Category Archives: Accion

Supporting the Perez Family

Posted on May 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

Pat Perez Speaks to a Great Crowd at Stephanie’s

Recently, I wrote a post about Talento Bilingue de Houston (I even have a direct link to their fundraising site on the right side of the blog). Well, I mentioned their hard-working leader Javier Perez. Javier was recently hit by a car in downtown Houston, leaving him with various injuries, and along with that, some mounting hospital bills. Javier is recovering and will need added fixing up, so, his friends put on a fundraiser yesterday at Stephanie’s Ice House in the East End.

In fact, District I candidate Ben Mendez got all the friends, many from the National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO), together to organize a BBQ plate sale (food by Mad Cow Cookers), which included live and DJ music, games for the kids, a raffle of some pretty cool stuff, and just some good ol’ camaraderie.

Much of the excitement came from the dunking booth where folks were lining up to dunk both Mendez and fellow District I candidate Robert Gallegos.  And all of this was for a great cause–to give a little bit of help to a great family who have always been there for the community, Javier & Pat Perez and the kids.

District I Battle: Does This Count As The First Debate?

I must give a shout-out to a band that is fast-becoming my favorite, Grupo Alianza. And not just because they gave me and DosCentavos a few shout-outs during their set. They put on a good show of original and cover material, and even caused this blogger to hit the dance floor for a polkita alegre (the bad knee is fine, thanks). If you need a band for your political fundraiser, quince, wedding, or whatever, give them a call at (832) 338-7981 or find them at Myspace.com/elgrupoalianza.

El Grupo Alianza Even Put DosCentavos on the Dance Floor!

Mention should also go to DJ Robert Blanco, Tony and The Silverbacks, Conjunto Fuego, Fonseca Entertainment, and anyone else who took the stage after I departed.

I know Javier and Pat are very appreciative of the help and support the community has provided them. I know I wish I could have done more, except that my Mom was going through her own surgery and rehab during this time, too. I was proud to be out there yesterday, and looking at all the volunteers, there’s no doubt that this family is very much loved and appreciated.

I’m not sure if there is a link where the community can continue to contribute to this cause, but I’ll find out.

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, Cultura

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March and Rally for Unity – Saturday 5/4/13

march13

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Posted on April 30, 2013 in 2013 Categories, Accion, Sensible Immigration Reform, U.S. Capitol

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March for Immigration Reform – Today

Posted on April 10, 2013 | Comments Off

Dozens of organizations are coming together today for an Immigration Reform Day of Action. At 11:30AM, the march will commence at the corner of Clay and Smith Streets in Downtown Houston and will visit the Federal Building before continuing.

All of this is to bring this issue to the attention of Texas’ Senators Cruz and Cornyn–both whom have shown little support for fair immigration reform. In fact, Cornyn and another local member of Congress recently submitted a “secure border” bill with unreachable markers which would define a “secure border.” The bill threatens to stop any current momentum that the Gang of 8 has achieved; if anything, talks seem to be getting a bit sluggish as it is.

So, obviously, a marcha is in order. Join the march this morning!

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, Sensible Immigration Reform

Dan Patrick Targets Ethnic History Courses

Posted on March 13, 2013 | 5 Comments

Our friend the AztecMuse and some of his associates will be in Austin to discuss what seems like a surprise move to make changes to higher education History requirements.

Taking a page out of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s anti-ethnic playbook, State Senator Dan Patrick has filed SB1128, a bill which will basically bar colleges and universities from allowing students the opportunity to take History courses with an ethnic emphasis in place of the required U.S. History and Texas History Courses. In essence, Mexican American, African American and other U.S. History courses are now threatened by Dan Patrick’s bill.

Patrick offers a simple, yet dangerous, change to the original statute by adding “from courses providing a comprehensive survey” of American History. Patrick adds that students may partially satisfy the two-course requirement with a Texas History course “from courses providing a comprehensive survey” of Texas History.

Most dictionaries will define a survey course as,”An academic course consisting of an overview of a broad topic or field of knowledge.”

So, in this case, he is definitely targeting any course with an “emphasis” in, or even a course that deals specifically with, a U.S. or other ethnic group. Or at the very least, forcing university and college administrators to define what material is included in a survey course.

The Librotraficante folks state they have the following issues with the bill:

*This would prevent the story of Mexican American Congressional Medal of Honor Winners from being taught in courses that count toward degrees in Texas colleges.

*TX Senator Dan Patrick is basing his bill on the findings from a survey conducted by the National Association of Scholars (NAS). This group targets multicultural studies throughout the U.S. In 1990, the group was active in getting the Mexican American newspaper at the University of Texas defunded.
*If it isn’t broke, don’t’ fix it. The NAS survey uses faulty research to erroneously discredit the Texas educational system.

*In a global economy, why would anyone want to build a border wall around History Courses?

And Los Librotraficantes are headed to Austin to state the case of those of us who support ethnic studies and courses which are as American and Texan as any others deemed such, and as has been decided by Texas colleges and universities for decades.

Houston, TX (March 13, 2013) – Does Texas Senator Dan Patrick want to prevent the story of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Roy Benavidez from being taught in Texas classrooms? Dan Patrick’s Senate Bill 1128 (SB1128) would do just that.

Who: The Librotraficantes will be heading to Austin, TX this time instead of Arizona. This includes writers, professors, school board members, & students in Mexican American Studies programs.

When: Thursday, March 14, 2013. 9 a.m. – 12:30
Meetings with Education Committee Chair Rep. Seliger (9am), Dan Patrick (10:30 am) and other reps.

Why: TX Senator Dan Patrick’s SB1128 must be taken off the floor. It is another Arizona House Bill 2281 in the making. It is an attack on Ethnic Studies.

Back when DosCentavos was in college, I took care of my History requirements at Austin Community College. At the time, there was an offering of HIST 1301 and HIST 1302 (the required courses) with a “Mexican American emphasis.” Actually, it was taught by a white guy by the name of Al Purcell, who actually taught them quite well and no other History was missed; if anything, a good dose of History about Texas Latinos was included that may not have been included in a “regular” course for whatever reason.  Now, I look at the course selection and separate courses are offered with the ethnic emphases, and I wonder, what happened? And can these “emphasis” courses be brought back in case Dan Patrick gets his way? And did this happen at other college and universities? And why?

Either way, this bill, and its companion bill HB1938, stand to affect how colleges and universities operate, and how the legislature can simply affect curriculum based on attitudes toward US ethnic groups.

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, Texas Lege

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Houston Seeks First Poet Laureate

Posted on February 21, 2013 | Comments Off

This came in through the Inbox. What a novel idea–a poet laureate for the City of Houston. Talk about a great way of showcasing literary talent. Applications are due March 8. Here’s the memo from our friends at the Houston Public Library:

Houston (February 20, 2013) – Mayor Annise D. Parker and Houston Public Library (HPL) Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson announce that Houston is seeking its first Poet Laureate.  The Houston Poet Laureate Program (HPLP) celebrates Houston’s rich culture and diversity through the work of a poet who will represent the city by creating excitement about poetry through outreach, programs, teaching, and written work. The Houston Poet Laureate will receive an annual honorarium of $5,000 through the City’s Initiative Grant Program of the Houston Arts Alliance and serve a term of two years, April 2013 through April 2015.

Submissions are welcome from persons nominating a poet for the position of Houston Poet Laureate or from individual poets who are seeking the position. The HPLP application can be found at http://www.houstonlibrary.org/upload/13-houston-laureate-form.pdf, which includes information about all materials required and term requirements. Completed application packets should be submitted either as Microsoft Word or PDF documents via e-mail to jennifer.schwartz@houstontx.gov by 11:59 PM (CST) on Friday, March 8, 2013. (Note: All nominations submitted must be complete and fulfill all requirements. Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered.)

The HPLP is provided in partnership between the City of Houston, HPL, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA).

“Houston’s diversity is its strength, and we want to tap the resource of talented individuals in our city to find our first Poet Laureate,” said Mayor Parker. “As a fellow poet, I hope everyone joins in the competition and help Houston’s reputation grow as a fine arts city.”

“At the Houston Public Library we have long recognized poetry programming as a valuable and essential literary tool for the cultural enrichment of the community,” said Dr. Lawson. “We are very excited about joining the Mayor and the Poet Laureate committee to select Houston’s first Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate will serve an important role, representing the city through the written word. The Poet Laureate will help make poetry more accessible and engaging for everyone by creating original works and events about and for Houstonians.”

Mayor Parker, along with Director Lawson, has appointed the Houston Poet Laureate Selection Committee, a group of acknowledged and diverse poets, scholars, and literary experts, to assist in the nomination and selection process: Robin Reagler, Executive Director of Writers in the Schools (WITS), Janet Lowery, Professor and Cullen Chair of English and Creative Writing in the University of St. Thomas Department of English, Rich Levy, Executive Director of Inprint, Joseph Campana, Assistant Professor in the Rice University Department of English, Chitra Divakaruni, Professor in the University of Houston Department of English, Shannon Buggs, Director of Communication in the University of Houston College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Diem Jones, Director of Grants at the Houston Arts Alliance, Elizabeth Brown Guillory, Distinguished Professor of Theatre and Associate Provost/Associate Vice President for Academic and Faculty Affairs at Texas Southern University. Jennifer Schwartz, Program Manager of the Houston Public Library, and Minnette Boesel, Mayor’s Assistant for Cultural Affairs of the City of Houston, are the non-voting members of the Committee.

The Houston Poet Laureate Selection Committee will review all applications. Finalists will be interviewed in person by the committee in late March and early April. The names of the finalists will be forwarded to Mayor Parker and Dr. Lawson for their approval and final selection. The Poet Laureate will be announced in April 2013 to coincide with National Poetry Month.

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, City of Houston, Cultura

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Just In: Texas House Unanimously Passes Medicaid IOU Bill

Posted on February 21, 2013 | Comments Off

The Texas House of Representatives passed by a vote of 148-0 a bill to fund a Medicaid IOU bill to ensure there is enough money to continue providing health services to the poorest in Texas–3 million Texans. The bill now goes to the Texas Senate for consideration, and then, hopefully, to the Governor. The bill must be passed and signed within the next month to ensure services are available for the remainder of the fiscal year which ends in August.

The $4.8 billion bill mainly pays for Medicaid costs pushed off two years ago when lawmakers faced the prediction of a massive revenue shortfall. It also covers funding due the Children’s Health Insurance Program and allocates some money needed for schools to get through the fiscal year.

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer had filed an amendment to the bill that would have added the $5.4 million cut from public education; however, in order to avoid any delays that may have occurred, he withdrew the amendment. A bipartisan group of State Reps will continue discussions on the matter.

This is just one step that takes care of the cuts from the last two years. Texans must still contact legislators to support a Medicaid expansion, which Rick Perry and other fellow Republican officeholders do not support. Republican governors across the country are changing course and supporting Medicaid expansion, so, this may cause some softening from the right, but the pressure must come from the people.

Likewise, increasing the daily rate for Texas nursing home reimbursements is just as important. Again, it is up to Texans to demand what is right from the Legislature.

Contact your legislators.

 

 

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, Health Care

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Texas Lege Must Increase Nursing Home Medicaid Funding

Posted on February 19, 2013 | Comments Off

While expanding Medicaid is a very important issue to support, there are problems that the Texas Legislature has caused to one part of the program today and since 1999, particularly to the State Medicaid nursing home program. The problem isn’t only that the State of Texas would cut its own investment in Medicaid, it’s the fact that there is an even bigger reduction in Texas’ Medicaid allotment from the Federal government with ever dollar cut by the Texas Legislature. Given the chance that Medicaid is at risk of federal cuts because of the so-called sequester, we are in the midst of a health care crisis if the Legislature does not act during the 83rd legislative session.

As the Trib reported last year, nursing homes were not hit with the anticipated 33% state-federal benefit cut, but they still experienced a 3% cut which hit nursing home facilities to the tune of over $58 million. What’s worse, is that Texas reimburses nursing homes at a rate of $126 per day, far less than the $176  per day national average. When one realizes that 70% of nursing home residents are enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, then one fully realizes the extent of any cuts to the program and its weak reimbursement rate.

As the Texas Health Care Association puts it:

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) says Medicaid spending in 2014-2015 will require $925 million just to meet the cost of caring for the nearly 60,000 Medicaid-dependent elderly and disabled Texans living in nursing homes.

This means Texas nursing homes and their residents will shoulder a nearly $1 billion burden in state government underfunding unless the Texas legislature adds that amount in the state budget for the next two years.

Obviously, this is an issue near and dear to my heart because my elderly mother and many Texas grandmothers and mothers are beneficiaries of this program, and that even the best-run nursing homes are talking about shutting down is something that should scare all Texans, but it should also be a call to action.

Call, write, email your Texas Legislators today. (Click on link)

  • Tell them that you know someone in a Texas nursing home,
  • Tell them that you support an increase in the daily rate for Nursing Home Medicaid to meet the cost of providing quality care for frail elderly Texans.
  • And remind them that Texas ranks 49th in reimbursement rates and that elderly Texans who have helped make Texas what it is today are at risk of poor quality care and the closure of their nursing homes. They deserve better from our elected officials.

There are many issues before the State Legislature, especially regarding health care. Nursing Home Medicaid is especially in a crisis mode. Act today and act everyday to support Nursing Home Medicaid.

This is just a start. DosCentavos will be writing more about this crisis as the Legislative Session continues.

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, Health Care, Texas Lege

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SD-6 ~ Early Voting Begins on Wednesday, 2/20

Posted on February 18, 2013 | Comments Off

That’s right, for those able to vote in Senate District 6, you have one more go-round at the voting booth (or by mail). The best time to get it done is during the Early Voting period, which begins on Wednesday, February 20. Here’s the schedule:

February 20 – February 22: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
February 23: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
February 24: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
February 25 – February 26: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

There will be seven (7) early voting locations available around SD-6:

Location Address
1 Harris County Administration Building 1001 Preston, 1st Floor Houston TX 77002
2 Holy Name Catholic Church 1912 Marion Street Houston TX 77009
3 Ripley House 4410 Navigation Boulevard Houston TX 77011
4 H.C.C.S Southeast College, Learning Hub 6815 Rustic, Bldg D Houston TX 77087
5 Galena Park Library 1500 Keene Street Galena Park TX 77547
6 Hardy Senior Center 11901 West Hardy Road Houston TX 77076
7 Baytown Community Center 2407 Market Street Baytown TX 77520

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Posted in 2013 Categories, Accion, Elections

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EVENT TODAY: Vigil To Stop Family Separation

Posted on February 15, 2013 | Comments Off

From Facebook:

PLEASE NOTE: DATE AND EVENT CHANGE!

TODAY – Friday, February 15 at 7PM

Houston Processing Center, 15850 Export Plaza Dr, Houston, TX 77032

Join us on Friday, February 15th, as we come together to fight the ongoing death, incarceration, and ill-treatment of our community in the Houston Processing Center, and support each other through the process.

HPC is one of the top ten worst immigrant detention centers in the country, according to the Detention Watch Network (http://bit.ly/TremY0), and Texas is the state with the second largest number of immigrant detention centers in the country.

After decades of fearing the ever-present “glare” of la migra all-around us, it is time to turn the ICE-cold eye of the community on them, and no longer believe the lie that we can do nothing about it.

We can!

So please join us, as we come together to mourn the loss of those who have already passed through this immigrant processing monster, as well as those who have lost their lives in centers like this (there are two cases this year already, including an Honduran man in the Conroe center last week,http://bit.ly/YdfUEy), and those like one of our very own cousins who is currently in detention at HPC and feeling like there is no one there to help him. Join us as we come together to shore ourselves up for the oncoming battles and let ICE know that our community gaze will soon turn on them.

Have you become ICE-resistant yet?

If you or someone you know is going through a deportation process or a difficult case, La Texas Undocumented Youth Alliance, a new group, is here to help.

Please contact Alicia Torres at 512-659-1829 or email laTUYAtx@gmail.com if you have questions, want to get involved, or need help fighting a loved one’s deportation.

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