​It's not enough for Mayor Whitmire and his buddies to tell us what words we can use when talking about ICE, the very act of asking questions is apparently a problem as well. 

At Houston City Council Agenda Session on November 12, Houston Police Officer's Union boss Doug Griffith informed Houstonians that use of the word "fight" in how we oppose ICE, could be taken as encouraging violence against law enforcement. (Mr. Griffith could have said this at a public comment session and heard what I imagine would be clear feedback from the public.) 

It is the role of police to protect the Constitution and the First Amendment, rather than tell us what we can say. Of course the police "union" is not the police. It's a right wing attack outfit.

At the Council Public Comment Session on December 2, Mayor Whitmire got into an exchange with immigration advocate Cesar Espinosa. The exchange was about the 15 year old boy held by the federal government for 50 days after he was turned over by HPD. 

Here is an account of the exchange from NPR KUHF.  If you want to see it all, it is from the 1 hour 19 minute point to the 2 hour point of the HTV video of the meeting. 

One thing that really got my attention was a point shown in the picture above when Mayor Whitmire said "Cesar, let us ask the questions." 

No. 

I'm not sure why Mayor Whitmire bothered to make the comment. Most times when you ask them something, they just stare blankly at you. 

We are facing an authoritarian, white supremacist menace from our federal and state governments. ICE is a gang of thugs rampaging through our cites. 

We will use the words we need to use and we will ask the questions we have to ask. 

Below is information on following and 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 5:30 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 the most recent session is 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-Letitia Plummer 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'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project Hour. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​​​

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I don't comment often on or think about very much who should run in what Democratic primary. Nobody is getting in or staying out of a race off what I'm saying. Who knows what motives everyone involved really has? 

For example, in the Texas U.S. Senate primary Allred, Talarico and if she gets in Crockett, are essentially running multi-million dollar businesses that want to extract our resources of time and money. They are like pop-up stores just around for Halloween or Christmas. They come and go. You can't get your money back if you've been ripped off because the outfit has folded. 

​Above you see a Halloween pop up store. 

One candidate will advance and the resources amassed by the loser(s) will be gone. The nominee will either win or lose the general election.

It is important to defeat Cornyn, Paxton or Hunt next November.

It's also important that the rank & file have the resources, autonomy and power to hold candidates and electeds fully accountable. We are the main act and it is our rights and freedom on the line.

Candidates come and go. Our need to support one another, have each others back and use our own power always remains.

​I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project Hour. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​​​

​I'm back from a Thanksgiving trip to Cincinnati to visit friends and family. I hope you had a good holiday or whatever you observe or do not observe. It's good to see your people and good to be back. You can't beat having two places you can call home. 

Above is a picture I took of Cincinnati's famous observatory.