Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's the week of July thirteenth, twenty twenty five, and
this is what's on the People's News. A People's News
exclusive we talked to in battled Fort ben County Judge KP. George.
Another hat is tossed into the race for Harris County Judge.
(00:23):
The Trump Administration is sued over EPA grants program, fear
and football as next year's World Cup clashes with the
criminal Trump administration's immigration policies. All that and more on
the People's News. I'm Steve Gallington. This is the People's News,
(00:44):
and the People's News starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
This is Steve Gallington, producer and host for the People's News.
One of the things that I got in preparation for
going to the No King's rally on June fourteenth was
a presentation from the ACLU, which I want to repeat
the information from for you in light of the convicted
felon opening up Alligator Alcatraz and the Republican House and
(01:20):
Senate passing this big, ugly, expensive, devastating bill. Among those
things is one hundred and thirty five billion dollars for
increased secret police activity or ICE funding. And so you
have rights when dealing with the police or ice, no
(01:42):
matter or immigration status number one. If they do not
have a warrant, an arrest warrant or a search warrant,
you do not have to open the door for the
police or ice. You do not have to answer any
questions about status or country of origin. The right to
remain silent is protected under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
(02:06):
You have the right to ask to see a lawyer.
You have the right to refuse searches of your person
and your car if the police do not suspect a crime.
This is the fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Never sign
anything without knowing what it says. And you have a
(02:30):
right to record what happens. And if you're hearing this
and you can speak and read Spanish, the People's News
would love for you to read the script in Spanish,
so we can accompany that with this as well. So
be safe out there, look out for each other, and
we will get through this together. In battled Fort ben County,
(02:53):
judge KP. George has stated that he is leaving the
Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party. George has been
fighting money laundering charges in a fake Facebook page in
an indictment handed down September twenty sixth by a Fort
ben County grand jury. George, under his full given name
(03:15):
of Kyle Prossad George is charged with a Class A
misdemeanor offense of misrepresentation of identity. Specifically, the indictment alleges
George did on or about September twenty six, twenty twenty two,
then and there misrepresent his identity, namely by posing his
Facebook user Antonio Scallywag in a campaign communication posted on
(03:39):
George's Facebook page with an intent to injure a candidate
or influence the result of an election. George has stated
that this is a planned attack by the Fort Benn
County District Attorney and the Democratic Party in Fort Benn County.
The People's News talk with him in this exclusive interview.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I supple you head, I decided that to change parties. Definitely.
It was not something happened overnight, and it happened over
the time. Democratic Party. I did not leave there, left
me absolutely, and they left me. They're not the party
I signed up to work or be part of, you know,
(04:21):
when I did maybe a while ago. And of course,
understand one thing about people like us immigrant community at large.
And we I am not born and raised, neither Republican
nor Democrat. I came to this country as an adult,
and I am I came here for a better life,
not for a political life or any of that stuff.
(04:42):
But God brought me this far. And in that journey
I voted initial days in the Republican primary. This is
all records, so you could even check it in two
thousand and two thousand and two, and two thousand and four,
two thousand and six, and two thousand and eight, and
I WoT on the Republican primary. And then of course
I realized, you know, for see, we are not we
(05:03):
are not looking at you know who we can align
more with our values. And I at that time I
thought it is Democrats that over the time and I
got elected. And the spending habit of the left wing
Democrats in Fortpen County is one of the main reasons
there is a lot of problems started happening. Our budget
(05:26):
was three hundred and eighty two million dollars when I
came into Fortpen County Judge's office in twenty nineteen. Today
it today it is seven hundred and thirty two million dollars.
Six years later, seven seventh budget, and that is astronomical spending.
And I said many times and that most of the
(05:50):
spending went to democratic elected officials. And I could prove
it to you based on how they are. You know,
how many how many positions got approved, and how many
resources got approved and things of that nature. So many
times I said, hey, we cannot sustain this kind of spending.
And so obviously they found a way to nail me
(06:11):
so that so that they could kick me out of
here and put their own people in the in this office.
And one of the before even I do anything, did anything,
one of the judge in Fortmant County, Christine Brasuera, and
he signed a no necessary, a frivolous warrant to search
(06:35):
me and my car and all that stuff to just
intimidate and discredit me in front of my neighbors and public.
And two months later the judge said, sitting judge said
he's going to run for county jat.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
The judge and D went to school together. They worked
under previous DA's office, John Healey's office, and they had
private practice together. These kind of scary thing happening in
Fort Penn County and Fort Pink County justice system. I
am very concerned the state of Fort Pink County's justice
(07:15):
system because that is being used to promote their personal agenda,
which is a scary thing. It doesn't happen, It shouldn't
happen anywhere, and that's a scary thing. And at this point,
I am going to stand up and fight. And you
know that they came and indicted me on frivolous things
(07:37):
simply because they know that they cannot take me out
of you know, take me out of this office by
putting some opponent and this and that. Because I'm very
connected to people. It's not like I cannot defeat. I
cannot be defeated. But I'm very good with people and
I'm working hard. In the last six seven years, we
(07:58):
changed so much in the county for the betterment of
our citizens. And I did that. So that's the reason
why they said, Okay, nail this guy with some frivolous lawsuits.
That's what Portpen County District Attorney is doing. And also,
I'll tell you this, both this alleged thing they're saying
(08:21):
are election court violations. If you think about it, Texas
Ethics Commission should be investigating this, not the DA's office.
But they want it because they have control over what
they're doing. And not only that, even yesterday there was
a das item on the Commission's court. I have to
vote on it, and their budget is approved by me
(08:43):
and other commissioners. And there is a direct conflict of
interest in this conversation if I did something wrong, and
definitely they should be saying, Okay, County did something wrong
and I want justice brought to the citizens of Fortpink County.
But I'm not that person because I need to be out.
(09:03):
You know why, because I know him I personally. We
ran campaign together and you know what, and he approved
my budget and I'm going to bring a special prosecutor
to look into this matter, and that's what he should
have done. But no, because I have special prosecutor is
going to throw away all these cases in a heartbeat
(09:24):
because this is all frivolous. And also, what is the
definition of money laundering? What is the definition of money laundering?
You're bringing dirty drug or some other illegal money, bringing
it to the country, depositing in our system and making
that money good money, black money become white money or
(09:47):
good money, and then using it for illicit purposes. For
gang activity or terrorism and things of that nature. Where
did I bring the money from?
Speaker 5 (09:58):
This is where a justice system, a district attorney taking
a small thing and stretching it so that you could
destroy a person and their career, their reputation.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
And that is what is happening in Fortman County. And
I will ask you to go and talk to this
district attorney. We come to find out he got two
hundred violations with Fort pent his filing with Texas Ethics
Commission or the campaign filing. And I filed the case
with tex Ethics Commission. And what he why he's not
(10:37):
prosecuting himself. So no, why he saying, hey, I did
something wrong. Somebody need to come out look at me.
Why is that because because this is some simply a
group of people. They never held office before they came
in and they got the power and they wanted to
(10:57):
do possibly destroy me and so that they could politically benefit.
And that is not Fortpen County for and that is
not Fortpen County believing. That is not Fortpen County's almost
nine hundred and fifty thousand tax paying citizens want. And
(11:18):
that is the reason why I'm going to stand up
and fight and clear my name, my innocence in a
court Offlow.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
I will say this that.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
This is a strong Republican area and for you, an immigrant,
to come in and get thee and get elected office
says something about you personally.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I will thank you, thank you, and I always believe
in this. There is nothing special about me.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Now.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I'm just another person. But one thing about is I
love people. I care about them, and I bring them
close to my heart and I go to wherever they
I talked to them at their level. And also Fortpink
County is demographic. These Democrats need to understand. Fortpink County's
demographic is thirty percent white, twenty four percent Hispanics, twenty
(12:11):
three percent Asians, and twenty percent African Americans. Okay, and
you know I'm not trying to be racial about it.
You know that most of the Republicans are Caucasians and
most of the Democrats are African Americans. That's out in
Fortpenk County. Different places are different.
Speaker 7 (12:29):
And.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Neither party is going to win elections in portmant County
without an ex number of people from the middle. Like
talking about Asians and some Hispanics, I will.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
Say this, I will ask you this, though, you decide
to go onto the replica. The Republican side, knowing that
the attacks from the Governor's office and Paston's office has
been strongly against immigrants, has been completely but latally anti. Yeah,
(13:03):
a lot of things that as far as the democratic process.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, I don't know. I agree one hundred percent. I
can agree with some of that. But the thing about
it is the the Trump administration or Governor Abbot's office
or can Paction's office, they are talking about illegal immigrants.
I don't think they're talking about immigrant, you know, legally
(13:29):
immigrated people. I haven't seen that. I haven't seen that,
and maybe it is out there.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
But even Trump administration doing this cracking down on illegal immigration,
he never said a legal immigrant should be this or that.
I never heard that.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
Basically, he was running on the position that illegal legal
immigrants that are criminals and demonizing immigrants as you know
what heart is for that, namers in.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Your community Latino.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
That work, hard work and to be attacked by that.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
And I you know, I just want you to know this.
I don't control President Trump, I don't control the Governor Rabbit,
I don't control can Paction Trainey cheneral. But the thing
about it is what is going on in this country.
And also you know that when it comes to immigration,
Trump administration policies are overwhelmingly supported by immigrants. You could
(14:33):
look at some polls and they believe because one thing
about our country is no country is going to survive
with an open boat. No country is going to survive
without a strong immigration policies, and no country is going
to keep its sovereignty without having a strong system, an
(14:58):
immigration system, and can balance this our country. You know,
people are bringing truckload of people to the border and
dumbing them there. They're somehow closing over and they get
seek asylum of whatever. That's not an immigration system we
can depend And also this is the thing look at it.
So many criminal activities and things of that nature happening
(15:20):
because it is easy to hide. So again, County, how
not all in immigration? And we don't even need to
get into that conversation. And so I'm not here to
talk about immigration, but why I did it, And honestly,
I also want you to know that I am born
and raised as a Christian and I believe in Christian values, God,
family and freedom is a very common theme all immigrant
(15:44):
share all immigrant share and so and I believe, I
am strongly believing now the Republican parties stand for that,
that stand with that idols and I'm a physical conservative.
When it comes to money, I understand the concept of money.
Many Democrats, some of them even on our Commissioners COD
(16:07):
doesn't understand the concept of money because money is not free.
It's not like you shake a free and get it right,
somebody write a check. And also, when it comes to
a county, our only resource is taxpayer dollars. Tax payer dollars, okay,
(16:28):
and property taxes. See when it comes to a city,
they have sale tax and other revenues. County doesn't have that.
That means every penny our citizen, right, that is our revenue.
That's where I get a salary, he gets a salary,
and whoever that might be right, So I am it
is my job to make sure I am one hundred
(16:49):
percent prudent with.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
That tax pay dollars.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
And that was not happening in fortpen County last so
many years. And so I said, hey, we cannot do this,
and the Democrats get too got together. I'm Democratic, you know,
Jeorge so responded, DA said, okay, you know what I
could weaponize the government and I could use that against
(17:14):
this guy and put him in you know, arrosta him
or you know, I could charge him with anything. And
so that's what he's doing. And that is a scary
president he's setting Infortmant County because if I am the
top elected official Infortmant County, if they can't do that
to me, he can do that to anybody. And also
go check his campaign contributions. Who is writing the big checks?
(17:39):
Anyone who wrote a big check, I ask you to
do that. Go google that person. You know, it's all
public information. You could go and anyone who wrote a
big check. I'm talking about ten twenty five or more
and check that person. Google that person. You will see
(18:00):
something theay about those people.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Why now you see an outside money is coming in
a foccount.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
That means what they're doing is they're trying to buy
this office. You know, you know I'm a shady guy,
and so yeah, I will give you a contribution. I'm
good and so you know what I'm friends with. DA
kind of thing is that's what you want in fortmin County. No, No,
people of Fort Pint County deserve better and That's the
reason why I strongly believe he's not going to be
(18:27):
the DA from twenty twenty seventh January, because the people
of Fortpin County will brought him out of this office.
And I'm certain about that because nobody should go through
And if I always say that if I did something wrong,
there should be there should be consequences. I'm not anything
any special, but not this way like frivolous. You just
(18:49):
decide and you know we will, we will do this,
we will do that, and you know you are you
are a flight prest and we take your passport away,
We do this. We could do that, and and intimidation tactics,
and that is not the justice see our forefathers enviition.
(19:10):
And I still because somebody asked me or you don't
believe in American justice system, That's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
That's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
And who is sitting in certain offices determine what kind
of justice system is happening there. If anyone got in
front of anyone who got indicted with anything, ask them.
The power of district attorney is so enormous in Texas especially,
(19:39):
and you could pick up a case and charge on
a scale of one to ten, you could do nothing.
You could do a scale of one to ten, they
could go to even fifteen. And in my case, that's
exactly what they're doing and exaggerating because there is you know,
I am in an office. You know I am if
(19:59):
somehow I I you know, somehow, if this can work
out in their favor, so they could kick me out
of here. And also this stistic attorney offered my attorney
saying that you know what, if I resign and go,
they will drop the chances. Okay, okay, So that means
(20:21):
it is not about your fixing a problem. It's not
about you are doing something or or your your your
you're delivering justice. It's about an agenda you have. And
that's what he's going to be exposed in Fortman County
because our county is better than that, and one person cannot, cannot,
(20:44):
shouldn't be doing that to another citizen in Forotman County.
And if you did something, if I did something wrong,
to process and that's why I ask. And but the
thing about it is I even still ask. He should
not be prosecuting me. He will, he should give this
to a special prosecutor and let him do it.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
But they won't do it.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
They won't do it because they lose control over that conversation.
And not only that, you know that when we try
to do that, it is not going to work because
in you know, recusing based on the request of an
accused is you know, how many percent did happen? Maybe
one percent? In this nation, it doesn't happen. And so
(21:29):
that's the challenge we are facing. And so with all that,
and I believe my ideal, my family values, my financial
you know, fiscal values and all aligned with much more
aligned with the Republican Party. And that's why I made
this switch and we are working and I deliver my
(21:50):
Republican values to the citizens of Fort Penn County.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
What about because you're known as as strong as a
strong Democrat the community not just apport me in county
Parris County. And if you feel that way, why not
run as an independent?
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Because I've seen you. No, it's not about running. It's
not about running. I mean, you know, honestly, it's not
about running for an election. And you know, you know
if somebody asked me that, no, it's not about running
for an election. I wanted to align with a group
of people can align with my values, and you know what,
(22:28):
you could ask why didn't you align with them before?
And you know, I made a mistake, and you know
what in my life I learned if I made a mistake,
and I rather fix it rather than sitting there and
thinking I have no value. And I'm fixing it and
I will show it to the people who got any
doubt how strong of a Republican I am when it
(22:49):
comes to values.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
You're so you'll still reach over went over to the
Democrats that elected to you.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Absolutely, And I know that if I'm when I'm on
the ballot, a number of these people are going to
vote for me because I did nothing wrong to any
one of these people.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
This is just.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I mean, you heard this weaponizing justice system, which is
a scary process, which I never thought it happened in
Fortmann County. It is happening. Go talk to person, the mayor,
the former mayor in Kendileton, Darryl Humphrey. They did the
same thing. They did the same thing, went after him and.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
He did.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
I mean, this is another thing. This judicial process is
thousands and thousands of dollars and people don't have that
kind of money. At some point do you say an
I surrounder, you know, let me go, And they offered
the same thing. If he resigned, you will, you know,
they will drop the charges. That's what they did. He resigned.
(23:53):
And if you want that kind of power in one
district attorney's hand, No, That's why I decided to stand
up and fight, and I will fight and I will
clear my name.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
In a quarterflow, George says he will continue to fight
and run for office. Hi, this is Steve Gallington, producer
and host of the People's News. If you have a
story that needs to be told, come to us. We
accept fully produced audio, written material. Or just give us
(24:25):
the idea and we will run with it. Shiny new
one hour episodes of The People's News drop each Sunday
on The People's News podcast, hosted by spreaker dot com
and linked to my website Gallington dot com. Another hat
has been tossed into the race for Harris County Judge
(24:45):
as Houston City council member Letitia Plummer announced that she
will run in the Democratic primaries. She now joins the
likes of former Houston Mayor In East Parker and others
vying for the seat currently held by Lena Hidalgo. Has
not said whether she's going to continue or not, but
it is assumed that she will not run for office again.
(25:07):
Plumber made her announcement this week.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
Step forward, Let's take back our future. Let's build a
stronger Harris County for every single resident. We can do this,
We can do this together. The time is now. Let's
get this done. God bless you, God bless Harris County,
(25:38):
and God bless the United States of America.
Speaker 10 (25:44):
What's your decision to run it runs a judge and
what's to run against Canada?
Speaker 9 (25:52):
Well, my plan is not to run against Judge d Ago.
From what I understand, she is not going to be
running for next so lea her next election. This is
our time to get a progressive leader that can run
Harris County the right way and ensure that every single
person in Harris County has equitable opportunities to live, to thrive,
and to be safe.
Speaker 10 (26:12):
What things that you'll do that are different from what's
been done in the past.
Speaker 9 (26:17):
I think collaboration. I've been able to in my previous
in my current role as a city council member, I've
been able to work all sides of the field. Come
to a common understanding of what we need to do
and work to a solution. I'm the only one of
the race that.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Can do that.
Speaker 10 (26:32):
You know, you'll be working with Abbot, Governor Abbit and
another republication. You feel that you're in a.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Physician to do that.
Speaker 9 (26:40):
Absolutely. The first thing I have to do is fight
to get us to the table. And when I'm at
the table, I'm going to fight to get things done.
Speaker 11 (26:46):
Can you talk about some of the problems, the biggest
problems you see right now facing commissioner's career.
Speaker 9 (26:52):
I believe that the collaboration between the county and the
city and other municipalities are our challenge right now. We're
going to have to have someone that has the ability
to bring people together but also own and fight for
the things that we believe in. And that's what I
know that I'll be able to do.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Right And we're not going to slam judge dogs.
Speaker 12 (27:10):
Yeah, We're going to carry the baton forward.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (27:13):
Can you sorry? Commissioners are facing you know, a multi
million dollar bunch of deficit right now, So can you
just talk about like how you plan.
Speaker 13 (27:22):
To address that.
Speaker 9 (27:25):
You know, I can tell my kids when I've raised
my family it's time to tighten the belt. It's time
to look at how we're spending the resources it puts
onus and and force to the state and the federal
government to drive down the dollars that we need. Infrastructure
is really what's waning here, and we've got to make
sure that we as a county work together, but we
also have to drive down those resources from the state
and federal government.
Speaker 11 (27:44):
Do you see anywhere where the bell can be tightened
in the county right now?
Speaker 9 (27:49):
We got to get resources from this, from this federal
government and from the state. They owe it to us.
Speaker 10 (27:55):
How do you plan on doing that when they're talking
about cutting female planning us hurricane season so you suspect
respect storms and hurricanes in the episode drought, how do
you expect to get more money from the whales so
to speak?
Speaker 9 (28:08):
Yeah, no, no, the federal government, now it can definitely
be challenging, But I will say this, we have a
community here. If we can work together, we can have
all forms of government work together just locally. We can
figure this out. We just can't do it in silos.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Right.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yes, I'm want to ask the question we lose races
because folks have ven to the other side, or they're
jumping on and trumpboard.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Some of them just stay at home. How are you
going to get people out?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
And also if you're going to get them out in wonder,
how do we they feel that you're.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Going to listen to this? Yeah?
Speaker 9 (28:44):
I think that what we have to do is look
at my record. I felt that when I ran in
twenty eighteen for Congress, when I went for twenty nineteen
for my first election. We've got to give people a
reason to vote, and my record shows I've been with
the people and I folked on quality of life challenges
and issues, and I've delivered. We need electeds that will deliver,
(29:06):
and that's what I'm going to do Differently.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
I will bid you feel that once you're delivered, But
how are you going to get them through the polls
so that you can We got to go to the neighborhoods.
Speaker 9 (29:13):
We got to talk to we got to go to colleges.
We've got to engage on people. I've got I'm a
mom of millennials. I've got to ask them what do
they want, what do they see happening? What can I
do to make them come out and get engaged. We've
got to figure this out. We're literally losing democracy right now.
Speaker 10 (29:28):
Are you gonna how are you going to restore the
Latino community right now? The Latino community is in is
in in dire strait. They're scared to come out to
vote and so, uh, that's one thing that Dogo did
was she gained that she gained that trust when with
the Latino community. How do you plan on doing that?
Speaker 9 (29:44):
Yeah, most of the work that I've done are in
lower income communities, and that's black and brown communities, primarily Latino,
and I will say that the trust of that community.
I have one specific issue that I've worked with is
my apartment in specttional Reform ordinance. A lot of them
were not complaining about lords and would I gave them.
I stepped out and gave them the opportunity and the
power and the strength to get out in front of
(30:06):
the light and know that they're protected teaming up. Would
loans are legal, So they know that I understand their fear,
and we have to just gain their confidence and tell
them that we are working for everyone. I've done it.
I've done it for the last you know, five years.
I'm going to do it as the county judge.
Speaker 10 (30:21):
You said, we'll talk about the federal government and Latino community.
Right now, we have ICE that's coming into the neighborhoods
and working with the police department and the constables. So
how do you how do you gain that trust?
Speaker 9 (30:34):
So I do have a couple more months on counsel,
although you know, obviously this announcement causes a resignation, but
I do have a couple more months and that the
one piece that I'm working on before I leave is
some type of alignment with HPD with their Constable's office
to understand a bit better the the people are seeing
(30:55):
that they're working together. I want to get clarification and
proof that they are working together and if they are
understanding why and if they're not, change the narrative and
make sure that people understand that they're safe and the
HPD is not working with ICE.
Speaker 11 (31:09):
And on top of that, what are sort of some
ways that you can see Houston City Council and Commissioner's
Court and the city and the county really working together now?
Speaker 9 (31:18):
Absolutely, so two things shared services. Looking our health departments, right,
I mean, with all of the defunding of all of
our health care issues, the cuts in Medicare, Medicaid. We
have the City of Houston has a health department, and
so does the county. The county has Hare's Health, which
is amazing. But there are ways that we can combine
services together and figure out how one person can do it.
(31:40):
I actually got my start at Hare's Health. I opened
the Strawberry Clinic as I'm a dentist by trade, and
so I understand how it works. I understand how to
work with our indigent community and understand what they need
and what the needs happen. But those are the two spaces.
And also on the infrastructure perspective, I think oftentimes our
HPW and Harri's County flood kind of works separately. Need
to fill the you know, be that bridge and bring
(32:02):
them together and have conversations. We the city brings the
water to the hole, right we got to make sure
whatever pipe we're putting in go through the right hole
at the right time, and we got to do it
in the right way.
Speaker 10 (32:12):
After as you the city council and homeless and homeless,
it seems like right now the homeless sweat situation and
seems like the Mayor's attacking the homeless situation, especially food
not bombs and other organizations.
Speaker 12 (32:24):
Yeah, and how how are you going to do that?
Speaker 10 (32:26):
Working as far as Harris.
Speaker 9 (32:28):
County, Yeah, yeah, No, we've got it. We've got to
give them. Most of our homeless are struggling with mental
health concerns, right, and so we have to find ways.
And once again, I'm bringing back the state, I'm bringing
back the federal government. Mental health dollars has got to
be a part of this conversation. I was able to
fund crisis and divention teams, so at least we know
our mental health folks would not go to jail. They
(32:49):
have a social worker that can work with them to
prevent them, giving them the wrap around services. From a
homeless perspective, we have to give them the medical care
that they need and then give them housing, and then
do job training and opportunities, and also talk about our
reentry programs and those are all programs that we can
really work together the city and the county.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Plumber will resign from her current position on Houston City
Council at Large, which she has held since twenty twenty.
Air Alliance Houston has joined a coalition of nonprofits, tribes,
and local governments to sue the corrupt and criminal Trump
Administration for unlawfully terminating the Environmental Protection Agencies Environmental and
(33:29):
Climate Justice grant programs despite a congressional directive to fund them.
The plaintiffs come from every region of the country and
will be seeking a class action certification so that all
three hundred and fifty grant recipients who have been harmed
by the wholesale termination of the EPA program may continue
their projects. We talked with Jennifer Idea, executive director with
(33:53):
Air Allines Houston about the suit.
Speaker 13 (33:55):
So there are two primary areas of concern with the
new administration under the UPA. One of them has to
do with policy, the other has to do with something
so policy wise, the EPA has announced its plans to
reevaluate or roll back over thirty protective environmental rules and regulations,
(34:18):
including those under the Clean Air Acts and the Clean
Water Act. That will have a direct and negative impact
on the Houston area because of our major sources of
air pollution, primarily picture chemicals and other types of industrial sources.
So we're very concerned about what that role amount of
rules might look like. And at the same time they
(34:40):
are also clawing back legally distributed several dollars congressionally allocated
under the Inflation Reduction Act to organizations like Hours in
the Houston area prospects across the country to do environmental
and climate justice work. At the same time that they
(35:01):
are proposing to lessen our protections against air pollution and
against heat prepping gases that cause climate change, they are
also attempting to decimate those organizations in terms of the
work they do to improve environmental and public health. So
it is a one two punch. It's creating a perfect storm.
(35:22):
At the same time that they want to make it
easier to pollute, they also want to make it harder
for those of us working in the community to protect
people from pollution. So there's a policy and a funded
impact right now.
Speaker 12 (35:34):
And this is nothing that's not unexpected because they said
they were going to do this. The Trump administration said
they were going to do this when they got in office.
Speaker 13 (35:42):
That is definitely true.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
I think the.
Speaker 13 (35:47):
Fury and flurry that has happened in just the first
six administration possibly is what is surprising. We knew through
those executive orders, both around unleashing American energy and cracking
down on diversity, equity and inclusion that these policy and
(36:07):
funding changes were coming. They have been fast and furious.
They have been in a larger volume that I think
most folks expected. It is a message to us that
the norms are on what you can expect is gone.
And I think the flurry and fury of these actions,
one after the other, after the other after the other,
(36:29):
is also part of the goal. As part of the
goal is to keep us, keep us divided in terms
of our attention, keep us distracted in terms of how
many things are happening. It's the time and routh we
all have to be ever more coordinated. And if they
ever wanted a coordinated movement for environmental and climate justice,
that's what they're getting because we are coming together. We
(36:51):
are working together, and our latest actions, specifically in regards
to the funding cust has been a collective action and
try every organization individually to litigate what is an illegal
breach of contract for federal dollars. We have come together
and it is the first class action and lawsuit of
(37:13):
its side, and it is bringing together over It would
benefit over three hundred and fifty organizations nationwide. So rather
than each of us going after our funds to support
this important work, we are coming together as a class
to leave those funds. So it is the first kind
of class action suit of its kind. Air Alliance Piston
(37:34):
is one of the name scientists on the class action suit.
We were proud to do so primarily because it would
have a benefit for all and we believe that the
resources that we and those other organizations we need to
promote public health and reduce pollution in our communities is
worth fighting for. So we signed up. We are part
(37:55):
of that lawsuit, and it would benefit all of those
terminated grantees to do that important work in their community
across the country.
Speaker 12 (38:01):
I'm not designed bloom and doom, but the you know,
the Trump administration also had the judges in their quarter,
primarily Trump appointed judges and Bush appointed judges, that they're
in charge of making decisions on these basis.
Speaker 13 (38:18):
So I think that is true in some cases and
in some cases not true. The losses would have been
brought in various courts by various organizations to release sederal
funds have all been successful except for one. There's only
been one where the judge did not rule in the
favor of the environmental and climate movement. So there are
(38:40):
some indication that has caused action to succeed. Now on
the EPA rullbacks, I think we are in for a
temper climb. At the same time, I think we have
between air apps on our side, and I would also
argue there are processes that would need to be a
vote in order to make changes to those policies, and
(39:02):
there are points all along the way, along the path
where we can advocate all the way up to also
bringing suit. Airline Tristan is also part of a separate
and different lawsuit with our partners at Earth Justice to
oppose one of the first rollbacks that we've seen, which
is just something called the MATS Rule or the Mercury
(39:25):
Air Toxic Standard. It is a rule that puts limits
on the amount of mercury, arsenic and other air toxics
that coal fire power plants can emit. In the Houston area,
we have a coal fire power plant about thirty minutes
outside of downtown Houston and Portland County. It's called WA Parish.
So we are actively pushing back on a rollback to
(39:46):
that rule that would allow WA Parish to emit even
more mercury and arthmic into the air. So I do
think on the policy side, we have a harder, longer road.
That doesn't stop us from doing it. There will be
points to advocate on the funding side. We have been
given some indications that we are winning in court, so
we are going to proceed and we are very hopeful
that we're going to win the plataffs and do as well.
Speaker 12 (40:09):
All Right, I'll let you go with that, and again again,
how did you get touched with airlines Houston?
Speaker 13 (40:17):
Absolutely wonderful question. Thank you for asking that the best
way is to go to our website, which is very
simple www dot air Alliancesuston dot org. Sign up for
our newsletter. We view our newsletter as an action newsletter.
We are going to be sending out information about how
you can smit comments, how you can make your voice heard,
(40:39):
how you can join us in holding accountable those industries
that are polluting us harming our health. And we only
send those newsletters out when there is something to do,
so we take that very seriously. We want to engage community.
We are stronger when we are engaged with communities. So
head to our website, clign up for our newsletter, and
we hope to see you, We hope to hear you,
We hope to be partnership with you as we protect
(41:01):
to send from the dangers of air pollution.
Speaker 12 (41:04):
And there's just one quick question about the situation in
cervial you know, in the environmentally impact on.
Speaker 13 (41:12):
That well, you know, I think the number one focus
right now should be on the continued recovery and the
support of people who are directly impacted. Like many Houstonians,
I myself have family in the area. Thank goodness, our
family are all accounted for and they are safe. But
(41:33):
this is going to be the disaster that will take
years and lots of money to recover from and lots
of support of spirit and resilience. So first and foremost,
I think that's where our hearts have had need to be.
But it should also not go unrecognized that the kind
of weather events that happened over Fourth of July weekend
in the Hill Country, the kinds of massive and severe
(41:56):
storms that we have seen in the Houston area, Hurricane
Heart across Texas, winter storm Jury, are directly related to
our changing planet and what pollutes the air warms the planet.
We cannot ignore the root cause of these extreme weather events,
the extreme changing of our temperature and other impacts from
(42:18):
keyp crapping gases. We have to get our carbon and
meman emission to under control. We have to stop polluting
the air and making it warmer. We've been on record
for multiple years now with the record highest carbon emissions.
We are warmer than we've ever been. This is also
the coldest we will ever be going forward. Every year
from now on will be the hottest on record. We've
(42:39):
got to get our seax crepping gas emissions under control.
In the meantime, we have to be prepared for these
extreme weather events like the floods in the Hill country,
like the hurricanes, like the carnadoes, like the winter storms,
because they are directly driven by climate change, which is
directly driven by air pollution.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
That was Jennifer Idea, the executive director with Air Alliance Houston. Again,
you can contact them at www dot air Alliance Houston
all put together dot org.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
HI.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
This is Steve Gallington, producer and host for The People's News.
One of the things that I got in preparation for
going to the No King's Rally on June fourteenth was
a presentation from the ACLU, which I want to repeat
the information from for you. In light of the convicted
felon opening up Alligator Alcatraz, and the Republican House and
(43:37):
Senate passing this big, ugly, expensive, devastating bill. Among those
things is one hundred and thirty five billion dollars for
increased secret police activity or ICE funding. And so you
have rights when dealing with the police or ice, no
(43:58):
matter or immigration status. Number one, if they do not
have a warrant, an arrest warrant or a search warrant,
you do not have to open the door for the
police or ice. You do not have to answer any
questions about status or country of origin. The right to
remain silent is protected under the fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
(44:23):
You have the right to ask to see a lawyer.
You have the right to refuse searches of your person
and your car if the police do not suspect a crime.
This is the fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Never sign
anything without knowing what it says. And you have a
(44:46):
right to record what happens. And if you're hearing this
and you can speak and read Spanish, the People's News
would love for you to read the script in Spanish,
so we can accompany that with this. Well, So be
safe out there. Look out for each other and we
will get through this together. The United States national men's
(45:10):
soccer team played Mexico in the finals of the Concatholic
Gold Cup in Houston this week. The match was marred
by the illegal and corrupt immigration raids being conducted around
the United States. This match highlighted that this is a
precursor of the Men's World Cup next year being held
(45:31):
in the US, Canada and Mexico. And with this illegal
enforcement efforts going on with Ice, with these quotas for
detaining thousands and thousands of legal and illegal immigrants, there
is a fear this is going to scare folks from
other countries coming into this country to watch the event.
(45:53):
Hermann Fernandez Mouse is the editor for Los Vas, the
Spanish publication for the Houston Chronicle.
Speaker 14 (46:00):
H For some people oversease, it's going to be difficult
to get their visas some time because they still don't
know if their countries qualified or not, so depending on
the amount of time that there are visa work in
their respective consulates or embassies in their countries. From what
(46:24):
I heard, Columbias are in trouble is they still they
make it from South America because they are saying that
the visa is taking more than a year in certain places.
So yeah, I think it's going to be difficult in
that aspect. Another aspect that is going to be obviously
(46:44):
it's going to be tough for the hooligans in different
countries because they already have a least in every country,
like it happened with Argentina, and there are hooligans in
their rural plate and Boca juniors competing the FIFA World
Club competition, So that's that's not going to be a
problem once you get the vis I think it's gonna
(47:06):
be okay. And already Infantino has a very good relationship
with the Trump administration, so I think that's already sort out.
Speaker 10 (47:16):
About segregation as far as I haven't heard anything from FIFA,
the organizers about segregating fan the fan base.
Speaker 12 (47:26):
You know, England might be playing Germany something like that, and.
Speaker 14 (47:33):
No, I'm not really expecting more than the usual in soccer.
There could be a certain university between certain countries, but
that's historic, that's that's not something.
Speaker 4 (47:46):
That has to be this time around.
Speaker 14 (47:49):
We live in a country that's a melting part of
cultures and nationality, so I don't think that that's going
to be a problem.
Speaker 8 (47:58):
Eyes questions will be an enforcement and events here in
the United States.
Speaker 14 (48:06):
You know, when they launched the World Club Competition, that
was with the idea and they gave the US the
hosting rights. That was the idea of the idea of
using this tournament as a as a tryout.
Speaker 4 (48:22):
For the for the World Cup next year.
Speaker 14 (48:24):
If you go, according to Irena in Miami at the
games over there for the Club competition, and I didn't
see any problem on that aspect, So I don't think
I And I was in contact with fans from from
South American film for Europe and uh no, I don't.
Speaker 4 (48:41):
I don't foresee that to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (48:44):
As for the match itself, Mexico's Edison Alvarez completed a
header from very close range to the bottom right corner
of the goal, assisted by Johann Vasquez, following a set
piece situation one two to one in front of seventy
thousand fans at an RG Stadium in Houston, Texas. US
men's soccer coachs Mauricio Pachetto was positive even after defeat.
Speaker 4 (49:10):
Coaching staff player.
Speaker 15 (49:13):
Another stuff in bolth matter forty days, like us, they
were working so hard to arrive here and and then
they leave the trophy.
Speaker 4 (49:22):
Primero gropanol. I went to make it. In Spanish, also
felicitara a Mexico World Cup and to all stuff.
Speaker 15 (49:36):
Jando first, Norman Saraki, simpana, medici, miento n a repeto.
The part I want to do from your question, I
seen his massive lesson for us and don't seen is priceless.
(49:58):
I think it's was an amazing tournament to realize in
the way that we want it to grow. That is
in the way that I think we are going to
find the way to compete better and better and better
and being very competitive and be in the place that
we want it to be.
Speaker 4 (50:17):
I think that is a.
Speaker 15 (50:21):
A n that is very very painful night, because when
you lose a trophy or you lose a game, is
really really painful. But the most important thing is is
to have our head up, because I think the tournament
was fantastic and I think keep going. That is in
(50:43):
the way that we want to build our journey and
into the to the World Cup. And in this way,
I have no doubt that we are going to be really,
really competitive and I'm going to be very difficult for
the oponent. What I going to say after you your
question about the humble in the sixty is this is
many sixty seven minutes in the second half. It's not
(51:07):
nothing to I think because you listen. So No, when
when finished the game, that was sure, cry and cry,
but I don't want to cry. I'm not going to cry.
I wanted to tell the truth, and the truth was
that that happened in the opposite.
Speaker 4 (51:29):
Half.
Speaker 15 (51:30):
In the another box, for sure is penalty. Because we
have to talk about the rules. You say, silly penalty,
silly penalty. It's like plenty of penalty.
Speaker 4 (51:42):
That are so silly. Silly.
Speaker 15 (51:44):
Yes, he was the player was with the knee on
the floor. He pushed the hand over the ball. It's
not that the hand was on the floor and the
ball touched. Okay, what the excuses now? But you know
that was penalty and maybe two one for us and
maybe the we now were we were celebrating the trophy.
Speaker 4 (52:12):
I think that it's clear and it's not about to cry.
Speaker 15 (52:15):
It's not about to complain, it's not about to put
excuses in the in the different things.
Speaker 4 (52:22):
But I think we can continue talking.
Speaker 15 (52:25):
For me, it was embarrassing to see that situation and
it's a shame because I understand and maybe seventy thousand people,
you know, giving this penalty.
Speaker 4 (52:35):
It's not easy.
Speaker 15 (52:36):
But maybe again or four, maybe it's easier. No, and yes,
that is what we need to do to learn. Also, yes,
I am so proud about the team. Keep going, keep fighting,
keep pushing when you had to work up too many
positives to take.
Speaker 1 (52:57):
Some good news is the Houston dynam has extended midfielder
Jack mclenn's contract through twenty twenty eight, with a club
option for twenty twenty nine. Mclenn played in every match
of the Gold Cup for the US men's national team.
He scored seven goals and had seven assists for Houston
this year. Emancipation Park is the beating heart of what
(53:19):
June teenth is all about. The land in the third
ward was paid for by two former black slaves who
bought the land in eighteen seventy two as a way
for blacks to celebrate June teenth and the end of
slavery in Houston. For years, it was only open on
June teenth and was the only park in Houston open
(53:40):
to black people. The original June teen celebrations in Houston
had to be moved to July twelfth because of a
rainout in June. Despite all of the actions by the
corrupt and criminal Trump administration to eliminate Black history, June
teenth continues even into July.
Speaker 3 (54:01):
You and celebration in July.
Speaker 10 (54:04):
What's your thoughts on that and having a celebration the
mestipracial part.
Speaker 2 (54:07):
I love it, man, It's a great showing black culture.
Speaker 4 (54:10):
Man, It's great out here.
Speaker 11 (54:12):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (54:13):
People nice Avengers are nice lady over there selling so
so smell.
Speaker 4 (54:18):
So good, good about it.
Speaker 1 (54:22):
Man, they count what the loo.
Speaker 12 (54:25):
They' us a good time, you know, and.
Speaker 6 (54:29):
Everybody join it.
Speaker 12 (54:30):
Hell, I'm important, is what you can about you too.
Speaker 6 (54:34):
It's a whole lot of important need to get used
to locks about it, you know, you know, a lot
of them is getting away from it.
Speaker 7 (54:42):
To my thoughts, are I really wish Sheila Jackson Lee
didn't leave us, that she was the best, And what's
celebrating her homegoing? And we're also celebrating Maids the Town
going because he was on the same stage last year.
(55:02):
And we're celebrated my brother John going because he was
here with me last year. So right now I'm having
a very good time, even though the police prayed or
brank on me. But okay, other than that, it was fine. Yes,
they played a prank on me instead my children's getting confiscated.
(55:23):
Oh okay, theyranked me.
Speaker 12 (55:27):
Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 7 (55:28):
Yeah, but it was it was funny.
Speaker 12 (55:30):
I laughed it off.
Speaker 7 (55:31):
It's just a part of June teams.
Speaker 8 (55:33):
It's importance of junior teams right now.
Speaker 10 (55:37):
In this society, importance of junior team.
Speaker 7 (55:40):
Some of these kids don't even know about the heretage
of June team. They don't follow it. Half of them,
like my grandkids, they didn't come. They don't like stuff
like this, but hey, it's a part of your heritage.
I told they still didn't want to go. This society
and this millennium. I don't know what's gone because some
of us as older, you know, as elders. I don't
(56:04):
know what's gonna happen. But I hope stop that comes
through better than what have been.
Speaker 12 (56:10):
That would be a bless.
Speaker 2 (56:12):
Well it was rained out. I think it's better better
to have it than not to have it. So I
think they compile quite a group. So it's a good celebration.
Spread into the summer a little bit, so it's hey.
June Tinkle was late itself, so you know late June tenth.
Speaker 1 (56:27):
I Hey, Hi, this is Steve Gallington, producer and host
of the People's News. The People's News is people powered news.
We are free to report the unvarnished and unspun truth
and challenge the status quo of corporate propaganda and social
media advertising disguised as real news. Shiny new one hour
(56:50):
episodes of The People's News drop each Sunday on The
People's News podcast. Thanks for listening. The People's News is
a production of Steve Gallington and Richard Hannah and is
protected by copyright laws. All the information broadcast on air
and online, as well as published in both print and
(57:13):
or online, including articles, audio, clips, illustrations, graphics, photographs, and videos,
are protected by these copyright and other state and federal
intellectual property laws. Therefore, you may not use our content
in any prohibited way, including reproducing, publishing, transmitting, selling, rewriting, broadcasting,
or posting on the Internet without the expressed written permission
(57:36):
of the People's News. Prohibited use also includes publication of
our material in printed or electronic brochures, newsletters, or flyers,
as well as all website or email distribution. To obtain
permission to use copyrighted material, email Steve Gallington at Steve
at gallington dot com. Thank you,
It's the week of July thirteenth, twenty twenty five, and
this is what's on the People's News. A People's News
exclusive we talked to in battled Fort ben County Judge KP. George.
Another hat is tossed into the race for Harris County Judge.
(00:23):
The Trump Administration is sued over EPA grants program, fear
and football as next year's World Cup clashes with the
criminal Trump administration's immigration policies. All that and more on
the People's News. I'm Steve Gallington. This is the People's News,
(00:44):
and the People's News starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
This is Steve Gallington, producer and host for the People's News.
One of the things that I got in preparation for
going to the No King's rally on June fourteenth was
a presentation from the ACLU, which I want to repeat
the information from for you in light of the convicted
felon opening up Alligator Alcatraz and the Republican House and
(01:20):
Senate passing this big, ugly, expensive, devastating bill. Among those
things is one hundred and thirty five billion dollars for
increased secret police activity or ICE funding. And so you
have rights when dealing with the police or ice, no
(01:42):
matter or immigration status number one. If they do not
have a warrant, an arrest warrant or a search warrant,
you do not have to open the door for the
police or ice. You do not have to answer any
questions about status or country of origin. The right to
remain silent is protected under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
(02:06):
You have the right to ask to see a lawyer.
You have the right to refuse searches of your person
and your car if the police do not suspect a crime.
This is the fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Never sign
anything without knowing what it says. And you have a
(02:30):
right to record what happens. And if you're hearing this
and you can speak and read Spanish, the People's News
would love for you to read the script in Spanish,
so we can accompany that with this as well. So
be safe out there, look out for each other, and
we will get through this together. In battled Fort ben County,
(02:53):
judge KP. George has stated that he is leaving the
Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party. George has been
fighting money laundering charges in a fake Facebook page in
an indictment handed down September twenty sixth by a Fort
ben County grand jury. George, under his full given name
(03:15):
of Kyle Prossad George is charged with a Class A
misdemeanor offense of misrepresentation of identity. Specifically, the indictment alleges
George did on or about September twenty six, twenty twenty two,
then and there misrepresent his identity, namely by posing his
Facebook user Antonio Scallywag in a campaign communication posted on
(03:39):
George's Facebook page with an intent to injure a candidate
or influence the result of an election. George has stated
that this is a planned attack by the Fort Benn
County District Attorney and the Democratic Party in Fort Benn County.
The People's News talk with him in this exclusive interview.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I supple you head, I decided that to change parties. Definitely.
It was not something happened overnight, and it happened over
the time. Democratic Party. I did not leave there, left
me absolutely, and they left me. They're not the party
I signed up to work or be part of, you know,
(04:21):
when I did maybe a while ago. And of course,
understand one thing about people like us immigrant community at large.
And we I am not born and raised, neither Republican
nor Democrat. I came to this country as an adult,
and I am I came here for a better life,
not for a political life or any of that stuff.
(04:42):
But God brought me this far. And in that journey
I voted initial days in the Republican primary. This is
all records, so you could even check it in two
thousand and two thousand and two, and two thousand and four,
two thousand and six, and two thousand and eight, and
I WoT on the Republican primary. And then of course
I realized, you know, for see, we are not we
(05:03):
are not looking at you know who we can align
more with our values. And I at that time I
thought it is Democrats that over the time and I
got elected. And the spending habit of the left wing
Democrats in Fortpen County is one of the main reasons
there is a lot of problems started happening. Our budget
(05:26):
was three hundred and eighty two million dollars when I
came into Fortpen County Judge's office in twenty nineteen. Today
it today it is seven hundred and thirty two million dollars.
Six years later, seven seventh budget, and that is astronomical spending.
And I said many times and that most of the
(05:50):
spending went to democratic elected officials. And I could prove
it to you based on how they are. You know,
how many how many positions got approved, and how many
resources got approved and things of that nature. So many
times I said, hey, we cannot sustain this kind of spending.
And so obviously they found a way to nail me
(06:11):
so that so that they could kick me out of
here and put their own people in the in this office.
And one of the before even I do anything, did anything,
one of the judge in Fortmant County, Christine Brasuera, and
he signed a no necessary, a frivolous warrant to search
(06:35):
me and my car and all that stuff to just
intimidate and discredit me in front of my neighbors and public.
And two months later the judge said, sitting judge said
he's going to run for county jat.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
The judge and D went to school together. They worked
under previous DA's office, John Healey's office, and they had
private practice together. These kind of scary thing happening in
Fort Penn County and Fort Pink County justice system. I
am very concerned the state of Fort Pink County's justice
(07:15):
system because that is being used to promote their personal agenda,
which is a scary thing. It doesn't happen, It shouldn't
happen anywhere, and that's a scary thing. And at this point,
I am going to stand up and fight. And you
know that they came and indicted me on frivolous things
(07:37):
simply because they know that they cannot take me out
of you know, take me out of this office by
putting some opponent and this and that. Because I'm very
connected to people. It's not like I cannot defeat. I
cannot be defeated. But I'm very good with people and
I'm working hard. In the last six seven years, we
(07:58):
changed so much in the county for the betterment of
our citizens. And I did that. So that's the reason
why they said, Okay, nail this guy with some frivolous lawsuits.
That's what Portpen County District Attorney is doing. And also,
I'll tell you this, both this alleged thing they're saying
(08:21):
are election court violations. If you think about it, Texas
Ethics Commission should be investigating this, not the DA's office.
But they want it because they have control over what
they're doing. And not only that, even yesterday there was
a das item on the Commission's court. I have to
vote on it, and their budget is approved by me
(08:43):
and other commissioners. And there is a direct conflict of
interest in this conversation if I did something wrong, and
definitely they should be saying, Okay, County did something wrong
and I want justice brought to the citizens of Fortpink County.
But I'm not that person because I need to be out.
(09:03):
You know why, because I know him I personally. We
ran campaign together and you know what, and he approved
my budget and I'm going to bring a special prosecutor
to look into this matter, and that's what he should
have done. But no, because I have special prosecutor is
going to throw away all these cases in a heartbeat
(09:24):
because this is all frivolous. And also, what is the
definition of money laundering? What is the definition of money laundering?
You're bringing dirty drug or some other illegal money, bringing
it to the country, depositing in our system and making
that money good money, black money become white money or
(09:47):
good money, and then using it for illicit purposes. For
gang activity or terrorism and things of that nature. Where
did I bring the money from?
Speaker 5 (09:58):
This is where a justice system, a district attorney taking
a small thing and stretching it so that you could
destroy a person and their career, their reputation.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
And that is what is happening in Fortman County. And
I will ask you to go and talk to this
district attorney. We come to find out he got two
hundred violations with Fort pent his filing with Texas Ethics
Commission or the campaign filing. And I filed the case
with tex Ethics Commission. And what he why he's not
(10:37):
prosecuting himself. So no, why he saying, hey, I did
something wrong. Somebody need to come out look at me.
Why is that because because this is some simply a
group of people. They never held office before they came
in and they got the power and they wanted to
(10:57):
do possibly destroy me and so that they could politically benefit.
And that is not Fortpen County for and that is
not Fortpen County believing. That is not Fortpen County's almost
nine hundred and fifty thousand tax paying citizens want. And
(11:18):
that is the reason why I'm going to stand up
and fight and clear my name, my innocence in a
court Offlow.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
I will say this that.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
This is a strong Republican area and for you, an immigrant,
to come in and get thee and get elected office
says something about you personally.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I will thank you, thank you, and I always believe
in this. There is nothing special about me.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Now.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I'm just another person. But one thing about is I
love people. I care about them, and I bring them
close to my heart and I go to wherever they
I talked to them at their level. And also Fortpink
County is demographic. These Democrats need to understand. Fortpink County's
demographic is thirty percent white, twenty four percent Hispanics, twenty
(12:11):
three percent Asians, and twenty percent African Americans. Okay, and
you know I'm not trying to be racial about it.
You know that most of the Republicans are Caucasians and
most of the Democrats are African Americans. That's out in
Fortpenk County. Different places are different.
Speaker 7 (12:29):
And.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Neither party is going to win elections in portmant County
without an ex number of people from the middle. Like
talking about Asians and some Hispanics, I will.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
Say this, I will ask you this, though, you decide
to go onto the replica. The Republican side, knowing that
the attacks from the Governor's office and Paston's office has
been strongly against immigrants, has been completely but latally anti. Yeah,
(13:03):
a lot of things that as far as the democratic process.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, I don't know. I agree one hundred percent. I
can agree with some of that. But the thing about
it is the the Trump administration or Governor Abbot's office
or can Paction's office, they are talking about illegal immigrants.
I don't think they're talking about immigrant, you know, legally
(13:29):
immigrated people. I haven't seen that. I haven't seen that,
and maybe it is out there.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
But even Trump administration doing this cracking down on illegal immigration,
he never said a legal immigrant should be this or that.
I never heard that.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
Basically, he was running on the position that illegal legal
immigrants that are criminals and demonizing immigrants as you know
what heart is for that, namers in.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Your community Latino.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
That work, hard work and to be attacked by that.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
And I you know, I just want you to know this.
I don't control President Trump, I don't control the Governor Rabbit,
I don't control can Paction Trainey cheneral. But the thing
about it is what is going on in this country.
And also you know that when it comes to immigration,
Trump administration policies are overwhelmingly supported by immigrants. You could
(14:33):
look at some polls and they believe because one thing
about our country is no country is going to survive
with an open boat. No country is going to survive
without a strong immigration policies, and no country is going
to keep its sovereignty without having a strong system, an
(14:58):
immigration system, and can balance this our country. You know,
people are bringing truckload of people to the border and
dumbing them there. They're somehow closing over and they get
seek asylum of whatever. That's not an immigration system we
can depend And also this is the thing look at it.
So many criminal activities and things of that nature happening
(15:20):
because it is easy to hide. So again, County, how
not all in immigration? And we don't even need to
get into that conversation. And so I'm not here to
talk about immigration, but why I did it, And honestly,
I also want you to know that I am born
and raised as a Christian and I believe in Christian values, God,
family and freedom is a very common theme all immigrant
(15:44):
share all immigrant share and so and I believe, I
am strongly believing now the Republican parties stand for that,
that stand with that idols and I'm a physical conservative.
When it comes to money, I understand the concept of money.
Many Democrats, some of them even on our Commissioners COD
(16:07):
doesn't understand the concept of money because money is not free.
It's not like you shake a free and get it right,
somebody write a check. And also, when it comes to
a county, our only resource is taxpayer dollars. Tax payer dollars, okay,
(16:28):
and property taxes. See when it comes to a city,
they have sale tax and other revenues. County doesn't have that.
That means every penny our citizen, right, that is our revenue.
That's where I get a salary, he gets a salary,
and whoever that might be right, So I am it
is my job to make sure I am one hundred
(16:49):
percent prudent with.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
That tax pay dollars.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
And that was not happening in fortpen County last so
many years. And so I said, hey, we cannot do this,
and the Democrats get too got together. I'm Democratic, you know,
Jeorge so responded, DA said, okay, you know what I
could weaponize the government and I could use that against
(17:14):
this guy and put him in you know, arrosta him
or you know, I could charge him with anything. And
so that's what he's doing. And that is a scary
president he's setting Infortmant County because if I am the
top elected official Infortmant County, if they can't do that
to me, he can do that to anybody. And also
go check his campaign contributions. Who is writing the big checks?
(17:39):
Anyone who wrote a big check, I ask you to
do that. Go google that person. You know, it's all
public information. You could go and anyone who wrote a
big check. I'm talking about ten twenty five or more
and check that person. Google that person. You will see
(18:00):
something theay about those people.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Why now you see an outside money is coming in
a foccount.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
That means what they're doing is they're trying to buy
this office. You know, you know I'm a shady guy,
and so yeah, I will give you a contribution. I'm
good and so you know what I'm friends with. DA
kind of thing is that's what you want in fortmin County. No, No,
people of Fort Pint County deserve better and That's the
reason why I strongly believe he's not going to be
(18:27):
the DA from twenty twenty seventh January, because the people
of Fortpin County will brought him out of this office.
And I'm certain about that because nobody should go through
And if I always say that if I did something wrong,
there should be there should be consequences. I'm not anything
any special, but not this way like frivolous. You just
(18:49):
decide and you know we will, we will do this,
we will do that, and you know you are you
are a flight prest and we take your passport away,
We do this. We could do that, and and intimidation tactics,
and that is not the justice see our forefathers enviition.
(19:10):
And I still because somebody asked me or you don't
believe in American justice system, That's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
That's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
And who is sitting in certain offices determine what kind
of justice system is happening there. If anyone got in
front of anyone who got indicted with anything, ask them.
The power of district attorney is so enormous in Texas especially,
(19:39):
and you could pick up a case and charge on
a scale of one to ten, you could do nothing.
You could do a scale of one to ten, they
could go to even fifteen. And in my case, that's
exactly what they're doing and exaggerating because there is you know,
I am in an office. You know I am if
(19:59):
somehow I I you know, somehow, if this can work
out in their favor, so they could kick me out
of here. And also this stistic attorney offered my attorney
saying that you know what, if I resign and go,
they will drop the chances. Okay, okay, So that means
(20:21):
it is not about your fixing a problem. It's not
about you are doing something or or your your your
you're delivering justice. It's about an agenda you have. And
that's what he's going to be exposed in Fortman County
because our county is better than that, and one person cannot, cannot,
(20:44):
shouldn't be doing that to another citizen in Forotman County.
And if you did something, if I did something wrong,
to process and that's why I ask. And but the
thing about it is I even still ask. He should
not be prosecuting me. He will, he should give this
to a special prosecutor and let him do it.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
But they won't do it.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
They won't do it because they lose control over that conversation.
And not only that, you know that when we try
to do that, it is not going to work because
in you know, recusing based on the request of an
accused is you know, how many percent did happen? Maybe
one percent? In this nation, it doesn't happen. And so
(21:29):
that's the challenge we are facing. And so with all that,
and I believe my ideal, my family values, my financial
you know, fiscal values and all aligned with much more
aligned with the Republican Party. And that's why I made
this switch and we are working and I deliver my
(21:50):
Republican values to the citizens of Fort Penn County.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
What about because you're known as as strong as a
strong Democrat the community not just apport me in county
Parris County. And if you feel that way, why not
run as an independent?
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Because I've seen you. No, it's not about running. It's
not about running. I mean, you know, honestly, it's not
about running for an election. And you know, you know
if somebody asked me that, no, it's not about running
for an election. I wanted to align with a group
of people can align with my values, and you know what,
(22:28):
you could ask why didn't you align with them before?
And you know, I made a mistake, and you know
what in my life I learned if I made a mistake,
and I rather fix it rather than sitting there and
thinking I have no value. And I'm fixing it and
I will show it to the people who got any
doubt how strong of a Republican I am when it
(22:49):
comes to values.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
You're so you'll still reach over went over to the
Democrats that elected to you.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Absolutely, And I know that if I'm when I'm on
the ballot, a number of these people are going to
vote for me because I did nothing wrong to any
one of these people.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
This is just.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I mean, you heard this weaponizing justice system, which is
a scary process, which I never thought it happened in
Fortmann County. It is happening. Go talk to person, the mayor,
the former mayor in Kendileton, Darryl Humphrey. They did the
same thing. They did the same thing, went after him and.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
He did.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
I mean, this is another thing. This judicial process is
thousands and thousands of dollars and people don't have that
kind of money. At some point do you say an
I surrounder, you know, let me go, And they offered
the same thing. If he resigned, you will, you know,
they will drop the charges. That's what they did. He resigned.
(23:53):
And if you want that kind of power in one
district attorney's hand, No, That's why I decided to stand
up and fight, and I will fight and I will
clear my name.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
In a quarterflow, George says he will continue to fight
and run for office. Hi, this is Steve Gallington, producer
and host of the People's News. If you have a
story that needs to be told, come to us. We
accept fully produced audio, written material. Or just give us
(24:25):
the idea and we will run with it. Shiny new
one hour episodes of The People's News drop each Sunday
on The People's News podcast, hosted by spreaker dot com
and linked to my website Gallington dot com. Another hat
has been tossed into the race for Harris County Judge
(24:45):
as Houston City council member Letitia Plummer announced that she
will run in the Democratic primaries. She now joins the
likes of former Houston Mayor In East Parker and others
vying for the seat currently held by Lena Hidalgo. Has
not said whether she's going to continue or not, but
it is assumed that she will not run for office again.
(25:07):
Plumber made her announcement this week.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
Step forward, Let's take back our future. Let's build a
stronger Harris County for every single resident. We can do this,
We can do this together. The time is now. Let's
get this done. God bless you, God bless Harris County,
(25:38):
and God bless the United States of America.
Speaker 10 (25:44):
What's your decision to run it runs a judge and
what's to run against Canada?
Speaker 9 (25:52):
Well, my plan is not to run against Judge d Ago.
From what I understand, she is not going to be
running for next so lea her next election. This is
our time to get a progressive leader that can run
Harris County the right way and ensure that every single
person in Harris County has equitable opportunities to live, to thrive,
and to be safe.
Speaker 10 (26:12):
What things that you'll do that are different from what's
been done in the past.
Speaker 9 (26:17):
I think collaboration. I've been able to in my previous
in my current role as a city council member, I've
been able to work all sides of the field. Come
to a common understanding of what we need to do
and work to a solution. I'm the only one of
the race that.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Can do that.
Speaker 10 (26:32):
You know, you'll be working with Abbot, Governor Abbit and
another republication. You feel that you're in a.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Physician to do that.
Speaker 9 (26:40):
Absolutely. The first thing I have to do is fight
to get us to the table. And when I'm at
the table, I'm going to fight to get things done.
Speaker 11 (26:46):
Can you talk about some of the problems, the biggest
problems you see right now facing commissioner's career.
Speaker 9 (26:52):
I believe that the collaboration between the county and the
city and other municipalities are our challenge right now. We're
going to have to have someone that has the ability
to bring people together but also own and fight for
the things that we believe in. And that's what I
know that I'll be able to do.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Right And we're not going to slam judge dogs.
Speaker 12 (27:10):
Yeah, We're going to carry the baton forward.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (27:13):
Can you sorry? Commissioners are facing you know, a multi
million dollar bunch of deficit right now, So can you
just talk about like how you plan.
Speaker 13 (27:22):
To address that.
Speaker 9 (27:25):
You know, I can tell my kids when I've raised
my family it's time to tighten the belt. It's time
to look at how we're spending the resources it puts
onus and and force to the state and the federal
government to drive down the dollars that we need. Infrastructure
is really what's waning here, and we've got to make
sure that we as a county work together, but we
also have to drive down those resources from the state
and federal government.
Speaker 11 (27:44):
Do you see anywhere where the bell can be tightened
in the county right now?
Speaker 9 (27:49):
We got to get resources from this, from this federal
government and from the state. They owe it to us.
Speaker 10 (27:55):
How do you plan on doing that when they're talking
about cutting female planning us hurricane season so you suspect
respect storms and hurricanes in the episode drought, how do
you expect to get more money from the whales so
to speak?
Speaker 9 (28:08):
Yeah, no, no, the federal government, now it can definitely
be challenging, But I will say this, we have a
community here. If we can work together, we can have
all forms of government work together just locally. We can
figure this out. We just can't do it in silos.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Right.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yes, I'm want to ask the question we lose races
because folks have ven to the other side, or they're
jumping on and trumpboard.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Some of them just stay at home. How are you
going to get people out?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
And also if you're going to get them out in wonder,
how do we they feel that you're.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Going to listen to this? Yeah?
Speaker 9 (28:44):
I think that what we have to do is look
at my record. I felt that when I ran in
twenty eighteen for Congress, when I went for twenty nineteen
for my first election. We've got to give people a
reason to vote, and my record shows I've been with
the people and I folked on quality of life challenges
and issues, and I've delivered. We need electeds that will deliver,
(29:06):
and that's what I'm going to do Differently.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
I will bid you feel that once you're delivered, But
how are you going to get them through the polls
so that you can We got to go to the neighborhoods.
Speaker 9 (29:13):
We got to talk to we got to go to colleges.
We've got to engage on people. I've got I'm a
mom of millennials. I've got to ask them what do
they want, what do they see happening? What can I
do to make them come out and get engaged. We've
got to figure this out. We're literally losing democracy right now.
Speaker 10 (29:28):
Are you gonna how are you going to restore the
Latino community right now? The Latino community is in is
in in dire strait. They're scared to come out to
vote and so, uh, that's one thing that Dogo did
was she gained that she gained that trust when with
the Latino community. How do you plan on doing that?
Speaker 9 (29:44):
Yeah, most of the work that I've done are in
lower income communities, and that's black and brown communities, primarily Latino,
and I will say that the trust of that community.
I have one specific issue that I've worked with is
my apartment in specttional Reform ordinance. A lot of them
were not complaining about lords and would I gave them.
I stepped out and gave them the opportunity and the
power and the strength to get out in front of
(30:06):
the light and know that they're protected teaming up. Would
loans are legal, So they know that I understand their fear,
and we have to just gain their confidence and tell
them that we are working for everyone. I've done it.
I've done it for the last you know, five years.
I'm going to do it as the county judge.
Speaker 10 (30:21):
You said, we'll talk about the federal government and Latino community.
Right now, we have ICE that's coming into the neighborhoods
and working with the police department and the constables. So
how do you how do you gain that trust?
Speaker 9 (30:34):
So I do have a couple more months on counsel,
although you know, obviously this announcement causes a resignation, but
I do have a couple more months and that the
one piece that I'm working on before I leave is
some type of alignment with HPD with their Constable's office
to understand a bit better the the people are seeing
(30:55):
that they're working together. I want to get clarification and
proof that they are working together and if they are
understanding why and if they're not, change the narrative and
make sure that people understand that they're safe and the
HPD is not working with ICE.
Speaker 11 (31:09):
And on top of that, what are sort of some
ways that you can see Houston City Council and Commissioner's
Court and the city and the county really working together now?
Speaker 9 (31:18):
Absolutely, so two things shared services. Looking our health departments, right,
I mean, with all of the defunding of all of
our health care issues, the cuts in Medicare, Medicaid. We
have the City of Houston has a health department, and
so does the county. The county has Hare's Health, which
is amazing. But there are ways that we can combine
services together and figure out how one person can do it.
(31:40):
I actually got my start at Hare's Health. I opened
the Strawberry Clinic as I'm a dentist by trade, and
so I understand how it works. I understand how to
work with our indigent community and understand what they need
and what the needs happen. But those are the two spaces.
And also on the infrastructure perspective, I think oftentimes our
HPW and Harri's County flood kind of works separately. Need
to fill the you know, be that bridge and bring
(32:02):
them together and have conversations. We the city brings the
water to the hole, right we got to make sure
whatever pipe we're putting in go through the right hole
at the right time, and we got to do it
in the right way.
Speaker 10 (32:12):
After as you the city council and homeless and homeless,
it seems like right now the homeless sweat situation and
seems like the Mayor's attacking the homeless situation, especially food
not bombs and other organizations.
Speaker 12 (32:24):
Yeah, and how how are you going to do that?
Speaker 10 (32:26):
Working as far as Harris.
Speaker 9 (32:28):
County, Yeah, yeah, No, we've got it. We've got to
give them. Most of our homeless are struggling with mental
health concerns, right, and so we have to find ways.
And once again, I'm bringing back the state, I'm bringing
back the federal government. Mental health dollars has got to
be a part of this conversation. I was able to
fund crisis and divention teams, so at least we know
our mental health folks would not go to jail. They
(32:49):
have a social worker that can work with them to
prevent them, giving them the wrap around services. From a
homeless perspective, we have to give them the medical care
that they need and then give them housing, and then
do job training and opportunities, and also talk about our
reentry programs and those are all programs that we can
really work together the city and the county.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Plumber will resign from her current position on Houston City
Council at Large, which she has held since twenty twenty.
Air Alliance Houston has joined a coalition of nonprofits, tribes,
and local governments to sue the corrupt and criminal Trump
Administration for unlawfully terminating the Environmental Protection Agencies Environmental and
(33:29):
Climate Justice grant programs despite a congressional directive to fund them.
The plaintiffs come from every region of the country and
will be seeking a class action certification so that all
three hundred and fifty grant recipients who have been harmed
by the wholesale termination of the EPA program may continue
their projects. We talked with Jennifer Idea, executive director with
(33:53):
Air Allines Houston about the suit.
Speaker 13 (33:55):
So there are two primary areas of concern with the
new administration under the UPA. One of them has to
do with policy, the other has to do with something
so policy wise, the EPA has announced its plans to
reevaluate or roll back over thirty protective environmental rules and regulations,
(34:18):
including those under the Clean Air Acts and the Clean
Water Act. That will have a direct and negative impact
on the Houston area because of our major sources of
air pollution, primarily picture chemicals and other types of industrial sources.
So we're very concerned about what that role amount of
rules might look like. And at the same time they
(34:40):
are also clawing back legally distributed several dollars congressionally allocated
under the Inflation Reduction Act to organizations like Hours in
the Houston area prospects across the country to do environmental
and climate justice work. At the same time that they
(35:01):
are proposing to lessen our protections against air pollution and
against heat prepping gases that cause climate change, they are
also attempting to decimate those organizations in terms of the
work they do to improve environmental and public health. So
it is a one two punch. It's creating a perfect storm.
(35:22):
At the same time that they want to make it
easier to pollute, they also want to make it harder
for those of us working in the community to protect
people from pollution. So there's a policy and a funded
impact right now.
Speaker 12 (35:34):
And this is nothing that's not unexpected because they said
they were going to do this. The Trump administration said
they were going to do this when they got in office.
Speaker 13 (35:42):
That is definitely true.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
I think the.
Speaker 13 (35:47):
Fury and flurry that has happened in just the first
six administration possibly is what is surprising. We knew through
those executive orders, both around unleashing American energy and cracking
down on diversity, equity and inclusion that these policy and
(36:07):
funding changes were coming. They have been fast and furious.
They have been in a larger volume that I think
most folks expected. It is a message to us that
the norms are on what you can expect is gone.
And I think the flurry and fury of these actions,
one after the other, after the other after the other,
(36:29):
is also part of the goal. As part of the
goal is to keep us, keep us divided in terms
of our attention, keep us distracted in terms of how
many things are happening. It's the time and routh we
all have to be ever more coordinated. And if they
ever wanted a coordinated movement for environmental and climate justice,
that's what they're getting because we are coming together. We
(36:51):
are working together, and our latest actions, specifically in regards
to the funding cust has been a collective action and
try every organization individually to litigate what is an illegal
breach of contract for federal dollars. We have come together
and it is the first class action and lawsuit of
(37:13):
its side, and it is bringing together over It would
benefit over three hundred and fifty organizations nationwide. So rather
than each of us going after our funds to support
this important work, we are coming together as a class
to leave those funds. So it is the first kind
of class action suit of its kind. Air Alliance Piston
(37:34):
is one of the name scientists on the class action suit.
We were proud to do so primarily because it would
have a benefit for all and we believe that the
resources that we and those other organizations we need to
promote public health and reduce pollution in our communities is
worth fighting for. So we signed up. We are part
(37:55):
of that lawsuit, and it would benefit all of those
terminated grantees to do that important work in their community
across the country.
Speaker 12 (38:01):
I'm not designed bloom and doom, but the you know,
the Trump administration also had the judges in their quarter,
primarily Trump appointed judges and Bush appointed judges, that they're
in charge of making decisions on these basis.
Speaker 13 (38:18):
So I think that is true in some cases and
in some cases not true. The losses would have been
brought in various courts by various organizations to release sederal
funds have all been successful except for one. There's only
been one where the judge did not rule in the
favor of the environmental and climate movement. So there are
(38:40):
some indication that has caused action to succeed. Now on
the EPA rullbacks, I think we are in for a
temper climb. At the same time, I think we have
between air apps on our side, and I would also
argue there are processes that would need to be a
vote in order to make changes to those policies, and
(39:02):
there are points all along the way, along the path
where we can advocate all the way up to also
bringing suit. Airline Tristan is also part of a separate
and different lawsuit with our partners at Earth Justice to
oppose one of the first rollbacks that we've seen, which
is just something called the MATS Rule or the Mercury
(39:25):
Air Toxic Standard. It is a rule that puts limits
on the amount of mercury, arsenic and other air toxics
that coal fire power plants can emit. In the Houston area,
we have a coal fire power plant about thirty minutes
outside of downtown Houston and Portland County. It's called WA Parish.
So we are actively pushing back on a rollback to
(39:46):
that rule that would allow WA Parish to emit even
more mercury and arthmic into the air. So I do
think on the policy side, we have a harder, longer road.
That doesn't stop us from doing it. There will be
points to advocate on the funding side. We have been
given some indications that we are winning in court, so
we are going to proceed and we are very hopeful
that we're going to win the plataffs and do as well.
Speaker 12 (40:09):
All Right, I'll let you go with that, and again again,
how did you get touched with airlines Houston?
Speaker 13 (40:17):
Absolutely wonderful question. Thank you for asking that the best
way is to go to our website, which is very
simple www dot air Alliancesuston dot org. Sign up for
our newsletter. We view our newsletter as an action newsletter.
We are going to be sending out information about how
you can smit comments, how you can make your voice heard,
(40:39):
how you can join us in holding accountable those industries
that are polluting us harming our health. And we only
send those newsletters out when there is something to do,
so we take that very seriously. We want to engage community.
We are stronger when we are engaged with communities. So
head to our website, clign up for our newsletter, and
we hope to see you, We hope to hear you,
We hope to be partnership with you as we protect
(41:01):
to send from the dangers of air pollution.
Speaker 12 (41:04):
And there's just one quick question about the situation in
cervial you know, in the environmentally impact on.
Speaker 13 (41:12):
That well, you know, I think the number one focus
right now should be on the continued recovery and the
support of people who are directly impacted. Like many Houstonians,
I myself have family in the area. Thank goodness, our
family are all accounted for and they are safe. But
(41:33):
this is going to be the disaster that will take
years and lots of money to recover from and lots
of support of spirit and resilience. So first and foremost,
I think that's where our hearts have had need to be.
But it should also not go unrecognized that the kind
of weather events that happened over Fourth of July weekend
in the Hill Country, the kinds of massive and severe
(41:56):
storms that we have seen in the Houston area, Hurricane
Heart across Texas, winter storm Jury, are directly related to
our changing planet and what pollutes the air warms the planet.
We cannot ignore the root cause of these extreme weather events,
the extreme changing of our temperature and other impacts from
(42:18):
keyp crapping gases. We have to get our carbon and
meman emission to under control. We have to stop polluting
the air and making it warmer. We've been on record
for multiple years now with the record highest carbon emissions.
We are warmer than we've ever been. This is also
the coldest we will ever be going forward. Every year
from now on will be the hottest on record. We've
(42:39):
got to get our seax crepping gas emissions under control.
In the meantime, we have to be prepared for these
extreme weather events like the floods in the Hill country,
like the hurricanes, like the carnadoes, like the winter storms,
because they are directly driven by climate change, which is
directly driven by air pollution.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
That was Jennifer Idea, the executive director with Air Alliance Houston. Again,
you can contact them at www dot air Alliance Houston
all put together dot org.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
HI.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
This is Steve Gallington, producer and host for The People's News.
One of the things that I got in preparation for
going to the No King's Rally on June fourteenth was
a presentation from the ACLU, which I want to repeat
the information from for you. In light of the convicted
felon opening up Alligator Alcatraz, and the Republican House and
(43:37):
Senate passing this big, ugly, expensive, devastating bill. Among those
things is one hundred and thirty five billion dollars for
increased secret police activity or ICE funding. And so you
have rights when dealing with the police or ice, no
(43:58):
matter or immigration status. Number one, if they do not
have a warrant, an arrest warrant or a search warrant,
you do not have to open the door for the
police or ice. You do not have to answer any
questions about status or country of origin. The right to
remain silent is protected under the fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
(44:23):
You have the right to ask to see a lawyer.
You have the right to refuse searches of your person
and your car if the police do not suspect a crime.
This is the fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Never sign
anything without knowing what it says. And you have a
(44:46):
right to record what happens. And if you're hearing this
and you can speak and read Spanish, the People's News
would love for you to read the script in Spanish,
so we can accompany that with this. Well, So be
safe out there. Look out for each other and we
will get through this together. The United States national men's
(45:10):
soccer team played Mexico in the finals of the Concatholic
Gold Cup in Houston this week. The match was marred
by the illegal and corrupt immigration raids being conducted around
the United States. This match highlighted that this is a
precursor of the Men's World Cup next year being held
(45:31):
in the US, Canada and Mexico. And with this illegal
enforcement efforts going on with Ice, with these quotas for
detaining thousands and thousands of legal and illegal immigrants, there
is a fear this is going to scare folks from
other countries coming into this country to watch the event.
(45:53):
Hermann Fernandez Mouse is the editor for Los Vas, the
Spanish publication for the Houston Chronicle.
Speaker 14 (46:00):
H For some people oversease, it's going to be difficult
to get their visas some time because they still don't
know if their countries qualified or not, so depending on
the amount of time that there are visa work in
their respective consulates or embassies in their countries. From what
(46:24):
I heard, Columbias are in trouble is they still they
make it from South America because they are saying that
the visa is taking more than a year in certain places.
So yeah, I think it's going to be difficult in
that aspect. Another aspect that is going to be obviously
(46:44):
it's going to be tough for the hooligans in different
countries because they already have a least in every country,
like it happened with Argentina, and there are hooligans in
their rural plate and Boca juniors competing the FIFA World
Club competition, So that's that's not going to be a
problem once you get the vis I think it's gonna
(47:06):
be okay. And already Infantino has a very good relationship
with the Trump administration, so I think that's already sort out.
Speaker 10 (47:16):
About segregation as far as I haven't heard anything from FIFA,
the organizers about segregating fan the fan base.
Speaker 12 (47:26):
You know, England might be playing Germany something like that, and.
Speaker 14 (47:33):
No, I'm not really expecting more than the usual in soccer.
There could be a certain university between certain countries, but
that's historic, that's that's not something.
Speaker 4 (47:46):
That has to be this time around.
Speaker 14 (47:49):
We live in a country that's a melting part of
cultures and nationality, so I don't think that that's going
to be a problem.
Speaker 8 (47:58):
Eyes questions will be an enforcement and events here in
the United States.
Speaker 14 (48:06):
You know, when they launched the World Club Competition, that
was with the idea and they gave the US the
hosting rights. That was the idea of the idea of
using this tournament as a as a tryout.
Speaker 4 (48:22):
For the for the World Cup next year.
Speaker 14 (48:24):
If you go, according to Irena in Miami at the
games over there for the Club competition, and I didn't
see any problem on that aspect, So I don't think
I And I was in contact with fans from from
South American film for Europe and uh no, I don't.
Speaker 4 (48:41):
I don't foresee that to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (48:44):
As for the match itself, Mexico's Edison Alvarez completed a
header from very close range to the bottom right corner
of the goal, assisted by Johann Vasquez, following a set
piece situation one two to one in front of seventy
thousand fans at an RG Stadium in Houston, Texas. US
men's soccer coachs Mauricio Pachetto was positive even after defeat.
Speaker 4 (49:10):
Coaching staff player.
Speaker 15 (49:13):
Another stuff in bolth matter forty days, like us, they
were working so hard to arrive here and and then
they leave the trophy.
Speaker 4 (49:22):
Primero gropanol. I went to make it. In Spanish, also
felicitara a Mexico World Cup and to all stuff.
Speaker 15 (49:36):
Jando first, Norman Saraki, simpana, medici, miento n a repeto.
The part I want to do from your question, I
seen his massive lesson for us and don't seen is priceless.
(49:58):
I think it's was an amazing tournament to realize in
the way that we want it to grow. That is
in the way that I think we are going to
find the way to compete better and better and better
and being very competitive and be in the place that
we want it to be.
Speaker 4 (50:17):
I think that is a.
Speaker 15 (50:21):
A n that is very very painful night, because when
you lose a trophy or you lose a game, is
really really painful. But the most important thing is is
to have our head up, because I think the tournament
was fantastic and I think keep going. That is in
(50:43):
the way that we want to build our journey and
into the to the World Cup. And in this way,
I have no doubt that we are going to be really,
really competitive and I'm going to be very difficult for
the oponent. What I going to say after you your
question about the humble in the sixty is this is
many sixty seven minutes in the second half. It's not
(51:07):
nothing to I think because you listen. So No, when
when finished the game, that was sure, cry and cry,
but I don't want to cry. I'm not going to cry.
I wanted to tell the truth, and the truth was
that that happened in the opposite.
Speaker 4 (51:29):
Half.
Speaker 15 (51:30):
In the another box, for sure is penalty. Because we
have to talk about the rules. You say, silly penalty,
silly penalty. It's like plenty of penalty.
Speaker 4 (51:42):
That are so silly. Silly.
Speaker 15 (51:44):
Yes, he was the player was with the knee on
the floor. He pushed the hand over the ball. It's
not that the hand was on the floor and the
ball touched. Okay, what the excuses now? But you know
that was penalty and maybe two one for us and
maybe the we now were we were celebrating the trophy.
Speaker 4 (52:12):
I think that it's clear and it's not about to cry.
Speaker 15 (52:15):
It's not about to complain, it's not about to put
excuses in the in the different things.
Speaker 4 (52:22):
But I think we can continue talking.
Speaker 15 (52:25):
For me, it was embarrassing to see that situation and
it's a shame because I understand and maybe seventy thousand people,
you know, giving this penalty.
Speaker 4 (52:35):
It's not easy.
Speaker 15 (52:36):
But maybe again or four, maybe it's easier. No, and yes,
that is what we need to do to learn. Also, yes,
I am so proud about the team. Keep going, keep fighting,
keep pushing when you had to work up too many
positives to take.
Speaker 1 (52:57):
Some good news is the Houston dynam has extended midfielder
Jack mclenn's contract through twenty twenty eight, with a club
option for twenty twenty nine. Mclenn played in every match
of the Gold Cup for the US men's national team.
He scored seven goals and had seven assists for Houston
this year. Emancipation Park is the beating heart of what
(53:19):
June teenth is all about. The land in the third
ward was paid for by two former black slaves who
bought the land in eighteen seventy two as a way
for blacks to celebrate June teenth and the end of
slavery in Houston. For years, it was only open on
June teenth and was the only park in Houston open
(53:40):
to black people. The original June teen celebrations in Houston
had to be moved to July twelfth because of a
rainout in June. Despite all of the actions by the
corrupt and criminal Trump administration to eliminate Black history, June
teenth continues even into July.
Speaker 3 (54:01):
You and celebration in July.
Speaker 10 (54:04):
What's your thoughts on that and having a celebration the
mestipracial part.
Speaker 2 (54:07):
I love it, man, It's a great showing black culture.
Speaker 4 (54:10):
Man, It's great out here.
Speaker 11 (54:12):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (54:13):
People nice Avengers are nice lady over there selling so
so smell.
Speaker 4 (54:18):
So good, good about it.
Speaker 1 (54:22):
Man, they count what the loo.
Speaker 12 (54:25):
They' us a good time, you know, and.
Speaker 6 (54:29):
Everybody join it.
Speaker 12 (54:30):
Hell, I'm important, is what you can about you too.
Speaker 6 (54:34):
It's a whole lot of important need to get used
to locks about it, you know, you know, a lot
of them is getting away from it.
Speaker 7 (54:42):
To my thoughts, are I really wish Sheila Jackson Lee
didn't leave us, that she was the best, And what's
celebrating her homegoing? And we're also celebrating Maids the Town
going because he was on the same stage last year.
(55:02):
And we're celebrated my brother John going because he was
here with me last year. So right now I'm having
a very good time, even though the police prayed or
brank on me. But okay, other than that, it was fine. Yes,
they played a prank on me instead my children's getting confiscated.
(55:23):
Oh okay, theyranked me.
Speaker 12 (55:27):
Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 7 (55:28):
Yeah, but it was it was funny.
Speaker 12 (55:30):
I laughed it off.
Speaker 7 (55:31):
It's just a part of June teams.
Speaker 8 (55:33):
It's importance of junior teams right now.
Speaker 10 (55:37):
In this society, importance of junior team.
Speaker 7 (55:40):
Some of these kids don't even know about the heretage
of June team. They don't follow it. Half of them,
like my grandkids, they didn't come. They don't like stuff
like this, but hey, it's a part of your heritage.
I told they still didn't want to go. This society
and this millennium. I don't know what's gone because some
of us as older, you know, as elders. I don't
(56:04):
know what's gonna happen. But I hope stop that comes
through better than what have been.
Speaker 12 (56:10):
That would be a bless.
Speaker 2 (56:12):
Well it was rained out. I think it's better better
to have it than not to have it. So I
think they compile quite a group. So it's a good celebration.
Spread into the summer a little bit, so it's hey.
June Tinkle was late itself, so you know late June tenth.
Speaker 1 (56:27):
I Hey, Hi, this is Steve Gallington, producer and host
of the People's News. The People's News is people powered news.
We are free to report the unvarnished and unspun truth
and challenge the status quo of corporate propaganda and social
media advertising disguised as real news. Shiny new one hour
(56:50):
episodes of The People's News drop each Sunday on The
People's News podcast. Thanks for listening. The People's News is
a production of Steve Gallington and Richard Hannah and is
protected by copyright laws. All the information broadcast on air
and online, as well as published in both print and
(57:13):
or online, including articles, audio, clips, illustrations, graphics, photographs, and videos,
are protected by these copyright and other state and federal
intellectual property laws. Therefore, you may not use our content
in any prohibited way, including reproducing, publishing, transmitting, selling, rewriting, broadcasting,
or posting on the Internet without the expressed written permission
(57:36):
of the People's News. Prohibited use also includes publication of
our material in printed or electronic brochures, newsletters, or flyers,
as well as all website or email distribution. To obtain
permission to use copyrighted material, email Steve Gallington at Steve
at gallington dot com. Thank you,
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