On Tuesday, tom 47 posted a comment quoting State Rep. Yvonne Davis’s (HD-111, Dallas) email emphasizing the importance of our participating in the field hearings that have been scheduled during the Texas Legislature’s special session on redistricting:
It is important to note the federal district court repeatedly expressed that these interim redistricting plans are temporary plans. Not only are the interim redistricting plans temporary in nature, the courts only ordered the plans to provide for timely 2012 primary and general elections in Texas.
The interim maps do not go far enough to reflect the minority population in Texas. Therefore, I encourage you to attend any one of the hearings and urge the select committee to draw and adopt fair, nondiscriminatory plans that accurately reflect the population of Texas. […]
So let’s encourage our elected officials to vote for maps that are fair and representative of our state’s diversity. Empower the Vote Texas explains how (my emphasis):
Better – Attend a public hearing and register against HB/SB 1, HB/SB 3, and HB/SB 4 (the bills that would make the interim maps permanent). All you have to do is fill out a card and your position becomes part of the official record of the hearings. A good option if you can attend but are uncomfortable testifying.
AWESOME – Testify at one of the public hearings! There is nothing more compelling than hearing from voters about how legislation impacts you. Come let the committee members know how the current maps don’t fairly represent your community.
Texas House of Representatives
The House Special Select Redistricting Committee has scheduled public hearings in Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston:
Dallas: Thursday, June 6 , 2013 @ 2:00 P.M.
DART Headquarters
Board Room – 1st Floor
1401 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75202
Notice of Public Hearing
San Antonio: Monday, June 10 , 2013 @ 2:00 P.M
VIA Metro Center
Terry Eskridge Community Room
1021 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Notice of Public Hearing
Houston: Wednesday, June 12 , 2013 @ 2:00 P.M.
University of Houston – Main Campus
Michael J. Cemo Hall, Room 100 D
4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77004
Notice of Public Hearing
If you attend a House hearing, sign in AGAINST HB 1, HB 3, and HB 4.
Public testimony will be limited to 5 minutes. If submitting written testimony, please provide 25 copies to the committee clerk with your name on each.
Texas Senate
The Senate Select Committee on Redistricting has scheduled public hearings in Austin, Corpus Christi, and Houston:
Austin: Thursday, June 06, 2013 @ 9:00 AM
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
Two overflow rooms will be available in E1.016 and E1.028
Live broadcast
Notice of Public Hearing
Corpus Christi: Friday, June 07, 2013 @ 5:00 PM
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
University Center, Lone Star Ballroom
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
Notice of Public Hearing
Houston: Saturday, June 08, 2013 @ 11:00 AM
University of Houston
Michael J. Cemo Hall
4800 Calhoun Road
Houston, Texas 77004
Notice of Public Hearing
Austin: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 @ 9:00 AM
E1.036 (Finance Room)
Two overflow rooms will be available in E1.016 and E1.028.
Live broadcast
Notice of Public Hearing
If you attend a Senate hearing, sign in AGAINST SB 1, SB 3, and SB 4.
Note the live broadcasts of the Austin hearings.
Invited and public testimony will be taken. Public testimony may be limited to three minutes. If submitting written testimony, please provide 30 copies to the committee clerk with your name on each.
This is short notice, but our participation in these redistricting field hearings will, at the very least, signal that we’re paying attention as Texas Republicans attempt to rush through adoption of the court-drawn interim maps, which were based on the 2011 Republican-drawn maps that a federal court rejected because they intentionally discriminated.
