Commentary on Your Average American blog

               My fellow classmates wrote on their blog Your Average American about Senate Bill 11. Senate Bill 11 allows individuals with a concealed handgun license to carry a handgun while on Texas public university campuses. My classmate mention an argument an ACC student address on the news about students not being able to focus on their studies and students shouldn’t be worrying about their safety, I totally agree. Most of the times students are stress with homework or studying and adding another stress about not feeling safe in their school could cause something to go wrong. Most colleges have campus police on their campus, why not add more officer on campus. Police officers have the training to fire weapons and defense training. I understand Senate Bill 11 a requirement is to receive training from an instructor certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety, but this training is only to fire a gun, this training doesn’t include special training if a campus shooting happens. Let me give you an example lets said someone who had a license to carry a gun has a mental shock when he/she see an active shooter in their campus what happens next? Many possibilities can happen when theirs no special training in a deadly situation, that’s why campus police should handle our safety.
                Another thing my classmate blog mention was the lack of safety drills in ACC in a case of an active shooter, I agree that ACC needs to start having safety drills especial if something occurs. I honest wouldn’t know what to do if there was an active shooter, I would be scared for my safety.  I hope legislators would first focus on providing special training in all college campus, making all students participate in safety drills and providing more campus police officers. Overall my classmate’s blog was well written and he executed his overall argument about Senate Bill 11, really good work.

commentary: Gentrification in our local government

Austin, Texas is one of the most rapid growing cities in the United States. According to Francisco Dominguez from The Daily Texan, every year, Austin has 40,000 new residents.  The more people that move here in Austin, the higher demand for housing. Real-estate developers have found many opportunities for new housing developments. Real estate developers have bought many properties in the East Austin area.  East Austin is known for low-income residents, crime, and historical landmarks. Developers found that East Austin offers cheap land that’s close to downtown (Dominguez). The new development has affected many longtime residents.  Many housing complexes have raised rental costs and property values have increased. Most residents who have been affected by the new development can’t afford the rent or some have been evicted. What is happening in East Austin is called gentrification. Gentrification is when wealthy people move to a lower income neighborhood, where they buy property or convert old builds to luxury housing units, and this changes the culture.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler decided he wanted to make sure all resident can continue to live in Austin despite increase cost of living for the low and middle- class. Mayor Steve Adler created a Task Force with local leaders to create city policy that can guarantee that all residents would be treated fair. This task force was created to combat gentrification in Austin. The Mayor’s Task Force published a 70-page report on Institutional Racism and Systemic Equities. This report was presented to the city council, the Council would vote on whether to ask the city manager to devise policy based on the task force’s recommendations. One of the recommendation the mayor’s proposed renovate deteriorating market-rate housing and offer the upgraded housing to lower-income residents, by creating a strike fund this would leverage private dollars to make the changes. Another recommendation of the task force to combat gentrification in Austin is to temporary suspend all rezoning and demolition of single-family and multifamily homes in certain parts of  East Austin.  Many people were evicted from their resident, houses were destroyed and new apartments or business were constructed. Gentrification in Austin has increased over the years and no one has tried to stop it, I'm glad the Mayor wants to do something about it. I think City Council should approve the recommendations the Mayor's Task Force suggested because it could stop expanding Gentrification in all Austin. Developers should focus constructing new apartment and business outside of Austin in open lands. I believe it would be good to use funds to renovate houses, parks, community centers and historical sites. Making Austin more beautiful without evicting residents, lowering the cost of housing, and keeping Austin culture, everyone can live happily. We hope in the next years Austin can continue to be known as "Live Music Capital of the World," and stop being known to be one of fastest gentrified city in the United States, so let support our local government and be more involved in our community.

Dominguez, Francisco. "Austin's Growing Population Is Gentrifying the City's East Side and Hurting Austinities in the Process - The Daily Texan."

Austin's Growing Population Is Gentrifying the City's East Side and Hurting Austinities in the Process. N.p., 31 Mar. 2014. Web. 26 April. 2017.

Commentary: Sweet Tea and Politics blog

               In the blog “Texas should Raise its Minimum Wage,” my classmate discuss Texas minimum wage hasn’t increased over the years. I agree with my classmate argument Texas should increase the minimum wage because the cost of living expenses have increased over the years. Texas is the second largest state and populated in the Unites States, currently, the minimum wage is $7.25. The net income from one job hasn’t been able to overpass residents living expenses. Many people are living check to check every week. Most residents have to get at least two jobs to cover their basic living expenses like rent and their utilities.
                 My classmate mention about an article from the  Huffington Post about ten states who have increase their minimum wage and the unemployment hasn’t increase, but in Texas, the unemployment has increased also the growing number of homeless. If Texas would increase their minimum we would have less unemployed and homeless. The more people with jobs the more collection in taxes that can be used for roads, schools, and other things. My classmate provided supporting fact for their argument. This blog was very informative and was able to communicate their idea. Texas needs to increase their minimum wage to compensate all resident who daily struggles to make ends meet. I hope we don’t have to wait more years until legislator increases the minimum wage. We need to create changes, so we can make our resident happier. So come Texas lets earn more money for our resident and for our state!

Should Texas Government Control Prayer Rooms In Public Schools?

“Freedom of religion means freedom to hold an opinion or belief, but not to take action in violation of social duties or subversive to good order” Reynolds v. United States (1878). The First Amendment to the United States Constitution includes different clauses one of those clauses is free to exercise religion. Over the years, the topic whether how much religion should be discussed or exercise in public school has been criticizing. Many controversies about religion in public schools, the most hear about is teaching the bible; the controversy is how can teachers teach students about the bible without violating their First Amendment and how relevant is the bible to their school curriculum. Another controversy should all students daily recite the Texas Pledge of Allegiance in the morning and can they opt out from practicing. There are many stories about parents and students against practicing the pledge of allegiance; there was a story about an eighth grader in Lewisville, Texas who didn’t want to participate in the pledge of allegiance because of religious and political reasons. Her teacher wanted her to stand up and participate; she even yelled at her student when she attempted to sit down, this action violated her First Amendment no one can prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Praying in public schools has also been a controversy throughout the years. In the United States, public schools are banned from conducting religious observances such as prayer.

              Recently Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas recently made headlines when the Texas Attorney General sent a letter raising constitutional concerns about a prayer room to the Frisco Superintendent. For many years, this classroom has been used for prayers, students can freely express their religion, and it’s open to all students. The Frisco Independent School District has said it didn’t violate any state or federal laws by having a prayer room and that the room is open to students of all faiths. Prayer rooms are just one-way public schools in Frisco and across Texas accommodate students and religion.  So why should the Texas Attorney General interfere with the Frisco Independent School District if they aren’t violating the first amendment?

The schools in Frisco are allowing students to express their freedom of exercise religion. Before the prayer room in schools were establish many students would leave school to go pray, sometimes up to two hours. Many students would exercise their freedom outside of school, so the schools decide it would be a great idea having a classroom dedicated to practicing your religion. Students can go during lunch or between classes. I believe that everyone should express their religion; our government shouldn’t influence decision from the schools. Having a prayer room in school is a great idea, it allows students to feel comfortable and spiritual. Prayer room saves money for the schools; because when a student doesn’t attend class it causes money, having the prayer room saves tax dollars. Texas government should consider prayer room in all schools; the prayer room could be a great opportunity to learn respect and also learn from other cultures because this classroom lets everyone practice their faith. The Texas Attorney General believes that the prayer room could be violating our constitution but no one is trying to make all students go to the prayer room is more as an option to attend. The students have a place where no one criticizes them or tries to influence them with religion.  We should respect everyone’s belief and practice. We can’t let our government dictate us on when or where we can practice our religion. We were born with our supreme laws and no one can take them away from you.

Commentary: Grits for Breakfast Blog

Scott Henson aka Grits is the author of the blog “The Grits for Breakfast,” in this recent blog “Why Grits still opposes a Texas texting ban” he writes about his feeling towards texting ban laws.  Grits feel that the government is creating stricter laws for distracted drivers who are utilizing their phones while driving, so the government can make money by issuing tickets. Grits mention that San Antonio police gave out 12,000 tickets for texting while driving, $200 each fine; in total, they raise about $2.4 millions in fines. So now law enforcement can do more traffic stops in order to make more money. He feels that he would cause more problems than solution. He provides evidence from a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that shows the increasing number in crashes in the state who had texting bans. This week, the legislation up in the Texas House Transportation Committee would decision on new texting ban laws; Grits isn’t in favor. He doesn’t approve texting while driving, but he thinks that anyone shouldn’t get stop randomly because they may have their phone next to them not texting receive a fine for it. I believe Grits has evidence to support this argument, I think he speaks for everyone. I agree with everything he said, sometimes we have our phone next to us and we may not use it, but cops can’t see what you're doing they just assume your texting base of your driving or your head position. I recommend everyone to read this blog it’s really good.

Commentary on Latinos Won’t Turn Texas Blue Anytime Soon

Over 100 years, Texas was a blue state. Recent years, Republicans have dominated election making Texas a red state. Democrats having to try to make Texas again a Democrat state, but the Republican Party has been a strong political party here in Texas. In the article “Latinos Won’t Turn Texas Blue Anytime Soon” by R.G. Ratcliffe, describe the impact Latino vote could have if most of them were register voter and voted for Democratic Party.  R.G. Ratcliffe’s article provides facts, statistics, and valid points throughout his article to support his argument that the Latino votes aren't going to be significant now but possibly in the future. He mentions how Democrats base their believes that Democrats can win over Republicans base on Latinos demographics, but even if there’s a city populated with many Latinos it doesn’t mean they’re eligible to vote. R.G. Ratcliffe argues that many Latino who are eligible to vote may not vote Democrat possible they may vote Republican, not only that some Latinos voter preferred a candidate that fully connected with the Latino voters. One of his major points in his article is that 4.8 million Latinos are eligible votes even though Latinos population in Texas is 10.4 million if the rest were eligible it could make the Democrat party win elections.  R.G. Ratcliffe providing facts and statistics, making the reader interested and wants to learn more because Latinos are not minorities anymore and they have a strong influence in the government. I believe he has many valid points about Latino vote not influencing right away; there are many factors that need to improve: knowledge on how to register, finding candidates who connected with the Latino voters and a better voter turn out. R.G. Ratcliffe’s article made me realize how voting can make it or break a political party and the next years hopefully we see more latino voter voting on election day. I think this article can make people reflect on how their vote can count, the article structure is well thought out. I can’t wait to see what would happen in the next years, maybe Texas would be a blue state again.

The Fight Over Transgender Bathrooms

The 85th Texas Legislative Session is still in effect, many bills are getting propose or bills have been passed. Recently, Senator Lois Kolkhorst proposes SB 6 bill, the bill requires transgender to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on their biological sex. The article, Religious leaders enter both sides of fight over transgender bathrooms by Chuck Lindell, describe the views of religious leader that are against this bill. Many religious leaders feel  religion and politics should be separated and this bill violate the rights of transgender. Pastor Willie Davis from Houston said, “Equal protection means exactly that, and we must keep all Texas women and children from suffering the violation of their privacy and safety that American blacks fought to eliminate.” Davis is saying this bill is discriminating and violates their civil rights. Pastor Steve Branson and other religious leaders are planning to make lawmakers liable if SB 6 bill passes, he said “This is simple. The Legislature will either protect decency, safety, and freedom for all Texans equally by passing SB 6, or bow to radical liberalism that does not reflect the Texas we love.” Pastor Steve just wants everyone to be treated equal and I agree with him. This article is worth reading because you can see how Texas government likes to mixing religion and politics and we all know that those are suppose to be separate. I honest believe bathroom are not important, Texas legislative should propose bills to benefit all resident and treat everyone equal. 

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