Plus: Black voters turned out for Beto O'Rourke in 2018. Will they do it again?
Good morning, Houston! 🍂 Fall at last! Expect highs in the low 70s today and lots of sunshine. Astros update: We'll all have to wait another day to find out who the home team will face next after Game 5 of the Yankees-Guardians series was postponed last night. Now here's Tuesday's news. |
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Looking back on Hidalgo's first term |
Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle |
If you read one thing: Four years after Lina Hidalgo's surprise win at 27, her conservative critics are less concerned about her inexperience than the progressive agenda she and her two Democratic colleagues are enacting on Harris County Commissioners Court. Who loves Hidalgo? Liberals who share Hidalgo's vision of a county involved in early childhood development, immigration, environmental control and other areas outside its traditional purview are delighted with what she's accomplished in office. Under her leadership, the Commissioners Court has massively expanded the county's pollution control budget, established a taxpayer-funded legal services program for poor immigrants facing deportation, and poured millions in federal pandemic aid into early childhood education, rent relief and more. Who is unhappy with Hidalgo? Hidalgo has generated intense backlash from Republicans who fundamentally oppose the idea of expanding the county government's size and scope. Hidalgo's reputation also took a hit earlier this year when three of her current and former aides were indicted on felony charges stemming from an investigation into a since-rescinded vaccine outreach contract. Many Republicans also feel Hidalgo has failed to devote enough funding to county law enforcement, an issue that has played a central role in her opponent Alexandra del Moral Mealer's campaign.
From Hidalgo: "We're more than just a rubber stamp for the state. And I think that's why they're coming after me in such a way. … because they don't like that Harris County is doing its own thing, which means really tackling the challenges it's been facing, and following the priorities of its residents."
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Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle |
Okay, so you're registered to vote. You've applied for a mail-in ballot, if eligible. The only thing left is to educate yourself before you head to the polls when early voting starts on Oct. 24. Our Texas Voter Guide has a full list of the statewide races and many of the top local elections. You can read a little bit about what each position does and who is running for it. If you want something more in-depth that explains what kinds of decisions are made by people in each political office and how those decisions can affect you, sign up for our Texas Elections [Simplified] newsletter. For five days, it'll send you an email every afternoon that will not only walk you through each of the races that will appear on your ballot but will make you a little more educated on how Texas' government works. |
The strength of Black Texas voters |
Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle |
If you read one thing: Beto O'Rourke is almost certain to lose the governor's race if he can't figure out a way to motivate voters in Houston's Black communities who were essential in flipping Harris County blue up and down the ballot in 2018. Why are Black voters important for O'Rourke's campaign? When O'Rourke ran against Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate in 2018, turnout around Tidwell Center and Kashmere Gardens jumped to 41 percent, up from 31 percent in 2014. The difference meant 800 more votes for O'Rourke just in those neighborhoods. A similar increase occurred in dozens of other Black neighborhoods, which resulted in thousands of more votes for Democrats, allowing them to dominate judicial races, knock out the Republican County Judge and bring O'Rourke within 3 percentage points of Cruz. What is O'Rourke doing this time? O'Rourke is working with neighborhood and local government leaders in Fifth Ward and a half-dozen other urban areas across the state to boost turnout. He's hosted several events and spent the majority of that time listening to neighborhood leaders, elected officials and clergy's plans and concerns.
Last thoughts: "We've never had a governor; we've never had a gubernatorial candidate come to our area and so that tells me what they think about us when they don't come and listen to us," said Fred Woods, a representative for one of the super neighborhoods in northeast Houston.
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Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle |
💲 Budget: For the fourth time, Harris County's two Republican commissioners have skipped a tax rate meeting, despite assurances that no vote would be taken at the meeting. Further context: The ongoing political showdown over the county's budget has turned the Hidalgo-Mealer county judge race into a showdown over the budget and its role in voters' eyes. (Houston Chronicle) 🥟 Restaurant news: Three years after it was first announced, Tim Ho Wan — once dubbed the cheapest Michelin star restaurant — will finally open its first location in Texas this fall in the Katy Grand development. (Houston Chronicle) ⚖️ Crime: A jury has found Robert Solis guilty in the capital murder of Sandeep Dhaliwal, a trailblazing Sikh Harris County Deputy, during a 2019 traffic stop. The verdict came after Solis, who represented himself, decided to call himself to the witness stand Monday. (Houston Chronicle) 😷 Pandemic: While Texas is currently seeing the lowest rate of COVID-19 infection during the entire pandemic, Dr. Peter Hotez warns that the new variant BQ.1.1, which appears to be on the rise in Europe, could bring cases back up this winter. (Houston Chronicle)
🚨 Gun control: Mexico has only one store that can legally sell guns, but the violent cartels that Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans blame for violence along the border have found another route to stockpile weapons: the United States, and Texas' lax gun laws. (The Guardian)
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Paying for community colleges |
Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle |
If you read one thing: A proposal overhauling the state funding model of Texas' community colleges would bring millions of additional dollars to Houston-area districts, marking the end of a system that has for decades relied most heavily on taxpayers to bankroll the institutions. How are community colleges currently funded? The colleges are funded by three sources: property taxes, student tuition and fees, and state dollars. The current formula for state funding means the more courses students take, the more money schools get from the state, which tends to benefit bigger districts in urban areas. Those bigger urban schools also tend to have much higher tax bases to further bolster their spending. What is the proposal? The new model would be outcomes-based, with the state readjusting the amount it gives to community colleges each year. It would also accommodate smaller schools by giving them a base level of funding. Those funds wouldn't be subject to recapture if revenue from tuition and property taxes exceeds that amount. The proposal also includes ideas for making community colleges more affordable for lower-income students and increase investments in the services colleges can provide, such as seed grants for new programs in high-demand fields.
What's next? The Texas Commission on Community College Finance is scheduled to finalize their recommendations Tuesday for consideration in the next Legislative session.
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Evidently, it's time to give Whataburger another visit. I am no Whataburger fan. I mean, I'll defend it against the likes of In-N-Out and other regional chains because I am a Texan, but not because I think there is anything inherently all that great about Whataburger (forgive me, honey butter chicken biscuits). But when Alison Cook says the new chili cheeseburger with Fritos is worth trying...well, I start considering that it might be time for my annual pilgrimage to Texas' fast food shrine. Small correction: In yesterday's newsletter, I mentioned that I had discovered Houston Lake Park this weekend. It is actually called Houston Lake Wilderness Park. Cat DeLaura cat.delaura@chron.com |
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