Part One: a conversation with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a criminal justice titan
Harris County Passes Package Of 11 Criminal Justice Reform Proposals
The centerpiece was Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s proposal for a civilian oversight board to investigate allegations of use of force by police
Harris County Passes Package Of 11 Criminal Justice Reform Proposals
this is leadership that has defined Rodney for his whole life
Rodney Ellis leaves Texas Senate with criminal justice legacy
The 2017 legislative session will open without former state Sen. Rodney Ellis, a 26-year lawmaker who became a criminal justice reform titan in the upper chamber.
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/08/rodney-ellis-leaves-texas-senate-criminal-justice-/
bio: Commissioner Rodney Ellis was born and raised in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood and attended the Texas public school system from grade school through law school. Although he is an attorney, his passion is public service.
On November 8, 2016, he was elected Harris County Commissioner for Precinct One, which serves approximately 1.1 million people. Previously, he represented a Houston district in the Texas Senate for more than 25 years, earning widespread praise as a leader on economic development, education, civil rights, budget issues, responsible environmental policy, tax cuts for the middle class, criminal justice, and workforce development.
Commissioner Ellis believes the role of government is to ensure that all people have the opportunity and ability to build a better future for themselves. As Harris County Commissioner, he is dedicated to providing quality and accessible services and programs that will enhance the lives of the people of Precinct One and fighting for reforms that will benefit all Harris County residents.
During his career in public service, Commissioner Ellis has worked hard to ensure that children have equal access to a quality education, regardless of where they reside. He also has spearheaded legislation to provide employees with a safe workplace, access to affordable health care and a living wage. In criminal justice, he has fought for reforms that guarantee equal treatment for everyone under the law. It’s his cardinal belief that guilt and innocence must never be dependent on one’s income, gender, race or ethnicity.Before joining the Texas Senate in 1990, Commissioner Ellis served three terms on the Houston City Council and as chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Southern University, a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Commissioner Ellis also studied at Xavier University in New Orleans and the London School of Economics.
Items in the recently passed package:
The civilian oversight board item passed 4-1, with only Commissioner Steve Radack voting no.
The other items that passed were:
• Engaging community in budgeting for evaluations for all criminal justice departments funded by Harris County (passed 5-0)
• Requesting the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and constables precincts submit monthly reports on officer uses of force (passed 5-0)
• Commission a study on creating a county-level emergency responder program to take over 911 calls for things like mental health and substance abuse crises (passed 5-0)
• Commission a study on creating a county-level agency to administer violence interruption programs (passed 5-0)
• Make improvements to the indigent defense system (passed 5-0)
• Study best practices for alternatives to criminal justice to deal with poverty, homelessness, public health and mental health, substance use and violence prevention, within $25 million (passed 3-2, Radack and Jack Cagle opposed)
• Commission a report on the effects of criminal fines, fees, and cash bail on vulnerable communities, including low-income, and racial and ethnic minority groups (passed 5-0)
• Requesting a a bi-annual report tracking racial disparities in the criminal justice system, with first report to include evidence-based recommendations for addressing those disparities (passed 5-0)
• Request for the Justice Administration Department to work with Harris County law enforcement to develop a model use of force policy, including banning choke holds (passed 5-0)
Part Two: A conversation with two Sociology Professors: We discuss mask requirements as a form of workplace protections, with Vincent Roscigno and Michael Vuolo. Both are sociology professors at Ohio State University.
Prof. Vincent Roscigno studies Social Stratification, Work, Education, and Culture. Current research includes historical and contemporary research regarding inequality, culture, and legitimation, using historical, qualitative and quantitative methods; contemporary workplace discrimination surrounding race, sex and age; and the dynamics of workplace bullying and abuse; and re-examining theories of power and their relevance in the contemporary world.
Prof. Michael Vuolo research focuses on three main areas. First, sitting at the intersection of crime, law, and deviance and health is research on substance use, including the efficacy of drug policy, the influence of subcultural affiliation, and intergenerational substance use. Second he also does additional work within criminology on the effect of criminal records on employability, as well as prisoner mental health. Third,he also conducts research in the sociology of work and education, such as how particular pathways through education to careers and the recent recession affect employment outcomes, including unemployment, wages, and work quality. In addition to these substantive interests, methodological development is central to his research agenda, including developing new methods and improving existing ones.
Since COVID is a huge issue, workplace safety is important. Though many people feel that wearing a mask should be an individual choice, and they should have a right to NOT wear a mask for that reason. However, it is also a workplace safety issue, since the workers do not have a choice, and may be exposed to possible carriers for hours on end. Professors Vuolo and Roscigno contend that this should be subject to workplace safety laws and protections, and Requirements for people to wear masks in public are similar to smoking bans
Both tobacco smoke and COVID-19 are air-based health hazards to workers who may be exposed to them for hours on end. Requiring that members of the public wear masks is a form of workplace protection.” This should thus require the intervention of OSHA.In schools, the workers, teachers, staff, and service personnel are all affected. Having a government mandate will help employers, would only be enforcing the rules set by government agencies.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200716/Requirements-for-people-to-wear-masks-in-public-are-similar-to-smoking-bans.aspx
Of note:
Chinese consulate in Houston ordered to close by US
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53497193
Aside:
The Virus Found a crowded Houston Neighborhood, sparing one nearby.
one rich, one poor, of course….
The town of Bellaire had among the highest levels of residents with health insurance in Harris County, according to a recent county health department study, and a low rate of those delaying care. In Gulfton, by contrast, roughly 40 percent of residents had no health insurance. The same survey showed that about one in 10 residents did not have a car in a city designed for driving.
“This virus is an equal opportunity abuser, that’s true whether you’re talking about Bellaire or the Gulfton area,” Sylvester Turner, the Houston mayor, said in an interview outside of a food distribution event at a nearby church. “But the resources people have to combat it are different. The infrastructure is lacking when it comes to communities of color.”
