Dash fall to Chicago Red Stars in Challenge Cup Opener

The Houston Dash faced the Chicago Red Stars in the first game of the 2022 Challenge Cup for both teams.

Katie Naughton and the Dash would strike first in the 19th minute off a free kick after Chicago’s Bianca St. Georges was issued a yellow card in the 18th minute.

The Red Stars would tie the match in the 27th minute with a goal by Mal Pugh.

That would be the halftime score.

The second half turned out to work in Chicago’s favor when Arin Wright converted a controversial penalty kick in the 57th minute. Two minutes later, Mal Pugh would put another one in to make it 3-1 Chicago.

That would be the final score.

The Dash take on the Kansas City Current on March 30 at 7:30 pm. That match will be at PNC Stadium. Tickets are available through the SeatGeek app.

METRORapid Inner Katy Project

 As part of the METRONext plan that was approved by voters, another METRORapid project will run along the Inner Katy Corridor from Northwest Transit Center to the downtown Central Business District and terminating near the Convention District with a possible termination near the EaDo/Stadium Light Rail Station.

On January 31, METRO representatives held a virtual public hearing to give an update on the project and receive public input.

The main reason for the project is the growing congestion along IH-10 between Downtown and Northwest Transit Center. There is currently no dedicated bus lane between Northwest Transit Center and Studemont. This forces buses to use the busy main lanes to get into Downtown, which only adds to travel time. METRORapid’s Inner Katy project would add a faster connection to the Downtown area. METRORapid, Park and Ride routes, and Express Routes would all benefit from this. A dedicated elevated platform would be strictly for bus use. This has a lot of support and could add more stations to the METRORapid line.

Right now, the proposed stations are at Memorial Park, Yale, TC Jester, and Houston, with Shepherd/Durham and Studemont having been set already. Memorial Park is a busy area and could be a good spot for a station. The problem with Yale and TC Jester is the proximity to the Shepherd/Durham and Studemont stations. This could draw riders away and decrease ridership. The problem with the Houston station is that there is too much congestion and no good place to put a station. METRO is planning on going with stations at Northwest Transit Center, Memorial Park, Shepherd/Durham, and Studemont and then making the route head into Downtown.

When asked why stations before Downtown will not be at street level, METRO said that it is a safety hazard.

Once the bus gets into Downtown, the plan is to use the existing Light Rail Lane for the bus. Current stations in Downtown are the Theater District, Central Station, and Convention District, with Franklin/Bagby and EaDo stations being proposed.

With a growing city and the need to plan for the future, METRO needs to expand instead of using current infrastructure for new projects. With Bus Rapid Transit, there is no need to lay rail.

The light rail and METRORapid will have separate signals in Downtown. Hours of operation are planned to start at 4:30 am and end at midnight every day.

If you are wondering when the project gets underway, construction is slated to start in 2024 with service commencing in 2027.

You can find out more by visiting www.ridemetro.org/Pages/METRORapid-Inner-Katy.aspx

METRORapid to start University Corridor project

With the initial success of the METRORapid Silver Line between Northwest Transit Center and Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center along Post Oak Boulevard, METRORapid is expected to break ground on the University Corridor Project, running from Westchase Park and Ride to Tidwell Transit Center. The project is divided into five segments.

Segment 1 runs from Westchase Park and Ride to Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center. This segment connects the busy Westchase District to Lower Uptown while also servicing Gessner and Hillcroft Park and Ride Lots. At Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center, riders can transfer to Westwood/West Bellfort/TMC Park and Ride, METRORapid Silver Line, and the Canal/Memorial local bus route.

Segment 2 connects Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center to Wheeler Transit Center near Richmond Avenue and US 59 Southwest Freeway, while also servicing the busy Greenway Plaza area and the University of St. Thomas. At Wheeler Transit Center, riders can transfer to METRORail Red Line as well as local bus routes.

Segment 3 connects Wheeler Transit Center to Eastwood Transit Center near Elgin and Interstate Highway 45 Gulf Freeway while also servicing Houston Community College Main Campus, Third Ward, University of Houston, and Texas Southern University where riders can transfer to the METRORail Purple Line. At Eastwood Transit Center, riders can transfer to Park and Ride routes servicing the Gulf Freeway Corridor as well as local bus routes.

Segment 4 connects Eastwood Transit Center to Denver Harbor/Fifth Ward Transit Center near the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel while also servicing the Second Ward area. Riders can transfer to the METRORail Green Line along Harrisburg. At Denver Harbor/Fifth Ward Transit Center, riders can transfer to local bus routes.

Segment 5 connects the Denver Harbor/Fifth Ward Transit Center to LBJ Hospital and Tidwell Transit Center while also servicing the Kashmere Gardens area. At Tidwell Transit Center, riders can transfer to local bus routes after ending their trip on the METRORapid University Corridor line.

Running more than 25 miles, in a dedicated lane, the University Corridor line is expected to help ease congestion in some of Houston’s busiest areas. This will help build stronger communities and bring about better access to mass transit in the region.

Better access starts with moving more people and taking more cars off the road. It also will invest in communities serviced by providing top of the line service and bringing more connectivity to other METRO services. 

Along the route, riders can transfer to METRORail Red, Green, and Purple Lines, METRORapid Silver Line, 5 transit centers, 3 Park and Ride lots, and multiple local bus routes.

Stronger communities start with serving projected dense population growth along the route. It also will advance transportation equity with additional choices for the area and support a sustainable, healthy future for the region. Communities expected to benefit include Gulfton, Uptown, Greenway Plaza, Montrose, Midtown, Third Ward, Eastwood, Second Ward, Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens, and Eastex/Jensen. Colleges and universities expected to benefit include Houston Community College System, University of St. Thomas, Texas Southern University, and University of Houston.

Starting in late 2021, Project Development is expected to commence and end sometime in early 2023. This will be followed by the engineering phase, which is expected to end in early 2025. Shortly after that, construction will start until service commences sometime in 2028.

You can get all the details and attend virtual open houses by visting metrorapid-ucp.com 

Redistricting and low morale could be trouble for Democrats

A growing sense of gloom is developing among Democrats in Congress with less than a year before the 2022 midterm elections. With every Democrat that announces they’re not seeking reelection, the mood worsens.

Morale in Congress is already low among Democrats. As they look ahead to 2022 and what could be a trying election cycle, the belief is that the retirement wave has yet to crash.

23 members of the House Democratic Caucus have already announced they will not seek reelection in 2022. While high profile retirements by the party in power are not uncommon before a difficult midterm election cycle, the sentiment now is that more departures are coming. A combination of political winds tilting to the Republicans that has carved up what were once easy races for Democrats and low morale among House members could spell disaster before the 2022 elections.

“We have a problem here,” Representative Cherri Bustos said. “There are way too many people serving as members of Congress that I not only don’t look up to, but also have no respect for. I hate to even have to say that.”

First elected in 2012, and representing Western Illinois, Bustos announced earlier this year that she was retiring. “I’m looking for a new chapter in my life,” she told CNN. It’s clear though the current standing of Congress loomed over the decision. “While there are some Democrats who aren’t team players, the bulk of them are Republicans who refuse to raise the deficit in order to help put people back to work. At the same time, they ballooned the deficit when they passed former President Trump’s tax cuts.”

“When you only have a three-or-four-vote majority and you see people in tough districts announcing they will not seek another term, everybody worries about what’s ahead,” Bustos stated.

Republicans have also seen some powerful members announce they will not seek reelection. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, announced he will retire and become CEO of the Trump Media and Technology Group.

Retirements are a problem for Democrats, as the party in power, simply cannot afford. With a very slim majority in the House and polls showing a potential Republican swing, any slight change can prove disastrous.

What’s even more worrisome is retirements are stacking up. Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon, and chair of the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, announced he will not seek reelection. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, and chair of the House Space, Science, and Technology Committee, announced she will not run for reelection as well. Kentucky Representative John Yarmouth, who chairs the House Budget Committee, also will not seek reelection.

It’s not just committee chairs that worry Democrats. It’s also districts that will be difficult to keep in 2022. Wisconsin Representative Ron Kind, who represents a district that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, announced he will not seek reelection. Republicans are confident they can flip the seat in 2022. Arizona Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, who represents the state’s Second District, announced she will retire as well. Before her 2018 victory, the district was held by a Republican. New York Representative Tom Suozzi announced his intent to run for governor and will vacate his Long Island District. The seat could become competitive if Democrats face a difficult cycle.

All of the retirements have been hailed by Republicans. “Every retirement demoralizes Democrats further and forces them to spend more on defending competitive seats,” Michael McAdams, who is a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said. “No one wants to run as a Democrat this cycle.”

So far though, Democratic leaders – at least publicly – are rejecting the idea Democrats have a retirement problem.

“It’s pretty standard stuff. Anybody who serves in this Congress knows these are personal decisions. I’m not that worried about it. I think Republicans are going to have at least one good idea for America. They can’t do it with tricks and stacking the deck,” Senator Patrick Maloney, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told CNN’s Manu Raju.

There is a sense inside the caucus that things are not what Maloney and others want the public to believe.

Representative Filemòn Vela, a Texas Democrat who announced earlier this year he will not seek reelection, believes Democrats will do fine if they can get control of inflation and COVID by the summer. “I won’t say we keep the majority because it is such a tough cycle. If by November, we are still in the middle of the COVID crisis and inflation is sky high, we have a problem.”

Vela also added that if those issues continue to pester Democrats, you have the same problem you did in 2010 when Democrats lost 63 seats and control of the House. “It’s a valid concern. If we had been in the middle of midterms earlier this year, I think seats like mine would have been lost. I don’t think that will happen next year.”

Major League Soccer to diversify hiring process

 Major League Soccer announced that effective immediately, teams will be required to advance at least two non-White candidates to the final round of interviews. The league previously required teams looking for new coaches or staff members to interview at least one “diverse candidate,” similar to the National Football League’s “Rooney Rule.” The policy has been updated to require teams to keep at least two non-White candidates in every round of the interview process. Teams that fail to follow the guidelines will be fined. The league will also update the hiring requirements every year.

New England Revolution goalkeeper Earl Edwards was one of the players who helped develop the new policy. He commended the decision as a step towards a real culture shift of working together openly and transparently. Colorado Rapids Coach Robin Fraser, who also helped develop the policy, said that it would give more exposure to Black candidates and create more opportunities within the black community.

Here are the notable updates to the MLS policy:

• Teams will be required to advance at least two non-White candidates to the final round of job interviews, and one of the candidates must be Black or African American.

• Teams must provide proof that they have created an equal interview process for all candidates.

• The league will expand its definition of underrepresented groups to include "Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino(a), American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, Canadian Indigenous, Canadian First Nations, Women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community."

• Teams must publicize vacant positions to a league-wide diversity portal.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated that when the league was founded in December 1993 as part of the United States’ bid to host the 1994 World Cup, a clear and purposeful focus on diverse hiring practices is necessary for any organization to succeed. He believes the changes made today and to the work began before the inaugural season in 1996 will continue to diversify the league at every level. The new policy will ensure more Black candidates will be interviewed for technical positions and will result in tangible changes to the racial makeup of technical staffs across the league.

The updated policy is one of several initiatives designed to combat a growing problem of racism throughout professional soccer. The league also has a diversity committee made up of staff, head coaches, club executives, current, and former players to help ensure MLS is open to all players.

Dash miss playoffs; look ahead to 2022 season

The Houston Dash fell to the Washington Spirit on Halloween and missed the playoffs. Needing a win or draw, the Dash lost 1-0 to the eventual NWSL champions.

When asked about the season, head coach James Clarkson told The Striker Texas he does not know where to start.

“It’s for sure been a rough time. You’ve had the pandemic and the Olympics. That’s made it difficult for everybody to stay completely focused on soccer.”

When asked why players tend to stay in Houston, Clarkson said that it begins with treating the players as humans. “They're just regular people that happen to be good at soccer. I don't look at them as just soccer players. I think it's important that there’s a balance there. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody wants to express their opinion. And I think it's important that we create an environment where people feel comfortable doing that and knowing that they have the support of the staff and the organization.”

Since becoming the head coach prior to the 2019 season, Clarkson has made it clear that the organization will not tolerate harassment or bad behavior. “This is a place where you can express yourself. Regardless of race, religion or whatever it is. This is an environment that we're trying to create where everybody's in. It's an inclusive environment and in their day to day, we want to make sure that it's a place that they really want to come to work.”

What started out as a promising season turned out to be the opposite. The Dash have yet to win the NWSL Cup since joining the league in 2014.

“It's obviously disappointing. There's a lot of reflection going on.”

I said this to the players, as we got into that final quarter of the season. If we don't achieve what we'd set out to do this year, we'll have missed a really big opportunity. And we missed a really big opportunity. It's the last time that that team is going to be together. It's been a good run, but we will look back on this, not just now or next season, but over time, and it will be really tough to deal with because we've really missed a massive, massive opportunity,” Clarkson said.

“I look at the performances all over the season. We've been inconsistent. There's been some outstanding performances. And then there haven't necessarily been too many horrific ones. Reign away was obviously the worst. There’s been too many individual errors this year that have cost us goals, that have cost us points,” Clarkson said about missing the playoffs.

Clarkson's next step is figuring out who he will protect between Jane Campbell and Kristie Mewis, who are both on the U.S. Women's National Team. Only one can be protected. 

When asked about the changes he would like to see, Clarkson said that he wants to see higher standards in facilities. “We also need more fans. I'd love for us to have 10,000, 12,000 in the building. The atmosphere some days when there's been 4,000 has been great. The support of the fans this year has been terrific. That would be one of the highlights of the year, is the support of the fans at home. But how do we double that? That's where we need to get to. I was down in Mexico City the other week. I went to watch Club America against Tigres and there were 10,000 people. It feels important when it's full. That's a proper atmosphere. It's a proper game of football. That's what we need throughout the league. Hopefully, we can get there,” Clarkson said. 

Another thing that Clarkson said needs to change is how the media covers the NWSL. “I think there needs to be better media coverage, there needs to be better TV coverage. There needs to be much more coverage of the teams. Not just locally, but nationally, there needs to be much more attention put on it. We only get reported on when there's bad things, and then everybody jumps on the bandwagon. They're missing the fact the product on the field is outstanding.”

Will any of Clarkson's wishes come true? Can the Dash finally hoist the NWSL Cup? We won't know until the 2022 season gets underway. 

Ted Segal holds first interview with Dynamo and Dash fans

 Ted Segal holds first interview with Dynamo and Dash fans

On September 14, new Dynamo and Dash majority owner Ted Segal had a chance to answer questions from fans.

Questions ranged from how he plans on rebuilding the teams to what’s next for BBVA Stadium.

When asked about how he plans to build a contentious team, Segal replied that spending should not be near the bottom of the league due to the size of the Houston media market. He also said that having most of the lower bowl closed off for Dash games does not make a good impression. “We want to have the entire lower bowl filled for Dash games and hopefully have the stadium completely sold out with every seat filled.” He added that even a full lower bowl is better for marketing the teams.

“One thing that will help is to bring more fans to Dash games. That will allow us to open up more seats and potentially draw in television revenue since most Dash games are only available online.”

When asked what he’s looking for in a general manager, Segal said that past success is going to be a large factor. “Whether it’s in Major League Soccer or FIFA, someone with a proven track record of winning will be at the top of the list. They also need to have a proven track record of successfully developing their youth league or academy.”

Will the new GM and majority owner turn the teams around, or will Houston once again be denied a soccer championship? The last time either the Dash or Dynamo won a championship was in 2007 when the Dynamo won the MLS Cup for a second time in a row.