Houston Chronicle
Boosters of Houston’s 70 red-light cameras are seeking to prevent a November vote on whether to ban the devices, alleging in a federal lawsuit that the initiative was placed on the ballot illegally and that it could violate the Voting Rights Act. The proposal, which City Council voted to put on the ballot last month, did not follow guidelines in the city charter that require those seeking repeal of a law through referendum to challenge it within 30 days of the law’s passage, the suit says. The ordinance authorizing the use of red light cameras passed in 2004.
An amendment to the state constitution that has cleared the Legislature would guarantee the public a right to state beach access. Current state law guarantees that right, but it is not in the state constitution. The amendment will be on this November’s ballot for voters to decide.