Sunday, March 07, 2021
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
Texas Tuesday Masks Coming Off Round-up
LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Monday that he would visit Lubbock and make a statewide announcement at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
— The Bingham Group, LLC (@binghamgp) March 1, 2021
@GovAbbott #txlege https://t.co/w2wzUuqRnY
Everybody seems to think we know what's up.
This announcement is coming five days after @GovAbbott said he was looking at when to end all statewide orders on COVID-19 and that he'd have announcements "pretty soon": https://t.co/jHHGSNe6Mu #txlege
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 1, 2021
Famous surgeon Atul Gawande opposes relaxing of Covid restrictions: 'We haven't even come down below the surge last summer' https://t.co/RTnNExhltY #txlege @GovAbbott @GregAbbott_TX
— Dick Lavine (@dlavine) March 2, 2021
Guvnuh Quixote -- pronounce that however you like; I'm rolling with "Kwiksoat" -- has been under tremendous pressure from the Trump Caucus of the TXGOP to give Texans back the freedumb to die for the economy. What better than Texas Independence Day to declare it?
The Republic of Texas was only in existence for a short period, but it is a unique history... pic.twitter.com/Tp9exDzOcH
— Patricia Sharkey (@PatriciaShark11) March 2, 2021
I'll be celebrating Taco Tuesday myself (wearing a double mask).
*Limited Ticket Alert* Houston Press Tacolandia Taco Stop tickets are selling fast because who could resist 25+ tacos & drinks for less than $30? Get your tickets while you can here → https://t.co/bABGN4us9V
— Houston Press (@HPStreet) February 25, 2021
In the latest criminal justice developments:
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia is proposing that officers no longer cite or arrest most people who are found with small amounts of marijuana. https://t.co/PU45Bmccbx
— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) March 1, 2021
Paxton’s Circus Clown Show returns home: he’s filed suit to remove San Antonio’s Police Chief from office. Are you kidding me? Blocking Texans, fleeing the state to stay warm, golfing with Trump and now meddling in local law enforcement. What’s next? https://t.co/TZtJ5UEvhV
— Joe Jaworski (@JaworskiForTX) February 28, 2021
Federal judge rules two HPD officers must stand trial on assault and battery, excessive force charges
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) March 2, 2021
https://t.co/jtwpLXSEhZ#khou #hounews pic.twitter.com/Jey81VgLtt
2nd Fort Worth police officer fired over ‘racially insensitive’ posting on social media https://t.co/uVeXbcGwjc
— Donald Pedersen (@DonaldP28785881) March 1, 2021
We have found the voter fraud. It’s the GOP.
— Hoodlum πΊπΈ (@NotHoodlum) March 1, 2021
Republican Judge Tomas ‘Tommy’ Ramirez III was arrested along with three other people on 150 counts of voter fraud. They’re accused of multiple charges including ballot harvesting at nursing homes in South Texas. pic.twitter.com/Fb3uuyzCxm
Just Liberty is asking the #txlege to ↑ food budgets to make prisons healthier, safer places. https://t.co/NWtijrtW55
— Grits for Breakfast (@Grits4Breakfast) March 2, 2021
Dostoevsky said “the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” What judgment does Texas prison food deserve?
The bills to punish cities for divesting from police are already rolling in. HB 2362 was filed today. And Lt. Gov. Patrick announced that SB 23 would do the same in the Senate. Texans deserve robust public healthcare, not status quo, racist policing. https://t.co/srLJtwjyNP
— Texas Civil Rights Project (@TXCivilRights) February 26, 2021
That's our transition to the Lege, which was mostly buried in meetings that have been consumed with blaming and finger-pointing about the Texas Blackout. In the abridged version of events, PUC chair (and Abbott appointee) DeAnn Walker testified before committees in the Texas House and Senate, and her answers to their questions about winter preparations to the state's power grid, its subsequent failure, etc., were found to be universally unacceptable. Lite Guv Dan Patrick called for her head yesterday, and within hours, she resentfully submitted her resignation letter.
After multiple calls for her resignation, @PUCtx Chair DeAnn Walker stepped down amid the #TexasFreeze fallout. Walker was appointed to the position in 2017 by @GovAbbott and testified in front of #txlege hearings on the blackouts last week.https://t.co/eA775mKsPd
— The Texan (@TheTexanNews) March 1, 2021
I have more links regarding who will ultimately pay for their mistakes (hint: it won't be them) that I'll save for the next Wrangle/Round-up. The Legislature's planned short work week was lengthened by other matters.
Two bills filed by @RepMattSchaefer (R-Tyler) would have prohibited Governor Greg Abbott's mask orders in the first place. If passed, his bills would end all current state and local mask mandates.https://t.co/bnjhV2N41Z
— The Texan (@TheTexanNews) March 1, 2021
Texas Republicans just filed a bill to make it illegal to vote at night. This is in direct response to efforts by @HarrisVotes to make sure that ALL Texans, including first responders, medical professionals, and shift workers, can vote at a time convenient for them. #txlege pic.twitter.com/TtRKCqfqtd
— Chris Hollins (@CGHollins) February 25, 2021
A message to my fellow #Texans, this is what #txlege Republicans are doing to avoid expanding medicaid https://t.co/1ybTEMUjTn
— Ethan O. McBride (@EthanOMcBride) March 2, 2021
It gets worse, but we'll move on. COVID numbers are improving, but the gains will be lost if the mask mandate, restaurant and bar restrictions, and/or limits on social gatherings are loosened.
Expert weighs in on 3 new COVID-19 variants now emerging in Houston https://t.co/YbukV5zuoS
— Laredo Morning Times (@lmtnews) March 1, 2021
Texas guidance on COVID vaccines: “DON’T limit eligibility by citizenship status. There is no requirement that a person be a citizen to receive the vaccine." @LUPE_rgv https://t.co/Ahw5c67idl
— NBC Latino (@NBCLatino) February 28, 2021
And that's my segue to the social injustice news of the week.
Last week, our producer Davis Land headed out from his neighborhood in Houston to talk with people trying to restore their homes after a devastating winter storm knocked out power for so many Texans. It was nearly 80 degrees -- a huge change from a couple of weeks back, when many Texans were shivering under coats and blankets, waiting out a deep freeze and a utility shutdown. But after the cold let up, what was left behind was a mess of plumbing: burst pipes and sagging walls full of leaking water. There simply aren’t enough hands to do the work.
Nearly 24,000 people have applied for rent relief from the city and county https://t.co/iKms5OLs6P via @houstonchron
— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) March 2, 2021
A Texas father whose family was nearly stabbed to death and other victims of anti-Asian racism early in the pandemic share how they're coping a year later. A recent wave of new attacks has Asian American advocates pushing for solidarity. https://t.co/cbaZWO059n
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 2, 2021
"UT needs rich donors who love The Eyes of Texas more than they need one crop of irresponsible and uninformed students or faculty who won't do what they are paid to do"
— Kate McGee (@McGeeReports) March 1, 2021
Emails show wealthy alumni supporting “Eyes of Texas” threatened to pull donationshttps://t.co/w6TpTFR5ga
D Magazine caught up with Jim Schutze, whose decades-old book, The Accommodation, will be re-printed after CBS This Morning aired a story about its topic -- Dallas' complicated racial and political history -- last weekend.
Last week, Jerry Jones lined his pockets while working-class Texans froze.
— Austin DSA (@austin_DSA) February 28, 2021
For that, he wins the distinction of being Austin DSA's Class Enemy of the Week. Read the full story here:https://t.co/jamz9Y9YQZ
Frozen to death. Poisoned by carbon monoxide. Trapped in home fires. Dead from crashes on icy roads.
— Krista M. Torralva (@KMTorralva) March 1, 2021
Texas is trying to count the winter storm death toll.
“We’ll probably never have a really accurate number,” the Dallas medical examiner said.https://t.co/na3JwBZFln
No, I am certain we won't. The freeze and its aftermath was very likely the last straw for some.
If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you are in Harris County you can also call 713-221-6000 or 911. You are not alone, we are here to help. #hounews https://t.co/GWCsUsFIE4
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) March 1, 2021
Let's move toward the end of this Round-up with some overdue election news.
Latest list of candidates in the #TX06 special election, ahead of tomorrow's 5 p.m. filing deadline: pic.twitter.com/ywea5qsFVd
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 2, 2021
Here's a thread with the standard "can the Donks do it" speculation, short a couple of candidates from Svitek's list above.
THREAD:#TX06 could flip from red to blue — here's how.
— Daniel Friend (@DanielJFriend) March 1, 2021
Democrats have been eyeing the seat for the past few elections, but under normal circumstances, that's a fairly unrealistic target.
With 18 hats in a jungle primary, and perhaps more, anything is possible. The election is in May.
If he wins on Election Day, he’ll become San Antonio’s first openly gay city councilman. https://t.co/cX6cFsl8UB
— San Antonio Current (@SAcurrent) February 27, 2021
Another too-long post, so let's close it here and save the rest for later.
— El Arroyo (@ElArroyo_ATX) February 28, 2021
Monday, March 01, 2021
The Weekly Wrangle from Far Left Texas
Perhaps he should have skipped making the remarks at the end of the afternoon, though, as the Aricept had clearly worn off.
"Representatives, uh, Shirley Jackson Lee, Al Green, Sylvia Garcia, Lizzie Pannili, uh, excuse me," Biden said and winced. "Pannell, and uh, what am I doing here?" he said. [...] "I’m going to lose track here," he added.
Prior to his day trip, he was not wrapping up a good week. Few Houston journalists noticed or cared, apparently. No inquiries were made -- or if they were, left out of the reporting.
This week Biden:
— weston (@westonpagano) February 26, 2021
- Reopened one of Trump's for-profit camps for migrant kids
- Broke his pledge to stop deportations, gave ICE more power instead
- Abandoned his own promise of $15/hr
- Illegally bombed Syria without authorization
Where's that harm reduction we were promised?
Fuck it, I guess (right?). Texas has bigger problems (right?).
ππππ pic.twitter.com/91W3WgJt6Z
— Charlie Bonner (@CharlieKBonner) February 27, 2021
Yes we do.
Texas ranks 49th in percentage of its population that’s received at least one vaccine shot.
— Zack Malitz (@ZackMalitz) February 27, 2021
49th.
Meanwhile, @GregAbbott_TX is talking about lifting COVID restrictions.
Abbott is incompetent. All he can do is pretend to govern. This is government as political theater.
"The biggest thing people are feeling is that they were abandoned," said Charlie Bonner of @MOVE_texas.
— mySA (@mySA) February 26, 2021
"The feeling that state leaders weren't going to do anything was profound." https://t.co/n3OkFLKWUO
'Muzzled and eviscerated': Critics say Abbott appointees gutted enforcement of Texas grid rules. My latest w/@Dexinvestigates https://t.co/2VxrwumDFO via @houstonchron 1/
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) February 26, 2021
Phelan, referring to legislative hearings last week on this month's power outages: "I can tell you that I didn't think the answers were adequate ... from the PUC, and I think my colleagues feel the same way."
— Cassi Pollock (@cassi_pollock) February 28, 2021
Background: https://t.co/qhzoJJ3Sok https://t.co/8R1k1uvcpI
Texas AG @KenPaxtonTX is now saying that he left Texas during the outages last week to meet with Utah AG Sean Reyes "to start preliminary investigations into ERCOT."
— Lauren McGaughy π (@lmcgaughy) February 26, 2021
Also he says Google is attacking him using algorithms that promoted his trip. #txlegehttps://t.co/FXRHBLugBI pic.twitter.com/eGNvwlJQ4t
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick Blames Constituents for Giant Electric Bills: “Read the Fine Print” - @thespybrief https://t.co/yy9mVwn7Ec
— Susan Vermazen πΊπΈ (@SusanVermazen) February 25, 2021
Kuff would like you to be more mad at the Public Utility Commission. Socratic Gadfly offers his suggestions for people to fill those vacant "unaffiliated" board positions on ERCOT. And whatever we're calling the winter storm and subsequent blackout, it's true that as bad as we all had it, the least among us had it worse.
Forty percent of Texas nursing homes reported power outages and structural problems to the state in the wake of last week's winter storm. https://t.co/3M7IJXOqxn
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) February 27, 2021
A total of 509,206 people were still impacted by boil water notices as of Sunday night, with 458 boil water notices in effect, according to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
San Angeloans had already been boiling water for a couple of weeks prior to the Big Freeze, as documented all over. The Texas Living Waters Project urges the Lege to use this session to address the long-running water infrastructure challenges laid bare by Winter Storm Uri.
Jaquaree Simmons. You probably haven't yet heard his name. 23 years old. Caged pretrial in Harris County, TX. Called his mom almost every day from his jail cell. Crying & begging for help. One week after he entered, found dead. This happened 10 days ago. “All I can do is scream." pic.twitter.com/s20rkXqfhq
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) February 28, 2021
The death toll in Houston so far is 51. In Austin, 86. The full tally may not be known for weeks. Environmentally, we all got crushed again.
You know what didn’t release harmful pollution during the blackouts in Texas? Wind turbines. https://t.co/tVT3i1ac8d
— EDF (@EnvDefenseFund) February 26, 2021
Should I mention all of this as just the usual failure of Texas Republicans, Texas government generally ... or is it is a failure of capitalism?
"The ongoing catastrophe is not a system failure – it is the necessary outcome of capitalist free markets functioning exactly as designed."
— Austin DSA (@austin_DSA) February 25, 2021
Austin DSA comrade and National Political Committee member Dave Pinkham in the Chronicle: https://t.co/ubppIOWcRL
After 5.25 hrs of testimony from @ERCOT_ISO CEO Bill Magness, it is clear many @TexasGOP @TexasSenateGOP biggest problem is with free market capitalism and a profound confusion between the spot market allowed by deregulation and price gouging that a real AG would fight.#txlege
— Jesse Ayala (@FordhamLawTX) February 25, 2021
What do you think it is ... if it's not?
I'm outside the offices of Comstock Resources, a natural gas company that is primarily owned by Jerry Jones, which recently made the news for profiting off the skyrocketing price of natural gas due to last week's winter storm disaster.
— steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) February 25, 2021
@dallas_sunrise is here in protest. pic.twitter.com/xoabvfvimk
With @emilyhholden and @bgibbs for @FloodlightNews/@guardian , @SAReport and @TexasObserver: Here's a look at how the natural gas industry is trying to tank local climate plans in Texas-- and across the country. https://t.co/d4Iawjxr7E
— Amal Ahmed (@amalahmed214) March 1, 2021
It's not all bad news. Some people out of state even stepped up to help.
Californians named 'Honorary Austinites' after driving to Texas with storm relief supplies https://t.co/sTKjiKqpby pic.twitter.com/b3e9q3FvTC
— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) February 26, 2021
From Massachusetts with love: truckloads of food head to Texas, courtesy of US veterans, New England Patriots https://t.co/KWDQCbWvef
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) February 25, 2021
And those plumbers from New Jersey, who've decided to stay in Houston awhile, plumbers being the people most needed right now.
Citrus farmers in the RGV, also devastated. We're beginning the 15th month of 2020, it seems, even as the outlook for the pandemic brightens.
NEW from @reeseoxner: Texas expects to receive more than 200,000 initial doses of newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine https://t.co/IS1iMlJ1HR #txlege
— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) February 27, 2021
Dos Centavos tells us about his successful vaccination experience. And Robert Rivard for the San Antonio Report is firm about the need to continue taking the pandemic seriously.
Too long today to include election news, social justice/injustices, and all the rest of the usual Wrangling, so I'll add that tomorrow or later in the week. Here's our wrap.
That time back in 1969 when Led Zeppelin played the Municipal Auditorium in Austin ... pic.twitter.com/xVQvbh54Ae
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) February 27, 2021