May 14, 2009 Seattle, Washington Signs Their Tunnel Into Law

News from Seattle, Washington where legislators have signed into law the building of the tunnel. The quote below the photo is unique and had got to include who the "techy tunnel dudes" were. Also note the person signing the email was Bob Donegan.

Hi techy tunnel dudes!

I thought you might enjoy this description of yesterday’s signing ceremony, written by my hero Bob Donegan, leader of the SR99 coalition. Big thanks to you for signing tunnel expert letters as well as checks to the SR99 Coalition. This could not have happened without the benefit of your technical credibility and support!

Following are the techy tunnel dudes to who the email was sent to. Note the name of the companies:

Kern Jacobson (MacCap Advisors) Macquarie Group, Mit K. Jha David Evans and Associates, Vladimir Khazak HNTB, Richard Prust ARUP, Dr. Gerhard Sauer Dr. Sauer Group, Juergen Laubbichler Dr. Sauer Group, Nicholas Taylor ARUP, Page, Dick HNTB, Bob Donegan Ivar's Seafood

A pdf of what the SR 99 Coalition is after at pdf.

And and expert from the news release:

Speaking of work, the three stakeholder committees (north, south portals and central waterfront) have begun meeting, and we will continue to work to make sure:

Wildly expanded Transit is part of the solution
The seawall is replaced
The north portal works for S Lake Union, Queen Anne, Interbay, Magnolia, Ballard, and points NW
A terrific waterfront is developed, including easier access to and from Elliott and Western access
Costs stay within plan
South Portal works, esp for Stadiums and Pioneer Square and the Port
Work is done, when possible, off season to minimize disruption
The elected in the city, port, and county know of our concerns as they work to find funds to support their commitments
The project teams continue to keep all informed and listen to contrary viewpoints

As Always,
Mistakes herein are mine alone, but,
I remain,

Bob

May 1, 2009 Early Vote Email Part I

The following email was sent to area residents and civic minded individuals active in District H.

May 1, 2009

Dear Friend,

As you know I am a candidate for District H (see attached District H map). Since 2000 I live in the Woodland Heights in a house built in 1920 that is close to White Oak Bayou. I not only see my house appraisal value and tax increase every year but also the potential for flooding.

Our education system is terrible with over 50% failure rate and it needs fixing. Our failure in education fuels crime rates which in the past year have increase to levels I have never seen in the neighborhoods.

These and others are areas that are of concern and need fixing but the main reason why I am running for city council is because when proposing the tunneling of I45 (www.i45parkway.com which is similar to a project in Spain www.mc30.es) I learned that our hurricane preparedness plan is designed to fail. But it can be improved by:

1. Building the i45 tunnel, which will improve hurricane evacuation and provide emergency shelter (also fuel the local economy).
2. Build dual-purpose schools that are designed for education as well as for emergency shelter.
3. Rate homes and structures for hurricane categories so we don’t have to guess whether our homes will survive hurricane winds else can find shelter elsewhere.

Since 2004 many of you have seen me working as a volunteer advocating the construction of the i45 tunnel. TxDOT told us that TxDOT could build the i45 tunnel if city council supports it but so far city council has not. You have one last opportunity to make this project a reality, vote for me so I can continue pushing for this project. Please read my latest email to TxDOT and Harris County (attached).

I have been a volunteer with civic organizations in District H since 1995 so I know the District. Although we are having elections this May 9th that is for a six-month period of time since re-elections will be held again in November. If elected this May, the following items are the minimum tasks I plan to accomplish by November of 2009:

1. Establish super neighborhoods as the foundation to representing and governing District H.
2. Implement a referendum for November 09 elections calling to freeze property values for historically registered homes and structures.
3. Implement a park/green-area neighborhood program to mitigate flooding.
4. Implement crime prevention though environmental design, neighborhood surveillance using cameras, and get police to patrol neighborhoods vs. highways.
5. Use my civil engineering skills to address concerns regarding the CIP, lack of funding and establish priorities for infrastructure needs.

With your help these five items can be accomplished by November 2009 but first you have to help me get out the vote by contacting others and vote for CAMACHO for District H.

Only about 4000 people will vote so you can have a significant impact in this election.

Thank you for your support.

g. camacho
www.votecamachotunnel.com
www.votecamachotunnel.blogspot.com (new)
"For things to change we have to change, for things to get better we have to get better."

The i - 45 Expansion Camacho Tunnel Alternative

Joe Medina produced this video clip. I met Joe in the world of politics and so happens that we both are immigrants except he was born in Colombian while I was born in Bolivia. We also have different skills, he is a film producer and I am an engineering. Except for the man talking in the clip Joe did a superb job.

May 4, 2009 Houston District H Election - Early vote

City of Houston is divided in 9 districts. District H has about 90 thousand registered voters. If not possible to vote on election day people may request to mail in their vote. Then they have from April 27th to May 5th to early vote and last is May 9th, election day. With a little luck maybe mail in votes and early votes will reach a total of 2000 votes. The following photos are unrelated to voting, just some pictures taken during the week...

A gentleman walking in the afternoon. He used to drive a truck but had an event and cannot drive trucks any longer. He said he lost his legs.

A lovely kid back home from a long day at school or whatever else kids do during the day.

Prelude to the Bach Society choir at Christ the King Lutheran Church in midtown.

Hugo Mojica one of the candidates for District H.

Working at the polls handing out fliers to voters

The Mojica family working the polls.

Wars of the signs.

For those of you who know this building.

Robert volunteering to work at Moody Park. He wants to be a photographer.

Oops, I did take your picture.

More candidate supporters working early voters.

And how did Lupe get in the mix? Looking forwards to Tuesday morning coffee & visit. Do you think Mojica will be up early enough to join us? :)

Mrs. Dorsey and her mother. So great to get to know Mrs. Dorsey and receive her guidance.

Over achiever. Would be superb if us adults would take on the world as this 2 year old takes on the basket.

Parents at Travis Elementary waiting for the parade to arrive.

Drumming of the colors.

Ladies hanging in the back of a 1950's car (my guess on the decade).

I hear Houston Fire Department is under funded. I wonder if they leased their truck for the parade.

Great. Put the children to walk while the adults ride the limo.

At the tail end of the parade.

A trio of friends at Travis Elementary after the parade.

Any child could be very happy with some ice cream. That is to show no need to have ice cream to be happy, see the one behind :)

Father and daughter at Travis.

Great kids.

Barbara Bush was the invited speaker to the 100 year celebration of Travis Elementary.

Fred and his daughter.