylvania, Ryan obtained a master’s degree in music from Rice University. His mentor and instructor at Rice was Allen Barnhill, Principal Trombone for the Houston Symphony. Now a free-lance trombonist, Ryan regularly fills in with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet and even the Houston Jazz Orchestra, a group that I wrote about recently for Intown Magazine. There are so many jokes about trombone players that I simply had to tell Ryan my favorite trombone story, about the man who left his trombone in the back seat of his convertible, top down, for a couple of hours in the downtown of a major city. When he came back to the car there were two trombones! He topped that with two true experiences of his own. Once his trombone was in the backseat of a friend’s car, lying on top of his friend’s trumpet. The car was broken into and only the trumpet was taken! Another time his apartment was burglarized. The criminals took his cigars, laptop and bicy-
MUSIC
cle but left two trombones in plain site, both worth thousands of dollars. Trombones just do not get respect! Ryan commented on the artistic growth of the Houston Brass Band and that it just gets better and better as it is attracting the highest level of professional and amateur musicians in the Houston area. Both Anne and Ryan agree that the mission of the band to get out into the community and teach and play with young musicians is a very exciting
and important responsibility of HBB. There is a full calendar annually for the Houston Brass Band. My personal favorite, see the opening paragraph, is held each fall at the courtyard of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Rice Village. Appropriately named “OctoberFest Konzert” the concert includes complementary imported beer and bratwursts. What a way to spend a Sunday afternoon. This year it will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 29.
On Saturday, November 16 the Houston Brass Band will perform at the Round Top Festival Institute in beautiful Round Top, Texas. A Christmas performance will be at the Lanier Middle School auditorium on Sunday, December 8. You can find the website of Houston Brass Band at www.houstonbrassband.org. I strongly encourage all readers to give them a try. I will see you for beers, brats and brass in September!
WORTHWHILE CONVERSATIONS WHAT ABOUT THOSE RETIREMENT “RULES OF THUMB”? How important is it to be debt-free when you retire? Being debt-free at retirement is popular advice today on radio talk shows and internet blogs. However, it is not a “onesize-fits-all” approach. Not all debt is created equal, so be careful about following these rules of thumb. ARE YOU SAYING THERE IS “GOOD” DEBT AND “BAD” DEBT? Yes, that is accurate. If you are making multiple minimum payments on credit card balances, you probably need a new plan. That is likely “bad” debt. Making early principal payments on a low-rate, fixed interest mortgage so it will be retired on your 65th birthday is not always the best choice. That mortgage might actually be “good” debt. How do you know the difference? Each situation is different. We recently met a couple who came in with a very strong motivation to pay off the remaining 6-figure balance on their mortgage, since the
husband just received an early retirement severance package. Our analysts modeled their individual numbers, considering their income tax position and other assets. Our advice was to leave the mortgage alone and continue to make the regular payments. Considering income tax effects and long-term portfolio effects, their long-run financial position was likely to be better keeping the mortgage. They never imagined that the projected long-run improvement in their outcome could be greater than the amount needed to pay off the mortgage today. So, the answer is to keep your mortgage and pay off everything else? No, that would be another rule of thumb. The real solution is to get individually tailored advice from a firm committed to the fiduciary standard, with no particular ax to grind. As Phillip Hamman, CFA, CFP®, Chairman of our Wealth Planning Committee, stated recently, “We have all the professionals needed to fully address these questions - CPAs, attorneys and
other credentialed professionals. We have that team and have been helping clients with questions like this for 48 years.” We are ready to talk and can meet you at our office in the Houston Galleria area. For more information, or a copy of our Form ADV, Part II, with all of our disclosures, call Grant Williams or J. Harold Williams at 713 840 1000, or visit www.linscomb-williams.com.
Linscomb & Williams is located at 1400 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1000 in Houston, TX For more information call 713 840 1000 or visit www.linscomb-williams.com. Linscomb & Williams is not an accounting firm.
September + October 2019
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Internet Defamation Guide By Attorney Paul Sternberg
Restaurant Serves Dog Food!!! - Actual posted review
N
o, not really, but an anonymous poster did place this comment on Yelp devastating the restaurant’s business. Or, how about the woman who had an affair with a married man and wound up with three pages of unimaginable comments about her and her business placed by his wife. What about bullying in school, not the old fashion kind but on the internet. All real cases. When you’re talking about scientific knowledge, pressing news or just plain gossip , the internet is a useful resource that can disseminate content to millions as quickly as people can click their mice. However, this same technology can be used to spread defamatory attacks in no time and make it extremely difficult to put a lid on the problem. Having worked on online defamation cases for years, I’ve learned that if there’s something my clients should understand off the bat, it’s that timing is everything. Responding to defamatory attacks quickly is a general rule of thumb, but online defamation is especially tricky because of the intrinsic nature of the internet. When people post online––whether through forum comments, social media posts, blogs, etc.––that content can be shared at a rapid speed with countless individuals through interconnected computer systems. This is what the internet was built to do: share information at lightning speed with people around the world. Some online databases even store full content from web pages to keep a snapshot of the internet in the past. This is another reason online defamation cases can be extremely problematic since information can be spread to many web pages and then stored in databases where they may exist indefinitely. Another reason timing in an online defamation case is so critical is due to a set of laws called the statute of limitations. Each state has their own set, and they ultimately determine the timeframe that victims of defamation attacks (among other legal issues) can legally address their case in court. No matter the details of your case, if you miss the deadline set down by your state then your opponent can request the court to dismiss any charges, which they’re likely to do. There are rare exceptions to these rules, but you should never rely on them. The surest way to avoid the hassle of hunting down numerous web pages and trying to wrangle down countless views, comments, and shares is to address the problem the instant you discover it. This may mean sending out cease and desist letters or contacting the attacker directly to request the page or comment be removed. Always, though, you should partner up and consult with a lawyer practiced in defamation law as soon as you can. 26 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
Paul M. Sternberg is in private practice at his own Houston, Texas law firm since 2001. He concentrates his practice in the areas of internet defamation law. Mr. Sternberg is a graduate a 1996 graduate from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas where he was on the Dean’s Honor Roll. Mr. Sternberg is the author of THE GUIDE TO INTERNET DEFAMATION AND WEBSITE REMOVAL.. He has 10 years of experience on representing clients who have been the victims of defamatory cyber-attacks. Mr. Sternberg has developed a reliable blueprint in securing positive solutions in most cases. He has shared his professional knowledge with FOX NEWS and many other media outlets to discuss internet defamation. He is a frequent speaker to attorneys and community groups. He may be reached at www.TheDefamationAttorney.com or his office at 713-789-8120.
I’ve put together a few comprehensive resources to help prepare people facing online defamation attacks, namely informative eBooks and presentations. In them, I help my clients understand the freedom of speech, how it can be violated, what constitutes as online defamation, the orderly process for addressing attacks, and more. Internet defamation is not like other forms of defamation; victims of an attack must act quickly to deter the situation from spreading beyond their reach and vastly increasing the work required to resolve issues. However, with a little prudence and understanding, people can take control of their defamation cases and prevent attacks in the future.
September + October 2019
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Financial
FOCUS
The Good & Bad News O N CO LLE GE FUNDING
A
uthor Jarod Kintz is reported to have remarked on the high cost of college: “I wouldn’t advise making a four-year commitment to eventually land an $8.00/ hour job. Skip college. Read Wikipedia for free instead.” Most of the clients we’ve worked with in our 48-years would disagree with his conclusion but probably understand his point. Most families eventually gain some personal experience with the price tag of higher education costs. If you are fortunate enough to be past this point, you may now be thinking about college funding for your grandchildren. The bad news? Quality college ed28 | HEIGHTS | September + October 2019
ucation is not getting cheaper. In fact, the cost of higher education is escalating ahead of inflation. The good news? Advance preparation for funding a child’s or grandchild’s education expenses can make a major difference. We have two basic tools in Texas that anticipate these financial goals. Most families really want to know, “What is right for our situation?” • 529 College Savings Plans (529 Plans) are much like a 401(k) plan without the upfront tax deferral. The money accumulates tax-deferred for future education costs. You contribute money in a lump-sum or periodically. It is invested in various investment vehicles like mutual
funds. Hopefully, it grows in value. When the student named as the beneficiary reaches college, money is withdrawn to pay for qualified education expenses (books, tuition, room & board, and fees). As long as funds are used for qualified expenses, no income tax is due on the gain in value. • Texas Tuition Promise Fund® (TTPF) is a prepaid tuition arrangement. You pay money to a fund managed by the State of Texas today and receive what amounts to a “coupon”. Later, that coupon can be “redeemed” at various state-supported universities to pay for tuition and required fees, but not text books or room & board. The advantage of purchasing the “coupon” today is to protect yourself or your
student from the rising cost of tuition and fees in future years. There are three variations of “coupons” that you can purchase – the least expensive providing guaranteed tuition and fees for two-year community colleges, and the most expensive designed to cover state universities which tend to cost the most. What is best for a family depends on their situation. 1. The 529 Plans are the more flexible of the two arrangements. They can cover the costs of virtually any institution of higher education – in Texas, out of state, public, or private. The TTPF, while offering an option for the cost of tuition and fees at non-Texas universities and private schools, is significantly more restricted. 2. The TTPF provides a guaranteed outcome for your money. If your child or grandchild attends a state university in Texas, you have an assured contribution
toward the cost of tuition and fees, regardless of their amount in the future. A 529 Plan may give you a better result from its investment returns, but that result is not guaranteed. 3. A 529 Plan, by itself, can form a single, total solution for future education costs. The TTPF, because it is limited to only tuition and fees, cannot truly be a total solution by itself. 4. Both arrangements benefit under the tax code in much the same way if the money is used as intended. In both cases, if the accumulated funds are not used as intended, there will be some income reported on your tax return and some penalty tax will apply. However, neither approach enjoys any particular tax advantage over the other, given the present rules. My colleague, Phillip Hamman, CFA, CFP® heads our Wealth Planning Committee which is a group of multi-disci-
plined professionals including lawyers and CPAs that strive to define our “best practice” disciplines for advice in this area. Phillip commented after our last review, “In practice, we find that most families favor the 529 College Savings Plans as a means of funding future educational expenses. Often, the flexibility with regard to where the money may be used and the fact that it can cover the full range of educational costs is the deciding factor. However, every situation is different and a good plan calls for thoughtful consideration to each family’s situation and needs. It’s highly personal and one size does not fit all.”
by Lauren Rich, CFP® Wealth Advisor, Linscomb & Williams
September + October 2019
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Linscomb & Williams is a Houstonbased wealth management firm established in 1971.
Casey Jo Robertson and Laura Czapski
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