Sep 6, 2024 | Legislative Update
Austin Capitol Tours Update: The tour(s) of the Capitol has been delayed until at least November and perhaps even until January of 2025, due to the unusual number of elections in the spring, injuries to key people, and now the refurbishment of the Texas Senate and House until the end of October. However, it is a not-be-missed event as Representative Mike Schofield will provide an unforgettable lesson in history about the Capitol in Austin.
GOTV (Get Out The Vote): We have been making a list of opportunities to GOTV – keep an eye on your emails for these direct action roles.
Harris County Commissioners Court: The next session is at 10 am on Tuesday, October 8, 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).
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/
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
Feb 25, 2024 | Dutch Lunch
Ladies, find out how to get potholes fixed and other helpful tips at our next Dutch Lunch. Brent Clingerman or Landon Reed from County Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office will be informing us of how we can get things get done in our neighborhoods. Join us for lunch at Spring Creek BBQ on Hyw 249 and Louetta at 11:30.
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.
