Houston Seeks DOJ Model Cities Grant To Integrate Trump Immigration & Policing Priorities With HPD

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​Yesterday, 9/22, I spoke-picture below-at Houston City Council about the City of Houston intent to apply for a Department of Justice Model Cities grant. The issue is currently being held. Whitmire says the city wants to see what exactly will be required by accepting the grant if awarded to Houston. Whitmire says what they really want from the grant is $ they can use for homeless initiatives. It is a stretch to trust either the Department of Justice or Whitmire.

Here is the DOJ description of the program and here is information on contacting councilmembers to tell them you don't want this.

Here is what I said at council:

Thank you to the people of Houston for providing this forum. My name is Neil Aquino & I live in Houston. My comments are about Item 26 pulled from the agenda for the moment.

The framework for the DOJ Model Cities program mandates the city work with immigration enforcement. Submitting the grant application would be yet further confirmation Houston works with ICE.

The explanatory document holds up Memphis and Washington as models of good policing. Both cities have National Guard deployments. Is this what we want?

It says we must prioritize the safety of “American” children and prioritize “American” victims of sex trafficking over others. That’s an acceptable HPD policy?

The document addresses “urban loitering.” That’s the language used. Who will be policing our loiterers? Our militarized transit system with so many cops and reduced bus service? Our $305,000 a year constables? The politically connected, paid-agitators at the police union always whining about something? DPS that may well have called ICE about Salgado? HPD under the auspices of our white supremacist DOJ? National Guard troops?

Why don’t we run an actual city here instead of a fort or occupied zone?

You tell us over and over you can’t control what the federal government does. So you invite them right into our city? What assurance will any opt-out or agreement have, when you’ve told us a zillion times you have no control over them?

Two top threats to public safety in Houston are the federal government & the state government. Protect us from them.

Mayor Whitmire says there are unlimited HPD overtime $ to police what he calls “pop-up protests.” Those folks at No Kings rallies and on sidewalks and highway overpasses are overwhelmingly rank & file Democrats and democracy advocates—and who don’t want Donald Trump defining how we are policed.

The people on the streets are far more measured and significantly less dangerous than a Ken Paxton supporter. You don’t need unlimited resources to watch your own constituents take part in protests you should be joining.

I watch every council session and understand Houston needs money—But there is no fiscal need for more ICE thugs, National Guard troops or helping Kash Patel or whoever to monitor loitering.

Don’t apply for this grant with all its dirty, tainted money.

Thank you.

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