Monthly Archives: April 2011

A Viable Opportunity – The Alternate Map

Posted on April 13, 2011 | 1 Comment

My friend Greg Wythe presents an alternative map which I hope brings all sides in the redistricting process together, at least toward developing the best possible opportunities all around.

That 36.5% CVAP number for District J Hispanics isn’t the strongest situation on earth. It represents a very hard-earned opportunity district, but one where there are at least votes to be found. Considering that the starting point is two “opportunities” with 23% and 25% Hispanic population at the CVAP level, I’d rather take 36%. And given the conservativeness of CVAP numbers for growing demographic groups, I feel quite comfortable in suggesting to anyone that the district is fairly close to 40-40 Anglo/Hispanic today.

There is little doubt that the administration’s first map left a lot to be desired by some, especially when the population shift is attributed to Hispanics. Even where there are large pockets of Hispanic population, even drawing a 70% Hispanic population district (in the District F area, for example) would leave a CVAP so low that the community would hardly be able to effect the outcome of an election, much less elect a candidate of their choosing. So, we really do need to work toward where the opportunity is best represented.

Greg sums up a redraw of District J quite well:

Again, a win in District J would be a hard-earned opportunity, but it represents an opportunity that can be fought for, as opposed to one that is non-existant today. The right candidate with some Anglo crossover appeal and ability to raise some money can win J. The only potential for A and F, as proposed, is if a Hispanic Republican runs. But even that didn’t help the one candidate like that in District F during the 2009 election.

As I had said previously, a map that provides a combination of representation and power-sharing is more effective in the long-run. The Latino population will continue to grow, especially Citizen Voting Age Population, and as the population continues to spread around the City, opportunities will exist to work toward cross-over appeal across constituencies, creating new allies and strengthening ties to old allies. If anything, it provides a better bet on cross-over appeal city-wide, which is where we really should be at this point in Houston.

I guess I better start watching the public hearing on HTV.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, Houston Politica, HoustonVotes '11, LatinoVote '11, Mayor Parker, Redistricting '11

Starving for Good Jobs Food Drive

Posted on April 12, 2011 | Comments Off

Courtesy ~ Offcite.org

After the City of Houston redistricting hearings, make your way down to 1001 McKinney to help the janitors who were fired from their jobs by the management company of that building–Cameron Management. Here’s more from SEIU Local 1:

Dear Friend,

It’s been over a week since most of the janitors who cleaned this building, 1001 McKinney, lost their good jobs. For the nine families affected, it’s been an anxious nine days of struggle as they face life without the fair wages and access to affordable health care those good jobs used to provide.

On Wednesday, April 13 stand together with Houston’s working families by donating non-perishable food items to the “Starving for Good Jobs” food drive in benefit of the fired 1001 McKinney janitors and their families.

The food drive will take place in front of 1001 McKinney from 12-1PM on Wednesday.

Now more than ever, our city needs employers who are committed to creating and protecting good jobs—not cutting wages and benefits to pad corporate profits. While companies like Cameron Management and PJS turn their backs on working people, we must step up to protect Houston’s chance for a better future.

Five years ago, responsible business owners joined Houston janitors in creating good jobs and raising standards in the cleaning industry. Together with their employees, these companies created a path out of poverty for thousands of janitors and their families—including access to affordable health care. But Cameron Management—the company that owns 1001 McKinney Place—has rolled back that progress by hiring PJS, a cleaning contractor that pays janitors poverty wages and denies them a voice on the job.

Please contact Paloma Martinez at martinezp@seiu1.org if you plan to donate or for more information.

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Posted in La Familia, Viva La Union

Get Out Your Alternative Maps!

Posted on April 11, 2011 | Comments Off

As Kuff reminds us:

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, the Houston City Council was presented with the proposed City Council Redistricting Plan. Three public hearings will be held to discuss the proposed plan on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 9 a.m., and Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 901 Bagby, Houston 77002. Maps of the proposed districts will be available for viewing at the hearings, and can also be found on the City of Houston website athttp://www.houstontx.gov/planning/2011/index.html.

To reserve time to speak at one of these hearings, call 832.393.1100 or sign up in person in the City Secretary’s Office, City Hall Annex, Public Level, 900 Bagby 77002 at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled public hearing.

Time is running short and any workable alternative which can get Council and community support should be submitted ASAP. I’m hoping to see at least one good one come out of this which everyone involved can embrace and support.

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Posted in Chicano Politics, City of Houston, Houston Politica, HoustonVotes '11, LatinoVote '11, Mayor Parker, Redistricting '11

Arizona’s Brewer, Nativist Supporters of SB1070 Lose A Round

Posted on April 11, 2011 | Comments Off

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision refusing to lift the stay on the worst parts of Arizona’s SB1070, a law which virtually legalizes racial profiling of Latinos and other historical minorities.

The Department of Justice sued in federal court to block the anti-Latino legislation from becoming law saying that it is unconstitutional because immigration enforcement is a federal duty.

Pro-migrant and Hispanic civil rights groups marched on Arizona’s capitol and were joined by supporters across the nation in similar demonstrations while Brewer put on a media show which culminated into a media event in which she signed the legislation into law. The Department of Justice responded with the lawsuit, and US District Judge Susan Shelton struck down various parts of the law.

“The Ninth Circuit decision stands as a strong warning to any state that is still considering enacting its own unconstitutional regulation of immigration by replicating or expanding upon Arizona’s ill-fated SB 1070. Such legislation will only invite costly litigation that will inevitably result in the unconstitutional laws being struck down.” stated Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF.

Arizona’s wasteful spending on these frivolous lawsuits should also raise alarms for Texas, whose legislature is currently debating a slew of anti-Latino bills which will also result in legal challenges, according to various civil rights advocates.

Those on the right seem to have a warped, yet very specific, set of priorities:  Criminalize people, disenfranchise people, and ultimately, defund critical programs to intellectually decimate people. Our demands that they cease such actions fall on purposefully deaf ears, however, and unless the people begin to truly organize, create political partnerships, and create a political result that will change the way they conduct the people’s business, then we can only expect much of the same.

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Posted in DREAM Act, HoustonVotes '11, Immigration, LatinoVote '11, LatinoVote '12, Texas Lege, U.S. Ethnic Relations

If You Don’t Get What You Want…

Posted on April 8, 2011 | Comments Off

I’ve learned that if you want something done, you need do it yourself. So, the fact that the Texas Redistricting Task Force brought their own maps to the redistricting hearing held at the Capitol made me smile.

Obviously, there is a lot of anger and dislike of the Mayor’s map here in Houston because Hispanics were not drawn a new district which would have provided an opportunity for the Latino community to elect another representative. In Austin, we’re already hearing this theory of population diffusion among Hispanics which they say makes it hard to draw Hispanic-majority districts. But here’s the problem:

State Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, who chairs the House Redistricting Committee, said he hasn’t drawn a map yet…

I would like to know if the Planning Department even attempted to draw a Hispanic district, and if so, explain it at-length and with pictures exactly why it could not be done. Obviously, I’m sure those angered with the map will take their alternative maps to the public hearings, though, I wish some had been drawn already, or that there at least been  an embrace of Greg’s attempt, which I liked.

Kuff points to my different take, but I must say that I’m not necessarily disagreeing with Latino leaders calling for a district. The Voting Rights Act is obviously on the side of historical minorities and provides for the protection of minority voters, along with ensuring an opportunity for elected representation. This is not debatable.

As I said in my previous post, the Mayor’s map is a good start to a conversation. But anyone that expects something–even for obvious reasons as population growth–better be ready to get the job done themselves. But, I do agree with Kuff, part of that job also comes with the responsibility of increasing voter turnout and civic participation. And that’s one conversation in which I will increasingly be involved.

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Posted in City of Houston, Houston Politica, HoustonVotes '11, LatinoVote '11, Mayor Parker, Redistricting '11

ReDrawing Houston 2011

Posted on April 7, 2011 | 7 Comments

The Mayor’s first map in the Houston re-draw has been released and I must say that I am not surprised. The map tells us something I said upon my return to blogging a few weeks ago after the Census was unveiled–Latinos are everywhere!

Greg Wythe provided us some live-blogging of the conversation at City Hall today. It seems a few folks aren’t too happy based on conversations on the Twitter and at least one press release, while others are ecstatic with the proposed District J bounderies.

One thing is for sure; based on the numbers, there are four Latino-majority population districts, with the original H and I being joined by A and F. Even if you count for Voting Age Population (VAP), A, F, H, and I are over 50% Hispanic. And B, C, E, and K are 30% to almost 40% in Hispanic VAP.  Again, Latinos are everywhere and we aren’t concentrated in a couple of neighborhoods anymore–even in the electoral sense. And all that sounds great, but currently, that may not amount to CITIZEN voting age population (CVAP) for those districts in which we see a burgeoning Hispanic population. And that is where some of the disappointment may lie.

So, there will be questions like, “where’s the new Latino district?” and others challenging the proposed “J” which has almost 1/4 Latino VAP, but not drawn to be a more Hispanic district, as expected by some. I continue to ask if another Hispanic district with enough citizens of voting age can be drawn without it looking like some weird maze. “Maybe,” is what I hear.

But I go back to the fact that I tend to be enjoying more–Latinos are everywhere! And if you’re concerned about CVAP, then this article tells us that Houston gained more in child population than any other metro area, so that means more future voters–everywhere!

In other words, I see an opportunity in all of this for a combination of representation and power-sharing, if I can be so bold as to use the latter term. District F serves as a prime opportunity to maximize voting power between the Asian-American and Latino communities, and others who may want to join. Other districts which are predominantly African American are seeing an increase in Hispanic population, so there is an opportunity there, as well. Obviously, District A is one of those districts in which much can be done, if there is a real commitment.

The bottom line is that it is fast becoming a challenge for any one group to hold on to absolute power, or at least have what some would call representation, in a district, let alone citywide. As I’ve always said, a majority in population does  not amount to power unless you are able to utilize the vast majority of that population to gain power. And power does not necessarily mean just another brown face.

Latinos are not there, yet, (some argue we don’t even try given our voter turnout numbers) and as long as we have elected officials content with adequate turnout to ensure their own re-elections, then Latinos will not get far at all and we will continue being a blip in future historic political victories, instead of a force.

Obviously, the debate has just begun, and there will probably be some tweaking to the map, but for all intents and purposes, I think it’s a good start and brings to light some realities that Latinos must face–we’re everywhere! At the very least, it provides an opportunity for discussion.  Obviously, if Latinos want representation (or influence) in at least a couple more of these districts, well, we need to vote. We certainly cannot get squeamish about the work that must be done to put a couple more brown faces on the horseshoe at city hall.

My camarada Kuff has his view on things.

At least regarding the direction of this discussion, we can certainly be civil and not play the victim.

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Posted in City of Houston, HoustonVotes '11, Kingwood Politics, LatinoVote '11, Mayor Parker

Where’s Obama Going With This?

Posted on April 7, 2011 | Comments Off

Obama’s turn to the far right on immigration is quite disturbing. Recently, he told some non-Latino members of Congress to not show up to a pro-Migrant press conference designed the pressure the administration.

But just a few days before the launch, members of the Obama administration called several Democratic lawmakers to ask them to tone-down their immigration rhetoric. Specifically, they reached out to several non-Latino congresspersons and asked that they, according to a Bloomberg report, “back away from a campaign led by Hispanic Democrats to block deportations involving U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants…”

Last week at a town hall, Obama told some DREAMers that he would not budge on his self-imposed policy.

Faced by a young person who disproved his claim about his Administration’s treatment of these young people, the President now seemed to concede that students and young people eligible for the DREAM Act are being deported and says that it’s not his responsibility to change that: “America is a nation of laws, which means I, as the President, am obligated to enforce the law.  I don’t have a choice about that.  That’s part of my job,” he said. When Ramos asked a follow-up question about granting formal administrative relief to undocumented youth, Obama was even more forceful: “There are enough laws on the books by Congress that are very clear in terms of how we have to enforce our immigration system that for me to simply, through executive order, ignore those congressional mandates would not conform with my appropriate role as President.”

But he can start a war?

I’m not sure if this is a political posture or what. But, FYI, Congressman Luis Gutierrez is in Houston this week to discuss the goings on regarding President Obama’s deporation policy of DREAMers.

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Posted in DREAM Act, Immigration, LatinoVote '12