Gallegos takes aim at Rodeo... and the Rodeo hires Robert Miller

As we were first to tell you last night on the news, a Houston state lawmaker is filing a bill and hoping to change things at the rodeo.

State Senator Mario Gallegos said he's frustrated because a group of local elected officials have been meeting with Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials for over a year and they are unhappy with the rodeo's response. Now the senator is planning to file a bill.

At this year's rodeo round up, downtown Houston was filled with people who are eager for this year's to get underway. Sen. Gallegos said he's simply not satisfied with the way the rodeo is run.

"We plan to file a bill that deals with diversity and more of the open records," said Sen. Gallegos.

This Friday, Sen. Gallegos will file a bill which will in part: require non-profits to appoint a board of directors that reflect the diversity of its constituents, answer fully to all open records requests, and make reasonable efforts to increase minority participation in contracts.

"I'm glad to hear that Sen. Gallegos is taking formal action, i.e. a bill, to try to get it where we know what the rodeo is doing with their money," said Houston City Council Member Jolanda Jones.

The live stock show's Chief Operating Officer Leroy Shafer said the bill is unnecessary because the rodeo is very open.

"The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as far as transparency is concerned has complied with all rules and regulations of the IRS," said Shafer.

Shafer said it even used a competitive process to select well known lobbyist Robert Miller to fight any potential legislation.

"If in fact the legislation is something that would adversely affect the HLSR, then absolutely we want people involved that can guide us through this process," said Shafer.

The bill would only apply to non-profits located in a county with more than 3.3 million people, and does business with a local government like Harris County.

Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, who has actively participated in meetings with the rodeo, said the bill isn't aimed to harm anyone, rather it's simply meant to make the community's biggest charitable organization more diverse and transparent.

"Where do we go from announcing that you get $100 million of the rodeo, through its run, but there's only about $20 million in scholarships. Where does the rest of the $80 million go to?" asked Garcia.

Sen. Gallegos said he plans to file the bill Friday morning and will then hold a news conference in Houston. The HLSR said it's looking forward to reading the entire contents of the bill, so it can respond more fully.

Comments

[thatericmiller]

Kinda dumb to ad even MORE layers to an already bogged down bureaucratic process. Non-profits devote too many valuable resources to government reporting requirements as it stands today. Is the gentleman really asking for affirmative action within NGO's and NPO's at the Executive level? If he takes issue with governance then there are systems in place within the Rodeo with which to deal with such matters.

If Mr. Gallegos would like to diversify the makeup of the Houston Rodeo, I suggest he LOCATE and SECURE a large contribution of PRIVATE funds for the rodeo. Not moralize through legislation. There is no better or productive way to influence than to contribute time, energy or money to organizations for which you care.

Point of fact question MIYA.... how many millions of dollars a year does the Rodeo contribute to the local economy? I think that substance is in the numbers. I hope as local population trends continue into the future that the multiculturalism of Houston is encouraged through activities such as International fest, Rodeo, Chinese community center etc....we really are an incredible place to be right now.

Thanks for the good reporting.

[Vicente Villarreal]

The Senator has his heart in the right place, but it won't make a difference to minorities. Mainly because it wasn't meant to benefit minorities, it was created to raise money to pay for college for white children. That's what the FFA is. I know first hand because my mother before her passing use to work for a very wealthy member of the Livestock Show & Rodeo and I personally witnessed the racism they so kindly deny. I also know that they hire undocumented aliens to work for them on their farms and ranches while they "trail-ride" across Texas. I feel,It is not enough to just comment on these issues because to main-stream America this is not an important issue. Only through boy-cots and pickett lines will anyone notice. The problem is there isn't enough Latinos or minorities that care.

[AR]

Interesting, but the sad and pathetic fact is that HLS&R is merely reflecting the past and current demographics of corporate Houston. An even cursory look at any of our major companies from Continental Airlines to Kinder, will show how the huge majority of leadership and high-paying jobs are held by whites. A walk through the offices of any office tower in Houston will open anyone's eyes to this fact. BTW the old excuse that there aren't any qualified minorities for the positions is, in this day and age, pure hogwash.

Things are the way they are by design, and helped along by the passiveness of politicians like Gallegos when it comes to exposing the larger and more pervasive discrimination that's still the rule in Houston.

As a matter of fact don't even visit their offices, go to their web sites and look up their leadership pages. Do they reflect Houston's majority minority reality? NO!

THAT should be a major news story! Maybe it isn't because KTRK's business and news management is also mostly a whites-only zone. Don't feel bad though, other "media leaders" in Houston have the same problem - just look at the demographics of the Houston Chronicle editorial, management and news staffs.

Going after the HLS&R is long overdue, but once again minorities are fighting over crumbs and missing the big picture.

[JT]

If you want to be a part of the organization, then volunteer and work your way up like everyone else has in the organization. If you want a hand out or a special favor because you may not be of the race that is typical of the HLSR base of volunteers then you have the problem not HLSR. The FFA is not a white organization. You can blame your urban school boards for dropping such programs.

[Tony Hooks]

I'm looking forward to seeing a representative percentage of whites on the respective boards of LULAC, the NAACP and MALDEF.

[David]

This man is so like so many other politicians, full of it.
If these politicians do things to traditional events and organizations, not only is it shame on them at their attempts, but if it is done and the event or tradition is shut down due to that, it is thier fault.
Government has no place in changing traditions, history or events. It is insulting and absurd. Who would of thought the day would arise that socialism now rears its ugly head at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
We need to pray hard for this gathering cloud. Pray God will stop the madness

[Steve]

A large number of the HLSR contractors are the vendors. If you do a survey of those vendors you will find a very diverse group of business owners including a huge number of women and minorities.

As for the volunteers, the HLSR is continually actively seeking new volunteers. If youre a minority and want more minority volunteers, all you have to do is sign up! You will have to pay membership fees, work hard performing your volunteer work (Ie: days of standing on your feet in the cold and rain out in the parking lot assisting visitors), and while it's not required of the volunteers, many of them also spend a huge amount of money buying goods from the various vendors and bidding at the auctions for the champion and reserve champion animals, etc.

Once you have volunteered for a couple of decades or so, you can work your way up to board member.

Unfortunately, not that many minorities (not counting women) have been willing to do all of that, hence the low number of minority volunteers and board members.

Note: I am in no way affiliated with the HLSR, and am not speaking on behalf of the HLSR nor any HLSR committee. I have simply attended the HLSR for a number of years as an employee of a minority owned business that has been setting up at the HLSR for 4 decades.

[HoustonSunshine]

This comes from a guy "Gallegos" that admittedly had a 17 year long affair with a stripper (while married); AND had a liver transplant due to his alcoholism; which by the way he seems to somehow have avoided being put on a wait list, and was moved to the front of the line. Can someone look into that please!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Gallegos

I also understand that he used to be wined and dined at the Rodeo for many years attending parties and riding in the Grand Entry on numerous occasions. Let's ask the Rodeo to post those pictures!!!
How the heck did this guy get voted into office?!?!?!?!

[viagra online]

After males are three years old they are no longer considered calves, afterwards they are known as novillos and are ready for bullfighting, although novilladas are for training bullfighters, or novilleros. The best bulls are kept for corridas de toros with full matadors.

[NFL Jerseys]

If you want to be a part of the organization, then volunteer and work your way up like everyone else has in the organization. If you want a hand out or a special favor because you may not be of the race that is typical of the HLSR base of volunteers then you have the problem not HLSR. The FFA is not a white organization. You can blame your urban school boards for dropping such programs.