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Here are some first local observations from yesterday's election:

1. It's good Sean Teare held on to be elected District Attorney. With Ken Paxton as Texas AG and a Trump Justice Department, at least there will somebody with the authority to charge people for crimes who is not a right wing extremist.  

2. I've lived in Houston for 26 years. Right from when I got here I was told demographic shifts would be bringing statewide Democratic wins soon. This theory seems flawed.

3. Here is my post from two days ago about which Harris County Democratic candidates and elected officials were helpful in the recently completed campaign. Thank them should you see them and ask incumbents who didn't help where they were.

​4. With mass deportations and attacks on basic freedoms likely on the way, local law enforcement officers in Houston/ Harris County should be seen as extensions of Ken Paxton, Great Abbott & Donald Trump.     

5. John Whitmire is the wrong leader for Houston under Trump. I know that's not a genius observation. I don't think he is happy with Trump's election,-he is not that far to the right whatever I think of him-but he'll offer no inspiration or hope in what are going to be some very dark days. Trump's election makes a depressing Mayoral term even more depressing.

6. Members of Houston City Council have an obligation to show leadership in the days ahead. The Democrats at least. The six Republicans--WillIe Davis, Twila Carter, Julian Ramirez, Amy Peck, Mary Nan Huffman, Fred Flickinger--never said a word in opposition to Trump or objected to prospect of mass deportations. Carter, Ramirez and Flickinger took part in Republican campaign events. These six should be pressed as we go along as to what extremism they are on board with. 

The ten Democrats--Letitia Plummer, Sallie Alcorn, Abbie Kamin, Tarsha Jackson, Tiffany Thomas, Ed Pollard, Mario Castillo, Joaquin Martinez, Carolyn Evans-Shabazz & Martha Castex-Tatum--need to be present with so much trouble on the way. They signed up for positions of leadership and leadership is now very much required.    

Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your council member.
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7. The photo above is from this evening's Houston LGTQIA+ Political Caucus monthly meeting. The speaker was County Commissioner Leslie Briones. As you can imagine, there was discussion of the election. Nothing big to report. Some reassurance and acknowledgment of the severity of the circumstances.         

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. 
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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 November 4th. Election Day is tomorrow.

Election Day is tomorrow. Who are the elected officials and candidates who have shown up for us in the 2024 campaign?

One way to know is to look at the Harris County Democratic Party list of who has knocked doors in 2024.   

Texas House #150 candidate Brett Robinson is listed at 1185 doors knocked. That is 706 doors more than anyone else on the chart. Mr. Robinson has an uphill race. He's given that race all he has. Other legislative and Congressional candidates who have put in strong effort are TX. House #132 Chase West, TX. House #129 Doug Peterson, U.S. House #36 Dayna Steele, U.S. House #38 Melissa McDonough, TX. House #128 Chuck Crews & U.S. House #8 Laura Jones.   

This is just patriotic service to the nation and Texas from these candidates. All these candidates have challenging races and still they did the work.

Justice of the Peace Steve Duble is next with 479 doors. This merits notice because JP Duble is not on the ballot in '24. He showed up even though he did not have to take part. Judges Erika Ramirez, Leah Shapiro and Hilary Unger also knocked on many doors even though they are also not on the ballot. First class effort.   

The ten Democratic nominees for the Appellate Court seats have been working hard on the campaign trail. I've seen them at events, on social media & are on the door knocking list. Seven of the ten are the HCDP list for contributing in full or in part to the Victory Fund. This is the HCDP 's coordinated campaign effort for the full Harris County ticket. I don't know who of the ten have done more or less. But I want to acknowledge  Appellate Justice Meagan Hassan who I know strongly shares the view that all elected officials should be  active campaigners.             

Here are all the victory fund donors. Judges Jeralynn Manor, Kristen Hawkins & Fredericka Phillips are the only District Court incumbents who paid a full share. They did not have to pay up. But they did.

I've been told District Court Judge Michael Gomez has been helpful this year.     

Incumbent State Legislators who've been active/paid up are Representatives Christina Morales, Jon Rosenthal, Senfronia Thompson and Senator Molly Cook. Lauren Ashley Simmons who'll be elected on Tuesday to the Texas House has been a champion. Also active, in their ways, were Representatives Ann Johnson and Gene Wu.​

Countywide candidates Sean Teare, Annette Ramirez and sitting County Attorney Christian Menefee have been important parts of the Harris County Democratic campaign.       

My impression is that Lizzie Fletcher is the most helpful of the Congressional incumbents.

None of the ten Houston City Council Democrats have risen to the moment either in terms of informing the public of the risks of Republican electoral success in 2024, or in consistently being part of Campaign '24.          

This list is to best of my knowledge. I might well be leaving people out. I'm sure I am. I'm not inclined to praise of elected officials. They are rarely reliable allies. But we should extend credit where credit is due. If I missed someone, leave a comment or e-mail me at [email protected]

We have a right to expect our elected officials/elected employees will be part of protecting our freedom. Hold them to that standard. Election Day is here. There are many more fights ahead. We need all the help we can get.        

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. 
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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 November 3rd. Election Day is in 2 days on November 5th. Early Voting is over.

*Houston City Council last week voted to approve paying membership dues to the Houston Galveston Area Council despite last year's Proposition B vote. Proposition B directed the City of Houston to leave H-GAC if the city did not get representation on the panel equal to Houston's population. H-GAC has not  extended that representation to Houston. They are not considering doing so. Still, Council agreed to pay the dues. Prop. B passed with 65% of the vote 

Four members of Council did the right thing and voted to not pay the dues. Those Councilmembers were Tarsha Jackson, Abbie Kamin, Ed Pollard & Letitia Plummer.  Thanks to each of them for respecting the will of the voters. 

I hope advocates of Prop. B will sue the city to enforce the City Charter. This is the view Councilmember Pollard appeared to back in Council discussion of the issue. (Debate begins at the 2 Hour 9 minute mark of the HTV broadcast of last week's Council Agenda Session. At the 2 hour 52 minute mark, Mayor Whitmire makes clear his disdain for the Prop B vote. It's depressing and not surprising. The full Prop B. debate runs 50 minutes.)   

A few weeks back four Houston Councilmembers went out on a limb and proposed a city tax increase to help pay for storm damage recovery in Houston. Those Councilmembers were Sallie Alcorn, Mario Castillo, Joaquin Martinez and Letitia Plummer. They did not have to get out in front of that issue--But they did. 

Thanks to Councilmember Plummer for being on the right side of both Prop B. and evident need for more city revenue.  
           
Back in August, Council--for the moment at least--said no to Mayor Whitmire's anti-First Amendment ordinance that would essentially end the right of Houstonians to protest at the homes of elected officials or powerful individuals. No individual roll call vote was taken on the issue, but the votes were not there. 

It was clear in August that citizen input mattered in the sidewalk protest ordinance vote.  

I'm writing this two days before the General Election when so much is at stake. It's important we not lose sight of local democracy even as we fight for our national democracy. Authoritarianism will require a local infrastructure. Mass deportations and implementation of the goals of Project 2025 will require the acquiescence and support of local officials. 

We need local officials who will be brave and who will advocate for democracy. No matter the outcome of the national election, (And the outcome of the court cases and possible right wing violence after the election.) we must still confront an extremist right-wing Texas state government.

​Let's praise Councilmembers when they follow the right course even when it is difficult. Let's be willing to publicly hold them to account when they don't. No elected official is a reliable ally. They are people who have successfully navigated these systems that have taken us to the brink of Donald Trump's return to the White House. Watch them with a wary eye & don't allow them safe harbor in any coming storm. Demand they fight for us.   

Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your council member. 

*The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will be out for Week 404 at the corner of Memorial & Detering tomorrow Tuesday, November 5th, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy.  The Protest will continue  past Election Day.  We cannot be bullied off the street by the aggression of the right.  Please join us.

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. 
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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 November 2nd. Election Day is in 3 days on November 5th. Early Voting is over.

*Harris County & Texas Republicans never let up in trying to overturn our election results and disenfranchise our voters.   

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson says federal election monitors can't enter Texas polling places. 

From The Texas Tribune: 

​Texas’ top elections official told the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday its election monitors aren’t permitted in the state's polling places after the federal agency announced plans to dispatch monitors to eight counties on Election Day to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws....The Justice Department regularly sends monitors across the country to keep an eye out for potential voting rights violations during major elections. The agency said monitors would be on the ground in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states. The Texas counties are Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto and Waller counties.
 
Just like out of Jim Crow days, but right here in 2024.   

*A motley crew of Harris County Republicans are in court trying to kick thousands of Harris County voters off the rolls.

From KUHF:

A lawsuit filed by conservative activist and GOP megadonor Steven Hotze alleges the Harris County voter registration roll contains “tens of thousands” of ineligible voters....The lawsuit, filed just three days before early voting, in part seeks to remove ineligible voters from the registration roll. But under the details of a federal law, a 90 day deadline was already missed to remove those names ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

There are more details if you click the link. It's stupid. It's all part of endless efforts to overturn our votes. It most likely won't succeed. But they keep trying until they find the right court, the right judge.

*Far-right State Senator Paul Bettencourt is reminding everyone Texas can easily take over Harris County elections. Senator Bettencourt was mad Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez or his office or whoever had said inmates voting in Harris County jails could use an inmate wristband with a date of birth to vote. That was mistaken. It was not an attempt to rig the election or a reason to take control of Harris County elections.

Here are details on inmates voting in Harris County from the Texas Tribune. 

Here is part of what Bettencourt Tweeted out about this issue: "....I want to point out that Harris County is authorized to be placed under the oversight of the (Texas Secretary of State) due to the passage of my SB 1933...:      

Always threats. Always at the ready to take our democracy. You see it's the very same Texas Secretary of State saying that federal poll monitors can't go into Texas polling places who Senator Bettencourt makes clear to say can seize our election process. 
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(A recent survey of the voting preferences of inmates reported a strong majority support Trump.)  

We will win these fights. After we win, they'll try again. And we'll win again. And so on and so on until Texans and the nation choose a permanent course of freedom and equal rights for all.        
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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 November 1st. Election Day is in 4 days on November 5th. Early Voting ends today.

With Republicans making clear they will not accept election results, threats of mass deportations that many believe will involve American citizens and openly-stated plans to attack the constitution, we may  required to protest.

Here are rights of protestors from ACLU Texas.       

Here are protest rights for Texans along with a number of other resources from the Texas State Law Library.  

Here is the First Amendment of the Constitution--  

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I've taken part in a lot of protests. I'm part of a group that protests at Senator Cornyn's Houston office each week. We've been out each Tuesday for 403 weeks. The police would have broken it up years ago except for the First Amendment. They tried at a few points to hassle us. Most protest does not require any type of permit. The First Amendment is your permit. We are certainly more peaceful and less threatening than John Cornyn who supports the authoritarian Trump. 

Last March, I attended a presentation of the Special Response Group (SRG) of the Houston Police Department. It was part of a know your local police type monthly meeting series. SRG are the officers that monitor and respond to protests.

The upshot of the talk in my view was that the SRG folks see protestors as a hassle, don't really care what you are protesting unless it's seen as anti-police, view protection of property at the least as important--quite possibly more so--as the safety of protestors & are mindful of the First Amendment to some degree.        

​The SRG website says this-- 

"The SRG is involved with all protests, demonstrations, rallies, and mass gatherings. They are equipped and prepared to handle any type of situation. The goal of the SRG is to be prepared for any situation and influence a peaceful ending."

Above is a slide from SRG from presentation. Protestors are people to call the police about, to coordinate with your security about, to not get into a fight with, to make certain you share all the information you have with police. They are by definition outsiders, troublemakers, reasons to call security.   
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Our rights and our futures are on the line. It's important to understand in advance that the police won't be our allies. They'll respect our rights to a degree. Every officer is an individual with his or own views. They are not inherently good or bad people. They'll follow orders. They'll in the end serve whoever they feel has the most power.  

It's important to recall that police unions often support authoritarians and election deniers. They make the conscious choice to do this. They could choose otherwise. 

Also noteworthy was the apathy of local Democrats over the unnecessary mass arrests at Houston's George Floyd protests & the willingness to look the other way nationally at abuses directed at pro-Palestinian protestors.

When you think it is someone other than you, it's you next. Our rights and freedom are up to each of us to protect.
     
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.