Houston Democrats

Places to Go

• April 30 - Join the launch of the Justice For Janitors campaign.
• May 3rd - DFA Tom DeLay Billboard Unveiling - http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/2005/04/democracy_for_h.html
• May 6 - HCDP Celebrates Texas Heroes - http://www.hcdp.org/texas_heroes.html Note: Due to the passing of Rep. Joe Moreno, the True Texas Heroes Salute has been rescheduled for June 10.
• May 14th - Save America Without Delay Festival sponsored by Democracy for Houston - http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/2005/04/democracy_for_h.html

Things to Do

• Call KTRK to protest their treatment of Marc Olivier. If you haven't read his post, it's a must read! http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/2005/04/are_these_not_u.html. KTRK's phone number is 713-666-0713
• Recommend a local candidate to Democracy for America using this form: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/candidates/recommendation.php
• Oppose the Real ID act. People for the American Way points out that "Sen. Kay Hutchison is on the conference committee and needs to hear from constituents like you". Her number is 202-224-5922. Or call the Senate switcboard at 1-877-SOB-USOB (SOB stands for Senate Office Building)
• Put a sign in your window telling Congress not to mess with the Supreme Court. Download and print the sign at http://cdn.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/handsoff.pdf
• Print and get signatures on a petition to save Social Security. The petition is available here: http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/socialsecurity/upload/petition.pdf
• Tell your representatives to save Medicaid. More information at http://www.saveroe.com/content/index.php?pid=286 but use the toll free number: 1-877-SOB-USOB.
• Fax Craddick and tell him that his lack of support for the Campaign Finance Reform bill - HB 1348 is unconscionable - http://www.cleanuptexaspolitics.com/craddickfax
• Get a jumpstart on the Reading Club - http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/2005/04/get_a_jump_star.html
• Help Ted Kennedy in the fight against confirmation of extremist judicial nominees - http://www.tedkennedy.com/content/60/bushs-unqualified-nominees

Sites to See

• Chris Bell for Texas Governor launced a redesigned site yesterday at http://www.chrisbell.com/, complete with a blog!
• Visit Greg's Opinion and read up on his appearance last night on Texas Politics-The Real Deal.
• Read an offbeat take on local isues at Juanita's
• Discover what the world thinks about the United States at http://www.watchingamerica.com/

WHAT: Houston Janitors, Community Supporters Launch 'Justice for Janitors' Campaign

WHERE: George H.W. Bush Ballroom, George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston

WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 2005
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Pre-Convention Press Conference
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Justice for Janitors Kick Off Convention
4 p.m. Janitors march from GRB Convention Center to Rally
4:45 p.m. Rally

WHO: Hundreds of Houston janitors, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, City Councilmember Carol Alvarado, ACORN, TMO and community supporters, SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina, and janitors from other cities

The J for J campaign has been instrumental in bringing dignity and a livable wage to thousands of Americans. For example, think about what you spend $106 on each week. Gas for your car? Groceries? Dinner and a movie out? Imagine if you only made $106 each week, and had no health care benefits. How would you get by? Take care of your family? Unfortunately, for the janitors who clean Houston's office buildings, this is a reality they've lived with for too long.

Join these hard working citizens as they kick off a campaign to secure family health care, fair wages, full-time work, and better working conditions by uniting to form a union with SEIU (Service Employees International Union), the nation's largest union of janitors and other immigrant workers.

The janitors, with the backing of community, religious and elected leaders in Houston, are holding a convention and rally this weekend to help publicize their fight to form a union and strive for better working conditions for all. The organizing campaign is joining the ongoing community-wide efforts of ACORN, TMO, business and political leaders, and others to improve access to secure, affordable health care for all working people in Houston.

At the convention, these workers, part of Houston's "invisible workforce," will tell their stories of working hard, but struggling to provide for their families and pay for health care, and why they are uniting to achieve a better life.