Bauer4Texas PolicyAction

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.

05/23/2026

Attending the Planned Parenthood South Texas luncheon with Susan Rice, moderated by Wendy Davis, was a reminder that simply saying “I believe in women’s rights” does not make someone an activist. That statement is too often used as a blanket phrase without accountability, policy, or action behind it.

Real advocacy means fighting for policies that protect people every day, including access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing, and comprehensive s*x education. These are not “extras.” They are preventative healthcare services that reduce long term strain on our healthcare system and save lives.

I support Planned Parenthood not only because I work in reproductive health education, but because Texas maternal healthcare policies are failing people who become pregnant. We continue to see deadly outcomes while politicians offer talking points instead of solutions.

The moral arc of justice does not bend on its own. We have to be the benders. We must work together to preserve justice, protect evidence based policy, and safeguard the future of those who come after us. Silence and performative support are not enough anymore.

Texans deserve elected officials who will put their money where their mouth is and clearly explain how they plan to protect reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy. Access to care should never depend on your ZIP code, income, or political climate. Reproductive healthcare is healthcare. Periodttttt.

Special thanks to one of the hardest working advocates, Joyce, for the invitation 😍

05/21/2026

Thank you to the organizations and community members who organized or attended a townhall this past saturday. Real change starts with listening to the community. This weekend’s meeting was about more than discussion. It was about hearing community concerns directly, sharing findings, and working together to identify data-driven solutions that can create meaningful change at the local, state, and national levels.

Accountability was at the center of the conversation. Every elected official should be engaged, informed, and present in the communities they represent; especially those who treat public office like a part-time responsibility when the impacts of policy are felt every single day by working families.

Now is the time to ask elected officials where they stand:�On the inhumane conditions inside detention centers�On the purchase and expansion of new detention centers�On increasing resources so families who “did it the right way” are not deported simply to meet quotas

We need real solutions rooted in humanity, transparency, and accountability; not empty promises or political performances. The people closest to the problems are often closest to the solutions.

05/13/2026

Donate and Share! If we want to have better leaders we need to invest in them. Please join me in helping the UTRGV College Democrats join in at the Democratic Convention.

To our generous donors, We, the UTRGV College Democr… UTRGV Democrats Of Brownsville needs your support for Support UTRGV Democrats' Trip to Corpus Christi

05/09/2026

My heart and prayers go out to anyone who was impacted by this mornings storm. For those who were impacted by today’s storm please report it here.

Texas Division of Emergency Management State of Texas Assessment Tool surveys for homes and businesses

05/09/2026

Happy early Mother’s Day to the women balancing careers, caregiving, leadership, and impossible expectations every single day.

Research continues to show that men in politics are often viewed as more “relatable” and trustworthy when they publicly share their children, while women are still questioned about whether they’re “good mothers” if they pursue leadership or public-facing careers (IPPSR, 2021).

That double standard is one reason why I choose not to post my children’s faces online in my political campaign. Their lives are not content. Their privacy matters, and they deserve the right to grow up without a digital footprint created for public consumption. To me, protecting them is more important than relatability, engagement, or social media validation. And yes, turning children into online branding is exploitation, even when society has normalized it.

To every mother navigating judgment while still showing up with strength and love: Happy Mother’s Day!

05/08/2026

McAllen voters voted YES for 335 million bond but, should south Texas Voters be doing more.

Teacher Appreciation Week should mean more than thank-you posts and school lunches. If we truly want to appreciate our teachers in South Texas, we need to start by fixing the policies that impact our classrooms, students, and communities every single day.

McAllen voters recently approved a $335 million investment in safer campuses, updated classrooms, and stronger learning environments..But local bonds alone cannot fix statewide inequities.

Right now, taxpayers across Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy Counties continue funding systems that many believe deserve greater accountability and modernization. While communities step up locally, the state must also step up structurally. Ask your Texas legislators how they plan to better serve our public schools.

For those using my talking points here’s the appropriate citation for my intellectual property.

Bauer, S.R. (2026, May 8). McAllen voters voted yes for 335 million bond but, should south Texas Voters be doing more.