​






There was further discussion this week at Houston City Council about HPD/ICE & the prospect of an ordinance that would restrict non-safety traffic stops by HPD.

People should not be referred to ICE by HPD from an interaction that starts with being pulled over for a tinted window. 

This discussion was at the Tuesday, 2/3, Public Comment Session of Council. 

First up on Tuesday were 5 or 6 people who were denied the right to speak at Council last week because the city posted the wrong time for the meeting, and Mayor Whitmire still would not let them talk. Public comment was also given by Keith Porter Sr. Mr. Porter, who lives in Houston, is the father of Keith Porter Jr. who was killed in Los Angeles by an off duty ICE agent. Mr. Porter speaks at the 1 hour 16 minute point of the meeting. 

Here is an account of the energetic public comment session last week & here is an account of the Wednesday agenda session last week. HPD/ICE was a big topic at both meetings. 

There was a presentation at council Tuesday from lawyers and advocates from a non-profit group that has drafted an ordnance about the traffic stops. If you want the specifics, the testimony of attorney Kirsten Budwine from the Texas Civil Rights Project will be helpful. Her time runs from the hour 45 minute point until 2 hours 10 minutes. Ms. Budwine and her colleagues have done good work. 

Above you see Ms. Budwine in her words. 

There was reference to the fact that work on the non-safety traffic stops had been going on for some time now, and had received impetus from Councilmembers Tiffany Thomas and Ed Pollard. There was focus on racial disparities in these stops. Now also we have ICE. I hope Council can find the votes to act based on all the many reasons to proceed. 

Ms. Budwine was told during her talk by Councilmembers Julian Ramirez and Pollard, that they thought what she was proposing would contradict State of Texas law. I refer you to the video again for specifics. 

If council finds it has no legal course to address ICE, then there are still things individual councilmembers can do. 

They could: 
​
1. Convert unused campaign $ or raise $ for mutual aid funds for Houstonians made vulnerable by ICE & Houstonians resisting ICE.

2. Offer city-sponsored self defense courses for Houstonians that could include-though not limited to- training to be able to use our 2nd Amendment freedoms. Or at least some type of citizen self-defense as we face violent and lawless state and federal governments. 

3. Ask tough questions not only about HPD working with ICE, but also about if HPD would assist the state & feds in altering local election results & suspending civil liberties. We deserve protection from the state and federal government.

I'm certain there are other good ideas as well. It's not a stretch to say that these times require new approaches. These people are our elected employees. We can ask them anything we want. 

Councilmember Alejandra Salinas won her recent election in good part because she said she would oppose ICE in Houston, stand up for democracy and oppose Mayor Whitmire when required. Attorney Salinas said she's was interested in how the city could use its legal powers to address ICE. If that avenue is a dead end, she'll have to come up with a new approach to meet her promises. 

There were multiple references to the Houston Police Officer's Union in the discussion. You are not going to believe this--But they oppose the traffic stop idea. (That's a joke.)

Below you see a recent Twitter exchange between a local urbanist and transportation activist and Houston Police Officer's Union boss Douglas Griffith. Mr. Griffith thinks protesters are paid. It's just so stupid.

If HPD itself wants to come and offer viewpoints on city policy--Then fine. HPD needs to be heard and police officers should be seen as individuals. But a hard right union that endorsed many ICE-loving Republicans, and has a President who despite all the resources of HPD has no grasp of the local protest and activist scene, is not a useful partner.  

At bottom line, the work ahead is ours. We'll continue to press Council and to organize ourselves. I don't know if we'll ever get this council to show any real courage or do something other than blame others for why they can't act. I do know that we can organize ourselves like we've seen in Minnesota or with the many school walkouts protesting ICE that we've seen across the Houston-region. Keep fighting at Houston City Council & get to know the people fighting along side you. We are all going to need each other. 

The next action or event is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. 

Here is information on following & interacting with Houston City Council:

​Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:00 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. You must register to speak by 3 PM the day before. 

The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and past sessions are available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council--

Mayor Whitmire—832-393-1000 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Alejandra Salinas 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​​

​


​



​Keith Porter Sr. visited the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest yesterday, 2/3, and also spoke at Houston City Council Public Comment Session yesterday. 

Above you see Mr. Porter at the protest and below you see him at council. 

Mr. Porter, who lives in Houston, spoke about the life of his son Keith Jr., and about how justice must be served in holding the off-duty ICE officer who killed Mr. Porter in Los Angeles accountable. 

​Here is a story about the shooting from The Guardian. 

Here is my six minute interview with Mr. Porter at the Cornyn Protest. Mr. Porter spoke at the 1 hour 16 minute point of the HTV feed of yesterday's council meeting. 

Mr Porter would like you to hear him out, know who his son was and advocate for justice and freedom. 

​​I went to an anti-ICE, pro-freedom protest in Galveston on Sunday, 2/1. There were estimates of up to 700 people in attendance. Above you see a picture of some of the crowd. 

Below you see two Galveston police wearing masks at the protest. Multiple people asked the total off the masks, but they did not. I don't know why we need masked city police. 

Going to Galveston for this protest brought make this memory for me: 

I attended a protest in Galveston yesterday, 2/1. I drove down from Houston. I saw the people who protest & do stuff there. There were 700 people I read. I knew a small number of them.

It’s like back in the day in Cincinnati, where I went to local punk shows in Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus & Louisville. They had their own scenes. In some cases you’d get to know some of the people. Sometimes they’d come to Cincinnati.

It was all self-starting. People decided to form bands, find places to play, print a zine, go to Kinkos to print the flyers & show up to see the bands.

There are many different grassroots protest & political scenes in the Houston-region. A lot of organic stuff.
Folks with the willingness & autonomy to act against toxic systems are leading the fight against ICE & authoritarianism. We are self-organizing & getting to know each other. We are going to need each other.
​
If you want to take part, then please do. If you don’t, nobody is really interested in the reasons for your absence. Start your own scene. Do your own thing.

​




This past Wednesday, 1/28, Texas Department of Public Safety police/troops gassed and attacked peaceful protestors at the immigration detainment camp in Dilley, Texas. 

This is where the five year old abducted by ICE is in Minnesota is held captive. This is where last week, there was a protest by children and adults about squalid conditions inside. 

The protest far outside the facility was peaceful until DPS arrived. The picture above is from AFP News Agency-Agence France-Presse. I'm glad the world sees what we are. Everyone should see what we are and what power looks like in Texas. 

Below is a DPS troop looking at me at the October 18 No Kings protest in Downtown Houston. 

In August of 2023, I wrote about then-Senator Whitmire's intent to bring DPS troops to Houston if elected Mayor. 

Here is what I said: 

State Senator & Houston Mayoral candidate John Whitmire wants to bring 200 Texas Department of Public Safety troops to patrol the streets of Houston.  

​These troopers are in Austin. At first, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson was in favor of DPS being stationed in his city. Then there were concerns about Blacks and Latinos being targeted by DPS. Now Mayor Watson wants the state troopers to leave and Governor Abbott says no.        

Here is what Senator Whitmire says about his ability to control how Governor Abbott would use the troopers in Houston:   

“I’m not Gov. Abbott, I’m not the mayor of Austin. I have been in the Legislature long enough to know how the political scene works in Austin. I can handle the responsibility of telling the governor we’re going to do it the Houston way,” .....

There is no reason to believe Senator Whitmire will be able to restrain Governor Abbott or Greg Abbott's police. It's not a solid wager with democracy at stake.  There is no public safety without democracy.  

The anti-democratic Republican Party is a top public safety threat to the people of Houston & Harris County. For all his emphasis on public safety issues, Senator Whitmire appears blind to the threat.     

All of this is more so today. Governor Abbott is threatening to take over Harris County elections. Abbott does what Trump tells him to do. 

When Abbott takes over our elections, ICE shoots someone in Houston or Trump suspends civil liberties, you can wager good money that DPS will not be reliably on the side of our freedom. 
​

​



We had 64 for the nine year anniversary of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest this past Tuesday.
We are going to have to show up for ourselves.

When Abbott takes over our elections and we can't trust the vote count, when the federal government commits outrages in Houston/Harris County (ICE is here now), when Trump suspends civil liberties--It will be us on the street. Just like in Minnesota.

We've sustained the protest for nine years with no funding and by showing up.

There is a lot of trouble ahead. Let's be ready to meet the moment. Just like in Minnesota. We will have few reliable partners outside our self-organized selves. Especially here under Abbott and Whitmire.
​
Please join us each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr.

​At today's, 1/28, Agenda Session of Houston City Council, some councilmembers used the time known as "Pop Off" to discuss the lively Council Public Comment Session last night mostly focused on HPD working with ICE. Conversation was about policies the city might enact regarding HPD/ICE & aspects of how the meeting last night was conducted. Here is my report on last night's meeting. 

Why should we pay attention to these meetings?

1. To press for the policy goal of Houston City Council of ending or sharply restricting non-safety traffic stops by HPD. ICE should not be contacted over a busted taillight or tinted windows. Some Councilmmebers appear open to this idea. 

2. To push back on Mayor Whitmire's shameful and repeated narrative that there is trouble in places like Chicago and Minnesota because people are fighting back against ICE, rather than because of the conduct of the abuser. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were not aggressors. 

3. Most importantly-- To organize ourselves. Elected officials are secondary. We've seen in Minnesota that our freedom is up to us. Rather than be quiet as Mayor Whitmire says we should do, we should instead show up at meetings, contact council relentlessly, meet fellow organizers and rank & file Houstonians who are also getting involved, and be ready to show up for ourselves at council and on the streets. 

The next action is when you organize it, the First Amendment is your permit, the only credential needed is your presence. 

Which Councilmembers spoke this morning and what did they say? (I've included the time on the HTV Facebook feed when Councilmembers spoke. If you play around with the rebroadcast, you'll get the hang of navigating it. See for yourself what is going on.)

Democrat Mario Castillo, at the 48 minute point of the HTV feed, said the City of Houston website should list the proper time of the evening monthly public comment session. The website says 5:30 PM. The meeting yesterday who began at 5. He also said the security screening process to let people into council chambers should be improved, so people can get into the chamber to speak. Both these concerns were an issue last night. People signed up to speak and went to City Hall, but were then not able to speak. Mayor Whitmire ignored Mr. Castillo's comment. 

Republican Willie Davis at 49 minutes said that some people speaking last were rude and disrespectful. He said we should be "civil." He will "pray" that such conduct is not repeated. Councilmember Davis did not note that he is a partisan Republican who bears direct responsibility for ICE and everything Trump does. He did not say he would pray for ICE to conduct itself in a different manner. 

Democrat Joaquin Martinez at 1 hour, 3 minutes, said he thinks of vulnerable immigrants "first and foremost in decisions that I make." That's fair. He has better insight into that community than I do.

Civil liberties and Constitutional rights are things many people have fought and died for. These concerns must also be at the top of Councilmember Martinez's thinking. Mr. Martinez has a view apparently informed by Mayor Whitmire that the people doing these terrible things can be appeased. Where is the off ramp? We know it's not the cold-blooded killings of peaceful protestors on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE. Will it be when Greg Abbott follows through on his threats to take over Harris County elections in 2026 and we can't be assured of a fair vote count? 

Democrat Edward Pollard at 1 hour, 9 minutes, said the city should give people the right time for public comment sessions and reasserted his opposition to ICE. 

Democrat Alejandra Salinas at 1 hour, 13 minutes, denounced the ICE murders in Minnesota and said she would work to lessen the prospect of such a thing happening in Houston. She remains consistent with her campaign commitments to aggressively oppose ICE and stand up to Mayor Whitmire when required. 

Republican Twila Carter at 1 hour, 14 minutes, said the media should partner with the city and HPD to get the right messages out. You see her below in these comments. Like Mr. Davis, Ms. Carter is a partisan Republican who effectively helped put the guns used in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the hands of ICE agents. Trump likes state-run media and so it seems does Councilmember Carter. 

Democrat Carolyn Evans-Shabazz at 1 hour, 22 minutes, said the City of Houston should limit or end non-safety traffic stops to free up officers for other things and limit prospects of HPD contacting ICE over minor things. This is the 3rd time I've heard Councilmember Evans-Shabazz say the non-safety traffic stops should be restricted. That's just the point we are working to make. You see her above in her comments. 

This is the information I have. The next steps are up to you. 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:00 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. You must register to speak by 3 PM the day before. 

The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and past sessions are available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council--

Mayor Whitmire—832-393-1000 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Alejandra Salinas 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​​

​ I watched today, 1/27, the monthly evening Public Comment Session of Houston City Council. Here is the HTV broadcast of the meeting. The meeting starts at the 5 minute point.

Here is a quick report:

It was lively tonight. Many people spoke forcefully against HPD working with ICE. Mayor Whitmire is slow to direct police officers to remove people who speak over time-allowed. He's been okay with that as Mayor. It seemed clear HPD was hands off tonight.

The new practice tonight was to cut off the microphone.

It's something that Mayor Whitmire with $12 million in his campaign bank and the messaging power that affords him, needs to cut people off. He made that money as an elected official off our votes. He can listen for a few extra minutes. 

No Councilmember offered any feedback to people speaking about ICE/HPD. The Houstonian in the picture above offered her perspective to how Council has responded to HPD/ICE & standing up to Abbott and the federal government.

The point was also made that Mayor Whitmire keeps blaming protestors of trouble in cities, rather than the actions of ICE. He does this over and over. People noted that appeasing Abbott & Trump just won't work when all is said and done.
​
I'm glad to report I know four of the speakers tonight personally. I'm hanging out with the right people. 

A policy goal sought in Houston is stopping/restricting non-safety traffic stops so there is less prospect HPD will encounter someone they choose to call ICE about.

Based on the imperfect tool of considering public statements made by politicians, ( I watch every Public comment Session & Agenda Session of Houston City Council) here is where Councilmembers may stand on the traffic stop issue:

Willing to discuss it & hopefully open to HPD policy change:
Democrats Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Abbie Kamin, Alejandra Salinas, Ed Pollard & Tarsha Jackson. (Ms. Jackson is on medical leave, but her office is open.) Also-Republican Julian Ramirez.

Not clear where they stand on HPD policy change:
Democrats Tiffany Thomas, Sallie Alcorn, Mario Castillo, Martha Castex-Tatum & Joaquin Martinez.

Ms. Castex-Tatum is Mayor Pro Tem which makes her #2 to Mayor Whitmire. She's a citywide official who merits call/e-mail on any important concern.

Likely a lost cause, but still should be contacted to tell them ICE brutalizes people and Trump is attacking democracy:
Republicans Twila Carter, Mary Nan Huffman, Fred Flickinger, Willie Davis & Amy Peck.

Here is information about interacting with & following Houston City Council: 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:00 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. You must register to speak by 3 PM the day before. 

The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and past sessions are available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council--

Mayor Whitmire—832-393-1000 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Alejandra Salinas 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​​

​With ICE murdering a 2nd person in Minnesota, how can each of us here in the Houston-region, take the lead and take part in opposing the terrible things taking place everywhere in this country? 

You & I are the main act. It’s the rank & file doing the organizing, being over-policed when we protest, being threatened by the right, being gassed and being shot. The next action or protest is when you organize it. The First Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. 

There are three standing weekly protests in Harris County you can attend:

John Cornyn Houston Office Protest 
11:30 AM-1 PM, each Tuesday, 5300 Memorial Dr. 

Dan Crenshaw Office Protest 
10 AM-11 AM, each Thursday, intersection of Kingwood Dr & Green Oak Dr. 

Hands Off Protest
Noon-1, each Friday, 13302 Westheimer. Intersection of Westheimer and Eldridge 

You can start a weekly protest yourself, or just go alone or rustle up a few folks with signs and stand at a visible corner or at the end of your street. Whatever you do is correct. 

You see below word of a protest in La Porte on 1/31. There are like-minded people in every community & every neighborhood across the Houston-region.
​
I also want to repost my Houston Democracy Project Blog post from 1/24 about the status of conversations and , hopefully at some point soon, action from Houston City Council. 

At Houston City Council Public Comment Session on Wednesday, 1/21, Houstonian Erandi Trevino spoke before Council about ICE and HPD cooperating with ICE.

If Ms. Trevino had not spoken, there would likely have been no discussion of ICE at Council. 

Ms. Trevino's comments sparked a nearly 30 minute conversation. You can watch it yourself. It starts at the 2 hour and 2 minute point of the HTV broadcast of the meeting and ends at 2 hours 31 minutes. 

It helps to see and hear councilmembers. Being able to speak confidently about what is going on will  strengthen your advocacy. There are not many people watching these meetings. You can make a difference just like Ms. Trevino. 

(Each of us are the main act. Elected officials are secondary. The lead in Minneapolis-St. Paul has been taken by rank & file people who have organized themselves. I've written at length about actions across the Houston-region lead by people no different than yourself. The next protest or action is when you organize it. )

From the discussion Wednesday, it seems possible Houston City Council is moving toward limiting non-safety traffic stops by HPD. If people are not pulled over for things like tinted windows and broken taillights, then HPD is not in a place to become aware of immigration status and contact ICE. Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said that would be a good idea and some councilmembers appeared sympathetic. This is the 2nd time Dr. Evans-Shabazz has offered this idea. 

Other councilmembers who spoke productively (To my best most hopeful guess.) were Edward Pollard, Abbie Kamin, Alejandra Salinas and Republican Julian Ramirez. Tarsha Jackson appeared to support the non-safety traffic stop idea last month at Council. She is currently on medical leave.

Council Democrats who retain the opportunity to add to the public discussion on HPD/ICE are Sallie Alcorn, Joaquin Martinez, Tiffany Thomas, Mario Castillo & Martha Castex-Tatum. 

Mayor Whitmire also spoke. He said non-safety traffic stops sometimes lead to finding people wanted for serious crimes or lead to solving serious crimes. Mayor Whitmire then conflated non-safety stops with stops for red light running. Nobody was saying don't give tickets to red light runners. Surely there is enough speeding, aggressive driving and red-light running to police in Houston without worrying about tinted windows. 

The Mayor also-yet again-implied the reason other cities are having disturbances is because people are responding to ICE abuses. It is the abuser that is at fault. Not the victims of the abuse. 

The Mayor discussed funds that might be lost if we push back on ICE. I understand that. But access to our own tax dollars cannot be contingent on accepting the loss of our rights. Mayor Whitmire keeps saying we should accept that trade off. He offers no off ramp to this deal with the devil. We see it extends to the brutality of ICE. Will it go as far as accepting Greg Abbott taking control of Harris County elections as he is threatening? There would be no way to trust the vote count with Greg Abbott in charge. 

The next public comment session time for Houston City Council is at 5 PM on Tuesday, 1/27.  

Below is information on how you can be a part of the process at Houston City Council: 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:00 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. You must register to speak by 3 PM the day before. 

The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and past sessions are available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council--

Mayor Whitmire—713-837-0311 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Alejandra Salinas 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​​

At Houston City Council Public Comment Session on Wednesday, 1/21, Houstonian Erandi Trevino spoke before Council about ICE and HPD cooperating with ICE. You see Ms. Trevino above. 

If Ms. Trevino had not spoken, there would likely have been no discussion of ICE at Council. 

Ms. Trevino's comments sparked a nearly 30 minute conversation. You can watch it yourself. It starts at the 2 hour and 2 minute point of the HTV broadcast of the meeting and ends at 2 hours 31 minutes. 

It helps to see and hear councilmembers. Being able to speak confidently about what is going on will  strengthen your advocacy. There are not many people watching these meetings. You can make a difference just like Ms. Trevino. 

(Each of us are the main act. Elected officials are secondary. The lead in Minneapolis-St. Paul has been taken by rank & file people who have organized themselves. I've written at length about actions across the Houston-region lead by people no different than yourself. The next protest or action is when you organize it. )

From the discussion Wednesday, it seems possible Houston City Council is moving toward limiting non-safety traffic stops by HPD. If people are not pulled over for things like tinted windows and broken taillights, then HPD is not in a place to become aware of immigration status and contact ICE. Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said that would be a good idea and some councilmembers appeared sympathetic. This is the 2nd time Dr. Evans-Shabazz has offered this idea. 

Other councilmembers who spoke productively (To my best most hopeful guess.) were Edward Pollard, Abbie Kamin, Alejandra Salinas and Republican Julian Ramirez. Tarsha Jackson appeared to support the non-safety traffic stop idea last month at Council. She is currently on medical leave.

Council Democrats who retain the opportunity to add to the public discussion on HPD/ICE are Sallie Alcorn, Joaquin Martinez, Tiffany Thomas, Mario Castillo & Martha Castex-Tatum. 

Mayor Whitmire also spoke. He said non-safety traffic stops sometimes lead to finding people wanted for serious crimes or lead to solving serious crimes. Mayor Whitmire then conflated non-safety stops with stops for red light running. Nobody was saying don't give tickets to red light runners. Surely there is enough speeding, aggressive driving and red-light running to police in Houston without worrying about tinted windows. 

The Mayor also-yet again-implied the reason other cities are having disturbances is because people are responding to ICE abuses. It is the abuser that is at fault. Not the victims of the abuse. 

The Mayor discussed funds that might be lost if we push back on ICE. I understand that. But access to our own tax dollars cannot be contingent on accepting the loss of our rights. Mayor Whitmire keeps saying we should accept that trade off. He offers no off ramp to this deal with the devil. We see it extends to the brutality of ICE. Will it go as far as accepting Greg Abbott taking control of Harris County elections as he is threatening? There would be no way to trust the vote count with Greg Abbott in charge. 

The next public comment session time for Houston City Council is at 5 PM on Tuesday, 1/27.  

Below is information on how you can be a part of the process at Houston City Council: 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception once each month when it is at 5:00 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. You must register to speak by 3 PM the day before. 

The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and past sessions are available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council--

Mayor Whitmire—713-837-0311 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Alejandra Salinas 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​​

​Great to see students at Channelview High School walk out of class today walk out of class today  to protest ICE. (Picture above from Channel 2.) 

Since the ICE murder of Renee Good, there have been grassroots-organized ICE protests across the Houston region in Katy, Clear Lake, Conroe, Kingwood, Galveston, Cypress, Downtown Houston, Pearland, Sugar Land as well as near the Galleria. There is one scheduled for La Porte at the end of the month.

The next action is when you organize it. The 1st Amendment is your permit. The only credential needed is your presence. Every community is part of the fight. The work ahead is ours.