Category Archives: Local Governmental Entities
Shabby Chic Yard or Public Nuisance? How Texas Cities Can Cover Costs of Weed Abatement
Most Texans take pride in keeping their home looking good, maintaining a well-kept lawn, and preventing junk from piling up in their yard. Of course, there are always those who don’t seem to mind having waist-high weeds or an old junked vehicle sitting on their front lawn. For the neighborhood and the community as… Read More »
Texas Ethics Commission Regulates State Campaign Finance Rules, for Now
Lately, we have been hearing a lot about campaign finance. Any individual that chooses to run for an elected public office in Texas has election and finance laws to follow. We are about 10 weeks away from election day on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, and we know who our Texan candidates are. Texans will… Read More »
Trademarking a City Slogan to Enhance Economic Development
What’s in a name? Or, in a city slogan, for that matter? A city may adopt a slogan to boost civic morale, encourage economic development and increase tourism dollars. Further, a city may opt to trademark a slogan to protect its brand from dilution or imitation. Some slogans are unofficial, such as “the city… Read More »
Bulletproof Backpacks Are Now a School Supply Item, But Are Schools Safer?
It’s August and for millions of young Americans, the first day of the new school year is just around the corner. Time for parents to stock up on all those school supplies. Time for new clothes, pens, pencils, notebooks, highlighters, and bulletproof backpacks. Wait, what? Yes, bulletproof backpacks have become a very real thing…. Read More »
Poison: Conflicts of Interest for Texas Local Public Officials
There’s a saying in toxicology: “the dose makes the poison.” This saying is derived from the concept that any substance, including water and oxygen, can become toxic at high enough concentrations. Well, a similar concept can be applied to conflicts of interest. Virtually any action taken by a public official can have some positive… Read More »
Texas Law Supports Women’s Right to Breastfeed in Public
Recently, the United States surprised many by opposing a World Health Assembly resolution to promote breastfeeding as preferable to baby formula substitutes. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman told the New York Times earlier this month that the position was taken to be considerate of women who are unable to breastfeed…. Read More »
Blueprint for Good Governance: Review Your City Charter
A City Charter establishes a town and sets up the municipality’s form of government. In a sense, a City Charter can be thought of as a town’s constitution. So what happens when the city charter is unclear, or even worse, the Mayor or Council fail to uphold the rules of the Charter? The City… Read More »
Top 14 Ways to Drive Your City Attorney Crazy (or Make Him Take a Vacation)
A wise mayor once told me that you train people how to treat you. He also told me that an accountant’s job is to reduce cost, a lawyer’s job is to reduce risk, but an owner’s (manager’s) job is to grow the business by taking risk and wisely spending money. I thought about those… Read More »
Dark Sky Ordinances Keeping the Stars Bright in Texas
The classic musical tribute to the Lone Star state, “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” boasts of how “the stars at night are big and bright,” an attribute many municipalities would like to maintain in the sky above. In an era of state preemption of city laws in Texas, my recent blog concerning city… Read More »
Free Speech, Public Forums and Government Social Media Accounts
The internet has made communication much easier and infinitely further reaching. With a few strokes of the keyboard, anyone with internet access can express their thoughts or opinions to thousands or even millions of individuals. Many government officials have opted to use popular social media platforms for this very purpose. Probably the most well-known… Read More »