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​I recently made $25 donations to four Harris County Democratic primary candidates who are strongly pro-democracy and who represent clear choices in each of their races. 

Here are the candidates:

* Rosalind Caesar for Texas House District #139
* Danny Norris for Texas House District #142  
* Allison Mathis for Criminal Court #338  
* Fran Watson for Probate Court #5 

Above you see Ms. Caesar at a recent event.  

A purpose of the Houston Democracy Project is to say we must look past candidates and elected officials as we face an authoritarian and anti-democratic threat. We often would be better off supporting efforts outside of candidates and elected officials. Efforts such as the Houston Democracy Project! 

Elected officials are rarely fully reliable allies. A two party system where there is only one non-authoritarian option is not really a two party system. We must build our own infrastructure of care, self-protection, communication, ideas and action.

At the same time, elections matter and many fine people run for office. Lets support candidates who merit support and then hold them accountable after they are elected.    

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]

​Above is word of a Read-In at the 2/8 meeting of the Greg Abbott-appointed HISD Board of Managers. The event is being put on by Community Voices for Public Education. CVPE is doing a good job opposing the takeover & keeping the issue in the news. The Houston Democracy Project will attend and bring a book.  

The issue behind the Read-In is a change in the way books are being taught in a number of HISD schools. There will no longer be reading of full books as part of instruction. In addition, a number of HISD  schools no longer have school libraries.

Books are important and school kids should read them and have access to them.

(The book I'll bring to read is Playing In Shadows-Texas and Negro League Baseball.)   

Yesterday the Houston Democracy Project was at an event regarding Mayor Whitmire ripping up newly installed pedestrian safety measures.  

Similar to the undemocratic HISD takeover, Mayor Whitmire's conduct is autocratic. There is a deficit of democracy all around.  

It's important we show up locally. The local fights help us connect daily life to the autocratic and white supremacist threats in Texas and the nation.

Champions of local democracy will find themselves closer and closer to statewide and national democracy issues as the 2024 election approaches. Let's all see the connection between the fights in our communities, and the nationwide far-right attack on freedom. 

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]

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This afternoon the Houston Democracy Project attended an event called by Houston District H Councilman Mario Castillo, about recently installed pedestrian safety medians on Houston Ave. that Mayor Whitmire says he will have torn out very soon.  

Above you see Mr. Castillo talking to the people. There were about 70 folks I'd wager. Mr. Castillo is opposed to removal of the medians.   

The medians and improvements are on Houston near the intersection of Houston and Washington. Here is a Chron.com story about the project. 

While red light running, pedestrian and biker safety, & aggressive driving are important concerns, Councilmember Castillo got to the heart of the matter in a portion of his remarks. ​

​The Councilman asked who was paying for the project, by what process has this all occurred and will  district council people be respected by the mayor? 

Mayor Whitmire discussed the issue just this past week at Council. Now already the crews to rip it all up are due to start work Monday morning the 5th. That's a quick turnaround. Would, for example, a report of poor equipment in a playground get such speedy attention? 

Who has Mayor Whitmire's ear? How can these mysterious voices outweigh neighborhood input? How can funds for hastily-imagined non-essential work be so readily conjured up? 

I would also ask how can a Mayor always talking about public safety, not view pedestrian safety as part of that issue?

When we have so much going on in Texas and nation, why do we have to spend energy fighting things like removing brand new work? When we live in such a great and hopeful city like Houston, why is this depressing stuff the course of action by Mayor Whitmire? 

The Houston Democracy Project has been clear that Mayor Whitmire's blind eye towards political extremism as we face an authoritarian threat put Houstonians at risk. Mayor Whitmire's concept of public safety leaves an awful lot out.

Mayor Whitmire's autocratic conduct and secret dealings are the wrong way forward. His anti-democractic actions here are warning to us all that he will put the wants of the connected few above the needs of the city as a whole.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].​​ 

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I went to the Houston Black American Democrats endorsement meeting today. I saw and talked to a lot of good folks, talked up the Houston Democracy Project & listened to the proceedings.

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Here are some Houston Democracy Project notes:

*Starting in March, I'll have a monthly Houston Democracy Project Zoom session about democracy issues in Houston, in Harris County and Texas. I might do it more often as we approach the November election. Details to come.

*The Houston Democracy Project & the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest are teaming up with a Change.org petition urging people in Houston/Harris County to commit to showing up if Republicans are overturning local elections or if civil liberties are under attack in a new Trump term. Please sign the petition and share with others.  

*The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest recently observed its seven year anniversary at the corner or Memorial & Detering. I'm a co-organizer. The Cornyn Protest shows up with confidence for democracy in a highly visible place. In addition to voting, we must ready to show up as required to meet the authoritarian challenge of 2024 and beyond. Join us each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr.  

​*The Houston Democracy Project is featured weekly on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right broadcast and webcast. You can hear it each Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM on KPFT 90.1 FM and also watch it later on Egberto's website.   

​* I'll be speaking about the Project at the Humble Area Democrats March meeting on 3/11. Thanks to club President John Cotter for the invite. It's a really solid club.

*I recently the Houston Democracy Project domain name. When sharing word of the Project, please tell folks all they have to do is go to HoustonDemocracyProject.com   

*Above is a picture I took a few days ago of a great winter day in Houston. All the elements were in motion. Check out the Pictures I Have Taken section of the Project.    

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].