Legislative Update / Upcoming Commissioners’ Court: Thursday, December 19, 2024

Dec 3, 2024 | Legislative Update

Austin Capitol Tours Update: The tour(s) of the Capitol has been delayed until the end of January 2025. It is a not-be-missed event as Representative Mike Schofield will provide an unforgettable lesson in history about the Capitol in Austin.

Harris County Commissioners Court: The next session is at 10 am on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the Harris County Administration Building at 1001 Preston, First Floor, on the north side of downtown Houston.

Please join Alexie Swirsky there to support our only Republican Harris County Commissioner, Tom Ramsey.  Parking is available across the street for $15.

If you would like to speak on an agenda item (see https://agenda.harriscountytx.gov/), sign up online the night before and be at the court by 9:30 am).

 

 

 

Legislative Report / Commissioner Court June 25

May 16, 2024 | Legislative Update

The Harris County Commissioners Court hearing is at 10 am on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at the Harris County Administration Building at 1001 Preston, First Floor, on the north side of downtown Houston. Please join Alexie Swirsky there to support our only Republican Harris County Commissioner, Tom Ramsey.  Parking is available across the street for $15.

If you would like to speak on an agenda item (see https://agenda.harriscountytx.gov/), sign up online the night before and be at the court by 9:30 am)

Harris County Commissioners Court June 25, 2024 – Items of Concern 

Ítem 18
Request for discussion and possible action regarding Harris County jail population, staffing, conditions, and other issues.

Item 210
Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 2 for approval to accept from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant funds in the amount of $2,136,382.00, with no required match, for the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (Tx VEMP) – Bus.

Item 211
Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 2 for approval to accept from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant funds in the amount of $1,717,115.00, with no required match, for the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (Tx VEMP) – Freight.

Item 253
Request for approval of a Public Health or Safety Exemption renewal option with CoreCivic, Inc. for outsourcing of Harris County Jail inmates to the Tallahatchie Correctional Facility for the period of December 1, 2024 – November 30, 2025, at a cost of $11,358,750.

Item 256
Request that the County Judge execute a settlement agreement with DEMA
Consulting & Management Texas LLC in the amount of $860,354.90 for Holistic Assistance Response Team services provided from June 6, 2023 to April 9, 2024. This program treats some Law enforcement incidents as mental Health issues.

Item 322
Request for approval to renew the Memorandum of Understanding with the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) to enable Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1 to certify funds which will be matched by federal match funds in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) for the provision of allowable childcare services or activities in the Gulf Coast Workforce Board area.

Legislative Report / Commissioner’s Court May 7

Apr 20, 2024 | Legislative Update

The next Harris County Commissioners Court hearing is at 10 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Harris County Administration Building at 1001 Preston, Suite 934, on the north side of downtown Houston. Please join Alexie Swirsky there to support our only Republican Harris County Commissioner, Tom Ramsey.

If you would like to speak on an agenda item (see https://agenda.harriscountytx.gov/), sign up online the night before and be at the court by 9:30 am)

*******

Alexie and Theresa Thomas attended the HCCC hearing  on 3/26/24. Concerning issues are:

     1) Commissioners want to put constables under the sheriff’s dept.,

     2) Commissioners want to hire law firms to revisit the O’Donnell decision,

     3). Commissioners want to install the universal income program.  https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-harris-county-over-illegal-guaranteed-income-welfare-scheme   

*****
Uniform and Special Election Saturday May 4, 2024  For a sample ballot see https://www.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Whats-on-my-Ballot.

      For vote centers see https://www.harrisvotes.com/Vote-Centers. 

     HCAD election for SD 15.  No R candidates for SD 15

There is also an election of board members to ESD 11  (Emergency Services District 11) at the fire station on Champion Forest Dr just south of 1960. They are running their own election. Download polling locations here: https://harriscountyesd11.gov/election/ 

*****

The Primary runoff  is Tuesday May 28. Early voting starts Monday May 20

*****

VDVR training is coming up in May – no date set yet

*****

State Republican Convention is in  San Antonio – May 23-25.  https://convention.texasgop.org/ 

Legislative Report / Commissioner’s Court April 23

Apr 13, 2024 | Legislative Update

 The next Harris County Commissioners Court hearing is at 10 am on Tuesday, April 23 at the Harris County Administration Building at 1001 Preston, Suite 934, on the north side of downtown Houston. Please join Alexie Swirsky there to support our only Republican Harris County Commissioner, Tom Ramsey.

If you would like to speak on an agenda item (see https://agenda.harriscountytx.gov/), sign up online the night before and be at the court by 9:30 am)

Theresa spoke with Landon Reed who said we may be able to get a district van to take people in NW Houston to HCCC.

*******

Alexie and Theresa Thomas attended the HCCC hearing  on 3/26/24. Concerning issues are:

     1) Commissioners want to put constables under the sheriff’s dept.,

     2) Commissioners want to hire law firms to revisit the O’Donnell decision,

     3). Commissioners want to install the universal income program.  https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-harris-county-over-illegal-guaranteed-income-welfare-scheme   

*****
Uniform and Special Election Saturday May 4:  Early voting starts April 22

      For a sample ballot see https://www.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Whats-on-my-Ballot.

      For vote centers see https://www.harrisvotes.com/Vote-Centers. 

     HCAD election for SD 15.  No R candidates for SD 15

     There is also an election of board members to ESD 11  (Emergency Services District 11) at the fire station on Champion Forest Dr just south of 1960. They are running their own election. Download polling locations here: https://harriscountyesd11.gov/election/ 

*****

The Primary runoff  is Tuesday May 28. Early voting starts Monday May 20

*****

The Lincoln Reagan Dinner is April 26th where Alexie Swirsky will be presented the Patriot Award. https://secure.anedot.com/harris-county-republican-party/2024lrd 

*****

VDVR training is coming up in May – no date set yet

*****

State Republican Convention is in  San Antonio – May 23-25.  https://convention.texasgop.org/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legislative Report / Commissioner’s Court April 23

Legislative Update / Commissioner’s Court March 26

Feb 25, 2024 | Legislative Update

Legislative Report for TTPRW February, 2024

The next Harris County Commissioners Court hearing is at 10 am on Tuesday, March 26 at the Harris County Administration Building at 1001 Preston, Suite 934, on the north side of downtown Houston. Please join Alexie Swirsky there to support our only Republican Harris County Commissioner, Tom Ramsey. If you would like to speak on an agenda item (see https://agenda.harriscountytx.gov/), sign up online the night before and be at the court by 9:30 am)

Alexie Swirsky spoke at the Harris County Commissioners Court hearing on January 30 about the urgent need for reform in the Harris County jail, which has not passed a state inspection for at least 8 years, as follows:

  “Families claim there have been nearly 70 deaths at the Harris County jail in the last three years. The Harris County jail is run like a jail in a Third World country.”

Why was Shirley Williams Houston, a 73 year-old with dementia, released from the jail out into the cold and dark at 4 am on January 11? Is there even a protocol for releasing mentally impaired people from the jail? It seems that releasing inmates who have low functioning mental abilities with no one in the family being informed is a common practice of the Harris County jail.
Often this means they instantly become homeless, without even a basic mental ability to take care of themselves.

Relatives of Shirley Williams Houston say they have no idea how she got from the jail downtown to Deussen Park, which is more than 20 miles away. Her body was found in the park, on January 18, 1 week after being released from the jail at 4 am. This was just a few weeks ago.

How long are there going to be studies of the jail instead of actions taken to drastically improve the safety of both the jailers and the inmates?

Please prioritize reforming the Harris County jail.”

Other issues to be questioned include the new Uplift program, giving $500 a month to qualified low income applicants in 9 zip codes, with no accountability for how the money is spent.

Commissioner Ramsey is also concerned about Harris County running daycares, which is not a legitimate county function.

The Texas legislature is not meeting until January, 2025 unless Governor Abbott calls a special session.

 

Vice President for Legislation, Alexie Swirsky’s January 2024 Report

Vice President for Legislation, Alexie Swirsky’s January 2024 Report

Jan 9, 2024 | Legislative Update

This is the January 2024 Legislative Report on the Harris County Commissioner’s Court by Alexis Swirsky presented at the Texas Tea Party Republican Women’s January Meeting.

I hope you can join me at 10 am on January 30th for the Harris County Commissioners Court hearing. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Items of interest:  Resolution 3, page 2 – resolution by Commissioner Ramsey making January 9 a Day of Recognition for law enforcement officers.

Resolutions 104, 105 on page 13 by Precinct 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton authorizing overtime pay for drug enforcement law enforcement.

Resolution 106 on page 13 – similar request by Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap.

Resolution 282, page 36 – Request by Ramsey for action to prevent flooding in Harris County due to conditions in Colony Ridge.

Resolution 283, page 36 – request for discussion and possible action regarding the Harris County clerk having the residences to run the 2024 elections.