- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A message from League of United Latin American Citizens

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

View as web page:
[link removed]

LULAC FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF HOUSTON OVER AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL
RACES
==============================================================================


Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Houston is
Texas’ Last Major City Where Elections Dilute Latino Community’s Voting Strength
and Deny Latinos Fair Representation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) filed a
federal lawsuit [ [link removed] ]
Monday demanding the discontinuation of at-large city council elections in
Houston. The case was filed in the United States District Court, Southern
District of Texas, Houston Division. LULAC asks the court to grant injunctive
relief to the city's more than one million Latinos through fair and open
elections from the continued denial of their civil rights guaranteed under the
U.S. Constitution.

"LULAC and Houstonians say basta after enduring a rigged system of good-ol' boys
where big money donations come before the voters," says Domingo Garcia, LULAC
national president. "Latinos make up 44.5% of the city's population, yet we have
only one Latino out of 16 positions on a city council that controls a $5.7
billion annual budget [ [link removed] ] .
Our battle is against an outdated process that denies Latino and other Houston
taxpayers and their families their lawful participation in deciding vital
services, resources, jobs, and investments this city makes. This action by LULAC
ensures that every Houston voter can and will have a voice in determining their
future," adds Garcia.

Specifically, the lawsuit [ [link removed] ]
names four Houston plaintiffs who ask the court to discontinue at-large elections
for five members of the council who run citywide. The lawsuit [ [link removed] ]
seeks to provide more equitable representation in the nation's 4th largest city.
"Houston is the only major city left in Texas that lacks 100% single-member
districts," says Ivan Sanchez, one of the plaintiffs. "LULAC believes we need to
bring the city of Houston up to date and modernize it politically, like other
major Texas communities," he adds. Another plaintiff is Anthony Rios, who states,
"Every major city in Texas has abolished at-large city council seats because they
are discriminatory. It is time that Houston joins the future by providing fair
representation to all of its citizens."

Sergio Lira, Houston LULAC's redistricting chair, states that at-large elections
have historically favored the status quo and demographically diluted Latino
voting strength. "Having just one Latino on the city council is an outcry,"
states Lira. "We need more equitable representation at a time when Latinos are
building Houston with our labor, and our businesses are pumping in millions of
tax dollars. Making this change is not a favor but a right we have earned. LULAC
is here to claim that right and trusts that the federal court will agree," he
says.

###

About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and
oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic
Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC,
with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs,
services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the
critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.lulac.org [ [link removed] ]







- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Make sure you receive email from LULAC. Add
[email protected] to your approved senders list.

This email was sent to: [email protected]

Click here to unsubscribe from email sent by LULAC.
[link removed]


Paid for by LULAC ( [link removed] ) and not
authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Contributions or gifts to LULAC are not tax-deductible.

Design by Plus Three [link removed]
Powered by ARCOS [link removed]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -