Monthly Archives: January 2009

Innovative Ideas to Suppress the Vote
I gotta hand it to our new Tax Assessor-Collector Leo Vasquez. Never have I seen someone so determined to suppress the vote. I heard there are some new rules for those of us who volunteer to be deputy voter registrars. (1) You must sign-up and get trained at the main office; no longer will their outreach person go to organizations. (2) If you get trained and signed-up, and you register some voters, you will need to turn in completed voter applications at Leo’s office downtown or at the “outreach” location at some warehouse. You will no longer be able to turn in those applications at a neighborhood tax office near you.

So, if you’re of limited means, yet, still support growing our democracy, well, you have to do a lot more now. I’m sure he’s doing it in the name of “saving tax dollars” but there is nothing more valuable than our vote. And, really, there are more innovative ways to trim a budget. So, all I can see is a blatant attempt to suppress the vote before people even get the chance to register.

Perhaps we should have a fully-funded, independent Voter Registrar’s Office in Harris County. Either way, we still have to kick Leo Vasquez out of politics. Frankly, I’m not afraid to use the “V” word in a direct mail piece to Latinos.

Pro-Choice Luncheon–A Hit!
The small group of annoying anti-choicers in the front of the Westin notwithstanding, the 36th Annual Roe v Wade Luncheon was a success. Almost 1,000 were in attendance to hear than Planned Parenthood-Houston completed its Capitol Campaign and raised the $16 Million-plus to build their new facility on the Gulf Freeway. In fact, I drove by there the other day and they are hard at work toward a completion date of February 2010. Congrats to Peter Durkin, the PPH staff, and all who support the work of Planned Parenthood. I had the honor of inviting two young women leaders to the event as part of my outreach. Thanks to HCDP and Muriel Stubbs for sponsoring their ticket. Below is my sis Sylvia Medellin with Ariadna Orozco and Ashley Williams.

The GOP is Changing?
Given their voter suppression, anti-education, and anti-health care ideas, I seriously doubt the GOP can change. Throw in their continued use of immigration in arguing against the stimulus package, even though the AP retracted the article after using only one Republinut source, and we’re seeing that it’s the same old Republican hate machine. Of course, Democrats won’t win if we don’t fight back. So, what better strategy to use when we see the Republinuts failing?

“When your opponent is drowning, throw the son of a bitch an anvil.” James Carville.

Birthday Wishes…
To my friend and DC fan, Jay Aiyer, who will be celebrating his day on Saturday. The rest of you, have a great weekend. I, for one, am going to check out a movie. Can’t decide between Milk, Doubt, Grand Torino, or the Wrestler, but I’m going!

Carlos Guerra, as always, provides us a thought-provoking piece on what Texas history is truly based on: Taking risks. It’s about time Texas got off it’s high-horse and begin to take risks–investing in all Texans; especially in our education system with which all success in Texas is based upon.

Carlos Guerra – San Antonio Express-News, 1/29/2009
OK, Texas, here is our chance.

I know, these are not prosperous times. But for decades, California has been bruising Texas in virtually all things economic. Yes, we’ve always had bigger ranches and more oil and gas wells, and the few of us who owned them have done well.

But average Texans have not. Over the decades, Californians have recorded higher average household earnings, much higher home values, higher employment rates and, overall, much greater prosperity than Texans.

All the Texas braggadocio aside, we’re talking long-term embarrassment. It isn’t without reason that Texas has been a national joke for decades.

California and Texas are two of the nation’s three most prosperous states, where wealth is most concentrated. But in terms of the numbers of residents enjoying that wealth, Californians have had better everything than us.

Who are we kidding? For starters, they are a lot skinnier than Texans. A higher percentage of their kids have been graduating from high school, and many more of them have been going to better universities — in large part because California has nine to 11 top-end public universities, compared with two in Texas, and there is no dispute about our paltry count — and a higher percentage of California students have gone on to seek higher education.

Is it any wonder that California has attracted more major corporations to locate in that state, or that its residents earn more, on average, or have better health statistics?

Personally, I am fed up with it all, and we all should be. And we should all want to change things and bring the Lone Star State up to par with, and, wherever possible, surpass the Golden State’s good fortunes.

And now, fellow tejanos, we have our chance. We have the opportunity to overpass the californios, once and for all, and turn our state into a model of modernity.

California, as you may have read, is having economic problems — a fiscal crisis so huge that it rivals the economic problems of some small nations. The Golden State is cutting spending on everything, including their enviable University of California System, which employs more Nobel laureates than any other educational institution.

Texas has one of the nation’s lowest tax burdens. We have no state income tax, and, while we have one of the nation’s highest sales taxes, we have property taxes that are relatively low but also some of the nation’s costliest state licenses and fees.

What I propose is not a short-term catch-up solution.

In fact, what I propose will take an entire generation to bear fruit. It will, however, pay off in spades, economically, for our children and grandchildren.

Texas has only two top-end universities, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University. Our chance to catch up and surpass the Golden State’s good fortunes is upon us, and we must act now.

What I propose is simple: Let’s establish a 1 percent flat state income tax and dedicate it to building the world’s finest university system. A state with the population as large as ours should have more than two excellent universities. We should have 10 or more, and they should be affordable to all who excel in their high schools.

Yes, I know that there will be many who will begrudge that penny out of their hard-earned dollar, but the reality is that we get what we pay for — unless we pay for something we don’t get, and never the other way — and our children and grandchildren will pay far more dearly for what we are too miserly to spend.

Let’s invest in Texas universities.

cguerra@express-news.net

The press release went out this afternoon and it is official. Ed Gonzalez will be running in the special election to fill the Houston City Council District H seat vacated when Adrian Garcia was elected Sheriff. Houston City Council voted to set the special election for May 9th. Here’s the release:

Houston, TX (January 28, 2009) – With today’s announcement by the City Council that the special election to fill the vacancy caused by Adrian Garcia’s election as sheriff will be held on May 9th, Ed Gonzalez officially entered the race for City Council District H.

“As a native Houstonian born and raised in the district, I know the community and am deeply committed to its continued success for our families and children,” Gonzalez stated. “I was educated in area schools, I have proudly served in the Houston Police Department for the past 18 years, and for the past five years I have been Adrian Garcia’s volunteer Community Liaison for District H. As the District H councilmember, I will use my law enforcement and business experience to build upon the relationships I have with district civic organizations and leaders to improve public safety, neighborhood protection, historic preservation, education and quality of life for all residents.”

The first in his family to both go to college and receive an advanced degree, Gonzalez has served with honor and distinction in the Houston Police Department, rising to the rank of Sergeant in the Homicide Division, and was selected for its elite Hostage Negotiation Team.

Ed Gonzalez is the chair of the Crime and Public Safety Committee of the Houston Heights Association and is a member of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Committee (JDAI), a project co-sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Harris County to identify alternatives to incarceration for troubled youths. He also sits on the board of the MD Anderson-YMCA which serves District H families and young people. And Gonzalez was a Gulf Coast Community Services Association (GCCSA) board member, helping families by administering Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the area.

Ed, his wife Melissa, and their family live in Lindale Park.

Seems to me Mr. Gonzalez is a good fit for the post, considering his vast experiences.

Kuff has more on how the City races are shaping up.

As the Republican Party does everything it can to limit healthcare for Americans and others in need, a health crisis appears to be growing rapidly. KHOU’s Vicente Arenas reported this story today on the skyrocketing rates of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Latino community. Latinos are among the least insured in Texas and suffer from various debilitating ailments because of lack of access to health care; especially preventive health care.

The Alzheimer’s Association of Houston knows one of its biggest challenges will come from the city’s growing Hispanic population.

“And that’s why we try to educate the community that there are certain neurological changes that occur in the brain, and the earlier they can get a diagnosis, the earlier there can be an intervention,” John Meade of the Alzheimer’s Association of Houston said.

When it comes to Latinos, Alzheimer’s forecasts are startling.

Researchers expect a 600-percent increase in Hispanics suffering from the disease by the year 2050.

They believe the dramatic rise will be partly due to diabetes and lack of medical care.

Part of the challenge is that with Latinos and Spanish-dominant people, the neurological testing required is not necessarily Latino-friendly. Having sat with my mother through one of those diagnostic tests, I saw how some of the questions in the cognition testing could easily be taken out of context by a person who can speak English, but is still Spanish-dominant. I can only imagine what can occur with a person who only speaks Spanish. So, this gives me hope.

Strutt is trying to turn those numbers around by studying current Alzheimer’s tests and coming up with new ones designed specifically for Latinos and Spanish-speakers.

“At least with this research, what we are trying to do is get rid of all those extra factors that could be clouding the results,” Strutt said.

Strutt said traditional tests don’t always catch Alzheimer’s early enough in the Latino community.

Ultimately, as a community, we must do everything we can to educate ourselves on this disease. We must teach people in the community that this disease is not taboo. And, although some families are lucky enough to come together to share responsibilities, going through this takes a village of friends, too. More than anything, we must not forget the caretakers.

For more information, visit http://www.alz.org/. And while you’re at it, sign the proclamation to President Obama to make Alzheimer’s a national priority. We must not wait till 2050.

Note on Mom: I mention my mother because I wanted to show that we did the responsible thing and took our mother for the testing. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry. Mom is enjoying a healthy life in Lantana, TX.

Note from Toni regarding caregivers:

Those angels among us who care for Alzheimer’s patients and others with chronic illness are often forgotten. Caregivers do everything from scheduling doctor appointments and filling prescriptions to feeding, bathing, and changing the people that they care for. Their work does not have set hours, is emotionally draining, and, very often, thankless.

Mary Theresa Vasquez, R.N., author of Mi Mamacita Tiene Alzheimer’s (My Beloved Mother has Alzheimer’s), is a member of the National Family Caregiver Association. The association has launched the Family Caregiver Stamp Campaign. They are lobbying the U.S. Postal Service to develop a commemorative stamp to honor caregivers.

A family caregiver is a relative or friend taking care of a loved one who is currently chronically ill, disabled, or living with the frailties of old age and who is no longer able to care for themselves. The services provided by family caregivers represent approximately 80% of all home care services and are conservatively valued at more than $300 billion a year.

Please join me in sending your letter of support to the NFCA. The form letter can be downloaded here. Please mail the letter to Ms. Vasquez at the address listed at the bottom of the letter. She is tracking all the letters before submitting them to the U.S. Postal Service Citizen Advisory Committee.

Do not forget the caregivers, one day you might find yourself in their shoes caring for a loved one. You might also find yourself on the receiving end of their loving care. Please, take a moment to print out the letter and mail it to Ms. Vasquez. While you’re at it, you may want to drop her a note and thank her for her efforts on behalf of caregivers everywhere.

Well, our friends at the Texas Lege have responded to the Guv’s State of his Hair speech. Kuff’s got the video as well as press releases from the TexBlog PAC supported, Rep. Moody and Rep. Turner, and TexBlogs PAC fan, Rep. Garnet Coleman.

He also has the response from one of my favorites, State Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, which I also provide here.

Today, Governor Rick Perry delivered his state of the state speech in which he outlined his legislative priorities for the 81st Legislative Session. Governor Perry focused on what will become the broad strokes of his campaign to be re-elected Governor of Texas. The only problem– Texans are not interested in politics, they are interested in solutions.

“The only thing apparent was that someone is running for re-election.” said Representative Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio), the Chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. “At a time, when 99% of Texans are worried about their paychecks and their pocketbooks, Governor Perry is worried about re-election.”

In what most consider to be the race of his political career, Governor Perry is expected to face strong opposition in the Republican gubernatorial primary by sitting United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Governor Perry’s speech was marked by references to controversial and partisan policies like voter identification.

“From the kitchen table to the Capitol, Texans are welcoming a new era of politics driven by what unites us–they are choosing policy over platitudes,” said Representative Martinez Fischer.

“MALC stands ready to work to help create jobs, increase access to quality and affordable healthcare and create opportunities for small businesses. Divisive rhetoric above common sense doesn’t create jobs,” said Representative Martinez Fischer.

Rick Perry is running on Voter ID and Immigration, apparently. We can rest assured that the Repugnant Primary will become another hate-fest. I doubt Hutch can remain quiet that long.

On the other hand, my friend Greg has an great response to Perry’s idea that we have the same ID requirements for voting that we have for voter registration.

Interesting framing of the issue there. Namely, if the far right of the GOP so adamantly believes that this is justification for Voter ID, then what’s to suggest we shouldn’t have same-day Voter Registration all the way up through Election Day? If the ID requirements were the same, why not?

If nothing else, I’d hope some enterprising House or Senate members consider an amendment like this. If nothing else, watching the GOP vote against it underscores whatever pretense to intellectual consistency they might hope to have on the issue.

Of course, we should also add automatic voter registration when those those can afford their Texas ID or Driver’s License renew or apply. What the heck! The more voters, the better!

Gov. Perry, the Republican Party, and anti-immigrant cops are leading the way in wasting taxpayer money on cameras that catch nothing. The goal was to have hundreds of cameras, but ultimately, they’ll settle with 15.

— The coalition planned to install 200 cameras, or about one every six miles. So far, 13 have been installed and there probably will be just 15 total. That’s one camera for every 80 miles of border.

That’s $130,000 per camera! Even I was smart enough to purchase a digital camera at Target for only $400. (It’s a fancy one, too!)

I would have to agree with Texas Senator Hinojosa.

Critics of the plan said the border camera program is more about Perry capitalizing on anti-illegal immigration sentiment among his conservative supporters than about actually increasing border security.

“I think it’s a waste of time and it’s a waste of money,” said state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, a McAllen Democrat. “It doesn’t work.”

Perhaps Perry will now install cameras at family planning facilities to point out that Ted Poe, John Culberson and others are supporting abortion. You know, since they abandoned Perry for Hutch, who just happens to be Pro-Choice.

Seems to me, Perry’s that desperate for votes.

I think it is a good idea that is coming from our new Sheriff and some of our new judges. Allow bail for the accused that happens to be low-risk. At least that’s the way it should be written. The Chron article puts it this way (emphasis mine):

The new Democratic judges, for example, have indicated they will consider releasing more low-risk offenders on personal bonds, returning to a policy virtually abandoned in recent years when Republicans controlled the courthouse. Such bonds, better known as personal recognizance bonds, allow defendants accused of nonviolent crimes to leave jail without having to post bail.

First of all, one doesn’t become an “offender” until convicted. At this point, they are accused of a crime, and for all intents and purposes, should be offered the opportunity for reasonable bail, as is their right and if they meet certain requisite factors. Personal recognizance bonds are a risk, yet, one judge stated that qualifying the accused on a case-by-case basis will ensure that those offered this opportunity will indeed appear; not to mention ensure the safety of the community.

District Judge Ruben Guerrero, a Democratic judge who was defeated in the Republican sweeps of the 1990s, said he has always been willing to consider personal bonds for the right defendants.

“We have to be creative and have personal bonds mixed in with surety bonds,” Guerrero said. “Also, we have to look at the individual cases rather than say we’re going to blanketly grant them.”

We’ve got major problems at the jail due to overcrowding. Not only are we talking about unfair treatment of low-risk accused who at times must wait months to go through the process, but the overtaxing of our jail infrastructure. It should not be a surprise that all of these plumbing problems exist; not to mention the fact that our jail staffs are overburdened.

Here’s another idea: Re-visit the bail schedules, too.

My colleague in California, Mario Solis-Marich from Nuestra Voice, like many of us, has not forgotten the Hilda Solis nomination for Labor Secretary. As our own failure of a Senator John Cornyn continues to fail us by holding up other nominations, it seems the GOP is trying their best to let the Solis nomination go by the wayside. According to Solis-Marich:

What gives some in the GOP the real jitters though is not the message as much as the messenger. Solis wears her working class roots on her blue collared shirt sleeve. Solis proudly embodies the current generation of blue collar workers yearning to become Obama’s green collar wage earners. Solis will be hard to marginalize as an out of touch intellectual as is the customary right wing attack against economic progressives. In fact Solis as the face of labor will set GOP consultants struggling to find a whole new frame of distortion. What truly makes Solis’s emergence remarkable is not only her Latina roots but also her working class background

The choice for some reason has been made to avoid another public hearing for Solis and offer GOP Senators one on one meetings with her. I say let this process see the light of day. Allow America’s working families to see the GOP questioning of the Congresswoman that is now taking place in their secret Senate office suites. Allow Hilda Solis from El Monte to answer her critics publicly, straight from the very center of her working class soul. America’s workers hunger for more than a champion that understands them; they desire a champion that is them. Let Solis be Solis and her GOP detractors be themselves and the choice will then be clear.

Ain’t that the truth. Read the entire post here.

It is Monday (the first Monday of the new Obama Administration, in fact) and that means it is time for another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round-Up.

Would you like a Cheeseburger in Paradise made from Texas Black Angus raised on drilling waste? Get yours at Bluedaze: Drilling Reform for Texas. Served up by TXsharon.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders why John Cornyn is dropping poo in our collective punch bowl. Why be reasonable when you can be a Republican?

WhosPlayin was glued to the TV all day Tuesday, popping the cork on champagne at 11 AM. But ultimately there were more important things.

jobsanger thinks it was wrong for federal and state representatives to threaten the El Paso city council with cutting off state and federal funds if they passed a resolution asking the government to reconsider the failed “war on drugs” in Legislators Threaten El Paso Council.

At McBlogger, we’re all about things that make your taco go POP!

Off the Kuff commented on the actions of the State Board of Education in which efforts by religious conservatives to weaken science education were (mostly) thwarted.

John Coby at Bay Area Houston has posted how much money Bob Perry has donated in 2008.

Gay divorce comes to Texas once again, forcing the hand of the judicial system to do what is right in civil law. The Texas Cloverleaf examines the case in Dallas.

Neil at Texas Liberal inquires about Barack Obama’s urban policy.

The Texas Congressional GOP delegation is still voting to deny poor children their health insurance, and John Cornyn continues acting like a massive bleeding hemorrhoid. It’s just a gambit to establish himself as the conservative foil to President Obama, and perhaps presage a White House bid of his own in 2012. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has the bloody details.

BossKitty at TruthHugger illustrates how Homeland Security can justify any risk. All euphemisms aside, taking the most lethal pathogens in the US arsenal into America’s heartland and breadbasket seems suicidal. Plum Island to Manhattan – Pathogens On The Move. Instead of taking researchers to the lethal experiment, they are placing the experiment among us.

Burnt Orange Report formalizes and announces its Right to Respond Policy.

Though the Three Wise Men have been as critical of Isreal’s actions in Gaza as anyone, we’re as quick to point out-as historian Mark LeVine makes clear-that Hamas’ embrace of violence hasn’t exactly helped the cause of Palestinian self-determination either.

Vince from Capitol Annex takes a look at Houston Mayor Bill White’s campaign finance reports and notes that White is spending money from his municipal campaign account on his race for U.S. Senate.

Belated Birthday Wishes…
No, it’s not you! Actually, it’s to my best friend “Chooch,” whom I lost contact with a few years ago. He’s been my best friend since 2nd grade and I haven’t seen him in almost 20 years. But we kept in touch. I think I found him, so I might give him a call this weekend. So, Feliz 38th to Jesse Alcorta! Hopefully, I can convince him to go down to Cristal for our 20th Reunion (his 20th, my 10th).

Ban Crotch Rockets!
On the way into the big city on the HOV lane, I was going my normal speed when all of a sudden a motorcycle is behind me practically riding my bumper. He’d annoyingly rev it up every now and then. Actually, it wasn’t a real motorcycle, it was one of those annoying crotch rockets (dude! get a real bike!). So, he passes me, then passes the guy in front of me, then he’s doing the same thing to a Metro bus that he was doing to me. I don’t know what made me more nervous, the thought of seeing him crash, or the thought of me driving over his carcass! Anyway, with no cops around, this guy just went on harrassing other drivers. I wish they’d ban those damn bikes from the HOV! (With apologies to my friends who own crotch rockets…hee hee)

What Is Up With Paterson?
Gov. Paterson in NY is about to appoint a blue dog, pro-gun nut as NYs new Senator. A quick look at her immigration record shows that she supported Heath Shuler’s enforcement-only bill, but I can’t tell if it was just for votes, or if she actually feels this way. You know how “moderates” can be when the heat is on. So, is Cuomo challenging Paterson? I sure hope so.

Big Endorsement for Castro
The SA Police Officers Association gave its nod to SA mayoral candidate Julian Castro. His opponents are already downplaying it, but really, what looks better on direct mail piece, “Union of 2100 Cops Endorses Me” or “I got endorsed by 3 or 4 ‘rank-and-file’ cops”?

Feelin’ Like a Revolution?
Here’s a 1988 vid of Los Lobos at Austin City Limits performing, “Carabina 30-30″. A song about the Mexican Revolution.

And for good measure, same band, different concert, same venue, performing, “Mexico-Americano”