Houston Defender: October 15, 2020

VOTE LIKE YOUR

LIFE

DEPENDS ON IT.

BECAUSE

IT DOES BUSINESS

IN FOCUS

KIM ROXIE

The founder of LAMIK Beauty is the receipent of an honor that will help other women in business.

Volume 89, issue 51 October 15, 2020

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LINA HIDALGO The State of BLACK HARRIS COUNTY features the County Judge addressing key Black issues.

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Early Voting: October 13 - 30, 2020

YOUR VOICE. YOUR VOTE.

DN On the web

Courtney B. Vance (George Freeman), Jonathan Majors (Atticus Freeman) and Jurnee Smollett (Letitia Lewis) of Lovecraft Country

Message from the Associate Editor CLOWN SHOW IN BLACKFACE

show packing.

Will this circus never end? At least, But as Bishop Kimathi Nelson preached not until Nov 3, which can’t come quick in the sermon, “The Racial Reckoning in enough. Recently, Trump called for Black America,” every time we placed our hopes and Latino supporters to gather at the in whites’ willingness to change society big house for a free COVID-19 infection for the better, they chose to double down give-away. And I’ll be “darned” if them on oppression like the Pharaoh who knew fools didn’t show up. not Joseph., leaving us wailing and groanAnd if you need further proof that 45’s ing. So, whether Trump is booted out Negro contingent is on that stuff, they are of office or not, we have to realize our claiming that police are really Black allies. work of taking back what’s ours is just In other words, these “skinfolk-not-kinbeginning.

ASWAD WALKER folk” believe cops are shooting and killing Like America’s original inhabitants unarmed Blacks in droves for our benefit. And we should who aren’t satisfied with symbolic gestures like changing be bowing down thanking and praising police and their “Columbus Day” to “Indigenous People’s Day,” because supporters, who have said repeatedly that Black Lives don’t they rather have the land returned, we too aren’t going matter. Lord, Lord. to be placated by the election’s results. Like Lovecraft Yet, the clown show keeps clownin’. After complaining Country’s Hippolyta, Atticus, Letitia and crew, we are about debate officials demanding 45 play by the rules, gathering all courage, power, magic and grit necessary to the man-baby-in-chief pouted and said he refused to play take down the real monsters, and claim our rightful place, if he couldn’t have his way. But, now that his team said letting the flies rest on the heads of those who are full of it. its “debate or die,” he’s scrambling to reschedule. What should Biden’s response be? “Let me check my sched--- IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER Boy bye!” Though, according to Candace Owens, Blacks • Folk are early voting like polling places are giving away need to escape the “Democratic Plantation” because Popeye’s chicken sandwiches.

“Massa Trump be givin’ us dat good, strict law & order • Kendric “Busta” Rhymes is spittin’ bars on HISD griddiscipline we’s need.” Again. Lord, Lord. irons for Heights HS football.

• Catch up on Defender’s State of BLACK HARRIS BLACKCRAFT COUNTRY COUNTY with Judge Lina Hidalgo.

But calling on the Almighty without being willing to do the work ourselves is foolishness too. As former ON THE WEB District D Houston City Councilmember Ada Edwards • U.S. mourns death of the legendary voice of the Black would often say, “Pray like it all depends on God, but trans community. work like it all depends on you!” That’s how our ances- • Lebron is winning off the court too, with $15 off Lyft tors did it (as “Lovecraft Country” reminds us). And rides for Houston voters. that’s how Black and Brownfolk in H-town are doing it • HISD launches twice-weekly meal distributions via now; early voting in record numbers to send the clown neighborhood supersites.

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DN News 5th circuit asked to expand mail-in ballot drop-off locations Defender News Service

Congressional Democrats have asked a federal appellate court to stop the closure of mail-in ballot return centers across Texas, after the court put on hold a decision to open up the centers The U.S. representatives, including Houston-area congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, argued in a brief filed at the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that Texans should be able to drop off their mail-in ballots at multiple ballot return centers, in order to vote safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the midst of this pandemic, plaintiffs—including elderly voters and voters with disabilities—seek nothing more than to cast absentee ballots so that they can exercise their constitutional right to vote without risking their health, as they have a right to do under Texas law,” the brief said.

The state of Texas filed an appeal over the weekend to overturn a district court’s

decision late last week to block Gov. Greg Abbott’s policy of limiting ballot return centers to one per county.

The Fifth Circuit’s decision to stay the lower court’s ruling pending the outcome of Texas’ appeal means Abbott’s order will remain in effect for now.

The state has argued that limiting the number of ballot return centers combats voter fraud, though there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Texas. In the brief, the congressional members said Abbott’s order amounted to voter suppression.

“The Governor’s last-minute reversal forced election officials in populous counties to shutter immediately numerous polling centers, thereby throwing the voting process into disarray and subjecting voters in those counties to an arbitrary and discriminatory barrier to casting their absentee ballots,” they wrote.

Abbott’s order adversely impacted the

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

state’s largest, most Democratic-leaning cities. Harris County, the largest county in Texas, had opened a dozen locations, and was already collecting ballots when the order was issued.

New PVAMU initiative to improve health of underserved communities Defender News Service

To help tackle harmful lifestyle issues in the Houston metroplex, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) launched its new Healthy Houston Initiative (HHI).

Professors, researchers, practitioners and students from PVAMU’s Colleges of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS), Nursing, Juvenile Justice and Psychology, and Business will utilize a $750,000 grant awarded by The Texas A&M University System to bring training and programming to targeted communities.

Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., leader of the HHI effort, said, “The mission of Prairie View A&M University’s Healthy Houston Initiative is to assist in improving the health, nutrition and wellness of selected underserved communities in Houston.”

Statistical data reveals pockets of poverty within the greater Houston area with infamously high rates of chronic health issues, crime and low K-college attendance and

completion rates.

HHI will take a holistic approach in assisting individuals and communities in improving their quality of life while seeking to accomplish four primary goals: Expanding the awareness of nutritional and health services available to families; Improving healthy self-care practices through screenings, assessments and referrals; Providing workshops and educational opportunities focused on parenting and family support; and Improving access to healthy foods.

“Year one will focus on the areas of Third Ward, Acres Homes, Sunnyside, Alief-Westwood, Kashmere Gardens, Magnolia Park-Manchester and Second Ward in the Houston area,” said Williams of the program designed to reach youth and adults.

Virtual and face-to-face programs include mental health first aid training, food demonstrations, youth development activities regarding STEM and more.

The mission of Prairie View A&M University’s Healthy Houston Initiative is to assist in improving the health, nutrition and wellness of selected underserved communities in Houston."

Carolyn Williams, Ph.D

Donald Neely sues Galveston for $1M over controversial arrest Defender News Service

Donald Neely, the Black man led by mounted police down a Galveston, Texas street while bound with a rope last year is suing the city and its police department for $1 million, court documents show.

In August 2019, Neely was arrested on criminal trespass charges in Galveston.

Images and video of the two white arresting officers lead him down the street handcuffed with a rope tied to their horses, sparked outrage.

A petition filed this week in Galveston County’s district court called the officers’ conduct “extreme and outrageous” and claimed that it caused Neely injury, emotional distress and mental anguish.

“Neely suffered from handcuff abrasions, suffered from the heat, and suffered from embarrassment, humiliation and fear as he was led by rope and mounted officers down the city street,” the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit charges that the arresting officers should have realized that Neely “being led with a rope and by mounted officers down a city street as though he was a slave, would find this contact offensive.”

The lawsuit is also alleging malicious prosecution over Neely’s criminal trespass charge, which was ultimately dismissed in court.

A Galveston spokesperson said the city does not comment on pending litigation.

A status conference is currently scheduled for Jan. 7, 2021. Neely is demanding a trial by jury, court records show.

Galveston Police Chief Vernon L. Hale III issued an apology in the aftermath of the arrest on behalf of the department, saying the officers “showed poor judgment.”

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DN News

SC Dem challenger raises record $57 MIL Associated Press

South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison has shattered congressional fundraising records, bringing in $57 million in the final quarter for his U.S. Senate campaign against Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham as the GOP tries to retain control of the chamber in the Nov. 3 election.

Harrison’s campaign said the total was the largest-ever during a single threemonth period by any Senate candidate.

That tops the $38 million raised by Democrat Beto O’Rourke in 2018 in the final fundraising period of his challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who won the race, and comes as other Democratic Senate challengers continue to rake in eye-popping cash against Republican incumbents.

The third-quarter amount brings Harrison’s overall campaign fundraising to $86 million. Attributing the success to grassroots support, Harrison’s campaign said the $57 million came in the form of 1.5 million donations from 994,000 donors. The average contribution was $37.

“This campaign is making history, because we’re focused on restoring hope back to South Carolina,” said Guy King, Harrison’s campaign spokesman. “While Lindsey Graham continues playing political games in Washington, Jaime Harrison is

Jaime Harrison and Senator Lindsey Graham face off in the South Carolina U.S. Senate debate in Columbia, South Carolina. Joshua Boucher/AP

remaining laser-focused on the real issues impacting people here — like health care, broadband access and COVID relief for businesses and families.”

Graham hasn’t released fundraising totals for the latest quarter, although it’s likely he’s been eclipsed by Harrison, an associate Democratic National Committee chairman and former lobbyist. Last month, Graham made a public fundraising plea to help him keep up with Harrison, saying on Fox News he was

“getting killed financially” by Harrison, who he predicted would “raise $100 million.”

“The money is because they hate my guts,” Graham added.

Graham questioned whether the money would have any real effect on South Carolina’s electorate, which has not voted in a Democratic Senate candidate since the 1998 reelection of Sen. Fritz Hollings.

“The problem is there’s not enough money in the world to convince South Carolinians to

vote for the radical liberal agenda,” Graham said, citing top Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York as leaders he says support that agenda.

Asked how the additional money could possibly be spent, Harrison campaign manager Zack Carroll told The Associated Press they planned to hold nothing back, using “every dollar donated” in ads, digital organizing and communication with Black voters.

White House event puts most vulnerable at risk Defender News Services

president said during his address. “And they’re embracing our Nearly 400 people, most of them African Americans, pro-jobs, pro-worker, pro-police — we want law and order, packed the White House lawn recently for Donald Trump’s we have to have law and order — and pro-American agenda.” first rally since testing positive for the coronavirus. Now, many While this isn’t exactly true, Trump does enjoy some supare fearing the packed rally has left some of our country’s most port among Black and Brown voters — particularly among vulnerable at risk. men.

At his first public event since being diagnosed with CovidA recent analysis from FiveThirtyEight found that Black and 19, Trump spoke to the crowd on the South Lawn of the White Hispanic voters who backed Trump in 2016 are largely still House, a site that has historically been off-limits to political with him, despite the poor ratings the president has received rallies, giving a speech meant to honor law enforcefor his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump ment officials at a time when Black Lives Matter won just 8 percent of African American voters in 2016, activists are calling for criminal justice reform. and appears to have about 10 percent support in the The crowd was invited by Blexit, an organizaweeks leading up to the election. Despite this modest tion that seeks to move Black voters away from the gain, the president remains deeply unpopular with the Democratic Party, and Trump used their presence group, making his appeal to them “a game of inches,” as to both salute their politics and attack his Dem- Candace Owens the New York Times’s Maggie Haberman and Annie ocratic rivals.

Karni have written — and making his ability to win “Every day more Black and Latino Americans are leaving new Black voters in key races unclear. behind left wing politicians and their failed ideology,” the Nevertheless, Blexit co-founders Candace Owens and Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

VOLUME 89 - NUMBER 51 - OCTOBER 15, 2020 The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288

Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

Nearly 400 rallygoers attended the White House event.

Brandon Tatum are adamant Blacks want to leave what Owens has characterized as “the Democrat plantation.”

“Today is about making sure that we make some noise to support our police officers in America,” Owens said. “When you remove police officers the thugs stand up.”

A recent report shows the rallygoers had their travel and lodging paid for by Blexit.

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley Creative Director Michael Grant Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles Photographers Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

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WHEN

ICONIC MEETS INNOVATIVE THE

RESULT IS ELECTRIC!

*Preproduction computer generated image shown.

Available late 2020.

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DN News

In Houston, whether you’re evicted depends on judge Texas Tribune

Shemeka Smith is used to helping others.

She’s a nursing student in Clear Lake and planned to assist elderly people and veterans with social services this year. But that job offer evaporated with the pandemic, so now she’s in the uncomfortable position of needing help herself: She got temporary rent relief through the city and county’s public program administered by nonprofit Baker Ripley, but she’s emptied her savings while applying for jobs.

Running out of luck, she went online and found out about the federal eviction moratorium. She read the rules laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, printed out the form, and gave it to the apartment manager.

The manager threw the form in the trash, telling her that they aren’t participating in the program. Smith pushed back, informing the manager that the CDC order is a federal rule, not a voluntary program.

“A couple hours later, she put an eviction notice on my door,” Smith said.

Smith’s is just one example of the moratorium’s chaotic and uneven results in the

Protesters march outside a courthouse in Houston, where evictions are continuing despite a moratorium ordered by the CDC. -Jen Rice / Houston Public Media

Houston area. According to data from consulting firm January Advisors, less than 3% of renters in Harris County eviction courts have legal representation, so most of them are on their own. And the outcome of those cases can depend on which judge you step in front of.

Take, for example, justices of the peace Holly Williamson and Lincoln Goodwin,

both Republicans. In a Houston Public Media review, Judge Williamson — livestreaming her court from Pasadena — stopped most eviction cases on her docket, even taking the time to find out if renters qualified for the CDC moratorium if they didn’t know their rights. In one instance, when a renter believed he didn’t qualify for protection because his

income was too high, Williamson corrected him and abated his case.

By contrast, in Judge Goodwin’s packed courtroom in the Spring area, 63 eviction cases were heard at the same time. Most renters didn’t show up, so they got evicted.

Goodwin told those who did show up that the outcome likely wouldn’t be in their favor if they owed rent, telling them they were free to go before their hearing if they felt the moveout date was acceptable.

Most cases ended in eviction without the CDC moratorium stopping them.

So many Houston-area renters are still being evicted that At-Large City Council member Letitia Plummer has gone door-todoor at apartment complexes across the city to distribute the legal declaration form renters are required to give their landlords.

“We’re just letting people know that that’s the declaration, that they do have rights,” Plummer said. “They don’t have to move right now.”

When renters don’t get the message in time, some are still desperately trying to avoid eviction even after their court date.

We Have a Once in a Generation Chance To Close the Racial Wealth Gap To Empower Our Communities for the Long Haul And to Finally Shatter the Foundations of Systemic Racism

But only if we vote.

With their Black economic agenda, Democrats in Congress are fighting for a living wage. More job training for the careers of the future. More home ownership and entrepreneurship. More chances to get ahead instead of just getting by. At a time when Black families are struggling, Republicans are standing in the way of change, but we can change that.

Early voting in person starts October 13th.

Make your plan and encourage everyone to do the same: www.iwillvote.com PAID FOR BY DCCC, WWW.DCCC.ORG. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE.

October 15, 2020 |

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Your wireless. Your rules.

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Internet offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing order for advertised offer. Without enrollment, service charge automatically increases by $10/mo.

12-month automatic payment and paperless billing discount appears on bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are canceled during the 12-month period, or if services are added or Internet tier changes, the $10/mo. discount will be discontinued. Ends 10/25/20. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Performance Starter+ Internet. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services (other than Xfinity Mobile) are canceled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees extra, and subject to change during and after agreement term. After agreement term, or if any service is canceled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for Performance Starter+ Internet is $50/mo. (subj. to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. Mobile: Xfinity Mobile requires residential post-pay Xfinity Internet. Line limitations may apply. Equipment, intl. and roaming charges, taxes and fees, including reg. recovery fees, and other charges extra, and subject to change. $20/line/mo. charge applies if Xfinity TV, Internet or Voice post-pay service is not maintained. Pricing subject to change. In times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic. After 20 GB monthly data use, speeds reduced to a maximum of 1.5Mbps download/750 Kbps upload. A minimum $15.00 charge applies per month, per account for By the Gig lines, regardless of data usage. Charges apply to each GB or partial GB of shared data. No rollover data. Actual savings varies and is not guaranteed. For Xfinity Mobile Broadband Disclosures visit: www.xfinity.com/mobile/policies/broadband-disclosures. Call for restrictions and complete details. © 2020 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA233204-0002

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FIGHTING ILLEGAL DUMPING IN HOUSTON has identified our most notorious illegal Illegal dumping has been a on-going dumping places and cleaned them up. challenge in Houston’s lower-income We have 7 cameras and are purchasing communities. It’s a problem Houston City more to place in areas of repetitive dumpCouncilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum ing so we can catch these culprits, fine has been fighting since taking office. them and file criminal charges. Illegal “Making sure our district is free of dumping is against the law.,” she said. litter and illegal dumping is the The city’s 311 system received baseline of what we do in pubover 8,000 calls in 2019 for lic service. I cannot attract trash dumping or illegal economic development, dumpsites, according to home builders, or more city data. residents if our neighborThe criminal charges for hoods are riddled with eyeillegal dumping can range sores,” said Castex-Tatum, from a misdemeanor to a who represents District K. felony, separate from fines.

A year ago, it was nothing There also are many more Martha for Castex-Tatum to remove Castex-Tatum eyesores than simply illegal 10 tons of her debris. Now, she dumping and the City of Houssays those numbers are down by approx- ton issues fines for those as well, ranging imately 30%. The councilmember points from overgrown lots to stagnant water. to education, a coordinated effort with Some of the fines can be as low as $200 various management districts as well as a or as high as $2,000 for things such as hot team established in the district. not removing and “properly” disposing “Our HOT Team is on the ground in of dead trees. our district 5-6 days a week. The crew The best solution to avoiding fines for Defender News Service

District K's HOT Team identified Blue Ridge Road in Fort Bend as their #1 dumping space in the entire district. Crews work around the clock to keep the area clean. Credit: Martha Castex-Tatum

the above infractions listed is to properly repair, replace or in some cases like a discharge, correct. The city also says boats on

lots should be properly elevated at least six inches above the surface of the lot and covered. More can be found at houstontx.gov.

PAID FOR BY MJ FOR TEXAS

Black and Brown communities have been hit hardest during this pandemic.

I’ll fight to make sure no Texas family is left behind.

I’M MJ HEGAR. During my third tour in Afghanistan, I was shot, and we went down. After being rescued, I returned fire as we flew to safety. We fought like hell to get everyone home safe that day.

My mission isn’t over. Texas families are still in danger. Texas is facing a public health crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic — and it’s hitting Black and Brown communities the hardest.

In the Senate, I will: Fight for solutions to help Black communities facing a public health crisis that’s been made even worse by the coronavirus Make sure no one has to wait until payday to see a doctor or get their medicine Protect Medicare and Social Security for Texas seniors

October 15, 2020 |

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DN Health

A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE

Flu vaccination: more important than ever

BY SHELDON GAINES, M.D.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force, getting your annual flu vaccination may not be top of mind, but it should be this year to help prevent a “twindemic” that could overwhelm our hospitals and communities.

Without a vaccine for COVID-19, there is a real possibility the U.S. could be overtaken by both the pandemic and a severe flu season, something that could be detrimental to both our healthcare system and our economy.

THE FLU SHOT & COVID-19 With emergency rooms, hospitals, and doctors’ offices already busy with coronavirus patients and testing, a flu outbreak could mean more stress on the healthcare system. We won’t know which respiratory infection someone has without

testing because flu and COVID-19 share symptoms, including fever, cough, headaches, and muscle aches.

According to the CDC, influenza cases reached over 40 million last year, with 740,000 hospitalizations and upward of 60,000 deaths. More people receiving the flu vaccine — a safe and proven vaccine — could significantly reduce influenza-related illness and the medical care needed in response to it.

FROM THE DOC While the flu shot will not prevent “We offer the flu vaccine at COVID-19, coming down with both viruses 24 clinic locations. Schedule at the same time could be devastating your flu vaccination by as contracting the flu may make people calling 713-442-0000.” more susceptible to a harsher case of Dr. Gaines is a Family COVID-19 if they get it.

Medicine physician at According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Kelsey-Seybold’s director of the National Institute of Pasadena Clinic.

Allergy and Infectious Diseases, getting

the flu vaccine would “at least blunt the effect of one of [these] two potential respiratory infections.”

In the event that you still contract the flu, having had the vaccine may help reduce its severity if you are co-infected with another virus. Additionally, getting the flu shot does not increase your risk of getting COVID-19.

THE BOTTOM LINE This season, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the flu vaccine. There are three options for receiving the vaccine: • The traditional flu shot for those age 6 months and older • FluMist, a nasal vaccine for those ages 2 to 49 • A high-dose flu shot for those ages 65 and older

Now Scheduling Both VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON Appointments!

Whether you’re new to the Kelsey-Seybold family or a current patient, you have a choice of where you can safely get care. Call our 24/7 Contact Center at 713-442-0000 to schedule a same-day or next-day virtual Video Visit or, for non-respiratory illnesses, an in-person appointment at a Kelsey-Seybold Clinic near you.

Your health and safety are our top priority. We‘re screening patients upon arrival for COVID-19 symptoms, checking temperatures, and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Please remember to wear a mask or cloth face protection while visiting our clinics.

Do you feel more comfortable visiting with a Kelsey-Seybold doctor from your home? We also offer virtual Video Visits for children and adults. Visit kelsey-seybold.com/virtual to find out more.

Our doctors and clinical teams are here for you now and in the future.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU 24/7/365 Berthelsen Main Campus 2727 West Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77025 24/7 Contact Center 713-442-0000 MyKelseyOnline (MKO) mykelseyonline.com MKO Help Line 713-442-6565 (7 days a week, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.)

After-Hours Nurse Hotline 713-442-0000 Learn More About Virtual Visits kelsey-seybold.com/virtual

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS and more than 50 HEALTH PLANS, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Also accepting two Medicare Advantage plans, KelseyCare Advantage and WellCare TexanPlus.

10 | October 15, 2020 |

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DN Entertainment

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON DEBUTS ‘MANDELA’ EXHIBITION Defender News Service

The Holocaust Museum Houston aims to educate future generations, by teaching them about the past.

The museum is home to four permanent powerful galleries, and two changing exhibits, including the U.S. premiere of the “Mandela: Struggle For Freedom” exhibit on view now through January 3rd. The exhibit is described as a rich sensory experience of imagery, soundscape, digital media and objects used to explore the earthshaking fight for justice and human dignity in South Africa – and its relevance to issues of today.

Holocaust Museum Houston opened its doors in 1996 and it’s ranked as the nation’s 4th largest Holocaust museum Visitors can experience 40 artifacts that include the tiny cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison, a giant 22-foot long by 9-foot tall armored vehicle, and opportunities for exhibit visitors to make a virtual protest poster and enter a secret apartment for freedom fighters forced underground.

People can visit the exhibit for free during the museum’s Human Rights Expo, featuring nine local human rights organizations. You will need to register for a time slot to see the Mandela Exhibit the day you want to visit, and you can do so at HMH.ORG, or by calling 713-942-8000. The Museum is located at 5401 Caroline St., 77004.

Nelson and Winnie Mandela. -Graeme Williams, courtesy of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

6TH ANNUAL

I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

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Connect & Learn More Scan with your phone to watch the Changes for the Better video.

Scan with your phone to view 3-D Visualizations of the project.

Scan with your phone and enter your address to find out How NHHIP Impacts Your Property.

Visit the official TxDOT I-45 NHHIP Website to access information 24 hours

Visit the City of Houston Library website to access TxDOT I-45 NHHIP information 24 hours

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DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB Elections Poll: Black women fired up for change, ready to vote

By Glynda C. Carr

EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN TEXAS’ BOISTEROUS AND COMPETITIVE 2020 ELECTION

Texas Tribune

Early voting kicked off Oct. 13 for a high-stakes Texas election that has Republicans battling to maintain their dominance statewide in a raft of down-ballot races centered on the suburbs — all amid a pandemic that has upended political normalcy.

Democrats enter the early voting period brimming with optimism. Statewide, they believe their presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has a real shot at winning Texas and that their U.S. Senate candidate, MJ Hegar, is gaining momentum at the right time. The confidence increases farther down the ballot, where they are targeting 10 GOP-held U.S. House seats and driving to reclaim the Texas House majority they lost in the 2002 election.

While Republicans may not be as openly concerned with President Donald Trump or U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, they concede they are in for a battle down-ballot.

“The fight in Texas without a doubt is on the local level, it’s your down-ballot races where you see most of the spending and most of the political activity,” said Matt Langston, a Texas Republican consultant. “The big question: Are these campaigns gonna be able to execute in the final three weeks of the election? … This is a very strong turnout operation. Republicans have always done extremely well. 2020 is gonna put it to a test.”

Both sides are bracing for massive turnout, and voter registration numbers have been soaring. The secretary of state’s office said that Texas now has 16.9 million registered voters, up by nearly 300,000 just since Sept. 22, when the office last announced a total. The registration deadline was Oct. 5, and applications are still being counted, making it possible that the final count for the November elections will top 17 million. That would be close to 2 million more voters than were registered for the 2016 election.

Ron Reynolds addresses frustrated voters at Hightower High School where voters experienced massive delays with early voting.

Looming over the typical political questions about the November election is months of legal debate and drama over how Texans will be able to vote due to the pandemic.

Democrats unsuccessfully sought to expand mail-in voting, which Republican leaders resisted. Gov. Greg Abbott instead extended the early voting period by six days and gave voters more time than usual to turn in their mail ballots in person if they prefer.

With November 3 less than a month away, Black women voters hold a huge stake in this year’s election. With the first Black woman vying for the vice-presidency, a recent poll of 506 likely 2020 Black women voters conducted from September 30 to October 4 by Higher Heights and Change Research, showed that 75% of Black women are now more motivated than ever to vote. But the remaining 25% of Black women polled are feeling hopeless that their ballot won’t bring the change Glynda Carr they want to see.

In the poll, the top priorities and anxieties about the upcoming election for Black women included: the desire for a stronger response to the coronavirus and the need for racial justice. In addition, the Black women polled noted that when it came to the demographic who could bring about the change the United States needed with voter turnout, an overwhelming 64 percent, of course, chose Black women.

Over the last two presidential elections, Black women have continued to show up and show out. Whether it was voting for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, Black women have been at the forefront of trying to protect the United States from eating itself alive. But over the last four years, the Black community has dealt with everything from the coronavirus to the state sanctioned killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, as well as voter disenfranchisement.

For example, in Harris County, home to 2.4 million voters, Gov. Greg Abbott allowed the closing of ballot drop-off sites, which has now resulted in several lawsuits. This is one of several examples of how voter suppression is in full force this election. But these tactics, along with long lines, changes to voting and the present pandemic won’t keep Black women from the polls. When asked in the survey, ‘what is one word or phrase that best describes your motivation for voting this year?’ participants responded with the need for change and racial justice.

Glynda C. Carr is the President and CEO of Higher Heights for America the only national organization providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, and advance progressive policies.

October 15, 2020 |

| 13

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB Elections

Republicans challenge Harris County curbside, drive-thru voting

Texas Tribune

Hours before early voting began, the Texas Republican Party filed a new lawsuit Monday night challenging Harris County’s efforts to provide more voting options during the coronavirus pandemic, this time asking a court to limit curbside voting and halt the county’s drive-thru voting programs.

State election law has long allowed voters with medical conditions to vote curbside. After they arrive at a polling location, a ballot is brought outside to them in their vehicle by an election worker. In addition to urging qualified voters to use the curbside option this year, Harris County also opened designated “drive-thru” polling locations for all voters, where poll workers hand people a voting machine through their car window after checking their photo identification.

The state GOP’s lawsuit, filed in a state appeals court in Houston, seeks to halt the drive-thru voting program and limit curbside voting to those who have submitted sworn applications saying they qualify for it. Glenn Smith, a senior strategist with Progress Texas, said Tuesday he could find nothing in the law requiring an application to vote curbside.

Texas election law instructs election officers to deliver an on-site curbside ballot if a voter is “physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or likelihood of injuring the voter’s health.”

Chris Hollins, the Harris County Clerk, said the latest lawsuit is in line with the Republican Party “feverishly” using resources to limit people’s right to vote.

“This lawsuit is not only frivolous, but it’s also a gross misrepresentation of the differences between curbside voting — for voters with disabilities, including illness — and drive-thru voting, which is available for all voters who want to vote from the safety and convenience of their vehicle,” he said.

Oct. 29, 7 a.m. - Oct. 30, 7 a.m.

Drive-thru voting locations (DTV)

Fallbrook Church Houston Community College; West Loop Houston Community College; Alief Bissonnet Houston Food Bank; Humble Civic Center; John Phelps Harris County Courthouse Annex, Pasadena; NRG Arena Gate 8 Kirby St Entrance; Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church; Toyota Center Tundra Parking Garage, Leland St. Entrance; Windsor Village Kingdom Builders Center Find your closest DTV site at www.harrisvotes.com/ locations?lang=en-US DTV Hours : 7a.m. to 7p.m. Monday-Saturday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

On Election Day: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What to expect

• Look for the DTV signs located at the entrance of all 10 sites.

• A greeter will offer optional hand sanitizer and face mask.

• Turn off your engine and all electronics such as cell phones.

• Display valid photo identification.

• You will be handed a portable voting machine through your window to vote.

• If there are multiple voters, each will take turns to vote. Be courteous by remaining silent while each voter votes.

Benefits • Safer for voters naturally socially distanced within their vehicle.

• Secure using same voting machines and procedures as walk-in voting.

• Accessible to all voters.

• Efficient by serving 10-30 voters at all times at each site.

• Convenient for voters never having to leave their vehicle.

• Drive-thru voting is different from curbside voting. The curbside option is only for voters with disabilities and is available at all polling sites.

LeBron James’ poll worker recruitment effort reaches 20,000 volunteers Defender News Services

As the presidential election nears, NBA player and activist LeBron James is furthering his mission to spread awareness about voter suppression tactics and eliminate barriers that stand in the way of individuals exercising their right to vote.

James’ nonprofit More Than a Vote has recruited

over 20,000 volunteer poll workers.

The voting rights organization led the poll recruitment effort, dubbed “We Got Next,” in partnership with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The organizations focused on recruitment in predominantly Black electoral districts; determined to address the shortage of

poll workers in communities of color.

The organization has been leading several efforts to cultivate safe spaces for voting. In August, More Than a Vote teamed up with the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers to transform Dodger Stadium into a polling site for the November election. The partnership with the

Dodgers is historic as it is the first time an MLB team has utilized a stadium as a voting center.

“We are all in this together,” James said in a statement. “I’m really proud we were able to help the Dodgers become the first MLB stadium to open for voting. This is exactly why we created More Than a Vote.”

14 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 15

DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL

The State of Black Harris County COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO TALKS ABOUT ISSUES IMPACTING THE BLACK COMMUNITY

By Aswad Walker

T

he Defender followed up its State of Black Houston with part two of the three-part State of Black series, the State of Black Harris County. This week’s conversation with an influential lawmaker featured Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

State of Black Harris County moderator, Defender CEO Sonceria Messiah Jiles, posed questions to Hidalgo from participants via a real-time chat room. Additionally, several State of Black community partners offered pre-recorded video questions. These included hard-hitting questions from Juli McShay (NAACP Houston), Sharifat Lawal Price

(Greater Houston Black Chamber), Wanda Anderson (National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. Houston), Jackie Pope (Top Ladies of Distinction), Ray Shackleford (Houston Area Urban League) and Rev. Dr. James Dixon (Houston Metropolitan Baptist Ministerial Alliance).

Major sponsors for this virtual event series are Title Sponsor H-E-B, Presenting Sponsor Chevron, and VIP Sponsors Amegy Bank and Cadence Bank.

Next up for this series is the State of Black Texas, featuring Governor Greg Abbott. That date is still pending, but as soon as we know, you’ll know. To register for the final installment of these conversations, go to bit.ly/defenderstateofblack or visit Defendernetwork.com for more info.

Opening Remarks

We’ve been pursuing different legal avenues. We know that a lot of these companies’ fines are capped at a million dollars.

We have our attorneys rushing to the court courthouse, suing for injunctive relief for court orders… We have worked on speeding up our flood control, voting access and reforming the way budgeting is done, so that funds go to where they’re most needed. But then COVID hit and exposed the issues that we already knew were there. The fundamental point that drives us is systemic change, not having programs for the sake that they sound good, but changing the things that sometimes are less exciting to talk about… And so, we’ll keep fighting.

Criminal Justice – Public Defenders

If you’re accused of a crime, which you may not have committed, and you can’t afford your own attorney, the judge will select your attorney. Now, of course, we want to think that the best attorneys are selected, but that’s simply not the case. There was an independent study done. And in fact, the New York Times published an article based on that academic study, a couple of academic studies that showed that when the attorney was selected by the judge, the outcomes were much worse as compared to when the defendant was assigned a public defender… We have stories of the defendants who never heard from their attorney, whose attorney didn’t recognize them in the courthouse. And so, the outcomes that we see unfortunately, is people not having the representation that they deserve, and we know which communities are on the losing side of that. So, for that reason, there’s a system the state created that says that we can do managed assigned council where it’ll be an unbiased way to appoint those attorneys.

Upcoming Election Voting

They’ve tried everything. I mean, they tried voter roll purges last year. We know of ridiculous voter ID laws that we have in the state. We know that they stood in the way of a sending mail ballot applications so that folks who qualified could apply. Now, where the folks that did apply for a mail ballot were planning on dropping off their mail ballot at one of 12 drop-off locations around the county, the state has said we can only have one. And so, the obstacles are clear. They’re disappointing. They’re sad. But we won’t be deterred. And what I want folks to know is that just as the community and these community leaders are working so hard to encourage people to participate, we’re honoring that at the County by making voting as accessible as possible… We have three times the number of early vote locations. We’ve got many, many more election day locations. Of course, people can vote anywhere on election day. We’ve had a beautiful outpouring from the community of sites that we’re using

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

as voting locations from NRG, the Toyota Center, BVBA Stadium, to the University of Houston stadium, the Texas Medical Center. I mean, we have just so many incredible places to add to so we can have socially distanced, safe voting.

Election Administrator

So that’s another area where the research, not just in Texas, but in other counties and other areas around the country has shown that where there’s a nonpartisan independent elections administrator, the elections are run better. Because we have the tax assessor collector doing the registration, and then the County clerk doing the voting piece. They have to keep two sets of rules, which causes, more delays, more time. It’s not as efficient. We know we can do better with an administrator… So, we’re going to hopefully have somebody who can take the reins after the election. Obviously, Chris Hollins is going to get us through this election and he’s been fantastic. And so, it’s a panel that’s Chris Hollins, Tax Assessor/ Collector Harris Bennet, the Democratic Party chair, the Republican Party chair and myself. And so, the five of us are in charge of choosing the best candidate.

Flooding | Hurricane Harvey Repairs

There was a $2.5 billion bond, and that’s good. But when you ask people why $2.5 billion, why wasn’t it more money or less money, that money was just pulled out, you know, for whatever politically expedient reasons. But if you look at really the need of the county in terms of being flood resilient it’s much more than that, into the tens of billions. And so that’s part of what we’re asking, is as we have new detention requirements, as we disperse the money, as quickly as possible, we prioritize the projects in areas that have been underserved that are worst hit first… We’ve reshuffled

or created an order of projects that serves the worst hit communities first and not the wealthiest communities.

Disparity Study Showing Blacks Get Only .o5% of HC Contracts

Number one it’s incredibly disappointing. I mean, we know the importance of economic strength. And to the extent that there’s a community or communities that are behind in that economic power, it sets everybody, it sets that community back in all kinds of areas and it sets that community back for generations… Part of the strategies around increasing MWBs, it’s not a mystery.

They figured this out in other jurisdictions, but some of the things that can be done is breaking up the contracts to give smaller companies the opportunity to apply. It’s having workshops and outreach to proactively involve other than the usual players. Of course, you want competent firms, but to involve them in the application process. And then also it’s that development, that sort of incubation of these businesses to help build them up so that they can compete. So, all of those are strategies that the office is looking into and we’re going to have to implement all of those in the next few months and years to get that stood up.

Coronavirus Impact: Health

It’s putting numbers into decision-making. So, we’re done making a decision based on a feeling or who called us that day.

Where we direct which testing sites we’re going to have, in which neighborhoods they’re going to, we’re looking specifically at the social vulnerability index, at the positivity rate in that area, the degree to which that area is in served by other entities, the degree of their slow insurance rate. And those all track of course, with Black and Brown communities. So that’s what we’re doing to take the guesswork out of test-

We have stories of the defendants who never heard from their attorney, whose attorney didn’t recognize them in the courthouse.

And so, the outcomes that we see unfortunately, is people not having the representation that they deserve, and we know which communities are on the losing side of that.”

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on public defenders

ing… The other thing is the transportation issue. We have a lot of people not showing up to get tested. And we started asking why.

Well, it’s because they don’t have a car and public transit is lacking. So… if somebody needs to get a test from Harris County, but they can’t get there, we’ll go to their home.

We’ll go visit. So that’s some of what we’re doing to really incorporate these disparities into our decision-making process.

Coronavirus Impact: Housing | Evictions

Home ownership, people, renters being able to stay in their homes; that’s a big issue.

That’s at the core of the community being resilient; the core of somebody being able to maintain a business, being able to maintain a home… Initially I had the ability to have a moratorium on evictions and the governor took away that power when he took away the other powers back in late April. So, we need our cities to try and have those evictions moratoriums. I’ve been postponing foreclosures. It’s a small number of homes… so, unfortunately the impact of that, it has an impact, but it’s a limited number of homes.

And then the aid that we’re providing on rental assistance and on direct financial assistance, which has been $40 million of local county dollars, and then over $100 million of the CARES Act dollars for both of those programs, working with the city too.

Go to Defendernetwork.com to hear all of HC Judge Lina Hidalgo’s conversation.

16 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature Ogg: We have worked hard to keep the public informed about the actions we have taken in those case, including releasing several media advisories when it is appropriate After Goines and fellow officer Steven Bryant were charged in 2019, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed dozens of active criminal cases and announced a review of more than 14,000 past cases Goines and other members of his squad had worked on. It’s an ongoing process as we take a deep and wide look at all the work by these officers as well as others.

Defender: Are there any other cases beyond those worked by Goines that you are reviewing (i.e. the Darius Elam case)?

Ogg: While we won’t get into specifics at this time, the DA’s Office reviews all kinds of cases, even years after convictions have occurred.

The DA’s Office most recently agreed with defense lawyers that a defendant (Gilmar Guevara) on death row should have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment because he is intellectually disabled and the Supreme Court has ruled that those who are intellectually disabled can’t be executed. The same was true in 2018 with Bobby James Moore when we sided with the defense and against the court of criminal appeals before prevailing with the U.S. Supreme Court.

HARRIS COUNTY DA KIM OGG: BRYANT, GOINES UPDATE

By Aswad Walker

Defender: Is there any “pre” work (policies) that can be enacted by law enforcement, the courts, etc. to save your office from having to work on the backend to provide restorative justice?

in which an officer has shot a civilian or there is a possible use of excessive force or another crime by an officer. When it comes to officer-involved shootings, we present all the evidence in every instance to a grand jury of citizens to decide if criminal charges are warranted.

Having a district attorney’s office that is independent from police is imperative for justice and to maintain people’s faith in the system.

Ogg: The district attorney’s office must always be independent of police agencies, especially when it comes to instances in which an officer may have violated the law. We independently review all instances

Defender: Regarding the cases worked by former HPD officer Gerald Goines, which cases have you already reviewed and taken action on and what cases are you presently reviewing?

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg reviewed the cases of former HPD officers Steven Bryant and Gerald Goines after they were found guilty of breaking the law.

Defender: What processes/ policies/procedures are needed to best redesign/ reform public safety?

Ogg: There seems to be a rising awareness that law enforcement, specifically police officers, should not be the only response we have to public safety. Public safety can mean civil court injunctions. It can mean increased funding for rapid response for mental health professionals to respond to people in crisis. It can even mean city or county workers who can direct traffic instead of dispatching police officers to do it. There are a lot of ways to re-design what we think of when we talk about public safety. We also have to consider the systemic problems that have existed for generations. One of those problems is employment. We created the Make It Right event, which happens twice a year to help people clear their records and get jobs. Good jobs and employment opportunities are simply the best way to lift up people, lift up neighborhoods and prevent crime.

TIMELINE Jan. 28, 2019: Officers Gerald Goines, Steven Bryant and two other officers serving a “no knock: narcotics warrant, are involved in a botched 2019 raid at a home at 7815 Harding St. where Rhogena Nicholas and her husband Dennis Tuttle were fatally shot, and four officers (including Goines) were shot, but survived. That raid sparked an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office of Goines and other officers in the squad.

Aug. 2019: Goines is charged with murder and tampering with a government record as a result of the botched 2019 raid. Bryant is charged with a count of tampering with a government document.

Nov. 2019: An FBI agent testifies that Goines claim of purchasing heroin from 7815 Harding St was false. This is the first time the public hears in detail the timeline of events that led up to the raid.

Jan. 28, 2020: On the first anniversary of Nicholas’ and Tuttle’s deaths, Nicholas’ family files a federal court motion to prevent the destruction of evidence, and to prevent the permanent sealing of evidence in another case similar to Nicholas’ and Tuttle’s, where they say another unarmed Houstonian was shot to death by a narcotics officer.

Feb. 2020: Ogg concludes that defendants in cases between 2008- 2019 in which Goines played a major role were entitled to a presumption that he provided false evidence to secure their convictions.

Feb. 2020: Prosecutors file motions requesting judges appoint lawyers for 69 individuals so they can begin the process of possibly having their Goines-related convictions overturned.

May 2020: Prosecutors anticipate at least 91 additional drug convictions would soon be overturned.

July 2020: The Texas Supreme Court declares Otis Mallet innocent of a 2008 crime he was arrested and convicted of based on the sole testimony of Goines at Mallet’s initial trial.

Mallet had been sentenced to serve eight years in prison.

Present: Other Goines-related cases are still being investigated by the DA’s Office.

17713-PIPC-EN-PN_HP_Houston_TheDefender_Size-4.79x13-F.pdf

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3:22 PM

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

JP MORGAN CHASE FIGHTS SYSTEMIC RACISM IN BANKING C

M

Y

Associated Press

banks to do more.

Citigroup announced last month it is committing $1 billion toward closing “the racial wealth gap” in the United States, including $550 million toward homeownership programs for racial minorities.

JPMorgan, which has $3.2 trillion in assets, said it expects the $30 billion to help finance 40,000 additional mortgages for Black and Latino households, another 20,000 loans that will refinance mortgages and help construct 100,000 affordable rental units. Additional funds will go to finance 15,000 small business loans to Black and Latino-owned businesses.

There will also be programs to place one million customers in low-cost checking and savings accounts, partly by opening new branches in minority-majority neighborhoods.

Black households are several times more likely to be what is known as unbanked, meaning they do not have a primary checking account with a traditional bank, or underbanked, where households still rely on high-cost financial services like check cashing, pawn shops and payday loans.

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JPMorgan Chase say they will extend billions in loans to Black and Latino homebuyers and small business owners in an expanded effort toward fixing what the bank calls “systemic racism” in the country’s economic system.

The New York bank said it is committing $30 billion over the next five years toward programs that include earmarking more money for getting Black and Latino families into homeownership and providing additional financing to build affordable rental housing units.

“Systemic racism is a tragic part of America’s history,” said JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in a statement. “We can do more and do better to break down systems that have propagated racism and widespread economic inequality.”

In the immediate aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd, JPMorgan announced a commitment of $1.75 billion toward programs they said would help address racial inequalities. But since then, as protests have remained constant in some urban centers, there has been a push for

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18 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

HISD converts to twice-weekly meal distributions Defender News Service

As the Houston Independent School District prepares to resume in-person learning this month, Nutrition Services is transitioning from daily to twice-weekly curbside pickup for student meals and launching two Neighborhood Supersites as part of a weekly community food distribution initiative.

The move to twice-weekly campus-based curbside pickup started Oct. 12 thanks to a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It allows families to pick up several days’ worth of meals at each pickup — three on Mondays and four on Thursdays.

Neighborhood Supersites are designed to provide standing times and locations where the community can pick up 32 pounds of groceries — including produce, dairy and meat — for their families, as well as a week’s worth of student meals.

Family food boxes are available at no

cost to the general public. Student meals are available to any child who is between the ages of 1 and 18 and not engaged in in-person learning. Children must be in the car or families must provide a birth certificate or proof of enrollment in any school district for each child needing meals.

“As we move closer to in-person instruction, we want to ensure our students and families have access to the food they need,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said.

“These changes will help us serve families in a more efficient, impactful way.”

Curbside Pickup

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, campus-based curbside pickup will shift to 2 to 5 p.m. every Monday and Thursday. Meals include breakfast and lunch only until Monday Oct. 19, when snacks and dinner will also begin to be provided.

Visit HoustonISD.org/Student-Meals for details.

Additionally, three select campus-based curbside pickup locations — Sam Houston Math Science and Technology Center and Milby and Chavez high schools — will continue to provide 32-pound family food boxes to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis through a partnership with the Houston Food Bank.

Curbside pickup will also continue daily at a rotating list of apartment complexes, Monday through Friday from 2 to 3 p.m.

Neighborhood Supersites

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14, Nutri-

tion Services will launch two Neighborhood Supersites at Barnett Sports Complex and Jones Cowart Stadium. Both will serve as mass community food distribution sites open every Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and offering family food boxes and student meals.

For more information on student meals and a complete list of student meal and community food pickup times and locations, visit HoustonISD.org/StudentMeals.

Families are encouraged to check the website for temporary closures before going to the distribution location.

October 15, 2020 |

| 19

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

VOTING WITH PURPOSE Defender News Service

During an upcoming interactive informational broadcast with seven esteemed Black leaders will focus on the importance of all voters participating in the upcoming election.

Guests from diverse backgrounds will share research, insights, and experiences that highlight why exercising one’s right to vote is crucial this — and every — election.

The guests are: Bakari Sellers, a CNN analyst and author of a New York Times Best Seller My Vanishing Country: A Memoir.

Susan Smith Richardson, CEO of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit nonpartisan investigative news organization.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), trade association of the Black Press of America.

Kristen Clarke, President & Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the nation.

Leigh M. Chapman, director of the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights- Voting Rights program.

Nolan Williams, Jr., an American composer, producer, music director, innovator, curator, and musicologist.

The hour-long event Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. ET — streaming at WordinBlack.com - is part of a collaboration of 10 publishers of Black newspapers: Houston Defender Network, New York Amsterdam News, Seattle Medium, Baltimore AFRO American, Sacramento Observer, Washington Informer, Atlanta Voice, St. Louis American, Michigan Chronicle, and the Dallas Weekly.

Commenting on the program, Defender publisher Sonny Messiah Jiles said, “This program will reiterate why Black folks need to vote and take advantage of early voting.”

Leading the innovative event are Emmy award-winning producers, Nzinga Christine Blake and Erik Niewiarowski, and fueling the technology is broadcast and streaming viewer engagement partner, Megaphone TV. To register go to: wordinblack.com/ register/

Wes Moore

Bakari Sellers

Leigh Chapman

Susan Smith Richardson

Dr. Benjamin Chavis

Kristen Clarke

Rev. Nolan William Jr.

20 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Business

Comcast assists Black businesses hit by COVID-19 Defender News Service

Black-owned small businesses impacted by COVID-19 could receive assistance from Comcast with their Comcast Rise (“Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment”) initiative, which is designed to help strengthen and empower small businesses hard hit by COVID-19. The multi-faceted program offers grants, marketing and technology upgrades, including media campaigns and connectivity, computer and voice

equipment, as well as free marketing insights to all applicants.

U.S. small businesses have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. A recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the number of U.S. active business owners dropped from 15 million to 11.7 million from February to April. The study cited that Black-owned small businesses were hardest hit, suffering the steepest decline (41 percent), followed by Hispanic and Asian American-owned small businesses.

U.S.-based Black-owned small businesses can apply for marketing and technology support and equipment to jumpstart and help them sustain business operations. In addition, all small businesses are able to sign up for free marketing insights and resources.

“We see and know firsthand how vital small businesses are in powering economic growth, recovery and innovation. Now more than ever, driving awareness and maintaining a strong digital presence are crucial

for these businesses to succeed,” said Teresa Ward-Maupin, SVP for Digital and Customer Experience at Comcast Business. “We created Comcast RISE to give these business owners access to the tools and resources they need to survive the pandemic and thrive.”

In the future, the program aims to expand to other small and diverse business owners. Visit http:// www.ComcastRISE.com for more information on eligibility requirements, and the latest updates.

October 15, 2020 |

| 21

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Business KIM ROXIE

Houston entrepreneur receives coveted grant

By Dominique Talbert

Houston makeup maven, Kim Roxie has received a prestigious honor that will not only boost her business but assist aspiring female entrepreneurs. Roxie was handpicked to take part in The Stacy’s Rise Project, which along with partner Hello Alice, strives to address challenges faced by women who start their own businesses.

The two companies have connected thousands of women from across the country and created an online community with more than 2,000 engaged members. Roxie is one of 15 entrepreneurs selected nationwide who will receive $150,000 in business grants, professional advertising services – including a prominent spotlight on the Stacy’s Amazon e-commerce hub – and executive coaching/mentorship.

Roxie is well known in the Houston Community for her beauty line, LAMIK Beauty. In a Q&A with the Defender, Roxie better explains her journey, accomplishments, and advice to others inspiring to start a business.

Defender: Can you explain more about your involvement with the Stacy’s Rise Project?

Visit Kim Roxie at www.kimroxie.com/ Kim Roxie: I was chosen from hundreds of other businesswomen to become a founder of the Stacy’s Rise Project. I was really happy to be chosen. It includes actual grants, networking with other founders, mentor ship etc. It has been helpful and insightful. Women don’t get the publicity, so it exposes incredible women founders. It feels great to share opportunities with other women, extending that to others.

Defender: What is one of the biggest challenges you face as a Black business?

Roxie: Funding has been an issue. Most

entrepreneurs have to raise money through fundraisers. Women of color only receive 0.2 percent of venture capitalist funding.

Defender: How did you start your business, LAMIK Beauty?

Roxie: I decided I wanted to concen-

trate on my own business and save my money to start a store with my mom’s help.

I started at 21 with a storefront until 2019.

Then I decided to stop and although people

thought I was crazy, I knew I wanted LAMIK Beauty to go digital.

Defender: Have you personally seen a struggle with your business since the Covid 19 outbreak?

Roxie: I can’t work on other people

to apply makeup, which was a huge part of my business.

Defender: What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far?

Roxie: I’m just really grateful.

I am happy my business connects with other people. I’m happy my life has meaning. I’m happy, through our workshops, we can talk to numerous people about starting a business on the KimRoxie.com website.

Defender: What advice would you give young women who strive to start a successful business?

Roxie: Have the right motive and

know the intention in why you’re doing it. Make sure you are clear on that and stay focused. Don’t be afraid of where the journey will take you.

Kim Roxie

Stocks are soaring, most Black people are missing out Associated Press

Black bank One United achieves 100,000 customers OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned internet bank in the country, announced the achievement of a milestone of over 100,000 customers. The Bank credits its social justice activism and its technology platform for its rapid growth.

In 2016 due to the spate of murders of Black men, rapper and activist Killer Mike urged Black America to move their money to a Black-owned bank, spawning the #BankBlack movement. After the 2020 murder of George Floyd, #BankBlack saw another surge.

“Our customer base continues to grow rapidly, and we have expanded access and now have over 100,000 locations to better meet their needs. Importantly, we’re on our way to fulfilling Black America’s long-held dream of organizing our spending power to create social and economic equality in our society,” says Teri Williams, President & COO of OneUnited Bank.

Americans who own stocks are pulling further away from those who don’t, as Wall Street roars back to record heights while much of the economy struggles. And Black households are much more likely to be in that not-as-fortunate group that isn’t in the stock market.

Many reasons are behind the split. Experts say chief among them is a longstanding preference by many Black investors for safer places to put their money — the legacy, some say, of decades of discrimination and fear. Also, many were never taught what they were missing out on.

“We didn’t have a grandfather or aunt or uncle or mom and dad educating us on the markets because they didn’t benefit from it because of historical discrimination in this country,” said John Rogers, founder and co-CEO of Ariel Investments.

Black people have also often lacked the opportunity to build up wealth, park it in the market and watch it grow over time. In general, they have lower incomes, which leaves less money to invest after paying bills.

Many also work jobs that don’t offer retirement plans like a 401(k).

Researchers say increased investment by racial minorities in the stock market, carried through future generations, could help narrow the wealth gap. Toward that end, industry groups are trying to encourage more Black people to become financial planners, who could then draw in potential investors.

Instead of stocks, wealthier Black households are

more likely to own safer investments, such as bonds, life insurance or real estate, said Tatjana Meschede, associate director at Brandeis University’s Institute on Assets and Social Policy.

The largest bond fund has returned less than 40% over the last decade. That’s far below the nearly 257% that the largest stock fund has delivered over the same time.

STOCK Real estate has also had slower OWNERS gains.

Malcolm Ethridge, a financial adviser in the Washington area, Black regularly sees a reluctance to invest in stocks among Black people with enough money to do so.

White “Blacks tend not to trust things *Federal that are not tangible because of our reserve 2019 history in this country and things being taken away,” Ethridge said.

“It gets passed on to you from generation to generation: to only trust and believe in things you can actually touch.

A house, I can put my hands on that and believe in that, whereas a stock is just whatever someone else tells me it’s worth, and I just have to take your word for it.”

“There isn’t a passing down of knowledge from generation to generation,” said Rogers, who founded Ariel Investments in 1983. “It’s the opposite of what I hear from Warren Buffett about the magic of compound interest and how much wealth has been created since he was born. Those kinds of stories don’t happen in Black communities.”

33.5% 61%

22 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Business QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Kerrick Henny was named the new Chief Government and Public Relations Officer for the Port of Houston.

Weigh in on twitter

Q:

“Greatest Video Game Of All Time?” a. Grand Theft Auto b. Call of Duty c. NBA2k d. Madden e. Other (Specify in Comments)

CEO explains how Blacks can tap into eSports, gaming

By Jodie B. Jiles

The eSports and gaming industries have forever been a part of entertainment for Black children and adults across America, and today the billion-dollar industry has created revenue streams for teenagers to become millionaires as eSports players and/ or game developers. Yet, despite our growing market as consumers of these products, we are barely even represented as designers, players, or organizers.

To address this issue, the Defender spoke to one of Houston’s own long-standing game developers in the game, Dennis Mathews, CEO of Revelation Interactive LLC. Matthews is an avid programmer who has over 15 years of experience coding games, websites, hardware and custom business applications.

Defender: Talk to us about your background?

Mathews: I went to school to be an aerospace engineer and came home a

Teaching kids coding is a way to set them up for success in life.

There are so many reasons why programming helps kids learn problem solving and how to think conceptionally, creatively and computationally.

Dennis Mathews, CEO of Revelation Interactive LLC

game developer. I have always been one to dabble in games and tech, and being a game developer seemed to be the perfect mix of both worlds for me. I started out with an associate’s degree from Full Sail University when they first started their game degree at the time. Over the last 20 years I have made games, websites, hardware, business applications, and augmented/virtual reality. I have worked in game development, digital media, comic, film, airline, casino, healthcare, government as well as the oil and gas industries.

Defender: What are some of the trends you foresee in the gaming industry and how can black people get into the technologies?

Mathews: Like in all media content is king and diversity of content is growing demand for all media.

I also see a bigger demand for augmented and virtual reality content. Networking is always my first answer to how to get into the gaming development industry. The game development industry is a skill based one and

Fortnite

communication amongst your peers and potential employers/coworkers is important. After that, it comes down to showcasing your skills and building a high-quality portfolio. There are professional engines like Unity and Unreal that are opening the doors for independent development at high quality levels that get you use to working with professional production level tools.

Defender: Explain some of the barriers you had to face in the industry and how were you able to overcome those barriers?

Mathews: The first barrier I had to cross started when I was in school and I decided I did not want to be an aerospace engineer and wanted to switch to game development. Education for game development 20 years ago was basically non-existent and the issue that video games generally still suffer from the label of not being a “proper job” to a lot of people including my parents at the time. Luckily for me, I was head-strong.

I did what I wanted to do. But not many people can escape family pressure. Next, I had to learn the importance of networking and communication as the industry is small and feels like everyone knows everyone, even more so when you are a developer of color. Finally, burn out is real in this industry as it is constantly evolving. So being both willing and able to learn and keep up with the latest technology and practices is essential.

Defender: How do you think we can get today’s black youth involved in the future of gaming?

Mathews: Kids today are growing up in a digital world and examples of coding can be found all around them directly or indirectly.

Keeping that in mind, the best way for me has always been about presenting them with a project that has relevance to them. Giving them a chance to build or do something tangible that they can showcase to their friends or to the world. There are games, apps, books, camps, classes, and competitions to grab and keep the interest of today’s youth.

Defender: How important is coding for kids today?

Mathews: Teaching kids coding is a way to set them up for success in life. There are so many reasons why programming helps kids learn problem solving and how to think conceptionally, creatively, and computationally. The demand for programming is only increasing as more and more businesses rely on technology as a backbone of their business. Learning to code at a young age prepares them for the future, helping with communication, creativity, math, writing, and confidence.

I would recommend tools like Scratch, Alice and Tynker, or games like CodeCombat, Minecraft, or Roblox. With tools from Scratch and Unity there are tools for all age ranges and skill levels to assist in their coding development journey.

Defender: What is being done to create more diversity in the gaming industry and eSports?

Mathews: The first is getting more leads of color in the industry so that decisions are being made by a more diverse voice. There are organizations like Black In Game and the International Game Developer Association that are making moves to improve diversity and inclusion.

They are working on solutions that include initiatives on education, content, business, and advocacy. With PC and eSports it starts with the foundation of accessibility of better hardware and internet speeds to stay competitive on the PC side.

October 15, 2020 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Obituary Monica Roberts, Houston transgender journalist, dies at 58 Journalist and transgender but also shared the accomactivist Monica Roberts died plishments within the trans recently at the age of community, according 58, according to the to “Out” magazine.

Harris County Roberts is a Medical ExamBlack transiner. Authorities gender woman believe she was born in Housthe victim of a ton in 1962. She hit and run. graduate f rom Roberts was Jones High School the creator of the Monica Roberts in 1980 and then award-winning blog, Trans- graduated the University of Griot, which has been cover- Houston in 1984. ing the trans community since The TransGriot originally 2006. Roberts and her blog has started as a column in 2004. gained notoriety for the covRoberts is a Black transgenering of trans issues, setting der woman born in Houston the standard for how to post- in 1962. She graduate from humously identify and tell the Jones High School in 1980 and stories of transgender people. then graduated the University T h e G L A A D Me d i a of Houston in 1984.

Award-winning blog not only The TransGriot originally covered the violence against, started as a column in 2004.

Joe Morgan, former Johnny Nash, singing Astros star dies at 77 icon, dies at 80 Joe Morgan, the Hall-of- a 10-time All-Star and won Fame second baseman five Gold Gloves. A who started his 5-foot-7 dynamo career in Housknown for flapton and later ping his left became the elbow at the sparkplug of plate, Little the Cincinnati Joe could hit a Reds’ Big Red home run, steal Machine and the a base and disrupt prototype for base- Joe Morgan any game with his ball’s artificial turf daring. era, has died. He was 77.

Most of all, he comHe died at his home Oct. p l e t e d C i n c i n n a t i ’s 11 in Danville, Califor- two-time World Series nia, after suffering from a championship team, drivnerve condition, a form of ing a club featuring the polyneuropathy. likes of Pete Rose, Johnny Morgan’s death marked Bench and Tony Perez to the latest among major- back-to-back titles. league greats this year: He spent the 1980 season Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson, with Houston, helping the Lou Brock, Tom Seaver and Astros to a NL West title.

Al Kaline.

Morgan was inducted Morgan was a two-time into baseball’s Hall of Fame NL Most Valuable Player, in 1990.

Family, friends and crooner, co-owner of a music industry icons record company and a recently celebrated the rare American-born life of international reggae singer who recording artist Johnny was among the first Nash who died of nat- artists to introduce ural causes on Oct. 6. reggae to AmeriThough best known can audiences. Nash for his hit single “I Can was in his 30s before See Clearly Now,” Nash he released his milwrote for and champi- lion-selling anthem “I oned the careers of sev- Can See Clearly Now” eral other artists in 1972, a song including he reportthe legendedly wrote ar y Bob while Marley. recoverAfter retiring from ing from cataract the music surgery.

Johnny Nash industry, Nash is Nash became survived by a life-long resident of his wife Carlie Nash Houston. and two children, his Nash’s several show son Johnny Nash Jr. business lives included and daughter Monica being a mid-1950s pop Nash.

Coronavirus relief, Affordable healthcare, Building our economy back, Racial justice.

Cast your vote for Democrats up and down the ballot. Go vote early October 13 through October 30 – or on Election Day, November 3.

Visit MyTexasVotes.com or call 1-844-TX-VOTES to find where to cast your ballot or if you have any voting questions.

Paid for by the Texas Democratic Party, www.texasdemocrats.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

24 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

It’s time to at any polling place in Harris County.

Harris County Early Voting Locations

Early Voting Hours of Operation October 13 - 17: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

October 18: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

October 19 - 24: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

October 25: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

October 26: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

October 27-29: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. * 24 hour voting on 10.29 October 30: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. * Drive thru voting location

1. *NRG Arena - Hall D 1 NRG Pkwy, Houston, 77054 2. *John P McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons - 1st Floor, Food Court 6550 Bertner Avenue, Houston, 77030 3. Rice University 2050 University, Houston, 77005 4. Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, 77004 5. Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church - Gymnasium 3810 Ruth Street, Houston, 77004 6. University of Houston - The Student Center South, Room 220 F & D & B 4455 University Drive, Houston, TX 77004 7. Neighborhood Centers Inc Ripley House Campus - Gym 4410 Navigation Boulevard, Houston, 77011 8. *Toyota Center - VIP A and B 1510 Polk Street, Houston, 77002 9. County Attorney Conference Center - Conference Room 1019 Congress Avenue, Houston, 77002 10. Metropolitan MultiService Center - MMSL AR 1&2 and gym 1475 West Gray Street, Houston, 77019 11. *HCC West Loop South - Auditorium 5601 West Loop South, Houston, 77081 12. Hampton Inn Galleria - Uptown Room 4500 Post Oak Parkway, Houston, 77027 13. Hampton Inn and Suites - Bayou City Ballroom 5820 Katy Freeway, Houston, 77007 14. West End Multi Service Center - Auditorium Building 3 170 Heights Boulevard, Houston, 77007 15. *Resurrection Metropolitan Comm. Church - Classrooms 106 & 108 2025 West 11th Street, Houston, 77008 16. SPJST Lodge Num 88 - Ballroom 1435 Beall Street, Houston, 77008 17. Moody Park Community Center - Meeting room 3725 Fulton Street, Houston, 77009 18. *Kashmere MultiService Center - Auditorium 4802 Lockwood Drive, Houston, 77026 19. *Houston Food Bank - Community Room 535 Portwall Street, Houston, 77029 20. HCC Southeast College Building C Parking Garage - Room 108 6960 Rustic Street, Houston, 77087 21. Shrine of The Black Madonna Cultural and Event Ctr - Main Floor 5309 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, 77021 22. Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport - Pasadena Room 9100 Gulf Freeway, Houston, 77017 23. BakerRipley Cleveland Neighborhood Center - Gym 720 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, 77504 24. Iglesia Una Luz en Tu Camino - Meeting Room 9045 Howard Drive, Houston, 77017 25. * John Phelps Courthouse - Training Room 101 South Richey Street, Pasadena, 77506 26. Alvin D Baggett Community Center - Conference Room 2 1302 Keene Street, Galena Park, 77547 27. Milton Lusk Activity Center - Basketball Court 1022 Mercury Drive, Houston, 77029 28. Harris County Cultural Arts Center 13334 Wallisville Road, Houston, 77044 29. C E King Middle School 8530 C E King Parkway, Houston, 77044 30. Northeast Multi Service Center - Auditorium 9720 Spaulding Street, Houston, 77016 31. HCC North Forest Campus - Community Room 6010 Little York Road, Houston, 77016 32. Anclamars W Reception Hall A - Hall A 10330 Eastex Fwy, Houston, 77093 33. Holiday Inn Intercontinental Airport Hotel 15222 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, 77032 34. BakerRipley East Aldine Campus - Reunion Hall Welcome Center 3000 Aldine Mail Route Road, Houston, 77039 35. Hardy Street Senior Citizens Center - Auditorium 11901 West Hardy Road, Houston, 77076 36. Clark Park Community Center - Main MultiPurpose Room 9718 Clark Road, Houston, 77076 37. * Victory Houston - Large Worship Area 809 West Road, Houston, 77038

38. Acres Homes Multi Service Center - Auditorium 6719 West Montgomery Road, Houston, 77091 39. Lone Star College Victory Center - VC 102 and VC 120 4141 Victory Drive, Houston, 77088 40. The Grand Tuscany Hotel - The Plaza 12801 Northwest Freeway, Houston, 77040 41. Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel - Magnolia Room 3000 North Loop West Freeway, Houston, 77092 42. Crowne Plaza Houston Galleria - Laurel Ballroom 7611 Katy Freeway, Houston, 77024 43. Trini Mendenhall Community Center - Large auditorium 1414 Wirt Road, Houston, 77055 44. First Congregational Church - Assembly Room 10840 Beinhorn Road, Houston, 77024 45. John Knox Presbyterian Church - Education Building Classroom 11 2525 Gessner Road, Houston, 77080 46. Masjid El Farooq 1207 Conrad Sauer Drive, Houston, 77043 47. *Tracy Gee Community Center - Room 1 and 2 3599 Westcenter Drive, Houston, 77042 48. Unity of Houston Annex - Annex 2819 Hillcroft Street, Houston, 77057 49. Bayland Park Community Center - Auditorium 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, 77074 50. Raindrop Turkish House - Ballroom 9301 West Bellfort Boulevard, Houston, 77031 51. The Power Center - Green Room 12401 South Post Oak Road, Houston, 77045 52. Kingdom Builders Center - Great Room 6011 West Orem Drive, Houston, 77085 53. Hiram Clarke Multi Service Center - Auditorium 3810 West Fuqua Street, Houston, 77045 54. J J Roberson Family Life Center - Gym 4810 Redbud, Houston, 77033 55. Sunnyside Multi Service Center - Auditorium 9314 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, 77051 56. Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church - Parish Hall 10960 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, 77048 57. El Franco Lee Community Center - Auditorium 9500 Hall Road, Houston, 77089 58. Harris County Scarsdale Annex - Room D 10851 Scarsdale Boulevard, Houston, 77089 59. MultiCultural Center - Banquet Halls 951 Tristar Drive, Webster, 77598 60. Forest Bend Homeowners Association Inc - Main room 4300 Laura Leigh Lane, Friendswood, 77546 61. Pipers Meadow Community Center - Community Center 15920 Pipers View Drive, Webster, 77598 62. Webster Civic Center 311 Pennsylvania Avenue, Webster, 77598 63. Clear Lake Islamic Center - Community Hall 17511 El Camino Real, Houston, 77058 64. University of Houston Clear Lake - Garden Room 2700 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, 77058 65. * East Harris County Activity Center - Big Room 7340 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, 77505 66. La Porte Recreation and Fitness Center - Senior Center 1322 South Broadway, La Porte, 77571 67. Lee College - Gymnasium 200 Lee Drive, Baytown, 77520 68. Coady Baptist Church - Fellowship Hall 5606 Wade Road, Baytown, 77521 69. San Jacinto Community Center - Meeting Room 604 Highland Woods Drive, Highlands, 77562 70. Martin Flukinger Community Center - Large Assembly Room 16003 Lorenzo Street, Channelview, 77530 71. North Channel Branch Library - Meeting Room 15741 Wallisville Road, Houston, 77049 72. Crosby Community Center - Large Assembly Room 409 Hare Road, Crosby, 77532 73. Lake Houston Church of Christ - Fellowship Hall [Sunday: 12:00 - 6:00 pm] 8003 Farmingham Road, Humble, 77346 74. Kingwood Community Center - Auditorium 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, 77345

October 15, 2020 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Events Upcoming virtual events

By Aswad Walker

UH Race and Social Justice Lecture Webinars, Oct. 21, 6 p.m.

The UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) is hosting the Race and Social Justice Lecture series featuring Dr. Martha Jones, noted African American historian and Professor of History at The Johns Hopkins University. The theme of the lecture is “Vanguard, When Black Women Led the Fight for Voting Rights.” To register, visit http://uhouston.imodules.com/classrsj1020.

HMH to Host Free Virtual Lecture Series on Dismantling Bias, Oct 21, 6pm – 7pm Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) will host this virtual lecture series presented by H-E-B starting on Oct 21 and culminating on Dec 2. Led by renowned historians, authors and activists, the free programs will explore the origins of racist ideologies and the construction of bias, examine the evolution and repercussions of antisemitism and white supremacy throughout history and deconstruct the ways in which stereotypes, misconceptions and prejudices

CLASSIFIED

shape contemporary society. The event is free but registration is required at https://hmh.org/ events.

COVID-19 and the Eviction Crisis Virtual Event, Oct 21, 6pm The Texas Observer hosts this virtual event examining the ongoing eviction crisis in Texas.

Judge Jeremy Brown, who oversees eviction court proceedings in Harris County and others, will join the Texas Observer’s executive editor and housing reporter Megan Kimble to discuss how evictions are being filed and carried out statewide, the impact on renters and steps to take if facing eviction. Tickets available via texasobserver.org are available for $5 which will count as a tax-deductible donation to the Texas Observer, a 501(c)3 non-profit publication.

Leading Houston Forward with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Oct 28, 12noon – 1pm YES Prep Public Schools hosts this event featuring guest speaker, the renowned Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, America’s leading scholar on anti-racism and author of the best-selling book, How to Be an Antiracist. The event will recognize Debra and Mark Gregg with the Chris Barbic Legacy Award.

Harris County Early Voting Locations Page 2

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPE INFILL The Houston Downtown Management District (the “Downtown District”) will receive sealed bids for Downtown Landscape Infill project located in Downtown Houston, Texas. Bids will be received until 11:00 AM, local time on Thursday, November 12, 2020, by the Construction Manager of the Downtown District.

Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Bids are to be delivered to 1313 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002.

Beginning October 13, 2020 documents will be available at www.civcastusa.com.

An ONLINE MANDATORY Pre-proposal Conference will be held at 2:00 PM on October 20, 2020. All bidders are invited to attend.

Due to COVID-19 and the District’s safety protocol, all potential bidders who intend to participate in the pre-proposal conference and submit bids are required to register their intention by 2:00 PM on October 19, 2020 by email to Dusty McCartney, Construction Manager at dusty@downtowndistrict.org. Potential bidders are to provide Company Name, Address, and Phone plus two (maximum) Representative Names, Titles, Email Addresses and Cell Phone Numbers. All bidders who register in advance of the pre-proposal conference will receive a calendar invitation providing access to the online meeting venue. Bids will be ruled non-responsive if received from a company who did not have a representative attend the pre-proposal conference.

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* 24 hour voting on 10.29 * Drive thru voting location

93. City Jersey Village Municipal Government Center - Civic Center Auditorium 16327 Lakeview Drive, Houston, 77040 94. Saint John Lutheran Church and School - Gym 15235 Spring Cypress Road, Cypress, 77429 75. Humble Civic Center - Ballrooms 2 and 3 95. * Juergens Hall Community Center - Dance Hall 8233 Will Clayton Pkwy, Humble, 77338 26026 Hempstead Highway, Cypress, 77429 76. Lone Star College North Harris - YMCA Building 96. Hockley Community Center 2700 W W Thorne Drive, Houston, 77073 28515 Old Washington Road, Hockley, 77447 77. Green House International Church - Church 97. Lakeland Activity Center - Sandpiper Room and Crane 200 West Greens Road, Houston, 77067 16902 Bridgeland Landing, Cypress, TX 77433 78. New Destiny Praise and Worship Center - Main Room Worship 98. John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center 4170 West Greens Road, Houston, 77066 9950 Katy Hockley Road, Cypress, 77433 [Sunday, October 18: 1:00 - 7:00 pm] 99. Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center - Room 300 79. Fairfield Inn and Suites NW Willowbrook 8440 Greenhouse Road, Cypress, 77433 Fairfield Ranch Mtg room 100. ISGH Bear Creek Community Center - Community Center 10825 North Gessner, Houston, 77064 17250 Coventry Park Drive, Houston, 77084 80. Fallbrook Church - Brooks Sports Gym 101. Katherine Tyra Branch Library - Meeting Room 12512 Walters Road, Houston, 77014 16719 Clay Road, Houston, 77084 81. Prairie View A&M University Northwest - Room 107 102. Lone Star College Cypress Center - Room 105, 106, 107 9449 Grant Road, Houston, 77070 19710 Clay Road, Katy, 77449 82. Big Stone Lodge - Grand Hall 103. Morton Ranch High School - PAC Lobby 709 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring, 77373 21000 Franz Road, Katy, 77449 83. Spring First Church - Youth Center [Sunday: 1:00 - 7:00 pm] 104. James E Taylor High School - Auditorium Lobby 1851 Spring Cypress Road, Spring, 77388 20700 Kingsland Boulevard, Katy, 77450 84. Hosanna Lutheran Church - Fellowship Hall Room 5 105. Harris County MUD 81 Building - Great Room 16526 Ella Blvd, Houston, 77090 805 Hidden Canyon Road, Katy, 77450 85. Church of Christ on Bammel Road - Kaleo Building 106. Katy Branch Harris County Public Library - Meeting room 2700 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, 77068 5414 Franz Road, Katy, 77493 86. HCPL Barbara Bush Branch - Multipurpose Room 107. Encourager Church - Gym 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, 77379 10950 Katy Freeway, Houston, 77043 87. Masjid AlSalam 108. Nottingham Park Building - Meeting room 16700 Old Louetta Road, Spring, 77379 926 Country Place Drive, Houston, 77079 88. Lakewood Residents Club - Dance floor 109. HCC Alief Hayes Campus - Building C, 194 WHI Auditorium 15006 Lakewood Forest Drive, Houston, 77070 2811 Hayes Road, Houston, 77082 89. Klein Multipurpose Center - Room 402 (South Entrance of Building C) 7500 FM 2920, Spring, 77379 110. Mission Bend Islamic Center 90. Lone Star College Creekside - Room 116 6233 Tres Lagunas, Houston, 77083 8747 West New Harmony Trail, Tomball, 77375 111. Alief Regional Library 91. Samuel Matthews Park Community Center 7979 South Kirkwood Road, Houston, 77072 1728 East Hufsmith Road, Tomball, 77375 112. Houston Community College Alief Center - Room 157 92. Tomball Public Works Building - Training Room 13803 Bissonnet St, Houston, 77083 501B James Street, Tomball, 77375

26 | October 15, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports Texans receiver Will Fuller V’s 19-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter gives him 19 career touchdown receptions in his four-year career.

Rockets guard Russell Westbrook left an $8,000 tip for the housekeeping staff at Disney World’s Grand Floridian Hotel when he left the NBA Bubble.

FOOTBALL

TEXANS, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE CANDIDATES

By Terrance Harris

The Texans seemingly got a jump on the rest of the NFL last week when the team unceremoniously fired Bill O’Brien as head coach and general manager.

But almost as quickly as the team could name longtime defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as the interim head coach, names of potential successors to O’Brien quickly popped up. Not surprisingly, many of the usual suspects popped up: New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Baltimore Ravens’ Greg Roman, Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

As usual, the lists come up short when

it comes to potential African-American coaching candidates who could be good fits for the Texans opening.

The only African-American candidate that continually comes up is Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose name always seems to pop up, but he has yet to land a head coaching job despite winning a Super Bowl last season and leading one of the top offenses.

The Defender has put together a list of strong potential head coaching candidates the Texans could choose from.

Sports Briefs UH COOGS RECEIVER HONORED It may have taken the University of Houston Cougars forever to play their first game, but it didn’t take long for star receiver Marquez Stevenson to nab his first American Athletic Marquez Conference Stevenson Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Stevenson received the recognition after catching five passes for 118 yards and one touchdown in the Coogs’ first game of the season last week against Tulane. He now has nine 100-yard receiving games for his career.

LUE INTERVIEWS FOR ROCKETS’ JOB

ERIC BIENIEMY

JIM CALDWELL

BYRON LEFTWICH

KEN NORTON, JR.

Age: 51

Age: 65

Age: 40

Age: 54

Experience: Offensive coordinator of the Chiefs since 2018 and was also the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, the University of Colorado, from 2011-12.

Experience: Has been the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions and also was the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.

Experience: Is the current offensive coordinator of the Tampa Buccaneers and former quarterbacks coach for the Arizona Cardinals from 2017-2018.

What makes him a good candidate for the Texans: The Texans are believed to be most interested in a coach who is a quarterback guru and can help develop their most valued asset, quarterback Deshaun Watson. Bieniemy has been instrumental in developing Patrick Mahomes into an MVP-caliber quarterback and Super Bowl champion.

What makes him a good candidate for the Texans: In addition to being an experienced head coach, Caldwell was part of two Super Bowl winning staffs, having won in 2006 as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach of the Colts and then as the offensive coordinator of the Ravens in 2012. Caldwell was future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning’s head coach for many years.

What makes him a good candidate for the Texans: Since his playing career ended, the former quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars has put together quite the coaching resume.

Leftwich has learned under offensive guru Bruce Arians and this year is coaching future Hall-ofFame quarterback Tom Brady.

Experience: Norton is the current defensive coordinator of the Settle Seahawks and he was the defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders from 2015-2017.

What makes him a good candidate for the Texans: While the Texans are believed to be looking for an offensive-minded coach, Norton is the definition of toughness which the Texans seem to need. His defenses are aggressive and attacking.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Championship-winning coach Tyronn Lue made his way to Houston this week to interview for the Rockets vacant job. Lue’s name has also Tyronn Lue been mentioned in connection with openings in Los Angeles (Clippers), Indianapolis and New Orleans.

CRENNEL NOTCHES ONE FOR SENIORS Last week, Texans interim head coach Romeo Crennel became the oldest head coach in NFL history at 73 years old. So it stood to reason that when the Texans won their first game of the Romeo season last week Crennel the longtime defensive coordinator also earned the distinction of the oldest NFL coach to win a game.

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

Kendric Rhymes A STAR IN THE MAKING

By Jodie B. Jiles

Heights may be the sleeper team out of Houston Independent School District (HISD) after kicking the regular season off with a 62-6 win over Westbury. Leading the way for the Bulldogs is none other than their senior captain running back Kendric Rhymes. As a junior, the three-star Utah State University commit was a gamer scoring 9 touchdowns (7 rushing, 2 receiving). Then this season, it is apparent Rhymes is on a mission to take his game to the next level. Rhymes kicked off his 2020 campaign scoring three touchdowns against Westbury in the first quarter, along with a punt return touchdown in the second quarter that was called back and would have given him four first half scores. By halftime fans in the Westbury stands could be heard saying, and ABOUT I quote “I need to get his autograph after this game”.

When Heights head coach Stephen Dixon was asked KENDRIC what Rhymes added to his team as the guy this year, Dixon RHYMES Twitter: stated.

“He has a great attitude and his teammates elected him keno_datman as a captain which speaks volumes for him. He is NFL Players He a kid that plays with passion every single play, Studies: Christian McCaffery, every single snap. And he brings that fire Alvin Kamara, every time we play.”

DeAndre Hopkins, The Defender spoke with Rhymes after Odell Beckam Jr. Heights defeated Westbury to discuss his Hobbies: Play style of play, leadership and approach to basketball and winning his one-on-one matchups in chill with friends Favorite Artists: the open field.

Defender: How would you describe your style of play?

Rhymes: “I like to play like New

Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara because I can run at receiver and run out of the backfield. I can do it all.”

NBA Youngboy, Rod Wave and Lil Baby Shoutouts: Coach Phillips at Utah State because you know I am coming next year. Go Aggies!

Defender: With 3 touchdowns in the first quarter, what was your mindset coming in?

Rhymes: “They couldn’t keep us locked in. Ya’ll heard how dogs can’t

be locked in too long. They let us out and I just had to unleash. They let me go.”

Defender: What is your approach to breaking defenders down in the open field?

Rhymes: “Anybody that is in front of me I feel you cannot guard me.

You got to prove it to me because you just can’t stay in front of me.”

Defender: Key to winning moving forward?

Rhymes: “We have some great momentum with the win that we had

against Westbury and hopefully we can transfer that over to next week and do the same thing. My teammates picked me as the captain of the team and I am just trying to led them to the promise land. It is going to take a lot of hard work and dedication. A lot of blood, sweat and tears that nobody else can see. And as you can see on the scoreboard hard work pays off.”

Defender: Why do you think Utah State is the perfect fit?

Rhymes: “They showed a lot of interest in me. The coach that recruited

me showed up three times and the fourth time he came down he brought his Offensive Coordinator. Plus, they have a lot of seniors leaving and I have a chance to come in and prove I can play as a true freshman.”

For photos and game highlights visit IG @Defenderhighschoolsports

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DEFENDER NETWORK

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