287(g): Reservations and Definites
I didn’t get to go to the other Latino debate this week, but the Chron blog has a post on it. What caught my eye was the confusing take by the writer on the 287(g) question. They all support it, but Locke has reservations and Parker wants it in the jail but not on the street. Bottom line: HPD should not have it. It’s racial profiling, it’s ineffective. For those that think it is helping capture felons, they aren’t looking at the facts, or worse, they are avoiding them. Frankly, I would like to hear more about Locke’s reservations.
On the other hand, I hear (through Facebook posts and Nancy Sims) that Mr. Locke has expanded on the “museum” thing stating he would like to use the office as a bully pulpit to gain corporate support for a Hispanic museum effort. Well, if he had said that in the first place, perhaps I would have been more supportive. In this day when everyone seems to be in a panic about the budget, while promising no increases in taxes, ideas have to be backed up, or else voters will get riled up. I like it, Mr. Locke. Let’s hope an effort like that can work the second time around.
Speaking of Museums…
Did Annise Parker set off a panic in the arts community? According to Nancy Sims, it might have. In her new ad, Parker tries to nudge Locke on the museum thing. I am of the opinion that even though the museum thing got some play in political circles, the rest of Houston didn’t really get it. The overreaction toward me from campaign operatives was funny enough, but the other side using it in an ad? As I mentioned previously, it is hard to use something when you have five seconds to say, so if it is something that has to be explained and re-explained, well, it can get lost in the explanation. In other words, it’s just not worth it. I agree with Nancy, keep the insider stuff on the inside.
UPDATE: Parker states she remains committed to arts community.
Annise has been and will always be a champion for the arts, and I have listed just a few of her accomplishments below. Please read her position paper on the Percent for Arts program on her website at www.anniseparker.com/issue/percent_for_art.
In this economy Houstonians should have a healthy conversation about what we can and cannot pay for right now. In more than 40 forums, we have heard some candidates promise the world. Annise is promising the truth – and her priorities are absolutely clear.
As she said in the news release accompanying her TV ad:
“I’ve heard many proposals for new museums, the Dynamo Stadium, and other new, big expensive projects – which I have said are good ideas. But in tough times like this, we must live within our means, and as Mayor, I’ll make sure we fund basic priorities like public safety first.”
Annise Parker and the Arts:
- Annise championed the Percent for Arts fund, allocating 1.25% of spending on City of Houston capital projects to the arts, generating more than $14 million to date.
- Annise and Chris Bell fought together to increase HOT tax funding for the arts.
- Annise served as a 2-term board member of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and is currently serving her 2nd term on the board of the Holocaust Museum.
- Annise lobbied for moving arts oversight from the Parks Department to the Mayor’s office and now the city has three arts coordinators and a conservation fund.
- Annise worked to create the Houston Arts Alliance from three existing groups. Virtually all of its funding comes from public dollars.
- Annise recently pushed for better accountability and more transparency from the Houston Arts Alliance for the city dollars she fought to give them.
- Annise has helped underwrite the annual Houston Poetry Festival and participated as a poet: Annise annually supports Art on the Avenue that raises money for affordable housing.
Part of your blog posting states that “the only funding of arts in Houston is generated through the Hotel Occupancy Tax.” I would beg to differ. The Percent for Arts program that Annise championed also provides public arts funding for our city.
Sue Davis, Annise Parker Campaign
ACORN Targeted; Who Else?
The attack on ACORN should be scaring any organization who receives Federal money, but it is not. How much money has been doled out to proselytizing religious groups under the “Faith-Based” program, and how many have actually been audited? It is about time that any organization who receives money gets an audit. It shouldn’t just be ACORN. If the Obama administration and Democrats who fell to their knees before the whining GOP really mean it, then they should expand their little investigation of one non-profit.
Saturday Concert…
The Recording Academy and T-Mobile will bring their GRAMMY Celebration Concert Tour to Warehouse Live on Saturday the 26th at 8PM. Special appearances by Kinky and Jesse y Joy. FREE! Go check it out.
More Later…
While in college, she worked as an accountant, project manager, and software analyst, for a major interior-construction company in Houston. Julia earned her J. D. degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Following law school, she started her own law practice, concentrating primarily in family law. Julia lives in Southeast Harris County with her two sons, Victor and Aaron. For over a decade, Julia has been in the trenches fighting on behalf of her clients. Now, she is ready to take her skills and passion to a different arena. Julia wants to serve our community as Judge of the 308th Family District Court. In Julia’s own words, “I am committed to serving the people of Harris County, with fairness, impartiality,and an unequivocal allegiance to the rule of law.”
