Category Archives: Texas Lege

2nd TEA Talk-at-Community Meeting Goes As Expected

Posted on March 23, 2023 | Leave a comment

Greg Abbott’s minion, Mike Morath at TEA, failed to show again at an HISD takeover community meeting, and Morath’s own minion (Alejandro Delgado) failed at running a meeting, again, as he attempted to show that powerpoint. Parents and teachers did show up again to ask questions for which they are not getting answers. When they didn’t get the answers, they took over the meeting.

The report from KHOU points out that Delgado states that over 200 questions have been collected and half are about the board of managers. Those at meetings do not seem to be asking about the board appointment process, so, my guess is that the questions are from the TEA online portal, where it’s safe for chaqueteros to ask. Also, 138 people have applied to be on the board of managers and TEA wants more applicants to justify their appointment process and outcome.

As Kuff points out, TEA’s meeting practices don’t give folks the warm and fuzzies to capture their hearts and minds, but I’m pretty sure that hasn’t been TEA’s intent this whole time. According to Campos, all of the loud noises from the people at the meetings aren’t going to change a thing about TEA’s takeover. But, hell, the lawsuits and the Lege didn’t work, so, what’s left? If this doesn’t turn into an actual and long-term people-led movement, instead of just a regular ol’ political campaign to win a seat with the least numbers possible, then nothing will change.

Anyway…

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Posted in 2023, Accion, City of Houston, Cultura, Education - K12, Elections, Local Politica, Media, Texas Lege, Voting Rights

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TEA Takeover Meeting a Farce

Posted on March 22, 2023 | 1 comment

By the looks of it, the TEA Takeover public meetings are just for informational purposes; and by that, I mean, the information that TEA wants to provide.

Last night’s meeting at Westbury High School was planned to last one hour, was all about a PowerPoint presentation one can find on the TEA website, and an attempt to recruit community members for the “board of managers” Greg Abbott wants to create. The result: More chaos and more anger.

Houston community members were irate Tuesday night as state education officials tried to explain the process of taking over their school district. State officials did not take questions about the effects such a move could have on Houston Independent School District, which is the largest in Texas, but did try to recruit community members to replace the existing school board.

About seven minutes into the Texas Education Agency’s PowerPoint presentation on the impending HISD takeover, parents and community members erupted in shouts directed at TEA deputy commissioner Alejandro Delgado.

“We got questions,” attendees repeatedly yelled. “Y’all tryna take our community.”

Further, TEA commissioner Morath didn’t even bother to attend and Greg Abbott was somewhere else outside of Houston ISD borders talking about giving public money to private schools.

If this doesn’t tell you what kind of a farce this is, I don’t know what will. It is obvious that a hand-picked board, much less the TEA, will not be accountable to the people. Certainly, they do not want to have a conversation with the people as they passed out notecards for folks to write their questions those in charge could hand-pick to answer. One can only think this is how “board” meetings will be run.

Local activist TravisMcGee, whose children attend an HISD high school, said the meeting was “very disrespectful” to community members. People wanted to express their concerns and frustrations directly to TEA officials through a microphone on a podium regarding the board of managers change, rather than hear about the application process, he said.

“The board of managers is going to be a bunch of puppets,” McGee said. “Our school district ain’t perfect, but I doubt the state of Texas gonna do any better.”

Arnetta Murray, a Houston ISD teacher, said the TEA has not listened to the community about more pressing concerns. If they did, they would know the district has a bus driver shortage and teachers are stressed over standardized testing.

“I don’t care about no board of managers,” she said. “I care about our students and I care about the teachers.”

At this point, rolling over and allowing Greg Abbott’s takeover to happen is not an option, much less participating in the farce through the board of managers. At least, that’s how the people feel.

There are three more “talk-at the community” TEA meetings to reach 200,000 children, 30,000 employees, and millions of taxpayers. I hope DPS copters in Morath. The mouthpiece he sent seemed useless on the TV.

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Posted in 2023, Accion, Cultura, Education - K12, Elections, Harris County, Higher Education, Local Politica, Media, Texas Lege

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Thoughts on the TEA Takeover of HISD

Posted on March 16, 2023 | 2 comments

It has been a year since I moved back into Houston ISD territory after living a block away just inside Alief ISD for a number of years. I was so upset that I moved in too late to have voted for my friend Holly Flynn Vilaseca in HISD District VI. As Greg Abbott begins his move to transition HISD into the Texas prison system (or something like that), the reality that elections matter hits people right in the face.

Political realities are the worst thing people can feel when bad decisions affect them, especially if they voted against their best interests or didn’t vote at all. And for almost 200K students, 30,000 staff, and millions of taxpayers, the fact that our democracy has been compromised by a power-hungry Greg Abbott should have us living in fear, yet, wanting to do something about it. So, I have a few thoughts about the TEA takeover that will happen in June.

  • The voters of HISD District VI had a hard-working trustee in Flynn Vilaseca. She was fighting for our kids, our teachers, and our democracy. Unfortunately, various powers preferred misinformation and a person whose idea of representation has been to sell-out HISD stakeholders, Kendall Baker, whose support of Greg Abbott’s idiocy was on TV news yesterday. Baker supports the TEA takeover and sacrificing his own political career to prove his loyalty to awful people. Baker is a right-wing zealot who has been supported by vultures, such as State Rep Mayes Middleton and local county commissioner and election denier Tom Ramsey. I hope the voters who were duped into voting for him realize what they did in voting for him. Removing him from the board is probably a good thing (as undemocratic as that may be), but knowing there are better-connected right-wing zealots who do not support public education out there and whom Abbott will appoint is unsettling. Kendall Baker was a great pawn for the right-wing zealots, though.
  • Watching the various news reports yesterday, I found that reporters set-off to find HISD parents to ask their opinion of Greg Abbott’s takeover of HISD. A few were somewhat informed, yet, surprised that it was going to happen. The concern was palpable. Others had the mentality that, “as long as something is done to make things better,” but with no knowledge of the politics and process and upheaval that Greg Abbott’s route would cause. And then there was that parent who wanted to feign knowledge, but was not at all paying attention. So, that there is a lack of information out there is not a surprise. And that parents need to be spoon-fed the information is also not a surprise, whether it’s done by trustees, administrators, or the political class in Houston. But it is TEA who will take advantage of the way things have always been done to keep people misinformed as only four (4) informational meetings have been scheduled to reach 200,000 students, 30,000 employees, and millions of taxpayers. Ignorance is bliss all-around, but while some hope no one says anything so that no one messes with the status quo or other agendas that may exist, the right-wing-nuts goes merrily along and actually does something to further their race to the bottom.
  • Kuff has a little bit more. He thinks people should apply to be on the board of managers to see if a few good minds can be placed, and I do see the logic. But there are bad things that will happen because of this unelected, undemocratic board and I’d hate for any of our good people be tainted by those decisions. I’d prefer some sort of movement to call out the decisions that are being made–a mass movement led by people and not the politicians who have that taint on them no matter which title they possess. I’d like to see those who fight hardest against Greg Abbott’s shenanigans be on the next board of trustees–once, HISD is paroled from Abbott’s prison system. At this point, I see anyone who has applied to be on the board as suspect. I hope that this takeover causes more good people to find the drive in themselves to serve–as thankless as this job may be. And also, redistrict HISD!

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Posted in 2023, Accion, City of Houston, Cultura, Education - K12, Elections, Harris County, Local Politica, Media, Republinuttiness, Texas Lege, Thoughts on Viernes

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Thoughts on Viernes – 02172023

Posted on February 17, 2023 | Comments Off on Thoughts on Viernes – 02172023

Richard Cantu is Official on Social Media

Though we’d heard through the social media grapevine that HCDE Trustee Richard Cantu had filed at city hall to run for Houston City Council At-Large Position 3, we finally have added proof that he is in the running as he transformed his candidate Facebook page for this race. States Cantu:

Our neighborhoods should be clean and safe, and it takes leadership to make it happen! The neighborhoods that have problems with dumping also have some of the worst crime problems. I will tap into my three decades of positive relationships with community leaders, law enforcement, educators, faith leaders, and businesses, to continue to bring results to neighborhoods across the city!

Cantu adds that having lost his daughter to gun violence, he will continue to honor her memory by continuing to advocate to end gun violence while on City Council.

Richard has experience running and serving countywide, working with various entities to bring services to the area’s youth, so, he’s not running just because it’s a good gig. He will put in the work.

Abbott Promises More BS and Less Action

Greg Abbott spoke to his right-wing and bigoted friends yesterday. He sure as hell didn’t speak to the people of Texas, promising to blame immigrants, border communities, and Joe Biden for Texans’ fentanyl addictions; blaming judges for the overuse of an oversupply of guns in crimes; pushing school vouchers as a means of avoiding getting shot at public schools while also avoiding being indoctrinated with facts and science and stuff (I think that what I heard).

Anyway, Greg Abbott continues to set high standards for do-nothing republicans who just want a good gig. Meanwhile, Fascist Mack continues to fund Republican lawsuits promoting denial of election outcomes in which they lost.

COVID-19 Remains Steady

As we near of the Biden-ending of the pandemic emergencies, the most recent COVID-19 surge remains steady and in double-digits, though leaders celebrate the slow drop in cases. We are at 12% positivity while the newest variants continue to surge. The Feds continue to push vaccination, especially the bivalent boosters, but have done little to promote masking in busy places (stores, mass events). So, the more I see people I know getting bit a second time by COVID-19, the more I know no one is doing enough–including people, in general. And as health experts tell us, the more the virus circulates (spreads), the more it will change and become more transmissible as new variants.

Thankfully, Moderna has stated that their boosters and vaccines will continue to be free to the public, including the uninsured. But that’s because the taxpayers paid for its development. The other drug companies will charge $110 for the vaccines.

When is the next booster for those of use fully boosted, yet probably waning? Well, the Feds seem to be waiting on whether we will switch to an annual booster in the Fall. Some of us are worried about waiting too long if the current booster is waning, especially the immunocompromised who need the protection. Dr. Peter Hotez suggests the Feds recommend a second booster sooner so that people can decide whether or not to get it. The Feds don’t seem to be listening to the experts.

So, keep masking, stay away from big crowds, etc.

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Posted in 2023, Accion, City of Houston, DC Promo, Elections, Local Politica, Media, Republinuttiness, Texas Lege

Election 2022 Results

Posted on November 10, 2022 | Comments Off on Election 2022 Results

Congrats to County Judge Lina Hidalgo. She fought off an all-out attack from Fascist Mack, his millionaire buddies and his puppet of a candidate, consistently adding to her lead as the votes were counted throughout the night. Other Dems, including District Clerk Marilyn Burgess and County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth return to their jobs, and Dr. Carla Wyatt will take over as County Treasurer in January. Amy Hinojosa and Andrea Duhon return to the Harris County Dept of Education board, too.

We will have a new Pct. 4 County Commissioner as Lesley Briones pushed on through to defeat the no-show incumbent. With Judge Hidalgo and Commish Adrian Garcia earning re-election, Harris County Commissioner’s Court will now have four (4) Democrats–a supermajority that can ensure strong budgets and policies are passed whether GOPer Tom Ramsey shows up or not. Some say this isn’t a mandate, but after all the hate-mongering and money wasted by the other side, I think Harris County did achieve a strong mandate for progressive values and policies.

With all of the attack ads full of misinformation and fear-mongering against “Democrat Judges,” Dems lost a few judicial races, including 180th District Judge Dasean Jones. Of course, the local Dem DA assisted in the bail-related fear-mongering, so, I hope Judge Jones stays close and challenges the DA in 2024. There were several sitting judges who were “in the news” regarding bonds and releases, but it seems Republicans honed in on African-American judicial candidates because they are the ones that lost. The non-Black judges seemed to cruise into re-election. Just an observation.

That said, I’m surprised nothing was said about all the corporate money that was used to create the Republican “crime” message that attacked all of the judges. The money came from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a very dead Sheldon Adelson’s Vegas gambling corporation, and other non-crime, non-law enforcement-related corporations. They were trying to buy civil court judges, people! They didn’t care about crime.

Well, Democrats haven’t elected anyone statewide for over 25 years, and that reality continues. South Texas continues to add to Republicans’ bottom line, and anything over 35-40 % of the vote in those counties will keep the GOP strong statewide–even as suburban areas “liberalize.” Whether it’s “moderate” Democrats who fail to do anything about educating the South Texas public about progressive issues, Christian fundamentalism that creeps into politics, or South Texas voters falling for right-wing hate-mongering as if they aren’t included in the attacks, it’s a problem. A message problem for Democrats.

Thankfully, at the local level Democrats are still in charge in most of South Texas–even Starr County. It is gerrymandering that ensured right-wing victories in CD-15 and CD-23. There’s a lot to unpack and discuss about South Texas, but as long as Nancy Pelosi feels the need to help sell-outs like Henry Cuellar during Democratic Primaries, the party pendejadas will continue.

Bexar County had a good night, as did Travis County and Dallas County. For some reason, Republicans targeted Harris County, finding and exploiting weaknesses in our bottom line. Fortunately, they ran mediocre (yet well-funded) candidates with awful puppeteers (Fascist Mack, Steve Hotze, etc.) and exploited crime victims in creating a fear-based message. Democratic activists were still successful in the ground game, despite the daily vitriol on TV. Kudos to them. [Travis County Note: Good luck to Celia Israel as she moves on to a Mayoral run-off, and to Jose Velasquez in Austin City Council District 3 run-off.]

While Dem faithful seem to have adopted Greg Abbott’s “it could’ve been worse” line after the results were finally posted, given results in other urban areas of the state which were strong for Democrats, perhaps something needs to be discussed. The activism is working, but the media response to right-wing lies leaves much to be desired. Also, it might help reminding voters how great our elected officials are–at least those that are great. But, hey, we won!

Anyway, Dems have some work to do for 2024, including having a cleaner, more meaningful slate that runs together and supports itself from top to bottom. Of course, this is also something to think about for the 2023 local elections as we remember who, from those in the running for Mayor and Council, stood up for our Democratic slate and who did not.

And somebody educate the local newsreaders about the political and election process before they go on TV. The overdramatization of the last eight ballot boxes was quite annoying.

Kuff has more. And I thought I was the only one making hand gestures at homes with Mealer signs.

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Posted in 2022, Accion, Cultura, Democratic Stuff, Elections, Harris County, History, Las Mujeres, Local Politica, Media, Texas Lege

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Today is Election Day 2022!

Posted on November 8, 2022 | Comments Off on Today is Election Day 2022!

Well, it all comes down to today. If you haven’t voted early, then please get it done today!

  • Find your sample ballot by clicking here.
  • Find a polling location anywhere in Harris County by clicking here.
  • VOTE FOR ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS

Here are some truths.

Vote to Re-Elect Judge Lina Hidalgo. She has served us well through disasters, a pandemic, and especially through the day-to-day affairs of the County. She shows up for work, which cannot be said about Republican commissioners, like Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey. If you want our county services left intact, if you want the Sheriff funded, and if you want to ensure our medical services still exist next year, then we must keep the Democratic majority. And that means re-electing Judge Hidalgo and electing Lesley Briones for Pct 4 Commissioner.

The local furniture guy does not support the best interests of the people of Harris County. He puts on a good show, but he falls short of caring for anything that doesn’t get him a tax dodge or hedge his business risks, like betting on the Astros to pay for all of “free” furniture. He’s a tax-dodging, MAGA-supporting, election-denying gambling addict, and Alex Mealer doesn’t fall far from those descriptors. Don’t tolerate whiny Republicans who will gamble away your rights and your own livelihood to enrich themselves.

And what about “Democrat Judges”? They have served us well, ensuring fairness and justice in the criminal and civil courts. The money for all of those anti-Democrat Judge ads is coming from a a few donors who do not care about your safety. Corporate groups like Texans for Lawsuit Reform (they have nothing to do with crime), Las Vegas Sands Company (which probably gets a lot of money from at least one local gambling addict, Trinity Equity Partners, Don McGill Toyota, and some other millionaires who don’t care about your safety, but care about buying civil court judges for their own benefit and that of their rich buddies. Vote for the Democrats if you want your best interests guarded.

We need Beto O’Rourke, Rochelle Garza and the Democrats at the top of the ballot to end the political career of Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton and the rest of the Republicans who threaten our livelihoods everyday. So, vote accordingly.

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Posted in Accion, Cultura, Democratic Stuff, Elections, Harris County, Local Politica, Media, Texas Lege, Voting Rights

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This Week in Migrant Killing

Posted on September 30, 2022 | 1 comment

2 Migrants Killed in Border Patrol Chase

Border Patrol doesn’t seem to have much to do down on the border, so, when they have the chance to chase down migrants being driven in a private vehicle you know the chances are good that they will cause an accident–even death. And that is what occurred in Uvalde, TX when the Migra gave chase down a stretch of highway that led into downtown Uvalde and caused a collision of the pickup being chased into a semi-tractor killing two and injuring 10 others in the pickup.

It’s no secret that these migrant chases are a danger, not just to law enforcement and the migrants, but also for innocent drivers who get caught up in them. And it’s not just the Border Patrol, which is led by Joe Biden, but also Greg Abbotts boondoggle which funds overtime for DPS and local sheriffs.

What is unfortunate is that Democrats running statewide aren’t saying much, other than Abbott’s activities are a waste. Well, duh. In fact, Abbott’s activities are a danger to all and are the cause of racist practices and policies beyond what Abbott leads. Biden sitting on these policies and not doing much about them doesn’t help, either.

Bigots Murder Migrant in West Texas

Two brothers, one of them a jail warden at a private migrant prison, gave themselves the authority to shoot at migrants during their free time.

Two men shot two migrants, killing one and injuring another, earlier this week while the two victims stood along a West Texas road getting water, authorities said. One of the alleged shooters is reportedly a warden for a privately run immigration detention center.

So, Texas bigotry promoted and led by Greg Abbott meets the private prison boondoggle. They were only charged with manslaughter, from initial reports. So, it must be asked: What the fuck is going on?

Anyway, this is another example of continued racist policies and practices in the name of “securing borders.” And nothing has been said by Democrats running statewide.

Abbott’s Border Wall

Greg Abbott just wasted $300 million on 14 miles of border wall. This is just another death-causing ploy as migrants will still cross, but in more dangerous and treacherous areas of the border. They’ll die from the heat, from vigilantes, and/or migrant chases.

UPDATE: Beto O’Rourke responded this morning on his FB page:

This is the predictable result when Abbott describes asylum seekers as an “invasion,” asks Texans to “defend” the state from immigrants by “taking matters into our own hands,” and treats refugees like political props instead of human beings.

We saw it 3 years ago in El Paso. We will continue to see this until we have a governor who sees migrants as human beings, and is focused on solutions instead of political stunts.

We have real problems at our border and with our immigration system. Everyone can agree on that much. But I hope we can also agree that stunts like busing asylum seekers, and inciting hatred for and fear of those fleeing dictatorships hasn’t solved any of those problems.

We should focus on the commonsense solutions that most Texans actually agree on: a safe, legal, orderly path for those who want to come here to work, join family or seek asylum. A Texas-based guest worker program could meet critical labor needs in construction, agriculture and a number of other industries in Texas, supporting Texas businesses and our economy.

We could work with federal partners to lift the visa caps on countries like Mexico, where the wait-time to join family members today can take up to 20 years. And for asylum seekers, let’s fund more judges and administrators to adjudicate asylum claims far more quickly. Today, it can take 6 years. How about working to get it down to a matter of months?

When we ensure that those who come to our country follow our laws—and that our laws follow our values and economic needs—not only will we achieve much more for our fellow Texans, we will be far more successful at stopping drug traffickers and human smugglers who mean us harm.

That means we no longer have people coming in between ports of entry, crossing into the U.S. undocumented, risking their lives and putting extraordinary strain on Border Patrol agents and border communities. It means that we are safer, stronger, and more successful as a state.

We are better than this news. Now is the time to prove it.

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Posted in Accion, Democratic Stuff, Elections, Media, Republinuttiness, Sensible Immigration Reform, Texas Lege

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Thoughts on Viernes – 08122022

Posted on August 12, 2022 | 1 comment

FBI’s Mar-a-Doofus Visit

The FBI search of 2020’s presidential election loser certainly made the whole saga interesting. While Congress asks questions during the Jan 6 hearings, the people have been waiting for some sort of police action–mostly handcuffs and a perp walk. Still, I remain cynical about all of this. Much like Trump’s wall and bigotry (and the bigotry that followed from the likes of Greg Abbott and DeSantis) served as right-wing-nut-job porn, I feel that investigations and opinions on Trump actions somehow satisfy some fetish that Democrats have while avoiding solutions on the issues.

Me? I want action. I want to see Trump suffer, but I also want comprehensive immigration reform now. We have a Democratic President and Democratic majorities in both houses and can’t get rid of the racism and bigotry that Trump put into policy. Hell, we’ve known the racism has been in practice for decades and President Biden and Sec’y Mayorkas can’t even change that within Homeland Security! I certainly won’t make the FBI some kind of hero in all of this given their own history of investigating and affecting the livelihood of civil rights activists. Frankly, for me, the raid was funny because it made Trump even whinier than usual.

Greg Abbott’s Human Trafficking Boondoggle

Greg el Coyote! So, Greg Abbott is wasting $1400 per person (with no breaks and no food on the way) of your tax money on his migrant bus tour of America. A ticket to NYC from Eagle Pass, TX is only $200 for any individual! Who’s making all this money? And how much have they given to Abbott’s campaign? We already know it’s all about the photo op, but does putting them on a bus as a group make it look like they’re on a Border Patrol bus? Is that the image Abbott is seeking to put out there? We know he’s a hateful SOB.

One thing is for sure, Democratic mayors should be calling for FEMA and Health and Human Services resources to help with what Greg Abbott is causing and NOT military assistance. Thankfully, Biden said NO to the National Guard.

Don’t Mess With Beto (Or Uvalde)

I keep asking myself if Texas is worth saving after Greg Abbott’s and Republican’s decades of destructive practices. After Beto brought down a Greg Abbott-sent heckler who laughed at Beto’s comments on Uvalde and guns, he seems to have energized some of us to the point where we are up for a fight.

Bottom line: I hope he has these kind of words for Greg Abbott, too. The rules of campaigning changed a long time ago and Republicans have thrived on lies while Democrats have tried to win Texas by cowering and avoiding issues. Beto showed Texas that he’s willing to fight. Or, at least not take the kind of crap that Greg Abbott slings.

Kuff has more on Motherfuckergate.

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Posted in Accion, Cultura, Democratic Stuff, Elections, Media, Republinuttiness, Sensible Immigration Reform, Texas Lege, Thoughts on Viernes

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AP Expands on Lockdown Fatigue in Uvalde

Posted on July 21, 2022 | 1 comment

Jake Bleiberg and Acacia Coronado at the Associated Press provided a good report on the lockdown fatigue in Uvalde caused by bailouts from the Border Patrol’s and other agencies’ migrant chases.

The new findings that a culture of lockdowns in Uvalde played some role in the failures on May 24 reflects how one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history intersected with immigration policies and thousands of Border Patrol agents, National Guard members and state police assigned to apprehend migrants and stop drug traffickers. Of the nearly 400 law enforcement officers at the scene of Robb Elementary, more than half were Border Patrol agents or state police, according to the report.

As I stated early on, the Facebook rumor mill in Uvalde was blaming migrant bailouts for the school shooting initially, some even saying they got the information from “inside sources” in a law enforcement agency.

Even the first officers on scene at Robb Elementary wondered whether the threat was a so-called “bailout” — the term used by law enforcement along the border to describe suspected migrants or drug traffickers who have fled. Pete Arrendondo, the embattled Uvalde school police chief who has become the target of angry demands by parents to resign or be fired, told the House committee the thought crossed his mind since it happens so often.

For all the fear-mongering by Greg Abbott and his Republican cohorts, the report stated this fact:

The committee report said there had been no incidents of “bailout-related” violence on Uvalde school campuses before the shooting. 

Migrants are escaping poverty and violence in their home countries; why on earth would they be violent toward children? Or anyone? They’re tired, hot, thirsty, and hungry and just want to make it to safe haven. Even one of the local JPs knows this.

Diaz, the Uvalde justice of the peace, serves as a magistrate when police make arrests in the area as part of the governor’s massive border mobilization known as Operation Lone Star. He sets bail for people taken into custody for alleged human or drug smuggling, but also for crimes unrelated to national security, like minor drug charges.

He said Abbott’s operation hasn’t made Uvalde safer.

“These people who are coming through don’t want to be in Uvalde,” said Diaz. “They are looking to get away from the border and we’re too close.”

For those who say ignorant things like, “they should come to the US the right way,” a reminder that there hasn’t been a right way in decades. The “line” to get in has been non-existent, unless it’s from a favored country the US is trying to save from a government they don’t like (Cuba, Venezuela). While some are escaping US-supported right-wing governments in Central America, others are simply wanting a better life. And they have waited long enough that they will make a deadly and dangerous trek to the US. Not to save their assets, as those in some of the favored countries, but to save themselves.

As far as Uvalde goes, and the rest of South Texas for that matter, these migrant chases are dangerous, sometimes deadly, and clog up and waste needed resources. Whether it is money that can be better spent on economic development, education, or health care, the money thrown at a problem that the Biden administration has failed to improve (citizenship and deportation reform) and that Greg Abbott has created for photo ops and political mud to throw has been ineffective and wasteful. And it’s our money. And these policies are part of the problem of children being killed in a classroom.

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Thoughts on Viernes – 07152022 (Sabado Edition)

Posted on July 16, 2022 | Comments Off on Thoughts on Viernes – 07152022 (Sabado Edition)

The Video

The release of the Uvalde video and the aftermath of the release is pretty ugly. While the people want the ineptitude of cops and political leaders at all levels proven quickly, too much went wrong in the process of releasing it. The video was leaked without much explanation of the content. Other than telling us that the screams of the kids were removed, nothing else was really explained and everything was left to be discussed by the viewers without much actual context. The families were not given an opportunity to watch the video first.

While the ineptitude of all levels of Texas government and law enforcement is obvious, the husband of one of the teachers who was shot was vilified for looking at his phone, when he was awaiting a call from his wife. All because much was left unexplained and people want accountability. Too much went wrong and this is disappointing because it detracts from getting to the bottom of this tragedy. Perhaps this was the intent of its release by Texas authorities to the press.

There will be a lot of blame going around, but we cannot trust DPS, Greg Abbott, or Uvalde’s local authorities to be honest with the people. I still think DOJ should be leading the investigation, since the border cops involved themselves in this whole thing.

Let’s Hope It’s Not A Superspreader

What part of COVID IS STILL HERE do you not understand? That is my message to Texas Democratic Convention attendees. They’re going around mostly unmasked at some pretty packed meetings. The selfies of all the fun reminds me of the golden calf scene in the 10 Commandments; they’re having so much fun at the confab and at the afterparties. Gives me the cringes.

Reminder: Dallas County recently upped it’s COVID warnings to “high.”

It’s obvious that both parties are just going with what the people want. With polls showing closer races all around, it’s not time to be controversial, I guess. Hell, Abbott’s failures during the pandemic haven’t even been mentioned! And neither has Abbott’s border boondoggle.

Congresswoman Garcia Leads Effort To Honor the Late Benny Martinez

The late Benny Martinez, a Houston community leader who led the way to achieve a meeting between LULAC and President John F. Kennedy in 1963, among so many other civil rights achievements, will have a Houston post office named in his honor. Martinez served his community as a nurse and as a Sheriff’s deputy for over thirty years, while also being at the forefront of community issues through various organizations. He was also a Veteran. HR 7832 was spearheaded by Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia. The post office is located on 4020 Broadway St.

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Posted in 2022, Accion, Cultura, DC Promo, Democratic Stuff, Harris County, Health Care, Historia, Las Mujeres, Local Politica, Media, Republinuttiness, Sensible Immigration Reform, Texas Lege, Thoughts on Viernes, U.S. Capitol

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