Bauer4Texas PolicyAction

06/17/2026

Not only are my weeks busy, but my Sundays are just as full.

From attending Sunday Mass, to handing out food to our neighbors in need, to standing alongside my community in solidarity at a peaceful protest, Sundays remind me what it means to be connected to something bigger than myself.

Some people say advocacy is "too much," and honestly, advocacy is a lot of work. It takes time, energy, and commitment. But it's also one of the most meaningful ways to engage with our communities.

Advocacy creates opportunities for real conversations, helps us better understand the challenges people are facing, and allows us to hear directly what our communities need.

Change starts with showing up, listening, and being present.
A huge thank you to Food Not Bombs RGV and everyone involved in organizing spaces where people can give, connect, be seen, and be heard. Community care, mutual aid, and collective action matter.

No solo mis semanas están ocupadas, sino que mis domingos también lo están.
Desde asistir a la misa dominical, hasta repartir comida a nuestros vecinos que lo necesitan, y unirme a mi comunidad en solidaridad durante una protesta pacífica, los domingos me recuerdan lo que significa estar conectado con algo más grande que uno mismo.

Algunas personas dicen que la defensa y el activismo comunitario son “demasiado”, y la verdad es que sí requieren mucho tiempo, energía y compromiso. Pero también son una de las mejores maneras de involucrarnos con nuestras comunidades. La defensa comunitaria crea espacios para conversaciones significativas, nos ayuda a comprender mejor los desafíos que enfrentan las personas y nos permite escuchar directamente cuáles son las necesidades reales de nuestras comunidades, en lugar de asumirlas.

El cambio comienza cuando nos hacemos presentes, escuchamos y participamos.

Muchísimas gracias a Food Not Bombs y a todas las personas involucradas en la organización de espacios donde la gente puede dar, conectar, ser vista y ser escuchada.
El cuidado comunitario, la ayuda mutua y la acción colectiva importan.

06/15/2026

Please share to keep our community informed.

The city of La Feria opened a safe shelter for residents on Monday afternoon.

06/14/2026

What an incredible evening at the Freddy Fender Museum celebration in San Benito! It was truly special to connect with community members and hear their stories of growing up in San Benito, sharing memories that reflect the pride, resilience, and rich culture of this community.

As a longtime Freddy Fender fan, his story has always been meaningful to me. At a time when many Latinos felt pressure to change their names, identity, and culture to overcome segregation and discrimination, Baldemar Garza Huerta became Freddy Fender; but he never abandoned his roots. Instead, he proudly brought Tejano music into the mainstream and helped bridge it with country music, creating a legacy that continues to inspire.

Congratulations to the City of San Benito - Government and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this museum a reality. Thank you for preserving Freddy Fender’s legacy for future generations. Make a plan to visit them!

¡Qué noche tan increíble en la celebración del Museo Freddy Fender en San Benito! Fue un verdadero privilegio convivir con miembros de la comunidad y escuchar sus historias sobre haber crecido en San Benito, compartiendo recuerdos que reflejan el orgullo, la resiliencia y la riqueza cultural de esta comunidad.

Como admirador de Freddy Fender desde hace muchos años, su historia siempre ha sido significativa para mí. En una época en que muchos latinos sentían la presión de cambiar sus nombres, identidad y cultura para enfrentar la segregación y la discriminación, Baldemar Garza Huerta se convirtió en Freddy Fender, pero nunca abandonó sus raíces. Al contrario, llevó con orgullo la música tejana al público nacional y ayudó a integrarla con la música country, creando un legado que sigue inspirando.

Felicitaciones a la Ciudad de San Benito y a todas las personas que trabajaron tras bambalinas para hacer realidad este museo. Gracias por preservar el legado de Freddy Fender para las futuras generaciones.

06/13/2026

DONATE https://ginafortexas.com
On Thursday, I had the honor to catch up with my fellow advocates and great leaders of Hidalgo County at an intimate fundraiser for ginafortexas Rep. Gina Hinojosa.

I first met Gina 3 years ago at 1:00 AM before I testified at a public education hearing. That hearing was supposed to begin at 8:00 AM, but after the chaos of a House member's expulsion, it didn't start until the middle of the night.

Even then, I could see Gina's commitment to her constituents, public education, and Texas. While my own House Democratic representative couldn't be bothered to meet with me, Gina took the time to talk with me about the long day we had all endured. We bonded over being from the Rio Grande Valley, and when I started my testimony with "Puro 956" to represent our Valley with pride, Gina smiled.

Two years later, Celia Israel connected me with Gina's office during my fellowship application process. Her office was my first choice, but I ultimately accepted a Senate office because I was advised it would provide the best learning experience. Even so, I continued watching Gina's leadership firsthand.

While some Valley representatives seemed content to be part of the "do nothing caucus," Gina was fighting against vouchers. When committee meetings stretched into the early morning hours and others disappeared, Gina stayed and asked the tough questions. When politics shifted and Democrats needed a leader, Gina stepped up.

The reality is that it won't matter what your State Senator or State Representative wants to accomplish if we don't have a governor willing to support and sign those bills into law. That's why this race matters.

I know times are tough, but that's exactly why we need to invest in leaders who are doing the work. Some comfortable Democrats won't support Gina financially, so it's up to us. Instead of donating to politicians who aren't fighting for us, let's support someone who is.

Donate to Gina. Texas deserves a governor who will show up, fight, and lead. Donate now:
https://ginafortexas.com

06/06/2026

On Wednesday, I attended a regional water infrastructure workshop focused on the future of water, wastewater, drainage, and flood mitigation in South Texas hosted by Senator Adam Hinojosa.

One of the key discussions centered on Senate Bill 1169 and the creation of Public Utility Agencies (PUAs), a new tool that allows cities, water districts, and other public entities to collaborate on regional infrastructure projects while maintaining local control. As communities across Texas face increasing water demands, aging infrastructure, and growing funding challenges, regional cooperation will be essential to securing the resources needed to protect public health, support economic development, and strengthen resilience.

Thank you to the leaders, water professionals, and community partners who show up and are working to ensure a sustainable water future for the Rio Grande Valley.

El miércoles asistí a un taller regional sobre infraestructura hídrica enfocado en el futuro del agua, las aguas residuales, el drenaje y la mitigación de inundaciones en el sur de Texas, organizado por el senador Adam Hinojosa.

Una de las discusiones principales se centró en el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1169 y la creación de las Agencias de Servicios Públicos (PUA, por sus siglas en inglés), una nueva herramienta que permite a las ciudades, distritos de agua y otras entidades públicas colaborar en proyectos regionales de infraestructura mientras mantienen el control local. A medida que las comunidades de Texas enfrentan una creciente demanda de agua, infraestructura envejecida y mayores desafíos de financiamiento, la cooperación regional será esencial para asegurar los recursos necesarios para proteger la salud pública, apoyar el desarrollo económico y fortalecer la resiliencia.

Gracias a los líderes, profesionales del agua y socios comunitarios que participan y trabajan para garantizar un futuro sostenible del agua para el Valle del Río Grande.

06/02/2026

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to join La Union del Pueblo Entero - LUPE Civic Engagement Team in a community discussion at our San Benito office about the growing presence of Flock Safety cameras throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

During the conversation, community members shared concerns about privacy, surveillance, and the uncertainty that comes with the expansion of AI-powered technology in our neighborhoods. While I recognize that these cameras can be used by law enforcement to investigate crimes and support public safety efforts, I believe their use must be accompanied by transparency, accountability, and clear guidelines.

One of the biggest concerns raised was who has access to the data collected by these cameras, how long that information is stored, how it is shared, and what protections are in place to prevent misuse. As these technologies continue to expand, our communities deserve to know how they are being used and who is responsible for overseeing them.

The discussion reinforced the importance of asking questions, engaging with our elected officials, and advocating for policies that protect both public safety and individual privacy rights.

To learn more about Flock Safety and upcoming events, please visit www.lupenet.org/GTFO.

Durante el fin de semana, tuve la oportunidad de unirme al Equipo de Participación Cívica de LUPE para llevar a cabo una conversación comunitaria en nuestra oficina de San Benito sobre la creciente presencia de las cámaras de Flock Safety en todo el Valle del Río Grande.

Durante la conversación, miembros de la comunidad compartieron sus preocupaciones sobre la privacidad, la vigilancia y la incertidumbre que acompaña la expansión de tecnologías impulsadas por inteligencia artificial en nuestros vecindarios. Si bien reconozco que estas cámaras pueden ser utilizadas por las fuerzas del orden para investigar delitos y apoyar los esfuerzos de seguridad pública, considero que su uso debe ir acompañado de transparencia, rendición de cuentas y lineamientos claros.

Una de las mayores preocupaciones planteadas fue quién tiene acceso a los datos recopilados por estas cámaras, cuánto tiempo se almacena esa información, cómo se comparte y qué protecciones existen para evitar su uso indebido. A medida que estas tecnologías continúan expandiéndose, nuestras comunidades merecen saber cómo se están utilizando y quién es responsable de supervisarlas.

La conversación reforzó la importancia de hacer preguntas, participar con nuestros funcionarios electos y promover políticas que protejan tanto la seguridad pública como los derechos individuales a la privacidad.

Para obtener más información sobre Flock Safety y próximos eventos, visite www.lupenet.org/GTFO.

05/29/2026

People are asking the right questions; now it’s time to ask them to the right people.
The following article is an example of how data centers were welcomed into Texas by the Texas Legislature through massive tax breaks and limited public accountability, while communities are left asking what they are actually receiving in return.

These decisions were made at the state level; not the local level. If we want meaningful and lasting change, we need to start asking our state elected officials what they plan to do and hold them accountable for the decisions they make on behalf of Texans.

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/08/texas-data-centers-sales-tax-break-billion-dollars/

05/28/2026

Part of senior check out, checking if you’re register to vote! I had the privilege last week to help register high school seniors to vote.

Did you know it’s already Texas state law that high schools must offer eligible students voter registration opportunities? Civic engagement should never be an afterthought, it should be part of preparing young people to participate in democracy.

But we can go even further. Let’s expnad this law. Provide opportunities for school faculty and staff to become VDRs or require elected officials to go to schools and register high school seniors.

If our leaders are serious about voter participation, they should be trained and actively involved in helping Texans register to vote; especially, in communities that have historically faced barriers for civic engagement.