Houston sees another bloody weekend : Lone Star Times

Houston sees another bloody weekend

by Matt Bramanti · 05/14/2007 1:29 pm

Our absentee police chief might not have noticed it from his perch in sunny Phoenix, but people were getting murdered left and right this weekend:

Oh, and Mecom Fountain is dark, because someone managed to steal the bronze canisters holding all 264 light bulbs. The city parks department thinks the crime might have happened in broad daylight.

Keep in mind that Houston’s murder rate is the highest in a decade, while crime is falling statewide. Maybe if the chief of the Houston Police Department actually lived in Houston, he would appreciate the problem.

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Comments

15 Responses to “Houston sees another bloody weekend”

T-Hawkk on May 14th, 2007 at 1:41 pm

Thanks a lot New Orleans. It’s really great having all your trash here in my city.
Big45Iron on May 14th, 2007 at 2:26 pm

Other news:

Pen pal stabs pal with pen.

Good Humor man slays 10.

Jacques Cousteau drowns wife in bathtub.
trl3 on May 14th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

You must be mistaken. The Mayor of Houston told us last week that crime is down and Houston is a much safer place than in th epast.
gregg on May 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm

Call it “thinning the herd”.
Maltboy! on May 14th, 2007 at 2:44 pm

…the Parks Department estimates that it will cost $100,000 to replace the stolen lights and fixtures. That sum, which is steep by city standards, does not include labor and the cost of draining and filling the fountain.

That comes to over $380 per fixture! Is it any wonder why our property taxes are so high? First it’s $200 hammers for NASA, and now $380 light bulbs for the City of Houston. Is there any accountability or fiscal responsibility anywhere in our government?
gregg on May 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm

Rather than replace the lights, why not have a new lighting system put in that is not stealable and gives better light? I bet it could be done for less than $10,000.
Big45Iron on May 14th, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Shouldn’t they be using solar lighting?
Big45Iron on May 14th, 2007 at 2:59 pm

Mecom Fountain’s beauty was greatly diminished when they destroyed the beauty of the old Warwick Hotel.
T-Hawkk on May 14th, 2007 at 3:23 pm

Yeah, but I’m glad they at least didn’t tear the entire building down. I haven’t been inside since it became zaza or something like that. What’s it like in there?
american woman on May 14th, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Who hires a police chief who refuses to live in the city that pays him, in his free time? This is ridiculous. Maybe no one want’s to apply for this job! Mayor White, do something!.
chickenmom on May 14th, 2007 at 7:20 pm

Houston used to have “Get out of town Brown.” Now they have “Never Alert Hurtt.”
Neocon on May 14th, 2007 at 7:28 pm

Mayor White is doing something! He is keeping this “police chief” in office! Mayor White has no accountability. He appoints the chief of police as well as the chairman of Metro (and we all know how that is going). The Metro chief has more authority than any elected official. As long as the Chief of Police is doing nothing, the better White thinks of him. No conflict, no worries. Talk about hiding your head in the sand!
Neocon on May 14th, 2007 at 7:29 pm

chickenmom
#11

Ooooohhh! I like that! “Never Alert Hurtt!”
left-2-right on May 15th, 2007 at 5:09 am

ok arm chair QB’s…what would YOU do to lower crime in Houston? Let the games begin…literally.
StacyE on May 15th, 2007 at 12:42 pm

Why does Hurtt live in Arizona? I’ve been looking for a reason. Is it family? Timing? Is there a time limit on this?

It honestly makes no sense and is a PR nightmare, especially during the times he’s not in the city.

I really just don’t get it.