Power

Gov. Greg Abbott in the featured photo was elected governor in 2014. He has been in office for over 11 years now. Four years ago, ProPublica and the Trib did a piece on Abbott amassing power and here is the sub-headline of that article:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has consolidated power like none before him, at times circumventing the GOP-controlled Legislature and overriding local officials. A flurry of executive measures has solidified his base and raised his national profile.

We saw what happened during the pandemic. He issued an emergency declaration and pretty much ruled unchecked.

We saw what he did to his fellow MAGA state legislators who opposed him on school vouchers. He took millions from an out of state billionaire donor, put out lies against the anti-voucher MAGA state legislators, and beat them during the 2024 MAGA primary.

The mid-decade gerrymander. Keeping Congressional District 18 vacant for 11 months.

I don’t like that he has amassed power, but that is where we are.

This is from today’s Chron E-Board:

Here, in the largest city in Texas, the fourth largest in the nation, we are the product of hard won ideals. Where the swamp meets the prairie, we have carved from the earth an indefatigable identity that has survived hurricanes, oil busts and other great misfortunes. 

For a time, our city produced leaders who, though far from perfect, could express our love of freedom alongside an openness to strangers seeking refuge. Leaders like Barbara Jordan and George H.W. Bush who sought to balance enforcement with compassion.

Today, however, our guiding light, our moral compass, can apparently be boiled down to five simple words:

“However, Gov. Greg Abbott disagrees.”

And this is how the E-Board take ends:

If (Mayor John) Whitmire won’t fight back against the latest Austin overreach — a fight legal experts think he can win — we hope the rest of City Council will. We hope they remember the oath they each took and the six simple words — a guiding light, as it were — therein as they promised to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.”

Here is the entire E-Board read: Why have a Houston mayor? Whitmire hands keys to Abbott over ICE law.

Disingenuous. Dishonest. Dumb.

This morning’s meeting of the H-Town City Council to discuss the ICE ordinance has been postponed and here is what the mayor said:

“After discussions with the Governor’s office, our deadline to respond to the state’s freeze on public safety grant funding has been moved from Monday, April 20, to Wednesday, April 22. Therefore, the Special Called Houston City Council meeting has been postponed until Wednesday, April 22, to give my administration additional time to continue productive discussions with the Governor’s office, City Council members, law enforcement, and the community.”

Here is what Cesar Espinosa of FIEL posted yesterday:

The timing of @houmayor announcement “Saying he’s talking to @GregAbbott_TX “and @KenPaxtonTX suing the city of Houston STINKS like political collusion to me. All in the name of pining some Houstonians against immigrants. Hold strong Houston HOLD strong.

Here is what the Noah fella posted yesterday:

Well, I’d like to see ol Johnny Whitmire wriggle his way out of THIS jam!

And, the Urban Reform fella who is also a “What’s Your Point” panelist posted this:

for someone who cares about this issue, for or against, and got child care, took off work, arranged transport, or adjusted in any way to ensure they could address council on this, finding out 4pm the day before that it’s moved can be a major inconvenience if not prohibitive

For a fella who loves to comment on local public policy and policy makers, the Urban Reform fella needs to have a better understanding of how stuff at times can be fluid. Like they say, sh_t happens.

On Cesar’s post, I think Cesar wants the mayor to be colluding just so he can keep taking shots at the mayor. That is too bad.

To the E-Board, I am appalled they don’t have a better grasp and understanding of the power Abbott has amassed. I don’t like it, but unless Democrats start putting up better numbers on the scoreboard, this sh_t is going to keep happening over and over again.

I am hoping the mayor can get something worked out.

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Tomorrow night the Rockets and Lakers will meet in the playoffs for the tenth time. The Lakers have won six playoff series, and the Rockets have won three.

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We lost last night. The Cardinals are in town for the weekend.