Phantom Opinions And A Vote For Yolanda

Somebody called “Eye on City Hall” sent out a take yesterday on the H-Town City Council District H Special Election and the upcoming Mayoral race. The problem is “Eye” doesn’t let us know who she/he is? They are chicken – cluck, cluck, cluck. If you are going to put out an opinion, have the guts and courage to put your name out there and don’t do it anonymously. If you put your name where your mouth is, then we all get to see if you have an agenda, a conflict – you get the picture. I’m discounting everything “Eye” says until “Eye” eye-dentifies himself/herself.

Of all the takes that have been put out on District H, nobody has really offered an opinion on what to expect – interesting. One thing is for certain about tomorrow, the polls will be open from 7 to 7 and some voters will be a little perturbed when they find out polling locations have been combined. Vote for Yolanda Navarro Flores and stay tuned!

H-Town Mayoral candidate and City Controller didn’t take Bill King’s piece on city finances sitting down. Here is a part of what Annise wrote to the Chron: “Bill King’s attack on Mayor Bill White’s budget is all wet. If King had the foresight on a sunny day to buy an umbrella, would he leave it sitting in his closet when it rains? Thank goodness our current city leaders had the foresight to build up a surplus when times were good.” Take that!

Commentary is going to nominate The Dean to be the official spokesperson of the Lone Star State. Every time we need to fix the perception the rest of the U.S. of A. have about us, we can just stick The Dean in front of a TV camera and let it roll. CNN has been running stories about the law enforcement officials in the East Texas burg of Tenaha ripping off folks of color. It is some sort of red neck rip off scheme with a badge attached. The Dean was on live CNN yesterday afternoon explaining how we are going to hold some folks accountable. As usual, The Dean did a good job and didn’t make us look like a bunch of dumbarse secessionists. Way to go Dean!

ManRoid won’t appeal his 50 game suspension and apollyized to Dodger Blue fans. He also pointed out that in the past few years he had passed 15 drugs tests. I think it was more like he got away 15 times. Supposedly he tested positive for something called HCG which among other things is used to “treat delayed puberty in boys” – makes sense to me. Those two Red Sox World Serious Championships don’t look too pristine to me.

Here is what The Big Pujma said:  "It wouldn’t surprise me if he was on steroids, it’s sad to say, but that’s the way I feel about it.  I think that anybody that makes the game look clownish is under suspicion because it’s just not that easy. It’s unfortunate that here we go again with another round of steroid questions.”

We’re not a good team right now. Cecil Puede is making too many excuses. The Big Puma is hanging around the interstate highway. A few players are dinged up. The Hampton/Ortiz experiment is not producing much. Let’s see what we can muster up against the Padres this weekend.

Technorati Tags: Latino politics,politics,Houston City Council,Texas Latino Politics,2010 Census,Houston Astros,Campos Communications,Houston Area Latino Summit,Marc Campos,Immigration,Houston City Council election,Houston District H City Council Election

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Thoughts From A District H Voter

Commentary snagged this from Woodland Heights resident Cathy Courtney who is a voter in District H. Of course everyone should know by now that Yolanda Navarro Flores is a Commentary client:

“Subject: Important Message From MPH, Cathy Courtney

“Remember to vote in Election this week to replace City Council Rep Adrian Garcia.

“You may share my opinion with your friends in our district & encourage folks to VOTE in this tight, small numbers race.

“As you know, I’m a long time health worker, Christian, educator & frequently involved in electoral & issue campaigns. Since 8/86, I’ve been a voter registrar, precinct delegate, convention secretary, poll worker, & Pct Judge, and active in our community. Some neighbors have asked for my perspective on this election. My research completed on (CoH) Council candidates, I provide you some personal, independent, albeit values laden opinions:). Let me know what you think…

Fortunately we have many qualified candidates to choose from so it’s been a tougher decision….

“1. Yolanda Navarro-Flores is the only candidate previously elected to public office. A former radio & TV broadcaster, she’s a good presenter & as a lawyer, used to dealing with mediation & complicated laws. I worked on her District148 campaign; she won as our House Representative & honed her legislative skills during the 93-95 term. Yolanda’s a smart Hispanic woman, progressive Catholic, Mom, Grandmother, with generations of family in the district. (Lindale resident). The only woman running, Yolanda’s a Cancer survivor who’s a fighter and knows the med care issues of women & children & the health insurance system mess. For the past 7 yrs, her elected service and work (unpaid) on HCC Board of Trustees has benefited even our district (e.g. the NE HCC campus is credited to her persuasive persistence & accounting abilities); helped REDUCE property taxes for the 1st time in HCC history. Better able to interpret Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances (all that street paving, concrete & bungalow vs developers stuff) than other candidates. Marc Campos (campaign mngr) and later Yolanda answered all my questions. She knows the ins & outs of budgeting & insurance options.  http://yolanda4citycouncil.com/about/about.htm  Volunteering w/Health Care For All Texas (www.hcfat.org)

local, state & national coalitions, we’re educating at group meetings & individuals to win public org endorsements & constituent support for "Single Payer" health plan. We’re gathering DATA to document how HR676 will significantly lower the cost of health expenditures for the City of Houston (CoH). Council will be asked to make a RESOLUTION supporting HR676, recommending a YES vote to our Congress reps & Yolanda has commited to support the resolution. 

Yolanda is the BEST CHOICE to hit the ground running representing our district, no learning curve and I believe her skills will best help our district at this time.

“2. Maverick Welsh has been a smart, caring 18+ yrs teacher at Reagan up til 07, then working for Peter Brown & rose to Chief of Staff, until January09 when he resigned to run for this office. Maverick’s served in Proctor Plaza neighborhood work projects, Norhill historic district & is good advocate for saving our bungalows (SOB endorsement); http://www.shadyacres.org/index.php?page=74;wap2 No children or other job responsibilities he’d be a hard worker probly full-time. He’s a decent writer (altho somebody on his campaign team missed spelling & grammar errors in his campaign mailouts).  The GLBT door-to-door volunteer was keen & knowledgeable about his candidate. Campaign mngr, John Gorczynski is Judge, JP, Dale’s son. JohnG knew all Maverick’s positions on the issues. Maverick advocates for comprehensive health reform, supports a single payer financing plan and would endorse a Council resolution recommending support of HR 676 to our Congress reps. Karen Derr (real estate diva but 1st time in politics, who forgot to file on time for Council race), will run AT-large next time, so many of her supporters have switched to Maverick and want to see him finish out ex-Council rep Adrian Garcia’s term. 2nd choice if run-off election. http://maverickwelsh.com/

“3.  I have NOT seen Ed Gonzalez at meetings, demonstrations, Dem fundraisers, parties or neighborhood events in over 20 yrs. He may be a good HPD officer (& friends with Adrian Garcia) but crime issues seem the extent of his politics. He’s lived outside the District until a few years ago. It concerns me that Ed voted in Republican primaries well into the Bush years. [My friend in 1st ward said he did participate in business & community mtgs.] It bothers me that his top supporters are developers, insurance companies, big $ contributors & "traditional" politicos. He or staff have NOT responded to my questions at office or phone. I worry about his personal behaviors & political loyalties, and hidden values conflicting with our district. http://www.edforh.com/

“4. Gonzalo Camancho is an engineer, expert/gung ho transportation & traffic issues, has published articles.  Gonzalo is smart but I don’t respect him that as a Bolivian native, getting educated & living in the US for 30 years, he didn’t become a citizen until 2002 & then in 03 jumped into a CityCouncil face & obviously has a big time infrastructure agenda, like pushing a I-45 tunnel/parkway, which of course his company could assist building… http://votecamachotunnel.com/ Too one issue a candidate for me.

“5. Lupe Garcia came from a poor family, great American success story growing up in our District, family roots, HPD stint & Border Patrol stint to small business owner (auto repairs). However his lack of political experience is problematic to me and his big issues are property issues and reducing taxes, he doesn’t know enough about the huge City system, public funding etc. http://www.garciaforcitycouncil.com/

“ 6. Rick Rodriquez, a baseball player turned HPD officer since 1986, seems too one issue focused on CRIME. He at least lives in Lindale & his kids go to Travis Elem, but he’s reeaalll new to politics… & no public service experience, $$, etc Needs to pay his dues in the community & political arena a little more. another race, another time… http://rickrodriguez09.org/bio

“7. Hugo Mojica has been a staff for US rep Gene Green, Council members Gabriel Vasquez & Michael Berry. He works for Brilliant Lectures, a nonprofit org, active in some community org & St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. It sounds like to me that he’ll continue to make a better STAFFER than leadership for our council www.hugomojica.com/0/1358466/0/34487/

“8. Larry Williams Independence Hts resident, was a teacher & later founded of the New Covenant Baptist Church where he has served as Pastor for 13+ years.  Larry’s was a candidate for Council in 05 & got 22% of the vote compared to Adrian Garcia.  I like it that Larry serves as Pct judge, is a community activist (like me) but not everybody’s who an activist can overcome the learning curve. The grind of council biz is probably not really his thing. http://williams4citycouncil.com/meet_larry.htm

“ 9. I don’t feel like writing about James Partsch-Galvan, the Ron Paul, libertarian perennial candidate. too weird for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1dAkeT7o10&feature=related; or http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FuIZgeI8er9o1ao_e5ywbDB43A–?cq=1

“According to Charles Kuffner (offthekuff.com blogger/writer)… There was a lot of agreement at the Shady Acres neighborhood forum…partly because the candidates are not too far apart in outlook and ideology. The broad range of backgrounds and experiences among the candidates include cops, lawyers, teachers, civil engineers, and business owners – and it’s clear they have different priorities and approaches. …There wasn’t that much dissonance among them. I assume that will change for the runoff, at least to some extent, but for now things were very civil and pleasant."…

“Reports from the Shady Acres forum with these candidates can be viewed here

http://www.shadyacres.org/index.php?page=75  http://www.shadyacres.org/index.php?page=68

“Too few folks have early voted (n=830). Voting on Saturday 5/9 is deadline. Our Council rep can get things fixed for us and make a difference in the quality of life in our community. I urge you to further assess these District H candidates and GET OUT TO VOTE.

“Sincerely

Cathy C. Courtney, MPH

Woodland Heights”

Thank you Cathy.

Speaking of District H, Commentary has to give the Lupe Garcia his due for a photo of him in a small publication holding up a cardboard sign that says “will work for the city.” I wonder if he was on a street corner.

Speaking of, my good friend Bill King who has done a lot of research and reading on the finances of the City of H-Town has the following piece in today’s Chron. Check it out.

The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be holding a discussion this evening on city council redistricting at 5:30 pm, 1801 Main on the Penthouse Floor. My good buddy Edgar will be moderating tonight’s event so check it out.

Commentary snagged foul ball number 4 last night. I actually thought this one would end up in the display case but Michelle from Rolle Alloys, an oil drilling services company, was sitting next to me and asked me for it – drats. She’s in town for the OTC Convention and it was her first time to The Yard. We got run last night after falling behind 4 zip in the first so let’s see if we can at least get a split with the Cubbies this evening.

Technorati Tags: Latino politics,politics,Houston City Council,Texas Latino Politics,2010 Census,Houston Astros,Campos Communications,Houston Area Latino Summit,Marc Campos,Immigration,Houston City Council election,Houston District H City Council Election

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No Vacancy Fellas

Now that The President gets to make a Supreme Appointment, White Males probably need not apply. National Latino leaders and organizations are mobilizing right now trying to get the first Latino/Latina appointed to the Supreme Bench. Women’s organizations will also be making the push for a female appointment. Sorry White Dudes, no se puede this time.

H-Town Council Member Toni Lawrence created a bit of a stir that has the potential to go national when she commented at this week’s Council meeting on the child that died of the H1M1 bug the other day at the Medical Center. She’s probably thinking right now that she should not have said anything. The Chron has two articles on her comments. Check them out:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6402327.html And: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/casey/6402170.html. 

Here’s a statement that H-Town CM James Rodriguez is putting out this morning on the remarks:

“During our City Council meeting this week, my colleague, Council Member Toni Lawrence made reference to the 23 month old child who died of Swine Flu in a local hospital. She emphasized that ‘The child was not a United States citizen’ and added that ‘we need to do things for Houston and not for anybody else.’  Consequently, those comments have negatively alarmed many residents throughout the city.

“Now is not the time for rhetoric that could potentially have a negative impact on public health.  Now is not the time to inject a person’s immigration status in this very critical issue.  If an individual is showing symptoms, we want them to seek immediate medical treatment without fear of being questioned of their status. If we do not alleviate these concerns quickly, people will not seek treatment.  Unfortunately, they will not restrict their contact with neighbors either.  At this time, the treatment of all cases is more imperative than any discussion on immigration status. 

“I want to urge everyone, regardless of their background, to see their physician if they feel ill.  If they do not have a physician, they can visit a Federally Qualified Health Clinic, such as El Centro de Corazon, which has clinics at 412 Telephone and 7037 Capitol.

“My deepest condolences go out to the family of the deceased child.”

Nice job James.

CM Lawrence’s remarks have the potential of driving paperless folks further away from the system.  They may be fearful of going to a local clinic if they feel a little woozy, but they’ll stand there next to you and me at the local Fiesta loading up on milk, bread, hamburger meat, and Corn Flakes.  It also has a decidedly negative impact when trying to get these folks to participate in next year’s Census.

Speaking of, don’t forget to attend tomorrow’s H-Town Census 2010 Meeting at 1 pm at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  This is an important gathering for sure.

After four days of Early Voting in the H-Town City Council District H Election, 29 Downtown voters, 265 at Moody Park, and 52 at Ripley House.

Congrats go the Rockets for advancing.

‘Stros closer Joe Green Valley is still out for a while. The Big Puma is batting a buck sixty-two.  We go with Hampton, Roy O, and Wandy this weekend in the ATL so I feel OK about things.

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