“Addressing
We the People
REVEREND DR. FLOYD N. WILLIAMS SR.
By: Rebekah Williams
e life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Floyd Nathaniel Williams Sr. stand as a shining beacon of service, leadership, and devotion to both faith and community. Born on December 16, 1928, he was a man whose remarkable journey spanned over 70 years of pastoral leadership, with an impact that extended far beyond the pulpit. Reverend Dr.
Your vote and your money are the two most powerful things you have. Be careful who you give them to.
- Roy Douglas Malonson
Outstanding, committed, accomplished and devoted, Zinetta Burney embodies these great qualities. But none more dear to her than the love of her people and her community. A brilliant laawyer and a seasoned community servant, she is the very definition of tenacious. Born in 1941 in Houston, Texas, Zinetta is the second child of John and Thelma Arceneaux. At the age of sixteen she dropped out of high school to give birth to her only child, Sharon Maria. A few
Williams’ life was de ned by his deep commitment to his faith, family, and the pursuit of justice and equality. His ministry began early, obtaining a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Bishop College at just 16 years old. His leadership started at Greater Union Baptist Church in Matthews, Texas, but upon his father’s passing Reverend pg. 3 Zinetta on pg. 4
EDITORIAL
America’s economy in terms of the means of production of goods and services are controlled by private sector businesses, not by the Federal Government. e government does not own supermarkets, gas stations, poultry farms, dairy farms, bakeries and so on. e Federal Government taxes individuals and corporations to provide basic societal needs. For example, highways, bridges, water and sewage systems, and most of all, military protection against foreign adversaries. e only way the Federal government fuels and impacts in ation is by placing tari s on import products. erefore, Former President Donald J. Trump did more to fuel in ation by instituting tari s on imported
goods, especially from China, and American corporation business entities simply passed the in ationary costs on to American consumers. Another glaring example is the price of gasoline. Shell, Exxon, Texaco and other gasoline entities are privately owned, not governmentally owned. erefore, the price of gasoline is not set by the government. For example, when gas prices went through the roof, it was not because of the Federal government (Biden), but corporate greed based upon issues of supply and demand. President Biden attempted to bring prices down by introducing more supply from the strategic petroleum reserves. Now, the price of regular gasoline at Sam’s Club is (2.35) per gallon. Why? It is for certain Biden did not lower the price. erefore, why would a common sense individual believe that Biden lowered the price. America, free enterprise democratic capitalism is for enlightened-informed
HARRIS COUNTY HAS RAISED PROPERTY TAXES BY NEARLY 30%
By: Bill King
It has been widely reported by the local media that Harris County Commissioners’ Court increased taxes by 8% at their meeting on September 19.
However, the County’s public tax notices clearly show that the increase for the average homeowner will be at least 15% and may be as high as 19%. While this increase is jaw-dropping, it is made even more egregious because it comes on the heels of a nearly 12% increase last year, making the increase over the last two years 29.5%. ese increases will result in the County and its related entities receiving nearly $900 million more in tax revenue than just two years ago. To say this increase is unprecedented is a gross understatement. I suspect this is the largest two-year tax increase in the history of the State of Texas.
First, it is important to remember that your tax bill
is a function of two factors: the tax rate and the taxable appraised value of your property. If either of those goes up or down, so will your tax bill. When elected o cials set their tax rates in the fall of each year, the appraisal district has provided them with an estimate for the likely increase in the appraised values for that year. at estimated increase in the appraised value for the average taxpayer’s home is included in the required tax notices. So, when elected o cials set tax rates for the year, they know what the likely e ect will be on their residents’ tax bills. O cials like to talk about tax rates but ignore appraised values, which for many years have been steadily moving higher. is allows elected ofcials to claim that they are holding taxes steady or, in
“We Africans in America have been socially engineered to reject our past, and far too many of us live in a state of suspended animation. We deny the historical realities confronting us daily. Too many of us mistakenly believe that the past has no bearing on the present and is unrelated to the future. Thus, we have been conditioned to live our lives disconnected from cultural values, principles, and ideals - essential for peaceful living.”
- Anthony T. Browder
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
Reverend Cont.
in 1958, he took the helm of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Acres Homes, where he would leave an indelible mark on both the church and the city of Houston. For over 66 consecutive years, Rev. Dr. Williams faithfully served as the esteemed pastor of Antioch, guiding the congregation through remarkable growth and spiritual transformation. Under his leadership, the church became a vibrant hub of ministry, establishing various auxiliaries, international mission
trips, and numerous outreach programs that served the spiritual and physical needs of children, youth, and adults. In 1959, a new edifice was constructed on Antioch’s premises under his direction, further solidifying the church as a cornerstone of the Acres Homes community. Rev. Dr. Williams’ contributions reached beyond the church walls. His weekly broadcast on KYOK inspired the world and empowered people of color to protect themselves and become all that God created them to be. He was a fierce
advocate for civil rights and social justice, tirelessly working to improve the lives of the marginalized and underserved. His groundbreaking efforts included becoming the first African American U.S. Postal Service driver to deliver mail, and he was a visionary in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, establishing one of the earliest celebrations of Dr. King’s birthday as a holiday in Houston, well before its national recognition.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Rev. Dr. Williams was a leader among leaders, hold-
ing esteemed positions such as Moderator Emeritus of the Independent Missionary Baptist General Association of Texas, President Emeritus of the Missionary Baptist Convention of Texas, and former Treasurer of the National Baptist Convention of America. His influence extended even further as the founder and president of the Houston Ministers Against Crime and an active member of the One Safe Houston task force. At the heart of Rev. Dr. Williams’ life was his unwavering
love for his family. He instilled firm foundational principles of hard work, faith, determination, and community advocacy in his lineage, ensuring that his legacy of service and leadership would continue through the generations.
As we reflect on his life, we recognize the countless lives he touched through his unwavering dedication to ministry, justice, and humanity. Rev. Dr. F. N. Williams, Sr. was more than a pastor he was a builder of bridges, a champion for the oppressed, and a beacon
of hope for those in need. Today, we honor and celebrate the life of a man who truly exemplified what it means to live a life of service. We are forever grateful for his leadership, his vision, and the love he so generously shared with his congregation, his community, and his family. His spirit, his legacy, and his work will forever be remembered in the history he helped shape and in the hearts of those he served.
Pastor pg. 5
THE DEMOCRATS’ PLATFORM ON RACIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL RIGHTS
1884
Asserting the equality of all men before the law, we hold that it is the duty of the government in its dealings with the people to mete out equal and exact justice to all citizens of whatever nativity, race, color, or persuasion (religious or political). We believe in a free ballot † and a fair count, and we recall to the memory of the people the noble struggle of the Democrats in the Forty- h and Forty-sixth Congresses by which a reluctant Republican opposition was compelled to assent to legislation making everywhere illegal the presence of the troops at the polls, †† as the conclusive proof that a Democratic administration will preserve liberty with order.
Many tactics were used to scare and intimidate black voters.
† Signi cantly, contrary to this claim, it was only Democratic state legislatures that instituted poll taxes to limit African American in uence, thus conclusively refuting their claim of a belief in a “free” ballot.
†† See note on pp. 10-11 explaining how Reconstruction came to an end when federal troops were removed from the polls.
Special Edition
THE REPUBLICANS’ PLATFORM
1884
e Republican Party, having its birth in a hatred of slave labor and a desire that all men may be truly free and equal, † is unalterably opposed to placing our workingmen in competition with any form of servile labor. †† . . . We extend to the Republicans of the South – regardless of their former party a liations – our cordial sympathy; and we pledge to them our most earnest e orts to promote the passage of such legislation as will secure to every citizen of whatever race and color the full and complete recognition, possession, and exercise of all civil and political rights.
Zinetta Cont.
years later, she became a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) and completed her high school education by earning her G.E.D. In 1968, Zinetta graduated from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She is an alumnus of Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Attorney Zinetta A. Burney is the Senior Partner in the law firm of Burney & Foreman. Burney & Foreman is listed in the Bond Buyers Book and is one of very few African-American law firms in the State of Texas to attain such qualifications. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, United States District Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Houston Lawyers Association, Houston Bar Association, Gulf Coast Black Women Lawyers Association, and National Bar Association.
Ms. Burney serves on the University of Houston System Board of Regents having been appointed by Governor Ann Richards. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Third Ward Redevelopment Counsel, past Chairperson of the Board of Commissions for Housing Authority of the City of Houston, Board Member of the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast, Board of the South Main Center Association, and Board of the Greater Houston Women’s Foundation.
† See note on the birth of the Republican Party on p. 3.
†† While there were many forms of “servile labor,” two of the most repug- nant included that instituted under the “Black Codes” and that of forced apprenticeships, both of which became widespread in the South in the years following the Civil War. e “Black Codes” created criminal o enses for minor charges such as vagrancy (o en imposed against a black when he was looking for a job), insubordination, disrespect, and other such verbal “offenses” that resulted in jail time. e “convicted” individual was sentenced to plantation labor that o en was the equivalent of slavery. Forced apprenticeships were similar, but were imposed on black minors rather than adults. Black youth were forcibly taken from parents and forced into “apprenticeships” that were nothing more than a means of cheap labor for former slave owners.
Her civic participation includes the Houston Independent School District’s Commission on District Decentralization, Houston Area Urban League, the NAACP, and TSU/Third Ward Redevelopment. She is a supporter of Shape Community Center.
It therefore stands to reason that because of her honorable mission and her tenacious life, Zinetta Burney has been singled out for numerous honors, awards, and accolades from her peers and community.
She has been recognized by the City of Houston, the City of Houston Housing Authority, NAACP, United Negro College Fund, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, United Cerebral Palsy Association, Riverside General Hospital, YMCA, the Houston Sun, the Houston Defender, the Prestige Wood Women’s Legal Society and the Missouri City Chapter of Links, Inc. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Judge Zinetta Arceneaux Burney please visit our Sympathy Store.
FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT
Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in Tuesday as Mexico’s rst female president, riding the enthusiasm over her predecessor’s social programs but also facing challenges that include stubbornly high levels of violence.
A er a smiling Sheinbaum took the oath of o ce on the oor of Congress, legislators shouted “Presidenta! Presidenta!” using the feminine form of president in Spanish for the rst time in over 200 years of Mexico’s history as an independent country. e 62-year-old scientist-turned-politician receives a country with a number of immediate problems, also including a sluggish economy, un nished building programs, rising debt and the hurricane-battered resort city of Acapulco.
In her inauguration speech, Sheinbaum said that she came to power accompanied by all of the women who have struggled in anonymity to make their way in Mexico, including “those who dreamed of the possibility that one day no matter if we were born as women or men we would achieve our dreams and desires without our sex determining our destiny.” She made a long list of promises to limit prices for gasoline and food, expand cash hand-out programs for women and children, support business investment, housing and passenger rail construction. But any mention of the drug cartels that control much of the country was brief and near the end of the list.
Sheinbaum o ered little change
Election season is upon us and this is the time to check to ensure your voter registration is up-to-date. Visit HarrisVotes.com to nd the following:
• Early Vote Centers locations! Open from Monday, October 21– Friday, November 1st.
• Vote Centers will accept voters from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5.
• Learn what’s on your ballot - just enter your name or address to see all the contests and candidates you are eligible to vote on!
• e deadline to apply for a mail ballot is October 25. You must ll it out, print it, and mail it before the deadline.
Por: Politico
Por: Viva Harris team
President pg. 3
Escritores Contribuyentes
Escritores Contribuyentes
Oficina : 713-692-1892
Oficina : 713-692-1892
EDITORIAL
TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDELINES
Por: Adrian Garcia
Latino participation in our elections reminds me of the United States Men’s National Team in the 2022 World Cup. For those who don’t remember, there was considerable controversy over how little playing time the young wunderkind, Gio Reyna, was getting despite being hailed as “(one of the) brightest stars that the United States possesses” in the press. Despite pleadings by fans, soccer commentators, and many others, Reyna never got o the sidelines much in the 2022 World Cup. at was mainly due to coaching decisions. Consequently, to many, Reyna’s absence was at least partially why the U.S. Men’s team’s performance did not live up to expectations.
Recent election turnout results show Texas Latinos aren’t voting at nearly the levels of other races and cultures. Unlike Reyna, however, no coach is keeping us on the sidelines.
According to NPR, Texas Latinos “have o cially eclipsed non-Hispanic whites as the dominant ethnic group in the state, but the group’s political power has yet to catch up.” Latinos have an incredible opportunity to help steer policy in this state. Yet, we need to take advantage of it. Why? ere are several factors in play. First, according to the data, the Latino population in Texas is either too young to vote or is not median age, which usually results in more voter participation. An-
other way to look at it is older people generally vote at higher rates than younger ones. However, despite these facts, Texas only votes at less than 20% of the registered voters. Of those not voting, many of those are Latinos that could make a signi cant di erence in the upcoming elections, as long as we get o the sidelines!
Of the nearly 17m registered voters in Texas, only about 3m voted in recent primaries. Another reason for a lack of voter representation is that the State of Texas has gerrymandered districts, resulting in a reduction in the ability for Latinos to vote for like-minded candidates with similar experiences and backgrounds. e nal reason is just a hunch I have. Many of our fellow Latinos are relatively new to the U.S., and they or their families originate from countries where people cannot trust their elections to be fair. American elections should be transparent based on what happens in other countries. People come here because of free and fair elections and the ability to make your destiny! I can prove my hunch, too. Look at what happened when Latinos were more engaged in our elections in 2022 a er Harris County redistricting made our precincts more representative of the population that lives here; Latinos, now given a fair shot to pick people who represented their interests, elected Commissioner Lesley Briones. is means
that Latinos comprise 60% of the Commissioners Court.
Commissioner Briones is also the rst mother to serve on the court in decades, bringing a true ‘familia’ perspective to the court.
Turnout projections for the 2024 Texas Primaries show that Latino participation likely dropped from 2020. We have no coach to blame for this disappointing loss; it’s on us for not showing up.
Earlier this month, the United States Men’s National Team won a big tournament, and Gio Reyna was deemed “the USMNT’s most irreplaceable player.” By being on the eld and o the sidelines, Reyna helped lead the Americans to the title.
It’s time for Latinos in Texas to do the same. No one is holding us back but ourselves.
For years, I have heard some say, “¿Por que votar, si nada cambia?” - Why vote if nothing changes? My response is that it’s true that when you don’t vote, nothing changes!
But look at the changes that happened on Harris County Commissioner’s Court; for the rst time in 2019, two Latinos were serving on Commissioners Court at the same time, and when Commissioner Briones won her election against a longtime incumbent, there are now three Latinos serving on Commissioners Court at the same time. If you are voting, you are making a di erence, but we need to bring more amigas/os, hermanas/os, and primas/os to vote in upcoming elections.
I urge everyone reading this to get more involved, be team leaders, and let’s start winning by getting o the sidelines. If Latinos start playing, we will have an opportunity to accomplish our many goals. Join me in helping our community own our space!
Early voting begins October 21st, 2024! To get all the details about elections and voting please visit www.HarrisVotes.com.
Viernes, 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. Todo el
Viernes, 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. Todo el
from outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s ‘Hugs not Bullets’ strategy of addressing root causes and not confronting the cartels, apart from pledging more intelligence work and investigation. “ ere will be no return to the irresponsible drug war,” she said. Sheinbaum romped to victory in June with nearly 60% of the vote, propelled largely by the sustained popularity of her political mentor, López Obrador. She has pledged to continue all his policies, even those that strengthened the power of the military and weakened the country’s checks and balances.
A er the inauguration, Sheinbaum was scheduled to appear later Tuesday at a mass rally in Mexico City’s colonial-era main plaza to participate in an Indigenous ceremony in which an elder will hand her a ‘sta of authority.’
Lucía Ruíz, a 42-year-old mother of three, was one of thousands trying to reach the main square to see the rally. She said she hopes Sheinbaum will be able to combat high rates of violence against women in the country.
“She is going to represent us,” said Ruíz. “We have always been governed by men, and they think we’re incapable, but we’re not. We are the head of our families.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addresses supporters in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, on her inauguration day, Oct. 1, 2024. | Aurea Del Rosario/AP
López Obrador took o ce six years ago declaring “For the good of all, rst the poor,” and promising historical change from the neoliberal economic policies of his predecessors. Sheinbaum promised continuity from his popular social policies to controversial constitutional reforms to the judiciary and National Guard rammed through during his nal days in o ce.
Despite her pledge of continuity, Sheinbaum is a very di erent personality: a cautious scientist and ideological university le ist, as opposed to the outgoing president’s chummy, everyman appeal.
“López Obrador was a tremendously charismatic president and many times that charisma allowed him to cover up some political errors that Claudia Sheinbaum will not have that possibility of doing,” said Carlos Pérez Ricart, a political analyst at Mexico’s Center
for Economic Research and Teaching.
“So, where López Obrador was charismatic, Claudia Sheinbaum will have to be e ective.”
She will wield formidable power because López Obrador’s Morena party controls both houses of Congress. But the country remains deeply polarized between the outgoing president’s fanatic fans and almost one-third of the population who deeply resent him.
“If we want a strong government, the checks and balances also have to be strong,” said opposition Sen. María Guadalupe Murguía, suggesting that an all-powerful army and unchecked ruling party could come back to haunt Mexico. “Remember,” she said, “nobody wins everything, and nobody loses forever.”
Sheinbaum is not inheriting an easy situation.
Drug cartels have strengthened their hold over much of Mexico, and her rst trip as president will be to the Paci c coast resort of Acapulco, which was ooded last week by Hurricane John, which killed at least 17 people along the coast around the resort. Acapulco was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, and had not recovered from that blow when John hit.
Sheinbaum must also deal with raging violence in the carteldominated northern city of Culiacan, where factional ghting within the Sinaloa cartel broke out a er drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López were apprehended in the United States a er they ew there in a small plane on July 25.
López Obrador has long sought to avoid confronting Mexico’s drug cartels and has openly appealed to the gangs to keep the peace among themselves, but the limitations of that strategy have become glaringly apparent in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, where gun battles have raged on the city’s streets. Local authorities and even the army — which López Obrador has relied on for everything — have essentially admitted that the ghting will only end when the cartel bosses decide to end it.
But that’s only the latest hotspot.
con anticipación y da el primer paso hacia tu futuro hoy!
Las inscripciones para la primavera de 2025 comienzan el 14 de Octubre.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN WORK AS POLL WORKERS
Por: Harris Couty Elections Dept.
High school students who are 16 years of age or older now have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process by serving as elections clerks at the vote center during Early Voting or on Election Day. A student who is at least 16 years of age and who is enrolled in a public or private high school or home school and has the consent of the principal (or parent/legal guardian in charge of education in home school) may serve as an election clerk. e elections o cials must receive written authorization from the student’s parent or guardian for the student to serve in the election for which he or she is appointed. is program is designed to provide students with a greater awareness of the elector-
al process and the rights and responsibilities of voters. e students will assist their local election o cials by lling positions at vote center during the Early Voting period or on Election Day and working under the direction of the vote center’s presiding judge. What are the Bene ts?
Some of the bene ts are:
• Election workers are paid hourly for their service.
• Students will gain practical experience by serving their community and state.
• Experience as an election clerk is an impressive addition to a resumé or college application.
• Students can take part in a rewarding activity while learning about the democratic process.
• Students can earn community service
hours for school.
How to Apply
• Fill out the online form here
• Have your parent or guardian sign the Parent/Legal Guardian Permission document that will be emailed upon completion of the online form.
• Try to send application at least 60 days prior to Election Day (even though there is no statutory deadline).
• If selected, attend the required election training class prior to serving as a clerk. is training provides all the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful student elections clerk.
CACERÍA TODO EL AÑO
Un día de cacería incluye alojamiento y comida.
A menos de una hora del centro de Houston y de College Station
VENADO AXIS Y FALLOW
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Request for Proposal will be received by Lone Star College for:
• RFP #24-09-04 – Comprehensive Campus Counseling Services. Electronic submittals due by 2:00PM, Monday, October 21, 2024.
• Contact: janet.bradley@lonestar. edu or (832)813-6299.
• Must Register to Bid: https://lonestar.ionwave.net/Login.aspx. If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the on-line registration process, contact MC-vendors@lonestar.edu.
• RFP #24-09-03 – Advocacy Consulting Services for Lone Star College System. Electronic submittals due by 2:00PM, Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
• Contact: janet.bradley@lonestar. edu or (832)813-6299.
• Must Register to Bid: https://lonestar.ionwave.net/Login.aspx. If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the on-line registration process, contact MC-vendors@lonestar.edu.
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Request for Proposal will be received by Lone Star College for:
• RFP #24-09-09 – LSCS Victory Expansion A/V Package. Electronic submittals due by 3:00PM, Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
• Contact: pamela.johnson@lonestar.edu or (832)813-6782.
• Must Register to Bid: https:// lonestar.ionwave.net/Login.aspx. If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the on-line registration process, contact MC-vendors@ lonestar.edu.
DIVERSITY
H-E-B’s Supplier Diversity Program works hard to ensure we’re selling goods and utilizing services from a wide variety of Texan businesses. We’re proud that our suppliers are as diverse as the Lone Star State itself.
As a former small business ourselves, we believe in and celebrate the value & strength that working with small businesses, local businesses, and businesses owned by minorities, women, LGBTQ+, Veterans, and disabled Texans brings to both our business and the communities we serve.
