​Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 11th. Election Day is in 25 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 10 days on October 21st. 

* The Texas Tribune recently ran an article about which Texas State House races are seen as competitive by Democrats and Republicans. None of the seats discussed are in Harris County. While Harris County House Democrats would like to be in the majority, that does not appear in the cards for 2024. There are also the fights over private school vouchers and who will be elected Speaker for the next legislative session. The number of seats held by each party will have a big impact on how those battles turn out.

But at bottom line, taking part in the 2024 campaign is optional for the Harris County State Legislative  delegation. Nobody will be losing a seat. This is just as true for State Senators as it is for House members. Due to gerrymandering, every state legislator in Harris County is safe. (This does not mean that Democrats running uphill races against Republicans in safe seats are not important. Chuck Crews running against a terrible Republican incumbent is a strong example of this. He is knocking doors, rallying voters and working to hold the incumbent accountable. Chuck's campaign and others like it merit support.)        
               
There are some Harris County legislators who show up on the campaign trail and others who do not. On the showing up list in my view are Senator Molly Cook, State Reps. Christina Morales, Senfronia Thompson, Jon Rosenthal, Gene Wu, and also Lauren Ashley Simmons who won the Democratic Primary in a strongly Democratic seat. This is based on lists of doors knocked and contributions to the coordinated Victory Campaign posted by the Harris County Democratic Party, and on my own conversations and observations.

​Candidates in challenging state legislative races running aggressive campaigns include Brett Robinson, Chase West and Doug Peterson in addition to Chuck Crews.  (If I've left someone off these lists who merits  inclusion, please leave a comment or e-mail me at [email protected] I'd be happy for input that would sharpen my grasp of the matter. )         

I'm not--for the moment--offering a list of legislators not helping. I don't want to include people without being certain I have it right. But there are easy and visible ways for elected officials to make clear to active rank & file Democrats that they are properly meeting the realities of this nightmare we are living.   

It's the responsibility of elected officials to assist on campaigns beyond their own. Campaigns are extractive industries that take money and volunteer hours from the political and social ecosystem & most often leave little structure for the next election. Elected officials are people who have successfully navigated systems that have brought us to the brink of authoritarianism and mass deportations. They can help the full ticket & then they can show up as required after the election no matter no matter how far the the political right is prepared to go after November 5th.        

* The Presidential election has three possible outcomes--

1. Harris wins & we prevail over the court cases and violence/threats.

2. Harris wins & then we lose it to the court cases and violence/threats.

3. Trump wins on Election Day.

We need to be ready for all three outcomes and make certain our elected Democrats are fully present no matter what. Be prepared for whatever is on the way.   

* Regarding the death of Ethel Kennedy--In the summer of 1992, I flew with four others from Cincinnati to Boston to attend a fundraiser at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port for Congressman Joe Kennedy. Kennedy is the son of Ethel and Robert Kennedy.

The trip was organized by Cincinnati Councilmember Tyrone Yates who was my boss at the time. My contribution to Kennedy was $250. I don’t think he had an opponent.

I know the year was 1992 because the theme of the event was the 500th anniversary of Columbus arriving in the New World. Some of the Kennedy family people were wearing Ferdinand and Isabella 15th century type clothes. It was maximum colonizer stuff just a few miles from Plymouth Rock.

We were served hot dogs, beans, soda, beer--That kind of stuff. I remember we were taken into the compound, which was behind a wall, by a bus that picked us up in Downtown Hyannis Port. There was a loud speaker announcement that a car was blocking the driveway of Mrs. Onassis. We were asked to wave in the direction of Rose Kennedy who we were told was in her house. There were like five or six houses in the compound.

Ethel Kennedy came up to me during the event, looked at my name tag, extended her hand and greeted me by name like we were old friends. She thanked me for being there. I appreciated her offering me the respect back then and still do today.

It was just 30 years ago. But it sure seems like a distant world--for better and worse--from today.

​Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

​


Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 10th. Election Day is in 26 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 11 days on October 21st.

* I heard from active rank & file Democrats who would know, that the Colin Allred campaign is asking volunteer canvassers to try to persuade Republicans to vote for him. The volunteers are signing up for a canvassing shift expecting to talk to Democrats at the door, but are sometimes getting hostile Republicans instead. That is a good way to burn out or turnoff volunteers. Volunteers are looking to expand Democratic turnout. Not talk to Republicans. They speak to enough Republicans at family gatherings or at work.     

I went to a Houston Kick Off event for Allred in July. Two of the speakers were State Senator Carol Alvarado and County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. They told us to do all we could to help elect Rep. Allred to the U.S. Senate. Senator Alvarado has $1.2 million campaign cash on hand & I saw on Facebook that she had a fundraiser a few days ago. It looked well-attended. She might have even more money now. Commissioner Ellis has $6.2 million in the campaign bank.   

Senator Alvarado and Commissioner Ellis could meet tomorrow with the Allred campaign, and commission a paid canvassing program with canvassers briefed and trained on the Allred goal of winning some Republican votes. A well-trained crew would do better rustling up Republicans than would volunteers tossed into the mission. Surely the Allred team would be happy for the help.      

Recently the Houston Democracy Project proposed Senator Alvarado, Commissioner Ellis and Mayor John Whitmire get together over a cup of coffee to coordinate on using campaign funds to help the Democratic ticket in Harris County. Mayor Whitmire, who insists he is a Democrat, has $9.9 million on hand. I'm hoping they have met and a big GOTV plan is on the way from these cash on hand heavy hitters.

The stakes could not be higher. Republican plans for mass deportations and Trump's assertion that immigrants have a genetic predisposition to crime, strike right at the core identity of such a diverse city as Houston.   

Senator Alvarado, Commissioner Ellis (and Mayor Whitmire) have successfully navigated systems that have taken us to the brink of authoritarianism & that have messed up the weather. It's not a lot to ask them to use resources they've amassed over many years in failing systems, to help make sure we don't lose our freedom.

* The picture above is from this week's 4ooth Week of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. It is essential people see others like themselves willing to openly and confidently stand for democracy no matter the aggression of the right. We can't be pushed out of public space.  

Please join the protest each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr. Any amount of time you can join is just the right amount of time. There are extra signs for all.    

Alternative structures are very difficult to maintain. The Cornyn Team is proud to have made it to Week 400  with no connection to any campaign or any funding. We'll show up as needed in the weeks ahead whether it be on our normal Tuesday routine, or if Republicans are trying to overturn or not accept election results and we need to be on the streets.    

Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

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​Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 9th. Election Day is in 27 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 12 days on October 21st. (Above is the picture of the day. Today was another great sunny day in Houston. Stay your best course as we navigate this stressful election.)  

* Politico ran an article recently about the decision of the International Association of Firefighters to make no endorsement in the presidential race. The article says the firefighters were close to endorsing Harris but yielded to pressure from local chapters to not endorse.

From the article: 

"But the union president, Edward Kelly, was under intense pressure by key local chapters — including New York, Boston, Philadelphia and some officials in Los Angeles and Houston, along with a swath of rank-and-file members — to withhold endorsing Harris, with some threatening to pull out of the larger union if it did. Some chapters followed through on threats to leave the union after it endorsed John Kerry in 2004, and the IAFF declined to endorse in 2016. The pressure this year was even higher."

Just remember when mass deportations are taking place, women are dying from untreated pregnancy complications and authoritarianism prevails, that it is not of much concern to the Houston Professional Firefighters Association. Also seemingly fine with the union are the attacks on unions that are part of Project 2025.    

The firefighters got the money they wanted from Houston taxpayers. All good.  

* The Houston Chronicle endorsed Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt for reelection. 

From the Chronicle:

"We disagree with some of his tactics and many of his positions, such as voting for appropriations for a border wall or co-sponsoring the controversial Senate Bill 4 that sought to create a new state crime that would allow police to arrest people they suspected of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border. But even on other issues where we differ, including school vouchers and the administration of county elections, we often find him reasoned and thoughtful."
 
It is not that Senator Bettencourt is a Republican in and of itself that makes this endorsement wrong. It's that he is an aggressive advocate of policies that lead to mass deportations and overturning election results.  Endorsing Senator Bettencourt normalizes brutality and attacks on democracy.    

* Mayor Whitmire secured $50 million from the State of Texas to help pay for damage from our two storms this year.  Because of this money, the four councilmembers who had been pushing a tax increase withdrew their proposal. Councilmembers Alcorn, Martinez, Castillo and Plummer should be commended for putting themselves out there to do the right thing & also for creative use of of a virtual town hall format this past Sunday to help sell the idea.        

From the Houston Landing: 

​"At-Large Councilmember Sallie Alcorn, one of the council members proposing the increase, said they withdrew the measure because of the state announcement. However, the city still faces financial questions from upcoming police, fire and municipal workers union contracts, and Alcorn said the city still may have to consider tax increases in the future.....“I believe that when you find yourself in a hole, it’s best to stop digging,” Alcorn said. “I believe that this rate increase was the right thing to do, absent the information that came today.”
​
This money from the state is not a gift or favor. Houston/Harris County is an economic engine of Texas & the state often operates in an antagonistic way toward the city and county. They are not doing us any favors.

And again--striking the same theme as the two matters discussed above--State of Texas leadership supports the Trump/Vance/Musk ticket that is coming for our freedom. They can direct $50 million or $500 million or $5 billion to the City of Houston--The bottom line democracy issue will still be there.      

* I'll be on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show tomorrow, 10/10. I'm on the show with Egberto each Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

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

 






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Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 7th. Election Day is in 29 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 14 days on October 21st.

* Above you see a recent Tweet from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. She was in Arizona for the Vice Presidential debate. That's fine. Arizona is an important state. At the same time, looking at the Harris County Democratic Party list of doors knocked and who has taken part in the Victory coordinated campaign, Judge Hildalgo is not on this list. I've seen many pictures of various local Democratic club blockwalks and I've not seen her included in the pictures. Maybe I've missed them.   

Active Harris County Democrats came out strong for Judge Hidalgo in 2022 as she faced an aggressive  Republican effort to unseat her. Judge Hidalgo has announced plans to run again in 2026 in what will be another tough race. It's important to understand what local efforts Judge Hidalgo is making with so much on the line in 2024. She certainly will be asking much of us in 2026. 

There are elected officials not on the ballot in 2024 who are on the trail in this cycle.  Three who are showing up are Judges Erika Ramirez and Hillary Unger as well as Justice of the Peace Steve Duble.

* The Harris County Clerk's Office will be having an Election Worker Job Fair on Wednesday, October 10 from 6 PM-8 PM. It is a big deal that Harris County have enough people to staff the polls for the upcoming election. County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth is working hard to make sure it goes well. If you can't attend the job fair, here is the link on becoming an election worker.

* The virtual Tax Rate Town Hall held yesterday by Houston Councilmembers Alcorn, Castillo, Martinez & Plummer was well done & a public policy win in and of itself. The tax rate change being proposed by the four councilmembers is to make up for revenue lost dealing with the two big storms this year.  

I tuned in and made a comment in yesterday's meeting. It's important we raise the tax money needed as we face the prospect of Project 2025 & the reality of a State of Texas government that opposes everything we do. 

​The public policy win was the use of the virtual town hall forum. The tax rate change is a proposal introduced to Council by use of Proposition A. Proposition A was approved overwhelmingly by Houston voters last year to allow any three councilmembers to introduce an agenda item to the council calendar.

​Using a virtual town hall to help explain and to take testimony on a Prop A matter, expanded the democratic reach of Prop A in a way consistent with what voters intended. This was a very different approach to a Prop A proposal than the recent use of the initiative to enable Mayor Whitmire to gut the sidewalk ordinance simply by writing a memo.      

Town Halls--virtual or in-person--could be used by elected officials at any point between now and Election Day to advise people of the importance of the upcoming election.   ​          

* The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will mark Week 400 at the corner of Memorial & Detering tomorrow Tuesday, October 8, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. Please join us.  (And thanks to top local political blog Off The Kuff for posting on the Cornyn Protest yesterday.)    

​Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

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

​The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will be at the corner of Memorial & Detering for its 400th week this Tuesday, October 8th, 11:30 AM -1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr.   

(Above--The Cornyn Protest.)  

The Cornyn Houston Office Protest began in January of 2017 as one of a number of Tuesday protests at Republican Senate offices across the country after the election of Donald Trump. It is the only one remaining. 

The Cornyn Protest estimates it has been watched by approximately 1200 HPD units. Things we’ve had thrown at us include lit cigars, batteries, potatoes, eggs and a softball. Earlier in 2024, the Protest secured a misdemeanor conviction in a Houston City Court against a man who had thrown eggs at the group from a moving car.

For all of that however, reactions from passers-by at our busy corner are each week strongly positive. Friendly honks and kind words are far more common than middle fingers. We have longtime supporters in motorists who expect to see us each Tuesday, and a social media presence that brings us followers from across Texas. 

The bottom line of the Protest is for others to see people just like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. We won’t be pushed out of public space by the aggression of the right. With clear threats from authoritarianism coming from the right, we must--in addition to voting--be ready to show up in any way required for the fights ahead. 

Please join us Tuesday, October 8th to celebrate our 400th week of effective advocacy on Houston streets.

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

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

​

* Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 5th. Election Day is in 31 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 16 days on October 21st.

* There is a story in the New York Times about how the gerrymandered Republican-dominated legislature in North Carolina, has prevented needed steps to protect the people of North Carolina from the consequences of extreme weather.

From the story--

"Over the past 15 years, North Carolina lawmakers have rejected limits on construction on steep slopes, which might have reduced the number of homes lost to landslides; blocked a rule requiring homes to be elevated above the height of an expected flood; weakened protections for wetlands, increasing the risk of dangerous storm water runoff; and slowed the adoption of updated building codes, making it harder for the state to qualify for federal climate-resilience grants."

This made me think of Houston City Council's so-called Resilience Committee chaired by rightwing extremist Councilmember Twila Carter.

Here is the stated mission of the Resilience Committee-   

"Will review but not limited to: All items, actions or policies related to the existing City of Houston Resiliency Plan and Climate Action Plan." 

Here is the agenda of the committee for each monthly meeting since the committee first met in May. While some good topics have been discussed, it is not an aggressive agenda given the realities of the moment. Or even really a series of regular meetings if you look at the agenda. 

Climate change is real.  Houston is greatly impacted by climate change. Imagine handing oversight of this issue--Mayor Whitmire did that--to someone to supports for President a felon who goes on about eating pets who represents a political party that does not care much about climate change. Surely there is a Councilmember with sounder judgment who could act with greater urgency and more care to take the lead on this critical concern.
 
It is just like how the ten Houston City Council Democrats have been nearly invisible on the 2024 campaign trail even with authoritarianism and police state mass deportations on the ballot.  

Houston is a big hopeful city with big troubles. Why can't we find elected officials who will meet these challenges in serious manner?    
 
* Activism is normal people deciding to act. Showing up consistently with a clear understanding of why you are showing up is half the battle at the least.  
    
* Above you see the book Texas Post Office Murals--Art For The People. It was written by Philip Parisi and published by Texas A & M Press in 2004.  It's interesting art, Texas history and insight into the operations of the New Deal. The book is still in print. 

I read an hour each night to help keep the stresses of the day from prevailing.  

* The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will mark Week 400 at the corner of Memorial & Detering this Tuesday, October 8, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. Please join us.    ​

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

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

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​Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 4th. Election Day is in 32 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 17 days on October 21st.

* Above you see word of a virtual Tax Rate Town Hall scheduled for this Sunday, 10/6. It is jointly conducted by Houston City Councilmembers Sallie Alcorn, Letitia Plummer, Mario Castillo and Joaquin Martinez. All four of these officials are Democrats. The City of Houston needs more revenue and these Councilmembers should be commended to be willing to advocate on the issue. Contact them and thank them.      

In addition to standing up on the tax rate, our elected officials must address the upcoming election with urgency. Below is the letter I e-mailed today to the four councilmembers leading the town hall. ( Here is my recent letter to Houston City Council about the lawless and imperial way Mayor Whitmire gutted Houston's sidewalk ordinance & the need to protect democracy in Houston.)

Today's letter:    

Thank you for taking part along with three Council colleagues, in the October 6th Zoom Town Hall about the city tax rate. It is an act of leadership and political courage to be out in front on this issue.      

I’ve signed up as a Houstonian in favor of raising the money we need to be a functioning and livable city.  

An electronic town hall forum, or an in-person town hall meeting, would also be an effective way to inform the people of Houston about the issues at stake in the upcoming election. 

Under Project 2025 and with far-right extremists in control of state government, the City of Houston would be very much out of luck.  

Mass deportations of undocumented people and the stripping of protected status of immigrants living in Houston, would bring significant upheaval. 

The refusal to accept election results could easily lead to a significant erosion of our freedoms.    

Please consider extending your leadership on essential civic matters such as your important advocacy regarding the tax rate, to include as well the urgent concerns presented by the November 5th election.  

Thank you.

* Republicans promise violence and endless litigation if they lose the election, and authoritarianism if they win. We don't have any obligation to accept these options or just sit around and wait for them to happen to us. We can't ever normalize this stuff and we can't let up in demanding that elected Democrats fight for us.   

* Trump and Vance keep overstating the numbers of undocumented people in the United States because they intend to deport people here legally. He'll put them in camps. From there it will go to people who are the wrong color and ideological and policy opponents.  

It's remarkable that all Houston/Harris County elected Democrats are not doing everything they can to stop this from occurring.         

* The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will mark Week 400 of being at the corner of Memorial & Detering this Tuesday, October 8, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. Please join us.    ​
​
Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

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

​Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 3rd. Election Day is in 33 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 18 days on October 21st. 

* Above on the left is Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth. She spoke last night at the monthly meeting of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. Clerk Hudspeth is responsible for counting the votes at election time.

Republicans are anxious about how Texans will vote next month. Texas Republicans have extreme right-wing views and agendas they want to impose on all of us. There is every prospect there will be interference from the state in the Harris County election count. This is why some Texas Democrats have asked the federal Department of Justice to oversee the state's conduct of the 2024 election. The State of Texas already has passed a law giving them the ability to overturn Harris County results.                   

Clerk Hudspeth spoke last night in a general fashion about security measures being taken for Election Day, November 5th. It's wrong that that a good public official has to take such precautions for just doing her job. It is happening because of the climate of election-denial and violence constructed the right.   

Clerk Hudspeth will be ready for November 5th. Each of us must also be ready. Ready to vote and ready after Election Day for whatever is on the way.    

Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.
    
* Above on the right are some of the e-mails I've received from Democratic Houston City Councilmember Mario Castillo about his fundraiser which is this evening. I posted recently that given clear threats of authoritarianism and mass deportations, Councilmember Castillo should donate some of the money he raises to help elect people in 2024. This would help assure there will still be a democracy when he is next up for election in 2027.  

It just happens to be Councilmember Castillo sending me these e-mails at the moment. He's not a bad guy. It's all the same for any Democratic member of Houston City Council. Donald Trump is now talking about deporting people here legally in addition to mass forced deportations of undocumented persons. Next it'll be people who are the wrong color. Then it'll be whoever the right says are the wrong people for whatever reason. Our elected officials here in the most diverse city in America can decide to act with urgency or not.   

​Business as usual. Fundraisers as usual. It's taken us to the brink of this nightmare. If Councilmember Castillo sent me an e-mail saying I'm raising money to help win in '24 even though I'm not on the ballot, I'd send a contribution. It can be done. Harris County Judges Erika Ramirez and Hillary Unger and Justice of the Peace Steve Duble are knocking doors in 2024 even though they are not up for election until 2026.       

* The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will mark Week 400 of being at the corner of Memorial & Detering this Tuesday, October 8, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. Please join us.        

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

​Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 2nd. Election Day is in 34 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 19 days on October 21st. (Today's Picture of the Day is a pleasant scene of Houston I saw. We can't be agitated and stressed all the time.)

Every journalist covering local politics has opportunity each day to ask every elected Republican in Houston and Harris County the following questions:

1. Are you voting for Donald Trump? 
2. Do you agree with Trump's calls for violence if he loses and dictatorship if he wins?
3. Will you accept the results if Donald Trump loses?
4. Will you accept the results if Ted Cruz loses?
5. Do you support mass round up of migrants as Donald Trump is saying he will conduct?
6. Do you support Project 2025? Will you take part in implementing Project 2025 locally?  
7. Do you agree with Trump that police should be unleashed on the public regardless of the law? 
8. Does it concern you that police "unions" have endorsed these extreme Republicans? Is public safety served by lawless police?     

Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure. Those migrants won't just round up themselves. Asking these questions is more important than journalistic access to elected officials or business as usual in the coverage of municipal government. 

* Here are the links to current listings and rankings from the Harris County Democratic Party about which candidates on the Harris County ballot are taking part in the Victory Campaign to support with money the full Democratic ticket & also which candidates and incumbents are knocking doors.   

The only state legislative incumbents or candidates in safe districst who have taken part in the Victory Campaign are Senator Molly Cook, Rep. Christina Morales, Rep. Senfronia Thompson & Lauren Ashley Simmons who is a certain winner in November. There may well be other ways that elected officials are helping in 2024. You should call them and ask or ask them when you see them.     

With our freedom on the line, our elected officials should be active on the campaign trail. Is it really so difficult an ask?

* I try to keep it local, but here is a BBC story on the recent victory of the far-right in Austria. The top party in the Austrian election was a party founded by Nazis in thew 1950's. It won 28.9% of the vote. It seem they won't ever government because other parties won't join them in coalition. The story offers more specifics.
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* I'll be on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show tomorrow, 10/3. I'm on the show with Egberto each Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later on Egberto's YouTube channel.​

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

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