Houstonians Speak On ICE/HPD At Evening Public Comment Session-A Quick Report

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​ I watched today, 1/27, the monthly evening Public Comment Session of Houston City Council. Here is the HTV broadcast of the meeting. The meeting starts at the 5 minute point.

Here is a quick report:

It was lively tonight. Many people spoke forcefully against HPD working with ICE. Mayor Whitmire is slow to direct police officers to remove people who speak over time-allowed. He's been okay with that as Mayor. It seemed clear HPD was hands off tonight.

The new practice tonight was to cut off the microphone.

It's something that Mayor Whitmire with $12 million in his campaign bank and the messaging power that affords him, needs to cut people off. He made that money as an elected official off our votes. He can listen for a few extra minutes. 

No Councilmember offered any feedback to people speaking about ICE/HPD. The Houstonian in the picture above offered her perspective to how Council has responded to HPD/ICE & standing up to Abbott and the federal government.

The point was also made that Mayor Whitmire keeps blaming protestors of trouble in cities, rather than the actions of ICE. He does this over and over. People noted that appeasing Abbott & Trump just won't work when all is said and done.
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I'm glad to report I know four of the speakers tonight personally. I'm hanging out with the right people. 

A policy goal sought in Houston is stopping/restricting non-safety traffic stops so there is less prospect HPD will encounter someone they choose to call ICE about.

Based on the imperfect tool of considering public statements made by politicians, ( I watch every Public comment Session & Agenda Session of Houston City Council) here is where Councilmembers may stand on the traffic stop issue:

Willing to discuss it & hopefully open to HPD policy change:
Democrats Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Abbie Kamin, Alejandra Salinas, Ed Pollard & Tarsha Jackson. (Ms. Jackson is on medical leave, but her office is open.) Also-Republican Julian Ramirez.

Not clear where they stand on HPD policy change:
Democrats Tiffany Thomas, Sallie Alcorn, Mario Castillo, Martha Castex-Tatum & Joaquin Martinez.

Ms. Castex-Tatum is Mayor Pro Tem which makes her #2 to Mayor Whitmire. She's a citywide official who merits call/e-mail on any important concern.

Likely a lost cause, but still should be contacted to tell them ICE brutalizes people and Trump is attacking democracy:
Republicans Twila Carter, Mary Nan Huffman, Fred Flickinger, Willie Davis & Amy Peck.

Here is information about interacting with & following 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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