10.14.07
Posted in GHDC Blog, Meeting Minutes at 3:29 am by M Beauregard
We attended a special, complimentary breakfast meeting at the Spanish Flower Restaurant. It was a meet-and-greet hosted by State Representative Jessica Farrar (www.jessicafarrar.org) for the Precinct Chairs in District 148 and for the Greater Heights Democratic Club (G.H.D.C.). We ate breakfast in the room in the left rear section of the restaurant.
Jessica Farrar called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM. She asked us to have a moment of silence to honor some a longtime activists and volunteers for Heights Dems Democrats who passed away recently:
Martha Diaz, Precinct 2 Chair for 40 years http://www.ghdc.org/2007/10/10/in-memoriam/
Bob Mercer, (Linda Mercer’s father, both of Cottage Grove subdivision), and
Bill Buie, who manned the phones diligently for GOTV for the Melissa Noriega Campaign in May http://www.ghdc.org/2007/10/15/in-memorium-bill-buie-longtime-activist-and-volunteer-with-heights-democrats/
Bill Buie’s life partner for 23 years, Bob Rogers, is going through a difficult time, as is E.I. Smith, who is battling all finds of serious illnesses. E.I.’s wife, Irene, and daughter, Vera, were in attendance with their support for the Club.
Farrar announced that Halloween parties sponsored by elected officials will take place this year at Moody Park and Proctor Plaza to provide a safe haven for neighborhood kids.
She said that it has been quite a challenge lately to fight against Republicans in the tough climate that we are in. She asked us to consider "how hard are the fights we fight, and how corrupt the people we fight against". She jokingly referred to her efforts to stave them off as "guerrilla warfare". As part of an ongoing campaign to educate voters, she has formed the Women’s Health and Environmental Caucuses. She is engaged in a struggle to get people involved in the CHIP program. She commented that, contrary to popular misconception, "CHIP is not mostly for poor kids, but for kids who have both parents working". She talked about the insidious influence of the petrochemical industry, which, through its paid lobbyists in the Texas Chemical Council, is effectively blocking pro-environmental legislation. She reported that she has been working lately with some moderate Republicans, those "who believe that science matters", in an effort to pass some stem cell research legislation. She reminded us that "elections matter".
She has been fighting Governor Perry on the immigration issue. He is spending millions of dollars on "border security". It turns out that they haven’t caught anybody. Instead, the money is being used to pay off local sheriffs. She said that Bob Perry and a handful of other wealthy builders are cashing in under the leadership of Tom Craddick in the Texas House. They were successful in using their influence to sneak through some legislation that enacted the "Texas Residential Construction Committee", a piece of legislation that gives builders immunity from any kind of lawsuit, and orders that any complaints about home construction will get funneled to the committee, which is staffed entirely by wealthy builders. She keeps working to increase awareness of the corruption of Tom Craddick, and said that during the last Speaker’s election the opposition came within just 3 votes of kicking him out.
She said that she is working on the passage of some animal cruelty legislation, and on an effort to curb the death penalty. The anti-death penalty effort has been helped by increasing questions about the fairness of the criminal justice system, and by various "Innocence Projects" across the nation. She was instrumental in passing legislation to limit the enrollment in Pre-K classes statewide to 18 students per class. She was instrumental in passing a law to require health insurance companies to pay for reconstructive surgery after mastectomies.
On a personal note, she is currently enrolled in her 8th week of law school, and is working toward her law degree. She said that this effort will help to make her a more effective legislator.
She introduced HISD employee Rebecca Flores, who spoke on behalf of Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, the Superintendent of Schools, about the upcoming bond proposal for new schools and upgrades on the November ballot. She said, "We’ve had a bit of controversy lately on the bond issue". She reported that the activist Quannel X recently made a very derogatory comment about Dr. Saavedra that was published in the local paper. She commented that "we did very well in the bond upgrade that passed in 2002". Since then, "we’ve had a huge increase in students passing the TAKS test". She urged everyone "to take out the politics, and do what’s best for our kids". She noted that HISD schools have had declining enrollments in recent years. She said that part of the reason is that teachers have been moving to the suburbs, which are getting support for their bonds. She declared that passage of the bond proposal will help to plug the teacher drain.
For a complete list of the bond projects and details about financing the proposal, go to www.houstonisd.org and click on HISD Bond Proposal 2007, or visit www.hisdbond.com or call (713) 621-4003.
Max Beauregard stressed the importance of studying the 16 proposed Texas Constitutional Amendments on the ballot. For more information on the proposed amendments, the Texas House has the pros and cons of each one listed. Representative Scott Hochberg has this information posted on his website, www.scotthochberg.com or details can be reviewed from Leagues of Women’s Voters site, link on the left: http://www.lwvhouston.com
Jessica Farrar thanked her staff members Isaiah "Ike” Warner, Legislative Director; Lillian Ortiz, Chief of Staff; Omar Enriquez, Community Liaison; Max Beauregard, Community Liaison; and, Diane Mosier, Community Liaison. She also thanked Bruce Mosier, and said, "with Diane Mosier, you get Bruce".
She thanked us for our work. She closed the meeting at 11:30 AM.
Henry Weissborn
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10.13.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:53 pm by M Beauregard
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 6:01 am by M Beauregard
This is one of the most entertaining events of the year!! With funny man Chris Bell and material that only Sheila can yield!!
tickets $45. Sheraton Galleria, 6pm
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 5:13 am by M Beauregard
State Representative Jessica Farrar has invited Heights Dems to join her Precinct Chairmen meeting!!
Spanish Flowers Restaurant, 4701 N. Main @ Airline @ 14th St , 770099:30am-11:30am, complimentary breakfast
space is limited and RSVP by Friday, 713/691-6912
NO petition signing at this event.
We will host another event for judicial candidates.
Farrar will give us a re-cap of the 80th Legislative Session and the importance of the role and work of Precinct Chairs.
Guest appearance by Dr Abe Saavedra, HISD Supt. on the details and importance of passing the bond proposal.
This is last meeting before November 6 municipal/HCC/state constitutional amendment elections so information of these amendments will be available.
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10.11.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:42 am by M Beauregard
Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP) &
Mothers for Clean Air
October’s Meeting Notice:
Stephen Klineberg, Rice University
“Houston Opinions about the Environment”
Thursday, October 18, 7:00 pm
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
5308 Buffalo Speedway, Houston 77005
Air Exchange is a monthly informational meeting.
7:00 p.m. Casual meetings begin with a social time and refreshments at followed by 7:30 p.m. Informal presentation
Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
5308 Buffalo Speedway (at Bissonnet) in Houston. http://sapch.org/Directions___Map/directions___map.html
Parking is in the back.
Stephen Klineberg, sociology professor at Rice University will talk about the changing politics of environmental concern, as seen through the 26 years of surveys that he has been conducting in the Houston area.
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 6:17 am by M Beauregard
Brazil Day is moved to Oct. 11, 10:30am-2pm and features the
Consulate General of Brazil.
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 6:04 am by M Beauregard
HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Meeting of Precinct Chairs
Thursday, October 11, 2007 6:00 pm
C.W.A. Union Hall, 1730 Jefferson
County Executive Committee Meeting
Calling all Precinct Chairs! Calling all Precinct Chairs! The Harris County Democratic Party will be having a Meeting of Precinct Chairs (called a "County Executive Committee (CEC) Meeting"), Thursday, October 11th, 6:00 p.m. at the C.W.A Union Hall, 1730 Jefferson, Houston, Texas 77002.
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10.10.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog, Special Events & Honors at 6:16 am by M Beauregard
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Martha Diaz, another fine Democrat, passed away on October 1. Martha served as precinct chair for Precinct 2 for 40 years. She was one of those “behind the scenes” Democrats who works in the trenches – in the neighborhood — organizing Democrats at the grassrooots, all without personal glorification or ambition. And she did that for forty years!
Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States when Martha Diaz first became a precinct chair in Harris County. The Vietnam war was just beginning. No person had ever set foot on the moon. Forty years of dedicated service to the Democratic Party is a remarkable accomplishment and a true inspiration to all of us.
Martha’s daughter Kathryn Diaz-Garcia continues the family tradition, serving as precinct chair for Precinct 501. To her and her four brothers and sisters, and to Martha’s twelve grand children, three great grandchildren, sister, and other family members, the Harris County Democratic Party extends its deepest sympathies.
And as importantly, its profound appreciation for four decades of faithful service to the Democratic Party.
MARTHA DIAZ, age 82, born August 22, 1925 in Houston, Texas to Manuel and Victoria Angel Velasquez, entered into eternal rest on Monday, October 1, 2007 in Houston, Texas. Martha was preceded in death by her loving husband, Porfirio F. Diaz, Sr. as well as her parents. She is survived by her children, Dolores Sorola and husband Joe, Porfirio F. Diaz, Jr. and wife Honora, Carolyn Musslewhite, Patricia Diaz Garza, Kathryn Diaz Garcia and husband John; grandchildren, Christina Santillan, Joseph Sorola II, Martin Sorola, Orianna Diaz Frankie, Porfirio Francis Diaz, Ariel Diaz, Matthew Musslewhite, Jeffrey Musslewhite, Kathryn Musslewhite, Mildred Musslewhite, Mark Garza, and Christian Garcia; great-grandchildren, E.J. Santillan, Alexander Santillan, and Elizabeth Musslewhite; and her sister, Rita Ratcliff. A visitation will be 1:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at Earthman Downtown, 2420 Fannin Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1505 Kane Street. The Rite of Committal will follow at Hollywood Cemetery, Houston, Texas.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 10/3/2007.
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10.09.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 6:04 am by M Beauregard
HCDP Brown Bag Luncheon Series:
“Meet the Candidates Part II”
Featured speakers
Houston City Council Candidates
District I & District D
The Harris County Democratic Party Brown Bag Luncheon Series is pleased to welcome the candidates for Houston City Council, District I and District D, as our featured speakers, Tuesday, October 9th at 12:00 p.m. Come out and hear what these candidates have to say. All candidates will speak briefly followed by a question and answer session.
What are you doing for lunch Tuesday, October 9th? You bring your lunch. We provide the drinks. Break bread with fellow Democrats, hear dynamic speakers and become informed about important issues and events! For more information, please contact Jamaal Smith, at 713-802-0085 or hcdp@hcdp.org. Brown Bag Luncheon Series is a monthly event at the Harris County Democratic Party headquarters located at 1445 North Loop West, Ste. 110, Houston, Texas 77008 (exit Ella Blvd.)
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Pol. adv. paid for by the Harris County Democratic Party, 1445 N. Loop W., Suite 110, Houston, TX 77008. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
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10.08.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 6:56 am by M Beauregard
Joint initial meeting with Young Stonewall Dems
Monday, Oct 8, 6pm
Stag’s Head Pub
2128 Portsmouth St. (near Richmond & Shepherd) Houston, Texas 77098
Call For Directions (713) 533-1199
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