Houston City Council Discusses HPD/ICE & How City Should Post Correct Time For Public Meetings

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​At today's, 1/28, Agenda Session of Houston City Council, some councilmembers used the time known as "Pop Off" to discuss the lively Council Public Comment Session last night mostly focused on HPD working with ICE. Conversation was about policies the city might enact regarding HPD/ICE & aspects of how the meeting last night was conducted. Here is my report on last night's meeting. 

Why should we pay attention to these meetings?

1. To press for the policy goal of Houston City Council of ending or sharply restricting non-safety traffic stops by HPD. ICE should not be contacted over a busted taillight or tinted windows. Some Councilmmebers appear open to this idea. 

2. To push back on Mayor Whitmire's shameful and repeated narrative that there is trouble in places like Chicago and Minnesota because people are fighting back against ICE, rather than because of the conduct of the abuser. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were not aggressors. 

3. Most importantly-- To organize ourselves. Elected officials are secondary. We've seen in Minnesota that our freedom is up to us. Rather than be quiet as Mayor Whitmire says we should do, we should instead show up at meetings, contact council relentlessly, meet fellow organizers and rank & file Houstonians who are also getting involved, and be ready to show up for ourselves at council and on the streets. 

The next action is when you organize it, the First Amendment is your permit, the only credential needed is your presence. 

Which Councilmembers spoke this morning and what did they say? (I've included the time on the HTV Facebook feed when Councilmembers spoke. If you play around with the rebroadcast, you'll get the hang of navigating it. See for yourself what is going on.)

Democrat Mario Castillo, at the 48 minute point of the HTV feed, said the City of Houston website should list the proper time of the evening monthly public comment session. The website says 5:30 PM. The meeting yesterday who began at 5. He also said the security screening process to let people into council chambers should be improved, so people can get into the chamber to speak. Both these concerns were an issue last night. People signed up to speak and went to City Hall, but were then not able to speak. Mayor Whitmire ignored Mr. Castillo's comment. 

Republican Willie Davis at 49 minutes said that some people speaking last were rude and disrespectful. He said we should be "civil." He will "pray" that such conduct is not repeated. Councilmember Davis did not note that he is a partisan Republican who bears direct responsibility for ICE and everything Trump does. He did not say he would pray for ICE to conduct itself in a different manner. 

Democrat Joaquin Martinez at 1 hour, 3 minutes, said he thinks of vulnerable immigrants "first and foremost in decisions that I make." That's fair. He has better insight into that community than I do.

Civil liberties and Constitutional rights are things many people have fought and died for. These concerns must also be at the top of Councilmember Martinez's thinking. Mr. Martinez has a view apparently informed by Mayor Whitmire that the people doing these terrible things can be appeased. Where is the off ramp? We know it's not the cold-blooded killings of peaceful protestors on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE. Will it be when Greg Abbott follows through on his threats to take over Harris County elections in 2026 and we can't be assured of a fair vote count? 

Democrat Edward Pollard at 1 hour, 9 minutes, said the city should give people the right time for public comment sessions and reasserted his opposition to ICE. 

Democrat Alejandra Salinas at 1 hour, 13 minutes, denounced the ICE murders in Minnesota and said she would work to lessen the prospect of such a thing happening in Houston. She remains consistent with her campaign commitments to aggressively oppose ICE and stand up to Mayor Whitmire when required. 

Republican Twila Carter at 1 hour, 14 minutes, said the media should partner with the city and HPD to get the right messages out. You see her below in these comments. Like Mr. Davis, Ms. Carter is a partisan Republican who effectively helped put the guns used in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the hands of ICE agents. Trump likes state-run media and so it seems does Councilmember Carter. 

Democrat Carolyn Evans-Shabazz at 1 hour, 22 minutes, said the City of Houston should limit or end non-safety traffic stops to free up officers for other things and limit prospects of HPD contacting ICE over minor things. This is the 3rd time I've heard Councilmember Evans-Shabazz say the non-safety traffic stops should be restricted. That's just the point we are working to make. You see her above in her comments. 

This is the information I have. The next steps are up to you. 

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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