HOME > 2020 > September

Let’s Talk About Voting

September 22, 2020

In the most consequential election of our lives, we have to do everything we can to make sure everyone who can vote does vote. And a big part of that is getting people excited and informed. TOP is taking part of several online discussions to connect voters of color, talk about the issues we care about and talk about what it will take to win in November.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, our executive director, Michelle Tremillo, will join Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sec. Julián Castro for a town hall with Univision titled Destino 2020: Votar es Poder (Destiny 2020: Voting is Power) on the importance of the Latino vote. Catch the livestream at 6 p.m. at live.berniesanders.com.

On Wednesday, our deputy director, Brianna Brown, will join activists, organizers and lawyers from around the country to talk about the work being done right now to grow the electorate and secure our democracy. Join us at 8 p.m. on Facebook for the Rise Up for Justice: Voter Suppression and the Right to Vote panel hosted by Black Voters Matters and the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley. Share the Facebook event here. Spanish translation will be provided.

Last week, Crystal Zermeño, TOP’s director of electoral strategy, joined a panel on the Texas Tribune Festival to discuss TOP’s efforts to grow the Latino electorate. This year, TOP will connect with and engage more than 800,000 Latino voters who have rarely or never voted across five counties in Texas. Joining Crystal on the panel was Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar. Watch the panel here.

Election Day is nearing. Make sure you are registered to vote here, and once you are registered to vote, sign up here to get important updates and reminders to help you cast your vote.

If you have any questions about voting or want to volunteer to help others vote, call or text Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114.

HOME > 2020 > September

Crucial Budget Vote Coming Up in Dallas

Working with In Defense of Black Lives Dallas, we have demanded transformational change to policing in the streets and at City Hall. We can’t let up now. A final vote on the city budget takes place this Wednesday.

We have to continue urging our elected city leaders to deliver that transformational change through a budget that reallocates funds away from the police department toward programs that build up and heal our communities.

If you’re a Dallas resident, sign up to speak at this Wednesday’s City Council meeting to let our elected leaders know that we can build a safer community by divesting from policing and investing in our communities.

Call the Dallas City Secretary’s Office at 214-670-3738 to sign up to speak on agenda item #92 or on the open mic portion. The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.

For more information, call or text Carvell Bowens at 214-934-8558.

HOME > 2020 > September

Reimagining public safety in the Dallas city budget

September 8, 2020

Dallas City Council will vote on a new city budget September 23. TOP and In Defense of Black Lives Dallas are demanding that the budget invests less in policing and more in building up our communities with needed resources and services.

The chair of the city’s Public Safety Committee, Councilman Adam McGough of District 10 needs to hear from us that we need to divest from policing, and INVEST in our community!

If you’re a Dallas resident, call Councilman McGough at his office at 214-670-4068 to share why it matters to you that we #DefundDPD and invest more in the community.

For more information on how you can get involved in this campaign, call or text Carvell Bowens at 972-997-1026.

HOME > 2020 > September

CDC postpones evictions

Last week, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a temporary halt on evictions nationwide through the remainder of 2020. For tenants who qualify, the CDC’s order helps keep them housed.

However, we don’t know when this pandemic will be over or when the economy will recover. Also, at a time when our economy is in shambles and unemployment remains high, it’s shameful how this order isn’t coupled with a form of rental assistance. Families still need long-term financial relief that will keep tenants from falling into a debt trap on January 1. Also, the CDC order leaves some tenants without adequate eviction protections.

We need long-term solutions that not only keep people housed, but give them a way to get back on their feet. At a minimum, the federal government should freeze rents and mortgages. No one should have to pay rent or mortgage while they’re unemployed or under-employed. This is the only way we can prevent a housing crisis that will make a recovery difficult if not impossible.

HOME > 2020 > September

Get the vote out with TOP

It’s crunch time! Texas is a battleground state, and our aim in 2020 is to further push our state toward a progressive future that will shift power into the hands of Black and Latino Texans.

The 2020 election is a critical opportunity to engage our state’s rising electorate and to elect progressive champions who will fight for the issues we care about.

If you want to help us turn out voters of color by texting and calling voters, contact Tempestt McHenry at 214-704-8114.

HOME > 2020 > September

Don’t be left out of the Census. Complete it now.

While the deadline for the Census is uncertain, don’t risk losing your chance to be counted.

In addition to not having the representation we deserve in Congress, for each person that is not counted, our cities, counties and schools miss out on as much as $10,000. That’s $10,000 that won’t go to funding services that benefit our families and communities.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Go to my2020census.gov to fill out the nine simple Census questions in your preferred language. Your immigration status does not matter; there are no questions on citizenship. Be counted!

SIGN UP