Houston City Council Continues Discussion Of HPD/ICE-Not Much Progress, But We Retain Capacity To Organize Ourselves

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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: 
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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] ​​

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