Second of July

Commentary has been involved in politics since I was 18. I have worked on presidential campaigns. I have been to several Democratic Party National Conventions, including twice as a delegate. I have helped run winning statewide Democratic campaigns in Texas. I have helped run winning campaigns in H-Town. I always vote. I read the newspaper every day. I stay very informed on the issues. I pride myself in knowing politics and policy.

Yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision was easily the most mind boggling. What am I missing.

My goodness. It is as if the Supreme Court forgot why we celebrate the Fourth of July.

This certainly will be my first Fourth of July feeling nervous and apprehensive. I am feeling it on the Second of July.

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The Chron has a front-page story on the upcoming HISD bond election. Check this here:

Several Houston ISD teachers, parents and community members say they are planning to cast their first-ever vote against a school bond if the district puts the $4.4 billion bond package developed under state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles on the ballot in November. 

Critics recognize that this is one of their most powerful opportunities to voice their opposition to the state takeover, the replacement of HISD’s elected board members, concerns over financial accountability and a lack of trust in district leaders, especially Miles. 

Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said the largest teachers union in HISD has never opposed any of the district’s past four school bond proposals — until now. She, like other bond opponents, have adopted the rallying cry of “No trust. No bond,” to stress to district leaders that much more must be done before they’d ever consider voting for the proposal.

“This is a very difficult position for the union to take and for teachers to take,” Anderson said. “We know that our schools need work. We know that, but because our collective voices and democracy have been stripped away from us, this is our only chance to express our disapproval at the direction that our district is going in.”

The full scope of the pushback to the bond in the HISD community, including if it will be able to swing the election, remains unclear. According to HISD, 69% of voters said they would support a bond with no tax rate increase in a poll from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, which was taken before the district publicly unveiled its bond proposal in May.

However, with more than four months until the potential vote, bond opponents say they’re working to raise awareness of their position and convince enough people to vote down the district’s proposal through actions such as regular chants at board meetings, selling anti-Miles yard signs and even creating public yarn installations advocating against the bond. 

Here is the entire Chron read: HISD parents, teachers advocate against $4.4B bond proposal (houstonchronicle.com).

I have yet to see any organized pro-bond campaign activity or anti-bond campaign activity. I assume the pro-bond forces will have the funds to conduct a campaign. I wonder if the anti-bond folks will have funds.

The featured photo is the Chron’s bond story. Stay tuned.

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Astros radio broadcaster Steve Sparks is 59 today. Here is from the Astros website:

Steve Sparks was named to the Astros radio broadcast team to work alongside Robert Ford as the color commentator on Feb. 13, 2013. He enters his 11th season on the Astros radio broadcast. Since 2015, Steve and partner Robert have called six ALCS’ and four World Series. The 92 postseason games that they have called in that span are the most in the Majors.

A knuckleballer in his playing days, Steve pitched in the Major Leagues in parts of nine seasons (1995-2004) for the Brewers, Angels, Tigers, A’s and Diamondbacks. His best season was in 2001 while with Detroit when he went 14-9 in 35 appearances (33 starts) with a 3.65 ERA while leading the Majors in complete games with eight. He also tallied a career high in innings pitched (232.0) that season.

Steve attended Sam Houston State University, where he helped lead the Bearkats to back-to-back Gulf Star Conference baseball titles and an NCAA Division II Regional playoff appearance in 1986 and again in the school’s first year at the Division I level in 1987. On Nov. 3, 2017, Steve was inducted into the Sam Houston Letterman’s Association Hall of Honor.

Happy Birthday, Sparky!

We won yesterday and are now three games back.