The Texas House Pays $600 a Month But These Four Are Running Anyway | Tejano Talks

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My name is Idam Garcia.
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I'm here on Tehano Talks with the best attorney in all of Texas, Domingo Garcia.
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And we got a special guest, Adrian Reynard.
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How's everybody doing today?
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Yeah, Adrian, tell us about your from San Antonio, no?
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Yes, sir.
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Born and raised in San Antonio.
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Tell us about it.
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Yes, sir.
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Born and raised in the northwest portion of San Antonio, District 125, and uh public school teacher for 15 years, teach U.S.
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history eighth to eighth graders.
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Oh, what was that like?
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It's a blast.
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It is a wild time and a young person's life.
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And we put a bunch of them together in the same room.
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So yeah, folks ask if I'm ready for the Capitol.
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I've had 42 eighth graders in a classroom.
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We're ready for a few Republicans.
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You can handle the Republicans.
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We're ready for a few Republicans.
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But yeah, born and raised teacher by trade.
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Also serve as the executive vice president for our teachers union and then as the uh on the executive board of our AFL CIO.
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So rooted in our public education movement, rooted in our labor movement, and ready to take this fight to Austin.
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Yeah.
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Now I was in the legislature.
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I served with your dad.
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How's he doing?
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He's great.
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He's Ar Draina, by the way.
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Yeah, Art Art Reina is my dad.
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I'm very privileged.
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Both of my parents are tremendous, and I wouldn't be here without them.
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But yeah, it's been uh it's been interesting, you know, kind of following in his footsteps.
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But uh I appreciate the support he's given, and and I think uh what I appreciate the most is that uh he knows he knows what we're gonna do is is gonna be even bigger and better than what we saw then.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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Man, so you taught for a very long time, and I I I imagine you're running because you care a lot about public schools.
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Um, you know, and and the public school voucher is really big conversation right now.
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During your time as a teacher, how did you see like our government affect your teaching?
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What were things that you're really upset that eventually probably motivated you to run?
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Yeah, you you hit the nail on the head.
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Uh my experience uh as a classroom teacher and as a public educator is it absolutely why I'm running today.
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Uh one, we're Texas.
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We should be fully funding our public education system, uh, but we're siphoning off billions of dollars to uh to a to a second system.
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Um and so yeah, vouchers was a big part of it, but there's also a bunch of other harmful bills.
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As a U.S.
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history teacher, we're not able to teach accurate history.
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I mean, the State Board of Education.
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It's being whitewashed.
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All of our Tehano uh contributions from, you know, uh who founded San Antonio?
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Absolutely.
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Yeah.
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That's not there.
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You know, and our contributions, uh they're being whitewashed.
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Absolutely.
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They it was a disservice, and I saw it in my own classroom where I would be teaching the standards and I'd have conversations with my kids about why the people they were reading about and see in their textbooks didn't look anything like them, didn't reflect any of their backgrounds or have any connection to who they were or their history.
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And so we did a lot of that teaching, right?
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And now the SBOE wants to make it illegal, right?
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They want to whitewash us further.
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They want to make sure that we are uh giving our students a very packaged and um, you know, polished version of history, and we know that's not the case in America.
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It's false.
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It's lied.
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It's like, for example, just Texas history, 1835.
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It wasn't about fighting a dictator and liberty and freedom.
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It was to keep slaves.
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It was about slavery.
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It was slavery, period.
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Yep.
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In the story, uh the the Texans, the white Texans, wanted to keep slaves.
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Mexico outlawed slavery, and when they tried to enforce the outlaw into slavery, then they rebelled because that slaves were property.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Mexico opened their borders and said, hey, we would love for y'all to come and settle so that we can get this land going.
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The Americans came over and said we agreed to do these few things, just a couple of things.
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One of those was to not have slaves, and they fought an entire war and gained independence purely for slavery.
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And that's ever taught and that's not the reality.
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All right, so what are you gonna do when you get to Austin?
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Because you're pretty much in a pretty safe blue district.
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It's uh relatively safe, but we're gonna keep working all the way through November.
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So when you get to the Capitol, you're sworn in.
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What bill are you gonna file?
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Uh well, one, we're gonna fully fund our public schools, we're gonna repeal some of the harmful bills.
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So you asked some of the other ways that it's impacting us.
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Um, there's a consent bill.
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And so my fiance, she's beautiful, love of my life, she's a social worker, school social worker, works with campuses.
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Well, this past school year, we had a friend of ours pass away.
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So a teacher died from a very aggressive form of cancer.
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And because of the state law that says you need to get a signature for any kinds of services, there was a number of students in the classroom that she couldn't even talk to.
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So she comes home from work that day, the day after this teacher passes away, and she's she's crying, and I'm like, what's going on?
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What's wrong?
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And she just said, I couldn't even talk to them.
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I couldn't even talk to the kids about their favorite teacher passing away.
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And so when we talk about the harmful and onerous bills that are being placed on our public education system, when you talk about the lack of funding and the starving of resources, we're cutting programs, we're cutting people, we are doing a disservice to our kids, and so that's number one on the ballot for me.
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And number two, uh, we're number one in uninsured Texans, adults and children.
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And so we have to make sure that we are increasing access to healthcare, expanding Medicaid, Medicare, and chip, and finally the affordability crisis.
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We hear a lot of it, but I'm a labor union guy.
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Working class Texans have been facing affordability crisis long before we had anybody in the White House.
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And so we have to make sure we're doing things to invest on the front end in terms of education, registered apprenticeships, making sure we're taking care of workers when they're on the job with working conditions and better pay, and then making sure that on the back end, when you've worked your life, you have a retirement that's worthy of you, worthy of of living and aging with dignity.
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So again, we're gonna fight all the way through.
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Uh we got a strong freshman group coming in.
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We got a great delegation in Bear County, so we're gonna put we're gonna put up the fight.
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I'm hoping that you get, you know, when I was there, we Democrats control the house.
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Yes, I remember that.
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And that's the last time.
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I remember that.
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So uh hopefully you'll get there and the Democrats take back the house.
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Yes.
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And then we get back things back to normal.
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Yes, sir.
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The way they used to be.
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So if somebody wants to get involved in your uh in your campaign or help you out, what are they gonna do and look at that camera right away?
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Yeah, well, and again, it's gonna take all of us.
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It's gonna take you, so make sure you get to the ballot box in November, use your voice and make sure you cast your vote, and not just you.
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Grab your neighbors, grab your friends, grab your family, grab everybody, because it's gonna take us all to get across the finish line.
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But if you want to reach out, you want to get involved in our campaign, you want to donate, you can go to voteadrianreina.com, learn more about me, learn more about ways you can join.
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But reach out, I'd love to get to know you, get to work with you.
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Let's get it done in November.
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Mr.
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Reyna, what a pleasure having you here on The Hunter Talks.
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Thank you so much.
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We need more public schools.
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All right, San Antonio.
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You got a leader, you got somebody to vote for.
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Saganabotatsu, voto vale.
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My name is Iran Garcia.
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Welcome to the Hunter Talks.
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I'm here with one of the best attorneys of all of Texas, Domingo Garcia, and we got a special guest, Monserrat Garibai.
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How is everybody doing today?
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Right?
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Uh Saturday, uh, here in Corpus Christi for the State Democratic Convention.
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Yes, sir.
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And I'm gonna congratulate you.
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Nobody thought you could do it.
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That's right.
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Right, but you believed for that.
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That's right.
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I believe, and I had great people that believed in our campaign.
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And, you know, I'm an organizer by heart, so that's how we got it done.
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So, for those who don't know you, tell us a little bit about, tell us a little bit about yourself, your story, your background story.
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Yeah.
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And, you know, why did you decide to run for state representative?
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Yeah, well, I am Monserrat Garibai.
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I came to the US as an undocumented child 33 years ago, not speaking a word of English, uh, and being undocumented.
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And my mother always taught me the importance of education.
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And I remember she was always saying education is something no one can take away from you.
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And so she was always really good about telling us you need to be proud of who you are, your heritage language, Spanish, learn it well, speak it well, be proud of who you are, uh, and then go to school and get good grades.
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And so I ended up uh after many obstacles, I had a bunch of visas and I was able to become a citizen in 2012 and uh went on to become a bilingual pre-K teacher in Austin for eight years, and then I got really involved.
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Pre-K?
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That's a tough job.
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That is tough, right?
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Attention.
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Well, you know, when you love children and you show them that you love them and that you care, and you expose them to um to good public schools, then they're able to thrive.
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And that's exactly what I wanted to do with my students.
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So I taught bilingual pre-K for eight years.
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Uh, and it was it was a lot of great work.
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And in 2011, the Texas State Legislature cut the funding for the full-day pre-K program.
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And I was a very young teacher.
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I was mad because I was like, there's no way I'm gonna have to teach 40 kids.
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And so I went on to the union, Education Austin, and I learned to organize with them.
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We did a big campaign, we went to every school board, and then after eight months, we were able to get the Austin Austin ISD school board to pay for the other half of the pre-K program, even though at the state level they cut the funding.
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And so when I learned about policy and organizing, I was like, okay, this is how you get stuff done.
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And so I went on to become the uh vice president of Education Austin, uh, the teachers union, which is a merged local with TSTA, the Texas State Teachers Association, and the Texas AFT.
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And I did that for many years.
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I became a citizen in 2012, and I actually, the first person that I voted for was Gina Hinojosa, when she was when she was running for school.
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Wow.
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And I just felt like a goals around now.
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That's true.
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You know, I remember blog walking for her and just seeing a real chingona Latina uh advocating for students in Austin ISD.
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I was just so inspired.
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And so that I always kept that in my heart.
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And then I went on to become the first Latina Secretary Treasurer at the Texas AFL CIO, representing over 240,000 union members in the state of Texas.
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And I was able to learn more about the different unions, carpenters, electricians, uh plumbers, and being able to advocate with them at the Capitol, going to them, visiting their state legislatures, holding accountable their legislators, right?
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Uh it was something very powerful.
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And during that time, I started doing campaigns to help eligible permanent residents become U.S.
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citizens.
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So we were helping union members become citizens and voting for the first time.
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And we created a campaign that when I was at the Texas AFL CIO, we spread that campaign in eight cities.
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They still, the Texas AFL CIO is still doing citizenship campaigns and helping the community and union members become U.S.
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citizens.
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And I was very happy doing that work.
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And one day I got a call from President Biden's office uh wanting me to, they wanted me to go work for the U.S.
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Department of Education.
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And of course I said yes, I wanted to serve my country.
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And the best way.
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Yes.
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I did.
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I did.
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Oh man.
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But you know, I worked two years as the senior advisor for labor relations.
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So I was working with the unions and the Secretary Cardona helping uh over one million public service workers get their loan forgiven.
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And that work was special because I saw how when the federal government promises something, they're able to deliver, you can really change the lives of working class people.
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And did that for two years, then went on to the last two years of the administration.
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I was the assistant deputy secretary for the Office of English Language Acquisition.
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So I represented 2.5 million emergent bilinguals in our whole country.
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And I was able to uh advocate for them to make sure that they knew their heritage language and that they learn English, because right now we know that learning another language is no longer a luxury.
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It's part of becoming uh globally competitive, especially here in Texas, right?
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So being able to, I visited 23 states with Secretary Cardona, uh, looked at, went to uh have roundtables uh with educators, uh miss visited dual language programs, uh, supported the silo by literacy where students in high school were getting their diplomas with a seal that said you can speak more than one language.
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And I love that work.
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And then I found out that uh Gina was running for governor, and a bunch of people called me and said, Monserrat, you have the skills, you have the passion, you have the knowledge to run for her seat.
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And you know, I thought a lot about it, and I said, you know, I came to this country and I received a beautiful gift, the gift of public education, something that changed my life.
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Yeah, and I wanted to change the life of so many students that look like me, that speak like me, and so I decided, you know what, I'm gonna do it.
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What did your mother do?
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My mom was so excited.
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My mom was my mom.
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She was very scared, but my mom has always taught us to give back to our community.
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And so with that, my mom was like, if you do it with your heart and if you work hard, you will be able to do it.
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And so we had eight opponents.
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And, you know, it was it was it was very hard.
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It was hard, but I led with integrity and with a lot of commitment to my community and with eight people who were very knowledgeable and very uh very smart in their own way, but nobody like Montserrat Garibai with the ganas.
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I don't know you saw that cafe from there.
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You're in Austin, you were there.
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What did you think?
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You saw her running.
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No, I mean it was it was great, and honestly, you know, I've worked with Monserrat in the past through nonprofits.
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I used to be an outreach director at American Gateways, which is how I met Monserrat for the first time.
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And, you know, in my experience, you know, having seen Monserrat in Austin, like, she's definitely a pillar, you know, of Austin Latino community wellness, and definitely in the education field, like Montserrat's work has really even impacted me and the people that I know.
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I worked for Capital Idea as well for a while, uh, doing outreach.
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So that meant I went to high schools, offered scholarships to students, uh, you know, and I saw the importance of the work of, you know, like being involved in public education, like, you know, being involved, especially with the Latino community in Austin.
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But again, I always somehow found my way back to Montserrat asking for help or asking for some kind of advice.
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Um yeah, she's definitely So how many doors did you knock on?
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I've knocked it.
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Because a lot of people a lot of people say, I want to run for officers, but they don't know what it it it entails, is that?
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Right.
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Especially when you're the underdog and grassroots in Texas in the summer.
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I knocked almost in 4,000 doors and I lost 15 pounds.
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I was like, I was knocking on doors every day.
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That was a perk to the job.
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Yeah, that was that was the yeah, I didn't know, but it was, you know.
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But one of the things that I loved about running was that students who I taught pre-K to who are now young adults who live live in the 7875A in North Austin, they were my students.
00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:53.919
And I knocked on their doors and they voted for me.
00:14:54.080 --> 00:15:05.120
They gave us donations, they poll greeted, and they are the first, the first person in their family to vote because their parents are undocumented, but they are the first US citizens.
00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:10.559
And to be able to see that they were just, you know, they were like, Well, what does this even mean?
00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.879
What tell me, like, why are you running?
00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:19.919
I was like, I'm running because of you, because I want to make sure that you have someone that looks like you that is going to advocate for your family.
00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:25.759
The fact that, you know, I live on Ronberg and Parkfield, and there's ice rates happening every single day.
00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:29.039
And a lot of my students' parents are really worried.
00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:33.279
They don't go to HEB, they work in construction, they're worried.
00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:38.320
And so a lot of the students were like, Miss Garibai, I'm voting for you because you're gonna help my family.
00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.559
And so that's the reason why.
00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:50.000
And the fact that that they gave contributions to our campaign, the fact that they were so excited to see someone that looked like them running and winning was a big deal.
00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.279
And I just didn't win.
00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.399
We won big.
00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.120
We won 62% of the votes.
00:15:55.679 --> 00:16:05.919
Uh, with someone that had been there for, you know, she was in city council for for 10 years, she ran for mayor, and they thought that I wasn't that our campaign was not good.
00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.799
Grassroots?
00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.039
No.
00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.240
It was grassroots.
00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:11.360
You know, one of the hardest things was, of course, raising money.
00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:15.360
My mom always thought us like, you never ask for help, you do it by your own, right?
00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:17.360
And I called everyone, everyone.
00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:25.039
And you know, I'm very grateful, Domingo, for your support because I call you and Doctora Elba Garcia, and they and you two were like right there.
00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.440
And you know, that's that's the power.
00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:32.559
Um, that's the power of knowing people that that care for our communities.
00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.399
So you're you're there at your victory watch party.
00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.639
How did you feel when the numbers started coming in?
00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.320
And you were wow.
00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.360
I, you know, I thought in my mind that it was gonna happen until midnight.
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.519
And so we were in the watch party.
00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:51.039
Uh, and in my head, I had been like, okay, it's gonna be a very close race.
00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.480
It's gonna be until midnight.
00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:54.879
And then we were in the party, it was 8 30.
00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:59.039
And then the whole people, all the people in the in the party started screaming.
00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.399
They're like, we won, we won.
00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:04.240
And I looked at my campaign manager and I was like, it's only 8 30.
00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.880
And she's like, we won.
00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.319
We won more than 60%.
00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:15.200
And I was just, I I still wake up every morning and I tell my husband, pinch me, tell me if it's true we won.
00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.799
He's like, Yes, we did.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.279
But you know, it was just, it was very exciting.
00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:25.680
Uh, and you know, like I said, fundraising was very hard, but our campaign received over 2,000 donations.
00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:31.119
And out of those 2,000 donations, 73% of them were less than$100.
00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:38.799
Our campaign was by the people for the people, people that I worked with, cafeteria workers that I represented, teachers.
00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.440
La raza.
00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:43.680
La raza, they were like, Mija, I can't give you a thousand, but I'll give you$10.
00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.799
And for me, those were like the badges of honor.
00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:53.279
And every time that I was so tired of vlog walking in Texas in the sun, I was like, you know what?
00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:58.319
I remember Senora Maria, the cafeteria worker that gave that gives me$10 every month.
00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.279
Which is a lot for her.
00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.480
It's a lot, I know.
00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.160
And that that's what gave me a lot of strength uh to keep going.
00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:08.559
So so you're now the Democratic nominee for Gina and a Hosa State.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.440
That's right, yes.
00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.960
I know that Gina's already forgotten.
00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.839
Unopposed, you know, so so what are your plans when you get to Austin?
00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.279
Well, to Austin, you're already in Austin.
00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.720
You get to the Capitol.
00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.519
Yes, yeah.
00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.519
Well, you know, uh, so we have five big things.
00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:28.000
Like I said, I blog blog and I wanted to hear what were the issues that were important for our community.
00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:30.400
And the number one is funding public schools.
00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:34.000
Uh in Austin right now, they're closing 10 schools.
00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:38.960
There's a budget deficit of$1800 million in Austin ISD.
00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.039
So funding public schools is a big one.
00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:45.440
Holding accountable private schools and vouchers is something that I want to work that.
00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.519
I want that to be one of my first bills.
00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.279
Uh housing.
00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:54.319
The people that are working in Austin cannot afford to live in Austin because it's so expensive.
00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.559
East Austin is getting gentrified.
00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.119
Uh-huh.
00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:04.799
And you know, you know, back when I was in college, and now you go there and it's like, wow, what happened?
00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.200
That's right.
00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:11.200
You know, it's and all the raza has been moved out, and all those single family homes have been torn down and replaced by apartments.
00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:11.359
Yeah.
00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.000
And condos.
00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:18.319
I talked to a lot of the Tejanos down in East Austin, and you know, they're I I'll I'll never forget this.
00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:27.039
One of the Tehano's down there, he told me he's like, you know how I knew that this like whole community has changed, like that it's no longer Tejano, black and brown people.
00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:34.559
He's like, I was walking outside like one of the most dangerous streets, and I saw a white girl walking and running without a problem.
00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.400
He's like, I'd never seen that in my life.
00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.599
He's like, that's what I knew.
00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.640
My whole community has changed.
00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:43.680
But I talked to a lot of folks that had to sell their homes because it was getting too expensive, had to move out.
00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.279
And they've been there like generations.
00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.359
We're not talking like 10, 15 years.
00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:51.119
We're talking 100 plus years that people have lived in those homes.
00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:55.119
A lot of people don't realize it was San Felipe de Austin was the name of the capital first.
00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.440
Oh.
00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.119
They shortened they shortened it to Austin.
00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.559
Ah, I know this.
00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.279
Well, housing is a big issue.
00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:04.480
But then also transportation, you know, like transport.
00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.240
I-35 and Mopac, people are like, we hate I-35 and Mopac.
00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.680
The fact that it takes an hour and a half.
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.960
It's a parking lot most of the time.
00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.680
It is, it is.
00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.599
And so, you know, we have what it's called Project Connect right now.
00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:21.759
And while it's not perfect, it's an opportunity to invest in transportation in Austin.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.359
And so I'm excited about that.
00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.039
I uh that's one of the key issues.
00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.160
But then healthcare.
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.319
Healthcare is a big issue in Austin.
00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.319
The fact, well, not in Austin, but in Texas.
00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:37.119
The fact that uh Texas is one of the states that has the least of amount of people uh with insurance is outrageous.
00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:39.920
So we need to make sure that largest number of uninsured people in the country.
00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.640
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:42.240
So those are the core issues.
00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.119
RASA.
00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.359
Yeah.
00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:46.799
And African Americans, you know, people working class, white people damn.
00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.240
They don't they can't afford insurance.
00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:48.400
Yeah.
00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.079
And a lot of employers don't provide insurance.
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.839
Yeah, yeah, no, those are the issues.
00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:55.279
And then so House District 49 is the heart of Austin.
00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:01.599
It's between Lamar, it's between Breaker Lane and Sunset Valley, Manchaca, Lamar, and Mopac.
00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:08.640
So it is definitely the heart of Austin because it has the University of Texas and the three community colleges, Austin Community Colleges.
00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:13.519
And so one of the things that I was very thoughtful in going to talk to speak to UT students.
00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:17.839
You know, I always say there's a reason why we have two ears and one mouth, and we need to listen better.
00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.759
So that's what I did with UT students.
00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:23.759
And they're very worried about the lack of freedom of speech that they have.
00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:27.119
We have so many professors that cannot teach what they want to teach.
00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.119
But they canceled Mexican-American Studies.
00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.599
That's right.
00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.319
At UT.
00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.160
I I studied there and it's gone.
00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:38.319
Like I had a lot of professors that were part of the Mexican American Studies program at UT Austin and now it doesn't even exist.
00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.200
You know, there's Dr.
00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.640
Belenzuela and Dr.
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.599
Emilio Zapata.
00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:45.519
And you know, they they they're they're getting cut out from their classes.
00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:45.759
Yeah.
00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:49.359
And and they're there's basically a a way to stop us from learning our history.
00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.400
Exactly, exactly.
00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:58.720
So, you know, that's another big uh issue that a lot of professors as well are leaving Austin uh because they they don't they can't teach there anymore.
00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.759
So I want to make sure that.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:13.200
One of the commitments that I did to UT students was that I was gonna meet with them once a month to hear their issues, but also to bring them to the Capitol because we have a great opportunity about living in Austin, that we have the Capitol right there in our backyard.
00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:26.240
As an and as an organizer, I wanna make sure that we're organizing a whole year round, not wait until the legislative session to bring people, but rather start organizing, having town hall meetings, inviting people, letting them know how to share their story.
00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:29.119
Um and that's something that I'm bringing to the table.
00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:35.279
I am a fighter, I've been a dreamer for a long time, and I bring a very different type of skills to the table.
00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:38.640
And more than ever, we have to fight back and we have to organize.
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:43.519
Well, you know, I was the author of the Texas Dream Act back in 2001.
00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.160
Yes.
00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:46.079
And you saw what Pakistan did to it.
00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.400
I know.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.640
Uh we're gonna have to pass a new one.
00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:50.960
Okay.
00:22:51.759 --> 00:23:00.960
Uh and if we are if we're able to get the house back, okay, and if we get a governor in a housa, you know, se puede.
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.400
Claro, claro que sí se puede.
00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.000
I just wanna put that, you know.
00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:09.519
I did it, you know, and me and Rick Noriega, that went for almost over a twenty-five years.
00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.519
A lot of people were able to go to college, like this.
00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.799
Your sister, yeah, and a lot of people.
00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.880
Um, and now they're being blocked.
00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.200
You know.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.039
So those doors were closed on them.
00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.279
Yeah.
00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.640
So we need to open those doors again.
00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:20.880
Yeah.
00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.319
And now that you're gonna be in Austin.
00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:24.319
Yeah, well, you know, at the Capitol.
00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.519
At the Capitol, yeah.
00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:30.640
Well, you know, I will be the first former dreamer as a state representative in Texas.
00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:40.880
Uh and you know, Domingo, it is be pe because of people like you and Rick Noriega that really believed in the power of education and fighting for our students.
00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:45.599
Because at the end of the day, education transforms the lives of so many people.
00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:57.599
Yeah, and you gave me that that um that gift, and now my responsibility is to give that big back, that gift back to our community community, because more than ever, people think that we don't belong in spaces.
00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.720
And this chingona right here is like, no, we do.
00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.039
We do belong, and we gotta organize and make it happen.
00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:05.039
Sounds like La La Loteria card.
00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:16.960
Yeah, no, look, Monserrate, like you really represent everything, you know, that the Howl Talks is about, like, you know, from the grassroots campaigning to just staying connected to your community.
00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:23.119
Yeah, and I know that just because personally I've interacted with you, I've actually been served by your leadership.
00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:27.519
Um, and and we need that energy, you know, like it's it's more important now than ever before.
00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:31.680
We have Greg Abbott trying to take away public funding, and it's all on purpose.
00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:34.319
It's all really to keep low-income communities down.
00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:40.160
So as you're going into office, like, you know, how are you preparing yourself mentally to take over some really big shoes?
00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:49.759
Gina Inojosa, to take on the torch for fighting for Texans and, you know, public educator, really, because that's at the center point of the conversation in Texas.
00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:52.079
We're almost all Latinos here now.
00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:52.640
Yeah.
00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:55.759
Well, you know, I've lived my life with three words.
00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:07.279
Uh, in every step of the way, when I was a uh teacher, when I was a union organizer, working at the Department of Education, I've always led my work by three words identify, educate, and mobilize.
00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:18.720
You identify the issue, you educate, bring people to the table, and then you mobilize them, whether it's, you know, now drafting a bill or passing a bill, uh, doing a committee, uh, organizing a rally, things like that.
00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:22.000
And so those three words for me have been very been very important.
00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:25.599
That it is all about building relationships and communication.
00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:30.400
And when you lead your work with integrity, uh, you can really change things.
00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:46.559
And my job right now, and the way that I'm preparing, is just really taking a lot of feedback from people that have been in the trenches for a long time, learning from them, getting their consejos, uh, but then really building a broad coalition of people and bringing them to the table.
00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:53.680
And yes, even though my name is in the ballot, Monserrat Garibay, it's Monserrat Garibay, and everyone that has supported our campaign.
00:25:53.759 --> 00:26:01.599
And that's how I'm planning to live with integrity and with ganas, and taking no for answer is not, it's not, it's not, it's not my my option.
00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.400
That's scary.
00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:06.799
I mean, look, it's Monserrat and the cafeteria ladies at school that are behind you.
00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:12.000
And and uh that's scary because you know, those cafeteria ladies, construction workers, they're gonna work.
00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:14.400
You know, they're gonna work hard and they're gonna make it happen.
00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:25.119
Like, and that's one thing that people underestimate all the time is the power of community, the power that drives people when they're when they love their families and when they think about their loved ones and their moving.
00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.680
So I love it.
00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.480
Thank you, Montalog.
00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.279
Yeah, no, no, no.
00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:37.519
So, you know, I'm gonna give you uh a warning as a former state rep, uh once you get elected, you gave there are people that are paid to get your vote.
00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.799
They're called lobbyists.
00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:43.279
And they're actually waiting outside the lobby when you come out for you.
00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:43.519
Yeah.
00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.440
And they're gonna whine and dine you.
00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:49.920
And a lot of times they're not uh uh lobbying for the pe the interest of the people.
00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.240
Right.
00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:52.559
And the hardest thing to say is no.
00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.119
Yeah.
00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.440
Yeah.
00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:56.640
So I would just say, I think you're gonna be able to say no.
00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.119
Oh, no.
00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:08.799
They want to raise electricals, or they want to raise your electricity rates, or they want to put a data center, or they want to pollute, you know, the the refin the refineries or stuff like that.
00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.720
The oil and gas industry primarily.
00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:14.480
Uh, but you know, that that is hard having people that will fight for La Rasa.
00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:17.440
That's difficult because a lot of people, as you know, get compromised.
00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:18.640
Yeah.
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.599
Yeah, no, that's true.
00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:39.759
But I I've been told so many times no in my life that I've learned I'm learning how to say no, because people put me in the seat and I have a moral responsibility to make sure that that I do what is best for as many people as possible and not just for a small amount of people.
00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:51.279
And so I think when when you bring someone who has a very very different life experiences, you bring a different type of fire because you I'm held accountable by the people that I love.
00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:51.599
Right.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.759
And my mother make sure.
00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:03.680
And so she's taught me well, and my values are are really important, and I want to make sure that I do right for our community.
00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.400
All right.
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.079
All right, I'm gonna let you close it out.
00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.640
Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:10.319
Montserrat, look, you have this race in the bag, you've won, right?
00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.359
There's no opponent.
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:16.319
But if people inspired by your message in Austin, how could they support you in your work?
00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:19.599
How can they find and keep up with Monserrat Garibaio?
00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.240
Yes, no.
00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.079
Well, thank you so much for having me, Domingo.
00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.759
Thank you for having me here.
00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:27.599
Uh, you can look up Montserrat for Texas.com.
00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.880
Uh, and we are in all types of social medias, of course.
00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:35.279
And uh, you can send us an email if you want to be part of us, please let us know.
00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:40.720
Uh look, at the end of the day, we can really do a lot of change, but we need to get Gina Hinojosa elected.
00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:46.000
Uh, because if we get her elected, so much of our problems are going to go away.
00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:49.519
But I want to ask each and every one of you to organize.
00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.880
Organize is simple.
00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:53.599
It's about talking to the people that you already know.
00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:56.720
It's letting them know that there's a bigger future for all of us.
00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:03.119
And I know we have a tagline for our campaign Juntos for Justice, Unidos for Change, and together we can do it.
00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:06.480
Again, I'm Montserrat, Garibai, and I hope to see you soon.
00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:06.799
Gracias.
00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.559
All right, so remember get involved.
00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:12.559
Suboto vale, go vote this November 3rd, make a difference.
00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:18.480
Elect people like this who represent La Raza, stand for La Raza, and they're gonna be there when we need them.
00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:22.559
I built this law firm on faith, hard work, and grit.
00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:26.720
That's why we have some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the history of Texas.
00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:31.119
For over 40 years, Domingo Garcia has fought for Texans.
00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.799
I don't win because of luck.
00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.880
I win because of hard-earned experience.
00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:38.559
And that allows me to give back to the community here in DFW.
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:42.960
Making a difference, fighting injustice, fighting the crooked insurance companies.
00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.799
That's why I became a lawyer.
00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:48.400
The offices of Domingo Garcia, Tejano Tough.
00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.400
My name is Iram Garcia.
00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:57.200
I'm here with Domingo Garcia, Best Attorney Dallas.
00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.200
And the gritos keep on coming, man.
00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:03.599
And the gritos keep on coming here at the Texas State Democratic Convention.
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:06.640
We're with Orlando Flores running for House District Lopez 33.
00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:06.960
Lopez.
00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.680
Yes, sir.
00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.240
Excuse me.
00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:10.319
Lopez running for House District 33.
00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:10.960
How are you doing?
00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.440
How are you?
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.079
I'm good.
00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.880
Thank you for having me.
00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:15.519
Uh love, love uh being down here in Corpus Christi.
00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.519
I'm from the Rio Grande Valley, so not too different.
00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:21.200
Um I'd like to say I'm used to the heat, but still not uh 956.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.759
Yes, sir.
00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:27.759
So as a fellow Tejano, you know, you're born and raised here in Texas.
00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:31.599
Uh tell us what what made you decide to run for state representative, you know?
00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:40.240
Well, a lot of it was not seeing the representation uh in the area where I live at now, which is District 33, most of it is Rockwall County, which is where my wife and I live.
00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:48.400
Uh and historically I've not seen I haven't seen a lot of representation of uh Tejanos people from the Hispanic community out there, and I wanted to be that voice.
00:30:48.559 --> 00:31:03.039
Um, but really what drove me to step up and run was last October, you know, I was in the No Kings rally, and I just seen the amount of people out there, the support, you know, there's Democrats out there, sometimes not so easy to find.
00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:08.160
But, you know, I felt like I needed to do something for the community, set a good example for my daughter.
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:14.400
She's about to be two years old, and a lot of it was also seeing the rollback of rights for women.
00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:17.039
And that's not the that's not the Texas I want my daughter to live in.
00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:20.319
I grew up as a proud Texan, un Tejano orgulloso.
00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:26.160
Um in El Valle, I mean, I was always always very proud when I would go out.
00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:28.720
Um my dad was a missionary, so we'd go out of the country a lot.
00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:32.960
A lot of times we'd go to Mexico, and you know, people would ask me, where are you from?
00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:36.720
And, you know, say, like, oh, Los Estados Unidos, but you know, it wasn't just Los Estados Unidos.
00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:44.640
I was like, I'm from Texas, so Tejano, and just, you know, having that pride of being a Texan, and that's part of what I want to bring back to the community.
00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:49.440
Like, you know, Tejanos were pro were very prideful, and I want them to know that.
00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.240
Yeah, yeah.
00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.519
No, but you're in the right spot.
00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.400
It sucks.
00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.039
Yeah, appreciate it.
00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:58.720
So let me ask you, uh, you know, you're running a district which's traditionally Republican.
00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.920
You know, I'm I'm in Dallas, so Rockwall's right next door.
00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:14.480
You know, um, and uh how are you gonna uh get your vote out and appeal to voters, maybe who are in the center, that are not happy with the price of food, price of gas, your wages aren't going up.
00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.440
Like you said, schools.
00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.319
Talk about schools.
00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:18.079
I mean, I I know that's one of the things that are important.
00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.599
What are you gonna do?
00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:22.880
So there's a lot of folks that are right in the middle class, just like me.
00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.799
You know, we're part of the working class.
00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:27.119
My day job, I still have a day job.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:29.839
I I work as a construction project manager.
00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:42.640
Um, that's another thing that's led me to recognize the importance that a lot of immigrant workers bring bring to our industry, you know, making Texas the eighth largest economy in the world, not in the United States, but in the world.
00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:44.799
And I want them to see me for who I am.
00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:46.799
I'm not pretending to be someone like them.
00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.920
I am someone like them.
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:53.440
I'm someone who, like I said, is working a full-time job, yeah, uh, trying to make the most of those benefits.
00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.000
Yes, sir.
00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:57.759
And my wife, she's an educator, was an educator, I should say.
00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:00.400
She had to take a step back to raise our daughter.
00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:11.039
Um, you know, we took a look at those costs and we're like, you know, does it really make sense to only come back home with a couple extra$100 whilst while our daughter while our daughter's raised by someone else?
00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:17.359
And we're like, no, you know, we think that time with our daughter is important and very precious, and you know, I wouldn't, I wouldn't have it any other way.
00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:21.359
But, you know, I go to the same, the same church as a lot of a lot of the members of the community.
00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:23.039
I go to the same stores as them.
00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:26.880
You know, I look for the same coupons that they do because it's, you know, it's tough out there.
00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:30.640
It's uh, you know, it's hard, but we're we're doing what we can.
00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:34.960
And I believe there's a very good message there to get out to the people, letting them know I am you.
00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.640
I go through the same struggles as you.
00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:40.880
Whatever you believe about Democrats, you know, that's not true.
00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.480
We are Texas Democrats.
00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:51.759
We we believe in standing up for the middle class and recognizing being a party for the people because we are the party for the people, not the party of corporations.
00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.079
Yeah.
00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:52.480
Yeah.
00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:54.400
We're talking about real Tejano values, right?
00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.799
You talk about church, la fe, familia.
00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.839
You talk about your daughter, right?
00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:07.440
We we stand for our family, our community, you know, standing up for what to try to make our our our whether it's your city, your county, your state, or federal government better.
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.800
And um I I think a lot of candidates have forgotten that.
00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:12.079
They sold out to the billionaires.
00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.480
Yes.
00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:16.559
They sold out their soul, and they don't care about regular working class people like us.
00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.360
No, they don't.
00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:24.719
And you know, a lot of people get into politics because they want to amplify their career, they want to see maybe use it as a stepping stone.
00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:28.000
And I can tell you the last thing I wanted to do was get into politics.
00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:40.559
I, you know, my folks uh they were like, no, no, no, uh, algo que les dé dinero, que pueden hacer como una vida de eso, and you lose politics.
00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:41.360
Yeah.
00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:53.840
And now it's like uh like I said, I never wanted to get into politics, but I saw it as as necessary because I knew not it wasn't me that had to step up, it was someone from our community, someone from the Hispanic community that had to step up.
00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:58.960
And when I looked around and see didn't see anyone doing it, I was like, it's you know, it's my opportunity.
00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:04.079
And if I don't win, at least I hope to encourage the next person to do so.
00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:10.960
Someone from, you know, the African-American community, from the Asian community, from the Hispanic community, anyone willing to step up and fight for the middle place.
00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:11.360
Yeah.
00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:13.360
You know, I was a former state representative at the mien.
00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:13.840
Yes, sir.
00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:21.360
Uh and I I know that uh when you go down to Austin, if you get elected, it's uh you gotta work with uh building a coalition.
00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:31.039
Uh how do you think you're gonna be a coalition from you know getting people from the valle, El Paso, you know, Panhandle and East Texas uh to pass a bill on education.
00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:42.400
So one of the good things about the well, I shouldn't say one of the good things, but uh the spot where we're in right now, a lot of us are speaking the same language already of wanting to fully fund our public schools.
00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:44.400
I think that's a priority for a lot of us.
00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:47.519
We are seeing schools all over the state close.
00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:50.960
In my district alone, Plano has closed four schools.
00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:54.559
And in my district, two of those schools are located in there.
00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:59.760
And, you know, it's not because we have less students, it's because we have less funding for our schools.
00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.920
And you know, what happens to those students?
00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:03.360
They get to go to other schools.
00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:06.480
We're not hiring more teachers, we're not paying our teachers better.
00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:12.079
It just means larger classrooms, less attention to the students, and I want to work to fix that.
00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:18.079
So priority day one is making sure before even day one, making sure we're all on the same page.
00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:18.239
Yeah.
00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:28.159
Because there, like I said, there's a lot of us that ru really want to amplify our schools, make them, make them what they should be, put them back in the top 10 like we were when Ann Richards was governor.
00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.599
Ann Richards, it's been a while.
00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:32.320
It has, yes, she was in office.
00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:34.239
Our education levels were much higher.
00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:35.519
You know, not worth the bottom.
00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:40.800
So I was born in 92, and by the time I could remember anything, George Bush was already the you know the governor.
00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:46.000
So I've I haven't known a Texas that had a like it was when it was great.
00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:47.840
Yeah.
00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:48.400
All right.
00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:52.000
Well, if they want to, if somebody wants to work on your campaign, it's volunteer, donate.
00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:53.199
What how do they get a hold of you?
00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:57.360
Yeah, so you can first off re look at my website.
00:36:57.440 --> 00:37:03.440
It's uh www.lopus for the word for TXHD33.
00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:10.800
So www.l-p-e-z, f O R T X H D 33.
00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:13.119
And it has the links to all my social medias there.
00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.400
Uh you can donate.
00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:21.760
I've got my act blue um linked up there and always looking for some volunteers, especially out in the rural areas.
00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:26.239
Uh, we are starting to hit hit the field heavy.
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:28.639
I'm out there, except for this weekend.
00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:30.239
Uh I'm here in Corpus Christy.
00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:35.039
But uh, we are, you know, knocking on doors, letting people know that we are Texas Democrats.
00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:41.360
We have a good, strong message that I believe reverberates with a lot of communities, and we're always looking for more people.
00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.880
So I would love to have you on my team.
00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:44.000
So, last question.
00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:44.960
We're in Corpus.
00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:45.360
Yes.
00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:46.559
Home of Salina.
00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.039
Uh-huh.
00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:48.960
Do you have a favorite Salina song?
00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.159
Don't say the wrong one.
00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.280
No, no, no, no.
00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:55.039
You can't go wrong with Salina.
00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.960
Everybody loves Salina.
00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.199
True.
00:37:57.599 --> 00:38:01.280
No, I don't see no se laza conmigo.
00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:03.920
Ni me acuerdo el nombre de la canción, pero es la de Biri Biri Bamba.
00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:04.960
That's a good one.
00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:08.639
Next time, next time.
00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:09.519
All right, Rasa.
00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:11.519
Until next time, Tehano Talks.
00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:17.360
My name is Hiram.
00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:21.039
I'm here with the Hano Talks with the best attorney in Dallas, Domingo Garcia.
00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:21.679
We got Venton.
00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.880
Actually, Texas, man.
00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:23.599
Texas.
00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:26.320
Yeah, that's true, true, true.
00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.119
It's been a long day.
00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:30.320
We're here at the Democratic State Convention with Venton Jones.
00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:31.039
How are you doing today?
00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:31.679
Good, how are you?
00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:32.639
I'm doing awesome, man.
00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:33.360
I'm doing great.
00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.719
Want to hear more about you, though.
00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.280
Absolutely.
00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.000
Yeah, absolutely.
00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:39.920
We need to learn about where you're from, what are you up to nowadays?
00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:40.559
Okay.
00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:53.599
Well, uh, I am preparing uh to go into my third term as state representative for House District 100, which uh represents areas of Oak Cliff, South Dallas, uh, East and West Dallas.
00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:56.239
I was born and raised in Oak Cliff by the zoo.
00:38:56.960 --> 00:39:11.519
And um, it's an area that I ran because when you were looking at the things that were developing in and around the Dallas area, I felt like places like the area that I'm from continued to kind of get ignored and kind of pushed it aside.
00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:14.000
And most of the time we have conversations about the southern sector of Dallas.
00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:19.440
We jump down almost the Redbird Mall before we deal with, you know, the areas right outside of downtown Dallas.
00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:30.239
And so I had about 10 years of living in Washington, D.C., and brought that experience back as a precinct chair, as an election judge, and as just somebody who grandmother literally called them back and said, come do some work in the community.
00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:35.119
And so um I'm I'm very fortunate to be able to be back and doing that work in this capacity right now.
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:42.559
Aaron Powell So we're here at the State Democratic Convention, and I just heard Governor Plisker talk about uh when the Texas delegation, you know, went up to Illinois.
00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:47.199
How was it for you when y'all broke warm trying to stop the illegal gerrymandering of Texas?
00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:49.599
It was an intense process for me.
00:39:49.840 --> 00:40:01.360
And I I I took it very seriously because as somebody who is a a caregiver to my to my grandmother, um that rem you know pulled me away from her as she was having, you know, health issues at the time.
00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:09.920
Um, but I understood the importance of the conversation, particularly when it talked when we're looking at the j these maps, because it wasn't because of something that needed to be done.
00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:12.079
It wasn't something that the people called for.
00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:19.760
It was literally a a power grab that the president called on and that the governor allowed to be able to happen.
00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:36.000
And, you know, now at this point at the convention, we're already are are seeing how important the elections are when we in in the midterm, because if we do not get the seats that we need, Republicans are gonna do are do gonna do the same thing they did with the congressional seats with each of the House seats.
00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:40.239
How do you how you know you got a legislative session coming up uh next year, I guess.
00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:44.159
Uh what do you think is gonna be important uh to for Texas to know, be ready for?
00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:49.280
I think it's the most important of the most important things is the economy and and helping people make ends meet.
00:40:49.440 --> 00:41:04.239
People are having some real serious conversations around their kitchen tables about how food is gonna go into people's mouths, the gas that goes into people's cars, um, you know, just helping people navigate um these complex challenges in which no matter what spectrum of the income level that that you're on, you are feeling the burn.
00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:11.199
But definitely for those who are uh in lower socioeconomic status, um, they're definitely feeling the burn and having to make some some hard decisions.
00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:14.880
And I think that this is, you know, this is what we've seen in in O'Cliff.
00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:18.079
So I think that we have to raise up and understand how important this moment is.
00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:20.159
But of course, you have kind of three other issues.
00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:26.079
You have health care, uh, you have um our public education and our schools right now, and just our democracy right now.
00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:36.960
And and what we're seeing that's happening with uh with ICE and all these, you know, entities, well, individuals who are in elected seats that are abusing their power and use you literally weaponizing the government against communities.
00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:39.840
Vincent, you're like vice chair corrections, right?
00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:40.880
Or yeah.
00:41:41.039 --> 00:41:44.639
And you know, with that comes like a lot of experience in law enforcement.
00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:49.280
You've seen law enforcement start to like collaborate with ICE and everything.
00:41:49.440 --> 00:42:00.639
Well what are like some, you know, legislative priorities you have around like our justice system, maybe even not legislatively, but where do you see we're hurting most in in our justice system?
00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:01.840
Is it related to ICE?
00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:05.039
Is that hurting how I'm gonna go to your question?
00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:09.199
I'm just gonna say, like our area that we're hurting the most right now is winning elections.
00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:09.519
Okay.
00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:15.920
Because that determines the judges, that determines the elected leaders, that determines everything that happens next.
00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:33.440
So before we even talk about putting legislation on the table, we have to be able to make sure that we're getting the right people that's going to put an agenda forward, that's going to dismantle ICE, that's going to put an agenda forward that's going to put the 31 million Texans that that live in this state first, not just one group or one political party.
00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:37.280
And then when you go from there, we can look at different laws and and things like that.
00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:41.440
But first and foremost, but from anything from a policy standpoint, we have to dismantle ICE.
00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:41.679
Yeah.
00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:44.480
Uh it's not serving communities, it's not doing what it's supposed to do.
00:42:44.559 --> 00:42:49.760
It's continuing to divide communities and literally uh putting our communities into cages.
00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:56.239
And so that's one thing we have to do and make sure we continue to fight against any of this bad legislation that's continuing to harm communities of color right now.
00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:56.800
Yeah, man.
00:42:56.880 --> 00:43:02.639
I hear a lot of people don't want to call the cops anymore because they're afraid that, you know, because of the collaborations with ICE that they'll be deported.
00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:13.039
And there's a lot of protections in place for people that are, you know, undocumented, so they can also have public safety and law enforcement show up with the without the fear of deportation, but under this administration, that's false share.
00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:13.280
Right.
00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:17.440
So talking about elections, several of your colleagues are running for office in November.
00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:26.079
You got uh state representative James Tillarico running for Senate, you got Gina Anahosa running for governor, you got Vicki Godwin running for lieutenant governor, right?
00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:28.719
How do you see the Democrats' chances in November?
00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:37.039
I think that I think we have a great opportunity to win big in November, but I think it has very little to do with who's at the top of the ticket.
00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:41.280
It's all about our grassroots mobilization and getting on the ground to do this work.
00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:43.920
And so that work is going to go up the ladder.
00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:49.840
I think that sometimes in Texas, we put so much pressure on who's at the top of the ballot.
00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:50.000
Yeah.
00:43:50.239 --> 00:44:08.320
And I think we have to make sure that just like those individuals are important, the precinct chairs are important, the election judges are important, those individuals who see and and interact with those people on a daily basis, and we have to make sure that they are good because they're gonna give us the numbers that we need to see the statewide wins that we can we need to pursue.
00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:08.719
Absolutely.
00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:09.119
All right.
00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:09.599
Last question.
00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:10.960
And I'm proud of my colleagues though.
00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:12.800
They're they're doing an amazing job for stepping up.
00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:13.519
Shout out.
00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:14.960
And they're stepping up, you know.
00:44:15.119 --> 00:44:17.360
And you know, stop being a Democrat of Texas, you know?
00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:22.639
Uh but you know, like uh but we're battle-hardened to Hanel Tough, and uh we're in the battle.
00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:23.039
That's right.
00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:25.280
Harold, I'll let you have the last question and then we can move on.
00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:25.840
Absolutely.
00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:29.760
Venton, look, you're on the vice chair of LGBTQ, right, as well.
00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:43.119
Um, what's winner you see Texas like having to improve and what are you doing about it, you know, to because there's a lot of LGBTQ Texans out there that are just nervous about this administration, about this government, about the way that Greg Abbott is handling things.
00:44:43.199 --> 00:44:47.840
Like, what are you what are you doing to give some people hope, you know, like about the situation?
00:44:48.239 --> 00:44:56.480
I would say that whether you are a person that's a member of the LGBTQ community or a person of color, whether you're black and Latino, this is something I've said all weekend.
00:44:56.719 --> 00:45:02.000
We know what struggle looks like because our ancestors faced worse situations.
00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:03.280
They went without money.
00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:06.800
They were killed in the streets, they went through all of these different issues.
00:45:06.880 --> 00:45:12.719
And so what gives me hope is that knowing that the solutions for our communities is built into our DNA.
00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:20.239
And so we should not be afraid of what we're seeing because we already know that things can get worse and they happen worse for our people.
00:45:20.400 --> 00:45:30.719
And so I take it as a huge responsibility to represent the next generation of those fighters that all I have to do is is lean on my community, and the answers are gonna come.
00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:37.119
And I think that we have to continue to pull strength from that moment because if we just look at what's going on around us, it could get very dark.
00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:42.320
But again, it's been darker, and we want to make sure that we do everything to not let that get worse.
00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:48.559
And so I I I draw strength from my ancestors and I draw hope from them because they went through much, much worse than we're going through right now.
00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:52.719
That sounds like the Hanno Values to me, through and through like family, community, right?
00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:56.000
Those are at the base of what makes us Tehano tough, right?
00:45:56.079 --> 00:45:56.719
Without those things.
00:45:57.039 --> 00:45:59.920
Any last comment you want to say before we sign off?
00:46:00.239 --> 00:46:02.239
No, just just thank y'all for for doing this.
00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:07.039
I mean, getting the message out and helping people understand what's at stake is so critical.
00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:12.480
And so I'm just appreciative to be here today with y'all and and to be, you know, fight along side by side.
00:46:12.719 --> 00:46:16.400
You know, and people always say we appreciate your service, but I used to be a state representative.
00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:17.760
I used to get$600 a month.
00:46:18.079 --> 00:46:19.440
Are we still getting$600 a month?
00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:20.000
That's correct.
00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:24.000
So you do this because you believe in the community.
00:46:24.239 --> 00:46:28.079
You want to help your community because you ain't beginning rich being a state representative.
00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:28.960
So appreciate it, man.
00:46:29.119 --> 00:46:29.519
I appreciate it.
00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:29.920
Thank you, Vincent.
00:46:30.320 --> 00:46:31.679
This is the Hunter Talks, guys.
00:46:31.760 --> 00:46:37.199
We interview people like Venton Jones, who's our state representative for District 100.
00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:43.039
Get to ask him what he's doing about our corrections, about our LGBTQ community since he's vice chair.
00:46:43.119 --> 00:46:46.000
Again, thank you so much for being on the Hunl Talks.
00:46:46.079 --> 00:46:49.519
Follow us on your favorite platforms Instagram, YouTube, Spotify.
00:46:49.599 --> 00:46:50.719
We're there for you.
00:46:50.880 --> 00:46:52.239
We'll see you next time.