Resources for citizen activists in Houston

Houston - we have a problem

I confess that before the 2016 presidential election, I wasn’t interested or concerned about participating in government or politics.  

That changed on Nov. 8, 2016.  

It’s now painfully clear how important it is to know what our elected politicians are doing on local, state and national levels. It’s time to shake ourselves out of complacency. We must be involved in directing our basic American rights, our policing, our healthcare, our financial lives and more. Our families depend on us.

The best way to do this is to get to know your elected officials and to vote.  

Consider running for office or supporting someone you think has the gifts to be a politician.

Our families are in crisis, our healthcare is in crisis, immigrant families are in danger and law enforcement may not be serving the interests of people of color  

We need people who serve the interests of the majority of our communities

These are my recommendations:

Get together with your family, friends and coworkers who think alike

Join local organizations that are doing work that matters to you (that’s another post)

Call, send postcards, letters and emails letting them know how you think

Set up time to meet face-to-face when they are in Houston or when you’re in Austin or Washington, DC

Even if you don’t have complaints or an opinion, get to know elected officials and their staff because they will impact your life at some point.

Ask them basic questions like what positions they stand for?

What specific things have they done for the community?

What have they done for a topic you care about?

What are their plans, goals, tasks and mission while in office?

Find out who represents you in Houston and contact them today!

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner: http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/

Find your Houston City Council Member - http://www.houstontx.gov/council/whoismycm.html

List of Houston Council members: http://www.houstontx.gov/council/ & Guidelines for Attending, Speaking  and/or Viewing Houston City Council (you can speak for three minutes)

State and National politicians:

Texas (Reps and Senators) - http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Zip.aspx

U.S. Government Representatives - http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com/

U.S. Senators - https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/senators_cfm.cfm?State=TX

Register to vote and help others register as well.

Harris County:  https://www.hctax.net/Voter/Registration

Law enforcement

It’s time for the Latinx and other communities to have a seat at the table and not be afraid of law enforcement.  Get a group together to set up a meeting with our police chief and sheriff.  

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez: http://www.harriscountyso.org/AboutUs/ContactUs/Contact.aspx

Police Chief Art Acevedo: http://www.houstontx.gov/police/contact/

These folks work for us and are paid from our tax dollars. Big money and influence has to stop and our active participation and voting power can stop them.

Going along with what’s happening is no longer an option.