Texas Is the 8th Largest Economy — So Why Is It Last in Health Insurance? | Tejano Talks

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My name is Hiram Garcia.
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We're here with the Hono Talks at the Democratic State Convention in Corpus Chrissy.
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And in the house, we got Desiree Klaus, right?
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That rhyme.
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I did not intend for that to arrive.
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She's running for the Texas House of Representative District 128.
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Welcome on board.
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How's it going, Desiree?
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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
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Yeah, thank you so much, Aaron.
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I appreciated uh being here and getting to chat with you.
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Uh I am a mom and I'm also a small business owner, and I'm from Baytown, Texas, born in the world.
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Baytown, hold it down.
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I was raised there.
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I was actually born in Houston, but I was raised there all my life.
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And I'm uh a proud uh community advocate as well.
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I've been supporting the community, specifically small business community and Latino-owned businesses as well.
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And it's a little bit about my background, but I'm also a product of public schools.
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My kids go to public schools, and um I've done a lot over the last 43 years, but everything's changing.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Things are things are changing in quick, especially in government.
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Yes.
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Tell us like what your mom, you know, and I'm I'm sure that had to do a lot with why you decided to run.
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Um, but yeah, why, why, why now?
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And why this particular district 120.
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Yeah.
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Well, the the why now was because of the redistricting maps.
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Yeah.
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So I actually spoke at the state capitol last year to protest against them.
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Uh I waited 10 hours to s tell pretty much to give them a warning to let them know that I'm going to make sure our Latino community, Mehanta, is educated and uh informed.
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And that, you know, how do you think that y'all have been tearing up families, ice raids, uh also hurting small businesses as well.
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And we're supposed to just vote for you again?
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Yeah.
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Excuse me?
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I mean, Texas has been under what, the boo of Republicans for 25 plus years now, and things suck.
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If we're being honest with you, yeah.
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Yeah.
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And and so when I went there, I gave them the warning, but I knew there was more I could do, right?
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And so when I saw that the seat was gonna open up, uh 128 is formerly held by Briscoe Kane.
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And I knew there was a great opportunity for me to make sure that our community had representation.
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I mean, we are a very strong Latino community, so why not have a Latino woman, mom, business owner represent that community?
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Yeah, I mean, look, Baytown I know is a community where there's a lot of people that work in the industry, like in the oil fields, refineries out there.
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Uh, you know, it's it's a lot of Tejanos that work hard, and they need somebody that looks like them to represent them in government.
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And we have a lot of people like Bruce Cocaine that are just not doing the job, you know, of representing the people that live in the industry.
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Yeah, and I understand the industry as well.
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So my great-grandfather worked for Exxon, my grandfather worked for Exxon, and my mom worked for Exxon.
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Wow.
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And my dad works in the chemical plants in Lubersol uh in the district.
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So I know the background, I understand where we are, right?
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And how we've been able to get those opportunities.
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But at the same time, we can't be blinded by what's also happening to our community, right?
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One minute some communities are being split up by ice rates, and the next others are, you know, losing their jobs.
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So we have to make sure that we are being protected and that we're not gonna be sidelined anymore.
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We we have to stop being sidelined.
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We have to make sure our voices are heard because we are part of this growing community.
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We are the ones that have built a lot of it, and sometimes it's been on our backs, right?
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It's been on the backs of Latinos community.
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All of it, in my opinion.
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Honestly, like Tejanos and you know, Mexican Americans built Texas.
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I mean, before it was Texas, it was Texas, you know, it was originally like part of Mexico, and it was way back when that we started building Texas.
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It wasn't just 10 years ago, it wasn't 20 years ago, it was not even in our lifetime.
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Before we were here, Texas has been getting built, and specifically by Mexican Americans.
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So, you know, that's I'm I'm happy to hear that.
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Desiree, tell me, look, let's say you win, right?
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You're already there.
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I'm hoping you win.
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I'm I'm gonna I'm betting.
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I'm betting that you will, but let's say you do, right?
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Let's say it's already November 4th.
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Let's say it's actually beyond that and it's your first day in office.
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What does that look like?
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How are you preparing for that?
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What are the first things you're doing as a you know a representative?
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So uh my passion has always been the small business community and also the opportunity to make sure we have more workforce training for those that are needing jobs.
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Um, so Baytown, which is the heart of the district, is on is one of the uh cities that's on the top 10 list of the highest unemployment rate in our district.
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Wow.
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So we need to make sure we need to be working on jobs.
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Yeah.
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I mean, we need workforce training, workforce development, more opportunities for small businesses to grow.
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Job's going, do you know?
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Exactly.
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Where are they going?
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It's kind of crazy that yes, we have industry, but yet the jobs aren't coming in, right?
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Yeah.
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Or they're contract jobs, which maybe they last for a couple of years and then, you know, they're gone.
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So we need real strong, stable jobs.
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And we start that by the small business community.
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You you you build Main Street so you can be able to get to that next level.
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And if we're not doing that right now, um, unfortunately, we had a business called Four Corners Barbecue that closed down after 21 years.
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Oh, wow.
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I mean, I think I've heard of them.
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Are they like pretty well known?
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They're pretty well known.
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They're in the they're they're on a four-corners segment of I-10.
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And so the fact that they've been open for 21 years and closing their doors and closing their doors because of the economy, they post it on their social.
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It's not because of anything else, it's because of the economy that they just cannot no longer keep their doors open.
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Yeah, people can't afford even child care nowadays.
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I mean, like a family of two raising a child, they both parents have to work, and even then, like they barely have a dollar left on their paycheck from paying all the child care, like child care groceries, and don't even get me started on screwworm.
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It's about to bring up the prices of you know our meat.
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Like this government and administration is really doing their best to regress us back to a time where things were harder and it's unfortunate.
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But I'm glad you have those priorities straight, or those priorities in line for your first day in office.
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What what do you think right now is your biggest challenge in your campaign?
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I think it's uh making sure the community me gente is informed.
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Yeah.
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Because we're so used to being just like, oh, that's not my problem.
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Oh, I don't do politics, oh, that doesn't affect me.
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No, it does.
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And it it affects your neighbors and it affects all of us, right?
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And so, you know, I know the struggle my family had to go through to become a third generation, right?
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My family's been here for a long time.
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They immigrated here and set foundation here for a reason, and that was to build a foundation for their family to grow.
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So why not make sure that we're being taken care of, heard of, our voices are heard, our we're we got jobs, we're feeding our families.
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Like you said about the daycare.
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I I know firsthand my my mortgage and my daycare bill when my kids were little was the exact same amount, if not more.
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And that was my whole paycheck practically.
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So I know how it feels, and and things should be getting better for us.
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And unfortunately, right now, they are not.
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They have not been in a really long time.
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Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely.
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Like, so I know that you founded or you're the creative director of Let's Vamos Network.
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Uh, you know, tell me about that.
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What is Let's Vamos like?
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What is it about?
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What are you achieving with this?
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Yeah, so Let's Vamos is about bringing the community together through supporting small businesses and also women entrepreneurs, local leaders, and nonprofits.
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Uh, it is a uh platform that's able to uh cultivate that community, right?
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As Latinos, we don't always have a space sometimes.
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Yeah.
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And so I what I noticed over the last six years is that we needed a space and it started to grow.
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It grew from really small blog that I had to now the network that I've built over the last six years.
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Um, I also started uh the first National Latina Day in Houston.
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Oh, hey, look at that.
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Yeah, so uh Austin celebrated National Latina Day, but Houston wasn't doing anything.
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So in 2022, I launched an event.
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I actually organized it in one month with a collaborator.
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That one month is for those that don't do event organizing, one month is a miracle.
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Yeah, it is it was a miracle, and we had some great things aligned.
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And then within the second year, we got media coverage, we got more sponsors, we got more opportunities.
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We are on a little bit of a hiatus right now because of the campaign.
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So I'm I'm trying to figure out how I can launch my new National Athena Day event within my own district because it's important that we have those opportunities to support the community.
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So Les Arnos has always been about uplifting and inspiring and motivating the next generation.
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And how can we do that?
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Well, obviously through social media, because that's where we're growing, right?
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That's where we're being heard, that's where the viewers are at.
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And if we're not talking to the community where they are being able to like listen, being listened to, right?
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Yeah, then we're just neglecting our community at the same time.
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Yeah.
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So yeah, so that's how I love Les Vominos, it's my passion.
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It's been uh, of course, my also my small business as well.
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But it is something I think that needed to be done over the last six years for for myself and for our community.
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Yeah, yeah.
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No, look, wife, mother of two sons, founder of Les Vomules Network, somebody that really cares about District 128, Baytown, understands the industry.
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You had family work for Exxon and all these.
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Melissa, like if somebody's inspired by you and your message, how could they find you?
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How can we support you?
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What are your handles?
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What's your website?
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Tell it to the camera right there.
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Yeah.
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So my handles are Desiree Klaus for Texas on Instagram and Facebook.
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And then my website is desireclouse.com.
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Awesome.
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Well, thank you so much for being on here, Desiree.
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We really appreciate you.
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You're exactly what we want on The Hono Talks.
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You know, we want to empower Latinos like yourself that are gonna go in there and challenge Greg Abbott and his cronies, you know what I mean, and this administration that's really rolling back all the good things that we had put in place at some point from our public education to our infrastructure, you know what I mean?
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And and with your experience with Los Vámonos and as a mom and and you know, as a wife, uh, I'm sure you're bringing in like the fight, you know, the good fight against against these terrible, terrible folks.
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So any any last words, anything you want to leave the crowd with?
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Yeah, I just want to let people know that I'm not bought y'all.
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I'm building and I'm gonna need y'all's support throughout this journey.
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And we want to make sure that our community is informed and educated and just empowered by this campaign because it's our time.
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This is our time right now.
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And so, you know, vomit us to the polls.
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Let's vomit us to the polls.
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I love that.
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Let's vomit us to the polls, vote for Desiree Clause if you're voting in Texas House Representative District 128.
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Uh, this has been the Hono Talks.
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We're at the Texas State Convention.
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We'll see you next time.
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My name is You Nam Garcia.
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I'm here with the Hono Talks.
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We're with the best public, uh, private private personal injuries.
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I gotta help you out.
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I'm not the best, I'm just an attorney.
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And with us though, we have another attorney.
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Okay.
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All right.
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And uh, you know, Josh, uh, you know, you're you're running for state rep.
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Why?
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As a former state rep, why are you doing it?
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Why would you do this at$600 a month?
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Yeah, for$600 a month.
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Well, now it has risen to$700 a month.
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So there is almost a 15% increase.
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I thought you could tell I was a state rep back when the dinosaurs were in the world.
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The dinosaurs remember you fondly.
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That was nice.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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No, I'm doing it because I can't scream like that.
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So I might as well just go into the state rep.
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That was pretty impressive.
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I'm doing it because literally, I am the product of a single mom in public schools, and public schools save my life, and our public schools are no longer what they used to be, and our future is no longer secure because we are no longer investing in our children.
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We're no longer investing in our schools, we're no longer investing in our humans, right?
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We care more about data centers than we do in our humans.
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And I'm really angry because I lived, I lived in a Texas that was different, and I want that for my kid and for every other kid.
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And I know so it's 50% anger, and it's 50%, I know it can make a difference because I'm a transactional attorney.
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And so my my life day-to-day has been bringing people together to solve problems.
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I'm not a litigator.
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You know, I don't win or lose.
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I bring, I bring, I make win-win happen because otherwise people don't sign the sign the contract.
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Yeah.
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So I can make things happen in Austin, uh, despite I think the clown show that is that is going on right now.
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I can we can bring the adults back and and bring some sanity back to our Texas government.
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That wouldn't be nice.
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Josh, you're like an expert negotiator, right?
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Making two people happy on both ends.
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Well, I gotta ask you, look, a lot of Tejanos, a lot of Latinos, they're disappointed with everybody, not just the Republicans, not just the Democrats, but you know, so much that we even saw some Latinos like vote for Trump that we were not expecting to.
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So how are we negotiating back?
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How are we gonna get those Latinos back into the Democratic Party?
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What confidence are you giving them?
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Well, I I'm actually gonna go a little deep detour a little bit.
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I don't I don't think it's solely party, I think it's country before party, and I think it's issues before party.
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Yeah.
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Now I will tell you, you call me an expert negotiator.
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I'm married, so I don't always win.
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Uh but I but I always try.
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I never actually when you're married.
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I I win at work, I don't win at home.
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But that's okay.
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She's Latina too, by the way.
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She's Brazilian, so it's by the way.
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I heard you're trilingual.
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I I I I speak English too, yeah.
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And what else?
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Ah, look at that.
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So there it is.
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So we've got we've got a very diverse population in 133, right?
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So it's it's literally every single culture and nationality in the world.
00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:05.039
Yeah, Houston's one of the most diverse cities in Texas.
00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.000
One third of Houston's population is foreign-born.
00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:13.919
It's not even not from outside the states, it's or outside the country outside the Texas, it's outside the country.
00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.519
So it's very, very diverse.
00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.679
But everybody has the same issues, right?
00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:20.720
You knock on the doors and they're like, well, how's the gas prices?
00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.679
Hey, is insurance, how are you feeling about your insurance prices?
00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.360
Are your taxes going down?
00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:28.399
Is your medical care more affordable and accessible, right?
00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.960
Do you feel like your public schools are better than they used to be?
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.360
Right?
00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.559
How's your infrastructure?
00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.600
Like, are you worried?
00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:41.440
Are you we're we're living in the energy capital of the world in Houston, Texas, and everybody buys generators because they can't keep the lights on in the energy capital of the world?
00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:45.600
And so when you go to these people, and I'm including Latinos in this, it's not a party issue.
00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.279
It's a it's a future issue.
00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:52.080
Do you think your kids will have a better future than when you were a kid?
00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.440
And everybody says no.
00:15:53.600 --> 00:16:03.440
And the answer to everybody says no is well, then let's change it because we have 30 years of the same regime controlling Texas and right now controlling the country.
00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.840
And if it's not working, change horses, man.
00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:06.240
Right?
00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.960
Change horses.
00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.840
Look, uh health insurance is a big issue.
00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:15.519
We have large one of the largest uninsured uh uh populations in the entire country.
00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.039
You know, if you go to Benthab in Houston, there's lines at the door.
00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:19.440
Right.
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.440
Because that's the only option they have.
00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:26.000
What can we do to get more Texans to get affordable health insurance?
00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:26.480
Yeah.
00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.639
We we have we have really bad statistics.
00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:33.120
We are we are the the national leader in uninsured people in Texas.
00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:33.440
Right.
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.879
We have more than any other state.
00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:37.200
That's that's not a number we should be proud of.
00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:37.840
We're winning.
00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:41.679
But we're and Paxson are proud of it.
00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:43.519
Well, I don't want to win like that anymore.
00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.480
I'm ready.
00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:46.159
If that's winning, I want to lose.
00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:46.639
Right?
00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.039
Yeah.
00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.720
But so so here's the deal.
00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.879
First, we have a huge uninsured population.
00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.799
Why do we have an uninsured population?
00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:59.519
Because, well, everything's unaffordable, but partially because insurance is so uh expensive because we don't have options.
00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:04.400
And one of the reasons we don't have options is because people don't have the money to be able to buy it.
00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:09.759
Because we haven't taken our health care money back from the federal government.
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:18.400
We have millions and millions of dollars that we leave on the table every single month from DC because we don't want to take it back because it supports Obamacare.
00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.319
It's not about Obamacare, it's about our kids.
00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:25.680
We could take that money back and insure every single kid in the state of Texas right now, every kid across Texas.
00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.960
And I don't know why they aren't there.
00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.000
We never took the money.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.960
We never took the money.
00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.839
It's our money.
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.400
It's your money, it's my money, it's taxpayers' money.
00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.680
It's even your money, man.
00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:37.599
Yeah, I mean, it it's it's unfortunate, you know, and they just keep taking more money.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:42.400
You know, talk about public school vouchers and all this money going out, and we get nothing.
00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.039
No good, no good public schools, no good education.
00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.720
And you said you're a result of public schools.
00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.039
So yeah.
00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.680
I look, I mean, look, I owe my life to public schools.
00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:53.039
I I my so when my dad died, um, I had a single mom.
00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.960
And she went back to You were seven years old?
00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.839
I was seven years old.
00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.640
I'm a little older now.
00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.039
It was hard.
00:17:59.200 --> 00:17:59.920
It was really hard.
00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:01.519
Uh yeah, I grew up real fast.
00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:05.839
And I and I had to grow up my little brother too, because I was the I was the man of the house.
00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.720
There wasn't anybody else.
00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.240
And so I grew up real fast.
00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:16.960
Um, but I was I was supported by a great mom and it's a great community and great public schools and teachers that were well funded and certified and cared about me.
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:26.799
And you don't, I I'll bet you if your audience, if if anybody out there thinks back to their their school years, there's gonna be at least one teacher that made a difference in your life, right?
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.920
One teacher that you're better off for having known that they guided you.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.880
And I had a I had a few, and they're all from public schools.
00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:38.880
And if I disappeared tomorrow, I I don't think my kid would have that same opportunity.
00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.759
And I don't think that the kids of Texas would have that opportunity.
00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:45.119
And let me talk about like the the disadvantaged in Texas.
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:49.920
So this district has two spell, we have a little bit of Katie, but so we have two main school districts.
00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:56.559
We have HISD that was taken over by the state and mismanaged, and then we got Spring Branch ISD, which was not taken over the state.
00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:01.839
50% of the kids in Spring Branch ISD qualify for free lunch, right?
00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.720
They're not gonna go to private school, they can't even afford lunch.
00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:09.759
80% of kids in HISD qualify for free lunch, right?
00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.359
They're not gonna go to private school.
00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:16.720
So we've got this community that really has no other opportunity to get ahead.
00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:21.440
We've got to invest in our kids by giving them the calories and the capabilities to get ahead.
00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.240
And we've got to give them workforce training if they don't want to go to college.
00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.359
Well, they gotta get a job.
00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.519
Hey, electricians, plumbers, they make good money.
00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000
Well, I've been paying those invoices.
00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.799
I know you're right.
00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.839
I know you're right.
00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.480
But you're right.
00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.960
Like, not everybody needs to go to college, not everybody needs to be a lawyer, but everybody needs a job.
00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.440
And if you don't do that, they don't become taxpayers.
00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:43.119
If you don't invest in schools, invest in prisons, right?
00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.480
Because that's where you're sending your kids.
00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.720
That school to prison pipeline has to be broken.
00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:49.200
That there's a reason we call it the school to prison pipeline.
00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.839
It's real.
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.240
Yeah.
00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:50.720
Yeah.
00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:57.200
So So, like, how do you, you know, at this fight, how do you explain what we're facing?
00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.279
Like, we got no health care, our public schools are going down the drain.
00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.319
Who do we blame?
00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.240
Like, what do we blame?
00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:10.480
Well, there is there is one party in power that has not been checked, that has not been balanced.
00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:15.599
One party that controls every single lever of state government and now federal government.
00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:18.000
There's no other people to blame.
00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.480
We've never had the opportunity to give a solution.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:20.799
Yeah.
00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:41.119
Our solutions are fully invest in public schools, fully fund uh public schools, pay teachers the right salary, increase workforce training for those folks that don't have it, and facilitate like our youth, invest in our youth instead of data centers and those crony capitalists that are going to contribute to your campaign donations, right?
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:41.759
Well, you know.
00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.400
We have to change.
00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:52.000
When Ann Richards, because I was still around, when Ann Richards was the governor of Texas, we were the seventh highest rated uh uh education system in the country.
00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.400
Yeah.
00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.680
And now we're 50th.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.640
We're well it depends on.
00:20:55.359 --> 00:21:00.240
I guess if we take out Mississippi, but actually, Mississippi's doing some things right.
00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:04.720
We it kind of depends on the metric as to whether we're like 42nd or 47th or 48th.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.839
These are not things I want to win.
00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.559
I don't want to be the worst.
00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:09.039
I don't hear you say anything above 40.
00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:11.680
So we don't want to be in the bottom quartile.
00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.839
Let's invest enough to be in the top quartile.
00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:22.400
And it is about money because we haven't been investing enough to keep up with with inflation, but we also just simply haven't been investing compared to other states.
00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:28.960
And actually, we've been reducing what we've been paying while we've been increasing the mandates we put on education, right?
00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:33.359
So for instance, every school has to have a police officer, right, for security.
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.359
Fine, if you believe in that, pay for it.
00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.079
We told them we had that they had to do it, but we didn't pay for it.
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.799
That's not adding to education, that's subtracting from what you're giving for education.
00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:45.440
So people have less money to educate kids.
00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:49.599
And then you take over the school districts that and you're suddenly not accountable to the parents at all.
00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.960
I my I'm not accountable.
00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.319
I mean, they're not accountable to me.
00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:56.240
My kid had six different math teachers in nine months.
00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.119
That's crazy.
00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.160
In seventh grade.
00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.680
Six he lost a year of math.
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:09.599
Because six uncertified, uneducated teachers that were quali that were substitutes came in for nine months of his training because HISD can't can't figure it out.
00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.119
And that's Governor Abbott's fault.
00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.319
Because he allowed it to happen.
00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:15.200
And that's the legislature's fault because they passed bills that allowed it to happen.
00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.000
School vouchers.
00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.240
And school vouchers have sapped money.
00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:21.359
School vouchers that is a fraud.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:31.119
And here's why it's a it's a scam because and it sucks money from the people who need it the most, and it gives money to the people who need it the least because who's taking advantage of it?
00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.480
The numbers don't lie.
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.880
People who are taking advantage of it are the people that already have their kids in private education.
00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.559
And they can afford to put them in private schools.
00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:46.079
Look, if you have if you have your there's, I think 1% of the population that has their kid in public schools are looking to use those vouchers to go to private schools.
00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.559
One percent.
00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:49.519
That means 99% are just getting a wealth transfer.
00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.119
And we're paying for it all.
00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:51.599
Right.
00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.960
And and our public schools keep going getting less money.
00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.359
Yeah.
00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:58.960
So they keep paying teachers less, and then you have bad results.
00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:01.039
It's a self-fulfilling process almost.
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:09.599
If if you keep handicapping your schools, if you keep underpaying your teachers, you are going to there's no way you're gonna get better consequences.
00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:11.279
You're gonna get worse consequences.
00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.559
So you're in a really diverse, you know, part of Texas in Houston.
00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:24.079
My question to you is, and you speak three languages, like what's your strategy right now, like when it comes to reaching the Latino community?
00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:28.400
Like, what do you feel Tejanos are hurting most in?
00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:34.400
And how are you reaching those Tejanos or how are you reaching the Latino community and your Houston area?
00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:39.279
So I'll I'll tell you that you guys, you guys have both common problems and and uncommon problems.
00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:47.279
The common problems with everybody else are affordability and infrastructure and education and healthcare costs and just costs generally.
00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.960
Corruption is a big deal.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:53.519
We don't we don't like what's going on in the in Austin nor in DC.
00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:56.400
You're also being targeted by the federal government.
00:23:56.559 --> 00:24:05.920
And there's there's only a certain amount of stuff that a state legislator can do about that, but it can pass laws that don't discriminate against certain nationalities and races.
00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:15.200
And it can decide not to deputize federal govern uh our state government uh employees to become federal immigration agents.
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:25.440
We can do that, but we can also make sure that you have fair voting rights, that you're not intimidated at the voting ballots, and I and I and I swear to God, I know this is gonna happen.
00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:30.160
We're gonna have people that are trying to intimidate Latinos from voting.
00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:35.599
You know, Roman was declared dead, uh, and he had his voter registration rescinded recently.
00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.799
Two months ago.
00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.559
I don't think you're dead.
00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:40.400
Yeah, he's very much alive.
00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:40.640
Yeah.
00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.559
But the Secretary of State said I was.
00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.640
But how many other people were purged?
00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:47.119
Well, I I and and then they apologize later?
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.279
No, you're gonna so I hope number one, you vote.
00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.880
I hope you move to my district and vote for me.
00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.160
There is more than that.
00:24:52.319 --> 00:25:02.480
But more than that, you do have to worry about that, and you have to worry about ice raids, and you have to worry about like literally, they're not people aren't coming out and and zip tying me and sending me to El Salvador, they're coming to people like you.
00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.279
Right, right?
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.599
So you guys have problems that I don't have.
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.680
Plus, some people have linguistic problems.
00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:12.000
So we've got to get out and ex and ex and explain to people in their own language.
00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:14.559
Yeah, and then that can be Spanish as well.
00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:20.079
Here's here are your rights, here's what you can do, here's how to register, here's where to vote, and and vote for your interests.
00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.759
Josh, say in Spanish real quick.
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:24.240
Give us your elevator speech in Spanish, I want to hear it.
00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:36.079
Okay, you can use the derech to votar, and honestly, uh registrar and voter for those democratics.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:36.640
Yes, sir.
00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:44.000
Yeah, and by the way, Donald Talks is bilingual.
00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.920
You know, maybe one day we'll have you back on in Spanish.
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.799
That'd be really fun.
00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.119
Yep.
00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:52.559
So if somebody wants to volunteer or work out or donate to your campaign, how do they get a hold of you?
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:58.799
Yeah, so so uh Josh for the Josh the number fourtexas.com, www.josh4texas.com.
00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:01.119
Uh you can get honestly, I'll give you my cell phone.
00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.920
You can call me directly.
00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:08.799
I'd love to hear from you in English, in Espanyol, in Portuguese, uh, whatever you want.
00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.240
Uh serious, much.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.559
Remember your vote counts.
00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:14.880
So voto vale, go out there and vote.
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:18.000
And if you're in the Houston area, here's a great candidate to vote for.
00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.319
Last year, 178,000 Texas workers were injured.
00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.240
We know the losses are devastating.
00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:29.119
The crooked insurance companies have only one goal to pay you nothing or as little as possible.
00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.720
Domingo Garcia.
00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:39.839
Recovering millions for the hard-working people of Texas, including a$32 million verdict, making the insurance companies pay and protecting your rights.
00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.920
If we don't win, you pay nothing.
00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.039
Demand a legend.
00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.720
Demand Domingo.
00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:48.160
The offices of Domingo Garcia, DeHano Tough.
00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:54.160
My name is Inam Garcia.
00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:58.160
I'm here in the studio with Tyler Smith, Dehano Talks, baby.
00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.279
How are you doing, Tyler?
00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.000
Doing good, man.
00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.480
How are you?
00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.440
I'm doing great, man.
00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:05.039
Tell me, you're the Democratic nominee for Texas House District 138.
00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:07.279
Uh tell us about yourself.
00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:10.160
How did you get to the point of running for office?
00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.960
You're pretty young.
00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.400
You're about to turn 27.
00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.400
So, you know, how'd you get here so quick?
00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:18.400
Yeah, I mean, I got my start in politics at the campus of Texas Southern University.
00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:29.119
Um, I thought I was gonna be an entertainment lawyer and go to law school right after college, but I met a guy by the name of Beto Rourke, uh, and it changed my whole perspective on wanting to get involved in politics.
00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.559
I tell a funny story.
00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:41.920
Um, going to HBCU and not really being involved in politics, I saw a flyer of a black man and Beto standing next to each other, and I just instantly thought that the black man was Beto who was coming to a uh HBC to talk about politics.
00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:46.799
Uh but since that day, I've been really involved and engaged in the work of politics.
00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:48.880
Uh, from my time working in Washington, D.C.
00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:55.920
for Kamala Harris and John Osoff to now, and then my day job working at Everytown for Gun Safety and as a fellow at the Obama Foundation.
00:27:56.079 --> 00:28:00.559
Uh, this has just been something I've been really passionate about, making sure that we take care of our communities back home.
00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.839
So absolutely, man.
00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:04.799
So look, you got a lot of really great experience under your belt.
00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:06.400
You know, you got a really great resume.
00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:10.000
Have had obviously a lot of experience working inside of government.
00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:15.680
How do you, you know, tie in your personal upbringing to why you're running today?
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:20.400
Like what about you and your background, you know, really motivates you?
00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:23.440
Maybe something personal like that is pushing you right now.
00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.559
You said you met Beto.
00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.079
What about Beto inspired you?
00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:28.880
Yeah, I mean, I think I was one of the lucky kids.
00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:37.440
I I grew up with parents in a two-parent household, um, with parents who were college educated, but I knew that that wasn't the case for most people.
00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:43.759
I grew up around a bunch of cousins who did not have the same story, or a bunch of friends who did not have the same story as me.
00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:59.920
Uh, and watching some of my neighbors, watching some of my friends, some of my baseball teammates, I played baseball growing up, uh, watching some of them parents have to decide whether or not they paid for medicine or whether they paid for the next month to travel baseball, um, was a real driving factor.
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.359
I I think it's mind-blowing.
00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:18.400
I've been saying this all day that we live in a state of Texas where we can rank eighth in the world, not the nation, not the US, but eighth in the world uh for largest economies, yet rank 50th in the nation for most uninsured residents, ranking the top five for most residents in financial disaster.
00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:23.440
And I think that those were two really big things that drove me to want to get out there and run for office.
00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:26.720
It's really scary, but at the same time, I know it's worth fighting for.
00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.079
So yeah, absolutely.
00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:30.799
No, it really is a worth, like a worthy fight.
00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:37.759
You know, we got a lot of Tejanos specifically now, they're really getting the the bad, the short end of the stick, you know, with this administration.
00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:42.319
And one of the issues right now that's really concerning the Latino community is immigration.
00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:47.279
You know, like you got ICE coming into Texas, we got Greg Abbott doing Operation Lone Star.
00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.759
Uh, it's horrible stuff, man.
00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:55.279
Like, if you get into office, if you are in our Texas House District 138, what do you plan to do about that?
00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:58.319
Yeah, I mean, I think Operation Lone Star was a fluke.
00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:03.359
Uh, Greg Abbott came in and inserted his hand in the place that he had no business doing it.
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:11.920
Um, and I think if we win and Democrats take back the state legislator, we get a Gina Henajosa as our governor, day one, that's something that we need to overturn.
00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:22.480
I I'm willing and ready to sponsor the legislation uh to kick back and make sure that Texas law enforcement is not integrating or working with immigration and uh enforcement at all.
00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.519
It makes no sense.
00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:26.400
Yeah, no, I I mean you're you're very right about that.
00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.759
I'm glad you have that approach.
00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:32.799
You know, you'd be the first one to write your latest sponsor bill uh to stop all this immigration stuff.
00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:38.720
You know, another thing right now that I know that you're very involved with or you've been involved with in the past is gun violence, right?
00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:41.519
Gun violence is a big conversation here in Texas.
00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:44.880
A lot of Texans die uh due to gun violence.
00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.920
It could be prevented.
00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.759
The CDC can't even study it.
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.039
What will you do?
00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:57.359
You know, given your experience, give us a little background about your experience in gun violence and what would you do policy-wise in order to like improve, you know, the status quo.
00:30:57.599 --> 00:31:02.240
Yeah, I mean, I I think I got my my start in policy and lobbying working at every town.
00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:07.359
And I think that most people, when we talk about gun violence, we talk about the the everyday mass shooting.
00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:16.640
We talk about situations like Ubaday, or we talk about like the uh Allen Walmart shooting, uh, but we fail to talk about the day-to-day violences that we see every day.
00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:23.759
I think the the most gun violence that we see are the local crimes with someone going out and shooting someone on the street.
00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:34.640
And I think one of the things that we can do as a state legislator, uh, one of the things I've done already from my day job is make sure that we're fully funding preventative care work to make sure that we're going out there and talking to those youth.
00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:41.039
We're going out there talking to those adults who are committing the gun violence that we see on a day-to-day basis and giving them other opportunities.
00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:48.319
I think one of the reasons that we see crime and gun violence is not because people have a hankering or energy to go out there and shoot someone.
00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:59.039
It's because they're in need for services, they're in need for better health care, they're in need for a job that doesn't pay them$7.25 an hour, which hearing someone make that much is outrageous.
00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:01.759
But that that's the reality here in the state of Texas.
00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:20.799
Um, so Texas needs to fully fund programs like the Community Violence Intervention Program that we were able to work on last year in the legislature from my day job as a lobbyist for every town, as well as working with a number of the state legislators, Democrat and Republicans, to get funding to make sure that we're taking care of the people right at home who are committing these crimes.
00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:25.279
Yeah, I mean, I mean, like, you know, these problems are only getting worse with the administration that we have right now.
00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:32.000
I mean, Trump's not doing us any favors by promoting guns, promoting violence in America the way that he is.
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.759
I mean, we just had the UFC fight.
00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.160
Yeah.
00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:44.880
And like the week before the Trump administration just created these ATF rollbacks, which are mind-blowing that like everyday people aren't talking about.
00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:52.720
But in those rollbacks, two of the most stark, crazy things is they remove background checks on so many sales of guns.
00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:57.200
I think the easiest thing to do is to ask someone to at least go through a background check.
00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:58.559
I'm a gun owner myself.
00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:02.559
It took me 30 seconds to do my background check once I filled out the application.
00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:10.880
But even scarier, they're passing an ATF regulation that would allow people to sell guns online and ship them through USPS.
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:18.400
And the thing that's so corrupt about it is that his son, Don Jr., has a website called Grab a Gun that he's selling guns online.
00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:22.400
So it's just corrupt and crazy the things that we see in America right now.
00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:26.880
Yeah, and it's crazy to see that like not only is he selling guns online, but he's a millionaire now, right?
00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:29.599
And we all know that's not because he's a genius.
00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:33.680
It's because all of Trump's friends, you know, they're getting rich off of corruption.
00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.720
That's what it is.
00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:44.000
Look, unfortunately, Trump got elected into office, and and we kind of know that that's in part due to Latinos like turning their back on the Democratic Party.
00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.680
How do you bring Latinos back, man?
00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:51.440
You're your county or where you're representing, the area you're representing is majority Latinos.
00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:56.880
So what is your message to Latinos that are disenfranchised by you know the Democratic Party?
00:33:57.119 --> 00:34:05.839
Yeah, I mean, I think the Democratic Party abandoned our Latino voters come 2024, and we saw them walk away from the party in droves.
00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:19.679
And I think this year is a year where Democrats have to stand up and make sure that we're talking to our Tejano Democrats across the country, and not just our Democrats, but we're also talking to our Artejano Republicans, our Tejano independents, and making sure that we're bringing them a message that resonates with them.
00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:34.719
That starts with talking about the things that's happening in immigration, yes, but also talks about, or it also starts with making sure that we're talking about affordability, make sure that we're talking about making sure that they have access to healthcare, making sure they have access to public schools that actually are fully funded.
00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:41.840
I know in my district, just a couple months ago, we had a school in the majority Latino pocket of our district that was closed.
00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.159
And the school was closed within three weeks.
00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:50.000
They had a hearing, they said that they were going to close the school, and three weeks later the school was closed.
00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:54.000
Um and they're not doing that in the white parts of our district, they're not doing it in any other parts.
00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:57.440
They're doing that in our Latino, heavily populated parts of our district.
00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:05.519
So we have to go to those districts and make sure that we're talking to them, not about the things that we think that they care about, but the things that's actually impacting them on a daily day basis.
00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:17.440
And I think uh I I may be biased, I'm a Democrat myself when I'm running for state house, but I think that Democrats have the message that actually resonates with our Tejano and our Latino Democrats in the state, our Latino residents in period.
00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:20.719
Uh, we just have to actually go out there and be our authentic selves and talk about it.
00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.000
Would you call yourself Tejano?
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:22.639
I would.
00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:27.360
I I was telling Julio earlier, I am a uh I pay my dues to the Harris County Tejano Democrat.
00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:29.039
So I'm a black Tejano Dem.
00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.519
There we go.
00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:29.679
Yeah.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:32.960
Tejano, all that means is that you live and born in Texas.
00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.880
You know, a lot of Tejanos are generational.
00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:37.360
Tejanos have been here for eight generations plus.
00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:42.400
But really, at the center of Tejanos and Tejano culture is all of Texas culture, to be honest with you.
00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:45.360
I mean, like boots, botas, you know, hats.
00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:45.760
Yeah.
00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:50.320
You know, those came from Mexican Americans that were here before this was even Texas.
00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.880
I mean, before they were even Mexican Americans, they're Tejanos.
00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:56.320
So, you know, I'm I'm glad you identified with that.
00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:58.320
Uh one last question, man.
00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:08.239
Like, you know, if if you were sitting right now next to your opponent, like, and and you had to emphasize what makes you different from them or from her, right?
00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:08.960
It's a her.
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.400
Uh, what is that, man?
00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:20.639
What, why, why you and how are you different from obviously not just along party lines, but you know, somebody that doesn't know go Democrat, Republican, why would they go with you versus your opponent?
00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:25.360
Yeah, I mean, I think you would go with my campaign if you care about actually helping the everyday person.
00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:30.800
I'm running against an opponent who has been more focused on making sure she's taking care of RFK Jr.
00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:36.800
and Donald Trump and Washington, D.C., than she is about taking care of the Democrats, Republicans, and independents in our district.
00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:41.920
And that's not just Democrats, like I said, it's Republicans that she's forgotten about, it's independents that she's forgotten about.
00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:47.760
Uh, I was just talking earlier about a school district or a school that was closed in our district just a couple of months ago.
00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:55.039
And while me and other activists and community leaders were out there talking about the school being shut down in our district that's gonna impact us so much.
00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:59.280
My opponent was out talking about an ice rink that's not even in our district having to close down.
00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:05.519
Um, I'm running on a message that actually impacts and that's focused on working for the people of House District 138.
00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:08.559
My opponent is focused on working for Greg Abbott and Donald Trump.
00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:17.840
And if you're looking for someone that's here for you, that wanna make sure that your grocery bills get shorter, your gas tank is full with$20,$30 instead of the$50 and 60 that we're spending now.
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:28.400
And what someone who wants to make sure that you have access to healthcare, that you have access to the daily-to-day things that you need, not having to worry about either picking gas or food on a day-to-day basis, I'm your candidate.
00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:32.000
If you're worried about someone who's funded by corporations, I'm not that.
00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.039
So yeah, absolutely.
00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:39.519
So, Tyler Smith, look, if I want to support your campaign, if people out there want to join in on your fight, how could they find you?
00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.480
Work could they find you?
00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:44.400
Yeah, so you can find me on all social media platforms at Tyler for Texas.
00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:52.000
And you can also find me on the web at TylerFortx.com, but you can also find me anywhere in the Spring Branch area, House District 138.
00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:54.320
I'm always out and about eating at our local restaurant.
00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.360
So find me there.
00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.159
There we go.
00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:58.239
Find Tyler Smith at your local restaurant.
00:37:58.320 --> 00:37:59.119
Which one's your favorite?
00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:01.280
Okay, so I got a couple of favorite restaurants right now.
00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.159
Don't pick wrong.
00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:03.440
I'm not gonna pick wrong.
00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:06.639
I think I got two that I go to for the most.
00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:08.880
We got a new restaurant, it's called the Blind Goat.
00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:12.480
The chef is, she's blind, emphasis on the name Blind Goat.
00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.039
You know what?
00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:13.360
Nice.
00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:16.559
And she was on Master Chef, so that's like one of my favorite restaurants right now.
00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:19.920
And then Taco Dennalady is one of my go-to spots.
00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:22.000
It's my lunch spot, and then that's my dinner spot, the other one.
00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:24.320
I'm gonna have my wife write that down so that we can go.
00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.920
Whenever y'all come, I'll have to take y'all.
00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:26.719
Absolutely.
00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:29.199
Thank you, Tyler Smith, for being here on the Huddle Talks.
00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:37.679
You know what the Huddle Talks is all about culture, politics, and more importantly, about empowering people like yourself, you young people that are running for office.
00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:39.840
It's hard to be young and to run for office.
00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:44.079
Most people don't believe in young folks, but really I believe it's the future.
00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:48.239
You know, it's who's gonna be taking care of us 10, 15 years from now.
00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:50.800
I'm a young person, so I believe in myself too.
00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.199
Yeah.
00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:52.880
Uh, but thank you for being here.
00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:55.519
Uh, you know, make sure to take check out Tyler Smith.
00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.880
This has been the Hono Talks.
00:38:56.960 --> 00:39:02.079
Make sure you subscribe on YouTube, Instagram, all your favorite platforms, Spotify.
00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:03.119
We'll be there for you.
00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:04.480
We'll see you next time.
00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:05.519
Thank you.