Today in Texas – April 4

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From the Annals of San Antonio –  In 1981 Henry Cisneros became the second Mexican-American mayor of a major U.S. city.  Cisneros was elected as an independent to be mayor of San Antonio with over 62% of the vote.  Only 33 at the time, Cisneros seemed to have a bright future and was overwhelmingly elected mayor for another two terms.  Throughout his mayorship, Cisneros lived in the small house that once belonged to his grandfather in the city’s west side. His administration spent more than $200 million to the city’s long neglected Hispanic west side for streets, gutters, libraries, and parks.  These improvements helped alleviate long standing flooding and drainage problems. Cisneros also worked to establish an education partnership that brought together the city, the local colleges and universities, local business, and various community organizations to provide financial aid for college to young people in the poorest school districts of San Antonio. 

Cisneros also served as Secretary of HUD in the Clinton Administration and as President of Univision.  He and his wife live in San Antonio and he continues to work on housing issues today.

Today in Texas History – April 1

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From the Annals of the Small Towns –   In 1881, the town of Buda was formally established. The name is believed to have originated from the Spanish word viuda, meaning “widow.”  Here’s what Buda has to say for itself today:

Just 20 minutes south of Austin, off the beaten path, lies Buda, Texas — a friendly city with small town charm and big plans for the future that are equal parts pragmatic and idyllic. Steeped in area history, Buda holds fast to the values and rich potential that made it a choice location for the first settlers of the 1880s. The same qualities that made the city attractive in the past hold true today.

Safe, affordable, wholesome Buda is a city centered on community, an oasis of country calm at the edge of civilization, unspoiled by the pace of Austin and San Antonio’s big city ways. Put your feet up, and breathe easy — Buda’s city fathers have seen to it that its historic flavor, laid-back lifestyle, and family values will be protected and preserved for the next generation.

Mary Lou Bruner Update – She’s Still Crazy

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Mary Lou Bruner the GOP candidate for the Texas State Board of Education has been outspoken in her criticism of President Obama.  All well and good, until it crosses the line to utter insanity.  Late last year, Bruner posted the claim on her Facebook page that Obama worked as a gay prostitute in his 20’s to earn cash for his drug habit.

After the ridicule and scorn heaped on her ignorant shoulders from the national press, you might think Bruner would back down or at least make some attempt to back up her claims with some of those things called “facts.”  She is supposedly interested in education after all.  But no.  In an interview with KERA in Denton, Bruner went all in.

“If he’s on drugs, then how did he pay for them?” she told KERA. “There’s two ways that people on welfare pay for drugs — they prostitute themselves or they steal.”

So our President was either a prostitute or a thief.  This is the kind of lunacy the Tea Party has wrought. And this is the person that will be sitting on the State Board of Education setting policies and approving textbooks to guide our young students.  It’s almost, but not quite, as frightening as growing prospect of a  Cruz presidency.

Tea Party Candidate Posed as “Gay Hitler”

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Kyle Biedermann, on the right, is running to unseat Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels, in Texas House District 73. Photo: Kyle Biedermann, Facebook

The San Antonio Express-News reports that GOP Texas House candidate Kyle Biederman attended a costume party dressed as “Gay Hitler” in 2008.  The costume was based on a Saturday Night Live character.

 A self-declared “conservative, Christian Republican,” Biedermann is running to unseat state Rep. Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels, in Texas House District 73, which covers Comal, Gillespie and Kendall counties just north of San Antonio. After winning about 36 percent of the vote in the March primary, Biedermann is facing Miller in a May 24 runoff.

 Biedermann dressed up like “gay Hitler,” he said, for a Saturday Night Live-themed costume party that benefited a Fredericksburg food pantry about eight years ago. “Gay Hitler” was a character portrayed on the television comedy show in 2001 by actor Chris Kattan.

“What would be offensive about that photograph?” Biedermann asked on Wednesday. “This whole thing is about political correctness. It’s not a problem for me whatsoever.”

Red is loath to criticize because he once dressed as “Yessir Paraquat” for a costume party.  But Biederman may have  just lost the “Hitler Lover” and Skinhead vote  – which probably will hurt him in a GOP runoff election.

Photo of “Gay Hitler” from Kyle Biederman/Facebook

Today in Texas History – March 31

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From the Annals of the Cowboys –  In 1883, a large group of Texas cowboys went on strike.  The cowboys were complaining about new working rules that were coming with the closing of the open range.  The large ranchers were imposing new conditions on their workers.  Cowboys would no longer be able to brand mavericks, keep small herds of their own, or receive part of their pay in calves.  Some ranches even forbade the cowboy from keeping his own horse which meant that if he quit he was afoot in the vast ranges of the Panhandle.  At its peak, the strikers numbered about 300 cowboys. The cowboys were unprepared for the big moneyed ranches response and plenty of men were seeking work.  It didn’t help that the big ranchers had paid off local judges and politicians.  The strike was broken within a couple of months.  The cowboys’ strike was the inspiration for Elmer Kelton’s novel The Day the Cowboys Quit.     Red recommends almost anything written by Kelton.

Was UH Chancellor Khator Turned Down by Indiana?

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Unconfirmed reports from inside University of Houston are that UH Chancellor Renu Khator was turned down last year by the University of Indiana.  Khator holds a Ph.D from Purdue University – so a desire to move back to Indiana seems plausible at least.  The apparent reason Khator was rejected is that UH’s student retention rate is too low.  The retention rate measures the percentage of students who enroll and stay in school.  Statistics for UH show fairly pathetic retention and graduation rates.  For the 2010 entering class (the last class for which 4 years of statistics have been published by UH) the average annual retention rate is 35.5% and the graduation rate within 4 years is 22.7%.  To be fair, most UH students are not graduating within 4 years.  However, looking at longer term graduation rates, shows that on average UH graduates about 50% of an entering class with 6 to 7 years.   So at least one-half of the students who enroll at UH fail to get a degree from that school.  You can see the full statistics here.

Retention rates are impacted by failure rates.  Students who fail classes are obviously more likely to be discouraged and drop out or move to another school.  So reports are that Khator has implemented a new policy.  No more than 35% of students in any particular class (e.g. Freshman English) can receive an F, D or drop the class.  This will probably help bump up retention rates as well as boost Khator’s chances of landing a top job at a more prestigious institution.  It’s all about the students after all.