What I'm Doing This Week To Fight For Democracy In Houston-We Can All Do Something

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With democracy and our futures clearly on the line, below is what I'll be doing to support local democracy in the week ahead as part of my work on the Houston Democracy Project. I hope this list offers you some thoughts on what you can do this week. We can't be paralyzed. There is something that each of us can do.

The Houston Democracy Project plan for this week:  

* E-mailing a letter to all ten Houston City Council Democrats making clear the need for local officials to act with urgency. I'll post the letter soon in a blog post. And the six Council Republicans must answer for what is taking place. I'll be pressing on that as well. 

* Attending and actively participating in the monthly meeting of the Houston LQBTQ Political Caucus. The guest is Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum. I will ask her how the city is responding to what is happening in Washington. 

* Watch, as I do each week, the public comment session and the agenda session of Houston City Council. and posting as needed about what takes place. Our local officials must always be held accountable. 

(Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 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. The agenda session to conduct Council business is  Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched on HTV Houston Television and on simulcast on the HTV feed on Facebook.)

I'm a resource for information about Houston City Council. Please e-mail me at [email protected] with any questions or thoughts about what is going on at Council. I'll do my best to answer or work to find an answer. 

​* Appearing on my weekly Houston Democracy Project Hour on the Egberto Willies' Politics Done Right Show. It is every Thursday on KPFT-FM at 6 AM. You can watch it on Egberto's YouTube page at any time. We discuss local politics and local democracy. We'll have a lot to discuss this week. 
 
* Taking part in Week 417 of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. It will be on Tuesday, February 4th from 11:30-1 at 5300 Memorial Dr. Please join us. We have extra signs for everybody and are friendly. It is essential people see others like themselves willing to stand confidently and openly for democracy no matter the aggression of the right. We have to be ready for anything. 

* Standing at least twice at busy drive times at the well-traveled juncture of Kirby, Allen and Shepherd with a sign saying "Trump is a tyrant who is taking our freedom." Again, people must see others like themselves staying the course. Good people tell me they are concerned they will be attacked for pubic advocacy in this political climate. That is a valid fear. It's up to each of us how we fight. 

* Working consistently on this blog & sharing what I write.

* Maintaining my active social media presence that has a wide audience. Find me on Bluesky, where I have over 7000 followers @neilaquino.bsky.social 

​* Promoting other people's advocacy and protest. We are all in this together. 

* Having numerous conversations over the week with rank and file democracy advocates and with candidates/elected officials about the crisis at-hand. 

* Contacting often my federal representatives in Washington as well as Democratic Leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. Call them with your concerns whether you feel they are listening or not. They need to know we are paying attention and fighting for ourselves and each other. 

* Continuing my active participation in the Texas Grassroots Alliance, which works to support autonomous Texas grassroots organizers. I'll be involved in TGA planning sessions this week. 

​*Whatever comes up over the next 7 days. 

Also, I'm the featured speaker at the Oak Forest Democrats monthly meeting on March 3rd. 

Everybody can make a difference. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. 

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

Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​​

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