Category Archives: Uncategorized

Greg reported yesterday on Judge Gilmore’s release of Harris County’s interim County Commissioner’s map for the 2012 elections.

Courtesy- Greg's Opinion

The changes the Commissioner’s Court avoided seem to have come into play as precincts in Atascocita have now been placed back into Precinct 4, as requested by so many folks. According to Greg, the demographics in Precinct 2 have basically been returned to previous levels; in other words, the Judge avoided retrogression, as she said she would, and even beat the base line by a point or so. As Kuff states, Pct. 2 still remains a 50-50 precinct in the interim, so, one wonders how much more can be gained after arguments in the impending court case over the final map.

At least for my friends in Atascocita, this means they get to vote in the 2012 special election to decide who completes Jerry Eversole’s term. As time barrels along toward the Nov 28 – Dec 15 filing period, there is still no sense about who is running for that seat on the Democratic side.

Stay connected.

Well, for the best view of the Federal Court’s edition of the House and Senate, go to Texas’ redistricting map site, and then seek maps from the category named Perez, Et Al and find plans H298 and S163. I know, it’s a bit complicated, but you can play with it enough to find if your house has been placed in the “right” district. Check it out.

For my neck of the woods, it looks like HD-127 has changed again, bringing some of the past together with the future. It will continue with Kingwood, Atascocita, parts of Humble north of Will Clayton Road (excluding the central part of the town), East to Huffman and down to Crosby, just north of Hwy. 90. Added beyond the new parts of Humble are the Deerbrook Mall area and on to the west, and north along 1960, to include some of the older suburban areas by the airport, and a swath along Cypresswood. So, while the area is a little different, the demographics aren’t much different. But with Humble comes some new opportunities based on diversity.

Lost from HD-127 were some strong Dem areas in south of Crosby (Barrett Station) and further south to Channelview, which now end up under the care of State Rep. Ana Hernandez-Luna. And I do mean care because this area was oft-neglected by Joe Crabb, and now, Dan Huberty. Huberty, though, will now have more voices in the district whose children attend Humble ISD schools, so there is a lot of organizing opportunity here.

Thankfully, one of the good guys is already laying a foundation for a run against Huberty in HD-127, Cody Pogue. An educator committed to what is right, Cody has been trekking the district, making the necessary calls, and contacting the right people. I’m looking forward to his run.

From  his FB site:

Hi, I am Cody and I want to be your state representative. I am not a politician or a businessman. I am a teacher. I dedicate every day of my life to teaching Texas and US History and government to young people in our area. It’s a passion I have held for many years.

A 7th generation Texan, I was raised in Northeast Harris County. My family didn’t have much money, but I learned the value of hard work, nature, community, and loving my neighbor from a young age.

If elected, I will make sure that education is a top priority in our state. We need to adequately fund our schools and then give teachers the authority to actually teach and not be burdened down with meaningless tests. I will also stand up to protect the forests, lakes, and rivers we use for hunting, fishing, and sustaining life. I will stand up for locally owned small businesses and I will always put the people of Texas far ahead of special interests.

He’s the real deal.

SD4

The changes in  SD-4 have Orange County and Liberty County cut out, but now we have more of Montgomery County. Obviously, I reside in the same northeast corner of Harris County that has been in SD-4 for a while now. When it comes to “Democratic” competition, it hasn’t been too friendly as most of the more “D”-heavy Jefferson County has been in it. Given the competitiveness within our convention caucus room, the JeffCo coalition (with Orange and Chambers) has come out the winner, and then largely ignores all of the other counties–seldom to SDEC members visit our neck of the woods.

Anyway, if I’m still residing in SD-4 by next summer, I will definitely look forward to Convention in Houston. It is time for some real coalition building.

Well, I did my part in helping one of my favorite candidates and posted up some signs at some of the polling locations last night. On the way, I noticed many signs along the right of way of one of our mayor’s opponents.

Funny thing, the guy works for the city, and has now vandalized our ROWs in Kingwood. We don’t take kindly to that type of behavior–no matter what Party. I sure hope he picks up every single sign after he loses tonight.

Until then, there will be some lucky dogs today who can do their business on a couple of things…

Thanks to my friend Lillie Schechter, I’m in a predicament.  Which parties do I attend?  FYI:  Candidates reserve the right to roam to other parties.

Here’s the list, thus far, and we’ll update as we go:

Tuesday, November 8

Mayor Parker, Minute Maid – Union Station, 501 Crawford Street  Houston, TX 77002

1.

Council Member Costello - no event

2.
Jenifer Rene Pool, Riva’s Italian Restaurant,1117 Missouri St., Houston,
Bolivar Fraga, EL JARDIN, 7849 HARRISBURG BLVD, 77012
David Robinson, Empire Cafe

3.
Council Member Melissa Noriega & HISD Trustee District VIII Juliet Stipeche, Bohemeo’s, 708 Telephone Road # East, Houston, TX 77023

4.

The Challenger, Louis Molnar, Sushi Raku, 3201 Louisiana @ Elgin

Council Member Bradford, Orange Bar, 1613 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77006

5.

Council Member Jones, El Tiempo at 3130 Richmond Ave

B.

Jerry Davis, Mr. A’s, 3409 Cavalcade Street  Houston, TX

Alvin Byrd, Moment N Time, 5400 Tidwell, Houston, TX

C.

Ellen Cohen, Cafe Adobe, 2111 Westheimer Road

Karen Derr, Canyon Creek, 6603 Westcott

J0sh Verde, Guava Lamp

D.

Council Member Wanda Adams,

Reggae Hut Cafe, 4814 Almeda Road, Houston, TX77004

H.

Council Member Ed Gonzalez - no event

I.

Council Member James Rodriguez, Cork Soaker, 2024 Rusk Street  Houston, TX 77003

J.
Mike Laster, Dave & Busters, 6010 Richmond @ Fountaview
Criselda Romero, Don Carlos, 6501 SW Freeway

K.

Larry Green, Reliant Stadium Press Box, 2 Reliant Park

HISD Trustee District III

Ramiro Fonseca, Home, 8156 Lynn St.

HISD Trustee District IV

Paula Harris, RiversideTerrace Cafe, 2515 Riverside

HCCS Trustee District IV

Carroll Robinson, GrooveyGrillMansion, 2619Calumet

Houston ISD recently passed an anti-bullying policy. Does the policy say anything about how to treat Trustees acting like anti-GLBT bullies? Because Manuel Rodriguez sure is acting like one.

There’s no doubt that this blogger is rooting for Ramiro Fonseca in this race.

Why?

Fonseca brings a wealth of experience in higher education and community action that is needed at Houston ISD. But, mostly, he loves and cares for his community.

His opponent, Rodriguez, could have made the “I’m a parent and he’s not” argument without attacking an entire community–other than us single, non-parent taxpayers who care about what is coming out of our schools. Manuel Rodriguez chose an ugly path out of desperation, and that’s a shame. Better to lose (or possibly win) with some class, than to end up looking like a bigoted bully.

HISD-8 Trustee Juliet Stipeche had this to say in a status post on Facebook:

I denounce the reprehensible, mean-spirited, bigoted mailer that was sent out in the HISD, District III race. I ask my colleagues to maintain and uphold HISD’s total non-discrimination policy and treat every person, including other candidates, with dignity and respect. Let us embrace diversity and equality and treat every person as we would like ourselves to be treated.

I don’t think there’s much of a doubt in this race:  Ramiro Fonseca needs to be District 3′s new Trustee.

UPDATE:  Chron retracts Rodriguez endorsement.

More from:  PDiddie, Kuff, Bay Area Houston

3rd Annual “We Have a DREAM Summit”

Making Educational DREAMs come true

[Houston, TX] On Saturday November 5, 2011 from 9:30a.m. to 2:00p.m., at HCC Southeast Learning Hub (6815 Rustic Houston, TX 77087), parents, students and community members will be gathered to learn about higher education opportunities for all people regardless of their immigration status.  

www.fielhouston.org

¿Evict Quien?

Earlier this week at one of my visits to the everyone’s favorite polling location, one Occupy Houston participant told me that “they” had heard that “things were changing” and that they had heard Mayor Annise Parker had plans to evict the OHers the day after the election.

I didn’t believe it since the Mayor’s office had been working well with OH, and vice versa, from what I had heard. Still, I found it a bit odd that OHers were planning to protest the Mayor’s home. Whether it happened or not, I haven’t seen.

I asked some OH people about it, but they didn’t think the protest was “General Assembly-” approved. And there was no mention of any perceived or rumored threat of eviction by the Mayor by these OHers. So, needless to say, I was a bit confused.

Nonetheless, the Mayor announced on Twitter last night that there are no plans to evict Occupy Houston. Here’s how it went:

There has been misinformation spread re: the Occupy Houston protests. We have not made plans to “evict” #OccupyHouston participants.-a

City & @occupyhouston have working relationship to allow protesters 2 exercise 1st amendment rights w/out endangering public health/safety-a

So, that’s done. Folks need to be checking these rumors before reacting. And if all else fails…ask the Mayor’s office.

Perry Wants Another Bracero Program

That’s what Rick Perry’s program would amount to. A program that would allow corporations to take advantage of low-wage workers, rather than a path to citizenship which would increase job competition and perhaps increase wages. And without a path toward status, these workers would not be afforded worker protections that others enjoy. They would still be taxpayers, as they are today, but without any rights. Taxation without representation is something America fought against at one point.

Anyone who calls this a “friendly toward Latinos” policy is a fool. We’ve been down the Bracero path before.

DCCC Expects to Pick up 5 in Texas

That’s the story in the Potomac blog. Obviously, there are some vulnerable GOP freshman that are targeted, like Canseco in San Antonio. They think they can run on “conservative ideals,” but fail to support President Obama’s economic and jobs plans, which their constituents support. I sure hope we get some real Democrats and not some Dumbocrats, though.

VOTE!

Well, looks like we’ll push passed the 50K mark today in early voters. Can we get 100K more on Tuesday?

Have a great weekend, folks.

After 7pm today, Friday from 7am to 7pm will be the last day you may cast your ballot at one of 37 polling locations located around Harris County. Otherwise, you must vote on Tuesday, November 8, 7am to 7pm at your precinct voting location (click link to find your location and a sample ballot).

As of Wednesday night, a little over 33,000 had voted at the early voting locations with almost 7,000 mail ballots having been returned. So, I guess that  makes around the 40,000 mark with today and Friday to still be added on. There’s no doubt that we’ll get over the 50,000 mark. So, that leaves us guessing what election day will be like.

Those of you who haven’t voted can do us all a favor and surprise us by voting.

And if I know you and you haven’t voted…I can get access to voting records and the minute I see you all whining and moaning about something, I will point out your lack of voting!

And while you’re at it:

At-Large 2:  Jenifer Rene Pool

At-Large 3:  Melissa Noriega

At-Large 4:  Louis Molnar

As well she should be. Whenever you put a Hispanic face to an issue, one would figure that it would be to produce a calming effect; perhaps a path to a productive conversation. The Republicans used to be effective at this until the anti-immigrant Hispanics, like Marco Rubio, came around and wanted to act just as crazy as the Teapers.

But when Cecilia Muñoz has spoken on immigration reform, the once immigration reform advocate has “criminalized” an entire community. According to immigration organizer Felipe Matos in a HuffPost piece:

Some have even called on her to resign because she repeatedly calls the non-violent, non-criminal immigrant majority of people that the Obama Administration deports “criminals” and “collateral damage.” For me, these people designated “criminals” by Muñoz and the Obama Administration are more than “collateral damage.”

It is bad enough that the Obama administration has punted on comprehensive immigration reform, but they made things worse with the deportation of over 1 million immigrants, tens of thousands who had not committed any crimes but were caught up in this enforcement frenzy. The numbers make it quite obvious that Obama’s Latino support tanked because of this, as well as the general feeling about the economy.

Obama’s recent change of tune in support his American Jobs Act has caused an uptick in his numbers, including his Latino numbers. And that’s great. I still intend to vote for him in 2012. But my worry is about mi gente.

The Republicans will continue their mixed messaging between “you’re just like us” and “but we don’t want you here.” But all the Democrats can offer is, “We broke our promise because of the Republicans” and “But we’ll deport you anyway.” If this was an attempt at appeasing independents who are mostly clueless on the nuances of comprehensive immigration reform, perhaps it might work. But when you already have a low-performing Latino electorate that votes 2/3-plus Democratic, then you better start worrying about performance.

And the Hispanic point person Obama is offering seems to be fumbling the ball going on offense on an issue on which the Administration should be playing defense; in other words, defending Latinos.

I’m not sure what this mixed strategy of failed and targeted policy versus blaming Republicans is all about. But to add to it a Hispanic talking head to talk down to immigration advocates? The administration needs to put a stop to the negative talk by the Hispanic PR person. It is really unbecoming when any administration throws a Latin@ under the bus for the sake of politics.

But it is worse when a Latin@’s loyalties to their boss causes that person to throw an entire community under the bus.

Ted Poe, like most Republicans, minimizes complaints about Latino racial profiling to political correctness. Why? Because he supports violating people’s civil rights based on skin color, ethnicity, and if the South Carolina law is anything like Arizona’s, a person’s shoes.

“The federal government is more concerned about not hurting the feelings of other countries like Mexico than it is protecting our country,” he said.

Leave it to Ted Poe to take out the human aspect from the equation.

This vitriol is nothing new from Poe. He’s quoted KKK leaders on the floor of Congress, for God’s sake. But this does point to the direction the Republican Party is going on Latinos–immigrant and not. This is the party that has defunded public education in Texas when Latinos are the majority of its K-12 students. This is the party that has cut student financial aid when the growth of Texas colleges and universities has come from Latinos. And this is the party more interested in cutting health care reform and access when Latinos are among those most in need of health care services. The list goes on.

Who’s really fighting for us? And Latinos also have a responsibility to question Latino electeds in the Republican Party. The Republicans will boast about their brown folks, like a couple of Hispanic Texas Supreme Court justices who some in local Latino circles kiss up to (and one candidate defends crossing party lines to help a “friend”), but for whom are those Republatinos fighting? Certainly, not the Latino community profiled by such laws, and they would probably defend Ted Poe.