Houston Defender: October 22, 2020

Blacks determined to make their votes count.

NEWS

SPOTLIGHT

RAY SHACKELFORD

STEPHANIE PAIGE

New additions have been named to the Texas Southern Board of Regents.

Volume 89, issue 52 October 22, 2020

This civic leader is focused on big priorities in the Black community: the 2020 Census and voting.

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2 | October 22, 2020 |

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DN On the web

FIT & FINE Joseph Whitfield Age: 38 Occupation: Medical Insurance Specialist Motto: “Solving one piece of the puzzle every day adds to the bigger picture.”

I LOVE… Working out because it’s something I can control in a world where so much is out of our control.

Ice Cube, co-founder of the Big 3, 3-on-3 basketball league. (AP photo)

Message From the Associate Editor funding HBCUs, criminal justice reform, Ice Cube has been in the news more over fighting voter suppression, reparations, the the past week than at any point during his environment, etc. multiple careers. Folk are taking heated But voting doesn’t mean we’re placing our positions, either defending the former NWA future in some “savior” outside of ourselves. member or dissing him for “working with” It’s a step towards recognizing the power we the Trump administration in the production possessed all along, and flexing it “for us, of their Platinum Plan—that fake-a$$ Gucci by us!” To hold elected officials accountthe GOP is trying to get Blackfolks to buy. able. To make sure Blackfolk running for I believe Ice Cube was sincere in trying office don’t punk Black media by spending to get these political parties to do right by all their advertising dollars with the “mainAswad Walker us, offering up the “Contract with Black stream” because they “expect” Black papers America” plan to both sides. And as T.I. to pub them for free. To put an end to Hollysaid on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Democrats’ wood whitewashing African history over and over again, i.e.

“We’ll get back with you” response sounded like they were Charlton Heston, Christian Bale and now Gal Gadot playing treating Blackfolk like a sidepiece. T.I. further said, Team Egyptians and Hebrews.

Trump then politicized the opening Ice Cube gave them, Voting is a move to take our magic back. But not just votand did with him what they did with Steve Harvey, Jim ing. As Lovecraft Country reminds us (especially the season Brown and Ray Lewis—use them like a $2… Hold up. finale), when we work with our ancestors and use the skills, Ice Cube’s sincerity aside, why he’d believe anything Trump intelligence and passions the Almighty has placed in each promised is beyond me. Trump’s life philosophy is, “say any- of us, like Leti we will say to those who try to play us, “Too thing, promise anything,” to get over on folk. And you best late. All the magic is ours!” believe, if Team Biden hadn’t been so stupid, and actually engaged in conversation with Ice Cube, owner of an entire IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER sports league, the Republicans would have politicized that • Author ReShonda Tate Billingsley writes the book on voter too. They’d be blaring “F*** the Police” 24/7 on Fox News suppression and using it crucify Cube and further paint the Dems as • The GHBC’s Pinnacle Awards nominees have been anti-police. One thing’s for sure: you can’t win for losing announced. waiting on “white folks” to save you.

• Millennial Ray Shackleford speaks on the 2020 Census, voting and social action.

TO CUBE OR NOT TO CUBE

IG: @datboijoe82 Read more on Friday about Joseph at defendernetwork.com If you are Fit & Fine email: fitnfine@defendernetwork.com

TAKING OUR MAGIC BACK

Which is why voting matters now more than ever. Neither political party is perfect. But one is trying to re-enslave us, and the other has literally championed every issue important to the Blacks, if not on the national stage, at least locally.

I’m talking education, healthcare, raising minimum wage,

ON THE WEB

• Diddy launches Black political party.

• Mayor Turner announces reopen guidelines for churches.

• Outrage boils after video captures arrest of pregnant Black woman.

October 22, 2020 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News UH has established the Rev. William A. Lawson Social Justice Scholarship Endowment, honoring the legacy of the Houston civil rights icon.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was honored with the Lisa C. Brunch Woman of the Year Award for her work on violence against women. She also received the NNPA National Leadership Award.

District B gets a runoff date Defender News Service

Residents of District B will finally be able to elect their new city councilmember, which has been long overdue since the result of the general election, that took place on Nov. 5, 2019. That election was contested, leaving front-runner Tarsha Jackson, the second-place finisher Cynthia Bailey, and residents in limbo. The 269th District Court has confirmed that Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, will be the runoff election.

This decision brings an end to the thirdplace candidate’s (Renee Jefferson-Smith) judicially challenging the election results by alleging that the second-place candidate was ineligible to run for office due

to a previous felony conviction. Filings of appeals by the third-place candidate left District B residents without an elected representative for over half a year.

The appellate ruling found that Jefferson-Smith did not sufficiently establish Cynthia Bailey’s ineligibility, and now paves the way for the two top vote-getters from November 2019, Jackson and Bailey, to be on the ballot.

On Jan. 28, 2020, Special Judge Grant Dorfman ruled against the filing and ordered the runoff election between Jackson and her opponent be held on May 2.

However, due to an order by Governor Abbott, Texas municipalities could push their May elections to Nov. 3, due to the

Tarsha Jackson, Cynthia Bailey and Renee Jefferson-Smith for Houston City Council District B.

COVID-19 pandemic.

Later in the summer, a district judge ruled the city was not responsible to declaring Jackson’s opponent ineligible before the election, so she remained on the ballot. Finally, on August 11, the First Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision to hold the runoff election for District B, putting an end to the

challenger’s judiciary objection.

“I’m happy that the District B election is moving forward and that the residents can elect their new City Council representative,” said first-place finisher Tarsha Jackson. “I am also happy to continue to stand with District B voters to ensure that everyone has their voices heard through the democratic process of voting.”

Texas is on the cusp of another COVID-19 surge Defender News Service

A person is transported into the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston after going through testing for COVID-19 back in March. AP/David J. Phillip

Cases of COVID-19 in parts of Texas surged to near catastrophic levels this summer as some hospitals were forced to put beds in hallways, intensive care units exceeded capacity and health officials struggled to stem the tide of the virus.

After peaking in late July and August, cases fell and leveled off in September, and the state’s seven-day positivity rate — or the proportion of positive tests — reached its lowest point since early June.

But health officials are now eyeing a worrying trend. New infections are rising again, and the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is also ticking upward. The latest numbers from the state show 2,273 new cases, and the seven-day average was up by 862 from the previous week. At least 4,319 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, far below the more than 10,000 in July, but that number has steadily risen during the last month.

“I’m no longer pondering if we’re going to see a surge,” said Dr. James McDeavitt, dean of clinical affairs at the Baylor College of Medicine. “We’re al-

ready seeing it.”

Eight months since Texas recorded its first case, experts say the state is more prepared to handle another wave, but they fear that if the state fails to control the outbreak, it could quickly spiral out of control.

“The question is whether it’ll be a modest surge, or something like we saw in July, or worse,” McDeavitt said.

The majority of new cases recently have been in people in their 20s and 30s who are generally healthier and less likely to face serious health complications, McDeavitt said. That’s a shift from the spring and summer surges, when older people and those with preexisting health conditions were hit hardest.

Dr. David Persse, the city of Houston’s chief medical officer, said that cases in a younger demographic would not stay concentrated within that population.

“It’s true that the biggest increase in cases is in younger people,” he said. “It’s true that they tend to become less sick.

The thing to keep in mind, however, is that those same people are at risk for spreading it to the 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-yearolds.”

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DN News

Breonna Taylor Grand Juror suggests Daniel Cameron lied Associated Press

A grand juror who won a court fight to speak publicly about the Breonna Taylor investigation took issue with statements by Kentucky’s attorney general and said the jury was not given the option to consider charges connected to Taylor’s shooting death by police.

The anonymous grand juror had filed suit to speak publicly after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced last month that no officers would be directly charged in the March shooting death of Taylor during a narcotics raid. The grand jury charged one officer with endangering her neighbors.

In a written statement after winning a judge’s permission to break silence in the case, the grand juror, who was not identified, said that only wanton endangerment charges were offered to them to consider against one officer.

The grand jury asked questions about bringing other charges against the officers, “and the grand jury was told there would be none because the prosecutors didn’t feel they could make them stick,” the grand juror said.

Cameron had opposed in court allowing grand jurors to speak about the proceedings. He said that he would not appeal the judge’s ruling.

plans to speak about the proceedings beyond the statement, Glowgower said.

Ben Crump, an attorney for Taylor’s family, said Cameron “took the decision out of the grand jury’s hands” and said the grand juror’s statement was “confirmation of Cameron’s dereliction of duties.”Cameron has acknowledged his prosecutors did not introduce any homicide charges against two officers who shot Taylor, and said it was because they were justified in returning fire after Walker shot at them.Cameron said Tuesday that it was his decision “to ask for an indictment that could be proven under Kentucky law.”“Indictments obtained in the absence of sufficient proof under the law do not stand up and are not fundamentally fair to any one,” Cameron said in a statement.

Taylor, a Black emergency medical technician, was shot multiple times after Walker fired once at white officers executing a narcotics warrant. Walker said he didn’t know it was police and thought it was an intruder. The warrant was approved as part of a narcotics investigation.

No drugs were found at her home.

The case has fueled nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. AP/Timothy D. Easley

Grand juries.

Walker’s lone gunshot struck one of the officers in the leg.The anonymous grand juror challenged Cameron’s comments, saying the panel “didn’t agree that certain actions were justified,” and grand jurors “did not have homicide charges explained to them.”

The grand juror’s attorney, Kevin Glowgower, said his client’s chief complaint was the way in which the results were “portrayed to the public as to who made what decisions and who agreed with what decisions.”

The grand juror had no further

Poll: Voters see the nation as fundamentally divided The overwhelming majority of voters believe the nation is deeply divided over its most important values, and many have doubts about the health of the democracy itself. And supporters of President Donald Trump and Joe Biden alike think the opposing candidate will make things even worse if elected, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The poll offers a window into the depth of the division and chaos shaping the American electorate less than three weeks before Election Day. Voters are sharply divided over several major issues based on their partisan lenses, including their personal safety during the coronavirus pandemic, the value of diversity and the health of American democracy.

Who will best handle: Coronavirus Race relations Supreme Court nominations Economy

Biden 52% 53% 45% 43%

*AP/NORC Center for Public Affairs

Trump 28% 28% 34% 42%

BlackPAC Chairman George Farrell asks both parties to spend 10 percent of the roughly $2.8 billion raised by the 2020 presidential candidates with Black businesses.

NEWSBRIEFS CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS Harris County parents who have to go to work may get a break when it comes to childcare.

The county is talking about putting millions of dollars in disaster relief funds into childcare programs. Commissioners are trying to decide if they can get $5 million to childcare programs. The money should be made available to those organizations in the next couple of weeks. The idea is to help low-income families that would not be able to afford care for their kids. The money can help up to 5,000 kids in afterschool programs. The money would not create a new program, but rather be given to agencies that already provide childcare like the YMCA, United Way and Collaborative for Children.

CITY ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REOPENING SANCTUARIES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS The City of Houston has announced recommendations for allowing sanctuaries and faith-based organizations to reopen their doors for religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic. A task force set up by Mayor Sylvester Turner is strongly encouraged limiting the occupancy of facilities at 25% capacity and offering members the option to pre-register. Turner says the recommendations give people a road map on how to move forward without risking their health and safety. Additionally, the guidelines recommend that employees and members of a house of worship avoid touching and sharing audiovisual equipment such as microphones, instruments, and the removal of hymnals, pens and offering envelopes. The set of guidelines also includes the use of clear signage in parking lots, halls and entrances, the availability of hand sanitizing stations, and possible temperature checks.

Here are some of the poll findings:

85%

believe Americans greatly divided in their values

15

%

say democracy in the US is working extremely or very well

65

%

say divisions would worsen if Trump were re-elected

35%

believe Biden would divide the country further if he wins

47

%

think the country would be unified if Biden wins

*6 in 10

Biden supporters worried about Coronavirus

*2 in 10

Trump supporters worried about Coronavirus

VOLUME 89 - NUMBER 52 - OCTOBER 22, 2020 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Creative Director Michael Grant

Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Photographers Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

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

October 22, 2020 |

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DN News Texas Southern University welcomes three new regents Defender News Service

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed three new regents to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents.

Mary Evans Sias, Ph.D.

Mary Evans Sias, Ph.D. of Dallas is the Director of the Millennium Leadership Initiative and Assistant to the President of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Previously, she served as president of Kentucky State University and as the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and External Relations for the University of Texas at Dallas.

Sias has served as the chair of the boards of directors of both the Association of Public-Land Grant Universities (APLU) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), two of the nation’s six national organizations in

higher education. Her other board experiences include serving as chair of the Board of Presidents of the Southern Intercollegiate Association and of the Educational Testing Service Advisory Board for HBCUs. She is a former board director of the State Bar of Texas; member, Fund Development chair and Special Events chair for the Dallas Chapter of The Links, Incorporated; member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; and a member and past president of the Cottonwood Creek Garden Club.

Sias received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Tougaloo College, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Master of Business Administration from Abilene Christian University. Additionally, she received an honorary doctorate in public service from Central

Michigan University.

James Benham

James Benham of College Station is CEO of JBKnowledge, a 230-employee global software company. Additionally, he served for the last five years as an adjunct professor of Construction Science at Texas A&M University, and previously served two terms as a city council member for the City of College Station.

Benham is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization and the Construction Financial Management Association. Benham received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University.

Stephanie D. Nellons-Paige

Stephanie D. Nellons-Paige of

Mary Evans Sias, Ph.D.

James Benham

Houston is CEO of the Nellons Paige Group, Inc. and recently served as a managing director, Texas Central High-Speed Rail project.

She was responsible for developing and implementing the business and workforce opportunity policy to ensure a skilled workforce and the inclusion of Texas-based small, rural, minority, women, veteran and disabled individual-owned businesses to build and operate the over $25 billion project.

She is a board member of Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions and Ancora Education. Nellons-Paige

Stephanie D. Nellons-Paige

is a member of the Delta Research and Education Foundation Board, Motown Museum National Legacy Council, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and The Links.

Additionally, she is a former co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Business Council and former private sector co-chair for the ALEC, Education Task Force. Nellons-Paige received a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and a Master of Science in Transportation Management from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. 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

6 | October 22, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News JOSHUA JOHNSON CASE UPDATE

New video fuels calls for justice

BY Aswad Walker

Hudson said he was assured the family Hudson and the Bearys have would receive a complete report. He met with multiple media outlets, added, “However, when we went to inviting them to investigate the pick it up, they told us they could case. Said Hudson, “When we only give us a partial report, with no asked to see Tran’s record, and the pictures, no ballistics report.”

Sheriff ’s Department refused, it Congressman Al Green was one of the local stations that Access to complaint history of Sheriff’s Deputy Tu Tran revealed video of Tran shooting a person, and another of Tran sucker-punching Hudson asserts that he discovered via and beating a suspect. “barbershop talk” that Tran is well-known for over-policing and over-ticketing Blacks, earnRelease of the ballistics report ing him the street nickname “Ticket Tran.”

“We need to put more pressure on the Harris County DA’s Office to demand release of An independent investigation the ballistics report and to provide an update During a recent press conference, where on where the case stands. We haven’t heard the new video publicly premiered, Green anything from the Harris County Sheriff ’s said, “There are several issues that must Office,” said Hudson. be raised regarding the determination of whether this tragedy was a crime.”

Release of full autopsy report Those issues include how the investigating Hudson said the family employed a top med- officer on April22 could present an accurate ical examiner who gave them a full list of things assessment of the facts to Mr. and Mrs. Beary to expect in an autopsy report. Additionally, within two hours after Joshua was killed, when he called the medical examiner’s office, before having done a walkthrough, speaking More media coverage

With new video evidence in the Joshua Johnson killing by the hands of Harris County Sheriff ’s Deputy Tu Tran six months ago raising more questions than answers, those seeking justice for Joshua have committed to pressing the issue even harder.

Tran, who shot and killed Johnson on April 22, gave an account of events through Sheriff ’s Department spokesmen that was vehemently refuted by what several residents of the 15000 block of E. Ritter Circle assert they saw.

Regardless of conflicting accounts of the tragic event, a recently released video apparently shows Tran leaving the shooting scene just minutes after he shot Johnson, but long before Johnson died, and between 10-25 minutes before an ambulance or additional officers arrived on the scene.

James Hudson, spokesperson for Johnson’s parents, Wilhemina and Richard Beary, and Congressman Al Green have made several requests for:

JEFF BOYD

Richard Beary, Wilhemina Beary holding pic of Joshua, and James Hudson

with Tran, and before the medical examiner examined Johnson’s body, performed an autopsy or produced a ballistics report.

Other issues include determining how a second bullet hit the garage of a neighbor across the street with no clear path from where Tran indicated the shooting took place, and why Tran left the area immediately after shooting.

“Each of these issues lead us to believe there is probable cause for arrest and indictment. The persistent ambiguity of the events surrounding Joshua’s death is unacceptable. Joshua’s loved ones and I have been unwavering in our pursuit of justice, and now, we believe a jury should decide the fate of this case,” added Green.

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY

TEXAS SUPREME COURT, PLACE 7

#JUSTICEFORALLTEXANS SUPPORTED BY LEGAL EXPERTS WHO KNOW THE COURT BEST "In the midst of the partisanship defining our national politics, Justice Jeff Boyd has emerged as a shining example of the best of Texas: principled, hard-working, and dedicated to excellence. " PAIGE DUGGINS-CLAY

EDUCATION & CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY

"Justice Jeff Boyd has been a stalwart on the Texas Supreme Court, exemplifying a continuing legacy of service to Texas with integrity and professionalism. I am honored to support his re-election."

BRIAN NEWBY

COMMERICAL LITIGATOR, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

"Justice Jeff Boyd has a proven record of judicial competence and capability. I endorse and support his candidacy because he is good for Texas."

BILL JONES

"Without reservation, I'm happy to endorse Justice Jeff Boyd for re-election and support his re-election campaign."

DALE WAINWRIGHT

CIVIL APPELLATE ATTORNEY FORMER JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS

"[Justice Jeff Boyd] is fiercely analytical, dedicated, and fair.

When there is a difficult decision before SCOTX, he is the person you want sitting in one of those nine chairs."

TRICIA "TJ" JACKSON

RENEWABLE ENERGY ATTORNEY

WALLACE JEFFERSON

"Justice Boyd is fair, impartial, hardworking, and faithful to the Constitution and laws of Texas. Texans should retain this extraordinary jurist on the Supreme Court of Texas."

CIVIL APPELLATE ATTORNEY FORMER, CHIEF JUSTICE, TEXAS SUPREME COURT

JUSTICEJEFFBOYD.ORG

EARLY VOTING OCTOBER 13-30 | ELECTION DAY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Pol. ad paid for and authorized by Texans for Jeff Boyd, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., Treasurer

October 22, 2020 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

Tom Ramsey with Dr. Max A. Miller, Jr., President of Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity

As your County Commissioner, Tom Ramsey will work with all and for all.

“I am incredibly proud and honored to be endorsed by the

Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity.”

“The Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity provides great leadership for our community.

They trust me to represent the values and priorities we all expect from our county – safe neighborhoods, lower taxes, and good infrastructure and flood control.

Please join them and vote for me as your next County Commissioner for Precinct 3.”

Tom Ramsey

TOM RAMSEY for Harris County Commissioner Pct 3

VoteTomRamsey.com Remember there is no more straight ticket voting.

Please go all the way to the #BottomoftheBallot and vote for Tom Ramsey!

Paid political ad for Tom Ramsey Campaign, Skip McBride, Treasurer

8 | October 22, 2020 |

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DN Feature

Fort Bend tackles food insecurity with ‘We All Eat’ program Defender News Service

Texas is currently facing one of the largest spikes in food insecurity in the state’s history, leading to a growth in demand for food assistance thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local restaurants and food suppliers and producers are also feeling the negative eects of the pandemic, as well. According to the Texas Restaurant Association, an estimated 30% of restaurants will be forced to close as a result of COVID. Without a solution, this could have a devastating impact on the Fort Bend County community. That’s why Jerome Love, founder of Texas Black Expo, has partnered with Fort Bend County to launch the We All Eat program. “The food insecurity problem is one that requires an immediate solution so that residents can have a nutritious meal on the table every day,â€? said Love. “We’re so thankful that Fort Bend County saw the value in the We All Eat program, not just for residents, but for restaurants that have also been hit extremely hard by the pandemic.â€?

The $2.8 million We All Eat program is expected to provide nearly 200,000 meals to approximately 25,000 Fort Bend County residents.

Selected restaurants will be identiďŹ ed for participation in the program. These restaurants will be strategically located throughout Fort Bend County to provide meals for those in need. Texas Black Expo will reimburse the restaurants for the cost of the meals they serve to We All Eat program participants.

Participating restaurants will list a daily menu online with 2 – 3 selections from which We All Eat participants may choose.

Approved residential applicants will receive a personal participation number (PPN), which they will utilize to order meals online. Generally, one meal per family member per day may be ordered using the individual’s PPN. Fort Bend County residents and business owners will be able to apply to participate in the We All Eat program beginning Mon., Oct. 26, 2020, at 9 a.m. at www.wealleattexas.com. “Like every other community in the nation, Fort Bend County is working to provide viable solutions for our residents and business owners as well continue battling COVID-19. We are excited to partner with the Texas Black Expo organization for this innovative program,� said Grady Prestage, Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 2.

WHEN TEXANS VOTE, DEMOCRACY WINS! REMEMBER YOUR ID Texas requires a valid ID to vote, but you can still cast a ballot if you are a registered voter and do not have one of the accepted forms of ID by ďŹ lling out a "reasonable impediment declaration" at the polling location.

REMEMBER TO STAY IN LINE If you are in line at the time that the polls close, stay in line! Any person already in line to vote at the time that the polls close will be allowed to vote.

REMEMBER 866-OUR-VOTE If you see or experience problems at the polls, call the Election Protection Hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE. Trained experts, including legal experts from the ACLU of Texas and other groups, are ready to answer calls and help.

For more information about how to safely vote in this election, visit

www.aclutx.org/LetTexansVote LET TEXANS VOTE

KNOW PREDICT PREVENT

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Offic e of Distr ict Attorne y ha r r is co unt y, T X

Kim Ogg

HarrisCount yDA.COM

October 22, 2020 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB Elections

Chris Hollins

SPOTLIGHT

HARRIS CO CLERK CHRIS HOLLINS

By ASWAD WALKER

Chris Hollins, the interim Harris County Clerk and Chief Elections Officer, is making a national name for himself with the innovative work he’s doing locally to make voting safe, convenient and transparent for residents. Eyes across the country are on his work, with many declaring that Hollins is setting a new national standard for how elections should be run, administered and overseen.

Hollins, who recently appeared on MSNBC’s most popular program, The Rachel Maddow Show, spoke with the Defender about voting and the 2020 elections.

Protecting the vote.

We’re facing now the second wave of COVID-19, but this is uncharted territory. And having an election at all in this scenario is a challenge. But then you add on the fact that we have a county, the third largest county, in the country—2.4 million registered voters in a state where voting rights and making voting easy, hasn’t always been top priority. And we have quite a challenge ahead of us. Coming into this

office and continuing until today, my num- huge logistical challenge. Whether you’re ber one priority was to protect the voting on the left or the right… trying to allow 2.4 rights of the people of Harris County… to million people to vote is difficult. And so, make sure that the voters can cast their bal- tripling the number of early voting localots safely and can also do tions, which is what we’re so conveniently and with doing in 2020, is difficult. the peace of mind that Visit Defendernetwork.com Doing drive-through to see Hollins’ advice for their votes are going to be voting for the first time those fearing mail-in ballots in the history of Texas counted. won’t be counted is difficult. There’s no stencil for us to roll out.

Greatest challenge of the job There’s no template for us to build from.

Executing an election in a county like Having 24-hour voting for the first time in Harris County, the third largest county in the history of the United States of Amerthe country, is a bear of a problem on any ica, to allow shift workers, to allow first day, any year. You add onto that the leader- responders, to allow firefighters, to allow ship change in our office. You add onto that folks who were working in manufacturing COVID-19 and all of their requirements plants and sites at the Port of Houston, to that come with executing a safe election give them a convenient avenue to vote. It’s during a time of COVID-19. You add onto never been done before and doing new that the drama of politicizing things that things is always difficult. We have to build shouldn’t be politicized like the right to it from scratch. So, a lot of things that we’re vote, and access to mail ballots for those doing here are innovative or cutting edge, who are qualified. And these are things but they’re done for the sole purpose of that shouldn’t be political issues, shouldn’t making it safe and convenient and transbe partisan issues, but are becoming so be- parent for the people of Harris County cause of the nature of where the country’s to cast their ballots and have their voices been headed for a while. So, this is just a heard.

Have you personally seen efforts to hinder voting?

We’ve seen at the national level, an effort to dismantle the United States Postal Service, which is a storied institution going all the way back to the founding of this country. There’s an attempt to tear it down for the sole purpose of making sure people can’t cast their ballots through the mail. But here in Texas, we’ve seen attempts to suppress votes on a near-daily basis since election season has been underway. From the Attorney General fighting to keep educational materials away from Harris County voters, to the Governor limiting Harris County--a county stretching over nearly 2,000 square miles--to a single location where seniors and voters with disabilities can hand-deliver their mail ballots, to the Republican Party attempting to invalidate over 70,000 votes that have been cast using drive-thru voting. It is almost unfathomable that these things could be taking place in the 21st century, but we have seen very clearly that our right to vote is under attack by those who believe those votes won’t help them.

10 | October 22, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

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DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB Elections

Fighting Voter Suppression

Crystal Mason uses her felony conviction for voting to educate others

By ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Jeren Washington always knew that she was going to vote in the 2020 presidential election – she just didn’t know how. She fit the qualifications for a mail-in ballot since she was disabled.

But with what she calls ‘relentless voter suppression’ tactics, she wasn’t taking any chances.

“My plan was to just request my ballot, but with all the shenanigans that are going on from the president on down, particularly here in Texas, I didn’t want to take any chances on my vote not counting,” Washington said. “So, I headed to the polls with the intention of waiting however long it took.”

Washington’s fears are not unfounded.

Between fights over mail-in ballots, voting locations, threats and concerns over cheating and Russian interference, many are worried about efforts to suppress the vote.

“Voter suppression has always been a part of Texas’ political history,” said Dr. Carla Brailey, vice-chair of the Texas Democratic Party. “Texas has really Dr. Carla Brailey never been a Republican state. It’s been a non-voting state rather from voter apaEARLY VOTING thy or voter suppression tacTOTALS tics. This administration has awakened so many of us and we realize that our lives and our freedom are at stake.

U.S. Democracy and justice are literally on the ballot. So we have to vote like our lives Texas depend on it. That’s the way to end voter suppression. As crazy as it sounds, we have to vote to protect the vote. We Texas - in person have to vote for our rights.”

42,143,836 5,325,032

4,626,042

Flipping Texas

698,990

Texas - mail-in One of t he prima r y reasons that many voters *Elections Project, As of 10-21-20 believe GOP-state officials are working to suppress the vote is because Texas has emerged as a surprise battleground state where Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden appears to be in a close race with Donald Trump.

The longtime Republican stronghold, which is home to some 30 million people and the second most electoral votes in the country, sports some of the strictest voting laws in the U.S. Texas only allows its registered voters to vote absentee if they are 65 or older, incarcerated but otherwise eligible to vote or can cite a disability.

“Any measure that makes it harder for people to vote, without a valid justification, unnecessarily suppresses the vote,” Brailey added.

A back and forth battle

While Gov. Greg Abbott extended early voting and made it possible for Texans to turn in by-mail ballots before Election Day, he issued an executive order that limits each county in the state to have just one location where mail-in ballots can be dropped off.

Abbott’s proclamation about the ballot drop-off locations is

Above - Missouri City residents wait for hours to cast their votes at Hightower High School. Jimmie Aggison Right- Fort Bend residents play it safe as they turn out to vote.

widely seen as voter suppression — “yet another thinly dis“This isn’t voter suppression,” Bettencourt said. “This is guised attempt to stymie the vote,” as the state chapter how the law actually works.” of the ACLU put it. It’s clear that the most populous counties, which tend to vote Democratic, will be Other suppression efforts hardest hit. Harris County, the most populous Republicans have long pointed to the threat of in the state, had to reverse its plan to let voters voter fraud to argue for stricter voting laws. In return their ballots at 11 locations. The U.S. Elecrecent months, Trump and other GOP lawmaktion Assistance Commission says that local govers have disparaged by-mail voting, predicting ernments should have one ballot drop-off location rampant voter fraud and “rigged” election results for every 15,000-20,000 registered voters. on Nov. 3.

Pam Gaskin “There’s no legitimate reason to close satellite drop-off In reality, however, election fraud is exceedingly rare locations,” Wesley Story, communications associate at Progress and multiple states use mail-in voting systems predominantly.

Texas, said of the governor’s decision. “This is a blatant attempt Affidavits filed by private investigators in a lawsuit brought

by Gov. Abbott to suppress voters because the Texas GOP is by the Harris County Republican Party and others against Holafraid of the ballot box.” lins accused Democrats of plotting a massive ballot-harvesting The change in handling absentee ballots during the pandemic scheme targeting the elderly and the homeless. is one of a string of recent decisions that has left some Texans One of the alleged participants in that scam, state Sen. Borris feeling both physically threatened and concerned that their votes Miles, issued a statement calling it “nothing more than Repubwill not be counted. lican conjecture, a desperate attempt to suppress Democratic Voting advocates pointed to growing doubts about the reli- vote, and a continued effort amongst Republicans to do whatever ability of the U.S. Postal Service and warnings from USPS that it takes to mislead and defraud Texans.” election-related mail could be delayed. They say voters who do Texas has also been engaged in a legal fight over “straightnot trust mail service should have safe and convenient options to ticket voting,” a practice that Attorney General Ken Paxton return ballots in person, and limiting an area like Harris County, opposes and many Democrats in the state support. which is larger than Rhode Island, to one drop-off location is In 2019, the state also banned temporary and mobile voting not sufficient. sites, a change cheered by Republican lawmakers and expected Some Republicans defended Abbott’s action. Houston-based to depress turnout near college campuses and residents of senior state Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the order merely ensures the centers. same rules are followed in this election as in previous elections, Even successful delivery of a ballot won’t ensure that a vote and Democrats have been successful in many races under those will be counted. Each absentee ballot can be challenged on sevpolicies. eral grounds, including if the signature on it doesn’t perfectly

match the signature on the application for the ballot.

Since some local elections in Texas were decided by a few hundred votes or less in recent cycles, any measures that make voting more difficult or less convenient could drive down turnout and potentially impact outcomes of close races.

For Pam Gaskin, these obstacles are designed to make people simply give up.

“This is a return to trying to make things so difficult that you just throw your hands up and say, ‘I give. I’m not going to do this,’” she said.

But Gaskin is not prepared to concede. Instead, she has joined a group that will be distributing water, rain ponchos, portable chairs, sandwiches and snacks to voters throughout Texas on Election Day. “If you have to get off the line to go to the bathroom, we’re going to stand in your place,” said Gaskin, who is prepared to work as long and hard as necessary to make sure that everyone gets to vote. “We’ll stand in line till we drop dead.”

it was a random urine test. There, a

BY ReShonda Tate Billingsley woman stopped me and told me that I Four years ago, Crystal Mason was was being arrested for illegally voting. I sentenced to five years in prison for was dumbfounded because I made sure I illegally voting. It’s a sentence the Texas had followed all of the rules. She told appeals court upheld earlier this me that I wasn’t eligible to vote year. But Mason is continuing because I was on probation. the fight for her freedom, They took me to jail that day. while educating others on their rights to vote.

When Mason cast her Defender: More than 6 vote in Fort Worth in 2016, million Americans could she didn’t know that she not cast ballots in 2016 was ineligible. Yes, she was because of felony convictions, Crystal Mason on supervised release (which is according to the most recent similar to probation) for a fedestimate by The Sentencing eral felony conviction related to tax fraud. Project. Critics of your prosecution say But she didn’t know that Texas prohibits your conviction could have a chilling felons from voting until they finish their effect, deterring former felons from sentence entirely. Mason voted in the trying to vote, even if they have the presidential election at the urging of right to do so. her mother and cast a provisional ballot when poll workers couldn’t find her name Mason: You would be surprised at the on the voter registration rolls. The ballot number of ex-felons and people on prowas never counted because Mason was bation who say, ‘If I vote, I could go to not an eligible voter. Still, Mason was prison.” In the state of Texas, if you’re a tried – and convicted – of illegally voting. felon, you are still eligible to vote if you’re Mason had been working to rebuild off probation and parole. You have people since getting out of federal prison in 2015. that have been out for 5, 10, 12 years, and After her arrest, she lost her job, which they think because they’re a felon they provided the main source of income for can’t vote. That’s why I’m now trying to her family, which includes three childo outreach in the community. I started dren, four of her brother’s children who an organization to fight against voter she raised, and her grandchildren. suppression. We try to educate people Because she was convicted of illegal that races matter outside of the presivoting while on supervised release, a dential election. We need to know who’s federal judge sent her back to federal running. The judge that sentenced me prison in late 2018, where she served ran unopposed and he’s on that bench several months. Her teenage daughanother four years. We have to wake ter, Taylor put off going to college to up because these are people upholdcome home and run the household. ing their interpretation of the law.

Mason is appealing her sentence.

In the meantime, she spoke with the Defender: Didn’t probation Defender about her case, and her officials testify on your behalf? ongoing fight for voting rights.

Mason: Yes. They testified that they Defender: How did you find out that never told me I couldn’t vote, but the you’d done something wrong? appeals court said that didn’t matter.

The judge said I was guilty and the fact Crystal Mason: I had just gotten off that I didn’t know I was legally ineligifrom work and it was the last day of early ble to vote was irrelevant. A punishvoting. I just rushed in to vote. A few days ment of five years in jail for doing what later, my parole officer called and told I thought was my civic duty, and just as me to come to the office. That was out I was getting my family’s life together, of the norm, so I automatically thought is not simply unfair, it’s a tragedy.

12 | October 22, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB OnSocial RAPPER’S DELIGHT?

ICE CUBE, 50 CENT UNDER FIRE

BY ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Social media is buzzing from two popular rappers and their takes on the 2020 Presidential election.

Ice Cube

The rappor/actor is facing intense backlash in the hip-hop community and beyond after an adviser to Donald Trump revealed on Twitter that the NWA legend advised the Trump administration on a plan for Black America. The rapper’s “Contract With Black America” is a 13-point document that he released in July in the wake of nationwide Black Lives Matter protests.

The rapper describes it as “a blueprint to achieve racial economic justice” and touches on a wide range of issues, including finance, police, criminal justice and education reform.

“When we created the Contract With Black America we expected to talk to both sides of the Ice Cube isle,” he tweeted. “Talking truth to power is part of the process.”

Ice Cube says the Biden camp told him they would meet with him after the election. Trump’s team, however, met with him and offered to include the CWBA in their Platinum Plan for Blacks. Ice Cube says Trump also promised $500 billion to the Black community. While he has stopped short of endorsing anyone, Cube is facing backlash as the Trump team continues to promote his support.

50 Cent When it comes to dollar bills, rapper 50 Cent is going MAGA. The 45-year-old rapper sparked outrage when he urged his social media followers to “VOTE For TRUMP” after seeing figures related to Joe Biden’s tax plan.

The rapper bashed 50 Cent Biden’s plan that would raise tax.

He posted a graphic showing high earners in New York City could face combined federal and state tax rates of 62 percent.

“WHAT THE F–K!” he wrote. “(VOTE ForTRUMP) IM OUT, F–K NEW YORK.” 50 Cent then wrote: “I don’t care Trump doesn’t like black people 62% are you out of ya f–ing mind.”

“If Cube really wanted to make a difference, we would’ve heard from him BEFORE a few weeks before the election. The Trump campaign is playing him.”

-Nicole Lampkin

“So we’re supposed to beleive a man who won’t pay his taxes and lies with every other word is going to give Black folks $500 billion??? Okay.)

“Both 50 and Cube have benefited from 45’s pro-business/pro-wealthy policies, so that plays an even bigger factor. At least 50 is honest about it.”

- Tamara Thompkins

- Clarence Jacobson

“So we’re really going to cancel Ice Cube just because he’s open to talking to the other side. Black folks kill me sometimes.”

- Laverne Warren

“People are just mad because 50 isn’t following the Democratic party like sheep. Everyone votes in their best interest.”

-Daniel Gilliam

“Boy Bye. I wouldn’t be surprised if 50 announced this because Ice Cube was getting too much press and he wanted the spotlight back on him. He is petty like that. He knew folks would be talking about it. It’s 50, so this announcement is not a surprise.”

- Sheila Goss

“These two deserve everything that is coming to them.

They want to play the game, know the rules.”

- Linda Spears

“He is an outlier just like Kanye. He hates his own child and picks fights with other producers of Black shows instead of lifting them up. He is irrelevant.”

-Sharmagne Taylor

Eric Trump tweets support of rappers An altered photo of the rappers in hats that appear to show support for Donald Trump circulated widely on social media, fueled in part by a tweet by Eric Trump. The manipulated image was shared thousands of times on Twitter and Facebook since it began gaining attention.

Eric Trump LEFT: Twitter screenshot from Ice Cube.

October 22, 2020 |

| 13

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB Elections Could Pearland, Stafford make history with Black mayors?

Pearland and Stafford are poised to make history on the national and local levels, if the African Americans running for mayor are successful. Quentin Wiltz is seeking to become the first Black leader of Pearland. AJ Honoré is hoping for the same in Stafford.

Both cities are diverse, with a mix of ethnicities. People of color account for more than half the population.

“Pearland is one of the most diverse cities or suburbs in the state of Texas and definitely one of the most diverse in the Houston area,” Wiltz said. “And when you have diversity, you also must have inclusion. When all these people come together of different backgrounds, walks, faith, there has to be some sort of synergy that needs to be built. So we have to trust one another. There’s some significant cultural challenges here in the Pearland community in regards to race, religion that we have to choose to address head-on if we’re going to build a consensus to tackle the other important issues such as taxes, opportunity for our kids, mobility, police and public safety.”

Pearland is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation and, of course, in Texas. The population has more than tripled since 2000,

PEARLAND

STAFFORD

120,000

18,000

18%

31%

Residents Black

Residents Black

44%

22%

22%

23%

14%

20%

White

Hispanic Asian

White

Hispanic Asian

*U.S. Census

when fewer than 40,000 people lived there.

This isn’t Wiltz’s first attempt at securing the top position. In May 2017, Wiltz forced Mayor Tom Reid into a runoff, trailing by less than 500 votes, but the incumbent, then 91, prevailed convincingly when voters returned to the polls the next month. Wiltz is running against real estate developer Kevin Cole.

In Stafford, four names are on the ballot for mayor. AJ Honoré, a former council member, is facing Mayor Pro Tempore Wen

ABOUT WILTZ

Occupation: Director for an oil and gas pipeline coatings firm Education: Southern University (Mathmetics degree); University of Houston (Executive MBA) Prior experience: Former chairman, Pearland Parks and Recreation Board www.wiltzformayor.com

ABOUT HONORÉ

Occupation: President/Managing Director, Engreen Power & Light; licensed Financial Planning Consultant Education: Texas Southern University (Banking and Finance degree) Prior experience: Formerly Mayor Pro-Tem, First Home Rule Charter Review Commission, Vice-President, JP Morgan Chase, where he managed and closed over $3 Billion in taxexempt Economic Development Revenue Bonds. www.honore4zero.com

Guerra, council member Cecil Willis and activist Jim Narvios.

“Being the first African American to serve as mayor has a major advantage because I bring a diverse background, along with new ideas,” Honore’ said.

Distinguished by having had no municipal property tax for the last 25 years, Stafford also has the only municipal school district in Texas – which means it is controlled by the city.

The business-friendly community sits between Sugar Land, Missouri City and Houston.

Honoré, a bank executive and business consultant, also touts a five-year capital infrastructure plan, a youth and senior development program and a revenue enhancement initiative as well as a “community cloth and ethics board” among his priorities.

Read more about the candidates and their platforms at www.DefenderNetwork.com

Our health is on the ballot.

Our future leaders need engaged, informed champions today.

ARE YOU READY? Join the Fort Bend ISD Board Leadership Academy to learn more about how our award-winning public school system works.

For more info, visit fortbendisd.com/ boardleadershipacademy

Let’s use our power now.

Black Americans are being hit the hardest by COVID-19.

Congressional Democrats are fighting to keep Black families safe and working to protect and lower the cost of health care.

This year, we vote for our rights, for our lives, for our future.

People are already voting. Our community is showing up. Make a plan to vote and encourage your community to do the same.

Go to >> www.iwillvote.com

PAID FOR BY DCCC, WWW.DCCC.ORG. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE.

Defender News Service

14 | October 22, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Spotlight 2020 CENSUS AND VOTING

Shackelford sounds the alarm

By Kissuth E. Reamo

Ever wondered about the importance of the census?

Ray Shackelford, 34-year old community ambassador and Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) consultant answers your questions as he sits down with us to discuss the census, social justice, elections and community activation.

Defender: How do you think this year’s census count will affect the Black community?

Ray Shackelford: Census impact is directly related to

census participation. If the numbers return at the rate we are hoping, the effect will be significant: the ability to effectively regulate funding, establish quality schools in our neighborhoods, the number and quality of hospitals in our areas and more. Historically undercounted, the Black community has always been underserved in education and local health care.

Significantly, Black men, children under five years old and immigrants are the citizens who suffer the most.

Defender: Since George Floyd’s passing and countless others, what is HAUL’s goal to initiate a more active role in civic service?

Shackelford: Activating citizens in civic and politi-

cal service has always been part of what we’ve done. Still, Floyd’s passing has transformed what we do with increases in school volunteer organizations, corporate partnerships, individuals from the Black community and individuals from other communities. We are launching a social justice center to train citizens to become community advocates through training to represent themselves. We are currently still understaffed and underfunded, which limits the impact our efforts have on the community. We seek to empower citizens and amplify our current initiatives.

Defender: What are you doing to encourage Blacks to vote and participate in the political process?

Shackelford: We participated in a 97.9 The Box panel

discussion targeting younger generations connecting the dots to the importance of voting and educating our young people on understanding the process. We provided access to information through video messaging to ensure young people understand the connection between voting and issues like the acquittals of officers involved in the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The election is the first step; we must continue to follow up. Only engaging the community

during the election cycle, but no consistent communication, engagement and education in non-election years is [a problem]. Every election is the most critical election of our lives.

Care for your vote the way you care for your body.

Defender: What are your next steps with engaging the community to finish the census campaign by the end of the month?

Shackelford: Social media has become so critical

laborating with lawsuits for the postal service regarding the mail-in ballots, from the legislative perspective to address housing – evictions and foreclosures, loss of jobs, and the digital divide. Our partnerships include the faith-based community, fraternities and sororities and the NAACP. We encourage citizens to find the area that you may be most effective and go to work there locally, then nationally.

Defender: What activities has the Urban League initiated for high school and college students?

Shackelford: The Black Executive

Defender: What national initiatives you’ve seen would like to implement in Houston?

Shackelford: Nationally, we are connected to and col-

Defender: What would you say is the pulse of Houston, and how will you tap into it to accomplish some of HAUL’s 2020-21 goals?

Shackelford: The

pulse of the city varies considerably from day to day. It’s challenging because we are the most diverse city in the country. Grassroots elements are critical as we must engage all people across the community, at all levels. We are positioned to work with nonprofits, our Latin and immigrant communities, and our African and Caribbean communities.

because of the pandemic. Phone-banking, text-banking, visiting high-density areas to leave doorknockers and continuous conversations in our Black and Brown communities, which are the ones in danger of being undercounted.

Partnerships with influencers in the community to utilize their influence to get the word out.

Exchange program could not be maintained due to a lack of funding. However, we partner with our local HBCUs and Independent School Districts to reach our youth and college communities. We are working with the NAACP to complement their efforts in the city.

Defender: Last minute message to voters?

Shackelford: You cannot

make up what we will lose if citizens don’t take the 5-minutes now to dictate funding over the next 10 years. Someone will be elected in every race. Ensure that your vote is counted and your voice is heard.

RAY SHACKELFORD From: Houston’s Third Ward Occupation: Attorney Education: Morehouse, University of Houston Organizations: National Urban League Young Professionals (President), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. IG: Ray_Shack Facebook: Ray B. Shackelford LinkedIn: Ray Shackelford, MBA Twitter: Ray_Shackelford Email: Rshackelford@haul.org

Ray Shackleford

October 22, 2020 |

| 15

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Business GHBC Pinnacle Awards honors local businesses Defender News Service

The Greater Houston Black Chamber (GHBC) announced the finalists for its coveted Pinnacle and Upstart Awards honoring excellence among African American business owners in Houston.

Ten businesses were selected as finalists for the Pinnacle Award; five will ultimately be named winners. For the Upstart Award, there are three finalists, with one winner to be announced.

The GHBC Pinnacle Award recognizes leading Black entrepreneurs for their success in business and their positive impact on the communities and industries they serve.

The 2020 Pinnacle Award finalists include TNR Accounting, Total Wellness Assessment and Counseling, Mpulse Healthcare and Technology, Lucille’s, See the other finalists at Hillday Public Relawww.DefenderNetwork.com tions, BJackson Enterprises, LLC, Bright Learners Academy, J. Archer Insurance Group, LLC, Nuksy’s Fine Catering and Remax Legacy Living-Remax 1st Class.

Upstart Award finalists include Optimize Health, Gingerbread School and Office Pride Commercial Janitorial.

In addition to these prestigious honors, the GHBC will bestow several other awards to accomplished businesses and entrepreneurs.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event is being hosted virtually on Saturday, October 24, at 7 p.m. The ceremony will stream live on the GHBC YouTube channel, and there will be a replay on Quest Channel 55 on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 31, both at 7 p.m.

Chris Williams, Lucille’s

Tim and Tashia Jamison, Bright Learners Academy

Argentina James, Hillday Public Relations

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.

16 | October 22, 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 22, 2020 |

| 17

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports Jimmie Lee Solomon, legendary former MLB executive, dies at 64 he spearheaded the creation of an associJimmie Lee Solomon, a former top ex- ation of Urban Youth Academies, starting with the inaugural UYA in Compton, ecutive for Major League Baseball followed by the Houston Astros best known for establishing youth UYA, implemented with the academies and helping launch support of his law school comthe annual Futures Game of top rade, Mayor Sylvester Turner. prospects, has died. He was 64.

Solomon was also known for Raised in Thompsons, TX, his efforts to increase the numSolomon graduated from Laber of people of color in MLB mar Consolidated High School front offices. When Solomon Jimmie Lee and went on to Dartmouth Solomon left MLB in 2012, he was among College, where he earned Allthe highest-ranking Black offiIvy honors in football and track & field. Thereafter, Solomon gradu- cials in baseball.

“I am surprised and saddened by the ated from Harvard Law School, and practiced law with the Washington, D.C. firm news of the passing of our former colleague,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said of Baker & Hostetler.

In 1991, Solomon became Major League in a statement. “Jimmie Lee was passionBaseball’s Director of Minor League Op- ate about providing opportunities to young erations, kicking off his 21-year career athletes and advancing baseball in our comwhere he ultimately became MLB’s Exec- munities. Our network of youth academies utive Vice President of Baseball Opera- across the country is in large part a credit to tions and Baseball Initiatives. In that role, his hard work and dedication.”

By Aswad Walker

Harris County Early Voting Locations Page 2

CLASSIFIED Invitation for Bids

Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of TXDOT CSJ: 0912-72-360 on Buffalo Speedway; Bissonnet to Holcombe that bids on November 4, 2020. Mail, fax, or email quotations to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., 1250 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Bldg 1, Suite 200 Austin TX 78746 fax: (512) 707-0798 email: bbiisw@balfourbeattyus.com. DBE/HUB contractors are encouraged to submit bids. Plans and specifications are available to be reviewed at TxDOT Plans On-line: http://bit.do/dBJ5G E.O.E. For information contact Brian Ficzeri at (512) 707-0797.

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1 •

Project 21-08-09 RFP / Visual Impairment Contracted Services –with a deadline of 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 18, 2020. The Pre-Proposal Conference for this project will be held virtually Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. CST.

The solicitation for bids is available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org. To access, go to Directory, Purchasing Services, Solicitation of Bids. The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District.

* 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

18 | October 22, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has 12 career games with at least three touchdown passes, which ties for No.1 in team history.

UH junior linebacker Donavan Mutin recorded double-digit tackles (10) for the first time in his career, in the loss to BYU.

COULD ROCKETS BE HEADED FOR TURMOIL?

By Terrance Harris

It appears after years of being on the verge of an NBA championship the Rockets are now at a precarious crossroads.

This all came into question when it was announced last week that general manager Daryl Morey would be stepping down after 14 years once his contract expires on Nov. 1. But perhaps the wheels of restructuring the Rockets front office went into motion once Morey’s undersized experiment failed in the NBA bubble playoffs, or this had been in motion since Morey’s poorly-timed tweet in support of the Hong Kong students nearly eroded the NBA/Rockets and China.

Morey and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta both played nice in announcing the decision to part ways.

“I am very confident that the future – for the Rockets, and for our incredible fans – is in great hands, and that the Rockets will continue to perform at the highest level,” Morey wrote.

“I have truly enjoyed working with Daryl and couldn’t have asked for a better general manager to have at the start of my ownership,” Fertitta said in his released statement. “I wish him and his family all the best.”

But none of that deals with the reality of where the Rockets stand as the franchise attempts to go forward with an undersized roster that doesn’t make sense and is still without a coach in place.

Could the experiment with small ball and the Russell Westbrook-James Harden backcourt be done after one season?

Houston Rockets guards Russell Westbrook (0) and James Harden, laugh after a score against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

It looked as though the Rockets were ready to tab championship coach Tyronn Lue last week before the Morey announcement. Suddenly, Lue decided to accept the Los Angeles Clippers fiveyear, $35 million deal.

Fertitta then acted quick, promoting Rafael Stone to general manager and naming Eli Witus as the assistant general manager. Stone, a Stanford Law School grad, has worked with the Rockets since 2005 but mostly on legal matters.

Stone’s is first big job is to find a head coach with Jeff Van Gundy and John Lucas – two respected former head coaches who could have difficulty relating to today’s young players – and up-and-comer Ste-

phen Silas, who is the son of former NBA coach John Silas, as leading candidates.

Then comes the hard part; figuring out the Rockets smallish roster, which had 6-foot-5 P.J. Tucker playing in the post thank to Morey’s analytics approach to putting together this small ball lineup.

What teams like the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers just proved is size still does matter in the league.

What that means is that the Rockets will have a challenging offseason trying to figure out what pieces work and what moves can be made to add size to the roster. Does it make sense to keep a Harden-Westbrook backcourt? Or is it time to trade one for a big man like the 76ers Joel Embiid?

The point is the Rockets could have some difficult decisions to make and some challenging times ahead in this transition from the Morey era.

Sports Briefs NO TWO-POINT REGRET Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel was asked if he regretted going for two-points after going ahead by seven points late in the game against Tennessee.

Had Crennel opted to kick the extra point, it would have forced the Titans to have to go for two points to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Romeo Crennel

“I think I would do it again because you are on the road against a division opponent who is undefeated,” Crennel said the day after the loss to the Titans. “If you get the two-point conversion you shut the door on them.”

Of course, when the Texans failed to make the two-point conversion, the Titans promptly marched down the field to score and tie the game to force overtime. Tennessee won in overtime.

PRIME SALARY New Jackson State coach Deion Sanders recently signed a contract that is easily the most lucrative among SWAC coaches.

The NFL Hall of Famer signed a four-year deal worth $1.2 million.

Deion Sanders’ contract Sanders includes $120,000 in incentives for winning at least eight games and also will include bonuses for attendance over 30,000 at home games and if season-ticket sales exceed 10,000.

DUSTY BAKER CONFIDENT The Astros may have shocked a lot of people advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS before ultimately falling short of making the World Series.

But first-year manager Dusty Baker Dusty was far from Baker surprised and made a bold prediction after the disheartening Game 7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, saying the Astros will “be back in this position again next year.”

October 22, 2020 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports BELLAIRE MARTIN AND ROBINSON

CARDINALS STREAKING

By Jodie B. Jiles

Bellaire senior Spirit Martin and junior De’Maya Robinson have the Cardinals looking good as they approach the midway point of the volleyball season undefeated in district play.

Bellaire head volleyball coach Nicole Blakeman noted the contribution of her two lettermen when she stated, “Spirit is an excellent defensive player and can be such an offensive threat, while De’Maya has been moving well on the net, blocking well and is becoming more of an offensive threat as we continue through the season.”

The Defender spoke with Spirit and De’Maya after they defeated Lamar in three straight games to discuss their leadership, varying approaches to the game and advice to the next generation of volleyball players.

Style of Play Martin: “Fast paced and aggressive” Robinson: “My style is more aggressive but

composed. I try to talk to my teammates so that we work together as much as we can to win the game.”

Style of Leadership Martin: “If we get a kill I will tell everyone con-

grats, but let’s keep going and finish the game. We can celebrate, but just understand the game is not over.”

Robinson: “With my attitude I just try to control it and channel it into my playing time.”

Keys to Success Robinson: “Teamwork and just bonding together

as a team.”

Dig Strategy Martin: “I don’t watch the ball, I watch the hitter. So, I

watch where their arm is going because if you are watching a ball, a ball can go anywhere. You just have to watch the hitter and which way they are faced.”

Advice to Underclassman Martin: “Play your hardest every time you step on

ABOUT DE’MAYA ROBINSON Volleyball Programs She Studies: Texas, Stanford and Arizona State Hobbies: Reading, Playing Online Game “Among Us” and Schoolwork Artist Listening To: Summer Walker, Brent Faiyaz and Kaash Paige Shout-outs: My mom, my grandmother, Coach Blakeman and the Bellaire volleyball team

the court.”

ABOUT SPIRIT MARTIN IG: @spirit.martin_ Volleyball Players She Studies: Logan Eggleston and Skylar Fields Hobbies: Swimming, tennis and golf Shout-outs: Mom, dad and all my club coaches

For photos and highlights visit IG: @defenderhighschoolsports

20 | October 22, 2020 |

DEFENDER NETWORK